Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for Directors
Exhibit 10.26
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Number of Restricted Stock Units subject to Award: | |
Date of Grant: |
TRINSEO S.A.
Amended& Restated 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan
Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (Non-Employee Directors)
This agreement (this “Agreement”) evidences an award (the “Award”) of restricted stock units (the “Restricted Stock Units”) granted by Trinseo S.A. (the “Company”) to the undersigned (the “Grantee”) pursuant to the Trinseo S.A. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan (as amended from time to time, the “Plan”), which is incorporated herein by reference.
The Award shall not be interpreted to bestow upon the Grantee any equity interest or ownership in the Company or any Affiliate prior to the date on which the Company delivers shares of Stock to the Grantee (if any). The Grantee is not entitled to vote any shares of Stock by reason of the granting of this Award or to receive or be credited with any dividends declared and payable on any share of Stock prior to the date on which any such share is delivered to the Grantee hereunder. The Grantee shall have the rights of a shareholder only as to those shares of Stock, if any, that are delivered under this Award.
To avoid negative accounting treatment, the Company and/or its Affiliates may withhold or account for Tax-Related Items by considering applicable minimum statutory withholding amounts or other applicable withholding rates. If the obligation for Tax- Related Items is satisfied by withholding in Stock, for tax purposes, the Grantee is deemed to have been issued the full number of shares of Stock attributable to the vested Restricted Stock Units, notwithstanding that a number of share are held back solely for the purpose of paying the Tax-Related Items due as a result of any aspect of the Grantee’s participation in the Plan.
The Grantee shall pay to the Company and/or its Affiliates any amount of Tax- Related Items that the Company and/or its Affiliates may be required to withhold or account for as a result of the Grantee’s participation in the Plan that will not for any reason be satisfied by the means previously described. The Company may refuse to issue or deliver the Stock or the proceeds of the sale of Stock if the Grantee fails to comply with the Grantee’s obligations in connection with the Tax-Related Items.
By accepting this grant of Restricted Stock Units, the Grantee expressly consents to the methods of withholding Tax-Related Items by the Company and/or its Affiliates as set forth herein, including the withholding of Stock and the withholding from the Grantee's cash retainer or other amounts payable to the Grantee. All other Tax-Related Items related to the Restricted Stock Units and any Stock delivered in satisfaction thereof are the Grantee's sole responsibility.
[Signature page follows.]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized officer.
TRINSEO S.A.
By:
Name: Frank Bozich
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
Dated:
Acknowledged and Agreed:
By:
[Signature Page to Restricted Stock Unit Agreement]
COUNTRY APPENDIX
ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS TO RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT
This Country Appendix (“Appendix”) includes the following additional terms and conditions that govern the Grantee’s Restricted Stock Unit Award for all the Grantees that reside and/or work outside of the United States.
Notifications
This Appendix also includes information regarding exchange controls and certain other issues of which the Grantee should be aware with respect to the Grantee’s participation in the Plan. The information is based on the securities, exchange control and other laws in effect in the respective countries as of December 2020. Such laws are often complex and change frequently. As a result, the Company strongly recommends that the Grantee not rely on the information in this Appendix as the only source of information relating to the consequences of the Grantee’s participation in the Plan because the information may be out of date at the time that the Restricted Stock Units vest, or Stock is delivered in settlement of the Restricted Stock Units, or the Grantee sells any Stock acquired under the Plan.
In addition, the information contained herein is general in nature and may not apply to the Grantee’s particular situation, and none of the Company, its Affiliates, nor the Administrator is in a position to assure the Grantee of a particular result. Accordingly, the Grantee is advised to seek appropriate professional advice as to how the relevant laws in the Grantee’s country of residence and/or work may apply to the Grantee’s situation.
Finally, if the Grantee transfers employment after the Grant Date, or is considered a resident of another country for local law purposes following the Grant Date, the notifications contained herein may not be applicable to the Grantee, and the Administrator shall, in its discretion, determine to what extent the terms and conditions contained herein shall be applicable to the Grantee.
Terms and Conditions Applicable to All Non-U.S. Jurisdictions
English Language. The Grantee acknowledges and agrees that it is the Grantee’s express intent that this Agreement, the Plan and all other documents, rules, procedures, forms, notices and legal proceedings entered into, given or instituted pursuant to the Restricted Stock Unit Award, be drawn up in English. If the Grantee has received this Agreement, the Plan or any other rules, procedures, forms or documents related to the Restricted Stock Unit Award translated into a language other than English, and if the meaning of the translated version is different than the English version, the English version will control.
Compliance with Law. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or this Agreement, unless there is an exemption from any registration, qualification or other legal requirement applicable to the Stock, the Company shall not be required to deliver any shares issuable upon settlement of the Restricted Stock Unit prior to the completion of any registration or qualification of the shares under
any local, state, federal or foreign securities or exchange control law or under rulings or regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or of any other governmental regulatory body, or prior to obtaining any approval or other clearance from any local, state, federal or foreign governmental agency, which registration, qualification or approval the Company shall, in its absolute discretion, deem necessary or advisable. The Grantee understands that the Company is under no obligation to register or qualify the shares with the SEC or any state or foreign securities commission or to seek approval or clearance from any governmental authority for the issuance or sale of the shares. Further, the Grantee agrees that the Company shall have unilateral authority to amend the Agreement without the Grantee’s consent to the extent necessary to comply with securities or other laws applicable to issuance of shares of Stock.
Insider Trading/Market Abuse. The Grantee acknowledges that, depending on the Grantee’s or his or her broker's country or where the shares of Stock are listed, the Grantee may be subject to insider trading restrictions and/or market abuse laws which may affect the Grantee’s ability to accept, acquire, sell or otherwise dispose of shares of Stock, rights to shares of Stock (e.g., Restricted Stock Units) or rights linked to the value of shares of Stock (e.g., phantom awards, futures) during such times the Grantee is considered to have “inside information” regarding the Company as defined in the laws or regulations in the applicable jurisdictions). Local insider trading laws and regulations may prohibit the cancellation or amendment of orders the Grantee placed before the Grantee possessed inside information. Furthermore, the Grantee could be prohibited from (i) disclosing the inside information to any third party (other than on a “need to know” basis) and (ii) “tipping” third parties or causing them otherwise to buy or sell securities. Keep in mind third parties includes fellow employees. Any restrictions under these laws or regulations are separate from and in addition to any restrictions that may be imposed under any applicable insider trading policy of the Company. The Grantee is responsible for complying with any restrictions and should speak to his or her personal advisor on this matter.
Exchange Control, Foreign Asset/Account and/or Tax Reporting. Depending upon the country to which laws the Grantee is subject, the Grantee may have certain foreign asset/account and/or tax reporting requirements that may affect the Grantee’s ability to acquire or hold shares of Stock under the Plan or cash received from participating in the Plan (including from any dividends or dividend equivalents or sale proceeds arising from the sale of shares of Stock) in a brokerage or bank account outside the Grantee’s country of residence. The Grantee’s country may require that the Grantee reports such accounts, assets or transactions to the applicable authorities in his or her country. The Grantee also may be required to repatriate cash received from participating in the Plan to the Grantee’s country within a certain period of time after receipt. The Grantee is responsible for knowledge of and compliance with any such regulations and should speak with his or her personal tax, legal and financial advisors regarding same.
Commercial Relationship. The Grantee expressly recognizes that the Grantee’s participation in the Plan and the Company’s Award grant does not constitute an employment relationship between the Grantee and the Company. The Grantee has been granted Restricted Stock Units as a consequence of the commercial relationship between the Company and the Employer, and the Employer is the Grantee’s sole employer. Based on the foregoing, (a) the Grantee expressly recognizes the Plan and the benefits the Grantee may derive from participation in the Plan do not establish any rights between the Grantee and the Affiliate that employs the Grantee, (b) the Plan and the benefits the
Grantee may derive from participation in the Plan are not part of the employment conditions and/or benefits provided by the Affiliate that employs the Grantee, and (c) any modifications or amendments of the Plan by the Company or the Administrator, or a termination of the Plan by the Company, shall not constitute a change or impairment of the terms and conditions of the Grantee’s employment with the Affiliate that employs the Grantee.
Private Placement. The grant of the Award is not intended to be a public offering of securities in the Grantee’s country of residence and/or employment but instead is intended to be a private placement. As a private placement, the Company has not submitted any registration statement, prospectus or other filings with the local securities authorities (unless otherwise required under local law), and the grant of the Restricted Stock Unit Award is not subject to the supervision of the local securities authorities.
Additional Acknowledgements. The GRANTEE also acknowledges and agrees to the following:
● | The Plan is established voluntarily by the Company, it is discretionary in nature, and it may be modified, amended, suspended or terminated by the Company at any time, to the extent permitted by the Plan. |
● | All decisions with respect to future Awards or other grants, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Company. |
● | The future value of the underlying Stock is unknown, undeterminable and cannot be predicted with certainty. |
● | The Award and the Stock subject to the Award, and the income and value of same, are not part of normal or expected compensation or salary for any purpose and are not intended to replace any pension rights or compensation. |
● | The Grantee’s participation in the Plan is voluntary. |
● | No claim or entitlement to compensation or damages arises from the forfeiture of the Award or any of the Restricted Stock Units, the termination of the Plan, or the diminution in value of the Restricted Stock Units or Stock, and the Grantee irrevocably releases the Company, its Affiliates, the Administrator and their affiliates from any such claim that may arise. |
● | The Restricted Stock Unit and the Stock subject to the Restricted Stock Unit, and the income and value of same, are not part of normal or expected compensation for purposes of, including but not limited to, calculating any severance, resignation, termination, redundancy, dismissal, end-of-service payments, bonuses, holiday pay, long-service awards, pension or retirement or welfare benefits or similar payments. |
● | Unless otherwise agreed with the Company in writing, the Award and the Stock subject to the Restricted Stock Unit, and the income and value of same, are not granted as consideration for, or in connection with, any service the Grantee may provide as a director of the Company or its |
Affiliates. |
● | Neither the Company nor its Affiliates shall be liable for any foreign exchange rate fluctuation between the Grantee’s local currency and the U.S. Dollar that may affect the value of the Restricted Stock Units or of any amounts due to the Grantee pursuant to the settlement of the Restricted Stock Units or the subsequent sale of any Stock acquired upon settlement. |
None of the Company, its Affiliates, nor the Administrator is providing any tax, legal or financial advice or making any recommendations regarding the Grantee’s participation in the Plan, the grant, vesting or settlement of the Grantee’s Restricted Stock Units, or the Grantee’s acquisition or sale of the Stock delivered in settlement of the Restricted Stock Units. The Grantee is hereby advised to consult with his own personal tax, legal and financial advisors regarding his participation in the Plan before taking any action related to the Plan.
SWITZERLAND
Notifications
Securities Law Information. Neither this document nor any other materials relating to the grant of Restricted Stock Units (i) constitutes a prospectus according to articles 35 et seq. of the Swiss Federal Act on Financial Services (“FinSA”) (ii) may be publicly distributed nor otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland to any person other than an employee of the Company or (iii) have been or will be filed with, approved or supervised by any Swiss reviewing body according to article 51 of FinSA or any Swiss regulatory authority, including the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA).