ortx-ex43_468.htm



 

Exhibit 4.3

ORCHARD THERAPEUTICS PLC

2018 SHARE OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN

SECTION 1.  GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE PLAN; DEFINITIONS

The name of the plan is the Orchard Therapeutics plc 2018 Share Option and Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).  The purpose of the Plan is to encourage and enable the officers, employees, Non-Employee Directors and Consultants of Orchard Therapeutics plc (the “Company”) and its Affiliates upon whose judgment, initiative and efforts the Company largely depends for the successful conduct of its businesses to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company.  It is anticipated that providing such persons with a direct stake in the Company’s welfare will assure a closer identification of their interests with those of the Company and its shareholders, thereby stimulating their efforts on the Company’s behalf and strengthening their desire to remain with the Company.

The following terms shall be defined as set forth below:

“Administrator” means either the Board or the remuneration committee of the Board or a similar committee performing the functions of the remuneration committee and which is comprised of not less than two Non‐Employee Directors who are independent.

“ADSs” means American Depositary Shares, representing Ordinary Shares on deposit with a U.S. banking institution selected by the Company.

“Affiliate” means, at the time of determination, any “parent” or “subsidiary” of the Company as such terms are defined in Rule 405 of the U.S. Securities Act. The Board will have the authority to determine the time or times at which “parent” or “subsidiary” status is determined within the foregoing definition. 

“Award” or “Awards,” except where referring to a particular category of grant under the Plan, shall include Incentive Share Options, Non-Qualified Share Options, Share Appreciation Rights, Restricted Share Units, Restricted Share Awards, Unrestricted Share Awards, Cash-Based Awards, and Dividend Equivalent Rights.

“Award Certificate” means a written or electronic document setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to an Award granted under the Plan.  Each Award Certificate is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

“Cash-Based Award” means an Award entitling the recipient to receive a cash-denominated payment.

 



 

“Consultant” means a consultant or adviser who provides bona fide services to the Company or an Affiliate as an independent contractor and who qualifies as a consultant or advisor under Instruction A.1.(a)(1) of Form S-8 under the U.S. Securities Act. 

“Dividend Equivalent Right” means an Award entitling the grantee to receive credits based on cash dividends that would have been paid on the Shares specified in the Dividend Equivalent Right (or other award to which it relates) if such shares had been issued to and held by the grantee.

“Effective Date” means the date on which the Plan becomes effective as set forth in Section 21.

“Fair Market Value” of the Shares on any given date means the fair market value of the Shares determined in good faith by the Administrator; provided, however, that if the ADSs are listed on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (“NASDAQ”), NASDAQ Global Market, The New York Share Exchange or another national securities exchange or traded on any established market, the determination shall be made by reference to market quotations.  If there are no market quotations for such date, the determination shall be made by reference to the last date preceding such date for which there are market quotations; provided further, however, that if the date for which Fair Market Value is determined is the Registration Date, the Fair Market Value shall be the “Price to the Public” (or equivalent) set forth on the cover page for the final prospectus relating to the Company’s initial public offering.

“Incentive Share Option” means any Share Option designated and qualified as an “incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of the U.S. Code.

“Non-Employee Director” means a member of the Board who is not also an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary.

“Non-Qualified Share Option” means any Share Option that is not an Incentive Share Option.

“Option” or “Share Option” means any option to purchase Shares granted pursuant to Section 5.

“Ordinary Shares” mean ordinary shares in the Company, with a nominal value of £0.00001 per share, subject to adjustments pursuant to Section 3.

“Registration Date” means the date upon which the registration statement on Form S-1 that is filed by the Company with respect to its initial public offering is declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Restricted Shares” means the Shares underlying a Restricted Share Award that remain subject to a risk of forfeiture or the Company’s right of repurchase.

“Restricted Share Award” means an Award of Restricted Shares subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Administrator may determine at the time of grant.

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“Restricted Share Units” means an Award of Share units subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Administrator may determine at the time of grant.

“Sale Event” shall mean (i) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company on a consolidated basis to an unrelated person or entity, (ii) a merger, reorganization or consolidation pursuant to which the holders of the Company’s outstanding voting power and outstanding Share immediately prior to such transaction do not own a majority of the outstanding voting power and outstanding Share or other equity interests of the resulting or successor entity (or its ultimate parent, if applicable) immediately upon completion of such transaction, (iii) the sale of all of the Share of the Company to an unrelated person, entity or group thereof acting in concert, or (iv) any other transaction in which the owners of the Company’s outstanding voting power immediately prior to such transaction do not own at least a majority of the outstanding voting power of the Company or any successor entity immediately upon completion of the transaction other than as a result of the acquisition of securities directly from the Company.

“Sale Price” means the value as determined by the Administrator of the consideration payable, or otherwise to be received by shareholders, per Share pursuant to a Sale Event.

“Section 409A” means Section 409A of the U.S. Code and the regulations and other guidance promulgated thereunder.

“Share” means an Ordinary Share and/or the number of ADSs equal to an Ordinary Share, as the context may require.   

“Share Appreciation Right” means an Award entitling the recipient to receive Shares (or cash, to the extent explicitly provided for in the applicable Award Certificate) having a value equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of the Share on the date of exercise over the exercise price of the Share Appreciation Right multiplied by the number of Shares with respect to which the Share Appreciation Right shall have been exercised.

“Subsidiary” means any corporation or other entity (other than the Company) in which the Company has at least a 50 percent interest, either directly or indirectly.

“Ten Percent Owner” means an employee who owns or is deemed to own (by reason of the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the U.S. Code) more than 10 percent of the combined voting power of all classes of Share of the Company or any parent or subsidiary corporation. 

“Unrestricted Share Award” means an Award of Shares free of any restrictions.

“U.S. Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor Code, and related rules, regulations and interpretations.

“U.S. Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

“U.S. Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

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SECTION 2.  ADMINISTRATION OF PLAN; ADMINISTRATOR AUTHORITY TO SELECT GRANTEES AND DETERMINE AWARDS

(a)Administration of Plan.  The Plan shall be administered by the Administrator.

(b)Powers of Administrator.  The Administrator shall have the power and authority to grant Awards consistent with the terms of the Plan, including the power and authority:

(i)to select the individuals to whom Awards may from time to time be granted;

(ii)to determine the time or times of grant, and the extent, if any, of Incentive Share Options, Non-Qualified Share Options, Share Appreciation Rights, Restricted Share Awards, Restricted Share Units, Unrestricted Share Awards, Cash-Based Awards, and Dividend Equivalent Rights, or any combination of the foregoing, granted to any one or more grantees;

(iii)to determine the number of Shares to be covered by any Award;

(iv)to determine and modify from time to time the terms and conditions, including restrictions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any Award, which terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and grantees, and to approve the forms of Award Certificates;

(v)to accelerate at any time the exercisability or vesting of all or any portion of any Award;

(vi)subject to the provisions of Section 5(c), to extend at any time the period in which Share Options may be exercised; and

(vii)at any time to adopt, alter and repeal such rules, guidelines and practices for administration of the Plan and for its own acts and proceedings as it shall deem advisable; to interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and any Award (including related written instruments); to make all determinations it deems advisable for the administration of the Plan; to decide all disputes arising in connection with the Plan; and to otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan.

All decisions and interpretations of the Administrator shall be binding on all persons, including the Company and Plan grantees.

(c)Delegation of Authority to Grant Awards.  Subject to applicable law, the Administrator, in its discretion, may delegate to a committee consisting of one or more officers of the Company all or part of the Administrator’s authority and duties with respect to the granting of Awards to individuals who are (i) not subject to the reporting and other provisions of Section 16 of the U.S. Exchange Act, as applicable, and (ii) not members of the delegated committee.  Any such delegation by the Administrator shall include a limitation as to the amount of Share underlying Awards that may be granted during the period of the delegation and shall contain guidelines as to the determination of the exercise price and the vesting criteria.  The Administrator may revoke or amend the terms of a delegation at any time but such action shall not invalidate any prior actions of the Administrator’s delegate or delegates that were consistent with the terms of the Plan.

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(d)Award Certificate.  Awards under the Plan shall be evidenced by Award Certificates that set forth the terms, conditions and limitations for each Award which may include, without limitation, the term of an Award and the provisions applicable in the event employment or service terminates.

(e)Indemnification.  Neither the Board nor the Administrator, nor any member of either or any delegate thereof, shall be liable for any act, omission, interpretation, construction or determination made in good faith in connection with the Plan, and the members of the Board and the Administrator (and any delegate thereof) shall be entitled in all cases to indemnification and reimbursement by the Company in respect of any claim, loss, damage or expense (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising or resulting therefrom to the fullest extent permitted by law and/or under the Company’s articles or bylaws or any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage which may be in effect from time to time and/or any indemnification agreement between such individual and the Company.

(f)Foreign Award Recipients.  Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in order to comply with the laws in other countries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate or have employees or other individuals eligible for Awards, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to:  (i) determine which Subsidiaries shall be covered by the Plan; (ii) determine which individuals outside the United States are eligible to participate in the Plan; (iii) modify the terms and conditions of any Award granted to individuals outside the United States to comply with applicable foreign laws; (iv) establish subplans and modify exercise procedures and other terms and procedures, to the extent the Administrator determines such actions to be necessary or advisable (and such subplans and/or modifications shall be attached to this Plan as appendices); provided, however, that no such subplans and/or modifications shall increase the share limitations contained in Section 3(a) hereof; and (v) take any action, before or after an Award is made, that the Administrator determines to be necessary or advisable to obtain approval or comply with any local governmental regulatory exemptions or approvals.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may not take any actions hereunder, and no Awards shall be granted, that would violate the U.S. Exchange Act or any other applicable United States securities law, the U.S. Code, or any other applicable United States governing statute or law.

