Exhibit 10.6

 

ATLANTIC POWER HOLDINGS, INC.
 FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED 
 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

RECITALS

 

A.                                    The Board initially adopted the Plan on May 10, 2006, which Plan was then approved by the shareholders of the Issuer on June 7, 2006 and implemented by Atlantic Power Holdings, LLC, the predecessor of Atlantic Holdings.

 

B.                                    The Board approved an amended and restated Plan effective April 24, 2007 to reflect certain amendments of an administrative, non-material nature.

 

C.                                    The independent directors of the Board approved the terms of the second amended and restated Plan on April 24, 2008, which amended and restated Plan was then approved by the shareholders of the Issuer on June 4, 2008 and implemented by Atlantic Power Holdings, LLC.

 

D.                                    The Board approved the terms of the third amended and restated Plan on January 29, 2010 for use beginning in the Issuer’s 2010 fiscal year.

 

E.                                    The Board approved the terms of this fourth amended and restated long-term incentive plan effective as of November 5, 2011 to reflect certain amendments necessary or desirable in connection with the completion of the direct and indirect acquisition by the Issuer of all of the limited partnership units of Capital Power Income L.P.

 

F.                                     The first Financial Statement Approval Date for the purposes of this Plan was March 29, 2010.

 

1.                                      PURPOSE

 

The purpose of the Plan is to align the interests of Eligible Persons with those of the holders of common shares (“Common Shares”) of Atlantic Power Corporation (the “Issuer”), to assist in attracting, retaining and motivating key employees of the Issuer and its subsidiaries by making a significant portion of the incentive compensation of key employees directly dependent upon the achievement of key strategic, financial and operational objectives that are critical to ongoing growth and profitability of the Issuer.

 

2.                                      DEFINITIONS

 

In this Plan:

 

“2010 Performance Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 12(a) hereof;

 

“2011 Performance Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 12(a) hereof;

 

“2010 Transition Award” has the meaning set forth in Section 12(a)(i) hereof;

 

“2011 Transition Award” has the meaning set forth in Section 12(a)(ii) hereof;

 











 

“Administrators” refers to the Compensation Committee of the Board or Person(s) to whom the Independent Directors delegate their powers hereunder;

 

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling”, “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise;

 

“Associate” has the meaning ascribed by the Securities Act (Ontario);

 

“Atlantic Holdings”  means Atlantic Power Holdings, Inc., a U.S. “C” corporation under the laws of the State of Delaware;

 

“Base Salary” means the base salary paid by the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries to a Participant for his or her services, as the same may be amended from time to time;

 

“Board” the board of directors of the Issuer;

 

“Budget  Date” means the date on which the Board approves the Issuer’s projection of project distributions and the management and administrative budget for its upcoming fiscal year;

 

“Business  Day” means any day, other than a Saturday, Sunday, or a day on which the principal chartered banks located in the Province of Ontario or British Columbia or the State of Massachusetts are not open for business during normal business hours;

 

“Cause” means any conduct by an Eligible Person which would constitute just cause for dismissal as recognized by law in the province or state in which the Eligible Person is employed or, where cause is defined in the employment agreement of an Eligible Person, as defined therein;

 

“CEO” means the Chief Executive Officer of the Issuer;

 

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following:

 

(a)                                 the sale, lease or transfer to any person or group, in one or a series of related transactions, of the assets of the Issuer or Atlantic Holdings which assets generated more than 50% of Atlantic Holdings’ total cash distributions received from the assets owned, directly or indirectly, by the Issuer in a 12-month period ended on the last day of the most recent fiscal quarter to any person or group;

 

(b)                                 the adoption of a plan related to the liquidation or dissolution of the Issuer or Atlantic Holdings;

 

(c)                                  the acquisition by any person or group of a direct or indirect interest in more than 50% of (i) the Common Shares or the common shares of Atlantic Holdings; or (ii)

 

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the voting power of the Issuer or Atlantic Holdings; by way of purchase, merger, or consolidation or otherwise (other than a creation of a holding company that does not involve a change in the beneficial ownership of Atlantic Holdings  as a result of such transaction);

 

(d)                                 the merger or consolidation of the Issuer or Atlantic Holdings with or into another person or the merger of another person into the Issuer or Atlantic Holdings with the effect that immediately after such transaction the shareholders of the Issuer or the holders of common  shares of Atlantic Holdings immediately prior to such transaction hold, directly or indirectly, less than 50% of the voting control over the person surviving such merger or consolidation, in each case other than the creation of a holding company that does not involve a change in the beneficial ownership of the Issuer or Atlantic Holdings as a result as such transaction; or

 

(e)                                  the Issuer or Atlantic Holdings or any of their shareholders enters into any agreement providing for any of the foregoing, or the date which is 90 days prior to a definitive announcement by the Issuer or Atlantic Holdings of any of the foregoing, whichever is earlier, and the transaction contemplated thereby is ultimately consummated;

 

provided, however, that for the purposes of this Plan, the sale of any Common Shares (or equivalent thereof) of the Issuer (or any successor Person thereto) pursuant to a public offering shall not constitute a Change of Control;

 

“Code” has the meaning set forth in Section 13(i) hereof;

 

“Common Share” means a common share of the Issuer;

 

“Common Share Compensation Arrangement” means a Common Share option, Common Share option plan, employee Common Share purchase plan or any other compensation or incentive mechanism involving the issuance or potential issuance of Common Shares to directors, managers, officers and employees of the Issuer or its subsidiaries including a Common Share purchase from treasury which is financially assisted by the Issuer by way of a loan, guarantee or otherwise;

 

“Common Share Ineligible Participant”  means a Participant that does not qualify under applicable exemptions from the requirement to file a prospectus or registration statement in order to issue Common Shares to the Participant on a redemption of Notional Shares under this Plan;

 

“Disability” means an illness, disease, injury, mental or physical disability or similar mental or physical state of a Participant that causes the Participant to be unable to fulfil his or her obligations as an officer or other employee of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries for a period of 90 consecutive days, or for an aggregate of 180 days in any 365 day period;

 

“Eligible Person” means an officer or other employee of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries;

 

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“Financial Statement Approval  Date” means for a given fiscal year the date that the Board approves the audited financial statements of the Issuer for such fiscal year of the Issuer, but in no event shall a Financial Statement Approval Date for a given fiscal year be later than the last Business Day of the immediately following fiscal year of the Issuer;

 

“Good Reason” means the occurrence of any one or more of the following events:

 

(a)                                 the assignment to the Participant of any duties inconsistent in any material respect with the Participant’s then position of employment (including status, offices, titles and reporting relationships), authority, duties or responsibilities, or any other action that when taken as a whole results in a diminution in the Participant’s position, authority, duties or responsibilities, excluding for this purpose any isolated, immaterial and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and which is remedied within seven Business Days after receipt of notice thereof given by the Participant,

 

(b)                                 a reduction in the Participant’s Base Salary without the consent of such Participant or the failure to continue in effect any material benefit or compensation plan, life insurance plan, health and accident plan or disability plan in existence as of the date of this Plan (or a replacement or substitute plan providing the Participant with substantially similar benefits) in which the Participant is participating or the material reduction of the Participant’s benefits under any of such plans (or replacement or substitute plans), or

 

(c)                                  requiring the Participant to be based at any location more than 35 miles from his or her place of employment with the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries on the date immediately prior to the occurrence of the related Change of Control, except for requirements of travel in the ordinary course of the Participant’s duties;

 

“Independent Directors” means those members of the Board who are not members of the management of the Issuer;

 

“Individual  Non-Officer  Pool  Award” has the meaning set forth in Section 9(a) hereof;

 

“Insider Participant” means a Participant who is a “reporting insider” as defined in National Instrument 55-104 — Insider Reporting Requirements and Exemptions, and also includes Associates and Affiliates of the Insider Participant;

 

“Issuer” means Atlantic Power Corporation, a corporation continued under the laws of the Province of British Columbia;

 

“Market Price per Common Share” means the weighted average Canadian dollar closing price of Common Shares on the TSX for the five days immediately preceding the applicable day;

 

“Net Cash Flow Multiplier” means the percentage multiplier, determined in accordance with Section 8(c) hereof, that is used to calculate the adjustment, if any, to the Non-Officer LTI Pool pursuant to Section 8(b) hereof;

 

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“Net Project Cash Flow” means, for a fiscal year of the Issuer, an amount equal to the total cash distributions received from the assets owned, directly or indirectly, by the Issuer, less management and administrative expenses;

 

“Non-Officer Group” means, collectively, Participants who are not members of the Officer Group;

 

“Non-Officer  LTI Pool” means an amount determined in accordance with Section 8(a) hereof to be available for allocation among the Non-Officer Group for awards hereunder;

 

“Notional  Base  Award” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(a) hereof;

 

“Notional Shares” means notional shares to be issued under the Plan, with each Notional Share notionally representing one Common Share;

 

“Notional Share Account” means an account that shall be maintained by Atlantic  Holdings for each Participant that will show the Notional Shares credited to a Participant from time to time;

 

“Non-Officer TSR Percentage” means the percentage multiplier, determined in accordance with Section 8(c) hereof, that is used to calculate the adjustment, if any, to the Non-Officer LTI Pool pursuant to Section 8(b) hereof;

 

“NYSE” means the New York Stock Exchange;

 

“Officer Adjusted  Award” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(a) hereof;

 

“Officer  Base  Incentive Amount” means the amount that is 100% of an Officer Group member’s Base Salary for a TSR Evaluation Period at the time of the Notional Base Award granted  pursuant to Section 6(a) hereof converted into Canadian dollars based on the closing rate of exchange published by the Bank of Canada on the date of calculation of the Officer Base Incentive Amount;

 

“Officer Group”  means, collectively, the CEO, Chief Financial Officer and the Managing  Director, Asset Management and Acquisitions of the Issuer, and any other senior executive officers of the Issuer that the Administrators may designate as belonging to the Officer Group from time to time;

 

“Officer TSR Percentage” means the percentage multiplier that is applied to the Officer Base Incentive Amount for the purpose of adjusting, if required, the amount of Notional Shares that will vest pursuant to Section 10 hereof, which shall be calculated in accordance with Section 7(b) hereof;

 

“Participant” means an Eligible Person who receives a grant of Notional Shares in accordance with this Plan;

 

“Peer  Group” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) hereof;

 

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“Person” means any individual, issuer, partnership, business trust, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity;

 

“Plan” means this Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended and/or amended and restated from time to time;

 

“Pro Rata Portion” means, in respect of each individual grant of Notional Shares for a certain TSR Evaluation Period, the percentage of Notional Shares deemed to be earned by an Officer Group Participant to the date of the calculation of the Pro Rata Portion, calculated as follows:

 


	
Year of a given TSR   Evaluation Period
    
	
(e.g. 1, 2 or 3) in which   termination of employment occurs*
    
	
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*    For greater certainty, regardless of the month in which termination of employment occurs during a year of a TSR Evaluation Period, the numerator shall be rounded up to that year (e.g. if termination of employment occurs three months into the first year of a TSR Evaluation Period, the numerator shall be 1).

 

“Retirement” means the retirement or resignation of an officer or other employee of the Issuer or a subsidiary of the Issuer from that capacity upon attaining 65 years of age;

 

“Target” has the meaning set forth in Section 8(c) hereof;

 

“TSR” means total shareholder return, which refers to the change in the total value of a Common Share investment in the Issuer over a given period, calculated by comparing the change in the Market Price per Common Share from the first Business Day of the period to the last Business Day of the period, taking into account reinvested dividends on the Common Shares during such period, as may be calculated more particularly by the Administrators from time to time;

 

“TSR  Evaluation  Period” means the period that begins on the first Business Day of each fiscal year of the Issuer and ends on the last Business Day of the 36th month following such date, or such shorter period as may otherwise be provided in this Plan;

 

“TSR Performance List” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(b)(i) hereof;

 

“TSX” means the Toronto Stock Exchange; and

 

“Vesting Date” means the date upon which Notional Shares vest to an Officer Group Participant or Non-Officer Group Participant, as the case may be, pursuant to Sections 10, 11 or 12(c) hereof, as applicable.

 

3.                                      ADMINISTRATION

 

The Plan shall be administered by the Administrators, who will have, except as otherwise provided herein, the sole and complete authority to make all determinations and to take all actions necessary or advisable for the implementation and administration of the Plan,

 

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subject to Sections 17(a) and 24 and, in the case of Participants who are members of the Officer Group, subject to the terms of such Participants’ employment agreements. Subject to Section 15 and other limitations of the Plan, the Administrators shall have the power and authority to:

 

(a)                                 adopt rules and regulations for implementing the Plan;

 

(b)                                 determine when Notional Shares shall be granted to Eligible Persons, the vesting period for each grant of Notional Shares and whether any adjustment(s) (performance-related or otherwise) shall apply prior to vesting of any Notional Shares granted;

 

(c)                                  adjust the size of any previously-approved Non-Officer LTI Pool and the membership in the Non-Officer Group;

 

(d)           interpret and construe the provisions of the Plan;

 

(e)                                  alter or adjust any provision that is expressly provided herein in circumstances so as to operate the Plan as objectively as possible;

 

(f)                                   subject to regulatory requirements, make exceptions to the Plan in circumstances which they determine to be exceptional;

 

(g)                                  impose certain conditions at the date of grant for any Notional Shares, which would have to be met for a Participant to be entitled to redeem Notional Shares granted; and

 

(h)                                 make amendments to the Plan in accordance with Section 17 hereof.

 

All decisions and determinations of the Administrators respecting the Plan shall be binding and conclusive on the Plan and the Participants.

 

4.                                      PARTICIPATION IN THE PLAN

 

(a)                                 Participation Right

 

No person shall be entitled as of right to participate in the Plan and the decision as to who will have the opportunity to participate in the Plan and the extent of such participation shall be made by the Administrators in the case of the Officer Group, and the CEO in the case of the Non-Officer Group, in their sole and absolute discretion.

 

(b)                                 Participation Agreement and Confirmation

 

Participation in the Plan by each Participant is conditional on the Participant signing a Participation Agreement and Confirmation in the form attached hereto as Schedule “A”.

 

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5.                                      GENERAL PERFORMANCE METRICS

 

(a)                                 Peer Group

 

The Peer Group shall be comprised of the entities determined by the Administrators from time to time in their sole discretion (the “Peer  Group”).

 

(b)                                 Net Project Cash Flow

 

On the Budget Date, the  Administrators shall establish the budgeted Net Project Cash Flow for the upcoming fiscal year of the Issuer.

 

6.                                      GRANT OF NOTIONAL BASE AWARD TO OFFICER GROUP PARTICIPANTS

 

(a)                                 Grant of Notional Shares

 

On the first Financial Statement Approval Date that falls within a given TSR Evaluation Period, each Participant who is a member of the Officer Group shall have credited to their Notional Share Account the number of Notional Shares (the “Notional  Base  Award”) that is determined by dividing the Officer Base Incentive Amount (or such other amount as the Administrators may deem appropriate within the scope of their discretion pursuant to Section 3 hereof) by the Market Price per Common Share on such Financial Statement Approval Date.

 

(b)                                 Entitlement to Dividends on Notional Shares

 

Each Notional Share credited to an Officer Group Participant’s Notional Share Account shall receive a distribution equal to the amount of dividends paid per Common Share. Such distributions shall be credited to an Officer Group Participant’s Notional Share Account in the form of additional Notional Shares immediately following any dividend on the Common Shares. The number of Notional Shares to be credited for each dividend will be equal to the amount of the dividend divided by the Market Price per Common Share determined on the payment date for the dividend.  For the purposes of the Plan, any references to an Officer Group Participant’s Notional Shares for a specific TSR Evaluation Period and Notional Base Award shall include Notional Shares credited to such Officer Group Participant’s Notional Share Account in lieu of Common Share dividends pursuant to this Section 6(b).

 

7.                                      CALCULATION OF OFFICER ADJUSTED AWARD

 

(a)                                 Performance Adjustment of Notional Base Award

 

On the Financial Statement Approval Date immediately following each TSR Evaluation Period and prior to the vesting of each Officer Group Participant’s Notional Shares for such TSR Evaluation Period in accordance with Section 10(a) hereof, an adjusted award

 

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of Notional Shares (the “Officer Adjusted Award”) shall be calculated as follows:

 

	
Officer Adjusted   Award
    	
=
    	
Notional Base Award*
    	
X
    	
Officer TSR Percentage**
    


 




*    Includes, for greater certainty, any Notional Shares credited pursuant to Section 6(b) hereof on or after          the date on which the Notional Base Award is initially granted.

 

**    Calculated in accordance with Section 7(b) below.

 

and the Notional Shares in each Officer Group Participant’s Notional Share Account shall be adjusted accordingly to correspond to the Officer Adjusted Award.

 

(b)                                 Calculation of Officer TSR Percentage

 

The Administrators shall calculate the Officer TSR Percentage as follows:

 

(i)                  calculate the TSR in respect of the applicable TSR Evaluation Period, for the Issuer and each member of the Peer Group and list such entities in descending order, beginning with the entity with the highest TSR to the entity with the lowest TSR (the “TSR Performance List”);

 

(ii)               assign to each entity on the TSR Performance List a percentile ranking reflecting its position on such list, where the entity with the highest TSR over the applicable TSR Evaluation Period is given a percentile rank of 100 and each subsequent entity is given a percentile rank decreasing in equal percentile intervals to a percentile rank of 0 for the entity with the lowest TSR over such TSR Evaluation Period; and

 

(iii)            assign an Officer TSR Percentage with the Officer TSR Percentage adjusted on a pro rata basis if the Issuer’s percentile ranking falls between the 25th percentile and the 75th percentile as follows:

 

	
Issuer’s Percentile Rank on
   TSR Performance List
    	
 
    	
Officer
   TSR Percentage
    	
 
    
	
75th percentile or   higher
    	
 
    	
150
    	
%
    
	
50th percentile
    	
 
    	
100
    	
%
    
	
25th percentile
    	
 
    	
50
    	
%
    
	
Below 25th percentile
    	
 
    	
0
    	
%
    


 

8.                                      CALCULATION AND ADJUSTMENT OF NON-OFFICER LTI POOL

 

(a)                                 Initial Determination of Non-Officer LTI Pool

 

On the Financial Statement Approval Date of each fiscal year of the Issuer, the Non-Officer LTI Pool in respect of such fiscal year shall be proposed by the CEO based on the salaries and target long-term incentives of then-current members of the Non-Officer Group and approved by the Administrators.

 

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(b)                                 Performance Adjustment of Non-Officer LTI Pool

 

On the Financial Statement Approval Date immediately following each fiscal year of the Issuer, the Non-Officer LTI Pool shall be adjusted as follows:

 

	
Non-Officer LTI Pool
    	
X
    	
[
    	
2/3 Net Cash Flow 
   Multiplier*
    	
+
    	
1/3 Non-Officer TSR 
   Percentage**
    	
]
    


 




   * Calculated in accordance with Section 8(c) below.

** Calculated in accordance with Section 8(d) below.

 

provided that, subject to Section 8(e) hereof, the Non-Officer LTI Pool shall not be increased pursuant to this Section 8(b) beyond the amount determined by the Administrators pursuant to Section 8(a) hereof.

 

(c)                                  Calculation of Net Cash Flow Multiplier

 

Subject to the transitional provisions in Section 12(d), the CEO shall calculate the Net Cash Flow Multiplier in accordance with the following scale, with the Net Cash Flow Multiplier adjusted on a pro rata basis if the Issuer’s Net Project Cash Flow falls between the budgeted amount set on the applicable Budget Date (the “Target”) and 25% below the Target:

 

	
Net Project Cash Flow
    	
 
    	
Net Cash Flow Multiplier
    	
 
    
	
At or above the Target
    	
 
    	
100
    	
%
    
	
25% below the Target
    	
 
    	
50
    	
%
    
	
More than 25% below the Target
    	
 
    	
0
    	
%
    


 

(d)                                 Calculation of Non-Officer TSR Percentage

 

Subject to the transitional provisions in Section 12(d), the CEO shall calculate the Non-Officer TSR Percentage in accordance with Section 7(b) hereof, except that the following scale shall be used with the Non-Officer TSR Percentage adjusted on a pro rata basis if the Issuer’s percentile ranking falls between the 25th percentile and the 50th percentile:

 

	
Issuer’s Percentile Rank on
   TSR Performance List
    	
 
    	
Non-Officer
   TSR Percentage
    	
 
    
	
50th percentile or   higher
    	
 
    	
100
    	
%
    
	
25th percentile
    	
 
    	
50
    	
%
    
	
Below 25th percentile
    	
 
    	
0
    	
%
    


 

(e)                                  Subsequent Adjustment of Non-Officer LTI Pool

 

Notwithstanding Section 8(b) or anything else contained in this Plan, if the Issuer’s performance during a fiscal year results in it significantly exceeding either the 50th percentile on the TSR Performance List and/or 100% of the Target, then the CEO may request that the Administrators increase the Non-Officer LTI Pool for such fiscal year,

 

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and the Administrators shall have the discretion (as set out in Section 3 hereof) to increase the size of the Non-Officer LTI Pool for such fiscal year.

 

(f)                                   References to Adjusted Non-Officer LTI Pool

 

For greater certainty, for the purposes of the Plan, any references to the Non-Officer LTI Pool for a given fiscal year of the Issuer shall include adjustments thereto made pursuant to Sections 8(b) and 8(e) hereof.

 

9.                                      ALLOCATION OF NON-OFFICER AWARDS

 

(a)                                 Allocation of Non-Officer Awards from Non-Officer LTI Pool

 

Following the Financial Statement Approval Date for a given fiscal year of the Issuer, the CEO, in consultation with the Issuer’s other senior officers, shall have the discretion to allocate to each Participant who is a member of the Non-Officer Group a percentage of the Non-Officer LTI Pool based on such Participant’s performance during such fiscal year (the “Individual  Non-Officer  Pool  Award”).

 

(b)                                 Grant of Notional Shares

 

As soon as possible following the determination of Individual Non-Officer Pool Awards pursuant to Section 9(a) hereof, each Participant that is a member of the Non-Officer Group who receives an Individual Non-Officer Pool Award shall have credited to their Notional Share Account a number of Notional Shares determined by dividing the dollar amount of the Individual Non-Officer LTI Pool Award by the Market Price per Common Share on the day of the award.

 

(c)                                  Entitlement to Dividends on Notional Shares

 

Each Notional Share credited to a Non-Officer Group Participant’s Notional Share Account pursuant to Section 9(b) hereof shall receive dividends equal to the amount of dividends paid per Common Share. Such distributions shall be credited to a Non-Officer Group Participant’s Notional Share Account in the form of additional Notional Shares immediately following any dividend on the Common Shares. The number of Notional Shares to be credited for each dividend will be equal to the amount of the dividend divided by the Market Price per Common Share determined on the payment date for the dividend. For the purposes of the Plan, any references to an Non-Officer Group Participant’s Notional Shares for a specific TSR Evaluation Period shall include Notional Shares issued on such Notional Shares pursuant to this Section 9(c).

 

10.                               VESTING OF NOTIONAL SHARES — OFFICER GROUP

 

(a)                                 Timing

 

Except as otherwise specified herein, an Officer Group Participant’s Officer Adjusted Award shall vest on the last Business Day of the month in which the Financial Statement Approval Date  falls  for the applicable TSR Evaluation Period.

 

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(b)                                 Termination of Employment — Death or Retirement

 

If the employment of an Officer Group Participant is terminated by the death or Retirement of such Participant, the Pro Rata Portion of the Notional Shares credited to such Participant’s Notional Share Account, calculated for each respective TSR Evaluation Period for which Notional Shares have been credited to such Notional Share Account (including, for greater certainty, the 2010 Transition Award and the 2011 Transition Award), shall vest or be deemed to have vested effective the date immediately prior to the date of such Participant’s death or Retirement and the remainder of the Notional Shares in such Participant’s Notional Share Account shall immediately be cancelled and such Participant or, in the event of death, his or her legal representative(s), shall forfeit all rights, title and interest with respect to such Notional Shares.

 

(c)                                  Termination of Employment — Disability

 

If the employment of an Officer Group Participant is terminated due to the Disability of such Participant, the Pro Rata Portion of the Notional Shares credited to such Participant’s Notional Share Account, calculated for each respective TSR Evaluation Period for which Notional Shares have been credited to such Notional Share Account (including, for greater certainty, the 2010 Transition Award and the 2011 Transition Award), shall vest or be deemed to have vested effective the date immediately prior to the date of termination of such Participant’s employment and the remainder of the Notional Shares in such Participant’s Notional Share Account shall immediately be cancelled and such Participant and, if applicable, his or her legal representative(s), shall forfeit all rights, title and interest with respect to such Notional Shares.

 

(d)                                 Termination of Employment — Change of Control

 

If the employment of an Officer Group Participant is terminated following a Change of Control by such Participant for Good Reason or by the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries without Cause, the Pro Rata Portion of the Notional Shares credited to such Participant’s Notional Share Account, calculated for each respective TSR Evaluation Period for which Notional Shares have been credited to such Notional Share Account (including, for greater certainty, the 2010 Transition Award and the 2011 Transition Award), shall vest effective the date immediately prior to the date of such termination of such Participant’s employment and the remainder of the Notional Shares in such Participant’s Notional Share Account shall immediately be cancelled and such Participant shall forfeit all rights, title and interest with respect to such Notional Shares.

 

(e)                                  Termination of Employment for Cause

 

If the employment of an Officer Group Participant is terminated for Cause, such Participant shall, unless otherwise expressly determined by the Administrators in writing, forfeit all rights, title and interest with respect to Notional Shares which have not vested on or prior to such Participant’s termination date. An Officer Group Participant’s termination date shall be such Participant’s last day at work and shall not include any period of statutory or common law notice of termination of employment or period of

 

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salary continuation following such Participant’s termination date for vesting or any other purpose under this Plan.

 

(f)                                   Termination of Employment — Employment Agreement

 

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, if an Officer Group Participant has entered into an employment agreement with the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries, all Notional Shares credited to such Participant’s Notional Share Account shall vest subject to any vesting provisions set forth in such employment agreement.  For certainty, to the extent there is any conflict or inconsistency between the vesting provisions set out in such Participant’s employment agreement and the vesting provisions set out in this Plan, the vesting provisions of such Participant’s employment agreement shall govern.

 

11.                               VESTING OF NOTIONAL SHARES — NON-OFFICER GROUP

 

(a)                                 Timing

 

Except as otherwise specified herein or as otherwise determined by the Administrators, a Non-Officer Group Participant’s Notional Shares credited to such Non-Officer Group Participant’s Notional Share Account for a given fiscal year of the Issuer shall vest in respect of one-third of such Notional Shares after each of the first three anniversaries of the Financial Statement Approval Date for such fiscal year of the Issuer.

 

(b)                                 Termination of Employment — Death or Retirement

 

If the employment of a Non-Officer Group Participant is terminated by the death or Retirement of such Participant, all Notional Shares credited to such Participant’s Notional Share Account shall vest or be deemed to have vested effective the date immediately prior to the date of such Participant’s death or Retirement.

 

(c)                                  Termination of Employment — Disability

 

If the employment of a Non-Officer Group Participant is terminated due to the Disability of such Participant, all Notional Shares credited to such Participant’s Notional Share Account shall vest on the Vesting Date as if such Participant continued to be actively employed until the Vesting Date.

 

(d)                                 Termination of Employment — Change of Control

 

If the employment of a Non-Officer Group Participant is terminated following a Change of Control, by such Participant for Good Reason or by the Issuer of any of its subsidiaries without Cause prior to the Vesting Date, all Notional Shares credited to such Participant’s Notional Share Account shall vest effective the date immediately prior to the date of such termination of such Participant’s employment.

 

(e)                                  Termination of Employment for Cause

 

If the employment of a Non-Officer Group Participant is terminated for Cause, such Participant shall, unless otherwise expressly determined by the Administrators in writing,

 

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forfeit all rights, title and interest with respect to Notional Shares which have not vested on or prior to such Participant’s termination date. A Non-Officer Group Participant’s termination date shall be such Participant’s last day at work and shall not include any period of statutory or common law notice of termination of employment or period of salary continuation following such Participant’s termination date for vesting or any other purpose under this Plan.

 

(f)                                   Termination of Employment — Employment Agreement

 

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, if a Non-Officer Group Participant has entered into an employment agreement with the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries, all Notional Shares credited to such Participant’s Notional Share Account shall vest subject to any vesting provisions set forth in such employment agreement. For certainty, to the extent there is any conflict or inconsistency between the vesting provisions set out in such Participant’s employment agreement and the vesting provisions set out in this Plan, the vesting provisions of such Participant’s employment agreement shall govern.

 

12.                               TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

 

(a)                                 Transitional Grants to Officer Group

 

In addition to the grant of Notional Shares to Officer Group Participants pursuant to Section 6(a) hereof, on or about the Financial Statement Approval Date for the Issuer’s 2009 fiscal year (March 29, 2010), the following separate special transition awards of Notional Shares shall be granted in respect of the year ended December 31, 2010 (the “2010 Performance Period”) and the year ended December 31, 2011 (the “2011 Performance Period”) to each Officer Group Participant and credited to each Officer Group Participant’s Notional Share Account:

 

(i)      an amount of Notional Shares (including fractional Notional Shares) equal to one-third of the amount that is calculated by dividing the dollar amount of the Officer Base Incentive Amount by the Market Price per Common Share as at the Financial Statement Approval Date for the 2009 fiscal year of the Issuer (the “2010  Transition  Award”); and

 

(ii)     an amount of Notional Shares (including fractional Notional Shares) equal to two-thirds of the amount that is calculated by dividing the dollar amount of the Officer Base Incentive Amount by the Market Price per Common Share as at the Financial Statement Approval Date for the 2009 fiscal year of the Issuer (the “2011  Transition  Award”).

 

(b)                                 Adjustment of 2010 and 2011 Transitional Awards

 

Immediately prior to the vesting of the 2010 Transition Award and 2011 Transition Award, in accordance with Section 12(c) below, the Administrators shall:

 

(i)      multiply the number of Notional Shares in an Officer Group Participant’s Notional Share Account comprising the 2010 Transition Award and the

 

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2011 Transition Award, as applicable, by the Officer TSR Percentage determined in accordance with Section 7(b) hereof, except that:

 

(A)                               for the 2010 Transition Award, the applicable TSR Evaluation Period for the purpose of the determinations required by Section 7(b) hereof shall be the period that begins on January 1, 2010 and ends on December 31, 2010, and

 

(B)                               for the 2011 Transition Award, the applicable TSR Evaluation Period for the purpose of the determinations required by Section 7(b) hereof shall be the period that begins on January 1, 2010 and ends on December 31, 2011; and

 

(ii)     adjust such number of Notional Shares representing the 2010 Transition Award and the 2011 Transition Award, respectively, as set out in Section 7(a) hereof.

 

(c)                                  Transitional Vesting Provisions for Officer Group

 

The Notional Shares comprising the 2010 Transition Award, after the adjustment provided for in Section 12(b) above and including, for greater certainty, any Notional Shares issued pursuant to 6(b) hereof, shall vest on the last Business Day of the month in which the Financial Statement Approval Date falls for the Issuer’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, subject to earlier vesting pursuant to Section 10 hereof. The Notional Shares comprising the 2011 Transition Award, after the adjustment provided for in Section 12(b) above and including, for greater certainty, any Notional Shares issued pursuant to 6(b) hereof, shall vest on the last Business Day of the month in which the Financial Statement Approval Date falls for the Issuer’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, subject to earlier vesting pursuant to Section 10 hereof.

 

(d)                                 Transitional Calculation of Non-Officer LTI Pool

 

For the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2011 of the Issuer, for the purposes of the calculation of the Non-Officer TSR Percentage pursuant to Section 8(d), the TSR Evaluation Periods set out in Sections 12(b)(i)(A) and (B) above shall apply.

 

13.                               REDEMPTION OF VESTED NOTIONAL SHARES

 

(a)                                 General

 

Effective as of the Vesting Date, Atlantic Holdings shall, subject to Section 13(b) below, forthwith following the applicable Vesting Date, redeem the vested portion of each Participant’s Notional Shares (including fractional Notional Shares) by:

 

(i)      making a lump sum cash payment (net of any applicable withholdings) to each Participant or the Participant’s legal representative, if applicable, in respect of one-third of the Notional Shares to be redeemed; and

 

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(ii)     exchanging two-thirds of the Notional Shares to be redeemed for Common Shares pursuant to Section 13(e) below.

 

(b)                                 Payment of 100% Cash

 

Notwithstanding Section 13(a) above and Section 13(c) below, effective as of the Vesting Date, acting within the scope of their discretion pursuant to Section 3 hereof, the Administrators may elect to cause Atlantic Holdings to redeem the vested portion of each Participant’s Notional Shares (including fractional Notional Shares) by making a lump sum cash payment (net of any applicable withholdings) to each Participant or the Participant’s legal representative, if applicable, in respect of the Notional Shares to be redeemed.

 

(c)                                  Election for 100% of Common Shares

 

Notwithstanding Section 13(a) above and subject to Section 13(b), each Participant that is a member of the Officer Group may elect to redeem vested Notional Shares for 100% Common Shares, provided that the Participant provides written notice of such election at least 30 days prior to the date of such redemption.

 

(d)                                 Redemption from Common Share Ineligible Participants

 

Notwithstanding Sections 13(a) and 13(c) above, effective as of the Vesting Date, acting within the scope of their discretion pursuant to Section 3 hereof, the Administrators shall cause Atlantic Holdings to redeem the vested portion of each Common Share Ineligible Participant’s Notional Shares (including fractional Notional Shares) by making a lump sum cash payment (net of any applicable withholdings) to each Common Share Ineligible Participant or the Participant’s legal representative, if applicable, in respect of 100% of the Notional Shares to be redeemed.

 

(e)                                  Delivery of Common Shares on a Redemption

 

To satisfy its obligation to deliver Common Shares on a redemption of vested Notional Shares, Atlantic Holdings shall, at its option, elect to acquire Common Shares either:

 

(i)      from the Issuer at the Market Price per Common Share; or

 

(ii)     on the TSX or NYSE.

 

(f)                                   Acquisition of Common Shares from the Issuer

 

If Atlantic Holdings elects to acquire Common Shares from the Issuer under Section 13(e)(i) above, the following provisions shall apply:

 

(i)      Upon actual receipt by the Issuer of written notice and payment for the aggregate purchase price for the Common Shares from Atlantic  Holdings, subject to payment of all applicable security transfer, income, withholding or other taxes or other governmental charges and compliance with all applicable securities laws, the Issuer shall issue to Atlantic  Holdings the

 

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applicable number of Common Shares and Atlantic Holdings will use such Common Shares to satisfy the redemption.

 

(ii)               The Issuer shall not be required to issue, and Atlantic Holdings shall not be required to cause the issuance of, fractional Common Shares upon the acquisition of Common Shares pursuant to Section 13(e)(i) above. If any fractional interest in an Common Share would be deliverable upon the acquisition of Common Shares pursuant to Section 13(e)(i) above, Atlantic  Holdings shall, in lieu of delivering, or causing the delivery of, any certificate representing such fractional interest, make a cash payment to the Participant of an amount equal to the fractional interest which would have been issuable multiplied by the Market Price per Common Share, less applicable withholding taxes, if any.

 

(iii)            The Issuer covenants with Atlantic Holdings that it will at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized Common Shares (if the number thereof is or becomes limited), solely for the purpose of issuing such Common Shares to Atlantic  Holdings in connection with a redemption under this Plan, such number of Common Shares as shall then be deliverable by Atlantic  Holdings under the Plan, to enable and permit Atlantic  Holdings to perform its obligation hereunder to deliver the requisite number of Common Shares to Participants. The Issuer covenants with Atlantic  Holdings that all Common Shares, which shall be so issuable, shall be duly and validly issued as fully-paid and non-assessable upon receipt by the Issuer of fair value consideration for such Common Shares from Atlantic  Holdings in the form of a cash payment.  The Issuer further covenants with Atlantic  Holdings that it shall take all actions and do all things necessary or desirable to enable and permit Atlantic  Holdings, in accordance with applicable law, to perform all of its obligations hereunder.

 

(iv)           Immediately following the acquisition of Common Shares from the Issuer by Atlantic  Holdings to satisfy a redemption of Notional Shares pursuant to Section 13(e)(i) above, the Issuer shall, at its option, using the proceeds of the issuance of Common Shares, either: (A) acquire from Atlantic Holdings common shares or (B) acquire Common Shares on the TSX, such acquisition in (A) or (B) shall be equivalent in number to the number of Common Shares acquired by Atlantic Holdings pursuant to this Section 13(f). Atlantic Holdings covenants with the Issuer that it will at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized capital a sufficient number of common shares to be issued from treasury to satisfy the acquisition by the Issuer pursuant to this Section 13(f)(iv).

 

(g)                                  Effect of Redemption of Notional Shares

 

A Participant shall have no further rights respecting any Notional Share, which has been redeemed.

 

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(h)                                 Calculation of Cash Payments

 

Lump sum cash payments made under this Section 13 by Atlantic  Holdings to a Participant or a Participant’s legal representative, if applicable, in respect of Notional Shares to be redeemed shall be calculated by multiplying the number of Notional Shares to be redeemed by the Market Price per Common Share as at the Vesting Date, converted into United States dollars based on the closing rate of exchange published by the Bank of Canada on the Vesting Date.

 

(i)                                     Section 409A

 

To the extent that the Plan is determined to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the Plan shall be administered in accordance with Section 409A.  In this regard, to the extent any provision of the Plan is ambiguous as to its compliance with Section 409A of the Code, the provision shall be read in such a manner so that all payments hereunder comply with Section 409A of the Code.  Further, if any amount payable hereunder is payable upon a “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A) to a Participant who is then considered a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A), then no such payment shall be made prior to the date that is the earlier of (i) six months and one day after the Participant’s separation from service, or (ii) the Participant’s death, but only to the extent such delay is necessary to prevent such payment from being subject to interest, penalties and/or additional tax imposed pursuant to Section 409A.

 

14.                               COMMON SHARES SUBJECT TO ISSUANCE UNDER THE PLAN

 

The aggregate number of Common Shares that may be issued under the Plan upon the redemption of Notional Shares is 1,000,000 Common Shares subject to increase or decrease by reason of amalgamation, rights offerings, reclassifications, consolidations or subdivisions, or as may otherwise be permitted by applicable law and the TSX.

 

15.                               LIMIT ON ISSUANCE OF COMMON SHARES

 

Except with the approval of the shareholders of the Issuer given by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at a meeting of the shareholders of the Issuer, excluding the votes attaching to Common Shares beneficially owned by Insider Participants to whom Common Shares may be issued pursuant to this Plan and their Associates, no Notional Shares shall be credited to any Participant if such credit could result, at any time, in:

 

(a)                                 the number of Common Shares reserved for issuance to Participants pursuant to the redemption of Notional Shares together with any other Common Share Compensation Arrangement exceeding 10% of Common Shares then issued and outstanding;

 

(b)                                 the number of Common Shares issuable to Insider Participants, at any time under this Plan pursuant to the redemption of Notional Shares and any other Common

 

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Share Compensation Arrangements, exceeding 10% of Common Shares then issued and outstanding; or

 

(c)                                  the number of Common Shares issued to Insider Participants, within any one-year period, under this Plan pursuant to the redemption of Notional Shares and any other Common Share Compensation Arrangements, exceeding 10% of Common Shares then issued and outstanding.

 

In the event that the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries purchases Common Shares for cancellation or if Common Shares are separated pursuant to their terms, the Issuer shall be deemed to be in compliance with the foregoing maximum limits, if immediately prior to such purchase, expiration, separation or other extinguishment, the Issuer  was in compliance with such limit.

 

16.                               UNFUNDED PLAN

 

Unless otherwise determined by the Administrators, the Plan shall be unfunded. To the extent a Participant holds any rights by virtue of participation in the Plan, such rights (unless otherwise determined by the Administrators) shall be no greater than the rights of an unsecured general creditor of Atlantic  Holdings.

 

17.                               AMENDMENT

 

(a)                                 The Administrators may amend the Plan or any grant of Notional Shares at any time without the consent of Participants provided that such amendment shall:

 

(i)                                     not operate to materially affect any rights already acquired by a Participant under the Plan, including the vesting terms of any award previously made under the Plan;

 

(ii)                                  be subject to any regulatory approvals including, where required, the approval of the TSX; and

 

(iii)                               not be subject to approval of the Issuer’s shareholders unless such amendment involves:

 

(A)                               any increase in the number of Common Shares reserved for issuance under the Plan;

 

(B)                               any reduction in the pricing of Notional Shares issuable under the Plan or cancellation and reissue of entitlements under the Plan;

 

(C)                               any amendment that extends the term of a TSR Evaluation Period beyond the period contemplated in the Plan;

 

(D)                               amendments to the Eligible Persons under the Plan that may permit the introduction of non-employee directors on a discretionary basis;

 

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(E)                                an amendment which would permit Notional Shares granted under the Plan to be transferable or assignable other than for normal estate settlement purposes; or

 

(F)                                 an amendment to the plan amendment provisions contained in this Section 17.

 

(b)                                 For greater certainty, any amendment to the Plan shall not affect the rights already acquired by a Participant under a previous version of the Plan, and any awards granted under a previous version of the Plan shall continue to be governed by their terms and the terms of the Plan in place at the time of their award.

 

(c)                                  Without amending the Plan, the Administrators may, with the consent of the Participant, approve any variation in terms, including the acceleration of the redemption of Notional Shares held in the Notional Share Accounts of Participants which have not vested.

 

18.                               OPERATION OF PLAN

 

The cost of the operation of the Plan shall be borne by Atlantic  Holdings.

 

19.                               NOTICES

 

All notices under the Plan shall be in writing and if to Atlantic  Holdings shall be delivered to Atlantic  Holdings by first class post to its head office, and if to a Participant, shall be delivered personally or sent by first class post to the Participant at the address which the Participant shall give for the purpose, or failing any such address to the Participant’s last known place of residence.  If a notice is sent by post, service thereof shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing, prepaying and posting a letter containing the same to such address and shall be deemed to be served 48 hours after such posting.

 

20.                               WITHHOLDING

 

The Administrators may adopt and apply rules that will ensure that Atlantic  Holdings and any other person complies with all federal, provincial, foreign, state or local laws relating to the withholding of tax or other levies on employment compensation in relation to payments and distributions contemplated in this Plan. Such parties may withhold the minimum required tax withholding obligation from amounts payable to a Participant, under the Plan or otherwise, and shall have the absolute right to satisfy such minimum required withholding obligation by retaining and selling a number of Common Shares that would otherwise have been issued to a Participant upon a redemption having an aggregate fair market value (as of the date of withholding) that would satisfy the minimum required withholding amount due, or by accepting a sum sufficient from a Participant to indemnify Atlantic  Holdings and any other person for any liability to withhold hereunder.

 

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21.                               INTERPRETATION

 

In this Plan, unless the context otherwise requires, words importing the singular include the plural and vice versa and words importing gender include all genders.

 

22.                               NO RIGHT OF EMPLOYMENT

 

Neither participation in the Plan nor any action under the Plan shall be construed so as to give any Participant a right to continue as a manager, officer or senior management employee of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries.

 

23.                               NON-TRANSFERABILITY

 

A Participant shall not be entitled to transfer, assign, charge, pledge or hypothecate, or otherwise alienate, whether by operation of law or otherwise, the Participant’s Notional Shares or any rights the Participant has in the Plan.

 

24.                               TERMINATION

 

The Administrators may at any time terminate the Plan provided that such termination shall not affect any rights of Participants to receive Notional Shares for any Performance Period or partial Performance Period prior to the effective date of such termination.

 

25.                               CHOICE OF LAWS

 

This Plan shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

26.                               ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF THE PLAN

 

This Plan was originally adopted on the 10th day of May, 2006 and approved by the Issuer’s shareholders on the 7th day of June, 2006. The Plan has been amended and restated on the 24th day of April, 2007, the 4th day of June, 2008, the 29th day of January, 2010 and effective as of the 5th of November, 2011.

 

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SCHEDULE “A”

 

FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED 
 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

 

PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT AND CONFIRMATION

 

[Name of Employee] (“Participant”)

 

Pursuant to the Fourth Amended and Restated Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) of Atlantic  Power Holdings, Inc.  (“Atlantic Holdings”) dated as of November 5, 2011 and in consideration of services provided to the Issuer and/or any of its subsidiaries by the Participant in respect of the 20     year, Atlantic  Holdings hereby grants to the Participant                Notional Shares under the Plan.

 

Capitalized terms not defined in this agreement have the meanings given in the Plan.

 

Atlantic  Holdings and the Participant understand and agree that these Notional Shares are subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan (as they exist on the date hereof), all of which are incorporated into and form a part of this agreement.

 

DATED                              , 20       .

 

	
 
    	
ATLANTIC POWER   HOLDINGS, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Per:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
   Title:
    


 

 

I agree to the terms and conditions set out herein and confirm and acknowledge that I have not been induced to enter into this agreement or acquire any Notional Shares or any other interest in the Plan or the Issuer by expectation of employment or continued employment with the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries.

 

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Signature
    


 

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name (please print)
    


 

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