Asos PLC

Remuneration Information • Aug 20, 2024

ASOS plc

RULES OF THE ASOS PLC LONG-TERM INCENTIVE SCHEME 2022

Directors' adoption: 14 February 2022 Amended o: 20 August 2024 Expiry date: 22 February 2032

SLAUGHTER AND MAY One Bunhill Row London EC1Y 8YY

Ref: PRL/IAB/CXUS

575054847

Contents		Page
1.	Grant of Awards 4
2.	Limits 7
3.	Vesting and Release of Awards 9
4.	Consequences of Vesting and Release of Awards 11
5.	Recovery of Awards 13
6.	Leaving the Group 16
7.	Adjustment of Awards 19
8.	Takeovers and corporate events 19
9.	Exchange of Awards 21
10.	Terms of employment 22
11.	General 23
12.	Changing the Plan and termination 25
13.	Governing law and jurisdiction 27

The ASOS plc Long-Term Incentive Scheme 2022

Introduction

An Award under the Plan can take the form of:

• a nil or nominal cost option which is a right to acquire Shares during the Exercise Period either for nothing or for the Shares' nominal value; or
• a conditional award which is a right to be given Shares automatically on Vesting (or, at the end of the Holding Period, if the Award is subject to a Holding Period).

The grant and Vesting of the different types of Award work in similar ways but there are some differences in the mechanics of how they are granted and what happens after they Vest and, if applicable, any Holding Period has expired.

Awards may be subject to: (i) one or more Performance Conditions; and/or (ii) a post-Vesting Holding Period. Following Vesting or (if applicable) the end of the Holding Period, Awards will be satisfied by the issue of new Shares or the transfer of "market purchase" Shares or Treasury Shares to the Participant.

This introduction does not form part of the Plan rules.

Definitions

In these rules:

"Acquiring Company" has the meaning given in rule 8.3.1;

"Admission" means the date on which the Shares are admitted to trading on the Main List of the London Stock Exchange;

"Award" means a Conditional Award or an Option;

"Award Certificate" has the meaning given in rule 1.5.1;

"Award Date" means the date which the Committee specifies for the grant of an Award;

"Business Day" means a day on which the London Stock Exchange (or, if relevant and if the Committee determines, any other stock exchange nominated by the Committee on which the Shares are traded) is open for the transaction of business;

"Committee" means, subject to rule 8.4, the remuneration committee of the board of directors of the Company, or any sub-committee or person duly authorised by it;

"Company" means ASOS plc, a company incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 04006623;

"Conditional Award" means a conditional right to automatically acquire Shares granted under the Plan;

"Control" means, in relation to a body corporate, the power of a person to secure by means of the holding of shares or the possession of voting power in or in relation to that or any other body corporate, or as a result of any powers conferred by the articles of association, or other document regulating that or any other body corporate, that the affairs of the first mentioned body corporate are conducted in accordance with the wishes of that person;

"Dealing Restrictions" means any restrictions relating to dealing in Shares imposed by law, order, regulation or Government directive, or any dealing code adopted by the Company;

"Directors' Remuneration Policy" means the Company's directors' remuneration policy within the meaning of section 421(2A) of the Companies Act 2006;

"Dividend Equivalent Payment" has the meaning given in rule 4.5;

"Exercise Period" means, in relation to an Option, the period beginning on the Expected Release Date or, if there is no Holding Period, on the Expected Vesting Date and ending on the tenth anniversary of the Award Date (unless the Committee determines a shorter period under rule1.8.9);

"Expected Vesting Date" means the date specified under rule 1.8.6 on which the Award will normally Vest in accordance with the Plan rules;

"Expected Release Date" means the date specified under rule 1.8.7 on which the Award will normally be Released in accordance with the Plan rules;

"Expiry Date" means 22 February 2032, being the tenth anniversary of Admission;

"Group Member" means:

• (i) the Company; and
• (ii) its Subsidiaries from time to time; and
• (iii) any other company which is associated with the Company and is so designated by the Committee,

and "Group" will be construed accordingly;

"Holding Period" means a period beginning on the Expected Vesting Date and ending on the Expected Release Date as determined by the Committee in accordance with rule 1.8.7;

"ITEPA" means the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003, as amended from time to time;

"London Stock Exchange" means the London Stock Exchange or any successor body;

"Market Value" means, in relation to a Share on any date: (i) the closing middle-market quotation (taken from the Daily Official List of the London Stock Exchange) of a Share on the Business Day before the relevant date or (ii) if the Committee so determines, such closing middle-market quotation for any other Business Day (or the average of such closing middlemarket quotations for any Business Days) occurring before the relevant date, as the Committee may determine;

"Option" means a right to acquire Shares granted under the Plan in the form of a nil or nominal cost option;

"Option Exercise Date" has the meaning given in rule 4.2.2;

"Participant" means a person holding an Award or that person's personal representatives (or, in relation to rule 5, a person who has held an Award or that person's personal representatives);

"Performance Conditions" means any performance conditions imposed under rule 1.3;

"Performance Period" means the period in respect of which the Performance Conditions are to be satisfied as determined by the Committee in accordance with rule 1.3;

"Plan" means the plan constituted by these rules known as "The ASOS plc Long-Term Incentive Scheme 2022", as amended from time to time;

"Pro-Rating Period" means:

• i. in relation to an Award subject to a Performance Condition, the Performance Period; and
• ii. in relation to an Award which is not subject to a Performance Condition, the period beginning on the Award Date and ending on the Expected Vesting Date;

"Recovery Period" has the meaning given in rule 5.1;

"Recruitment Award" means an Award granted in connection with an Eligible Employee's recruitment to the Company or one of its Subsidiaries;

"Release" means, in relation to an Award that is subject to a Holding Period:

• i. in respect of a Conditional Award, the Participant becoming entitled to receive the Shares subject to that Conditional Award; or
• ii. in respect of an Option, the Participant becoming entitled to exercise that Option

and "Released" will be construed accordingly;

"Release Date" means the date on which an Award is Released;

"Relevant Employee Share Plan" means an employee share plan operated by a Group Member, other than an employee share plan which has been registered with HM Revenue & Customs for the purposes of ITEPA;