SECTION 3.  SHARES ISSUABLE UNDER THE PLAN; MERGERS; SUBSTITUTION

(a)Shares Issuable.  The maximum number of Shares reserved and available for issuance under the Plan shall be 4,254,741 Shares (the “Initial Limit”), subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3(b), plus on January 1, 2019 and each January 1 thereafter, the number of Shares reserved and available for issuance under the Plan shall be cumulatively increased by five percent (5%) of the number of Shares issued and outstanding on the immediately preceding December 31, or such lesser number as the Administrator may determine (the “Annual Increase”).  Subject to such overall limitation, the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be issued in the form of Incentive Share Options shall not exceed the Initial Limit cumulatively increased on January 1, 2019 and on each January 1 thereafter by the lesser of the Annual Increase for such year or 4,254,741 Shares, subject in all cases to adjustment as provided in Section 3(b).For purposes of this limitation, the Shares underlying any awards under Plan or the Orchard Therapeutics plc 2016 Employee Share Option Plan that are forfeited, canceled, held 

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back upon exercise of an Option or settlement of an Award to cover the exercise price or tax withholding, reacquired by the Company prior to vesting, satisfied without the issuance of Shares or otherwise terminated (other than by exercise) shall be added back to the Shares available for issuance under the Plan and, to the extent permitted under Section 422 of the U.S. Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder, the Shares that may be issued as Incentive Share Options.  In the event the Company repurchases Shares on the open market, such Shares shall not be added to the Shares available for issuance under the Plan.  Subject to such overall limitations, Shares may be issued up to such maximum number pursuant to any type or types of Award.  The shares available for issuance under the Plan may be authorized but unissued Shares or Shares reacquired by the Company.

(b)Changes in Shares.  Subject to Section 3(c) hereof, if, as a result of any reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, share dividend, share split, reverse share split or other similar change in the Company’s capital shares, the outstanding Shares are increased or decreased or are exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or other securities of the Company, or additional shares or new or different shares or other securities of the Company or other non-cash assets are distributed with respect to such Shares or other securities, or, if, as a result of any merger or consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, the outstanding Shares are converted into or exchanged for securities of the Company or any successor entity (or a parent or subsidiary thereof), the Administrator shall make an appropriate or proportionate adjustment in (i) the maximum number of shares reserved for issuance under the Plan, including the maximum number of shares that may be issued in the form of Incentive Share Options, (ii) the number and kind of shares or other securities subject to any then outstanding Awards under the Plan, (iii) the repurchase price, if any, per share subject to each outstanding Restricted Share Award, and (iv) the exercise price for each share subject to any then outstanding Share Options and Share Appreciation Rights under the Plan, without changing the aggregate exercise price (i.e., the exercise price multiplied by the number of Share Options and Share Appreciation Rights) as to which such Share Options and Share Appreciation Rights remain exercisable.  The Administrator shall also make equitable or proportionate adjustments in the number of shares subject to outstanding Awards and the exercise price and the terms of outstanding Awards to take into consideration cash dividends paid other than in the ordinary course or any other extraordinary corporate event.  The adjustment by the Administrator shall be final, binding and conclusive.  No fractional Shares shall be issued under the Plan resulting from any such adjustment, but the Administrator in its discretion may make a cash payment in lieu of fractional shares.

(c)Mergers and Other Transactions.  In the case of and subject to the consummation of a Sale Event, the parties thereto may cause the assumption or continuation of Awards theretofore granted by the successor entity, or the substitution of such Awards with new Awards of the successor entity or parent thereof, with appropriate adjustment as to the number and kind of shares and, if appropriate, the per share exercise prices, as such parties shall agree.  To the extent the parties to such Sale Event do not provide for the assumption, continuation or substitution of Awards, upon the effective time of the Sale Event, the Plan and all outstanding Awards granted hereunder shall terminate.  In such case, except as may be otherwise provided in the relevant Award Certificate, all Options and Share Appreciation Rights that are not exercisable immediately prior to the effective time of the Sale Event shall become fully exercisable as of the effective time of the Sale Event, all other Awards with time-based vesting, 

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conditions or restrictions shall become fully vested and nonforfeitable as of the effective time of the Sale Event, and all Awards with conditions and restrictions relating to the attainment of performance goals may become vested and nonforfeitable in connection with a Sale Event in the Administrator’s discretion or to the extent specified in the relevant Award Certificate.  In the event of such termination, (i) the Company shall have the option (in its sole discretion) to make or provide for a payment, in cash or in kind, to the grantees holding Options and Share Appreciation Rights, in exchange for the cancellation thereof, in an amount equal to the difference between (A) the Sale Price multiplied by the number of Shares subject to outstanding Options and Share Appreciation Rights (to the extent then exercisable at prices not in excess of the Sale Price) and (B) the aggregate exercise price of all such outstanding Options and Share Appreciation Rights (provided that, in the case of an Option or Share Appreciation Right with an exercise price equal to or less than the Sale Price, such Option or Share Appreciation Right shall be cancelled for no consideration); or (ii) each grantee shall be permitted, within a specified period of time prior to the consummation of the Sale Event as determined by the Administrator, to exercise all outstanding Options and Share Appreciation Rights (to the extent then exercisable) held by such grantee.  The Company shall also have the option (in its sole discretion) to make or provide for a payment, in cash or in kind, to the grantees holding other Awards in an amount equal to the Sale Price multiplied by the number of vested Shares under such Awards.

SECTION 4.  ELIGIBILITY

Grantees under the Plan will be such employees, Non-Employee Directors and Consultants of the Company and its Affiliates as are selected from time to time by the Administrator in its sole discretion; provided that Awards may not be granted to employees, Directors and Consultants who are providing services only to any “parent” of the Company, as such term is defined in Rule 405 of the U.S. Securities Act, unless (i) the Shares underlying the Awards is treated as “service recipient stock” under Section 409A or (ii) the Company, in consultation with its legal counsel, has determined that such Awards are exempt from or otherwise comply with Section 409A.  

SECTION 5.  SHARE OPTIONS

(a)Award of Share Options.  The Administrator may grant Share Options under the Plan.  Any Share Option granted under the Plan shall be in such form as the Administrator may from time to time approve.

Share Options granted under the Plan may be either Incentive Share Options or Non-Qualified Share Options.  Incentive Share Options may be granted only to employees of the Company or any Subsidiary that is a “subsidiary corporation” within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the U.S. Code.  To the extent that any Option does not qualify as an Incentive Share Option, it shall be deemed a Non-Qualified Share Option.

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Share Options granted pursuant to this Section 5 shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and shall contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Administrator shall deem desirable.  If the Administrator so determines, Share Options may be granted in lieu of cash compensation at the optionee’s election, subject to such terms and conditions as the Administrator may establish.

(b)Exercise Price.  The exercise price per Share covered by a Share Option granted pursuant to this Section 5 shall be determined by the Administrator at the time of grant but shall not be less than 100 percent of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant.  In the case of an Incentive Share Option that is granted to a Ten Percent Owner, the option price of such Incentive Share Option shall be not less than 110 percent of the Fair Market Value on the grant date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Share Options may be granted with an exercise price per share that is less than 100 percent of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant (i) pursuant to a transaction described in, and in a manner consistent with, Section 424(a) of the U.S. Code or (ii) to individuals who are not subject to U.S. income tax. 

(c)Option Term.  The term of each Share Option shall be fixed by the Administrator, but no Share Option shall be exercisable more than ten years after the date the Share Option is granted.  In the case of an Incentive Share Option that is granted to a Ten Percent Owner, the term of such Share Option shall be no more than five years from the date of grant.

(d)Exercisability; Rights of a Shareholder.  Share Options shall become exercisable at such time or times, whether or not in installments, as shall be determined by the Administrator at or after the grant date.  The Administrator may at any time accelerate the exercisability of all or any portion of any Share Option.  An optionee shall have the rights of a shareholder only as to shares acquired upon the exercise of a Share Option and not as to unexercised Share Options.

(e)Method of Exercise.  Share Options may be exercised in whole or in part, by giving written or electronic notice of exercise to the Company, specifying the number of shares to be purchased.  Payment of the purchase price may be made by one or more of the following methods except to the extent otherwise provided in the Option Award Certificate:

(i)In cash, by certified or bank check or other instrument acceptable to the Administrator;

(ii)Through the delivery (or attestation to the ownership following such procedures as the Company may prescribe) of Shares that are not then subject to restrictions under any Company plan.  Such surrendered shares shall be valued at Fair Market Value on the exercise date; 

(iii)By the optionee delivering to the Company a properly executed exercise notice together with irrevocable instructions to a broker to promptly deliver to the Company cash or a check payable and acceptable to the Company for the purchase price; provided that in the event the optionee chooses to pay the purchase price as so provided, the optionee and the broker shall comply with such procedures and enter into such agreements of indemnity and other agreements as the Company shall prescribe as a condition of such payment procedure; or 

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(iv)With respect to Share Options that are not Incentive Share Options, by a “net exercise” arrangement pursuant to which the Company will reduce the number of Shares issuable upon exercise by the largest whole number of shares with a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price.

Payment instruments will be received subject to collection.  The transfer to the optionee on the records of the Company or of the transfer agent of the Shares to be purchased pursuant to the exercise of a Share Option will be contingent upon receipt from the optionee (or a purchaser acting in his stead in accordance with the provisions of the Share Option) by the Company of the full purchase price for such shares and the fulfillment of any other requirements contained in the Option Award Certificate or applicable provisions of laws (including the satisfaction of any withholding taxes that the Company is obligated to withhold with respect to the optionee).  In the event an optionee chooses to pay the purchase price by previously-owned Shares through the attestation method, the number of Shares transferred to the optionee upon the exercise of the Share Option shall be net of the number of attested shares.  In the event that the Company establishes, for itself or using the services of a third party, an automated system for the exercise of Share Options, such as a system using an internet website or interactive voice response, then the paperless exercise of Share Options may be permitted through the use of such an automated system.

(f)Annual Limit on Incentive Share Options.  To the extent required for “incentive stock option” treatment under Section 422 of the U.S. Code, the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time of grant) of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Share Options granted under this Plan and any other plan of the Company or its parent and subsidiary corporations become exercisable for the first time by an optionee during any calendar year shall not exceed $100,000.  To the extent that any Share Option exceeds this limit, it shall constitute a Non-Qualified Share Option.

SECTION 6.  SHARE APPRECIATION RIGHTS

(a)Award of Share Appreciation Rights.  The Administrator may grant Share Appreciation Rights under the Plan.  A Share Appreciation Right is an Award entitling the recipient to receive Shares (or cash, to the extent explicitly provided for in the applicable Award Certificate) having a value equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over the exercise price of the Share Appreciation Right multiplied by the number of Shares with respect to which the Share Appreciation Right shall have been exercised.

(b)Exercise Price of Share Appreciation Rights.  The exercise price of a Share Appreciation Right shall not be less than 100 percent of the Fair Market Value of the Share on the date of grant.

(c)Grant and Exercise of Share Appreciation Rights.  Share Appreciation Rights may be granted by the Administrator independently of any Share Option granted pursuant to Section 5 of the Plan.

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(d)Terms and Conditions of Share Appreciation Rights.  Share Appreciation Rights shall be subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined on the date of grant by the Administrator.  The term of a Share Appreciation Right may not exceed ten years.  The terms and conditions of each such Award shall be determined by the Administrator, and such terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and grantees.

SECTION 7.  RESTRICTED SHARE AWARDS

(a)Nature of Restricted Share Awards.  The Administrator may grant Restricted Share Awards under the Plan.  A Restricted Share Award is any Award of Restricted Shares subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Administrator may determine at the time of grant.  Conditions may be based on continuing employment (or other service relationship) and/or achievement of pre-established performance goals and objectives.

(b)Rights as a Shareholder.  Upon the grant of the Restricted Share Award and payment of any applicable purchase price, a grantee shall have the rights of a shareholder with respect to the voting of the Restricted Shares and receipt of dividends; provided that if the lapse of restrictions with respect to the Restricted Share Award is tied to the attainment of performance goals, any dividends paid by the Company during the performance period shall accrue and shall not be paid to the grantee until and to the extent the performance goals are met with respect to the Restricted Share Award.  Unless the Administrator shall otherwise determine, (i) uncertificated Restricted Shares shall be accompanied by a notation on the records of the Company or the transfer agent to the effect that they are subject to forfeiture until such Restricted Shares are vested as provided in Section 7(d) below, and (ii) certificated Restricted Shares shall remain in the possession of the Company until such Restricted Shares are vested as provided in Section 7(d) below, and the grantee shall be required, as a condition of the grant, to deliver to the Company such instruments of transfer as the Administrator may prescribe.

(c)Restrictions.  Restricted Shares may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of except as specifically provided herein or in the Restricted Share Award Certificate.  Except as may otherwise be provided by the Administrator either in the Award Certificate or, subject to Section 15 below, in writing after the Award is issued, if a grantee’s employment (or other service relationship) with the Company and its Subsidiaries terminates for any reason, any Restricted Shares that have not vested at the time of termination shall automatically and without any requirement of notice to such grantee from or other action by or on behalf of, the Company be deemed to have been reacquired by the Company at its original purchase price (if any) from such grantee or such grantee’s legal representative simultaneously with such termination of employment (or other service relationship), and thereafter shall cease to represent any ownership of the Company by the grantee or rights of the grantee as a shareholder.  Following such deemed reacquisition of Restricted Shares that are represented by physical certificates, a grantee shall surrender such certificates to the Company upon request without consideration.

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(d)Vesting of Restricted Shares.  The Administrator at the time of grant shall specify the date or dates and/or the attainment of pre-established performance goals, objectives and other conditions on which the non-transferability of the Restricted Shares and the Company’s right of repurchase or forfeiture shall lapse.  Subsequent to such date or dates and/or the attainment of such pre-established performance goals, objectives and other conditions, the shares on which all restrictions have lapsed shall no longer be Restricted Shares and shall be deemed “vested.”

SECTION 8.  RESTRICTED SHARE UNITS

(a)Nature of Restricted Share Units.  The Administrator may grant Restricted Share Units under the Plan.  A Restricted Share Unit is an Award of share units that may be settled in Shares (or cash, to the extent explicitly provided for in the Award Certificate) upon the satisfaction of such restrictions and conditions at the time of grant.  Conditions may be based on continuing employment (or other service relationship) and/or achievement of pre-established performance goals and objectives.  The terms and conditions of each such Award shall be determined by the Administrator, and such terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and grantees.  Except in the case of Restricted Share Units with a deferred settlement date that complies with Section 409A, at the end of the vesting period, the Restricted Share Units, to the extent vested, shall be settled in the form of Shares.  Restricted Share Units with deferred settlement dates are subject to Section 409A and shall contain such additional terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine in its sole discretion in order to comply with the requirements of Section 409A.

(b)Election to Receive Restricted Share Units in Lieu of Compensation.  The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, permit a grantee to elect to receive a portion of future cash compensation otherwise due to such grantee in the form of an award of Restricted Share Units.  Any such election shall be made in writing and shall be delivered to the Company no later than the date specified by the Administrator and in accordance with Section 409A and such other rules and procedures established by the Administrator.  Any such future cash compensation that the grantee elects to defer shall be converted to a fixed number of Restricted Share Units based on the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the compensation would otherwise have been paid to the grantee if such payment had not been deferred as provided herein.  The Administrator shall have the sole right to determine whether and under what circumstances to permit such elections and to impose such limitations and other terms and conditions thereon as the Administrator deems appropriate.  Any Restricted Share Units that are elected to be received in lieu of cash compensation shall be fully vested, unless otherwise provided in the Award Certificate.

(c)Rights as a Shareholder.  A grantee shall have the rights as a shareholder only as to Shares acquired by the grantee upon settlement of Restricted Share Units; provided, however, that the grantee may be credited with Dividend Equivalent Rights with respect to the share units underlying his Restricted Share Units, subject to the provisions of Section 11 and such terms and conditions as the Administrator may determine.  

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(d)Termination.  Except as may otherwise be provided by the Administrator either in the Award Certificate or, subject to Section 15 below, in writing after the Award is issued, a grantee’s right in all Restricted Share Units that have not vested shall automatically terminate upon the grantee’s termination of employment (or cessation of service relationship) with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason.

SECTION 9.  UNRESTRICTED SHARE AWARDS

Grant or Sale of Unrestricted Share.  The Administrator may grant (or sell at par value or such higher purchase price determined by the Administrator) an Unrestricted Share Award under the Plan.  An Unrestricted Share Award is an Award pursuant to which the grantee may receive Shares of free of any restrictions under the Plan.  Unrestricted Share Awards may be granted in respect of past services or other valid consideration, or in lieu of cash compensation due to such grantee.

SECTION 10.  CASH-BASED AWARDS

Grant of Cash-Based Awards.  The Administrator may grant Cash-Based Awards under the Plan.  A Cash-Based Award is an Award that entitles the grantee to a payment in cash upon the attainment of specified performance goals.  The Administrator shall determine the maximum duration of the Cash-Based Award, the amount of cash to which the Cash-Based Award pertains, the conditions upon which the Cash-Based Award shall become vested or payable, and such other provisions as the Administrator shall determine.  Each Cash-Based Award shall specify a cash-denominated payment amount, formula or payment ranges as determined by the Administrator.  Payment, if any, with respect to a Cash-Based Award shall be made in accordance with the terms of the Award and may be made in cash.  

SECTION 11.  DIVIDEND EQUIVALENT RIGHTS

(a)Dividend Equivalent Rights.  The Administrator may grant Dividend Equivalent Rights under the Plan.  A Dividend Equivalent Right is an Award entitling the grantee to receive credits based on cash dividends that would have been paid on the Shares specified in the Dividend Equivalent Right (or other Award to which it relates) if such shares had been issued to the grantee.  A Dividend Equivalent Right may be granted hereunder to any grantee as a component of an award of Restricted Share Units or as a freestanding award.  The terms and conditions of Dividend Equivalent Rights shall be specified in the Award Certificate.  Dividend equivalents credited to the holder of a Dividend Equivalent Right may be paid currently or may be deemed to be reinvested in additional Shares, which may thereafter accrue additional equivalents.  Any such reinvestment shall be at Fair Market Value on the date of reinvestment or such other price as may then apply under a dividend reinvestment plan sponsored by the Company, if any.  Dividend Equivalent Rights may be settled in cash or Shares or a combination thereof, in a single installment or installments.  A Dividend Equivalent Right granted as a component of an Award of Restricted Share Units shall provide that such Dividend Equivalent Right shall be settled only upon settlement or payment of, or lapse of restrictions on, such other Award, and that such Dividend Equivalent Right shall expire or be forfeited or annulled under the same conditions as such other Award.

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(b)Termination.  Except as may otherwise be provided by the Administrator either in the Award Certificate or, subject to Section 15 below, in writing after the Award is issued, a grantee’s rights in all Dividend Equivalent Rights shall automatically terminate upon the grantee’s termination of employment (or cessation of service relationship) with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason.

SECTION 12.  Transferability of Awards

(a)Transferability.  Except as provided in Section 12 (b) below, during a grantee’s lifetime, his or her Awards shall be exercisable only by the grantee, by the grantee’s legal representative or guardian in the event of the grantee’s incapacity (evidenced to the satisfaction of the Administrator) or the grantee’s personal representatives in the case of his death.  No Awards shall be sold, assigned, transferred or otherwise encumbered or disposed of by a grantee other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a domestic relations order.  No Awards shall be subject, in whole or in part, to attachment, execution, or levy of any kind, and any purported transfer in violation hereof shall be null and void.

(b)Administrator Action.  Notwithstanding Section 12(a), the Administrator, in its discretion, may provide either in the Award Certificate regarding a given Award or by subsequent written approval that the grantee (who is an employee or director) may transfer his or her Non-Qualified Share Options to his or her immediate family members, to trusts for the benefit of such family members, or to partnerships in which such family members are the only partners, provided that the transferee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of this Plan and the applicable Award.  In no event may an Award be transferred by a grantee for value.

(c)Family Member.  For purposes of Section 12(b), “family member” shall mean a grantee’s child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, any person sharing the grantee’s household (other than a tenant of the grantee), a trust in which these persons (or the grantee) have more than 50 percent of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which these persons (or the grantee) control the management of assets, and any other entity in which these persons (or the grantee) own more than 50 percent of the voting interests.

(d)Designation of Beneficiary.  To the extent permitted by the Company, each grantee to whom an Award has been made under the Plan may designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to exercise any Award or receive any payment under any Award payable on or after the grantee’s death.  Any such designation shall be on a form provided for that purpose by the Administrator and shall not be effective until received by the Administrator.  If no beneficiary has been designated by a deceased grantee, or if the designated beneficiaries have predeceased the grantee, the beneficiary shall be the grantee’s estate.

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SECTION 13.  TAX WITHHOLDING

(a)Payment by Grantee.  If the Company or any Subsidiary is liable to account for tax (including Federal, state and local taxes and social security taxes in the US and their equivalent in any other jurisdiction) for which a grantee is liable by reason of the grant, release, exercise, assignment or surrender for consideration of an Award or the receipt of any benefit in connection with it, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall, to the extent permitted by the applicable law in the relevant jurisdiction, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the grantee.  The Company’s obligation to deliver evidence of book entry (or share certificates) to any grantee is subject to and conditioned on tax withholding obligations being satisfied by the grantee.

(b)Payment in Shares.  The Company’s required tax withholding obligation may be satisfied, in whole or in part, by the Company withholding from Shares to be issued pursuant to any Award a number of shares with an aggregate Fair Market Value (as of the date the withholding is effected) that would satisfy the withholding amount due; provided, however, that the amount withheld does not exceed the maximum statutory tax rate or such lesser amount as is necessary to avoid liability accounting treatment.  The Administrator may also require Awards to be subject to mandatory share withholding up to the required withholding amount.  For purposes of share withholding, the Fair Market Value of withheld shares shall be determined in the same manner as the value of Shares includible in income of the Participants.  The required tax withholding obligation may also be satisfied, in whole or in part, by an arrangement whereby a certain number of Shares issued pursuant to any Award are immediately sold and proceeds from such sale are remitted to the Company in an amount that would satisfy the withholding amount due.

(c)UK national insurance contributions.  At the request of the Company or Subsidiary by which the relevant grantee is employed at any time before the vesting or exercise of an Award which is a Share Option, the grantee must either agree to meet or elect, to the extent lawfully permitted (and in the case of an election, using a form approved by HM Revenue & Customs) that the whole of the liability for any secondary class 1 (employers’) national insurance contributions arising as a result of the grant, release, exercise, assignment or surrender for consideration of the Share Option, shall be borne by or transferred to the grantee.  

SECTION 14.  Section 409A awards

To the extent that any Award is determined to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A (a “409A Award”), the Award shall be subject to such additional rules and requirements as specified by the Administrator from time to time in order to comply with Section 409A.  In this regard, if any amount under a 409A Award is payable upon a “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A) to a grantee 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 grantee’s separation from service, or (ii) the grantee’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.  Further, the settlement of any 409A Award may not be accelerated except to the extent permitted by Section 409A.

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SECTION 15.  TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT, TRANSFER, LEAVE OF ABSENCE, ETC.

(a)Termination of Employment.  If the grantee’s employer ceases to be a Subsidiary, the grantee shall be deemed to have terminated employment for purposes of the Plan.  

(b)For purposes of the Plan, the following events shall not be deemed a termination of employment:

(i)a transfer to the employment of the Company from a Subsidiary or from the Company to a Subsidiary, or from one Subsidiary to another; or

(ii)an approved leave of absence for military service or sickness, or for any other purpose approved by the Company, if the employee’s right to re-employment is guaranteed either by a statute or by contract or under the policy pursuant to which the leave of absence was granted or if the Administrator otherwise so provides in writing.

(c)In the case of grantees who are employed in the UK, the termination date of their employment shall be the date notice is given by or to them unless the Administrator decides that it can be a later date before the statutory or contractual expiry date of their notice period.

SECTION 16.  AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION

The Board may, at any time, amend or discontinue the Plan and the Administrator may, at any time, amend or cancel any outstanding Award for the purpose of satisfying changes in law or for any other lawful purpose, but no such action shall adversely affect rights under any outstanding Award without the holder’s consent.  The Administrator is specifically authorized to exercise its discretion to reduce the exercise price of outstanding Share Options or Share Appreciation Rights or effect the repricing of such Awards through cancellation and re-grants. To the extent required under the rules of any securities exchange or market system on which the Shares are listed, to the extent determined by the Administrator to be required by the U.S. Code to ensure that Incentive Share Options granted under the Plan are qualified under Section 422 of the U.S. Code, Plan amendments shall be subject to approval by the Company shareholders entitled to vote at a meeting of shareholders.  Nothing in this Section 18 shall limit the Administrator’s authority to take any action permitted pursuant to Section 3(b) or 3(c).

SECTION 17.  STATUS OF PLAN

With respect to the portion of any Award that has not been exercised and any payments in cash, Shares or other consideration not received by a grantee, a grantee shall have no rights greater than those of a general creditor of the Company unless the Administrator shall otherwise expressly determine in connection with any Award or Awards.  In its sole discretion, the Administrator may authorize the creation of trusts or other arrangements to meet the Company’s obligations to deliver Shares or make payments with respect to Awards hereunder, provided that the existence of such trusts or other arrangements is consistent with the foregoing sentence.

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SECTION 18.  GENERAL PROVISIONS

(a)No Distribution.  The Administrator may require each person acquiring Shares pursuant to an Award to represent to and agree with the Company in writing that such person is acquiring the shares without a view to distribution thereof.

(b)Issuance of Shares.  To the extent certificated, Share certificates to grantees under this Plan shall be deemed delivered for all purposes when the Company or a transfer agent of the Company shall have mailed such certificates in the United States mail, addressed to the grantee, at the grantee’s last known address on file with the Company.  Uncertificated Shares shall be deemed delivered for all purposes when the Company or a transfer agent of the Company shall have given to the grantee by electronic mail (with proof of receipt) or by United States mail, addressed to the grantee, at the grantee’s last known address on file with the Company, notice of issuance and recorded the issuance in its records (which may include electronic “book entry” records).  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any evidence of book entry or certificates evidencing Shares pursuant to the exercise or settlement of any Award, unless and until the Administrator has determined, with advice of counsel (to the extent the Administrator deems such advice necessary or advisable), that the issuance and delivery is in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations of governmental authorities and, if applicable, the requirements of any exchange on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded.  Any Shares issued pursuant to the Plan shall be subject to any stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Administrator deems necessary or advisable to comply with federal, state or foreign jurisdiction, securities or other laws, rules and quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded.  The Administrator may place legends on any Share certificate or notations on any book entry to reference restrictions applicable to the Shares.  In addition to the terms and conditions provided herein, the Administrator may require that an individual make such reasonable covenants, agreements, and representations as the Administrator, in its discretion, deems necessary or advisable in order to comply with any such laws, regulations, or requirements.  The Administrator shall have the right to require any individual to comply with any timing or other restrictions with respect to the settlement or exercise of any Award, including a window-period limitation, as may be imposed in the discretion of the Administrator.  

(c)Shareholder Rights.  Until Shares are deemed delivered in accordance with Section 20(b), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights of a shareholder will exist with respect to Shares to be issued in connection with an Award, notwithstanding the exercise of a Share Option or any other action by the grantee with respect to an Award.

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(d)Other Compensation Arrangements; No Employment Rights.  Nothing contained in this Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, including trusts, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.  The adoption of this Plan and the grant of Awards do not confer upon any employee any right to continued employment with the Company or any Subsidiary.  If a grantee ceases to be employed by the Company or any Subsidiary for any reason whatsoever (including as a result of being wrongfully or unfairly dismissed) they shall not be entitled, and by accepting an Award they shall be deemed to have waived any possible entitlement, to any sum or other benefit accrued or in prospect in connection with that Award, and no such loss or curtailment shall form part of any claim for damages for breach of the grantee’s contract of employment or compensation for dismissal or any other claim whatsoever.  

(e)Trading Policy Restrictions.  Option exercises and other Awards under the Plan shall be subject to the Company’s insider trading policies and procedures, as in effect from time to time.

(f)Clawback Policy.  Awards under the Plan shall be subject to the Company’s clawback policy, as in effect from time to time.

SECTION 19.  EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN

This Plan shall become effective upon the date immediately preceding the Registration Date following shareholder approval in accordance with applicable law, the Company’s bylaws and articles of incorporation, and applicable stock exchange rules.  No grants of Share Options and other Awards may be made hereunder after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date and no grants of Incentive Share Options may be made hereunder after the tenth anniversary of the date the Plan is approved by the Board.

SECTION 20.  GOVERNING LAW

This Plan and all Awards and actions taken thereunder shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with the law of England and Wales, applied without regard to conflict of law principles.

 

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