SunOpta Inc.: Exhibit 10.9 - Filed by newsfilecorp.com


    

     

     

     

    

    2021 

    Long Term Incentive Plan 

    Summary

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    

    2021 LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

    Executive Summary

    Under the Amended 2013 Stock Incentive Plan (Plan), SunOpta Inc. (Company) is authorized to issue a variety of forms of equity awards, including stock options, Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) and Performance Share Units (PSUs).  The use of a combination of forms of equity, such as stock options, RSUs or PSUs, is expected to better align management with the interests of shareholders. 

    SunOpta's Compensation Committee (Committee) has adopted a long-term incentive program customized to align with business strategy, and the need to recruit, retain, and motivate outstanding executive talent.  The following are the key features for the Long Term Incentive Program for 2021 (LTIP):

    	Reward long-term performance by providing an opportunity for leadership to share in long-term success
	Align leadership interests with shareholder interests
	Retain and engage our top talent
	Accordingly, the 2021 LTIP awards have three components
            	Performance Share Units
	Stock Options
	Restricted Stock Units


        
	Performance Share Units:  Each participant will be granted an award for a specified number of PSUs, with the actual number of shares issued to the participant to be determined based on the Company's Total Shareholder Return (TSR) performance relative to the identified Russell 3000 Food and Beverage companies (58 total) as calculated below and the participant's continued employment through the vesting date, which is April 15, 2024.
            	A percentage of the PSUs shall vest on the vesting date upon achievement of the applicable performance hurdle in accordance with the table below.


        


    

    	
                Relative TSR vs. Russell Food & Bev

            
	
                Performance Hurdle

            	
                Portion of PSUs that will vest

            
	
                ≥ 90th Percentile

            	
                200%

            
	
                75th Percentile

            	
                125%

            
	
                50th Percentile

            	
                100%

            
	
                25th Percentile

            	
                25%

            
	
                < 25th Percentile

            	
                0%

            


    

    	Achievement of the performance hurdle shall be determined by calculating the TSR for the Company and each of the companies in the Russell 3000 Food and Beverage designated index using a 20-trading day average closing price as of December 31, 2023. The following parameters shall apply to the calculation: dividends and cash equivalent distributions for a company shall be considered reinvested; any company that ceases trading prior to the calculation timeframe shall be excluded from the beginning and ending calculation (e.g. acquired companies and financial distressed companies). Performance is interpolated between scale points (between threshold and target, target and 75th, and 75th and maximum).


    
        
            	 	
                        2021 Long-Term Incentive Plan

                    	Page 2
	
                        SunOpta Inc.
Created: August 3, 2021
Updated:

                    	 	 


            

        

    

    

    	Stock Options:  Each participant will be granted an option to purchase a specified number of shares of common stock, exercisable after it is vested, with the exercise price established at the time of grant.  Stock options have ratable vesting and vest in one-third increments on the anniversary of the grant date, subject to continued employment.  The options may be exercised any time after vesting until 10 years after the grant date.
	Restricted Stock Units.  Each participant will be granted an award for a specified number of RSUs, with vesting of one-third of the RSUs on each of the first three anniversaries of the grant date, subject to continued employment.


    The remainder of this summary document provides details regarding this strategy.

    I. Purpose of Awards

    The purpose of the LTIP is to align the interests of our executives and general leadership with those of our shareholders by rewarding leadership for creating shareholder value over the long term, requiring and expanding stock ownership, and assisting with attracting and retaining outstanding talent.

    The Committee intends for the equity awards made in 2021 to the Senior Leadership Team and other leadership positions to represent one year of long-term incentive compensation.

    II. Allocation of Awards

    The LTIP provides flexibility for the Committee to customize the grants under the LTIP to align with the strategies of the organization.  The Committee will determine an LTIP percentage for each participant, and this percentage will be multiplied by the participant's current annual salary at the time of grant to determine the participant's Target LTIP Amount.

    Senior Leadership Team

    For 2021, the Committee has selected the following allocation of LTIP awards to members of the Senior Leadership Team:

    	50% of the LTIP award in the form of PSUs,
	25% of the LTIP award in the form of stock options, and
	25% of the LTIP award in the form of RSUs*.


    *Members of the Senior Leadership team are given the choice to exchange 100% or 50% of their RSUs for additional stock options, at a ratio of 3:1 stock options to RSUs.

    Other Leadership

    For 2021, the Committee has selected the following allocation for LTIP awards to other leadership positions who are not members of the Senior Leadership Team, with awards having the same vesting applicable to awards to the Senior Leadership Team:

    	33% of the LTIP award in the form of PSUs,
	33% of the LTIP award in the form of stock options, and


    
        
            	 	
                        2021 Long-Term Incentive Plan

                    	Page 3
	
                        SunOpta Inc.
Created: August 3, 2021
Updated:

                    	 	 


            

        

    

    

    	33% of the LTIP award in the form of RSUs.


    All awards are subject to the terms of the Plan and the applicable award agreements. 

    Stock Options

    Stock options are awarded with an exercise price equal to the closing price of the common stock on April 15, 2021, the grant date of the award.  The options have three-year ratable vesting in order to encourage retention, with 1/3 of the options vesting on each anniversary of the grant date, subject to continued employment.  Stock options may be exercised any time after vesting until 10 years after the grant date, subject to the terms of the applicable option agreement.

    Performance Share Units 

    PSUs represent a right to receive stock if the Company achieves the designated performance hurdle as noted in the Executive Summary and the participant remains employed by the Company through the vesting date.  Achievement of the performance hurdle shall be determined by calculating the TSR for the Company and each of the companies in the Russell 3000 Food and Beverage designated index using a 20-trading day average closing price as of December 31, 2023. The number of shares actually issued to a participant will vary based on achievement of the performance hurdle after the calculation is completed and may be zero.  If the 25th percentile performance hurdle is not met, none of the PSUs will vest.  If the 25th percentile performance hurdle is met, only 25% of the PSUs will vest.  If the 50th percentile performance hurdle is met, 100% of the PSUs will vest.  If the 90th percentile or above performance hurdle is met, 200% of the PSUs will vest. Performance shall be interpolated between the hurdles if the 25th percentile performance hurdle is met (i.e. between 25th and 50th percentile, 50th and 75th percentile, and 75th and 90th percentile). 

    Restricted Stock Units 

    RSUs represent a right to receive stock, with shares of stock transferred to a participant following the applicable vesting date based on continued employment until that vesting date.  The RSUs encourage retention and vest in equal annual installments during the three-year period following the grant date.

    Grant Eligibility

    Participation in the LTIP as a member of the Senior Leadership Team will be determined by the Committee, taking into account the recommendations of the CEO.  Subject to approval by the Committee, the CEO will determine all other leadership participants, in consultation with members of the Senior Leadership Team.

    Individuals who become eligible for participation in the LTIP after the annual grant may, at the discretion of the Committee, participate on a pro-rata basis. 

    III. Termination of Employment

    The Amended 2013 Stock Incentive Plan and the applicable award agreements set forth treatment of the awards upon termination of employment.  The following is a summary of those provisions:

    
        
            	 	
                        2021 Long-Term Incentive Plan

                    	Page 4
	
                        SunOpta Inc.
Created: August 3, 2021
Updated:

                    	 	 


            

        

    

    

    Stock Options

    	General Rule.  Except as provided below, options may not be exercised unless at the time of exercise the optionee is employed by the Company and shall have been so employed or provided such service continuously since the grant date.
	Termination Generally.  If employment by the Company is terminated for any reason (except under certain circumstances following a Change in Control (as defined in the Plan)), all unvested options will be forfeited.  If employment by the Company is terminated for any reason other than because of Total Disability or death or following a Change in Control as provided below, vested but unexercised options at the date of termination may be exercised at any time before the expiration date applicable to the option or the expiration of 30 days after the date of termination, whichever is the shorter period.
	Termination Because of Total Disability.  If employment by the Company is terminated because of Total Disability, vested but unexercised options at the date of termination may be exercised at any time before the expiration date applicable to the option or before the date 12 months after the date of termination, whichever is the shorter period.  The term "Total Disability" means a mental or physical impairment which is expected to result in death or which has lasted or is expected to last for a continuous period of 12 months or more and which causes the optionee to be unable, in the opinion of the Company, to perform his or her duties as an employee of the Company. 
	Termination Because of Death.  If employment by the Company is terminated due to death, vested but unexercised options may be exercised at any time before the applicable expiration date or before the date 12 months after the date of death, whichever is the shorter period, but only by the person or persons to whom the optionee's rights under the option shall pass by the optionee's will or by the laws of descent and distribution of the state or country of domicile at the time of death.
	Termination following a Change in Control. Options will vest if a Change in Control occurs and at any time within 12 months after the Change in Control, the participant's employment is terminated by the Company (or its successor) without Cause (as defined in the award agreement) or the participant's employment is terminated by the optionee for Good Reason (as defined in the award agreement), provided that the participant executes and delivers a release of claims in accordance with the award agreement.  Options that become vested in accordance with this provision may be exercised at any time before the expiration date of the option or the expiration of 45 days after the employment termination date, whichever is the shorter period.
	Failure to Exercise Option.  To the extent that following termination of employment, an option is not exercised within the applicable periods described above, all further rights to purchase shares pursuant to the option shall cease and terminate.