"Retained Portion" means the percentage of the Shares subject to an Award to be retained during the Holding Period and specified under rule 1.8.7 and, unless the Committee determines otherwise on or before the grant of an Award, the Retained Portion will be 100 per cent. or, where any tax or social security contributions arise on the Vesting or exercise of an Award, the Shares remaining (or that would have remained) after the sale of sufficient Shares to meet such tax or social security contributions;

"Shares" means fully paid ordinary shares in the capital of the Company;

"Subsidiary" means a company which is a subsidiary of the Company within the meaning of section 1159 of the Companies Act 2006;

"Summary Dismissal" means, in relation to a Participant, the termination of the Participant's employment with a Group Member in circumstances where that Group Member is entitled to terminate the Participant's employment contract summarily without payment;

"Treasury Shares" means Shares which are governed by Chapter 6 of Part 18 of the Companies Act 2006;

"Vest" means:

• i. if the Award is subject to a Holding Period:
  • a. in respect of a Conditional Award, the Participant becoming entitled, subject to the Plan rules, to receive the Shares subject to that Conditional Award on the Expected Release Date; or
  • b. in respect of an Option, the Participant becoming entitled, subject to the Plan rules, to exercise that Option during the Exercise Period; or
• ii. if the Award is not subject to a Holding Period:
  • a. in respect of a Conditional Award, the Participant becoming entitled to receive the Shares subject to that Conditional Award; or
  • b. in respect of an Option, the Participant becoming entitled to exercise that Option,

and "Vesting", "Vested" and "Unvested" will be construed accordingly; and

"Vesting Date" means the date on which an Award Vests.

References in these rules to any statutory provision are to that provision as amended or reenacted from time to time (and any regulations made under it), and, unless the context otherwise requires, words in the singular will include the plural and vice versa.

1. Grant of Awards

1.1 Eligibility

The Committee may, subject to any Dealing Restrictions, grant an Award to any current employee (including an executive director) of the Company or any Subsidiary.

1.2 Timing of Award

Awards may not be granted at any time after the Expiry Date. Awards may only be granted:

1.2.1 within the period of 42 days beginning on:

• (i) the Business Day after the day on which the Company's results are announced for any period; or
• (ii) the day on which the Directors' Remuneration Policy (or any amendment to it) is approved by the Company's shareholders; or
• (iii) to the extent Dealing Restrictions apply at any time during the periods referred to in (i) to (ii) above, the day on which the grant of Awards is no longer prohibited by any Dealing Restrictions; or
• 1.2.2 on any other day on which the Committee resolves that exceptional circumstances exist which justify the grant of an Award.

1.3 Performance Conditions

• 1.3.1 When granting an Award, the Committee may make its Vesting conditional on the satisfaction of one or more conditions determined by the Committee linked to the performance of the Company. When granting any Award (other than a Recruitment Award) to executive directors of the Company, the Committee must make its Vesting conditional on the satisfaction of one or more such conditions to the extent required by the Directors' Remuneration Policy.
• 1.3.2 Any Performance Conditions must be specified at the Award Date. The Committee may amend a Performance Condition either:
  • (i) in accordance with its terms; or
  • (ii) if anything happens which causes the Committee to consider it appropriate.
• 1.3.3 When the Committee grants an Award which is subject to one or more Performance Conditions, the Committee must also determine the Performance Period relating to such Performance Conditions.

1.4 Other conditions

• 1.4.1 The Committee may impose other conditions additional to the Plan rules on the Vesting and/or Release of an Award, provided that they are specified at the Award Date.
• 1.4.2 The Committee may waive or amend any such condition.

1.5 Award Certificate

1.5.1 Each Participant will receive a certificate (in such form as the Committee may determine) specifying the terms of an Award as soon as reasonably practicable after the Award Date (an "Award Certificate"). The Award Certificate may be the deed referred to in rule 1.8 or any other document determined by the Committee. The Award Certificate may be distributed in hard copy, by email or

by any other electronic means. If any Award Certificate is lost or damaged the Company may replace it on such terms as it determines.

• 1.5.2 Unless the Committee determines otherwise, a Participant must, before a date determined by the Committee and notified to the Participant, agree in writing to be bound by the Plan rules and the terms of the Award Certificate. If the Participant does not do so, the Committee may determine that either:
  • (i) the Award lapses; or
  • (ii) the Award will not Vest until the Participant does so agree in writing.

1.6 No payment

A Participant is not required to pay for the grant of any Award.

1.7 Administrative errors

If the Committee purports to grant an Award which is inconsistent with rule 2, the Award will be limited and will take effect from the Award Date on a basis determined by the Committee to be consistent with that rule.

1.8 Terms of Awards

Awards must be granted by deed, in such form as the Committee determines. The terms of the Award, as determined by the Committee, must be specified in the deed. These should include:

• 1.8.1 whether the Award is:
  • (i) a Conditional Award; or
  • (ii) an Option (and if so, a nominal cost or nil cost option),

or a combination of the above;

• 1.8.2 the number of Shares subject to the Award;
• 1.8.3 the Award Date;
• 1.8.4 the Performance Conditions, if applicable;
• 1.8.5 any other condition imposed under rule 1.4;
• 1.8.6 the Expected Vesting Date;
• 1.8.7 whether a Holding Period applies and if it does, the Expected Release Date and the Retained Portion;
• 1.8.8 whether and on what basis rule 1.10 applies to the Award;
• 1.8.9 the Exercise Period; and

1.8.10 whether the Participant is entitled to receive any cash or Shares under rule 4.5.

1.9 Awards in tranches

The Committee may grant an Award in any number of tranches, where the terms (as referred to in rule 1.8) of each tranche are different. In these circumstances, these will be interpreted as if each tranche was a standalone Award.

1.10 Holding Periods

The Committee may determine on or before the grant of an Award that, except in the case of the Participant's death, a Participant may not, without the prior consent of the Committee (and subject to such conditions as the Committee may impose), transfer, assign, charge or otherwise dispose of any Shares in respect of which the Award has Vested or any rights in respect of them until such date as the Committee determines. This rule 1.10 will apply whether or not a Participant ceases (or has ceased) to be employed by any Group Member (unless the Committee, in its absolute discretion, determines otherwise).

2. Limits

2.1 10 per cent. in 10 years dilution limit

An Award shall not be granted in any calendar year if, at the time of its proposed Award Date, it would cause the number of Shares allocated (as defined in rule 2.2 (Meaning of "allocated")) in the period of 10 calendar years ending with that calendar year under the Plan and under any other employee share plan (i.e. all types of employee share plans: discretionary, all-employee or otherwise) adopted by the Company to exceed such number as represents 10 per cent. of the ordinary share capital of the Company in issue at that time.

2.2 Meaning of "allocated"

For the purposes of rule 2.1 (10 per cent. in 10 years dilution limit):

• 2.2.1 Shares are allocated:
  • (i) when an option, award or other contractual right to acquire unissued Shares or Treasury Shares is granted;
  • (ii) where Shares are issued or Treasury Shares are transferred otherwise than pursuant to an option, award or other contractual right to acquire Shares, when those Shares are issued or Treasury Shares transferred;
• 2.2.2 any Shares which have been issued or which may be issued (or any Shares transferred out of treasury or which may be transferred out of treasury) to any trustees to satisfy the exercise of any option, award or other contractual right granted under any employee share plan shall count as allocated unless they are already treated as allocated under this rule;
• 2.2.3 the number of Shares treated as allocated in respect of awards under the ASOS New Value Creation Plan for the purposes of rule 2.1 and 2.2.1(i) shall initially be such number as the Committee considers to be an appropriate estimate on or shortly prior to the proposed award date and thereafter such revised number as the Committee approves from to time based on subsequent estimations considered appropriate or actual usage as relevant;
• 2.2.4 no regard shall be had to allocations preceding [10] August 2024; and
• 2.2.5 for the avoidance of doubt, existing Shares other than Treasury Shares that are transferred or over which options, awards or other contractual rights are granted and/or expressly designated shall not count as allocated.

2.3 Post-grant events affecting numbers of "allocated" Shares

For the purposes of rule 2.2 (Meaning of "allocated"):

• 2.3.1 where:
  • (i) any option, award or other contractual right to acquire unissued Shares or Treasury Shares is released or lapses (whether in whole or in part); or
  • (ii) after the grant of an option, award or other contractual right the Committee determines that:
    • (a) it shall be satisfied wholly or partly by the payment of cash; or
    • (b) it shall be satisfied wholly or partly by the transfer of existing Shares (other than Shares transferred out of treasury)

the unissued Shares or Treasury Shares which consequently cease to be subject to the option, award or other contractual right shall not count as allocated; and

2.3.2 the number of Shares allocated in respect of an option, award or other contractual right shall be such number as the Board shall reasonably determine from time to time.

2.4 Changes to investor guidelines

Treasury Shares shall cease to count as allocated Shares for the purposes of rule 2.2 (Meaning of "allocated") if institutional investor guidelines cease to require them to be so counted and more generally rules 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 can be changed to such extent at the Committee determines appropriate (which may including removing such rules if relevant) without prior shareholder approval in general meeting to reflect developments in institutional investor guidelines on the topic of dilution limits.

2.5 Individual limit

The Committee must not grant an Award (other than a Recruitment Award) which would cause the aggregate Market Value (as determined by the Committee) of:

• 2.5.1 the Shares subject to that Award; and
• 2.5.2 the Shares which the relevant Participant may acquire pursuant to any other Award (other than a Recruitment Award) in respect of the same financial year of the Company,

to exceed 500 per cent. of that Participant's then prevailing base salary before any deductions for salary sacrifice.

2.6 Effect of limits

Any Award shall be limited and take effect to comply with the limits in this rule 2.

2.7 Restriction on use of unissued Shares and Treasury Shares

No Shares may be issued or Treasury Shares transferred to satisfy the exercise of any Award to the extent that such issue or transfer would cause the number of Shares allocated (as defined in rule 2.2 (Meaning of "allocated") and adjusted under rule 2.3 (Post-grant events affecting numbers of "allocated" Shares)) to exceed the limit in rule 2.1 (10 per cent. in years dilution limit) except where there is a variation of share capital of the Company which results in the number of Shares so allocated exceeding such limits solely by virtue of that variation.

3. Vesting and Release of Awards

3.1 Timing of Vesting and Release

• 3.1.1 Subject to rules 6 and 8, an Award will Vest on the latest of the following:
  • (i) the date on which the Committee makes its determination under rule 3.3 of the extent to which the Award will Vest;
  • (ii) the Expected Vesting Date;
  • (iii) the date on which the Committee determines that any investigation ongoing on the Expected Vesting Date into the conduct or actions of any Participant or any Group Member in connection with the Award has been completed and that it does not wish to undertake any action specified in rule 5 in respect of such investigation;
  • (iv) in relation to a Conditional Award which is not subject to a Holding Period, the Participant having entered into such arrangements as the Committee considers necessary to meet the Participant's liability to any taxation, duties, social security contributions or other amounts in respect of that Conditional Award; and
• (v) the date on which any Dealing Restrictions which would prevent dealing by the Participant in the Shares subject to the Award on the dates specified above cease to apply.
• 3.1.2 Subject to rules 6 and 8, an Award will be Released on the latest of the following:
  • (i) the Expected Release Date;
  • (ii) the date on which the Committee determines that any investigation ongoing on the Expected Release Date into the conduct or actions of any Participant or any Group Member in connection with the Award has been completed and that it does not wish to undertake any action specified in rule 5 in respect of such investigation;
  • (iii) in relation to a Conditional Award which is subject to a Holding Period, the Participant having entered into such arrangements as the Committee considers necessary to meet the Participant's liability to any taxation, duties, social security contributions or other amounts in respect of that Conditional Award; and
  • (iv) the date on which any Dealing Restrictions which would prevent dealing by the Participant in the Shares subject to the Award on the dates specified above cease to apply.

3.2 Determination of Performance Conditions and other conditions

• 3.2.1 Subject to rule 3.2.2 below, as soon as reasonably practicable after the end of the Performance Period, the Committee will determine whether and to what extent any Performance Conditions and any other conditions imposed under rule 1.4 have been satisfied.
• 3.2.2 Where the Award Vests under rule 6 or 8, the Committee will have the absolute discretion to determine the extent to which the Performance Conditions have been satisfied either:
  • (i) up to the date the Participant ceases to be an employee of the Group (where rule 6 applies) or the date on which the relevant corporate event occurs (where rule 8 applies), measured against the most recent information available or information to become shortly available to the Committee at that time, as determined by the Committee; or
  • (ii) over the full Performance Period, having regard to actual or projected performance.

3.3 Extent of Vesting

3.3.1 The Committee will determine the extent to which an Award will Vest, taking into account:

• (i) the extent to which any Performance Conditions and any other conditions imposed under rule 1.4 have been satisfied;
• (ii) the underlying performance of the Company and the Participant;
• (iii) such other factors as the Committee may, in its absolute discretion, consider relevant; and
• (iv) if an Award is Vesting under rule 6 or 8, unless the Committee determines otherwise, the proportion of the Pro-Rating Period that has elapsed on the date the Participant ceases to be an employee of the Group (where rule 6 applies) or the date on which the relevant corporate event occurs (where rule 8 applies).
• 3.3.2 If an Award Vests under rule 6.3 or 8 after the Participant has ceased to be an employee of the Group in accordance with rule 6.2, the factors specified in rules 3.3.1(i) and 3.3.1(iv) will, unless the Committee determines otherwise, be assessed by reference to the period ending on the date the Participant has ceased to be an employee of the Group.
• 3.3.3 To the extent the Committee determines in accordance with rule 3.3.1 that an Award will not Vest it will lapse immediately.
• 3.3.4 If an Award lapses under any provision of the Plan, it cannot subsequently Vest or be Released and a Participant has no rights in respect of it.

4. Consequences of Vesting and Release of Awards

4.1 Conditional Awards

Subject to rules 4.7 and 11.8 and any Dealing Restrictions, the Company will, within 30 days of the Release Date of a Conditional Award (or, if no Holding Period applies, its Vesting Date), arrange for the transfer (including a transfer out of treasury) of, or issue to or to the order of the Participant, the number of Shares in respect of which the Award has Vested.

4.2 Options

• 4.2.1 A Participant may, subject to any Dealing Restrictions, exercise an Option at any time during the Exercise Period (or, where rule 6 or 8 applies, any exercise period provided for under those rules) by:
  • (i) giving notice in the prescribed form to the Company or any person nominated by the Committee;
  • (ii) enclosing the relevant Award Certificate (if required by the Committee); and
  • (iii) in the case of a nominal cost Option, paying to the Company the amount of the nominal value of each Share in respect of which the

Option is exercised (or giving an undertaking in a form acceptable to the Committee to make that payment).

• 4.2.2 Unless the Committee decides otherwise, the "Option Exercise Date" will be the date of receipt by the Company or its duly appointed agent of the notice (and, if relevant, the Award Certificate, payment and/or undertaking) referred to in rule 4.2.1. However, if an option exercise notice is delivered at a time when any Dealing Restrictions would prohibit the exercise of Options by the Participant, the Option Exercise Date will be the first Business Day when such prohibitions cease to apply.
• 4.2.3 Subject to rules 4.7 and 11.8 and any Dealing Restrictions, the Company will arrange for Shares to be transferred to or issued to the Participant within 30 days of the Option Exercise Date.

4.3 Lapse of Options

The Option will lapse to the extent that it has not been exercised at the end of the Exercise Period, unless it lapses earlier in accordance with the Plan rules. However, the Committee may permit a Participant to exercise Options within any period it determines that is longer than the periods permitted for exercise specified in these rules.

4.4 Rights

Shares issued or transferred on the exercise of an Option or the Vesting or Release of a Conditional Award will rank equally in all respects with the Shares in issue at the point of issue or transfer, except as specified in the Plan rules. They will not rank for any rights attaching to Shares by reference to a record date before the date of issue or transfer. Where Shares are transferred (including a transfer out of treasury) on the exercise of an Option or the Vesting or Release of a Conditional Award, the Participant will be entitled to all rights attaching to the Shares by reference to a record date on or after the transfer date.

4.5 Dividend Equivalent Payment

• 4.5.1 Unless the Committee determines otherwise, an Award will include the right to receive, subject to rule 4.7, an amount (a "Dividend Equivalent Payment") equal in value to the dividends which would have been payable on the number of Shares in respect of which an Award Vests in relation to dividends the record dates for which fall during the period beginning on the Award Date and ending on:
  • (i) the Release Date; or
  • (ii) if there is no Holding Period, the Vesting Date.
• 4.5.2 The amount of any Dividend Equivalent Payment will be paid in Shares unless the Committee decides it will be paid (in full or in part) in cash. Any Dividend Equivalent Payment will be paid to any relevant Participant as soon as

reasonably practicable after the delivery of Shares under rule 4.1 or, in the case of an Option, after exercise.

• 4.5.3 The Committee may determine that the dividend equivalents will assume the re-investment of such dividend equivalents on such basis as the Committee determines.
• 4.5.4 The Committee may at any time decide to disapply this rule 4.5 in relation to all or part of a special dividend or dividend in specie which may otherwise be covered by this rule 4.5.

4.6 Alternative ways to satisfy Awards

The Committee may determine to satisfy all or part of a Conditional Award or Option by paying a cash amount (subject to rule 4.7). For a Conditional Award, the cash amount must be equal to the Market Value of the relevant Shares on its Release Date or, if the Award is not subject to a Holding Period, its Vesting Date. For an Option, the cash amount must be equal to the Market Value of the relevant Shares on the Option Exercise Date less any exercise price applicable to the Option. The Company may determine that Awards will be satisfied in cash on the Award Date or at any time subsequently.

4.7 Withholding

Any current or former Group Member or the trustee of any employee benefit trust established by such current or former Group Member may (to the extent permitted by law) make such arrangements as it considers necessary to meet any liability to taxation, duties, social security contributions or other amounts in respect of an Award or otherwise in connection with a person's participation in the Plan, whether the liability is a liability of, or is payable by, the Participant, a Group Member or the trustee. These arrangements may include a reduction in the number of Shares subject to an Award and/or the exercise of an Option on behalf of the Participant and/or the sale on behalf of the Participant of any of the Shares to which the Participant is entitled under the Plan and the retention of the sale proceeds to meet the liability. References to social security contributions include anything in a jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom which, in the Committee's opinion, is reasonably comparable to social security contributions.

The Participant authorises the Company to sell on the Participant's behalf sufficient Shares subject to the Award to discharge any liability to taxation, duties or social security contributions arising in connection with that Award that any current or former Group Member is required to withhold and any related costs associated with that sale. In facilitating such a sale, the Company may appoint a broker of its choosing.

5. Recovery of Awards

5.1 Length of Recovery Period

5.1.1 The period during which the Committee may undertake any of the actions specified in rules 5.3, 5.4 and 5.5 (the "Recovery Period") will, subject to rule 5.1.2, be the period of five years beginning on the Award Date.

5.1.2 If an investigation into the conduct or actions of any Participant or any Group Member has started before, but has not been completed by, the end of the Recovery Period, the Committee may, in its absolute discretion, determine that the provisions of rules 5.3, 5.4 and 5.5 may be applied to an Award until such later date as the Committee may determine to allow that investigation to be completed and for the Committee to consider its findings and determine whether it wishes to undertake any action specified in rules 5.3, 5.4 and 5.5.

5.2 Recovery triggers

• 5.2.1 Notwithstanding any other rule of the Plan, if at any time after the Award Date, or where the Award is subject to a Performance Condition, the start of the Performance Period but before the end of the Recovery Period, there are, in the opinion of the Committee, exceptional circumstances, the Committee may, on such basis as it considers in its absolute discretion to be fair, reasonable and proportionate, undertake any of the actions specified in rules 5.3, 5.4 and 5.5. Such exceptional circumstances include (without limitation):
  • (i) a material misstatement in the published results of the Group or any Group Member;
  • (ii) an error in assessing any applicable Performance Conditions or the number of Shares subject to an Award;
  • (iii) the assessment of any applicable Performance Conditions and/or the number of Shares subject to an Award being based on inaccurate or misleading information;
  • (iv) misconduct on the part of the Participant concerned;
  • (v) a breach by the Participant of any restrictive, confidentiality, or nondisparagement covenants or other similar undertakings, whether contained in the Participant's employment contract and/or settlement agreement and/or any other agreement between the Participant and a Group Member;
  • (vi) where, as a result of an appropriate review of accountability, the Committee determines that the Participant has caused wholly or in part a material loss for the Group as a result of:
    • (a) reckless, negligent or wilful actions or omissions; or
    • (b) inappropriate values or behaviour;
  • (vii) a material failure of risk management by any Group Member, provided that the Committee determines that, following an appropriate review of accountability, the Participant was responsible for, or had management oversight over, the actions, omissions or behaviour that gave rise to that material failure of risk management;
• (viii) a Group Member is censured by a regulatory body or suffers, in the Committee's opinion, a significant detrimental impact on its reputation, provided that the Committee determines that, following an appropriate review of accountability, the Participant was responsible for, or had management oversight over, the actions, omissions or behaviour that gave rise to that censure or detrimental impact; or
• (ix) the Company or entities representing a material proportion of the Group becomes insolvent or otherwise suffers a corporate failure so that ordinary shares in the Company cease to have material value, provided that the Committee determines, following an appropriate review of accountability, that the Participant should be held responsible (in whole or in part) for that insolvency or failure.
• 5.2.2 References to Group Members include references to former Group Members.

5.3 Malus

• 5.3.1 The Committee may, in its absolute discretion, at any time during the Recovery Period:
  • (i) cancel, or reduce the number of Shares subject to, an Award; and/or
  • (ii) impose additional conditions on an Award.
• 5.3.2 If an Award is cancelled or reduced in accordance with rule 5.3.1, that Award will be treated (to the relevant extent) as having lapsed.
• 5.3.3 The Company must notify the Participant as soon as reasonably practicable after the Committee has taken any action in accordance with rule 5.3.1.

5.4 Clawback

• 5.4.1 The Committee may, in its absolute discretion, at any time during the Recovery Period require the Participant to transfer to the Company (or the trustee of any employee benefit trust, if required by the Company):
  • (i) all or some of the Shares acquired under the Award; or
  • (ii) a cash payment in respect of all or some of the Shares acquired under the Award.
• 5.4.2 In determining the number of Shares to be transferred and/or the cash payment to be made in accordance with rule 5.4.1, the Committee will take into account the amount of tax and social security contributions actually paid (or due to be paid) by the Participant in respect of the acquisition of the relevant Shares under the Award and whether, in its opinion, the Participant can claim relief from any such tax and social security contributions.

5.5 Recovery mechanisms

• 5.5.1 In place of requiring the Participant to take the action referred to in rule 5.4, the Committee may, in its absolute discretion, during the Recovery Period:
  • (i) reduce the amount of any future payments in connection with the Plan or under any discretionary bonus plans or other incentive arrangements;
  • (ii) reduce the number of Shares that would become available to the relevant Participant under any unvested share award granted under any Relevant Employee Share Plan and held by the relevant Participant; and/or
  • (iii) reduce the number of shares over which a vested but unexercised share award granted under any Relevant Employee Share Plan and held by the relevant Participant may be exercised

on such basis that the Committee considers in its absolute discretion to be fair, reasonable and proportionate.

5.5.2 The Committee may take any action referred to in rule 5.3.1 to give effect to the operation of any withholding or recovery provisions similar to this rule 5 in any Relevant Employee Share Plan, discretionary bonus plan or other incentive arrangement operated by a Group Member.

6. Leaving the Group

6.1 General rule on leaving employment

• 6.1.1 Unvested Awards will lapse (to the maximum extent permitted by law) on the date the Participant ceases to be an employee of the Group unless rule 6.2 or 6.3 applies.
• 6.1.2 If a Participant ceases to be an employee of the Group during any Holding Period applicable to a Vested Award for any reason other than Summary Dismissal, it will, subject to rules 6.1.3, 6.2.7, 6.3 and 8, be Released on the Expected Release Date. Any Awards structured as Options may, subject to rule 8, be exercised for a period of 12 months beginning on the Expected Release Date, after which time they will lapse.
• 6.1.3 If a Participant ceases to be an employee of the Group during any Holding Period applicable to a Vested Award for any reason other than Summary Dismissal, the Committee may determine that it will, subject to rule 6.2.7, be Released on the date of the Participant's cessation of employment (or such other date before the Expected Release Date as the Committee may determine). Any Awards structured as Options may, subject to rule 8, be exercised for a period of 12 months beginning on the date of the Participant's cessation of employment (or such other date before the Expected Release Date as the Committee may determine), after which time they will lapse.
• 6.1.4 If a Participant ceases to be an employee of the Group, for any reason other than Summary Dismissal, holding Vested Options which are not or are no longer subject to a Holding Period, they may, subject to rules 6.2.7 and 8, be exercised for a period of 12 months beginning on the date of the Participant's cessation of employment, after which time they will lapse.
• 6.1.5 If a Participant ceases to be an employee of the Group because of Summary Dismissal, all the Participant's Awards (whether Vested or not) lapse (to the maximum extent permitted by law).

6.2 Leaving as a "good leaver" - Unvested Awards

• 6.2.1 Unless the Committee in its absolute discretion determines otherwise, this rule 6.2 will only apply if the Participant has been an employee of a Group Member for a period of at least 12 months on the date they cease to be an employee of a Group Member.
• 6.2.2 If a Participant ceases to be an employee of the Group because of:
  • (i) ill-health, injury or disability, in each case evidenced to the satisfaction of the Committee;
  • (ii) the Participant's employing company ceasing to be under the Control of the Company;
  • (iii) a transfer of the undertaking, or the part of the undertaking, in which the Participant works to a person which is neither under the Control of the Company nor a Group Member; or
  • (iv) any other reason, at the discretion of the Committee

then an Unvested Award will, subject to rules 6.2.3, 6.2.7, 6.3 and 8, Vest on the date determined in accordance with rule 3.1 to the extent determined in accordance with rule 3.3.

• 6.2.3 If a Participant ceases to be an employee of the Group for one of the reasons specified in rules 6.2.2 to 6.2.2(iv), the Committee may, in its absolute discretion, determine that an Unvested Award will Vest on the date of the Participant's cessation of employment (or such other date before the Vesting Date as the Committee may determine) to the extent determined in accordance with rule 3.3.
• 6.2.4 Where the determination as to whether a Participant has ceased to be an employee for one of the reasons specified in rules 6.2.2 to 6.2.2(iv) depends on a decision of the Committee, it may, in its absolute discretion, delay such decision until the date determined in accordance with rule 3.1 and base its decision on all relevant circumstances (including, without limitation, the achievement of any applicable Performance Conditions over the Performance Period, whether the Participant has complied with any applicable restrictive

covenants and/or, if the Participant retired from the Group, whether the Participant has remained in retirement).

• 6.2.5 The Award will remain subject to any Holding Period after it vests, unless the Committee, in its absolute discretion, determines otherwise.
• 6.2.6 Awards structured as Options may then (to the extent Vested and subject to rule 8) be exercised for a period of 12 months beginning on:
  • (i) if the Award is subject to a Holding Period, the Expected Release Date (or such other date as the Committee may determine in accordance with rule 6.2.5); and
  • (ii) if the Award is not subject to a Holding Period, the Expected Vesting Date, unless rule 6.2.3 applies, when the 12 month period will begin on the date determined by the Committee in accordance with that rule,

after which time, they will lapse.

• 6.2.7 If a Participant ceases to be an employee of the Group for one of the reasons specified in rules 6.2.2(ii) or 6.2.2(iii), the Committee may determine that:
  • (i) an Unvested Award will not Vest under rule 6.2.2;
  • (ii) a Vested Award subject to a Holding Period will not be Released under rule 6.1.2; and
  • (iii) a Vested Option will not lapse under rule 6.1.4

but will be automatically exchanged under rule 9.

6.3 Death

If a Participant dies:

• 6.3.1 an Unvested Award will Vest on the date of the Participant's death to the extent determined in accordance with rule 3.3;
• 6.3.2 a Vested Award subject to a Holding Period will be Released on the date of the Participant's death; and
• 6.3.3 any Awards structured as Options may then (to the extent Vested and subject to rule 8) be exercised for a period of 12 months beginning on the date of the Participant's death, after which time they will lapse.

Alternatively, the Committee may, in its absolute discretion, determine that an Unvested Award will Vest, subject to rule 8, on the date determined in accordance with rule 3.1 (and Vested Awards subject to a Holding Period will, subject to rule 8, be Released on the Expected Release Date), in which case the provisions in rule 6.2 will apply mutatis mutandis, except that Unvested Awards will not be subject to a Holding Period (unless the Committee, in its absolute discretion, determines otherwise).

6.4 Meaning of "ceasing to be an employee of the Group"

For the purposes of rule 3 and this rule 6, a Participant will not be treated as ceasing to be an employee of the Group until the Participant ceases to be an employee of any Group Member and does not recommence employment with a Group Member within 7 days, unless the Committee determines that a Participant will be treated as ceasing to be an employee of the Group on the date that the Participant gives or receives notice of termination of employment.

If a Participant ceases to be an employee of the Group but remains a director of a Group Member, the Committee may determine that, for the purposes of rule 3 and this rule 6, that Participant will not be treated as ceasing to be an employee of the Group until that Participant also ceases to be a director of that Group Member.

7. Adjustment of Awards

7.1 Power to adjust

If there is:

• 7.1.1 a variation of the equity share capital of the Company, including a capitalisation or rights issue, sub-division, consolidation or reduction of share capital;
• 7.1.2 a demerger (in whatever form) or exempt distribution by virtue of section 1075 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010;
• 7.1.3 a special dividend or distribution; or
• 7.1.4 any other transaction which will, in the Committee's opinion, materially affect the value of Shares,

the Committee may adjust the number or class of Shares subject to, and the exercise price of, an Award as it considers appropriate.

7.2 Notice

The Company will notify Participants of any adjustment made under this rule 7.2 as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter.

8. Takeovers and corporate events

8.1 Takeovers

Subject to rule 8.3, where:

• 8.1.1 a person (or a group of persons acting in concert) obtains Control of the Company as a result of making an offer to acquire Shares;
• 8.1.2 a person (or a group of persons acting in concert) having obtained Control of the Company makes an offer to acquire all the Shares that person does not already own; or

8.1.3 a court sanctions a compromise or arrangement pursuant to section 899 of the Companies Act 2006 in connection with the acquisition of Shares; or

then:

• (i) an Unvested Award will Vest to the extent determined in accordance with rule 3.3; and
• (ii) a Vested Award subject to a Holding Period will be Released,

on the Effective Date.

• 8.1.4 For the purposes of this rule 8.1, the "Effective Date" will be:
  • a) where rule 8.1.1 or 8.1.2 applies, the offer becoming unconditional in all respects; and
  • b) where rule 8.1.3 applies, the date the compromise or arrangement becomes effective

(or such other date as the Committee determines).

8.1.5 Any Award structured as an Option (whether it Vested or was Released under this rule 8.1 or otherwise) may be exercised for a period of one month beginning on the Effective Date, after which time it will lapse.

8.2 Winding-up, demergers or other corporate events

If a resolution is passed or an order is made for the winding-up of the Company or the Committee becomes aware that the Company is or is expected to be affected by:

• 8.2.1 a variation of the equity share capital of the Company, including a capitalisation or rights issue, sub-division, consolidation or reduction of share capital;
• 8.2.2 a demerger (in whatever form) or exempt distribution by virtue of section 1075 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010;
• 8.2.3 a special dividend or distribution; or
• 8.2.4 any other transaction,

which, in the Committee's opinion, would materially affect the value of Shares the Committee may determine:

• (i) that an Unvested Award will Vest to the extent determined in accordance with rule 3.3;
• (ii) that a Vested Award subject to a Holding Period will be Released; and/or

(iii) the period of time during which an Option may be exercised, after which time it will, unless the Committee determines otherwise, lapse.

8.3 Exchange

In the event that:

• 8.3.1 a company (the "Acquiring Company") is expected to obtain Control of the Company as a result of an offer referred to in rule 8.1.1 or 8.1.2 or a compromise or arrangement referred to in rule 8.1.3; and
• 8.3.2 either:
  • (i) substantially all the shares in the Acquiring Company are expected to be held by the same persons who immediately before the obtaining of Control of the Company were shareholders in the Company; or
  • (ii) the Committee determines that Awards should be automatically exchanged,

then the Committee, with the consent of the Acquiring Company, may determine before the obtaining of such Control that:

• a) an Unvested Award will not Vest under rule 8.1.3(i);
• b) a Vested Award subject to a Holding Period will not be Released under rule 8.1.3(ii); and
• c) a Vested Option will not lapse under rule 8.1.5,

but will be automatically exchanged under rule 9.

8.4 Committee

In this rule 8, "Committee" means those people who were members of the Committee immediately before the Effective Date.

9. Exchange of Awards

9.1 Timing of exchange

Where an Award is to be exchanged under rule 6.2.7 or 8.3 the exchange will take place as soon as reasonably practicable after the relevant event.

9.2 Exchange terms

Where a Participant is granted a new award in exchange for an existing Award, the new award:

9.2.1 must confer a right to acquire shares in the company that employs the Participant or another body corporate associated with that employing company;

• 9.2.2 must be, so far as practicable in the Committee's opinion, equivalent to the existing Award;
• 9.2.3 is treated as having been acquired at the same time as the existing Award and Vests and is Released in the same manner and at the same time; and
• 9.2.4 is governed by the Plan as if references to Shares were references to the shares over which the new award is granted and references to the Company were references to the company over whose shares the new award is granted under rule 9.2.1.

10. Terms of employment

10.1 Scope

For the purposes of this rule 10, "Employee" means any employee of a Group Member. This rule 10 applies during an Employee's employment and after the cessation of an Employee's employment, whether or not such cessation is lawful.

10.2 Awards separate from employment contract

Nothing in the Plan rules or the operation of the Plan forms part of the Employee's contract of employment. The rights and obligations arising from the employment relationship between the Employee and the Employee's employer are separate from, and are not affected by, the Plan. Participation in the Plan does not create any right to, or expectation of, continued employment of the Employee.

10.3 Employee rights

No Employee has a right to participate in the Plan. Participation in the Plan or the grant of Awards on a particular basis in any year does not create any right to or expectation of participation in the Plan or the grant of Awards on the same basis, or at all, in any future year.

10.4 Exercise of discretion

The terms of the Plan do not entitle the Employee to the exercise of any discretion in the Employee's favour.

10.5 Rights to compensation

No Employee has any right to compensation for any loss in relation to the Plan, including any loss in relation to:

• 10.5.1 any loss or reduction of rights or expectations under the Plan in any circumstances (including lawful or unlawful termination of employment);
• 10.5.2 any exercise of a discretion or a decision taken in relation to an Award or to the Plan, or any failure to exercise a discretion or take a decision; or
• 10.5.3 the operation, suspension, termination or amendment of the Plan.

10.6 Plan participation

Participation in the Plan is permitted only on the basis that the Participant accepts all the provisions of the Plan rules, including this rule. By participating in the Plan, an Employee waives all rights under or in connection with the Plan, other than the right to acquire Shares subject to and in accordance with the express terms of the Plan and any Performance Conditions or other conditions applicable to their Award, in consideration for, and as a condition of, the grant of the Award.

10.7 Third party rights

Nothing in the Plan confers any benefit, right or expectation on a person who is not an Employee. No such third party has any rights under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any term of the Plan or any condition applicable to an Employee's Award. This does not affect any other right or remedy of a third party which may exist.

11. General

11.1 Rights

A Participant will not be entitled to vote, to receive dividends or to have any other rights of a shareholder in respect of Shares subject to an Award until the Participant has received the underlying Shares as a result of the Vesting or Release of a Conditional Award or the exercise of an Option.

11.2 Transfer

A Participant may not transfer, assign or otherwise dispose of an Award or any rights in respect of it. If the Participant does, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, then it will immediately lapse. This rule 11.2 does not apply to the transmission of an Award on the death of a Participant to the Participant's personal representatives.

11.3 Not pensionable

None of the benefits received under the Plan is pensionable.

11.4 Committee's decisions final and binding

The decision of the Committee on the interpretation of the Plan or in any dispute relating to an Award or matter relating to the Plan will be final and conclusive.

11.5 Documents sent to shareholders

The Company may (but is not obliged to) send to Participants copies of any documents or notices normally sent to the holders of its Shares.

11.6 Regulations

The Committee has the power from time to time to make or vary regulations for the administration and operation of the Plan but these must be consistent with its rules.

11.7 Data protection

• 11.7.1 During the Participant's participation in the Plan, the Company will have access to and process, or authorise the processing of, personal data (as defined in the Data Protection Act 2018, the EU General Data Protection Regulation 5419/16 in such form as incorporated into the law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (as amended) and any regulations thereunder and/or any implementing legislation (together, the "Data Protection Laws")) held and controlled by any Group Member and relating to employees or customers of any Group Member, or other individuals. Each Group Member will comply with the terms of the Data Protection Laws, and the Company's data protection policy issued from time to time, in relation to such data.
• 11.7.2 Any Group Member and its employees and agents may from time to time hold, process and disclose Participants' personal data in accordance with the terms of the Company's employee privacy notice and data protection policy in force from time to time. The current versions of these documents are available on the Company's intranet page.

11.8 Consents

All allotments, issues and transfers of Shares will be subject to any necessary consents under any relevant enactments or regulations for the time being in force in the United Kingdom or elsewhere. The Participant will be responsible for complying with any requirements the Participant needs to fulfil in order to obtain or avoid the necessity for any such consent.

11.9 Listing

If and so long as the Shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange, the Company will apply for listing of any Shares issued under the Plan as soon as reasonably practicable.

11.10 Enforceability of provisions

By accepting an Award, the Participant agrees that:

• 11.10.1 the Plan rules (and in particular rule 5) are fair and reasonable for the protection of the Company's interests;
• 11.10.2 if it should be found that any Plan rule is void as a result of going beyond what is fair and reasonable in all the circumstances, and if by deleting or amending part of the wording of that rule it would not be void, the rule will apply with such deletion and/or amendment as may be necessary to make it valid and enforceable; and
• 11.10.3 all other Plan rules will remain in full force and effect.

11.11 Notices

• 11.11.1 Except where otherwise specified in the Plan rules, any notice or communication to be given to any person who is or will be eligible to be a Participant may be:
  • (i) delivered by electronic mail and it will be deemed to have been received upon electronic confirmation of such delivery; or
  • (ii) personally delivered or sent by ordinary post to their last known address and where a notice or communication is sent by post it will be deemed to have been received 48 hours after the same was put into the post properly addressed and stamped.

Share certificates and other communications sent by post will be sent at the risk of the recipient concerned and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will have any liability whatsoever to any such person in respect of any notification, document, share certificate or other communication so given, sent or made.

11.11.2 Any notice to be given to the Company or the trustee of any trust established by a Group Member will be delivered or sent to the Company at its registered office, marked for the attention of the Company Secretary, and will be effective upon receipt. The Committee may make other arrangements to receive notices.

12. Amending the Plan

12.1 Committee's powers

Subject to the rest of this rule 12, the Committee may at any time amend the Plan rules and the terms of any Award in any way.

12.2 Shareholder approval

• 12.2.1 Subject to rules 12.2.2 and 12.2.3, following Admission, the Company's shareholders must approve in advance by ordinary resolution any proposed amendment to the Plan rules or an Award to the advantage of present or future Participants, which relates to the following:
  • (i) the persons to or for whom Shares or cash may be provided under the Plan;
  • (ii) the limits on the number of Shares which may be issued or transferred from treasury under the Plan;
  • (iii) the maximum entitlement for any Participant;
  • (iv) the basis for determining a Participant's entitlement to, and the terms of, Shares or cash provided under the Plan;
• (v) the rights of a Participant in the event of a capitalisation issue, rights issue or open offer, sub-division or consolidation of shares or reduction of capital or any other variation of the equity share capital of the Company; or
• (vi) the terms of this rule 12.2.
• 12.2.2 The Committee can amend the Plan or the terms of any Award and need not obtain the approval of the Company's shareholders for any minor amendments:
  • (i) to benefit the administration of the Plan;
  • (ii) to comply with or take account of the provisions of any proposed or existing legislation; or
  • (iii) to obtain or maintain favourable tax, exchange control or regulatory treatment of any Member of the Group or any present or future Participant.
• 12.2.3 The Committee need not obtain the approval of the Company's shareholders for any amendment to the Performance Conditions or other conditions imposed under rule 1.4 as permitted by rules 1.3 and 1.4 or the terms of any such Performance Condition or other condition.

12.3 Participant consent

If the Committee proposes an amendment to the Plan rules or the terms of any Award (other than a permitted amendment to the Performance Conditions or other conditions imposed under rule 1.4) which would be to the material disadvantage of Participants in respect of subsisting rights under the Plan, then:

• 12.3.1 the Committee will invite each so disadvantaged Participant to indicate whether or not they approve the amendment; and
• 12.3.2 such amendment will only take effect if the majority (assessed by reference to the size of affected Awards) of the Participants who respond to an invitation made in accordance with rule 12.3.1 consent to the amendment.

12.4 Overseas sub-plans

The Committee may establish further sub-plans based on the Plan but modified to take account of local tax, exchange control or securities laws in overseas territories, provided that any Shares made available under such further sub-plans are treated as counting against the limits set in rule 3.

12.5 Notice

The Committee may (but is not obliged to) give written notice of any amendments made to any Participant affected.

13. Governing law and jurisdiction

English law governs the Plan and all Awards and their construction. The courts of England and Wales will have exclusive jurisdiction in respect of disputes arising under or in connection with the Plan or any Award.