PROTHENA CORPORATION PLC AMENDED AND RESTATED 2012 LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN (as amended and restated as of February 22, 2017)
EX-10.1 2 a8-k2017mayexhibit101proth.htm EXHIBIT 10.1 AMENDED AND RESTATED 2012 LTIP FEB 2017 Exhibit
Exhibit 10.1
PROTHENA CORPORATION PLC
AMENDED AND RESTATED 2012 LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
AMENDED AND RESTATED 2012 LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
(as amended and restated as of February 22, 2017)
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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1. | Definitions | 1 |
2. | Administration | 4 |
3. | Shares Subject to the Plan | 5 |
4. | Specific Terms of Awards | 7 |
5. | Certain Provisions Applicable to Awards | 11 |
6. | Transferability of Awards | 11 |
7. | Change in Control Provisions | 12 |
8. | Qualified Performance-Based Compensation | 12 |
9. | General Provisions | 13 |
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SV\1257362.6 Prothena - A&R 2012 Long Term Incentive Plan
PROTHENA CORPORATION PLC
AMENDED AND RESTATED 2012 LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
AMENDED AND RESTATED 2012 LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
The purposes of the Amended and Restated 2012 Long Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) are to advance the interests of Prothena Corporation plc (the “Company”) and its shareholders by providing a means to attract, retain, and motivate employees, consultants and directors of the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliates, to provide for competitive compensation opportunities, to encourage long term service, to recognize individual contributions and reward achievement of performance goals, and to promote the creation of long term value for shareholders by aligning the interests of such persons with those of shareholders. This Plan constitutes an amendment and restatement of the Prothena Corporation plc Amended and Restated 2012 Long Term Incentive Plan, as amended on February 24, 2016 (the “Prior 2012 Plan”). In the event that the Company’s shareholders do not approve the Plan, the Prior 2012 Plan will continue in full force and effect on its terms and conditions as in effect immediately prior to the date the Plan is approved by the Company’s board of directors.
1. | Definitions. |
For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below:
(a) “Act” means the Companies Act 1963 as amended from time to time. References to any provision of the Act shall be deemed to include successor provisions thereto and regulations thereunder.
(b) “Affiliate” means any entity other than the Company and its Subsidiaries that is designated by the Board or the Committee as a participating employer under the Plan; provided, however, that the Company directly or indirectly owns at least 20% of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of such entity or at least 20% of the ownership interests in such entity.
(c) “Award” means any Option, SAR, Restricted Share, Restricted Share Unit, Performance Award, Dividend Equivalent, or Other Share-Based Award granted to an Eligible Person under the Plan.
(d) “Award Agreement” means any written agreement, contract, or other instrument or document evidencing an Award.
(e) “Beneficiary” means the person, persons, trust or trusts which have been designated by an Eligible Person in his or her most recent written beneficiary designation filed with the Company to receive the benefits specified under this Plan upon the death of the Eligible Person, or, if there is no designated Beneficiary or surviving designated Beneficiary, then the person, persons, trust or trusts entitled by will or the laws of descent and distribution to receive such benefits.
(f) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(g) “Change in Control” means:
(i) The consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity or any other corporate reorganization (however effected, including by general offer or court-sanctioned compromise, arrangement or scheme under the Act or otherwise) if more than 50% of the combined voting power of the continuing or surviving entity’s issued shares or securities outstanding immediately after such merger, consolidation or other reorganization is owned by persons who were not shareholders of the Company immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or other reorganization;
(ii) The sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets;
(iii) Individuals who as of the date the Board first consists of at least seven members constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason, including, without limitation,
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as a result of a tender offer, proxy contest, merger or similar transaction, to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual who becomes a director of the Company subsequent to the date the Board first consists of at least seven members shall be considered an Incumbent Director if such person’s election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors; but, provided further that any such person whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a person other than the Board, including by reason of agreement intended to avoid or settle any such actual or threatened contest or solicitation, shall not be considered an Incumbent Director; or
(iv) Any transaction as a result of which any person becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing at least 50% of the total voting power represented by the Company’s then outstanding voting securities (e.g., issued shares). For purposes of this subsection (v), the term “person” shall have the same meaning as when used in sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act but shall exclude (i) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary and (ii) a company owned directly or indirectly by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Shares of the Company.
(v) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Award that constitutes deferred compensation subject to section 409A of the Code, the definition of “Change in Control” set forth above shall not apply, and the term “Change in Control” shall instead mean a “change in the ownership or effective control” of the Company or “in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets” of the Company within the meaning of section 409A(a)(2)(A)(v) of the Code and the regulations and guidance issued thereunder, but only to the extent this substitute definition is necessary in order for the Award to comply with the requirements prescribed by section 409A of the Code.
(h) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. References to any provision of the Code shall be deemed to include successor provisions thereto and regulations thereunder.
(i) “Committee” means (i) with respect to Awards that are not intended to be “qualified performance-based compensation” under section 162(m) of the Code and are not made to an individual subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the Compensation Committee of the Board, or such other Board committee (which may include the entire Board) as may be designated by the Board to administer the Plan, (ii) with respect to Awards that are intended to be “qualified performance-based compensation” under section 162(m) of the Code or made to an individual subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, a committee that consists of two or more persons appointed by the Board, all of whom shall be “outside directors” as defined under section 162(m) of the Code and related Treasury Regulations and “non-employee directors” as defined by Rule 16b-3.
(j) “Company” means Prothena Corporation plc, a public limited company organized under the laws of Ireland, or any successor corporation.
(k) “Control” means the ownership directly or indirectly of shares in a company carrying more than 50% of the total voting power represented by that company’s issued share capital.
(l) “Director” means a member of the Board who is not an employee of the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate.
(m) “Dividend Equivalent” means a right, granted under Section 4(g), to receive cash, Shares, or other property equal in value to dividends paid with respect to a specified number of Shares. Dividend Equivalents may be awarded on a free-standing basis or in connection with another Award, and may be paid currently or on a deferred basis. If interest is credited on accumulated dividend equivalents, the term “Dividend Equivalent” shall include the accrued interest.
(n) “Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 9(m) below.
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(o) “Eligible Person” means (i) an employee or consultant of the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate, including any director who is an employee, or (ii) a Director.
(p) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time. References to any provision of the Exchange Act shall be deemed to include successor provisions thereto and regulations thereunder.
(q) “Fair Market Value” means, with respect to Shares or other property, the fair market value of such Shares or other property determined by such methods or procedures as shall be established from time to time by the Committee. If the Shares are listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, unless otherwise determined by the Committee in good faith, the Fair Market Value of Shares shall mean the closing price per Share during regular trading hours on the date in question (or, if the Shares were not traded on that day, the next preceding day that the Shares were traded). The Committee may determine that, for an Award, the Fair Market Value of Shares shall mean the average of the closing price per Share during regular trading hours for a period, not to exceed 30 days, preceding the date in question on the principal exchange or market system on which the Shares are traded, as such prices are officially quoted on such exchange.
(r) “Full Value Award” means any Award granted under the Plan other than an Option or a Share Appreciation Right.
(s) “ISO” means any Option intended to be and designated as an incentive stock option within the meaning of section 422 of the Code.
(t) “NQSO” means any Option that is not an ISO.
(u) “Option” means a right, granted under Section 4(b), to purchase Shares.
(v) “Other Share-Based Award” means a right, granted under Section 4(h),that relates to or is valued by reference to Shares.
(w) “Participant” means an Eligible Person who has been granted an Award under the Plan.
(x) “Performance Award” means a cash bonus award, stock bonus award, performance award or incentive award that is paid in cash, Shares or a combination of both, granted under Section 4(f).
(y) “Performance Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(f)(i) below.
(z) “Performance Stock Unit” shall mean a Performance Award awarded under Section 4(f) which is denominated in Shares or their cash equivalent.
(aa) “Plan” means this Amended and Restated 2012 Long Term Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.
(bb) “Prior 2012 Plan” means the Prothena Corporation plc Amended and Restated 2012 Long Term Incentive Plan, as amended on February 24, 2016.
(cc) “Restricted Shares” means an Award of Shares under Section 4(d) that may be subject to certain restrictions and to a risk of forfeiture.
(dd) “Restricted Share Unit” means a unit representing the Company’s obligation to deliver or issue one Share for each such unit, granted under Section 4(e), or the cash equivalent, at the end of a specified deferral period.
(ee) “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3, as from time to time in effect and applicable to the Plan and Participants, promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under section 16 of the Exchange Act.
(ff) “SAR” or “Share Appreciation Right” means the right, granted under Section 4(c), to be paid an amount measured by the difference between the exercise price of the right and the Fair Market Value of
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Shares on the date of exercise of the right, with payment to be made in cash or Shares as specified in the Award or determined by the Committee.
(gg) “Share” means one ordinary share, par value $ 0.01, in the capital of the Company.
(hh) “Subsidiary” means any company which is, for the time being, a subsidiary of the Company within the meaning of section 155 of the Act. For the avoidance of doubt, and provided it is not in conflict with the Act, this shall include any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company if each of the corporations (other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain) owns shares possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in the chain.
(ii) “Substitute Award” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(e) below.
(jj) “Termination of Service” means, unless otherwise defined in an applicable Award Agreement, that a Participant is no longer employed by, providing consulting services to nor a director of the Company, its Subsidiaries and its Affiliates, as the case may be. A Participant employed by or providing service to a Subsidiary of the Company or one of its Affiliates shall also be deemed to incur a Termination of Service if the Subsidiary of the Company or Affiliate ceases to be such a Subsidiary or an Affiliate, as the case may be, and the Participant does not immediately thereafter become an employee or director of, or a consultant to, the Company, another Subsidiary of the Company or an Affiliate. Temporary absences from employment or service because of illness, vacation or leave of absence and transfers among the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates shall not be considered a Termination of Service.
2. | Administration. |
(a) Authority of the Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, and the Committee shall have full and final authority to take the following actions, in each case subject to and consistent with the provisions of the Plan:
(i) to select Eligible Persons to whom Awards may be granted;
(ii) to designate Affiliates;
(iii) to determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Eligible Person;
(iv) to determine the type and number of Awards to be granted, the number of Shares to which an Award may relate, the terms and conditions of any Award granted under the Plan (including, but not limited to, any exercise price, grant price, or purchase price, any restriction or condition, any schedule for lapse of restrictions or conditions relating to transferability or forfeiture, exercisability, or settlement of an Award, and waiver or accelerations thereof, and waivers of performance conditions relating to an Award, based in each case on such considerations as the Committee shall determine), and all other matters to be determined in connection with an Award;
(v) to determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances an Award may be settled, or the exercise price of an Award may be paid, in cash, Shares or other Awards, or an Award may be cancelled, forfeited, exchanged, or surrendered;
(vi) to determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances cash, Shares, other Awards, or other property payable with respect to an Award will be deferred either automatically, at the election of the Committee, or at the election of the Eligible Person;
(vii) to prescribe the form of each Award Agreement, which need not be identical for each Eligible Person;
(viii) to adopt, amend, suspend, waive, and rescind such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan;
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(ix) to correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan and to construe and interpret the Plan and any Award, rules and regulations, Award Agreement, or other instrument thereunder;
(x) to accelerate the exercisability or vesting of all or any portion of any Award, subject to Section 2(b) below, or to extend the period during which an Award is exercisable;
(xi) to determine whether uncertificated Shares may be used in satisfying Awards and otherwise in connection with the Plan; and
(xii) to make all other decisions and determinations as may be required under the terms of the Plan or as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.
(b) Authority to Accelerate Awards. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Committee may not amend any outstanding Award to provide for accelerated exercisability or vesting of any Award granted under the Plan except in the event of the Participant’s death, disability or in connection with a Change in Control.
(c) Manner of Exercise of Committee Authority. The Committee shall have sole discretion in exercising its authority under the Plan. Any action of the Committee with respect to the Plan shall be final, conclusive, and binding on all persons, including the Company, Subsidiaries, Affiliates, Eligible Persons, any person claiming any rights under the Plan from or through any Eligible Person, and shareholders. By accepting an Award under the Plan, each Eligible Person accepts the authority and discretion of the Committee as set forth in, and exercised in accordance with, this Plan. The express grant of any specific power to the Committee, and the taking of any action by the Committee, shall not be construed as limiting any power or authority of the Committee. The Committee may delegate to other members of the Board or officers or managers of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate the authority, subject to such terms as the Committee shall determine, to perform administrative functions and, with respect to Awards granted to persons not subject to section 16 of the Exchange Act, to perform such other functions as the Committee may determine, to the extent permitted under Rule 16b-3 (if applicable) and applicable law.
(d) Limitation of Liability. Each member of the Committee shall be entitled to rely or act upon, in good faith, any report or other information furnished to him or her by any officer or other employee of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate, the Company’s independent public accountants, or other professional retained by the Company to assist in the administration of the Plan. No member of the Committee, and no officer or employee of the Company acting on behalf of the Committee, shall be personally liable for any action, determination, or interpretation taken or made in good faith with respect to the Plan, and all members of the Committee and any officer or employee of the Company acting on their behalf shall, to the extent permitted by law, be fully indemnified and protected by the Company with respect to any such action, determination, or interpretation.
(e) No Option or SAR Repricing Without Shareholder Approval. Except in connection with a corporate transaction involving the Company (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, or exchange of shares), the terms of outstanding Awards may not be amended to reduce the exercise price of outstanding Options or the base amount of outstanding SARs or cancel outstanding Options or SARs in exchange for cash, other awards or Options or SARs with an exercise price or base amount, as applicable, that is less than the exercise price or base amount, as applicable, of the original Options or SARs without shareholder approval. No amendment or adjustment under this Section 2(d) shall have the effect of reducing the amount payable for a Share to less than the par value of a Share.
3. | Shares Subject to the Plan. |
(a) Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3(c), the total number of Shares reserved for issuance in connection with Awards under the Plan is 8,750,000; provided, however, that such aggregate number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced by 1.5 Shares for each Share delivered
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in settlement of any Full Value Award. No Award may be granted if the number of Shares to which such Award relates, when added to the number of Shares previously issued under the Plan, exceeds the number of Shares reserved under the preceding sentence. Shares issued or transferred under the Plan may be authorized but unissued Shares or reacquired Shares, including Shares purchased by the Company on the open market for purposes of the Plan. If and to the extent any Award is forfeited, cancelled, terminated, exchanged, surrendered or settled in cash, the Shares counted against the Shares available under the Plan with respect to such Award shall, to the extent of such forfeiture, cancellation, termination, exchange, surrender or settlement, be available for all purposes of the Plan. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the following Shares shall not be added to the Shares available for issuance under the Plan: (i) Shares tendered by a Participant or withheld by the Company in payment of the exercise price of an Option; (ii) Shares tendered by a Participant or withheld by the Company to satisfy any tax withholding obligation with respect to an Award; and (iii) Shares subject to a SAR that are not issued in connection with the stock settlement of the SAR on exercise thereof. Upon the exercise of any Award granted in tandem with any other Awards, such related Awards shall be cancelled to the extent of the number of Shares as to which the Award is exercised. For the avoidance of doubt, if Shares are repurchased on the open market with proceeds of the exercise price of Options, such Shares may not again be made available for issuance under the Plan.
(b) The maximum aggregate number of Shares with respect to which one or more Awards may be made under the Plan to any individual during any calendar year shall be 750,000 Shares, subject to adjustment as described below and the maximum aggregate amount of cash that may be paid in cash to any person during any calendar year with respect to one or more Awards payable in cash shall be $5,000,000. To the extent required by Section 162(m) of the Code, Shares subject to Awards which are cancelled shall continue to be counted against the limitations provided for herein.
(c) In the event that the Committee shall determine that any dividend in Shares, recapitalization, Share split, reverse split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination, repurchase, share exchange, extraordinary distribution, or other similar corporate transaction or event, affects the Shares such that an adjustment is appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of the Participants under the Plan, then the Committee shall make such equitable changes or adjustments as it deems appropriate and, in such manner as it may deem equitable, (i) adjust any or all of (x) the number and kind of shares which may thereafter be issued under the Plan and the manner in which shares subject to Full Value Awards will be counted, (y) the number and kind of shares, other securities or other consideration issued or issuable in respect of outstanding Awards, and (z) the exercise price, grant price, or purchase price relating to any Award or (ii) provide for a distribution of cash or property in respect of any Award; provided, however, in each case that, with respect to ISOs, such adjustment shall be made in accordance with section 424(a) of the Code, unless the Committee determines otherwise; provided further, however, that no adjustment shall be made pursuant to this Section 3 that causes any Award to be treated as deferred compensation pursuant to section 409A of the Code. In addition, the Committee is authorized to make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria and performance objectives, if any, included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or non-recurring events (including, without limitation, events described in the preceding sentence) affecting the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate or the financial statements of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate, or in response to changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles. No amendment or adjustment under this Section 3(c) shall have the effect of reducing the amount payable for a Share to less than the par value of a Share. In addition, in the event of a Change in Control, the provisions of Section 7 shall apply. Any adjustments determined by the Committee shall be final, binding and conclusive.
(d) Any Shares distributed pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Shares or treasury Shares including Shares acquired by purchase in the open market or in private transactions.
(e) In connection with the acquisition of any business by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, any outstanding equity grants with respect to stock of the acquired company may be assumed or replaced by Awards under the Plan upon such terms and conditions as the Committee determines in its sole discretion. Shares subject to any such outstanding grants that are assumed or replaced by Awards under the Plan in connection with an acquisition (“Substitute Awards”) shall not reduce the aggregate share limit set forth in
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Section 3(a), consistent with applicable stock exchange requirements. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, Substitute Awards shall have such terms as the Committee deems appropriate, including without limitation exercise prices or base prices on different terms than those described herein, provided that the terms of such Substitute Awards shall not have the effect of reducing the amount payable for a Share to less than the par value of a Share. In the event that the Company assumes a shareholder-approved equity plan of an acquired company, available Shares under such assumed plan (after appropriate adjustments to reflect the transaction) may be issued pursuant to Awards under this Plan and shall not reduce the aggregate share limit set forth in Section 3(a), subject to applicable stock exchange requirements.
(f) Full Value Awards made to employees or consultants of the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate shall become vested over a period of not less than three years (or, in the case of vesting based upon the attainment of performance goals or other performance-based objectives, over a period of not less than one year measured from the commencement of the period over which performance is evaluated) following the date the Award is made; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to the limitation on the Committee’s discretion to accelerate vesting as set forth in Section 2(b), the Committee may provide that such vesting restrictions may lapse or be waived upon the Participant’s death, disability, retirement, any other specified Termination of Service or in the event of a Change in Control.
(g) Additionally, notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, but subject to Section 7, Awards granted pursuant to the Plan shall vest no earlier than the first anniversary of the date the Award is granted and no Award Agreement shall reduce or eliminate such minimum vesting requirement; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) subject to the limitation on the Committee’s discretion to accelerate vesting as set forth in Section 2(b), the Committee may provide that such minimum vesting restrictions may lapse or be waived upon the Participant’s Termination of Service and/or in connection with a Change in Control, and (ii) Awards that result in the issuance of an aggregate of up to 5% of the shares available for issuance under Section 3(a) as of the Effective Date may be granted to any one or more Participants without respect to such minimum vesting requirement. For the purposes of awards to non-employee directors, a vesting period shall be deemed to be one year if it runs from the date of one annual meeting of the Company’s shareholders to the next annual meeting of the Company’s shareholders, so long as the period between such meetings is not less than 50 weeks.
4. | Specific Terms of Awards. |
(a) General. Awards may be granted on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 4. In addition, the Committee may impose on any Award or the exercise thereof, at the date of grant or thereafter (subject to Section 9(d)), such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine, including terms regarding forfeiture of Awards or continued exercisability of Awards in the event of Termination of Service by the Eligible Person. All Awards shall be made conditional upon the Participant’s acknowledgement, in writing or by acceptance of the Award, that all decisions and determinations of the Committee shall be final and binding on the Participant, his or her beneficiaries and any other person having or claiming an interest under such Award. Awards under a particular Section of the Plan need not be uniform as among the Participants.
(b) Options. The Committee is authorized to grant Options, which may be NQSOs or ISOs, to Eligible Persons on the following terms and conditions:
(i) Exercise Price. The exercise price per Share purchasable under an Option shall be determined by the Committee; provided, however, that the exercise price per Share shall not be less than the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.
(ii) Option Term. The term of each Option shall be determined by the Committee; provided, however, that such term shall not be longer than ten years from the date of grant of the Option.
(iii) Time and Method of Exercise. The Committee shall determine at the date of grant or thereafter the time or times at which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part (including,
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without limitation, upon achievement of performance criteria if deemed appropriate by the Committee), the methods by which such exercise price may be paid or deemed to be paid (including, without limitation, broker-assisted exercise arrangements), the form of such payment (cash or Shares), and the methods by which Shares will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Eligible Persons.
(iv) ISOs. The terms of any ISO granted under the Plan shall comply in all respects with the provisions of section 422 of the Code, including but not limited to the requirement that the ISO shall be granted within ten years from the earlier of the date of adoption or shareholder approval of the Plan. ISOs may only be granted to employees of the Company or a Subsidiary.
(c) SARs. The Committee is authorized to grant SARs to Eligible Persons on the following terms and conditions:
(i) Right to Payment. A SAR shall confer on the Eligible Person to whom it is granted a right to receive with respect to each Share subject thereto, upon exercise thereof, the excess of (1) the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of exercise over (2) the exercise price per Share of the SAR, as determined by the Committee as of the date of grant of the SAR (which shall not be less than the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant).
(ii) Other Terms. The Committee shall determine, at the time of grant, the time or times at which a SAR may be exercised in whole or in part (which shall not be more than ten years after the date of grant of the SAR), the method of exercise, method of settlement, form of consideration payable in settlement (whether paid in the form of cash, in Shares of stock or a combination of the two), method by which Shares will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Eligible Persons, whether or not a SAR shall be in tandem with any other Award, and any other terms and conditions of any SAR. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, a SAR (1) granted in tandem with an NQSO may be granted at the time of grant of the related NQSO or at any time thereafter and (2) granted in tandem with an ISO may only be granted at the time of grant of the related ISO.
(d) Restricted Shares. The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Shares to Eligible Persons on the following terms and conditions:
(i) Issuance and Restrictions. Restricted Shares shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability and other restrictions, if any, as the Committee may impose at the date of grant or thereafter, which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times, under such circumstances (including, without limitation, upon achievement of performance criteria if deemed appropriate by the Committee), in such installments, or otherwise, as the Committee may determine. Except to the extent restricted under the Award Agreement relating to the Restricted Shares or set forth in Section 4(d)(iv) below, an Eligible Person granted Restricted Shares shall have all of the rights of a shareholder including, without limitation, the right to vote Restricted Shares and the right to receive dividends thereon (subject to clause (iv) below).
(ii) Forfeiture. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, at the date of grant or thereafter, upon Termination of Service during the applicable restriction period, Restricted Shares and any accrued but unpaid dividends or Dividend Equivalents that are at that time subject to restrictions shall be forfeited; provided, however, that the Committee may provide, by rule or regulation or in any Award Agreement, or, subject to Section 2(b), may determine in any individual case, that restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Restricted Shares will be waived in whole or in part.
(iii) Certificates for Shares. Restricted Shares granted under the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall determine. If certificates representing Restricted Shares are registered in the name of the Participant, such certificates shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Shares, and, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Company shall retain physical possession of the certificate and
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the Participant shall deliver a stock power to the Company, endorsed in blank, relating to the Restricted Shares.
(iv) Dividends. Dividends on Restricted Shares shall be deferred for payment to such date as determined by the Committee, consistent with the requirements of section 409A of the Code, and may be paid in cash or in unrestricted Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such dividends. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, Shares distributed in connection with a Share split or dividend in Shares, and cash or other property distributed as a dividend, shall be subject to restrictions and a risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the Restricted Shares with respect to which such Shares or other property has been distributed. Payment of any dividends deferred pursuant to this subsection (iv) shall be made only upon an event permitted by section 409A of the Code. Except as otherwise permitted under Section 3(c), dividends that accrue on Restricted Shares shall not be payable unless and until the applicable Restricted Share vests.
(e) Restricted Share Units. The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Share Units to Eligible Persons, subject to the following terms and conditions:
(i) Award and Restrictions. Delivery of Shares or cash, as the case may be, will occur upon expiration of the deferral period specified for Restricted Share Units by the Committee (or, if permitted by the Committee, as elected by the Eligible Person), but consistent with the requirements of section 409A of the Code. In addition, Restricted Share Units shall be subject to such restrictions as the Committee may impose, if any (including, without limitation, the achievement of performance criteria if deemed appropriate by the Committee), at the date of grant or thereafter, which restrictions may lapse at the expiration of the deferral period or at earlier or later specified times, separately or in combination, in installments or otherwise, as the Committee may determine.
(ii) Forfeiture. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee at the date of grant or thereafter, upon Termination of Service during the applicable deferral period or portion thereof to which forfeiture conditions apply (as provided in the Award Agreement evidencing the Restricted Share Units), or upon failure to satisfy any other conditions precedent to the delivery of Shares or cash to which such Restricted Share Units relate, all Restricted Share Units that are at that time subject to deferral or restriction shall be forfeited; provided, however, that the Committee may provide, by rule or regulation or in any Award Agreement, or, subject to Section 2(b), may determine in any individual case, that restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Restricted Share Units will be waived in whole or in part.
(iii) Dividend Equivalents. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the date of grant, Dividend Equivalents on the specified number of Shares covered by a Restricted Share Unit shall be either (A) paid with respect to such Restricted Share Unit that is not a Performance Stock Unit at the dividend payment date in cash or in unrestricted Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such dividends, or (B) deferred with respect to such Restricted Share Unit, consistent with the requirements of section 409A of the Code and the amount or value thereof paid in cash pursuant to the vesting schedule of the Restricted Share Unit or automatically deemed reinvested in additional Restricted Share Units or other Awards, as the Committee shall determine or permit the Participant to elect. Payment of any Dividend Equivalents deferred pursuant to this subsection (iii) shall be made only upon an event permitted by section 409A of the Code. Except as otherwise permitted under Section 3(c), Dividend Equivalents that accrue on Restricted Share Units shall not be payable unless and until the applicable Restricted Share Unit vests.
(f) Performance Awards. The Committee is authorized to grant Performance Awards to Eligible Persons on the following terms and conditions:
(i) The Committee is authorized to grant Performance Awards, including Awards of Performance Stock Units, to any Eligible Person and to determine whether such Performance Awards shall be “qualified performance-based compensation” under section 162(m) of the Code. The value of Performance Awards, including Performance Stock Units, may be linked to any one or more of
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the performance criteria set forth in Section 8(c) or other specific criteria determined by the Committee, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods and in such amounts as may be determined by the Committee. Performance Awards, including Performance Stock Unit awards, may be paid in cash, Shares, or a combination of cash and Shares, as determined by the Committee.
(ii) Without limiting Section 4(f)(i), the Committee may grant Performance Awards to any Eligible Individual in the form of a cash bonus payable upon the attainment of objective performance goals, or such other criteria, whether or not objective, which are established by the Committee, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the Committee. Any such bonuses paid to a Participant which are intended to be “qualified performance-based compensation” under section 162(m) of the Code shall be based upon objectively determinable bonus formulas established in accordance with the provisions of Section 8.
(iii) Performance Period. The Committee shall determine a performance period (the “Performance Period”) of one or more years or other periods and shall determine the performance objectives for grants of Performance Awards. Performance objectives may vary from Eligible Person to Eligible Person and shall be based upon the performance criteria as the Committee may deem appropriate. The performance objectives may be determined by reference to the performance of the Company, or of a Subsidiary or Affiliate, or of a division or unit of any of the foregoing. Performance Periods may overlap and Eligible Persons may participate simultaneously with respect to Performance Awards for which different Performance Periods are prescribed.
(iv) Award Value. At the beginning of a Performance Period, the Committee shall determine for each Eligible Person or group of Eligible Persons with respect to that Performance Period the range of number of Shares, if any, and the range of dollar values, if any, which may be fixed or may vary in accordance with such performance or other criteria specified by the Committee, which shall be paid to a Participant as an Award if the relevant measure of Company performance for the Performance Period is met.
(v) Significant Events. If during the course of a Performance Period there shall occur significant events as determined by the Committee which the Committee expects to have a substantial effect on a performance objective during such period, the Committee may revise such objective.
(vi) Forfeiture. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, at the date of grant or thereafter, upon Termination of Service during the applicable Performance Period, Performance Awards for which the Performance Period was prescribed shall be forfeited; provided, however, that the Committee may provide, by rule or regulation or in any Award Agreement, or, subject to Section 2(b), may determine in an individual case, that restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Performance Awards will be waived in whole or in part.
(vii) Payment. Each Performance Award may be paid in whole Shares, or cash, or a combination of Shares and cash either as a lump sum payment or in installments, all as the Committee shall determine, at the time of grant of the Performance Award or otherwise, commencing as soon as practicable after the end of the relevant Performance Period.
(g) Dividend Equivalents. The Committee is authorized to grant Dividend Equivalents to Eligible Persons. Dividend Equivalents shall not be granted with respect to Options or SARs. Except as otherwise permitted under Section 3(c), Dividend Equivalents that accrue on a Full Value Award shall not be payable unless and until the applicable shares subject to the Full Value Award vest.
(h) Other Share-Based Awards. The Committee is authorized, subject to limitations under applicable law, to grant to Eligible Persons such other Awards that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, Shares, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan, including, without limitation, unrestricted shares awarded purely as a “bonus” and not subject to any restrictions or conditions, other rights convertible or exchangeable into
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Shares, purchase rights for Shares, Awards with value and payment contingent upon performance of the Company or any other factors designated by the Committee, and Awards valued by reference to the performance of specified Subsidiaries or Affiliates. The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of such Awards at date of grant or thereafter. Shares delivered pursuant to an Award in the nature of a purchase right granted under this Section 4(h) shall be purchased for such consideration, paid for at such times, by such methods, and in such forms, including, without limitation, cash, Shares, notes or other property, as the Committee shall determine. Cash awards, as an element of or supplement to any other Award under the Plan, shall also be authorized pursuant to this Section 4(h).
(i) Payment of par value of Shares. The Committee may require that a condition of the delivery of Shares under Section 4(b), 4(c), 4(d), 4(e) or 4(f) above is that the Participant pays the par value of Shares to the Company prior to delivery of the Shares, if required to do so under the Act.
5. | Certain Provisions Applicable to Awards. |
(a) Stand-Alone, Additional, Tandem and Substitute Awards. Awards granted under the Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted to Eligible Persons either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in exchange or substitution for, any other Award granted under the Plan or any award granted under any other plan or agreement of the Company, any Subsidiary or Affiliate, or any business entity to be acquired by the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate, or any other right of an Eligible Person to receive payment from the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate. Awards may be granted in addition to or in tandem with such other Awards or awards, and may be granted either as of the same time as, or a different time from, the grant of such other Awards or awards. Subject to the provisions of Section 2(d) hereof prohibiting Option and SAR repricing without shareholder approval, the per Share exercise price of any Substitute Award shall be determined by the Committee, in its discretion.
(b) Term of Awards. The term of each Award granted to an Eligible Person shall be for such period as may be determined by the Committee; provided, however, that in no event shall the term of any Option or SAR exceed a period of ten years from the date of its grant (or such shorter period as may be applicable under section 422 of the Code).
(c) Form of Payment Under Awards. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, payments to be made by the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate upon the grant, maturation, or exercise of an Award may be made in such forms as the Committee shall determine at the date of grant or thereafter, including, without limitation, cash, Shares, notes or other property (if permissible under section 409A of the Code and the Act), and may be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments, or on a deferred basis, consistent with the requirements of section 409A of the Code and the Act. The Committee may make rules relating to installment or deferred payments with respect to Awards, consistent with the requirements of section 409A of the Code, including the rate of interest, if any, to be credited with respect to such payments.
(d) Noncompetition. The Committee may, by way of the Award Agreements or otherwise, establish such other terms, conditions, restrictions and/or limitations, if any, of any Award, provided they are not inconsistent with the Plan and applicable law, including, without limitation, the requirement that the Participant not engage in competition with, solicit customers or employees of, or disclose or use confidential information of the Company or its Subsidiaries and Affiliates.
6. | Transferability of Awards. |
(a) Restrictions on Transfer. Except as described in this Section 6, or unless otherwise set forth by the Committee in an Award Agreement, Awards shall not be transferable by a Participant except by will or the laws of descent and distribution (except pursuant to a Beneficiary designation) and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of a Participant only by such Participant or his guardian or legal representative. A Participant’s rights under the Plan may not be pledged, mortgaged, hypothecated, or otherwise encumbered, and shall not be subject to claims of the Participant’s creditors.
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(b) Transfer of NQSOs. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may provide in a Award Agreement that a Participant may transfer NQSOs to family members, or one or more trusts or other entities for the benefit of or owned by family members, consistent with the applicable securities laws, according to such terms as the Committee may determine; provided that the Participant receives no consideration for the transfer of a NQSO and the transferred NQSO shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable to the NQSO immediately before the transfer.
7. | Change in Control Provisions. |
Upon a Change in Control where the Company is not the surviving corporation (or survives only as a subsidiary of another corporation), all outstanding Options and SARs that are not exercised shall be assumed by, or replaced with comparable options or rights by, the surviving corporation (or a parent or subsidiary of the surviving corporation), and other outstanding Awards shall be converted to similar awards of the surviving corporation (or a parent or subsidiary of the surviving corporation). In the event that the surviving corporation in a Change in Control refuses to assume or substitute for an Award, the Award shall accelerate and become fully vested and exercisable upon the Change in Control and all restrictions and conditions on the Award shall lapse, provided that any Awards subject to performance-based vesting shall vest based on the greater of (i) actual performance as of the Change in Control or (ii) target performance, pro-rated based on the period elapsed between the beginning of the applicable performance period and the date of the Change in Control.
8. | Qualified Performance-Based Compensation. |
(a) Designation as Qualified Performance-Based Compensation. The Committee may determine that Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Performance Awards, Dividend Equivalents or Other Share-Based Awards granted to an employee shall be considered “qualified performance-based compensation” under section 162(m) of the Code. The provisions of this Section 8 shall apply to any such Awards that are to be considered “qualified performance-based compensation” under section 162(m) of the Code. The Committee may also grant Options or SARs under which the exercisability of the Options is subject to achievement of performance goals as described in this Section 8 or otherwise.
(b) Performance Goals. When Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Performance Awards, Dividend Equivalents or Other Share-Based Awards that are considered to be “qualified performance-based compensation” are granted, the Committee shall establish in writing (i) the objective performance goals that must be met, (ii) the period during which performance will be measured, (iii) the maximum amounts that may be paid if the performance goals are met, and (iv) any other conditions that the Committee deems appropriate and consistent with the requirements of section 162(m) of the Code for “qualified performance-based compensation.” The performance goals shall satisfy the requirements for “qualified performance-based compensation,” including the requirement that the achievement of the goals be substantially uncertain at the time they are established and that the performance goals be established in such a way that a third party with knowledge of the relevant facts could determine whether and to what extent the performance goals have been met. As to Awards identified by the Committee as “qualified performance-based compensation,” the Committee shall not have discretion to increase the amount of compensation that is payable, but may reduce the amount of compensation that is payable upon achievement of the designated performance goals.
(c) Criteria Used for Objective Performance Goals. The Committee shall use objectively determinable performance goals based on one or more of the following criteria: stock price, earnings per share, price-earnings multiples, net earnings, operating earnings, revenue, number of days sales outstanding in accounts receivable, productivity, margin, EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization), net capital employed, return on assets, shareholder return, return on equity, return on capital employed, growth in assets, unit volume, sales, cash flow, market share, or strategic business criteria consisting of one or more objectives based on meeting specified revenue goals, market penetration goals, customer growth, geographic business expansion goals, cost targets or goals relating to acquisitions or divestitures, any of which may be measured either in absolute terms or as compared to any incremental increase or decrease or as compared to results of a peer group or to market performance indicators or indices. The performance
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goals may relate to one or more business units or the performance of the Company as a whole, or any combination of the foregoing. Performance goals need not be uniform as among Participants.
(d) Timing of Establishment of Goals. The Committee shall pre-establish the performance goals in writing either before the beginning of the performance period or during a period ending no later than the earlier of (i) 90 days after the beginning of the performance period or (ii) the date on which 25% of the performance period has been completed, or such other date as may be required or permitted under applicable regulations under section 162(m) of the Code, provided that the outcome is substantially uncertain at the time of the Committee actually established the goal.
(e) Certification of Results. The Committee shall certify the performance results for the performance period specified in the Award Agreement after the performance period ends. The Committee shall determine the amount, if any, to be paid pursuant to each Award based on the achievement of the performance goals and the satisfaction of all other terms of the Award Agreement.
(f) Death, Disability or Other Circumstances. The Committee may provide in the Award Agreement that Awards under this Section 8 shall be payable, in whole or in part, in the event of the Participant’s death or disability, a Change in Control or under other circumstances consistent with the Treasury regulations and rulings under section 162(m) of the Code.
9. | General Provisions. |
(a) Compliance with Legal and Trading Requirements.
(i) The Plan, the granting and exercising of Awards thereunder, and the other obligations of the Company under the Plan and any Award Agreement, shall be subject to all applicable Irish law, US federal, state and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, and to such approvals by any stock exchange, regulatory or governmental agency as may be required. The Company, in its discretion, may postpone the issuance or delivery of Shares under any Award until completion of such stock exchange or market system listing or registration or qualification of such Shares or any required action under any Irish law, US state, federal or other applicable law, rule or regulation as the Company may consider appropriate, and may require any Participant to make such representations and furnish such information as it may consider appropriate in connection with the issuance or delivery of Shares in compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations. No provisions of the Plan shall be interpreted or construed to obligate the Company to register any Shares under Irish law, US federal or state law or other applicable law. The Shares issued under the Plan may be subject to such other restrictions on transfer as determined by the Committee.
(ii) With respect to persons subject to section 16 of the Exchange Act, it is the intent of the Company that the Plan and all transactions under the Plan comply with all applicable provisions of Rule 16b-3 or its successors under the Exchange Act. In addition, it is the intent of the Company that ISOs comply with the applicable provisions of section 422 of the Code, and Awards of “qualified performance-based compensation” comply with the applicable provisions of section 162(m) of the Code. To the extent that any legal requirement of section 16 of the Exchange Act or section 422 or 162(m) as set forth in the Plan ceases to be required under section 16 of the Exchange Act or section 422 or 162(m) of the Code, that Plan provision shall cease to apply. The Committee may revoke any Award if it is contrary to law or modify an Award to bring it into compliance with any valid and mandatory government regulation. The Committee may also adopt rules regarding the withholding of taxes on payments to Participants. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, agree to limit its authority under this Section.
(b) No Right to Continued Employment or Service. Neither the Plan nor any action taken thereunder shall be construed as giving any employee, consultant or director the right to be retained in the employ or service of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, nor shall it interfere in any way with any right of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates to terminate any employee’s, consultant’s or director’s employment or service at any time, subject to applicable law.
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(c) Taxes. The Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate is authorized to withhold from any Award granted, any payment relating to an Award under the Plan, including from a distribution of Shares, or any payroll or other payment to an Eligible Person, amounts of minimum withholding and other taxes due in connection with any transaction involving an Award, and to take such other action as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable under applicable laws to enable the Company and Eligible Persons to satisfy obligations for the payment of withholding taxes and other tax obligations relating to any Award. This authority shall include authority to withhold or receive Shares or other property and to make cash payments in respect thereof in satisfaction of an Eligible Person’s tax obligations; provided, however, that the amount of tax withholding to be satisfied by withholding Shares shall be limited to the minimum amount of taxes, including employment taxes, required to be withheld under applicable Irish law, US federal, state and other applicable law.
(d) Changes to the Plan and Awards. The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the Plan or the Committee’s authority to grant Awards under the Plan without the consent of shareholders of the Company or Participants, except that any such amendment or alteration shall be subject to the approval of the Company’s shareholders to the extent such shareholder approval is required under (i) the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares may then be listed or quoted, (ii) the Act, (iii) section 162(m) of the Code or (iv) as it applies to ISOs, to the extent such shareholder approval is required under section 422 of the Code; provided, however, that, without the consent of an affected Participant, no amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation, or termination of the Plan may materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant under any Award theretofore granted to him or her. The Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate, any Award theretofore granted, prospectively or retrospectively; provided, however, that, without the consent of a Participant, no amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination of any Award may materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant under any Award theretofore granted to him or her. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, the Plan and any Award Agreements issued under the Plan may be amended, without the consent of a Participant, in any respect deemed by the Board or the Committee to be necessary in order to preserve compliance with, or perfect an exemption from, section 409A of the Code.
(e) No Rights to Awards; No Shareholder Rights. No Eligible Person or employee shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Eligible Persons and employees. No Award shall confer on any Eligible Person any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company unless and until Shares are duly issued or transferred to the Eligible Person in accordance with the terms of the Award.
(f) Unfunded Status of Awards. The Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan for incentive compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award shall give any such Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company; provided, however, that the Committee may authorize the creation of trusts or make other arrangements to meet the Company’s obligations under the Plan to deliver cash, Shares, other Awards, or other property pursuant to any Award, which trusts or other arrangements shall be consistent with the “unfunded” status of the Plan unless the Committee otherwise determines with the consent of each affected Participant.
(g) Nonexclusivity of the Plan. Neither the adoption of the Plan by the Board nor its submission to the shareholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable, including, without limitation, the granting of options and other awards otherwise than under the Plan, and such arrangements may be either applicable generally or only in specific cases.
(h) Not Compensation for Benefit Plans. No Award payable under this Plan shall be deemed salary or compensation for the purpose of computing benefits under any benefit plan or other arrangement of the Company for the benefit of its employees, consultants or directors unless the Company shall determine otherwise.
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(i) No Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award. The Committee shall determine whether cash, other Awards, or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of such fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.
(j) Employees Subject to Taxation outside the United States. With respect to Participants who are subject to taxation in countries other than the United States, the Committee may make Awards on such terms and conditions as the Committee deems appropriate to comply with the laws of the applicable countries, and the Committee may create such procedures, addenda and subplans and make such modifications as may be necessary or advisable to comply with such laws.
(k) Company Policies. All Awards granted under the Plan shall be subject to any applicable clawback or recoupment policies, share trading policies and other policies that may be implemented by the Board from time to time.
(l) Governing Law. The validity, construction, and effect of the Plan, any rules and regulations relating to the Plan, and any Award Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the laws of Ireland, without giving effect to principles of conflict of laws thereof.
(m) Effective Date. The Plan (as amended and restated) shall become effective as of February 22, 2017, the date the Plan is approved by the Board, subject to approval of the Plan by the Company’s stockholders (the “Effective Date”). No Awards may be granted or awarded during any period of suspension or after termination of the Plan, and in no event may any Incentive Stock Option be granted under the Plan after the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Effective Date.
(n) Section 409A. The Plan is intended to comply with section 409A of the Code, or an exemption, and payments may only be made under the Plan upon an event and in a manner permitted by section 409A of the Code, to the extent applicable. Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, if required by section 409A of the Code, if a Participant is considered a “specified employee” for purposes of section 409A and if payment of any Award under this Plan is required to be delayed for a period of six months after “separation from service” within the meaning of section 409A of the Code, payment of such Award shall be delayed as required by section 409A, and the accumulated amounts with respect to such Award shall be paid in a lump sum payment within ten (10) days after the end of the six (6) month period. If the Participant dies during the postponement period prior to the payment of benefits, the amounts withheld on account of section 409A shall be paid to the Participant’s Beneficiary within sixty (60) days after the date of the Participant’s death. For purposes of section 409A of the Code, each payment under the Plan shall be treated as a separate payment. In no event shall a Participant, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of payment. To the extent that any provision of the Plan would cause a conflict with the requirements of section 409A of the Code, or would cause the administration of the Plan to fail to satisfy the requirements of section 409A, such provision shall be deemed null and void to the extent permitted by applicable law. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, each Participant shall be solely responsible for the tax consequences of Awards under the Plan, and in no event shall the Company have any responsibility or liability if an Award does not meet any applicable requirements of section 409A of the Code. Although the Company intends to administer the Plan to prevent taxation under section 409A of the Code, the Company does not represent or warrant that the Plan or any Award complies with any provision of Federal, state, local or other tax law.
(o) Titles and Headings. The titles and headings of the sections in the Plan are for convenience of reference only. In the event of any conflict, the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings, shall control.
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