    PSUs

    	Termination for Any Reason.  If employment by the Company is terminated for any reason, all unvested PSUs will be forfeited, except as summarized below in the event of death or Total Disability or following a Change in Control. 
	Termination Because of Total Disability. If employment with the Company is terminated at any time prior to vesting date because of Total Disability, any unvested PSUs as to which the applicable performance hurdle vesting requirements have been satisfied as of the employment termination date shall immediately vest as of the employment termination date and any such PSUs that so vest shall be settled in accordance with the terms of the award agreement. In this case, determination of achievement of the performance hurdle will be calculated by taking the TSR for the Company and each of the companies in the Russell 3000 Food and Beverage designated index using a 20-trading day average closing price as of the employment termination date.  A participant shall not be entitled to receive any shares with respect to any PSUs as to which the applicable performance hurdle vesting requirements have not been satisfied as of the employment termination date.  


    
        
            	 	
                        2021 Long-Term Incentive Plan

                    	Page 5
	
                        SunOpta Inc.
Created: August 3, 2021
Updated:

                    	 	 


            

        

    

    

    	Termination Because of Death. If employment by the Company is terminated at any time prior to vesting because of death, any unvested PSUs as to which the applicable performance hurdle requirements have been satisfied as of the date of death shall immediately vest and any such PSUs that so vest shall be settled in accordance with the terms of the award agreement.  In this case, determination of achievement of the performance hurdle will be calculated by taking the TSR for the Company and each of the companies in the Russell 3000 Food and Beverage designated index using a 20-trading day average closing price as of the participant's date of death.  A participant's beneficiaries shall not be entitled to receive any shares with respect to any PSUs as to which the applicable performance hurdle vesting requirements have not been satisfied as of date of death.
	Termination following a Change in Control.  If a Change in Control occurs and the participant's employment with the Company is terminated by the Company (or its successor) without Cause or by the participant with Good Reason at any time within 12 month following the Change in Control and prior to vesting date, any unvested PSUs as to which the applicable performance hurdle vesting requirements have been satisfied as of the date of the Change in Control shall immediately vest as of the date of employment termination and any such PSUs that vest in accordance with this provision shall be settled in accordance with the terms of the award agreement, provided that the participant executes and delivers a release of claims in accordance with the award agreement.  In this case, determination of achievement of the performance hurdle will be calculated by taking the TSR for the Company and each of the companies in the Russell 3000 Food and Beverage designated index using a 20-trading day average closing price as of the Change in Control.  The participant will not be entitled to receive any shares with respect to any PSUs as to which the applicable performance hurdle vesting requirements have not been satisfied as of the Change in Control.


    RSUs

    	Termination Generally.  If employment by the Company is terminated for any reason, including death or disability, all unvested RSUs will be forfeited, except as described below in certain circumstances following a Change in Control. 
	Termination following a Change in Control. RSUs will vest if a Change in Control occurs and at any time within 12 months after the Change in Control, the participant's employment is terminated by the Company (or its successor) without Cause or the participant's employment is terminated by the participant for Good Reason, provided that the participant executes and delivers a release of claims in accordance with the award agreement.


    
        
            	 	
                        2021 Long-Term Incentive Plan

                    	Page 6
	
                        SunOpta Inc.
Created: August 3, 2021
Updated:

                    	 	 


            

        

    

    

    IV. Terms and Conditions

    PSUs, RSUs and stock options and any stock issued pursuant to such awards are subject to recovery under the Company's clawback policy or any law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement and will be subject to such deductions and clawback made pursuant to such policy, law, government regulation, or stock exchange listing requirement, all as determined by the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee.  The Company's current clawback policy is subject to revision by the Board or Compensation Committee at any time and from time to time.

    This document is a summary only and does not include all of the terms and conditions of the awards under the LTIP.  The LTIP awards are governed by the terms of the Amended 2013 Stock Incentive Plan and applicable award agreements and not by this summary.  

    
        
            	 	
                        2021 Long-Term Incentive Plan

                    	Page 7
	
                        SunOpta Inc.
Created: August 3, 2021
Updated: