Share Option Award Agreement between MF Global Holdings Ltd. and Bradley Abelow



 Exhibit 10.8 
 MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD. 
 SHARE OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT

 This Agreement (this “Agreement”) sets forth the terms and conditions of the award (this
“Award”) granted to the recipient set forth in Section 2 (the “Grantee”) by MF Global Holdings Ltd., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), of an option (this
“Option”) to purchase shares of common stock of the Company, par value U.S. $1.00 per share (the “Shares”), on the terms and conditions set forth herein. 

1. Status of Award. This Award is the Stock Option Grant referred to in the employment agreement between the Grantee and
the Company dated August 9, 2010 (as it may be amended from time to time, the “Employment Agreement”). This Award is intended to be an employment inducement award being made in accordance with Section 303A.08 of the
New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual and is not intended to be an award made under any stock incentive plan adopted by the Company, including the MF Global Holdings Ltd. Amended and Restated 2007 Long Term Incentive Plan (the
“Plan”). Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, this Award shall be construed as if this Award had been granted under the Plan in accordance with and consistent with, and subject to, the provisions of the Plan, a copy of
which has been made available to the Grantee, and the terms of which are incorporated into this Agreement, except as otherwise specifically stated herein. The Grantee agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Plan and
any future amendments to the Plan which do not materially impair the Grantee’s rights hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the avoidance of doubt, in the event of any inconsistency between the Plan and this Agreement, the provisions of
this Agreement shall govern. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement that are not defined in this Agreement have the meanings as used or defined in the Plan. References in this Agreement to any specific Plan provision will not be construed as
limiting the applicability of any other Plan provision. 
 2. Award. Effective as of the date set forth below (the
“Grant Date”), the Company hereby grants to the Grantee as compensation for the Grantee’s service as an employee of the Company (or any Subsidiary or Affiliate), the right and option to purchase, subject to the terms,
conditions and provisions of this Agreement, all or any part of the aggregate number of Shares set forth below (the Shares that are deliverable to the Grantee pursuant to exercise of this Option, the “Option Shares”) at a
purchase price per Share that will be equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Grant Date (the “Option Price”). No part of this Option is intended to be an Incentive Share Option. 

Name of Grantee: Bradley Abelow 
 Grant Date: September 13, 2010 
 Number of Shares: 1,750,000

 Option Price: $7.31 
 3. Vesting. Except as otherwise provided in Sections 5, 6, and 22 or the terms of any employment or similar agreement between the Grantee and the Company (or any Subsidiary or
Affiliate), this Option will vest in respect of one-third of the Option Shares on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the Grant Date (each such anniversary, a “Vesting Date”) and will be exercisable only to
the extent that it has vested. Except as 







 
otherwise provided in Sections 5 and 6 or the terms of any employment or similar agreement between the Grantee and the Company (or any Subsidiary or Affiliate), there will be no
proportionate or partial vesting in the periods prior to each Vesting Date and all vesting will occur only on the appropriate Vesting Date. 
 4. Term of Option. This Option will expire at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on the seventh anniversary of the Grant Date (the “Expiration Date”) and must be exercised, if
at all, on or before the earlier of the Expiration Date or the date on which this Option is earlier terminated in accordance with the provisions of Sections 5 or 6 of this Agreement. Upon expiration of this Option, this Option will
automatically be forfeited and canceled by the Company and will immediately cease to be exercisable. 
 5. Termination of
Employment. Subject to the terms of any employment or similar agreement between the Grantee and the Company (or any Subsidiary or Affiliate) or as determined by the Committee, if the Grantee’s employment with the Company and its
Subsidiaries and Affiliates terminates for any reason prior to the final Vesting Date, to the extent this Option has not yet vested in accordance with Sections 3 and 6, it will automatically be forfeited and cancelled by the Company upon such
termination of employment, and to the extent (and only to the extent) that any portion of this Option has previously vested on or prior to the date the Grantee’s employment terminates, that portion of this Option may be exercised by the Grantee
no later than 90 days after the date of such termination (but in no event later than the Expiration Date), except as follows. 
 (a) By the Company for Cause. If the Grantee’s employment is terminated by the Company (or any Subsidiary or Affiliate) for Cause, upon such termination of employment this Option will
automatically be forfeited in full and cancelled by the Company and any portion of this Option that had previously vested will immediately cease to be exercisable. For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” means the
Grantee’s (i) conviction, or plea of nolo contendere (or a similar plea), in a criminal proceeding; (ii) misconduct; (iii) dishonesty; (iv) violation of any law, rule, regulation of any governmental authority,
securities exchange or association or any other regulatory or self-regulatory body or agency applicable to the Grantee or the Company (or any Subsidiary or Affiliate), or any material violation of the Company’s (or any Subsidiary’s or
Affiliate’s) policies or procedures; (v) willful or repeated failure or refusal to perform the Grantee’s duties satisfactorily; (vi) engaging in any activity deemed by the Committee to be contrary or harmful to the interests of
the Company (or any Subsidiary or Affiliate); or (vii) such other or different circumstances as the Committee may determine to constitute Cause; in each case as determined by the Committee, which determination will be final, binding and
conclusive; provided, however, that if “Cause” is defined in an employment or similar agreement between the Grantee and the Company (or any Subsidiary or Affiliate), that definition will apply in lieu of the definition set
forth herein. 
 (b) Death or Disability. If the Grantee’s termination of employment is due to
the Grantee’s death or Disability, this Option will immediately vest in full as of the date of such termination and to the extent that this Option is vested on the date of such termination (after giving effect to the accelerated vesting
provided for in this Section 5(b)), this Option may be exercised by the Grantee (or the Grantee’s estate or guardian, as the case may be) no later than one year after the date of such termination, but in no event later than the
Expiration Date. For purposes of this Agreement, “Disability” means the Grantee’s total and permanent disability in 

  
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accordance with the Company’s long-term disability plan, or if no such plan is applicable to the Grantee, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion; provided, however,
that if “Disability” is defined in an employment or similar agreement between the Grantee and the Company (or any Subsidiary or Affiliate), that definition will apply in lieu of the definition set forth herein. 

(c) Retirement. If the Grantee’s termination of employment is by reason of Retirement and if the
Grantee has completed at least 10 years of continuous service with the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates (including service with any Man Group plc entity before the Effective Date of the Plan) at the time of such termination (or such
shorter period of service as determined by the Committee), the Committee may in its sole discretion provide that this Option (i) will not be forfeited, but will remain outstanding and continue to vest in accordance with this Agreement
notwithstanding the Grantee’s termination of employment or (ii) will vest on a pro rata basis, such that effective as of the date of such termination, this Option will be vested in respect of the aggregate number of Option Shares initially
subject to this Option (taking into account any portion of this Option which has previously vested and/or been exercised) multiplied by the greater of (A) one-third and (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days that have
elapsed from and including the Grant Date through the date of the Grantee’s termination of employment, and the denominator of which is 1,095 (the “Pro-Rata Portion”), and this Option in respect of the remainder of the
Option Shares will be forfeited. To the extent that this Option is vested on the date of the Grantee’s termination for Retirement or thereafter (after giving effect to any accelerated or continued vesting that may be provided for by the
Committee pursuant to this Section 5(c)), this Option may be exercised by the Grantee no later than five years after the date of such termination, but in no event later than the Expiration Date. For purposes of this Agreement,
“Retirement” means a termination after age 60 in accordance with the retirement policies of the Company (or, as applicable, one of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates). 

(d) Redundancy. If the Grantee’s employment is terminated by the Company (or any Subsidiary or
Affiliate) for reasons of Redundancy (which for avoidance of doubt does not include a termination for death, Disability, Retirement or Cause), subject to the Grantee’s delivering to the Company and not revoking a general release of all claims
in such form and substance satisfactory to the Company within 55 days following the date of such termination, this Option will vest in respect of the Pro-Rata Portion of Option Shares as of the date of the Grantee’s termination of employment,
and the remainder of this Option will be forfeited. To the extent that this Option is vested on the date of the Grantee’s termination for reasons of Redundancy (after giving effect to any accelerated vesting that may be provided for by the
Committee pursuant to this Section 5(c)), this Option may be exercised by the Grantee no later than one year after the date of such termination, but in no event later than the Expiration Date. For purposes of this Agreement, whether a
termination of the Grantee’s employment is for reasons of “Redundancy” will be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. 

  
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 6. Change in Control. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or
the Plan, upon a Change in Control, this Option will vest in full and, subject to applicable law, become exercisable in accordance with Section 13 of the Plan. 
 7. Manner of Exercise. 
 (a) Share Option Exercise
Agreement. To exercise this Option, the Grantee (or in the case of exercise after the Grantee’s death, the Grantee’s executor, administrator, heir or legatee, as applicable) must deliver to the Company (or its designee) an executed
share option exercise agreement in such form as may be required by the Company from time to time (the “Exercise Agreement”), which will set forth, inter alia, the Grantee’s election to exercise this Option and the
number of Option Shares being purchased. If someone other than the Grantee exercises this Option, then such person must submit documentation reasonably acceptable to the Company that such person has the right to exercise this Option. 

(b) Limitations on Exercise. This Option may not be exercised unless such exercise is in compliance, to the reasonable
satisfaction of the Committee, with all applicable foreign, federal and state securities laws, as they are in effect on the date of exercise. In addition, this Option may not be exercised if the Committee determines that an event constituting Cause
has occurred during the Grantee’s employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates. 
 (c)
Payment. The Exercise Agreement will be accompanied by full payment of the Option Price for each of the Option Shares being purchased by the Grantee (such aggregate amount, the “Exercise Price”) in cash (or by
certified check), or where permitted by law: 
 (i) by tender of Shares (that unless otherwise determined by the Committee, are
free and clear of all liens, claims, encumbrances or security interests) having a Fair Market Value (determined on the date of exercise) equal to the Exercise Price; 
 (ii) provided that a public market for the Shares exists: (A) through a “same day sale” commitment from the Grantee and an independent broker-dealer that is acceptable to the Company (a
“Broker-Dealer”) whereby the Grantee irrevocably elects to exercise this Option and to sell a portion of the Option Shares so purchased to pay for the Exercise Price and whereby the Broker-Dealer irrevocably commits upon
receipt of such Option Shares to forward the Exercise Price directly to the Company; or (B) through a “margin” commitment from the Grantee and a Broker-Dealer whereby the Grantee irrevocably elects to exercise this Option and to
pledge the Option Shares so purchased to the Broker-Dealer in a margin account as security for a loan from the Broker-Dealer in the amount of the Exercise Price, and whereby the Broker-Dealer irrevocably commits upon receipt of such Option Shares to
forward the Exercise Price directly to the Company; 
 (iii) by any combination of the foregoing; or 

(iv) at the discretion of the Committee, such other method as may 

  
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be prescribed from time to time. 
 8. Tax Withholding.
Prior to the issuance of the Option Shares upon exercise of this Option or as otherwise required by any local laws, the Grantee will pay, or otherwise provide for to the satisfaction of the Company, any applicable federal, state, local and foreign
tax and social security withholding obligations of the Company. To the extent permitted by law, the Grantee may provide for payment of withholding taxes upon exercise of this Option by requesting that the Company retain Option Shares with a Fair
Market Value (determined as of the date of exercise) equal to the statutory minimum amount of taxes required to be withheld. In such case, the Company will issue the net number of Option Shares to the Grantee by deducting the Option Shares retained
from the Option Shares issuable upon exercise of this Option. If the Grantee fails to make such payment or otherwise satisfy such obligations, the Company shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right (but not the obligation) to deduct from
any payment of any kind otherwise due to the Grantee (including Option Shares hereunder) any federal, state, local or foreign tax and social security withholding obligations with respect to the Option Shares issuable upon exercise of this Option.

 9. Issuance of Option Shares. On or as promptly as is practicable after the receipt of the Exercise Agreement,
payment of the Exercise Price and satisfaction of applicable withholding requirements, the Company will issue the Option Shares registered in the name of the Grantee, the Grantee’s authorized assignee or the Grantee’s legal representative,
as applicable, and, upon request, will deliver certificates representing the Option Shares with the appropriate legends affixed thereto. The Company may reasonably postpone the issuance of the Option Shares until it receives satisfactory proof that
the issuance of such Option Shares will not violate any of the provisions of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, any rules or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) promulgated thereunder, or the
requirements of applicable state or foreign law relating to authorization, issuance or sale of securities, or until there has been compliance with the provisions of such acts or rules. Except as provided in the Employment Agreement, the Grantee
understands that the Company is under no obligation to register or qualify the Option Shares with the SEC, any state securities commission or any securities exchange to effect such compliance. 

10. Legends and Trading Policies. The Company may reasonably restrict the sale, transfer or other disposition of the Option
Shares until it receives satisfactory proof that the disposition will not violate any of the provisions of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, any rules or regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder, or the requirements of applicable state or
foreign law relating to the sale, transfer or other disposition of securities, or until there has been compliance with the provisions of such acts or rules. The Company may affix to certificates representing Option Shares issued pursuant to this
Agreement any legend that the Committee determines to be necessary or advisable (including to reflect any restrictions to which the Grantee may be subject under a separate agreement with the Company (or any Subsidiary or Affiliate)). The Company may
advise the transfer agent to place a stop order against any legended Option Shares. To the extent applicable, the Grantee agrees that he will not sell, transfer by any means or otherwise dispose of the Option Shares acquired by him upon exercise of
this Option except in accordance with the Company’s insider trading policy regarding the sale and disposition of securities owned by employees of the Company (or any Subsidiary or Affiliate). 

11. Non-Transferability of Option. Except as otherwise may be provided by


  
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the Committee, this Option may not be transferred in any manner other than by will, by the laws of descent and distribution, or subject to the prior written consent of the Committee (a) by
instruments to an inter vivos or testamentary trust in which this Option is passed to beneficiaries upon the death of the Grantee or (b) by gift to Immediate Family, which will include for purposes of this Agreement a family limited partnership
or any similar entity which is primarily for the benefit of the Grantee and the Grantee’s Immediate Family, and may be exercised during the lifetime of the Grantee only by the Grantee or the Grantee’s legal representative. 

12. Privileges of Share Ownership. The Grantee will not have any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company with respect
to any Option Shares (and, for avoidance of doubt, will not be deemed to own any Option Shares for purposes of any employment or similar agreement or otherwise) until the Option Shares are issued to the Grantee. 

13. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Plan, the Exercise Agreement and any such other documents as may be executed in
connection with the exercise of this Option constitute the entire agreement and understanding of the Company and the Grantee with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior understandings and agreements with respect to such subject
matter. Any action taken or decision made by the Committee arising out of or in connection with the construction, administration, interpretation or effect of this Agreement will lie within its sole and absolute discretion, as the case may be, and
will be final, conclusive and binding on the Grantee and all persons claiming under or through the Grantee. The Committee reserves the right at any time to amend the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement; provided, that, notwithstanding
the foregoing, no such amendment shall materially impair the Grantee’s rights under this Agreement without the Grantee’s consent (or the consent of the Grantee’s estate, if such consent is obtained after the Grantee’s death). Any
amendment of this Agreement shall be in writing signed by an authorized member of the Committee or a person or persons designated by the Committee. 
 14. Employment Rights. 
 (a) No Obligation to Employ.
Nothing in this Agreement will confer on the Grantee any right to continue to serve as an employee of, or to continue in any other relationship with, the Company (or any Subsidiary or Affiliate), or limit in any way the right of the Company (or any
Subsidiary or Affiliate) to terminate the Grantee’s employment or other relationship at any time, with or without Cause. 

(b) Discretion. The Grantee shall not be entitled, and by accepting this Option, he shall be deemed to have waived any
possible entitlement, to any compensation for any loss he may suffer as a result of the exercise, or the failure to exercise, any of the discretions under this Agreement, even if such exercise (or failure to exercise) constitutes a breach of
contract by the Company (or any Subsidiary or Affiliate) or a breach of any other duty owed by the Company (or any Subsidiary or Affiliate) or gives rise to any other claim whatsoever. 

(c) Compensation. If the Grantee shall cease to be employed by or hold office in the Company (or any Subsidiary or
Affiliate) for any reason whatsoever, including as a result of being wrongfully or unfairly dismissed, he shall not be entitled, and by accepting this Option, he shall be deemed to have waived any possible entitlement, to any sum or benefit to
compensate him for any consequential loss or curtailment of any right or benefit accrued or in prospect under this Agreement, and any such loss or curtailment 

  
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shall not form part of any claim for damages for breach of any contract of employment of or compensation for unfair or wrongful dismissal or any other claim whatsoever. 

(d) Claims. By accepting this Option, the Grantee agrees that the waivers and exclusions contained in Sections 14(a),
14(b), 14(c) and this Section 14(d) apply in relation to any claim he may have against the Company or any Subsidiary or any Affiliate which employs (or has employed) him and any officer or employee thereof, as well as to the Company
(if it is not the employing entity) and its officers and employees. Such waivers and exclusions are enforceable by those persons in their own right. The Plan may be terminated or varied without the consent of those persons but not so as to limit or
remove the waivers or exclusions in respect of matters which had arisen before the date of the termination or variation. 
 15.
Forfeiture upon Breach of Confidentiality, Noncompetition and Nonsolicitation Restrictions. The Grantee agrees that cancellation of this Agreement and forfeiture of all vested and unvested Options will result if the Grantee breaches
the restrictive covenants set forth in any employment or similar agreement between the Grantee and the Company (or any Subsidiary or Affiliate), the provisions of which are incorporated into this Agreement by reference. 

16. Notices. Any notice required to be given or delivered to the Company under the terms of this Agreement will be in
writing and addressed to the Head of Human Resources of the Company at its principal corporate offices in New York, New York (United States of America). Any notice required to be given or delivered to the Grantee will be in writing and addressed to
the Grantee at the address last on the records of the Company (or any Subsidiary or Affiliate). All notices will be deemed to have been given or delivered upon: personal delivery; three days after deposit in the United States mail by certified or
registered mail (return receipt requested); two business days after deposit with any return receipt express international courier (prepaid); one business day after deposit with any return receipt express United States courier (prepaid); or one
business day after transmission by confirmed facsimile (with a notice contemporaneously given by another method specified in this Section 16). 
 17. Successors and Assigns. The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the
Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein, all the provisions of this Agreement will be binding upon the Grantee and the Grantee’s heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors and assigns.

 18. Adjustments. In the event of any change in the outstanding Shares after the Grant Date or any other event
described in Section 5 of the Plan occurring after the Grant Date, the Board or the Committee will make such equitable substitution or adjustment (including cash payments) as provided for under Section 5 of the Plan in order to preserve
the value of this Award. 
 19. Data Privacy Consent. In order to administer this Award, the Company may process
personal data about the Grantee. Such data may include, but is not limited to, the information provided in this Agreement and any changes thereto, other appropriate personal and financial data about the Grantee such as the Grantee’s home
address and telephone number, date of birth, social security or other identification number, salary and other payroll information, nationality, job title, directorships and/or Shares held in the Company, and any other information that might be
deemed appropriate by the Company 

  
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to facilitate the administration of this Award. By accepting this grant, the Grantee hereby gives explicit consent to the Company (a) to process any such personal data and (b) to
transfer any such personal data outside the country in which the Grantee works or is employed to transferees who will include the Company, its Subsidiaries and Affiliates, and to other persons who are designated by the Company to administer this
Award (including without limitation to any broker or other third party with whom the Option Shares acquired on exercise of this Option may be deposited). 
 20. Disputes. Any controversy or claim between the Grantee and the Company arising out of or relating to or concerning this Agreement shall be governed by Section 12 of the
Employment Agreement. 
 21. Electronic Delivery. The Company, in its sole discretion, may decide to deliver any
documents or notices related to this Award by electronic means or request the Grantee’s consent to the administration of this Award by electronic means. The Grantee hereby consents to receive such documents or notices by electronic delivery,
including by accessing such documents on a website, and agrees to administration of this Award through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or another third party designated by the Company. In addition, the
Company may choose to provide and deliver certain statutory and/or by-law materials or documents relating to this Award and the Plan in electronic form. The Grantee hereby further consents to receive the Plan prospectus, the Company’s annual
report and proxy statement and other required documents in an electronic format. The Grantee may at any time elect to receive paper copies of these documents by contacting the Secretary of the Company with this request. 

22. Acceptance. The vesting of this Award is contingent on the Grantee accepting this Award and agreeing to its terms
(including the forfeiture provisions set forth in Section 15). If the Grantee does not sign in the signature block set forth below and return an executed copy of this Agreement to the Head of Human Resources of the Company at its principal
corporate offices in New York, New York (United States of America) (or, if the Grantee does not accept and agree to the terms of this Award through an electronic grant notification system maintained by or on behalf of the Company) within 30 days of
the grant date, this Award will not vest and will automatically be forfeited and cancelled by the Company. 
 23.
GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA) WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT OF LAWS. 

  
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	MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.
		
	By:	 	 /s/ Thomas Connolly

	Name:	 	Thomas Connolly
	Title:	 	Senior Vice President, Human Resources


 ACCEPTED AND
AGREED 
 this 21 day of September, 2010. 
  

			
	By:	 	 /s/ Bradley Abelow

		 	      Bradley Abelow