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RANGE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED — Remuneration Information 2016
Jul 20, 2016
65662_rns_2016-07-20_25498af7-bc99-4a10-aab5-f1fd952f61dc.pdf
Remuneration Information
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Range International Limited Option Plan Rules
Contents
| 1. | Definitions and interpretation | 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 2. | Introduction | 7 |
| 3. | Eligibility and grant | 7 |
| 4. | Grant of Options | 9 |
| 5. | Terms of Options | 9 |
| 6. | Vesting | 10 |
| 7. | Exercise of Options | 10 |
| 8. | Delivery of Shares on Exercise of Options | 11 |
| 9. | Forfeiture of Options | 11 |
| 10. | Effect of Forfeiture of Options | 14 |
| 11. | Change of Control Event | 14 |
| 12. | Disposal Restrictions | 14 |
| 13. | Irrevocable Power of Attorney | 15 |
| 14. | Adjustment of Options | 15 |
| 15. | Administration of the Plan | 16 |
| 16. | Trust | 17 |
| 17. | Restrictions on and amendments to the Plan | 17 |
| 18. | Duration | 18 |
| 19. | Miscellaneous | 18 |
Range International Limited —Option Plan
1. Definitions and interpretation
1.1 Definitions
In these Rules, unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms and expressions will have the following meanings:
Ancillary Documentation means all documentation which the Board specifies in an Invitation that an Eligible Participant must enter into and/or provide in connection with an Application for an Option.
Application means, in respect of an Option, an application for that Option made by an Eligible Participant in response to an Invitation or provided electronically to the relevant Eligible Participant.
Application Form means an application form attached to, or enclosed with, an Invitation.
ASX means the ASX Limited (ABN 98 008 624 691) trading as the Australian Securities Exchange or the securities exchange operated by that entity, as appropriate.
ASX Holding Lock has the same meaning as "Holding Lock" in Chapter 19 of the Listing Rules.
Board means the board of directors of the Company, a committee appointed by the board of directors of the Company as constituted from time to time, or, in respect of a particular matter, any person who is provided with delegated authority by the board of directors of the Company in respect of that particular matter from time to time.
Business Day means a day (other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday) on which banks are open for general banking business in Melbourne, Australia.
Certificate means a certificate or notice (in each case, whether physical or electronic) evidencing the grant of an Option.
Change of Control Event means:
-
(a) a change in Control of the Company;
-
(b) where members of the Company approve any compromise or arrangement for the purpose of, or in connection with, a scheme for the reconstruction of the Company or its amalgamation with any other body corporate or bodies corporate (other than a scheme that does not involve a change in the ultimate beneficial ownership of the Company), which will, upon becoming effective, result in any person (either alone or together with its associates) owning more than fifty per cent (50%) of the issued capital of the Company;
-
(c) where a person becomes the legal or the beneficial owner of, or has a relevant interest in, more than fifty per cent (50%) of the issued capital of the Company;
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(d) where a person becomes entitled to acquire, hold or has an equitable interest in more than fifty per cent (50%) of the issued capital of the Company;
-
(e) where a takeover bid is made to acquire more than fifty per cent (50%) of the issued capital (or such lesser number of shares that when combined with the shares that the bidder (together with its associates) already owns will amount to more than 50% of the issued capital of the Company) and the takeover bid becomes unconditional and the bidder (together with its associates) has a relevant interest in more than 50% of the issued capital of the Company;
-
(f) a resolution is passed for the voluntary winding-up of the Company;
-
(g) an order is made for the compulsory winding up of the Company; or
-
(h) any other event determined by the Board in good faith to constitute a "Change of Control Event" for the purposes of these Rules,
but, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include any internal reorganisation of the structure, business and/or assets of the Group.
Company means Range International Limited (ACN 611 998 200).
Confirmation Notice means, in relation to an Option, the notice given by or on behalf of the Company to a Participant informing him or her that all of the Exercise Conditions have been satisfied or waived and the Option may be exercised in accordance with the terms of these Rules.
Constitution means the constitution of the Company.
Control has the meaning given to that term in the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).
Corporations Act means the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).
Dispose means in relation to a Resulting Share or an Option:
- (a) sell, assign, buy-back, redeem, transfer, convey, grant an option over, grant or allow a Security Interest over;
- (b) enter into any swap arrangement, any derivative arrangement or other similar arrangement over; or
- (c) otherwise directly or indirectly dispose of legal, beneficial or economic interest in,
the Resulting Share or Option (whichever applicable) and Disposal has a corresponding meaning.
Eligible Participant means a person that:
- (a) is an "eligible participant" (as that term is defined in ASIC class order 14/1000) in relation to the Company or a Subsidiary; and
- (b) has been determined by the Board to be eligible to participate in the Plan from time to time,
and, for the avoidance of doubt, if there is a change in the entity that engages the Participant as an officer from one member of the Group to another member of the Group, the Participant will be considered, for the purposes of these Rules, to be an Eligible Participant at all relevant times.
Engagement Arrangement means in respect of:
- (a) an employee of a member of the Group, the terms under which the relevant member of the Group has employed that person; or
- (b) a director of a member of the Group that is not also an employee, the terms under which the relevant member of the Group has appointed that director to their office; or
- (c) a contractor or consultant to a member of the Group, the terms under which the relevant member of the Group has engaged that contractor or consultant.
Exercise Condition means, in relation to an Option, any condition to exercise of that Option as specified in the relevant Invitation.
Exercise Notice means a notice given by or on behalf of the Participant (in the form determined by the Board from time to time) to exercise an Option in accordance with clause 7.
Exercise Price means, in respect of an Option, the price to be paid by the Participant when exercising that Option as specified in the relevant Invitation. For the avoidance of doubt, the Exercise Price for an Option may be nil.
Expiry Date means, in relation to an Option, the 'expiry date' which is specified in the Invitation or Vesting Notice (if any), or, if no date is specified, the Business Day prior to the 15 year anniversary of the Grant Date.
Grant Date means, in relation to an Option, the date on which that Option is granted to a Participant, as set out on the relevant Certificate.
Group means the Company and each of its Subsidiaries from time to time.
A person is Insolvent if:
- (a) it is (or states that it is) an insolvent under administration or insolvent (each as defined in the Corporations Act);
- (b) it has had a controller appointed or is in liquidation, in provisional liquidation, under administration, wound up or has had a receiver appointed to any part of its property;
- (c) it is subject to any arrangement, assignment, moratorium or composition, protected from creditors under any statute or dissolved (in each case, other than to carry out a reconstruction or amalgamation while solvent on terms approved by the Company);
- (d) an application or order has been made (and in the case of the application, it is not stayed, withdrawn or dismissed within 30 days), resolution passed, proposal put forward, or any other action taken, in each case in connection with that person, which is likely to result in any of (a), (b) or (c) above);
- (e) it is taken (under s.459F(1) of the Corporations Act) to have failed to comply with a statutory demand);
- (f) it is subject to an event described in section 459C(2)(b) or section 585 of the Corporations Act;
- (g) it is otherwise unable to pay its debts when they fall due; or
(h) something having a substantially similar effect to (a) to (g) happens in connection with that person under the law of any jurisdiction.
Invitation means an invitation to an Eligible Participant to apply for the grant of one or more Options made in accordance with clause 3.2 of these Rules.
Leaver means a Participant who ceases to be an Eligible Participant.
Listing Rules means the listing rules, market rules and operating rules of a financial market in respect of which the Company's shares are quoted or are the subject of an application for quotation.
Participant means an Eligible Participant who has been granted an Option under this Plan.
Option means a right granted under these Rules to acquire one or more Shares by one or more methods determined in the absolute discretion of the Board and as specified in the Invitation.
Plan means the "Range International Limited Option Plan".
Resulting Shares means all Shares issued, transferred or allocated to a Participant upon the valid exercise of an Option.
Retention Notice has the meaning given to that term in clause 9.1(a).
Rules means the rules of the Plan which are set out in this document.
Securities Trading Policy means the securities trading policy of the Company.
Security Interest means a mortgage, charge, pledge, lien, encumbrance or other third party interest of any nature.
Share means a fully paid ordinary share in the capital of the Company.
Subsidiary has the meaning given to that term in the Corporations Act but also includes an entity that would be a subsidiary (within the meaning of the Corporations Act) of another entity were both bodies corporate.
Vesting Condition means, in relation to an Option, any condition to vesting of that Option as specified in the relevant Invitation.
Vesting Notice means, in relation to an Option, the notice given by or on behalf of the Company to a Participant informing him or her that the Option may be exercised in accordance with the terms of these Rules.
1.1 Interpretation
In these Rules, unless otherwise stated or the contrary intention appears:
-
(a) the singular includes the plural and vice versa;
-
(b) a gender includes all genders;
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(c) a reference to a document, agreement, plan or rules includes that document, agreement, plan or rules as novated, amended, varied, supplemented or replaced from time to time;
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(d) headings are for convenience only and do not affect the interpretation of these Rules;
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(e) a reference to anything (including any amount) includes any part of that thing and a reference to a group of things or persons includes each thing or person in that group;
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(f) a reference to any legislation includes any modification or replacement of it and all regulations and statutory instruments issued under it and a reference to any provision of any legislation includes any modification or substitution of it;
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(g) a reference to these Rules includes all recitals, annexures, addendums and schedules to these Rules;
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(h) a reference to a person includes a reference to the person's executors, legal personal representatives, administrators and successors or a body corporate including any person taking by way of novation and, in the case of a trustee, includes any substituted or additional trustee;
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(i) the expression "person" includes an individual, the estate of an individual, the legal personal representative of an individual, a corporation, an authority, an association or a joint venture (whether incorporated or unincorporated), a partnership and a trust;
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(j) a reference to "writing" or "written" includes any mode of representing words in tangible and permanently visible form, and includes email;
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(k) a reference to "including" (or any similar term) is not to be construed as implying any limitation;
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(l) a monetary amount is a reference to Australian Dollars;
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(m) where any word is given a defined meaning, any other part of speech or other grammatical form in respect of such word or phrase has a corresponding meaning; and
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(n) any capitalised terms in these Rules that are not defined in clause 1.1 have the meaning given to them in the Corporations Act.
1.2 Inconsistencies
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Engagement Arrangement with a Participant, but subject at all times to these Rules, if there is any inconsistency between these Rules and an Engagement Arrangement, these Rules prevail.
1.3 Income Tax Assessment Act
This Plan is a plan to which Subdivision 83A-C of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Cth) applies (subject to the conditions in that act).
2. Introduction
2.1 Purpose
The purpose of the Plan is to:
- (a) assist in the reward, retention and motivation of Eligible Participants; and
- (b) align the interests of Eligible Participants with shareholders of the Group.
2.2 Commencement
The Plan will commence on a date determined by the Board.
2.3 Rules are binding
The Company and each Participant are bound by these Rules.
3. Eligibility and grant
3.1 Eligibility
The Board may from time to time determine that an Eligible Participant may participate in the Plan.
3.2 Invitation
- (a) Following determination that an Eligible Participant may participate in the Plan, the Board may make an Invitation to the Eligible Participant on any number of occasions.
- (b) An Invitation to an Eligible Participant to apply for Options may be made on such terms and conditions as the Board decides from time to time and may include:
- (i) the number of Options for which that Eligible Participant may apply;
- (ii) the Grant Date;
- (iii) the amount payable (if any) for the grant of each Option or how such amount is calculated;
- (iv) any Vesting Conditions;
- (v) whether each Option, upon vesting, needs to be exercised by or on behalf of the Participant or whether it will, upon vesting, be immediately deemed to have been exercised;
- (vi) the Exercise Conditions;
- (vii) any Exercise Price;
- (viii) whether the Company must fulfil a vested Option that has been exercised by acquiring Shares on-market (as that term is defined in the Corporations Act) or by any means
(including without limitation the acquisition of Shares on-market, off-market or by way of issue); and
(ix) any other supplementary terms and conditions considered relevant by the Board.
3.3 Application Form and Ancillary Documentation
An Invitation to an Eligible Participant must be accompanied by an Application Form and the Ancillary Documentation (if any).
3.4 Eligible Participant agrees to be bound
Each Eligible Participant is, by submitting a completed Application Form, deemed to have agreed to be bound by:
- (a) the terms of the Invitation and the Application Form;
- (b) the Ancillary Documentation (if any);
- (c) these Rules; and
- (d) the Constitution.
3.5 Who may apply
On receipt of an Invitation, an Eligible Participant may apply for the Options the subject of the Invitation by sending the completed Application Form to the Company (or its designated officer as set out in the Application Form) by the time and date specified in the Invitation, unless otherwise determined by the Board.
3.6 Acceptance of Application
The Board may accept an Application from an Eligible Participant in whole or in part. The Company may not grant an Option to an Eligible Participant unless it has received from that Eligible Participant:
- (a) the grant fee (if any) set out in the relevant Invitation;
- (b) a completed Application Form; and
- (c) all applicable Ancillary Documentation.
The Application Form and, where applicable, the Ancillary Documentation must be in the form included with the Invitation, and may not be made on the basis that it is subject to any terms and conditions other than those specified in the Invitation.
3.7 When Applications will not be accepted
Unless otherwise determined by the Board, an Application will not be accepted if at the time the Company received the Application Form together with all Ancillary Documentation:
(a) the applicant is not an Eligible Participant;
- (b) notice of termination of the applicant's Engagement Arrangement has been given (whether by the applicant or by one or more members of the Group); or
- (c) the Board has determined that the applicant is no longer eligible to participate in the Plan.
3.8 Right to nominate
- (a) Unless otherwise expressly permitted in the Invitation, an Eligible Participant may only submit an Application in the Eligible Participant's name and not on behalf of any other person. If an Eligible Participant is permitted in the Invitation, the Eligible Participant may nominate another person to be granted the Options the subject of their Invitation and/or the Resulting Shares in relation to such Options.
- (b) If Options and/or Resulting Shares (as the case may be) are granted to a person nominated by an Eligible Participant, then the Eligible Participant and their nominee must execute any documents required by the Company in order to receive the grant and, to the extent necessary to give effect to the intent of these Rules, the Company may continue to treat the Eligible Participant as the Participant.
3.9 Multiple Invitations
The Board may invite an Eligible Participant to apply for any number of Options, notwithstanding that the Eligible Participant has previously been invited to apply for Options.
4. Grant of Options
4.1 Company to grant Options
Following receipt of a completed Application Form together with all applicable Ancillary Documentation, the Company will, to the extent that it has accepted such Application, grant the Participant the relevant number of Options, subject to the terms and conditions set out in the Invitation, the Application Form these Rules and the Ancillary Documentation.
4.2 Certificate of Option
Following the grant of an Option, the Company will issue to the Participant a Certificate.
5. Terms of Options
5.1 Participant's rights
Prior to an Option being exercised a Participant is not entitled to:
- (a) notice of, or to vote or attend at, a meeting of the shareholders of the Company; and
- (b) receive any dividends declared by the Company,
by virtue of holding an Option.
5.2 Restriction of dealing
A Participant may not sell, assign, transfer, grant a Security Interest over or otherwise deal with an Option that has been granted to them, unless the Board in its absolute discretion so approves or the relevant dealing is effected by force of law on death or legal incapacity to the Participant's legal personal representative. The Company may require that an Option be forfeited if a sale, assignment, transfer, dealing or grant of a Security Interest occurs or is purported to occur other than in accordance with these Rules.
5.3 Prohibition on hedging
A Participant must not enter into any arrangement for the purpose of hedging their economic exposure to an unvested Option that has been granted to them.
5.4 Register of Options
Each Option granted under these Rules will be registered in the appropriate register of the Company.
5.5 Listing
Unless determined otherwise by the Board in its absolute discretion, an Option granted under the Plan will not be quoted on the ASX or any other recognised exchange.
6. Vesting
6.1 Vesting
An Option will vest when a Vesting Notice in respect of that Option is given or is deemed to be given to the Participant.
6.2 Waiver of Vesting Condition
A Vesting Condition for an Option may, subject to the Corporations Act, the Listing Rules (where applicable) and any other applicable laws and regulations, be waived by the Board by written notice to the relevant Participant and on such terms and conditions as determined by the Board and set out in that notice.
7. Exercise of Options
7.1 Exercise Conditions
An Option may only be exercised when all Vesting Conditions and all Exercise Conditions applicable to that Option are satisfied or have been waived by the Company under clause 7.2 and the Company has provided a Confirmation Notice to the Participant.
7.2 Waiver of Exercise Conditions
An Exercise Condition for an Option may, subject to the Corporations Act and any other applicable laws and regulations, be waived by the Board by written notice to the relevant Participant and on such terms and conditions as determined by the Board and set out in that notice.
7.3 Exercise of vested Option
To exercise an Option, a Participant must, at any time that:
- (a) is in in the period between the date of provision of a Confirmation Notice relating to that Option and the Expiry Date; and
- (b) the Participant is permitted to trade securities under the Company's Securities Trading Policy,
deliver an Exercise Notice to (or as directed by) the Company and pay the Exercise Price (if any) for that Option to (or as directed by) the Company.
8. Delivery of Shares on Exercise of Options
8.1 Issue or transfer
As soon as practicable, after the valid exercise or deemed exercise of an Option by a Participant in accordance with clause 7, the Company will issue, allocate or cause to be transferred to that Participant the number of Shares to which the Participant is entitled under these Rules. The Company will also issue a substitute Certificate for any remaining unexercised Options of that Participant.
8.2 Shares to rank pari passu
All Resulting Shares will rank pari passu in all respects with the Shares of the same class for the time being on issue except for any rights attaching to the Shares by reference to a record date prior to the date of the allotment or transfer of the Resulting Shares.
8.3 Listing
If Resulting Shares are in the same class as Shares which are listed on the ASX, the Company will apply for quotation of the Resulting Shares issued (or any unquoted Resulting Shares transferred) within the time required by the Listing Rules after the date of allotment.
9. Forfeiture of Options
9.1 Leaver
- (a) Unless the Invitation provides otherwise, within 20 Business Days of the Participant becoming a Leaver, the Board shall issue a written notice (Retention Notice) to the Participant confirming to them which of their Options may be retained, being:
- (i) all vested but unexercised Options held by the Participant; and
- (ii) to the extent expressly determined by the Board only, those unvested Options held by the Participant.
- (b) Those Options that the Participant is not permitted to retain in accordance with the Retention Notice will be forfeited with immediate effect on the date that the Retention Notice is issued by the Company.
- (c) Subject to the Corporations Act, the Listing Rules (where applicable) and any other applicable
laws and regulations, the Board may at any time determine that some or all of the Options retained by a Leaver are deemed to have vested.
9.2 Failure to satisfy Vesting Conditions
Unless otherwise stated in the Invitation or determined by the Board in its absolute discretion, an Option which has not yet vested will be forfeited immediately on the date that the Board determines (acting reasonably and in good faith) that any applicable Vesting Conditions have not been met or cannot be met by the relevant date.
9.3 Fraudulent or dishonest actions
- (a) Unless varied by prior agreement with the Board, where, in the opinion of the Board, a Participant:
- (i) acts fraudulently or dishonestly; or
- (ii) has wilfully breached his or her obligations to any member of the Group,
then the Board may deal with, or take any other actions, in relation to the Participant's Options or relevant Resulting Shares so as to ensure that no unfair benefit is obtained by the Participant as a result of such actions, including (without limitation):
- (iii) deem any Options or Resulting Shares of the Participant to be forfeited; or
- (iv) where any Resulting Shares held by the Participant as a result of the exercise of one or more Options have been sold by the Participant require the Participant to pay all or part of the net proceeds of that sale to the Company.
- (b) Unless varied by prior agreement with the Board, where, in the opinion of the Board, a Participant's Option vests as a result of the fraud, dishonesty or breach of obligations of another person and, in the opinion of the Board, the Option would not otherwise have vested, the Board may determine that the Option has not vested and may, subject to applicable laws, deal with, or take any other actions, in relation to the Participant's Options or relevant Resulting Shares so as to ensure that no unfair benefit is obtained by the Participant as a result of such actions of another person, including (without limitation):
- (i) determine that the relevant Option has not vested and that the Vesting Conditions applicable to that Option will be reset in the manner determined by the Board acting reasonably; or
- (ii) where the Participant holds the Resulting Shares, that those shares are forfeited by the Participant (in the manner set out in clause 9.3(a)(iv)) and, at the discretion of the Board, the relevant Options are reissued to the Participant subject to new Vesting Conditions in place of those forfeited shares.
9.4 Insolvency
Unless otherwise stated in the Invitation, a Participant must on request from the Board forfeit an Option which has not yet vested if the Participant becomes Insolvent.
9.5 Material breach of these Rules
Unless otherwise determined by the Board, where the Company notifies a Participant of a material breach by that Participant of these Rules or the Participant's Invitation and the Participant is unable to remedy the breach to the satisfaction of the Board within 20 Business Days of receiving notice from the Company, the Board may require the Participant to forfeit all of their Options on a date that the Board determines.
9.6 Other forfeiture events
Unless the Board otherwise determines, or as otherwise set out in these Rules;
- (a) an Option which has not yet been validly exercised in accordance with this Rules will be automatically forfeited on the Expiry Date; and
- (b) an Option held by a Participant in accordance with this Rules will also be forfeited in any other circumstances expressly set out in the Participant's Invitation.
9.7 Discretion
- (a) Notwithstanding clauses 9.1to 9.6 (inclusive), the Board may decide (on any conditions which it thinks fit) that some or all of the Participant's Options will not be forfeited at that time.
- (b) The Board may elect to disapply any of clauses 9.1to 9.6 (inclusive), or add any further forfeiture terms, to a particular grant of Options provided that such election is expressly set out in the Invitation relating to that grant.
9.8 Voluntary forfeiture
A Participant may by written notice to the Company voluntarily forfeit their Options for no consideration.
9.9 Application of Part 2D.2 Division 2 of the Corporations Act
- (a) This clause 9.9 applies to all termination payments to which Part 2D.2 Division 2 of the Corporations Act applies.
- (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of these Rules, in the absence of shareholder approval, the Company is not required to provide, or procure the provision, of any benefit under these Rules which is not permitted by Part 2D.2 Division 2 of the Corporations Act.
- (c) Any benefits required to be provided to a Participant in accordance with these Rules will, by operation of this clause, be reduced to ensure compliance with Part 2D.2 of the Corporations Act and the provision of such reduced benefit shall constitute full satisfaction of the obligations of each member of the Group. In the event of overpayment to a Participant, the Participant must, on receiving written notice from the Board, immediately repay any monies or benefits specified in such notice to ensure compliance with Part 2D.2 of the Corporations Act.
- (d) Where clause 9.9(b) applies, the Company may seek or not seek shareholder approval in its discretion.
10. Effect of Forfeiture of Options
Where an Option has been forfeited in accordance with these Rules:
- (a) the Option will automatically lapse;
- (b) the Participant must sign any documents required by the Company to effect the forfeiture of that Option; and
- (c) the Company will not be liable for any damages or other amounts to the Participant in respect of that Option.
11. Change of Control Event
Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Rules but subject to applicable laws, if a Change of Control Event occurs, or the Board determines such event is likely to occur, the Board may in its absolute discretion determine (having regard to, amongst other factors, the performance of the Company against targets in the Vesting Conditions at that time, the period of time that has elapsed between the Grant Date and the date of the Change of Control Event, and the circumstances of the Change of Control Event) the manner in which any or all of the Participant's Options will be dealt with (including without limitation in a manner that allows the Participants to benefit from the Change of Control Event).
12. Disposal Restrictions
12.1 Disposal restrictions and compliance with the Securities Trading Policy
If the Invitation provides that any Resulting Shares are subject to any restrictions as to the disposal or other dealing by a Participant for the period, the Board may implement any procedure it deems appropriate to ensure the compliance by the Participant with this restriction, including but not limited to imposing an ASX Holding Lock (where applicable) on the Resulting Shares or using an employee share trust to hold the Resulting Shares during the relevant restriction period. Regardless of whether any restrictions have been imposed under this clause 12.1, all Participants must comply with the Securities Trading Policy at all times.
12.2 Participant's undertaking
For so long as a Resulting Share is subject to any disposal restrictions under this Plan, the Participant will not without the prior express written consent of the Board:
- (a) Dispose of that Resulting Share; or
- (b) take any action or permit another person to take any action to remove or circumvent the disposal restrictions.
12.3 Expiry of restriction
Upon the expiry of any disposal restriction over a Resulting Share, the Company will take all action necessary to ensure that the Participant can deal with that Resulting Share.
12.4 Share entitlements
For the avoidance of doubt, the imposition of a disposal restriction on a Resulting Share held by a Participant will not affect the Participant's entitlement to receive a notice of, or to vote or attend at, a meeting of the members of the Company, and to receive any dividends declared by the Company during the relevant disposal restriction period on that Resulting Share. If an employee share trust arrangement is implemented in respect of this Plan, the Board may implement such procedures it deems appropriate to give effect to the intent of this clause 12.4.
13. Irrevocable Power of Attorney
In order to ensure compliance with these Rules and if requested by the Board, each Participant must grant an irrevocable power of attorney (in the form set out in the Invitation or such other form determined by the Board) to any person nominated from time to time by the Board.
14. Adjustment of Options
14.1 Reorganisation
If there is a reorganisation of the issued share capital of the Company (including any subdivision, consolidation, reduction, return or cancellation of such issued capital), the number of Options to which each Participant is entitled or the Exercise Price, or both as appropriate, will be adjusted in the manner specified by the Listing Rules.
14.2 Bonus Issue
- (a) If Shares are issued by the Company pro rata to shareholders generally by way of bonus issue (other than an issue in lieu of dividends or by way of dividend reinvestment), the holder of Options is entitled, upon exercise of the Options, to receive, in addition to the Shares in respect of which the Options are exercised and without the payment of any further consideration, an allotment of as many additional Shares as would have been issued to a shareholder who, on the date for determining entitlements under the bonus issue, held Shares equal in number to the Shares in respect of which the Options are exercised.
- (b) Additional Shares to which the holder of Options becomes so entitled will, as from the time Shares are issued pursuant to the bonus issue and until those additional Shares are allotted, be regarded as Shares in respect of which the Options are exercised for the purposes of subsequent applications of clause 14.2(b), and any adjustments which, after the time just mentioned, are made under clause 14.1 to the number of Shares will also be made to the additional Shares.
14.3 Rights Issue
Unless otherwise determined by the Board, a holder of Options does not have the right to participate in a pro rata issue of Shares made by the Company or to receive or sell renounceable rights.
14.4 No other participation
Subject to clauses 14.1to 14.3 (inclusive), during the currency of any Options and prior to their exercise, the holders of Options are not entitled to participate in any new issue of Shares of the Company as a result of their holding of Options.
14.5 Rounding
Until an Option vests, all calculations adjusting the number of Shares must be carried out to include all fractions, but when an Option vests and is settled the number of Resulting Shares must be rounded down to the next lowest whole number.
14.6 Fairness in application
In the application of this clause 14, the Board may (as far as possible (subject to the Corporations Act, the Listing Rules and any other applicable laws and regulations) make whatever adjustments it deems necessary or desirable to ensure that the consequences of that application are fair as between the Participants and the holders of other securities in the Company at that time.
15. Administration of the Plan
15.1 Board administration
The Plan will be administered by the Board. For the avoidance of doubt, the Board may make further provisions for the operation of the Plan which are consistent with these Rules.
15.2 Board powers and discretions
Any power or discretion which is conferred on the Board by these Rules may be exercised in its sole and absolute discretion. The Board does not, in exercising any power or discretion under these Rules, owe any fiduciary or other obligations to any Eligible Participant or Participant.
15.3 Delegation of Board powers and discretions
Any power or discretion which is conferred on the Board by these Rules (including, without limitation, the power to invite Eligible Participants to participate in the Plan and to determine the terms and conditions of the Options) may be delegated by the Board to:
- (a) a committee consisting of such directors, other officers, employees of or contractors or consultants to the Group, or any combination of such persons as the Board thinks fit;
- (b) a related body corporate of the Company; or
- (c) a third party,
for such periods and on such conditions as the Board thinks fit.
15.4 Documents
The Company may from time to time require an Eligible Participant invited to participate in the Plan or a Participant or a person nominated by an Eligible Participant under clause 3.8 to complete and return such other documents as may be required by law to be completed by that person or entity, or such other documents which the Company considers should, for legal, taxation and/or administrative reasons, be completed by that Eligible Participant, Participant or person in order to give effect to the intent of the Plan.
15.5 Decisions final
Every exercise of a discretion by the Board (or its delegates) and any decision by the Board (or its delegates) regarding the interpretation, effect or application of these Rules and all calculations and determination made by the Board under these Rules are final, conclusive and binding in the absence of manifest error.
16. Trust
The Board may elect to use on such terms and conditions as determined by the Board in its absolute discretion an employee share trust for the purposes of holding Shares before or after the exercise of an Option or delivering any Resulting Shares under these Rules. For the avoidance of doubt, the Board may do all things necessary for the establishment, administration, operation and funding of an employee share trust.
17. Restrictions on and amendments to the Plan
17.1 Compliance with applicable laws and regulations
Notwithstanding these Rules or any terms of an Option, no Option may be offered, granted, vested or exercised, and no Resulting Share may be issued, allocated or transferred, if to do so would contravene any applicable laws or regulations.
17.2 Amendment of Plan
-
(a) Subject to clause 17.2(b), the Board may:
- (i) at any time amend any provisions of these Rules, including (without limitation) the terms and conditions upon which any Options have been granted under the Plan; and
- (ii) determine that any amendments to these Rules be given retrospective effect, immediate effect or future effect.
-
(b) No amendment to any provision of these Rules may be made if the amendment materially reduces the rights of any Participant as they existed before the date of the amendment, other than an amendment:
- (i) introduced primarily:
- (A) for the purposes of complying with or conforming to present or future legislation governing or regulating the Plan or like plans;
- (B) to correct any manifest error or mistake;
- (C) to allow the implementation of an employee share trust arrangement pursuant to clause 16;
- (D) to enable the Plan or any member of the Group to comply with its constituent documents, and any other applicable laws and regulations; and/or
- (i) introduced primarily:
-
(E) to take into consideration possible adverse taxation implications in respect of the Plan including changes to applicable taxation legislation or the interpretation of that legislation by a court of competent jurisdiction or any rulings from taxation authorities administering such legislation; or
-
(ii) agreed to in writing by all Participants.
-
(c) As soon as reasonably practicable after making any amendment to any provision of these Rules, the Board will give notice of the amendment to each Participant affected by the amendment. Failure by the Board to notify a Participant of any amendment will not invalidate the amendment as it applies to that Participant.
18. Duration
18.1 Termination
The Plan continues in operation until the Board determines to end it.
18.2 Suspension
The Board may from time to time suspend the operation of the Plan for a fixed period or indefinitely, and may end any suspension.
18.3 Effect of termination / suspension
If the Plan is terminated or suspended for any reason, that termination or suspension must not prejudice the accrued rights of the Participants.
18.4 Cancellation of Options
Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Rules, but subject at all times to any applicable laws and regulations, if a Participant and the Company (acting by the Board) agree in writing that some or all of the Options granted to that Participant are to be cancelled on a specified date or on the occurrence of a particular event, then those Options may be cancelled in the manner agreed between the Company and the Participant.
19. Miscellaneous
19.1 Rights of Participants
Nothing in these Rules:
-
(a) confers on any person any right or expectation to become a Participant, or the right to be invited to apply for, or be offered or to receive any Options;
-
(b) confers on any person the right to continue as an employee or officer of any member of the Group (as the case may be);
-
(c) affects the rights of any member of the Group to terminate the Engagement Arrangement of an Eligible Participant;
-
(d) forms part of any contract of service between an Eligible Participant and any member of the Group;
-
(e) may be used to increase rights of compensation or damages in any action brought against a member of the Group in respect of any termination of an Engagement Arrangement;
-
(f) confers any legal or equitable right on an Eligible Participant whatsoever to take action against any member of the Group in respect of their Engagement Arrangement; or
-
(g) confers on an Eligible Participant any rights to compensation or damages in consequence of the termination of their Engagement Arrangement by any member of the Group for any reason whatsoever including ceasing to have rights under the Plan as a result of such termination.
19.2 Non-exclusivity
- (a) This Plan is not the sole means by which all members of the Group intend to provide incentives to Eligible Participants. Nothing in this Plan is intended to restrict any member of the Group from remunerating or otherwise rewarding employees or directors of any member of the Group outside the Plan.
- (b) Participation in the Plan does not affect, and is not affected by, participation in any other incentive or other scheme operated by any member of the Group unless the terms of that other scheme provide otherwise.
19.3 Notice
- (a) Any notice or other communication under or concerning the Plan is validly given:
- (i) to a Participant, if delivered personally to the addressee or sent by prepaid post to the Participant's last known residential address, or sent to the Participant by facsimile or email at the Participant's place of work; and
- (ii) to the Company, if delivered or sent by prepaid post addressed to the company secretary at the Company's registered office (or any other address the Board specifies), or as otherwise notified by the Company from time to time.
- (b) Delivery of notices
Subject to clause 19.3(a), a notice or other communication will be deemed to have been served:
- (i) if delivered by hand, at the time of delivery;
- (ii) if sent by electronic mail, on receipt of a return receipt or such other confirmation by which the sender can reasonably verify delivery; or
- (iii) if posted, and provided it is properly addressed and stamped, 48 hours after mailing in Australia and 7 days after mailing outside Australia.
19.4 Further assurances
Each party must do all things reasonably necessary to give full effect to this Plan and the transactions contemplated by this Plan.
19.5 Duties and taxes
- (a) The Company will be responsible for all brokerage costs payable in relation to the issue or transfer of a Resulting Share to a Participant following the exercise of an Option. Each Participant will be responsible for all costs associated with the disposal of a Resulting Share by that Participant.
- (b) Subject to clause 19.5(a), the Company:
- (i) is not responsible for any duties, taxes or other government levy or impost which are or may become payable by any person other than the Company on:
- (A) the acquisition and issue of an Option;
- (B) the acquisition, issue or transfer of a Resulting Share on the exercise of an Option; or
- (C) acquisition, transfer or any other dealings with a Resulting Share; and
- (ii) may make any withholding or payment which it is required by law to make in connection with the Plan or the grant, issue or transfer of an Option and/or a Resulting Share; and
- (iii) when transferring or issuing a Resulting Share to a Participant under the Plan, may require the Participant to provide the Company with an amount of money which the Board estimates is necessary to meet the Participant's liability (if any) to pay stamp duty or other taxes in respect of the transfer. Where the Company is provided with funds for that purpose, it must apply the funds in payment of the stamp duty or other tax, arrange for registration of the transfer on the Participant's behalf and return any excess funds to the Participant.
- (i) is not responsible for any duties, taxes or other government levy or impost which are or may become payable by any person other than the Company on:
19.6 No representation or warranty
- (a) The Company makes no representation or warranty as to the value of Option or any Resulting Shares or with respect to any tax matters affecting any Eligible Participant or Participant in connection with the Plan.
- (b) Neither the Company, nor any of its directors, officers, employees, contractors or consultants are liable for anything done or omitted to be done by such person or any other person with respect to price, time, quantity or other conditions and circumstances of the issue or acquisition of Shares hereunder, with respect of any fluctuations in the market price of Shares, or in any other manner related to the Plan.
19.7 Data protection
By participating in the Plan, the Participant consents to the holding and processing of personal data provided by the Participant for the purposes of the Plan. These purposes include, but are not limited to:
(a) administering and maintaining records held in respect to the Participant;
- (b) providing information to members of the Group, registrars, brokers or third party administrators of the Plan (if any) or advisers of the Board; and
- (c) providing information to corporate advisers or potential future third party purchasers in connection with a sale of shares in a member of the Group, or the business and assets of a member of the Group.
19.8 Construed against a party
No provision or expression in these Rules is to be construed against a party on the basis that the party (or its advisers) was responsible for the drafting of these Rules.
19.9 Rounding
Where any calculation or adjustment to be made pursuant to these Rules produces a fraction of a cent or a fraction of an Option or Share, the fraction will be eliminated by rounding down to the nearest whole number.
19.10 Governing law
- (a) This Plan is governed by the laws of Victoria, Australia.
- (b) Each Participant submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Victoria, Australia, and the courts competent to determine appeals from those courts, with respect to any proceedings that may be brought in connection with these Rules.
19.11 Waiver of rights
- (a) A waiver of any right, power, authority, discretion or remedy arising upon a breach of or default under these Rules must be in writing and signed by the party granting the waiver, and may be subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the party granting the waiver.
- (b) A failure or delay in the exercise, or partial exercise, of a right, power, authority, discretion or remedy arising from a breach of or default under these Rules, does not prevent the exercise of or result in a waiver of that right, power, authority, discretion or remedy.
- (c) A party is not entitled to rely on a delay in the exercise or non-exercise of a right, power, authority, discretion or remedy arising from a breach of these Rules or default under these Rules as constituting a waiver of that right, power, authority, discretion or remedy.
- (d) A party may not rely on any conduct of another party as a defence to the exercise of a right, power, authority, discretion or remedy by that other party.
- (e) A waiver is only effective in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which it is given and subject to any specific terms and conditions as specified in the waiver.
- (f) This clause may not itself be waived except in writing.