DATED 21 JULY 2022
RULES OF THE HALMA PLC EXECUTIVE SHARE PLAN 2022
Adopted by the Committee on 8 June 2022
[Approved by the Company's shareholders on 21 July 2022]
| 1. |
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION |
1 |
| 2. |
GRANT OF AWARDS
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5 |
| 3. |
VESTING, RELEASE AND EXERCISE |
6 |
| 4. |
SETTLEMENT |
9 |
| 5. |
LEAVERS 10 |
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| 6. |
CORPORATE EVENTS12 |
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| 7. |
INTERNATIONAL TRANSFERS14 |
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| 8. |
REDUCTION AND RECOVERY15 |
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| 9. |
AMENDMENTS 16 |
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| 10. |
MISCELLANEOUS 17 |
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| SCHEDULE 1: PHANTOM AWARDS20 |
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SCHEDULE 2: MARKET VALUE OPTIONS22 |
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1. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
1.1 Definitions
Unless otherwise stated, the words and expressions below have the following meanings:
"Award" means a Conditional Award or a Nil-cost Option;
"Board" means the board of directors of the Company;
"Bonus" means an amount payable pursuant to an annual bonus plan operated by any Group Company;
"Buy-out" means an Award granted as a bona fide buy-out of remuneration forfeited by an Eligible Employee in connection with their recruitment by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
"Committee" means the remuneration committee of the Board or any person or persons duly authorised and appointed by them;
"Companies Act" means the UK Companies Act 2006;
"Company" means Halma plc (registered in England and Wales with registered number 40932);
"Conditional Award" means a right to receive Shares at nil cost, subject to the rules of the Plan;
"Control" has the meaning given by section 995 of the UK Income Tax Act 2007;
"Dealing Day" means any day on which the London Stock Exchange is open for business;
"Dealing Restrictions" means restrictions imposed by the Company's share dealing code, the Listing Rules published by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, the EU Market Abuse Regulation 596/2014 (as retained in UK law) or any other relevant laws or regulations that impose restrictions on share dealing;
"Deferred Bonus" means the amount of Bonus that is to be delivered in the form of an Award;
"Deferred Bonus Award" means an Award that represents a Deferred Bonus;
"Deferred Share Award" means an Award (other than a Deferred Bonus Award or a Buyout) that is not subject to a Performance Condition;
"Dividend Equivalent" means the right for a Participant to receive any additional Shares or cash in accordance with rule 3.4;
"Early Vesting Trigger" means the reason under the rules of the Plan for which an Award Vests before its Normal Vesting Date;
"Eligible Employee" means:
(a) in respect of a Performance Share Award, an employee (including an executive director) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
- (b) in respect of a Deferred Share Award, an employee (excluding an executive director) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
- (c) in respect of a Deferred Bonus Award, an employee (including an executive director) or former employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, who has earned a Bonus for the financial year in respect of which the Award will be granted; and
- (d) in respect of a Buy-out, an employee (including an executive director) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
"Exercise Period" means the period beginning on the Release Date and ending on the tenth anniversary of the Grant Date (or such earlier date as the Committee may determine on or before the Grant Date);
"Good Leaver" means:
- (a) in respect of an Award other than a Deferred Bonus Award, a Participant who Leaves in accordance with rule 5.2(a); and
- (b) in respect of a Deferred Bonus Award, such Participant as the Committee may determine in accordance with rule 5.3(b);
"Grant Date" means the date on which an Award is granted;
"Grant Period" means the period of 42 days beginning on:
- (a) the day on which the Plan is approved by the shareholders of the Company in general meeting;
- (b) the first Dealing Day after the day on which the Company makes an announcement of its results for any period; or
- (c) the day on which the Policy is approved by shareholders of the Company in general meeting,
unless Dealing Restrictions prevent the Company from granting Awards during any such period, in which case Grant Period means the period of 42 days beginning on the day after such Dealing Restrictions lift;
"Group Company" means the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any Holding Company of the Company, any Subsidiary of a Holding Company of the Company or any other company that is associated with the Company and so designated by the Committee, and "Group" will be construed accordingly;
"Holding Company" has the meaning given by section 1159 of the Companies Act;
"Holding Period" means a period beginning on the Normal Vesting Date and ending on the second anniversary of the Normal Vesting Date (or such other period as the Committee may determine on or before the Grant Date);
"Internal Reorganisation" means a change of Control of the Company, where immediately after such change of Control, all or substantially all of the share capital of the acquiring company is owned directly or indirectly by the persons who were shareholders in the Company immediately before the change of Control;
"Leaving" has the meaning given in rule 5.6, and "Leaves" and "Left" will be construed accordingly;
"Nil-cost Option" means a right to acquire Shares at nil cost (or, if the Committee determines before the Grant Date, for a Nominal Exercise Price) following exercise, subject to the rules of the Plan;
"Nominal Exercise Price" means an amount equal to the nominal cost of a Share payable per Share on the exercise of a Nil-cost Option;
"Normal Vesting Date" means:
- (a) in respect of an Award other than a Deferred Bonus Award, the third anniversary of the Grant Date; and
- (b) in respect of a Deferred Bonus Award, the second anniversary of the Grant Date,
or such other date as the Committee may determine on or before the Grant Date;
"Participant" means any person who holds an Award;
"Performance Condition" means a condition to the Vesting of an Award that relates to performance;
"Performance Period" means the period over which a Performance Condition will be measured, which will be three years from the beginning of the financial year in respect of which the relevant Award is granted (or, other than in the case of a Performance Share Award granted to an executive director of the Company, such other period as the Committee may determine on or before the Grant Date);
"Performance Share Award" means an Award (other than a Deferred Bonus Award or a Buyout) that is subject to a Performance Condition;
"Phantom Award" means an Award granted under schedule 1;
"Plan" means the Halma plc Executive Share Plan 2022, as amended from time to time;
"Policy" means the Company's directors' remuneration policy that has most recently been approved by the Company's shareholders at general meeting;
"Recovery Period" means, in relation to an Award, the period beginning on the start of the Vesting Period (or, in relation to an Award that is subject to a Performance Condition, beginning on the start of the Performance Period) and, subject to rule 8.6, ending on the third anniversary of the Normal Vesting Date;
"Release" means:
- (a) in relation to a Conditional Award, that the Participant becomes entitled to receive the Shares under the Award to the extent it has Vested; and
- (b) in relation to a Nil-cost Option, that the Award becomes capable of exercise to the extent it has Vested,
in either case, subject to the rules of the Plan, and "Released" and "Unreleased" will be construed accordingly;
"Release Date" means the date on which an Award is Released;
"Share" means an ordinary share in the Company;
"Shareholding Ownership Guideline" means the Company's shareholding ownership guideline in force from time to time, as notified to any Participant to whom it applies;
"Subsidiary" has the meaning given by section 1159 of the Companies Act;
"Takeover Event" has the meaning given in rule 6.1(a);
"Tax Liability" means any tax or social security contributions liability in connection with an Award for which the Participant is liable (or which may be recovered from the Participant) and for which any Group Company or former Group Company is obliged to account to any relevant authority;
"Termination Date" means the tenth anniversary of the date when the Company's shareholders approved the adoption of the Plan in general meeting or at any earlier time that the Committee may determine;
"Vest" means:
- (a) in relation to a Conditional Award, that the number of Shares that the Participant will become entitled to receive on its Release is determined; and
- (b) in relation to a Nil-cost Option, that the number of Shares over which the Award will become capable of exercise on its Release is determined,
in either case, subject to the rules of the Plan, and "Vesting", "Vested" and "Unvested" will be construed accordingly;
"Vesting Date" means the date on which an Award Vests; and
"Vesting Period" means, in relation to an Award, the period beginning on the Grant Date and ending on the Normal Vesting Date.
1.2 Interpretation
- (a) References to:
- (i) any body include any successor body;
- (ii) any statutory provisions or related rules are to those provisions or rules as amended or re-enacted from time to time; and
- (iii) the singular include the plural, and vice versa.
- (b) Headings do not form part of the Plan.
2. GRANT OF AWARDS
2.1 Type of Award
An Award granted under the Plan shall comprise:
- (a) a Performance Share Award;
- (b) a Deferred Share Award;
- (c) a Deferred Bonus Award; or
- (d) a Buy-out.
2.2 Grant
- (a) The Committee may at any time before the Termination Date grant an Award to an Eligible Employee in such form and manner as it determines, provided that the Grant Date occurs:
- (i) during a Grant Period; or
- (ii) on a day on which the Committee resolves that exceptional circumstances exist which justify the grant of Awards.
- (b) As soon as reasonably practicable after the Grant Date, a Participant will be notified of the terms of their Award, including:
- (i) the type of Award, its form and the number of Shares to which it relates;
- (ii) its Normal Vesting Date;
- (iii) any applicable Performance Condition and Performance Period;
- (iv) any Holding Period;
- (v) whether Dividend Equivalents will apply;
- (vi) in the case if a Nil-cost Option, the Exercise Period and, if relevant, the Nominal Exercise Price; and
- (vii) any other terms.
- (c) If an Award is divided into different tranches that are subject to different terms, each tranche will be treated as a separate Award for the purposes of the Plan.
- (d) The Committee may lapse an Award if it has not been accepted by the Participant in such form as the Committee reasonably requires before such date as the Committee prescribes.
2.3 Individual limits
(a) The Committee may not grant an Eligible Employee an Award (other than a Buy-out or a Deferred Bonus Award) that would cause the market value of the Shares subject to all Awards (other than Buy-outs or a Deferred Bonus Awards) to be granted to them in respect of a financial year of the Company to exceed such limit as is permitted by the Policy.
- (b) The Committee may not grant an Eligible Employee a Deferred Bonus Award over such number of Shares as have a market value in excess of such Eligible Employee's Deferred Bonus.
- (c) The Committee will calculate market value for the purposes of this rule 2.3 on the Grant Date on such reasonable basis as it determines and any Awards made in excess of the relevant limit will be reduced accordingly.
2.4 Plan limits
- (a) The Committee may not grant an Award on any day if the number of Shares that could be allocated to that Award, when aggregated with the number of Shares that have already been allocated or could be allocated under awards granted in the previous ten years:
- (i) under any scheme adopted by any Group Company, would exceed 10% of the Company's issued ordinary share capital; or
- (ii) under any discretionary scheme adopted by any Group Company, would exceed 5% of the Company's issued ordinary share capital.
- (b) For the purposes of rule 2.4(a), Shares are "allocated" if they have been, or the Committee intends that they will be, newly issued or transferred from treasury (directly or indirectly) to satisfy an Award or any other right to Shares, provided that Shares will cease to be allocated to the extent that:
- (i) the Awards or other rights to which they relate lapse, or are satisfied or are intended to be satisfied with existing Shares and/or cash; and/or
- (ii) institutional investor guidelines no longer require Shares transferred from treasury to be included in the limits.
3. VESTING, RELEASE AND EXERCISE
3.1 Timing of Vesting
Unless otherwise prescribed in the rules of the Plan, an Award will Vest, subject to rule 3.2, on the later of:
- (a) its Normal Vesting Date; and
- (b) if relevant, the date on which the Committee determines the extent to which any Performance Condition has been satisfied,
and, as soon as reasonably practicable after the Vesting Date, the Committee shall notify the Participant of the extent to which their Award has Vested.
3.2 Extent of Vesting
- (a) If an Award is subject to a Performance Condition, the Committee will determine the extent to which the applicable Performance Condition has been satisfied as soon as reasonably practicable following the end of the Performance Period, and, subject to any reduction under rule 3.2(c), the Award will Vest in accordance with such determination.
- (b) If an Award (other than a Deferred Bonus Award) Vests under the rules of the Plan before its Normal Vesting Date, the Committee will, subject to rule 3.2(c), determine the number of Shares in respect of which such Award Vests:
- (i) by determining the extent to which any applicable Performance Condition has been satisfied on the date of the Early Vesting Trigger on such basis as the Committee considers reasonable; and
- (ii) by reducing the Vesting level to reflect the proportion of the Vesting Period that is unexpired on the date of the Early Vesting Trigger, unless:
- (A) the Committee considers it appropriate to apply a lesser reduction or none at all; or
- (B) the Award is held by a Good Leaver and a reduction has been applied under rule 5.2(b)(i).
- (c) In determining the extent to which a Performance Condition has been satisfied (whether under rule 3.2(a) or rule 3.2(b)) or at any other time before an Award Vests, the Committee may reduce (including to nil) the extent to which an Award would otherwise Vest (based on the formulaic application of a Performance Condition or otherwise) to reflect such circumstances as the Committee may, in its absolute discretion, determine, including (without limitation):
- (i) the underlying performance (financial or otherwise) of the Participant or the Group since the beginning of the Vesting Period (or, in relation to an Award that is subject to a Performance Condition, the beginning of the Performance Period); and/or
- (ii) circumstances that were unexpected or unforeseen at the Grant Date.
- (d) An Award shall lapse to the extent that:
- (i) it does not Vest under this rule 3.2; or
- (ii) any other condition to which Vesting is subject has not been satisfied on the date it is due to Vest, unless such condition is waived by the Committee.
3.3 Release
- (a) Unless otherwise prescribed in the rules of the Plan, an Award will be Released on its Vesting Date.
- (b) An Award shall lapse to the extent that any condition to Release has not been satisfied on the date it is due to be Released, unless such condition is waived by the Committee.
(c) The Committee shall notify a Participant of the Release of their Award.
3.4 Dividend Equivalents
If the Committee determines that Dividend Equivalents will apply to an Award, the Participant shall be entitled on settlement of the Award (in accordance with rule 4.1) to an amount in cash or additional Shares equal in value to any dividends (excluding special dividends) that would have been paid on the Shares in relation to which a Conditional Award has been Released or a Nil-cost Option has been exercised (as applicable) between its Grant Date and Release Date, determined on such reasonable basis as the Committee in its discretion decides. This amount will not presume the reinvestment of dividends unless the Committee determines otherwise.
3.5 Restrictions on Vesting and Release
If on the date on which an Award would otherwise Vest or be Released:
- (a) a Dealing Restriction applies that would prevent such Vesting or Release, the Award will instead Vest or be Released on the date on which such Dealing Restriction lifts;
- (b) the action or conduct of any Participant, Group Company or relevant business unit is under investigation in connection with the operation of rule 8 (or the equivalent provisions of another employee incentive plan operated by a Group Company) and such investigation has not been concluded, the Committee may determine that the Award will instead (subject to any action taken under rule 8) Vest or be Released on such date that it determines the investigation has been concluded; or
- (c) an event has occurred which causes the Committee reasonably to consider that it would be appropriate to do so, the Committee may alter the date on which an Award Vests or is Released, which may include a delay in Vesting or Release and/or an Award Vesting or being Released in instalments.
3.6 Exercise of Nil-cost Options
- (a) Unless otherwise prescribed in the rules of the Plan, a Released Nil-cost Option may be exercised during the Exercise Period at any time that a Dealing Restriction would not prevent exercise and in such manner as the Committee may determine.
- (b) Exercise of a Nil-cost Option in whole or in part (and if in part, on more than one occasion) shall be effected by the Participant executing such process as the Committee may determine and making payment (in such form as is acceptable to the Committee, which may include an undertaking to pay) of any Nominal Exercise Price.
- (c) A Nil-cost Option will lapse at the end of the Exercise Period to the extent that it has not been exercised or otherwise lapsed under the rules of the Plan.
3.7 Share Ownership Guideline and Holding Period
A Conditional Share Award will not be Released to and a Nil-cost Option may not be exercised by a Participant who is subject to the Share Ownership Guideline or whose Award is subject to a Holding Period unless the Committee is satisfied that there are sufficient measures in place in order to enforce the Share Ownership Guideline or Holding Period, which may include:
(a) the Participant having entered into an agreement with such person and in such form as the Committee may determine, pursuant to which such person will hold any Shares to which the Participant becomes entitled under the Plan as nominee for the Participant; and
(b) the Participant taking such other action as the Committee may reasonably require.
4. SETTLEMENT
4.1 Delivery of Shares or cash
- (a) Subject to any requirements under rule 3.7 and the Participant having entered into any such arrangements as the Committee may require in order to settle any Tax Liability relating to their Award, the number of Shares in respect of which an Award has been Released or, in the case of a Nil-cost Option been validly exercised in accordance with rule 3.6(b) (including any Dividend Equivalent to be settled with additional Shares), will be delivered to the Participant or, at the discretion of the Committee, their nominee within 30 days of the Release Date of the Conditional Award or the exercise of the Nilcost Option (as applicable).
- (b) The Committee may at any time determine that, in substitution for some or all of the Shares that would otherwise have been delivered to a Participant or their nominee pursuant to rule 4.1(a), the Participant will instead be paid a cash sum equal to the market value (calculated on such reasonable basis as the Committee determines) of such Shares and any such cash sum and any Dividend Equivalent to be settled in cash will be paid to the Participant in the next practicable payroll following the Release Date of the Conditional Award or the exercise of the Nil-cost Option net of any Tax Liability. In the case of a Nil-cost Option, any aggregate Nominal Exercise Price will be deducted from the market value of the Shares for the purposes of calculating the cash sum.
- (c) Any costs (including any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax and any dealing costs) associated with:
- (i) the delivery of Shares to satisfy an Award will be borne by the Company; and
- (ii) the sale of Shares (including in connection with rule 4.3) will be borne by the Participant.
4.2 Restrictions on settlement
If on the date on which an Award would otherwise be settled pursuant to rule 4.1, a Dealing Restriction would prevent such settlement, the Award will instead be settled when such Dealing Restriction lifts.
4.3 Taxation
(a) A Participant is responsible for and shall indemnify each relevant Group Company against any Tax Liability relating to their Award. Any Group Company may withhold or recover an amount equal to its reasonable estimate of such Tax Liability using such means or arrangements as it considers appropriate to ensure recovery of the Tax Liability and its payment to a relevant tax authority within any applicable time limits. These may include the sale of some or all the Shares to which the Award relates or the net settlement of an Award (being the cash settlement under rule 4.1(b) of such part of the Award as is as near as reasonably practicably equal to its reasonable estimate of the Tax Liability relating to their Award).
(b) A Participant shall enter into such tax elections (including under section 431 of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003) as the Committee may reasonably require in respect of any Shares to be acquired under the Plan.
4.4 Holding Period
A Participant or their nominee may not may not sell, assign, transfer, charge or otherwise dispose of any Shares or cash received on the settlement of an Award (or any securities that a Participant or their nominee receives in respect of such Shares pursuant to rule 6.2 or rule 6.4) until the end of any Holding Period, other than:
- (a) in order to satisfy any Tax Liability in accordance with rule 4.3;
- (b) to a Participant's personal representatives if the Participant dies;
- (c) in connection with a Takeover Event or Internal Reorganisation;
- (d) any Shares that a Participant or their nominee acquires on a rights issue to the extent that they represent more than the net value of the rights allotted under the rights issue; or
- (e) if otherwise permitted by the Committee.
4.5 Share Ownership Guideline
A Participant or their nominee may not may not sell, assign, transfer, charge or otherwise dispose of any Shares or cash received on the settlement of an Award (or any securities that a Participant or their nominee receives in respect of such Shares pursuant to rule 6.2 or rule 6.4) if such Participant does not (or if, following such sale, assignment, transfer, charge or disposal, such Participant would not) satisfy the Share Ownership Guideline, other than in the circumstances set out in rule 4.4(a) to (e).
5. LEAVERS
5.1 Leaving before the Normal Vesting Date (Awards other than Deferred Bonus Awards)
If a Participant Leaves before the Normal Vesting Date of their Award (other than a Deferred Bonus Award) other than as a Good Leaver, their Award will lapse when they Leave.
5.2 Good Leavers before the Normal Vesting Date (Awards other than Deferred Bonus Awards)
- (a) If a Participant Leaves before the Normal Vesting Date of their Award (other than a Deferred Bonus Award) because of:
- (i) death;
- (ii) injury or disability evidenced to the satisfaction of the Committee;
-
(iii) redundancy (within the meaning of the Employment Rights Act 1996 or any overseas equivalent);
-
(iv) the Participant's employing company ceasing to be a Group Company or the transfer of an undertaking or part of an undertaking to a person who is not a Group Company; or
- (v) any other reason (other than gross misconduct) at the Committee's discretion,
they will be treated as a Good Leaver in respect of such Award.
- (b) If a Participant is a Good Leaver, their Award (other than a Deferred Bonus Award) will subsist subject to its terms and the rules of the Plan (including its Normal Vesting Date, any Holding Period and any Performance Condition), provided that:
- (i) the number of Shares in respect of which their Award is capable of Vesting will be reduced to reflect the portion of the Vesting Period that was unexpired when the Participant Leaves, unless the Committee considers it appropriate to apply a lesser reduction or none at all; or
- (ii) if the Participant Leaves because they have died or the Committee otherwise determines, their Award will Vest and be Released (and the Committee may waive any Holding Period) when they Leave or on such other date before the Normal Vesting Date as the Committee may determine, in which case rule 3.2(b) shall apply and the Participant Leaving will be the Early Vesting Trigger.
5.3 Leavers before the Normal Vesting Date (Deferred Bonus Awards)
- (a) If a Participant Leaves before the Normal Vesting Date of their Deferred Bonus Award for any reason (other than gross misconduct), their Deferred Bonus Award will, subject to rule 5.3(b), subsist subject to its terms and the rules of the Plan (including its Normal Vesting Date), provided that such Award may not Vest until the Committee has determined that the Participant is a Good Leaver.
- (b) Where rule 5.3(a) applies, the Committee will determine whether the Participant is a Good Leaver as soon as reasonably practicable following the Normal Vesting Date of their Deferred Bonus Award or on such earlier date as the Committee may determine and, if the Committee determines:
- (i) on or following the Normal Vesting Date that the Participant is a Good Leaver, their Award will Vest and be Released on the date of such determination;
- (ii) before the Normal Vesting Date that the Participant is a Good Leaver, the Award will subsist subject to its terms and the rules of the Plan (including its Normal Vesting Date), unless the Committee determines that the Award will Vest and be Released on the Committee's determination or on such other date before the Normal Vesting Date as the Committee may determine; and
- (iii) that the Participant is not a Good Leaver, their Award will lapse on the date of such determination.
- (c) If Participant Leaves before the Normal Vesting Date of their Deferred Bonus Award for gross misconduct, their Award will lapse when they Leave.
5.4 Leaving on or after the Normal Vesting Date
If a Participant Leaves on or after the Normal Vesting Date of their Award, their Award will subsist subject to its terms and the rules of the Plan (including any Holding Period, unless the Committee determines otherwise), unless the Participant Leaves because of gross misconduct, in which case their Award will lapse when they Leave.
5.5 Period of exercise of a Nil-cost Option
If a Participant Leaves, a Nil-cost Option:
- (a) may, unless otherwise prescribed in the rules of the Plan, (to the extent it has Vested and been Released) be exercised until the later of six months after its Release Date and six months after they Leave (or, where the Participant Leaves because they die, 12 months from the date of their death), unless in any case the Committee decides to allow a longer exercise period; and
- (b) will lapse to the extent it is not exercised in accordance with rule 5.5(a),
provided that the Committee may determine that some or all of an unexercised Nil-cost Option may lapse immediately if it, in its absolute discretion, determines that the Participant has breached any term of their employment contract (or any settlement agreement relating to their employment contract) with a Group Company that applies after they have Left.
5.6 Meaning of Leaving
For the purposes of the Plan, a Participant will be treated as Leaving when they no longer hold an office or employment (or a right to return to work) with any Group Company or on such later date as the may Committee determine.
6. CORPORATE EVENTS
6.1 Takeovers
- (a) Rule 6.1(b) shall apply if any of the following occurs (each, a "Takeover Event"):
- (i) any person (either alone or together with any person acting in concert with them):
- (A) obtains Control of the Company as a result of making a general offer to acquire Shares; or
- (B) already having Control of the Company, makes an offer to acquire all of the Shares other than those that are already owned by them, and such offer is or becomes wholly unconditional; or
- (ii) a compromise or arrangement in accordance with section 899 of the Companies Act for the purposes of a change of Control of the Company is sanctioned by the court.
-
(b) Unless rule 6.2 applies:
-
(i) if the Committee so determines in advance of the Takeover Event, all Nil-cost Options may be exercised conditionally, so as to take effect upon the Takeover Event (to the extent they are Vested and Released at that time);
- (ii) all Awards will Vest and be Released (and any Nil-cost Option exercised conditionally under rule 6.1(b)(i) will be exercised) and any Holding Period shall be waived upon the Takeover Event, in which case rule 3.2(b) shall apply to Awards other than Deferred Bonus Awards and the Takeover Event will be the Early Vesting Trigger; and
- (iii) to the extent any Nil-cost Option has not been exercised within 30 days of the Takeover Event (or such longer or shorter period as the Committee may determine), it shall lapse,
and, for the purposes of this rule 6.1, rule 3.2 and rule 3.3, "Committee" shall mean those people who were members of the Committee immediately before the Takeover Event.
6.2 Exchange of Awards
- (a) If:
- (i) there is an Internal Reorganisation unless the Committee determines otherwise; or
- (ii) in the case of a Takeover Event, the Committee decides before such Takeover Event that an Award will be exchanged or if an offer to exchange an Award is made to and accepted by a Participant,
an Award will be exchanged for the grant of a new award ("New Award") that the Committee considers to be equivalent to the Award, except that it relates to shares in a different company (whether the acquiring company or otherwise) and the rules of the Plan and the terms of the Award (including any Performance Condition) will be interpreted accordingly.
(b) For the purposes of this rule 6.2, "Committee" shall mean those people who were members of the Committee immediately before the Takeover Event.
6.3 Winding up
If the Company gives notice of a general meeting at which a resolution is proposed for the voluntary winding up of the Company ("Resolution"):
- (a) all Nil-cost Options may be exercised conditionally, so as to take effect from immediately prior to the passing of the Resolution (to the extent they are Vested and Released at that time);
- (b) all Awards will Vest and be Released (and any Nil-cost Option exercised conditionally under rule 6.3(a) will be exercised) immediately prior to the passing of the Resolution, in which case rule 3.2(b) shall apply to Awards other than Deferred Bonus Awards and the time immediately prior to the passing of the Resolution will be the Early Vesting Trigger; and
(c) to the extent any Nil-cost Option has not been exercised on the passing of the Resolution, it shall lapse.
6.4 Variation of Share capital and other corporate events
If there is a variation of the Company's share capital or the Company is or may be affected by a demerger, delisting, special dividend or other event which the Committee considers will affect the current or future value of Shares ("Relevant Event"), the Committee may:
- (a) adjust the number of Shares to which an Award relates; or
- (b) if it determines that because of the significance of the effect of the variation or event on the value of the Shares such adjustment would be inappropriate, determine that:
- (i) some or all Nil-cost Options may be exercised conditionally, so as to take effect at such time on or before the Relevant Event as the Committee determines (to the extent they are Vested and Released at that time);
- (ii) some or all Awards will Vest and be Released (and any Nil-cost Option exercised conditionally under rule 6.4(b)(i) will be exercised) at such time on or before the Relevant Event as the Committee determines, in which case rule 3.2(b) shall apply to Awards other than Deferred Bonus Awards and the Relevant Event will be the Early Vesting Trigger; and/or
- (iii) to the extent any Nil-cost Option has not been exercised by such time as the Committee determines, it shall lapse,
and the Committee may make such adjustments to the limits set out in rule 2.4 as it considers appropriate.
7. INTERNATIONAL TRANSFERS
- 7.1 If as a result of a Participant moving jurisdiction:
- (a) the Participant would be unable to receive or hold Shares;
- (b) the Participant and/or any Group Company would suffer a materially increased tax or social security liability in relation to their Award; or
- (c) the Committee otherwise determines it to be appropriate,
the Committee may accelerate the Vesting and/or Release of some or all of an Award, in which case rule 3.2(b) shall apply to an Award other than a Deferred Bonus Award and the time of the Participant's move will be the Early Vesting Trigger, provided that the Committee may make the Vesting and/or Release of the Award subject to such conditions as it determines appropriate, which may include restrictions on the disposal of Shares acquired before the Normal Vesting Date of the Award and/or the forfeiture of Shares if the Participant Leaves before the Normal Vesting Date of an Award other than a Deferred Bonus Award.
7.2 If rule 7.1 applies, the Committee may determine that any Holding Period shall cease to apply.
8. REDUCTION AND RECOVERY
- 8.1 The Committee may apply its powers in rule 8.2 and/or rule 8.3 in relation to an Award if it determines, in its absolute discretion, that there has been:
- (a) a material misstatement of any Group Company's financial results for any period that falls within or overlaps with the Recovery Period;
- (b) an error or inaccuracy in the information or assumptions on which the Award was granted, or in assessing a Performance Condition or other condition that affects whether or the extent to which the Award Vests;
- (c) a material failure of risk management in, or any serious reputational damage to, any Group Company or business unit during the Recovery Period;
- (d) corporate failure of any Group Company or a relevant business unit during the Recovery Period;
- (e) serious misconduct or material error on the part of the Participant during the Recovery Period;
- (f) a serious breach or non-observance of any code of conduct, policy or procedure of any Group Company;
- (g) in respect of a Participant who is subject to the Share Ownership Guideline, the Participant using any personal hedging strategy, contract of insurance, option, arbitrage agreement or other arrangement to undermine the effects of the Share Ownership Guideline at any time during the Recovery Period;
- (h) a breach by the Participant at any time during the Recovery Period of any term of their employment contract (or any settlement agreement relating to their employment contract) with a Group Company that applies after they have Left; or
- (i) any other circumstances that are similar in their nature or effect to those above,
and for the purposes of this rule, the terms "Participant", "Group Company" and "business unit" include any former Participant, Group Company or business unit.
- 8.2 If Shares or cash are yet to be delivered to a Participant to satisfy their Award, the Committee may, at any time before the end of the Recovery Period, in its absolute discretion, reduce (including to nil) the number of Shares to which the Award relates and/or impose additional conditions on the Award.
- 8.3 If Shares or cash have been delivered to a Participant to satisfy their Award, the Committee may, in its absolute discretion, at any time before the end of the Recovery Period, require the Participant or their nominee to make a cash payment to the Company in respect of some or all of the Shares and/or cash delivered to them (before or after any applicable Tax Liability) or to transfer Shares of an equivalent value to the Company or another person free of charge.
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8.4 In order to effect the recovery of Shares and/or cash from a Participant under rule 8.3 the Committee may, in its absolute discretion:
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(a) reduce (including to nil) the number of Shares to which an Award under the Plan relates, if Shares or cash have not yet been delivered to the Participant to satisfy such Award; and/or
- (b) reduce any other element of remuneration that a Participant would be entitled to receive from a Group Company, including a Participant's right to receive salary payments or rights under any bonus or incentive plan.
- 8.5 The Committee may apply rule 8.4(a) to give effect to any provisions similar to those in this rule 8 that are included in any other incentive plan operated by a Group Company.
- 8.6 If, at the time the Recovery Period is due to end, the conduct of any Participant, Group Company or business unit is being investigated in connection with this rule 8 (or an equivalent provision in another incentive plan operated by a Group Company) and such investigation has not been concluded, the Committee may determine that the Recovery Period will instead continue until such investigation concludes and any reduction or recovery in accordance with this rule 8 (or equivalent provision) has been applied.
- 8.7 The Committee may determine on or before the Grant Date that this rule 8 shall not apply to a Deferred Bonus Award granted to an Eligible Employee who is not an executive director of the Company.
9. AMENDMENTS
9.1 General
- (a) The Committee may amend the rules of the Plan or the terms of any Award at its discretion subject to rules 9.1(b) to 9.1(d).
- (b) No amendment to the advantage of Eligible Employees and/or Participants may be made under this rule 9 to the terms relating to:
- (i) who may participate in the Plan;
- (ii) the limits on the Shares or cash which may be delivered, including the maximum entitlement of any individual Participant;
- (iii) the basis for determining a Participant's entitlement to, and the terms of, Shares or cash to be provided under the Plan;
- (iv) the adjustments that may be made in the event of a variation of capital; and
- (v) the terms of this rule 9.1,
in each case, without prior approval of the shareholders of the Company in general meeting unless the amendment is minor and to benefit the administration of the Plan, to take account of any change in legislation or to obtain or maintain favourable tax, exchange control or regulatory treatment for any Group Company, Eligible Employee or Participant.
(c) No amendment to the material disadvantage of existing rights of Participants (except in respect of a Performance Condition) may be made unless every Participant who may be affected has been invited to indicate whether they approve the amendment and it is approved by a majority of those who respond.
- (d) Notwithstanding rule 9.1(c), the Committee may, at any time:
- (i) alter the terms of a Conditional Award such that it becomes a Nil-cost Option or vice versa; or
- (ii) determine that an Award shall become a Phantom Award in accordance with the terms of schedule 1 or vice versa.
- (e) No amendment may be made under this rule 9 if it would prevent the Plan from being an employees' share scheme within the meaning of section 1166 of the Companies Act.
9.2 Performance Conditions
The Committee may amend or substitute an existing Performance Condition if an event occurs which it considers would make it appropriate to do so, provided that the amended or new condition would not, taking into account all the circumstances, be materially easier to satisfy than the original condition would have been but for the event.
10. MISCELLANEOUS
10.1 No disposal of Award
An Award must not be sold, transferred, assigned, charged or otherwise disposed of in any way (except to a Participant's personal representatives if the Participant dies) and will lapse immediately on any such purported action.
10.2 Bankruptcy
An Award will lapse immediately if the Participant is declared bankrupt (or, where the Participant is located outside the UK, if any equivalent event occurs).
10.3 Not pensionable
No benefits received under the Plan will be pensionable.
10.4 Ranking of Shares
Shares issued or transferred from treasury under the Plan will rank equally in all respects with the Shares then in issue, except that they will not rank for any voting, dividend or other rights attaching to Shares by reference to a record date preceding the date of issue or transfer from treasury.
10.5 Relationship to employment
- (a) Rules 10.5(b) to 10.5(c) apply during a Participant's employment with any Group Company and after the termination of such employment, whether or not the termination is lawful.
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(b) A Participant's employment with any Group Company is separate from their participation in the Plan. A Participant's participation in the Plan does not create any right to continued employment or to be granted further Awards, either at all or on any particular terms, including the number of Shares to which an Award relates.
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(c) By participating in the Plan, a Participant waives any claim for compensation for any loss under or in connection with the Plan other than a breach of the terms of an Award itself, whether such loss is claimed by way of damages for breach of any contract, compensation for loss of office or otherwise.
- (d) The exclusion included in rule 10.5(c) applies (without limitation) to any loss arising from:
- (i) the lapse of any Award or the loss or reduction of any rights or expectations in any circumstances or for any reason, including (without limitation) the termination, whether lawful or otherwise, of the Participant's employment, the application of rule 6 or the application of rule 8;
- (ii) any exercise of or failure to exercise any discretion in relation to an Award and/or the Plan, including the way in which such discretion is (or is not) exercised; and
- (iii) the operation of the Plan, including its suspension or termination, or any Award.
10.6 Data protection
- (a) The personal data of any Eligible Employee, Participant or former Participant will be processed in accordance with the Group's data protection policy as notified to Eligible Employees.
- (b) By participating in the Plan, each Participant consents to the processing of their personal data for the purposes of the operation of the Plan, including (but not limited to):
- (i) the grant, Vesting, Release, exercise, settlement, adjustment and/or lapse of Awards; and
- (ii) the transfer of such personal data to a third party, including an administrator or trustee referred to in rule 10.8(a).
10.7 Regulatory consent
If the Committee determines that the grant of an Award was contrary to any relevant laws or regulations, it may, in its absolute discretion, determine that the grant of such Awards was void and that they should be treated for all purposes as never having been granted.
10.8 Administration of the Plan
- (a) The Committee has authority to administer the Plan, including the appointment of a third party administrator or trustee, and to interpret and apply its terms, provided that, where any act or decision would be beyond the scope of the authority delegated to the Committee by the Board, the Committee shall refer such act or decision to the Board and act or decide in accordance with the Board's determination.
- (b) The decisions of the Committee will be final and bind all parties.
10.9 Construction
If any provision of the Plan or any Award would be unenforceable because it contains certain wording and the terms are capable of being construed without such wording the Committee may apply the provision on that basis.
10.10 Notices
- (a) Any notice or other communication in connection with the Plan may be delivered personally or sent by electronic means or post.
- (b) A notice or other communication will be deemed to have been received:
- (i) where it is delivered personally, immediately (if delivered during working hours on a Dealing Day) or on the opening of the next Dealing Day (otherwise);
- (ii) 72 hours after it was put into the post properly addressed and stamped; and
- (iii) where it is given by electronic means, immediately (if delivered during working hours on a Dealing Day) or on the opening of the next Dealing Day (otherwise) in either case, unless the sender receives an electronic automatic reply to the contrary.
10.11 Termination of the Plan
The Plan will terminate on the Termination Date. The existing rights of Participants will not be affected by such termination.
10.12 Rights of third parties
No third party other than a Group Company will have any rights under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any term of the Plan.
10.13 Governing law and jurisdiction
The rules of the Plan and all Awards made under it will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales and any person referred to in the Plan submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of England and Wales.
10.14 Overseas territories
The Committee may establish further plans or sub-plans (as schedules to the Plan or otherwise) based on the Plan but modified to take account of local tax, exchange control or securities laws in overseas territories provided that any Awards or similar rights granted under any such plans or sub-plans will count towards the limits on the total number of Shares in rule 2.4.
SCHEDULE 1: PHANTOM AWARDS
This schedule shall apply to any Award granted under the Plan that the Committee has determined will be a Phantom Award. Phantom Awards shall be subject to the rules of the Plan, except as amended by this schedule.
1. Definitions and interpretation
1.1 Unless otherwise stated, the words and expressions below have the following meanings:
"Phantom Award" means a Phantom Conditional Award or a Phantom Nil-cost Option;
"Phantom Conditional Award" has the same meaning as "Conditional Award", except that it relates to a right to receive a cash sum equal in value to a number of Shares rather than a right to receive those Shares; and
"Phantom Nil-cost Option" has the same meaning as "Nil-cost Option", except that it relates to a right to receive a cash sum equal in value to a number of Shares rather than a right to receive those Shares,
and, in each case, the rules of the Plan will be construed accordingly.
- 1.2 References in this schedule 1 to:
- (a) a "rule" relate to a rule of the Plan; and
- (b) a "paragraph" relate to a paragraph of this schedule 1.
- 1.3 Where there is any conflict between the rules of the Plan and this schedule, the terms of this schedule will prevail.
2. Grant
- 2.1 A Phantom Award shall be granted in the form of:
- (a) a Phantom Conditional Award; or
- (b) a Phantom Nil-cost Option.
3. Release and Exercise
- 3.1 On the Release of a Phantom Conditional Award, the Participant will become entitled to receive a cash sum equal to the market value (calculated on such reasonable basis as the Committee determines) on the Release Date of the Shares to which it relates and in respect of which the Phantom Conditional Award has Vested.
- 3.2 On the exercise of a Phantom Nil-cost Option, the Participant will become entitled to receive a cash sum equal on the date of exercise to the market value (calculated on such reasonable basis as the Committee determines) of the Shares to which it relates and in respect of which the Phantom Nil-cost Option has Vested and been validly exercised, less any aggregate Nominal Exercise Price.
4. Settlement
Any cash sum payable to a Participant under paragraph 3 will be paid in the next practicable payroll following the Release Date of a Phantom Conditional Award or the date of exercise of a Phantom Nil-cost Option, net of any Tax Liability.
SCHEDULE 2: MARKET VALUE OPTIONS
This schedule shall apply to any Award granted under the Plan that the Committee has determined will be a Market Value Option. Market Value Options shall be subject to the rules of the Plan, except as amended by this schedule.
1. Definitions and interpretation
1.1 Unless otherwise stated, the words and expressions below have the following meanings:
"Market Value Exercise Price" means an amount equal to the market value on the Grant Date of the Shares to which the Market Value Option relates, calculated on such reasonable basis as the Committee determines;
"Market Value Option" means a right to acquire Shares at a price per Share equal to the Market Value Exercise Price following exercise, subject to the rules of the Plan;
and, in each case, the rules of the Plan will be construed accordingly.
- 1.2 References in this schedule 2 to:
- (a) a "rule" relate to a rule of the Plan; and
- (b) a "paragraph" relate to a paragraph of this schedule 2.
- 1.3 Where there is any conflict between the rules of the Plan and this schedule, the terms of this schedule will prevail.
2. Core terms
References in the rules of the Plan to:
- (a) Nil-cost Options shall be replaced by references to Market Value Options; and
- (b) Nominal Exercise Price shall be replaced by references to the Market Value Exercise Price.
3. Variation of Share capital and other corporate events
If the Committee adjusts the number of Shares to which a Market Value Option relates in accordance with rule 6.4(a), it may also adjust the Market Value Exercise Price, provided that the Market Value Exercise Price may not be reduced to less than the nominal cost of a Share.