As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 1, 2021
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Microvast Holdings,
Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
83-2530757 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
12603 Southwest Freeway, Suite 210 | |
Stafford, Texas (Address of Principal Executive Offices) |
77477 (Zip Code) |
Microvast Holdings, Inc. 2021 Equity Inventive
Plan
(Full title of the plan)
Yanzhuan Zheng
Chief Financial Officer
12603 Southwest Freeway, Suite 210
Stafford, Texas 77477
(281) 491-9505
(Name and address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
John J. Cannon III, Esq.
Shearman & Sterling LLP
599 Lexington Ave.
New York, New York 10022
(212) 848-4000
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer o | Accelerated filer o |
Non-accelerated filer x | Smaller reporting company o |
Emerging growth company x |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. o
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of Securities to be Registered | Amount to be Registered(1) |
Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share |
Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price |
Amount of Registration Fee |
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, under the Mircovast Holdings, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan | 76,956,754(2) | $10.37(5) | $798,041,538.98 | $87,066.33 |
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, underlying stock option awards outstanding under the Microvast Holdings, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan | 33,647,927(3) | $6.19(6) | $208,280,668.13 | $22,723.42 |
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, underlying restricted stock unit and performance stock unit awards granted to Selling Securityholders | 3,487,776(4) | $10.37(5) | $36,168,237.12 | $3,945.95 |
Total | 114,092,457 | — | $1,042,490,444.23 | $113,735.71 |
(1) | Pursuant to Rule 416 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement on Form S-8 (this “Registration Statement” shall also cover any additional shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), of Microvast Holdings, Inc. (the “Registrant”) that become issuable by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or any other similar transaction that results in an increase in the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock. In addition, this Registration Statement registers the resale of shares of Common Stock by certain Selling Securityholders (as defined in the Reoffer Prospectus) identified in the Reoffer Prospectus included in and filed with this Registration Statement, for which no additional registration fee is required pursuant to Rule 457(h)(3) under the Securities Act. |
(2) | Represents (a) 20,083,488 shares of Common Stock available for future issuance under the Registrant’s 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) and (b) 56,873,266 shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding awards granted under the Plan that may be forfeited, canceled, repurchased by the Registrant or are otherwise terminated, which, pursuant to the terms of the Plan, will become available for future issuance under the Plan. |
(3) | Represents 33,647,927 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options granted under the Plan as of the date of this Registration Statement. |
(4) | Represents the resale of shares of Commons Stock underlying outstanding awards granted to the Selling Securityholders (as defined in the Reoffer Prospectus). |
(5) | Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(c) and Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act, solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee on the basis of $10.37 per share, the average of the high and low prices of the Registrant’s common stock on September 24, 2021 as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market. |
(6) | Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee on the basis of the weighted average exercise price of $6.19 per share (rounded to the nearest cent) of outstanding stock options granted under the 2021 Plan. |
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This registration statement on Form S-8 (this “Registration Statement”) of the Registrant includes a prospectus (the “Reoffer Prospectus”) prepared in accordance with General Instruction C of Form S-8 and in accordance with the requirements of Part I of Form S-3. This Reoffer Prospectus may be used for reofferings and resales of shares of Common Stock that may be deemed to be “restricted securities” or “control securities” under the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder that were issued to the selling securityholders identified in the Reoffer Prospectus (the “Selling Securityholders”). The shares of Common Stock included in the Reoffer Prospectus were issued to the Selling Securityholders in respect of awards that were issued to the Selling Securityholders as employees or directors of Microvast, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Microvast”), prior to the business combination of Tuscan Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation, Microvast and TSCN Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation (as described in the Reoffer Prospectus). The inclusion of such shares herein does not necessarily represent a present intention to sell any or all such shares of Common Stock.
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
The information required by Item 1 and Item 2 of Part I of Form S-8 is omitted from this filing in accordance with Rule 428 under the Securities Act and the introductory note to Part I of Form S-8. The documents containing the information specified in Part I will be delivered to the participants in the Plan covered by this Registration Statement as required by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act.
REOFFER PROSPECTUS
6,399,890 Shares of Common Stock
This reoffer prospectus relates to the offer and sale from time to time by the selling securityholders named in this prospectus (the “Selling Securityholders”), or their permitted transferees, of up to 6,399,890 shares of the Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), of Microvast Holdings, Inc. (unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us”), a Delaware corporation. This prospectus covers 6,399,890 shares of Common Stock issued to each Selling Securityholder under an option, restricted stock unit or performance stock unit award agreement, as applicable, between the Company and the Selling Securityholder. We are not offering any shares of Common Stock and will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares of Common Stock by the Selling Securityholders pursuant to this prospectus. Certain of the Selling Securityholders are “affiliates” of our company (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)).
Upon vesting of the shares offered hereby pursuant to the terms of the award agreements, and upon expiration of the lock-up agreements described herein, the Selling Securityholders may from time to time sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any or all of the shares of Common Stock covered by this prospectus through underwriters or dealers, directly to purchasers (or a single purchaser) or through broker-dealers or agents. If underwriters or dealers are used to sell the shares, we will name them and describe their compensation in a prospectus supplement. The Common Stock may be sold in one or more transactions at fixed prices, prevailing market prices at the time of sale, prices related to the prevailing market prices, varying prices determined at the time of sale or negotiated prices. We do not know when or in what amount the Selling Securityholders may offer the shares for sale. The Selling Securityholders may sell any, all or none of the shares offered by this prospectus. See “Plan of Distribution” beginning on page 12 for more information about how the Selling Securityholders may sell or dispose of the shares of Common Stock covered by this prospectus.
The shares of Common Stock that have been or will be issued pursuant to option, restricted stock unit or performance stock unit awards granted to the Selling Securityholders will be “restricted securities” or “control securities” under the Securities Act before their sale under this prospectus. This prospectus has been prepared for the purposes of registering the shares under the Securities Act to allow for future sales by Selling Securityholders on a continuous or delayed basis to the public without restriction.
Our Common Stock is listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”) under the symbol “MVST.” On September 30, 2021, the closing price of our Common Stock was $8.22 per share.
We are an “emerging growth company,” as that term is defined under the federal securities laws and, as such, are subject to certain reduced public company reporting requirements.
Investing in our securities involves risks that are described in the “Risk Factors” section on page 5 of this prospectus.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the securities to be issued under this prospectus or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is October 1, 2021.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS | 1 |
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY | 3 |
RISK FACTORS | 5 |
DETERMINATION OF OFFERING PRICE | 6 |
USE OF PROCEEDS | 7 |
SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS | 8 |
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION | 12 |
LEGAL MATTERS | 13 |
EXPERTS | 13 |
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION | 13 |
Neither we nor the Selling Securityholders have authorized anyone to provide any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement that we have prepared. We and the Selling Securityholders take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the securities offered hereby and only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement. This prospectus is not an offer to sell securities, and it is not soliciting an offer to buy securities, in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate only as of the date on the front of those documents only, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement, or any sale of a security. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The statements contained in this prospectus that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our or our management team’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. Forward-looking statements include statements relating to our expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements in this prospectus may include, for example, statements about:
· | a delay or failure to realize the expected benefits from the Business Combination; |
· | risks related to disruption of management time from ongoing business operations due to the Business Combination; |
· | the impact of the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic; |
· | changes in the highly competitive market in which we compete, including with respect to our competitive landscape, technology evolution or regulatory changes; |
· | changes in the markets that we target; |
· | risk that we may not be able to execute our growth strategies or achieve profitability; |
· | the risk that we are unable to secure or protect our intellectual property; |
· | the risk that our customers or third-party suppliers are unable to meet their obligations fully or in a timely manner; |
· | the risk that our customers will adjust, cancel or suspend their orders for our products; |
· | the risk that we will need to raise additional capital to execute our business plan, which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all; |
· | the risk of product liability or regulatory lawsuits or proceedings relating to our products or services; |
· | the risk that we may not be able to develop and maintain effective internal controls; |
· | the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against us or any of our directors or officers; |
· | risks of operations in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”); |
· | the failure to realize anticipated pro forma results and underlying assumptions.; and |
· | other factors detailed under the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our Registration Statement on Form S-1/A, as filed with the SEC on September 24, 2021 (File No. 333-258978), our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A relating to the Business Combination (as defined herein), filed with the SEC on July 6, 2021 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, each of which are incorporated herein by reference. |
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These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this prospectus, and current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and involve a number of judgments, risks and uncertainties. Important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements such as those contained in documents we have filed with the SEC. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date, and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
As a result of a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, our actual results or performance may be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. For a discussion of the risks involved in our business and investing in our common stock, see the section entitled “Risk Factors.”
Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
This summary highlights selected information from this prospectus and does not contain all of the information that is important to you in making an investment decision. This summary is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed information included in this prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference herein. Potential investors should read the entire prospectus carefully, including the risks of purchasing our common stock discussed in “Risk Factors.”
The Company
Microvast Holdings, Inc. is a Delaware corporation that is a holding company. As a holding company with no material operations of our own, our operations are conducted through our subsidiaries, including subsidiaries based in China. Although we are in the process of diversifying the geographic concentration of our operations, including by developing manufacturing facilities in Europe and the United States, a large majority of our facilities are currently located in the PRC. All securities being offered pursuant to this prospectus are securities of the Delaware holding company, and accordingly no investor will acquire a direct interest in any of the equity securities of our subsidiaries.
We are a technology innovator for lithium ion batteries. We design, develop and manufacture battery systems for electric vehicles and energy storage systems that feature ultra-fast charging capabilities, long life and superior safety. Our vision is to solve the key constraints in electric vehicle development and in high-performance energy storage applications. We believe the ultra-fast charging capabilities of our battery systems make charging electric vehicles as convenient as fueling conventional vehicles. We believe that the long battery life of our battery systems also reduces the total cost of ownership of electric vehicles and energy storage applications.
Background
Microvast Holdings, Inc., a Delaware Corporation (the “Company”), was originally known as Tuscan Holdings Corp. (“Tuscan”), which was incorporated on April 25, 2016 as a Delaware corporation and formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses and which completed its initial public offering on March 7, 2019. Tuscan was a “shell company” as defined under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), because it had no operations and nominal assets consisting almost entirely of cash. On July 23, 2021 (the “Closing Date”) Tuscan consummated the business combination (the “Business Combination”) pursuant to which TSCN Merger Sub, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tuscan formed solely for the purpose of effectuating the Business Combination, merged with and into Microvast, with Microvast surviving the merger as a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Tuscan. In connection with the consummation of the Business Combination (the “Closing”), we changed our name to “Microvast Holdings, Inc.” At the Closing, the issued and outstanding shares of Microvast’s common stock and preferred stock, each option to purchase Mircrovast’s common stock and each restricted stock unit were exchanged for shares of the Company’s Common Stock. Similarly, all of Tuscan’s outstanding warrants became warrants to acquire shares of the Company’s Common Stock on the same terms as Tuscan’s warrants.
Our Common Stock is currently listed on Nasdaq under the symbol “MVST”.
Emerging Growth Company
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act, and we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies, including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
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Further, section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. We have elected not to opt out of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of our financial statements with certain other public companies difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of: (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the closing of the IPO, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our common equity that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30th; and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.00 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period. References herein to “emerging growth company” shall have the meaning associated with it in the JOBS Act.
About This Offering
This reoffer prospectus relates to the public offering, which is not being underwritten, by the Selling Securityholders listed in this prospectus, of up to 6,399,890 shares of our Common Stock, issued to each Selling Securityholder under an option, restricted stock unit or performance stock unit award agreement, as applicable, between the Company and the Selling Securityholder. Upon vesting of the shares offered hereby pursuant to the terms of the award agreements, and upon expiration of the lock-up agreements described herein, the Selling Securityholders may from time to time sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any or all of the shares of Common Stock covered by this prospectus through underwriters or dealers, directly to purchasers (or a single purchaser) or through broker-dealers or agents. We will receive none of the proceeds from the sale of the shares by the Selling Securityholders. We will bear all expenses of registration incurred in connection with this offering, but all selling and other expenses incurred by the Selling Securityholders will be borne by them.
Risk Factors
Our business is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that represent challenges that we face in connection with the successful implementation of our strategy and growth of our business, including those described under “Risk Factors” in our Registration Statement on Form S-1/A, as filed with the SEC on September 24, 2021 (File No. 333-258978), our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A relating to the Business Combination and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021.
Corporate Information
We were incorporated on April 25, 2016 as a Delaware corporation under the name “Tuscan Holdings Corp.” and formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. On July 23, 2021, in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination, we changed our name to “Microvast Holdings, Inc.” Our principal executive offices are located at 12603 Southwest Freeway, Suite 210, Stafford, Texas 77477, and our telephone number is (281) 491-9505. Our website is https://microvast.com. The information found on, or that can be accessed from or that is hyperlinked to, our website is not part of this prospectus.
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RISK FACTORS
An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described under “Risk Factors” in our Registration Statement on Form S-1/A, as filed with the SEC on September 24, 2021 (File No. 333-258978), our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A relating to the Business Combination and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, together with all of the other information appearing in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, before making an investment decision. Our business, prospects, financial condition, or operating results could be harmed by any of these risks, as well as other risks not currently known to us or that we currently consider immaterial. The trading price of our securities could decline due to any of these risks, and, as a result, you may lose all or part of your investment.
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DETERMINATION OF OFFERING PRICE
The Selling Securityholders will determine at what price they may sell the offered shares, and such sales may be made at prevailing market prices or at privately negotiated prices. See “Plan of Distribution” below for more information.
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USE OF PROCEEDS
The shares of Common Stock offered hereby are being registered for the account of the Selling Securityholders named in this prospectus. All proceeds from the sales of the Common Stock will go to the Selling Securityholders and we will not receive any proceeds from the resale of the Common Stock by the Selling Securityholders.
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SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS
The following table sets forth information with respect to the Selling Securityholders and the shares of our Common Stock beneficially owned by the Selling Securityholders as of September 24, 2021 and the percentage of beneficial ownership is calculated based on 300,516,237 shares outstanding as of such date. The Selling Securityholders may offer all, some or none of the shares of Common Stock covered by this prospectus. The Selling Securityholders identified below may have sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of some or all of their shares since the date on which the information in the following table is presented in transactions exempt from or not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Information concerning the Selling Securityholders may change from time to time and, if necessary, we will amend or supplement this prospectus accordingly. We cannot give an estimate as to the number of shares of Common Stock that will actually be held by the Selling Securityholders upon termination of this offering because the Selling Securityholders may offer some or all of their Common Stock under the offering contemplated by this prospectus or acquire additional shares of Common Stock. We cannot advise you as to whether the Selling Securityholders will, in fact, sell any or all of such shares of Common Stock.
We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules of the SEC and the information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Unless otherwise indicated below, to our knowledge, the persons and entities named in the tables have sole voting and sole investment power with respect to all securities that they beneficially own, subject to community property laws where applicable.
Name and Title of Selling Securityholder(1) | Common Stock Beneficially Owned Prior to the Resale | Common Stock Offered for Resale | % of Common Stock Beneficially Owned After Completion of the Resale(2) |
Yang Wu(3) Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board, Director |
85,081,624 | 44,671 | 28.30% |
Yanzhuan Zheng(4) Chief Financial Officer, Director |
3,561,969 | 3,248,960 | * |
Stanley Whittingham(5) Director |
17,539 | 17,539 | * |
Arthur Wong(6) Director |
13,758 | 13,758 | * |
Craig Webster(7) Director |
15,077 | 15,077 | * |
Stephen Vogel(8) Director |
6,112,188 | 18,650 | 2.02% |
Ying Wei(9) Director |
17,333 | 17,333 | * |
Shane Smith(10) Chief Operating Officer |
813,682 | 813,682 | * |
Wenjuan Mattis(11) Chief Technology Officer |
1,280,919 | 1,082,504 | * |
Sascha Rene Kelterborn(12) Chief Revenue Officer, Director, Microvast EMEA |
386,215 | 386,215 | * |
Shengxian Wu(13) Chief Executive Officer, Microvast China |
427,466 | 427,466 | * |
Lu Gao(13) Chief Accounting Officer |
293,883 | 293,883 | * |
Sarah Alexander(14) General Counsel |
21,152 | 20,152 | * |
*Less than one percent.
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(1) | Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each of the individuals listed is c/o Microvast Holdings, Inc., 12603 Southwest Freeway, Suite 210, Stafford, Texas 77477. |
(2) | The post-Closing percentage of beneficial ownership is calculated based on 300,516,237 shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after the consummation of the Business Combination. The denominator used for any stockholder who owns warrants includes such number of shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of such warrants. Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by them. |
(3) | Includes 85,036,953 shares of Common Stock which are not offered hereby and 44,671 shares of Common Stock underlying restricted stock unit and performance stock unit awards. |
(4) | Includes 313,009 shares of Common Stock which are not offered hereby, 2,874,927 shares of Common Stock underlying restricted stock unit and performance stock unit awards and 374,033 shares of Common Stock underlying stock option awards. |
(5) | Includes 17,539 shares of Common Stock underlying restricted stock unit awards. |
(6) | Includes 13,758 shares of Common Stock underlying restricted stock unit awards. |
(7) | Includes 15,077 shares of Common Stock underlying restricted stock unit awards. |
(8) | Includes 6,093,538 shares of Common Stock which are not offered hereby, of which 5,795,332 shares of Common Stock are held by Tuscan Holdings Acquisition LLC, an entity controlled by Stephen Vogel and 298,206 shares of Common Stock are held by Stephen Vogel. The number of shares held includes 541,012 shares of Common Stock underlying private warrants. Mr. Vogel disclaims beneficial ownership of the reported shares held by Tuscan Holdings Acquisition LLC other than to the extent of his ultimate pecuniary interest therein. Additionally, includes 18,650 shares of Common Stock underlying restricted stock unit awards held by Mr. Vogel. |
(9) | Includes 17,333 shares of Common Stock underlying restricted stock unit awards. |
(10) | Includes 12,182 shares of Common Stock underlying restricted stock unit and performance stock unit awards and 801,500 shares of Common Stock underlying stock option awards. |
(11) | Includes 198,415 shares of Common Stock which are not offered hereby, 441,305 shares of Common Stock underlying restricted stock unit and performance stock unit awards and 641,199 shares of Common Stock underlying stock option awards. |
(12) | Includes 12,182 shares of Common Stock underlying restricted stock unit and performance stock unit awards and 374,033 shares of Common Stock underlying stock option awards. |
(13) | Represents shares of Common Stock underlying stock option awards. |
(14) | Includes 1,000 shares of Common Stock which are not offered hereby and 20,152 shares of Common Stock underlying restricted stock unit and performance stock unit awards. |
Listing of Common Stock
Our Common Stock is currently listed on Nasdaq under the symbol “MVST”.
Other Material Relationships with the Selling Securityholders
Employment Relationships
Each of Messrs. Wu, Zheng and Kelterborn and Dr. Mattis entered into an employment agreement with us in connection with the Business Combination. Each of the Selling Securityholders is a director or employee of the Company and provides services to the Company commensurate with his or her role.
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Indemnity Agreements
On the Closing Date of the Business Combination, we entered into indemnity agreements with Yang Wu, Yanzhuan Zheng, Craig Webster, Wei Ying, Stanley Whittingham, Arthur Wong and Stephen Vogel, each of whom became a director following the Business Combination, and Wenjuan Mattis, Ph.D., Shane Smith, Shengxian Wu, Ph.D. and Sascha Rene Kelterborn each of whom became executive officers of the Company following the Business Combination. Each indemnity agreement provides that, subject to limited exceptions, and among other things, we will indemnify the director or executive officer to the fullest extent permitted by law for claims arising in his or her capacity as our director or officer.
Stockholders Agreement
At the Closing, the Company, Mr. Yang Wu and Tuscan Holdings Acquisition LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), entered into a Stockholders Agreement (the “Stockholders Agreement”), which provides that immediately following the Closing, the board of directors of the Company (the “board”) shall consist of: (i) Mr. Yang Wu, who is the initial Chairman of the board (who is also the Chief Executive Officer of the Company); (ii) Yanzhuan Zheng (who is also the Chief Financial Officer of the Company); (iii) Stanley Whittingham; (iv) Arthur Wong; (v) Craig Webster; (vi) Stephen Vogel; and (vii) Wei Ying. The Stockholders Agreement also provides that immediately following the Closing, the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “Charter”) shall provide that (a) the number of directors which shall constitute the board shall be fixed by and in the manner provided in the bylaws of the Company, except that any increase or decrease in the number of directors shall require the affirmative vote of the Wu Directors (as defined below), and (b) the board shall be divided into three classes designated Class I, Class II and Class III, as follows:
(i) The Class I Directors shall be Stephen Vogel and Wei Ying, each of whom shall initially serve for a term expiring at the first annual meeting of stockholders;
(ii) The Class II Directors shall be Stanley Whittingham and Arthur Wong, each of whom shall initially serve for a term expiring at the second annual meeting of stockholders; and
(iii) The Class III Directors shall be Yang Wu, Yanzhuan Zheng and Craig Webster, each of whom shall initially serve for a term expiring at the third annual meeting of stockholders.
Yang Wu shall have the right, but not the obligation, to nominate for election to the board at every meeting of the stockholders of the Company at which directors are elected a number of individuals (rounded up to the nearest whole number) equal to (a) the total number of directors, multiplied by (b) the quotient obtained by dividing the shares of common stock beneficially owned by Yang Wu by the total number of outstanding shares of common stock (each, a “Wu Director”) less the number of Wu Directors then serving on the board and whose terms in office are not expiring at such meeting. Yang Wu, Yanzhuan Zheng, Stanley Whittingham and Arthur Wong were nominated by Yang Wu as the initial Wu Directors.
So long as the Sponsor beneficially owns at least 5,481,441 shares of common stock, the Sponsor shall have the right, but not the obligation, to nominate for election to the board at every meeting of the stockholders of the Company at which directors are elected, one individual (the “Sponsor Director”) less the number of Sponsor Directors then serving on the board and whose terms in office are not expiring at such meeting. Stephen Vogel was nominated by the Sponsor as the initial Sponsor Director.
Lock-Up Agreements
The Sponsor and related parties entered into an amendment to the Escrow Agreement between Tuscan, Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company and the Sponsor Group pursuant to which the 5,750,000 shares (the “Founder Shares”) of the Company’s common stock purchased by the Sponsor in November 2018 are being held post-Closing. Pursuant to the amended Escrow Agreement:
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• The 5,062,500 shares of common stock held by Sponsor (“Sponsor Upfront Escrow Shares”) and all of the shares of common stock held by each of Stefan M. Selig, Richard O. Rieger and Amy Butte (together with the Sponsor, the “Founders”) (the “Founder Upfront Escrow Shares”) shall be held until (i) with respect to 3,375,000 Sponsor Upfront Escrow Shares and 45,000 Founder Upfront Escrow Shares, the earlier of (A) one year following the date of the Closing (the “Anniversary Release Date”) and (B) the date on which the last sale price of the common stock equals or exceeds $12.50 per share for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period following the Closing, and (ii) with respect to the remaining Sponsor Upfront Escrow Shares and Founder Upfront Escrow Shares, the Anniversary Release Date.
• The Escrow Agent shall hold the 50% of the 1,687,500 shares of common stock held by Sponsor (the “Sponsor Earn-Out Escrow Shares”) until the later of (A) the Anniversary Release Date and (B) the date on which the last sale price of the common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period following the Closing (the “First Earn-Out Target”).
• The Escrow Agent shall hold the other 50% of the Sponsor Earn-Out Escrow Shares until the later of (A) the Anniversary Release Date and (B) the date on which the last sale price of the common stock equals or exceeds $15.00 per share for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period following the Closing (the “Second Earn-Out Target”).
In the event that neither the First Earn-Out Target Release Notice nor the Second Earn-Out Target Release Notice is delivered on or prior to the fifth anniversary of the Closing, then the Escrow Agent shall release all the Sponsor Earn-Out Escrow Shares to the Company for cancellation for no consideration. In the event that the Second Earn-Out Target Release Notice is not delivered (and the First Earn-Out Target Release Notice has been delivered) on or prior to the fifth anniversary of the Closing, then the Escrow Agent shall release 50% of the Sponsor Earn-Out Escrow Shares to the Company for cancellation for no consideration.
At the Closing, the Company entered into a Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement (the “Registration Rights and Lockup Agreement”) with stockholders of Microvast prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, the affiliates of certain former investors in our subsidiary Microvast Power System (Houzhou) Co. Ltd., the Sponsor and certain officers and directors of the Company. Subject to certain exceptions, the Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement provides (1) Yang Wu will be subject to a lock-up of one year post-Closing with respect to 25% of his shares of common stock and a lock-up of two years for the remaining 75% of his shares of common stock, provided that, with respect to the 25% of his shares subject to the one-year lock-up, he can sell those shares if the shares trade at $15.00 or above for 20 days in any 30-day period, (2) the Microvast equity holders other than Yang Wu are subject to a six-month lock-up post-Closing, and (3) with respect to the shares of common stock owned by the Sponsor, certain officers and officers of the Company and their affiliates (collectively, the “Sponsor Group”) (a) 50% of such shares are subject to a one-year lock-up post-Closing unless the shares trade at $12.50 or above for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period and (b) the remaining 50% of such shares are subject to a two-year lock-up post-Closing.
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The shares of Common Stock covered by this reoffer prospectus are being registered by the Company for the account of the Selling Securityholders. The shares of Common Stock offered may be sold from time to time directly by or on behalf of each Selling Securityholder in one or more transactions on Nasdaq or any other stock exchange on which the Common Stock may be listed at the time of sale, in privately negotiated transactions, or through a combination of such methods, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices, at fixed prices (which may be changed) or at negotiated prices. The Selling Securityholders may sell shares through one or more agents, brokers or dealers or directly to purchasers. Such brokers or dealers may receive compensation in the form of commissions, discounts or concessions from the Selling Securityholders and/or purchasers of the shares or both. Such compensation as to a particular broker or dealer may be in excess of customary commissions.
In connection with their sales, a Selling Securityholder and any participating broker or dealer may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any commissions they receive and the proceeds of any sale of shares may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. We are bearing all costs relating to the registration of the shares of Common Stock. Any commissions or other fees payable to brokers or dealers in connection with any sale of the shares will be borne by the Selling Securityholders or other party selling such shares. Sales of the shares must be made by the Selling Securityholders in compliance with all applicable state and federal securities laws and regulations, including the Securities Act. In addition to any shares sold hereunder, Selling Securityholders may sell shares of Common Stock in compliance with Rule 144. There is no assurance that the Selling Securityholders will sell all or a portion of the Common Stock offered hereby. The Selling Securityholders may agree to indemnify any broker, dealer or agent that participates in transactions involving sales of the shares against certain liabilities in connection with the offering of the shares arising under the Securities Act. We have notified the Selling Securityholders of the need to deliver a copy of this reoffer prospectus in connection with any sale of the shares.
The anti-manipulation rules of Regulation M under the Exchange Act may apply to sales of our Common Stock and activities of the Selling Securityholders, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the shares of Common Stock by the Selling Securityholders and any other participating person. Regulation M may also restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of the shares of Common Stock to engage in passive market-making activities with respect to the shares of Common Stock. Passive market making involves transactions in which a market maker acts as both our underwriter and as a purchaser of our Common Stock in the secondary market. All of the foregoing may affect the marketability of the shares of Common Stock and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to the shares of Common Stock.
Once sold under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, the shares of Common Stock will be freely tradable in the hands of persons other than our affiliates.
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LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the shares of Common Stock which are being offered under the Registration Statement of which this prospectus forms a part will be passed upon for us by Shearman & Sterling LLP.
EXPERTS
The financial statements of Tuscan Holdings Corp. as of December 31, 2019 and 2020 and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020 incorporated by reference in this prospectus by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 28, 2021, have been audited by Marcum LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference, and are included in reliance on such report given upon such firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
The financial statements and the related financial statement schedule of Microvast, Inc. as of December 31, 2019 and 2020 and for the three years ended December 31, 2020 incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 28, 2021 have been audited by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements and financial statement schedule have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. This prospectus is part of the registration statement but does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement or the exhibits. Our filings with the SEC are available to the public on the internet at a website maintained by the SEC located at http://www.sec.gov.
We also maintain an Internet website at https://microvast.com. Through our website, we make available, free of charge, annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, our website is not part of, and is not incorporated into, this prospectus.
We incorporate information into this prospectus by reference, which means that we disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, except to the extent superseded by information contained in this prospectus or by information contained in documents filed with the SEC after the date of this prospectus. This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents set forth below that have been previously filed with the SEC; provided, however, that, except as noted below, we are not incorporating any documents or information deemed to have been furnished rather than filed in accordance with the rules of the SEC. These documents contain important information about us and our financial condition.
· | Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020; |
· | Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31 and June 30, 2021; |
· | all other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) since the end of the fiscal year covered by the current report referred to in the first bullet above; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not include the incorporation by reference of any information furnished pursuant to Items 2.02, 7.01 or 9.01 of Form 8-K; and |
· | the description of our Common Stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form S-1/A, as filed with the SEC on September 24, 2021 (File No. 333-258978), including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
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In addition, all documents subsequently filed by the Registrant with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of the filing of such documents, except that information deemed to have been furnished and not filed shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.
For purposes of this prospectus, any statement contained in a document incorporated, or deemed to be incorporated, by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is, or is deemed to be, incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.
We will provide without charge upon written or oral request to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, a copy of any and all of the documents which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus but not delivered with this prospectus (other than exhibits unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in such documents). You may request a copy of these documents by writing or telephoning us at:
Microvast Holdings, Inc.
12603 Southwest Freeway, Suite 210
Stafford, Texas 77477
(281) 491-9505
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6,399,890 Shares of Class A Common Stock
REOFFER PROSPECTUS
October 1, 2021
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PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. | Incorporation of Documents by Reference. |
The following documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) are incorporated as of their respective dates in this Registration Statement by reference:
(a) the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, as filed with the SEC on June 1, 2021;
(b) the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, as filed with the SEC on June 2, 2021, and for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, as filed with the SEC on August 17, 2021;
(c) the description of the Registrant’s Common Stock contained in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A, as filed with the SEC on September 24, 2021 (File No. 333-258978), including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description; and
(d) all other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) since the end of the fiscal year covered by the current report referred to in the first bullet above; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not include the incorporation by reference of any information furnished pursuant to Items 2.02, 7.01 or 9.01 of Form 8-K.
In addition, all documents subsequently filed by the Registrant with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of the filing of such documents, except that information deemed to have been furnished and not filed shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.
Any statement contained in a document incorporated, or deemed to be incorporated, by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is, or is deemed to be, incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
Item 4. | Description of Securities. |
Not applicable.
Item 5. | Interests of Named Experts and Counsel. |
Not applicable.
Item 6. | Indemnification of Directors and Officers. |
Section 145 of the DGCL, as amended, authorizes the Registrant to indemnify any director or officer under certain prescribed circumstances and subject to certain limitations against certain costs and expenses, including attorney’s fees actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, to which a person is a party by reason of being one of our directors or officers if it is determined that such person acted in accordance with the applicable standard of conduct set forth in such statutory provisions.
The Registrant’s Certificate of Incorporation provides that its officers and directors are indemnified by the Registrant to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware law, as it now exists or may in the future be amended. In addition, the Registrant’s Certificate of Incorporation provides that its directors will not be personally liable for monetary damages to the Registrant or its stockholders for breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL as the same exists or may hereafter be amended.
The Registrant’s Bylaws permit it to secure insurance on behalf of any officer, director, employee or agent of the Registrant for any liability arising out of his or her actions, regardless of whether Delaware law would permit such indemnification. The Registrant has purchased a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that insures its officers and directors against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances and insures the Registrant against its obligations to indemnify its officers and directors. In addition, the Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its officers and directors. These agreements require the Registrant to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liabilities that may arise by reason of their service to the Registrant, and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
Item 7. | Exemption from Registration Claimed. |
The shares being reoffered and resold pursuant to the Reoffer Prospectus were deemed to be exempt from registration under the Securities Act in reliance on Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and/or Rule 701 promulgated thereunder, as transactions by an issuer not involving a public offering or pursuant to a written compensatory benefit plan.
Item 8. | Exhibits. |
Item 9. | Undertakings. |
(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Stafford, State of Texas, on October 1st, 2021.
MICROVAST HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Yanzhuan Zheng | |
Name: Yanzhuan Zheng | ||
Title: Chief Financial Officer |
Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Yanzhuan Zheng and Sarah Alexander, and each of them individually, as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for such person and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign this Registration Statement and any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to the Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, amendments to this Registration Statement may make such changes in the Registration Statement as such attorney-in-fact may deem appropriate, and with full power and authority to perform and do any and all acts and things, whatsoever which any such attorney-in-fact or substitute may deem necessary or advisable to be performed or done in connection with any or all of the above-described matters, as fully as each of the undersigned could do if personally present and acting, hereby ratifying and approving all acts of any such attorney-in-fact or substitute.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.
Name |
Position |
Date | ||
/s/ Yang Wu |
Chief Executive Officer and Director | October 1, 2021 | ||
Yang Wu | (Principal Executive Officer) | |||
/s/ Yanzhuan Zheng |
Chief Financial Officer and Director | October 1, 2021 | ||
Yanzhuan Zheng | (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | |||
/s/ Craig Webster |
Director | October 1, 2021 | ||
Craig Webster | ||||
/s/ Arthur Wong |
Director | October 1, 2021 | ||
Arthur Wong | ||||
/s/ Stanley Whittingham |
Director | October 1, 2021 | ||
Stanley Whittingham | ||||
/s/ Stephen Vogel |
Director | October 1, 2021 | ||
Stephen Vogel | ||||
/s/ Wei Ying |
Director | October 1, 2021 | ||
Wei Ying | ||||
Exhibit 5.1
599 LEXINGTON
AVENUE NEW
YORK, NY 10022-6069
+1.212.848.4000
October 1, 2021
Microvast Holdings, Inc.
12603 Southwest Freeway, Suite 210
Stafford, TX 77477
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are acting as counsel for Microvast Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation and filing by the Company of a registration statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), with respect to up to 114,092,457 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of the Company (the “Shares”) that may be delivered from time to time pursuant to the Microvast Holdings, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), including Shares issued pursuant to the terminated Microvast, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan that were assumed by the Company in connection with its recent business combination and are being administered pursuant to the Plan. In connection with the foregoing, we have reviewed originals or copies identified to our satisfaction of the following documents:
(a) | The Registration Statement; |
(b) | The certificate of incorporation and by-laws of the Company, in each case as amended; and |
(c) | Originals or copies of such other corporate records of the Company, certificates of public officials and of officers of the Company, and agreements and other documents as we have deemed necessary as a basis for the opinions expressed below. |
In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents, certificates and instruments submitted to us as originals and the conformity with originals of all documents submitted to us as copies.
Our opinion set forth below is based on the text of the Plan as referenced in the Exhibit Index to the Registration Statement.
Our opinion expressed below is limited to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, and we do not express any opinion herein concerning any other law.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing and having regard for such legal considerations as we have deemed relevant, we are of the opinion that authorized but not previously issued Shares which may be delivered under the Plan have been duly authorized by the Company and, when (a) issued and delivered by the Company in accordance with the terms of the Plan and (b) paid for in full in accordance with the terms of the Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
SHEARMAN.COM
Shearman & Sterling LLP is a limited liability partnership organized in the United States under the laws of the state of Delaware, which laws limit the personal liability of partners.
This opinion letter speaks only as of the date hereof. We expressly disclaim any responsibility to advise you of any development or circumstance of any kind, including any change of law or fact that may occur after the date of this opinion letter that might affect the opinions expressed herein.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby concede that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required by the Securities Act or the General Rules and Regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Shearman & Sterling LLP
Shearman & Sterling LLP
SHEARMAN.COM
Shearman & Sterling LLP is a limited liability partnership organized in the United States under the laws of the state of Delaware, which laws limit the personal liability of partners.
Exhibit 23.2
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated June 3, 2021 (June 23, 2021 as to Note 26), relating to the financial statements of Microvast, Inc. appearing in Microvast Holdings, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 28, 2021. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
/s/ Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP
Beijing, the People’s Republic of China
October 1, 2021
Exhibit 23.3
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM’S CONSENT
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of Microvast Holdings, Inc. (f/k/a Tuscan Holdings Corp.) on Form S-8 of our report dated March 24, 2021, except for the effects of the restatement discussed in Note 2, and the subsequent events discussed in Note 12 as to which the date is May 28, 2021, which includes an explanatory paragraph as to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, with respect to our audits of the financial statements of Tuscan Holdings Corp. as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 and for each of the years ended December 31, 2020 appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Tuscan Holdings Corp. for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019. We also consent to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.
/s/ Marcum llp
Marcum llp
New York, NY
October 1, 2021
Marcum LLP ■ 730 Third Avenue ■ 11th Floor ■ New York, New York 10017 ■ Phone 212.485.5500 ■ Fax 212.485.5501 ■ marcumllp.com
Exhibit 99.1
Microvast Holdings, Inc.
2021 Equity Incentive Plan
Article 1. ESTABLISHMENT, PURPOSE AND DURATION
1.1 Establishment. Microvast Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, establishes an incentive compensation plan to be known as the Microvast Holdings, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, as set forth in this document. This Plan permits the grant of Nonqualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares, Performance Units, Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards. This Plan also governs the administration of Prior Plan Awards. This Plan shall become effective on the date of its approval by the Company’s shareholders (the “Effective Date”) and shall remain in effect as provided in Section 1.3.
1.2 Purpose of this Plan. The purpose of this Plan is to foster and promote the long-term financial success of the Company and materially increase shareholder value by (a) motivating superior performance by means of performance-related incentives, (b) encouraging and providing for the acquisition of an ownership interest in the Company by Employees as well as Non-Employee Directors, and (c) enabling the Company to attract and retain qualified and competent persons to serve as members of an outstanding management team and the Board of Directors of the Company upon whose judgment, interest, and performance are required for the successful and sustained operations of the Company.
1.3 Duration of this Plan. Unless sooner terminated as provided herein, this Plan shall terminate ten (10) years from the Effective Date. After this Plan is terminated, no Awards may be granted but Awards previously granted shall remain outstanding in accordance with their applicable terms and conditions and this Plan’s terms and conditions.
Article 2. DEFINITIONS
Whenever used in this Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below, and when the meaning is intended, the initial letter of the word shall be capitalized.
2.1 “Affiliate” means any Subsidiary and any person or entity that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company.
2.2 “Annual Award Limit” or “Annual Award Limits” have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3.
2.3 “Award” means, individually or collectively, a grant under this Plan of Nonqualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares, Performance Units, Cash-Based Awards or Other Stock-Based Awards, in each case subject to the terms of this Plan.
2.4 “Award Agreement” means either (i) a written or electronic agreement entered into by the Company and a Participant setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to an Award granted under this Plan, including any amendment or modification thereof, or (ii) a written or electronic statement issued by the Company to a Participant describing the terms and provisions of such Award, including any amendment or modification thereof. The Committee may provide for the use of electronic, Internet or other non-paper Award Agreements, and the use of electronic, Internet or other non-paper means for the acceptance thereof and actions thereunder by a Participant. The Committee shall have the exclusive authority to determine the terms of an Award Agreement evidencing an Award granted under this Plan, subject to the provisions herein. The terms of an Award Agreement need not be uniform among all Participants or among similar types of Awards. The term “Award Agreement” also includes documents described in (i) and (ii) above issued under the Prior Plan in respect of Prior Plan Awards.
2.5 “Beneficial Owner” or “Beneficial Ownership” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.
2.6 “Board” or “Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
2.7 “Cash-Based Award” means an Award, denominated in cash, granted to a Participant as described in Article 12.
2.8 “Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time and the applicable regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder and any successor or similar provision.
2.9 “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board or a subcommittee thereof or any other committee designated by the Board to administer this Plan. The members of the Committee shall be appointed from time to time by and shall serve at the discretion of the Board. If the Committee does not exist or cannot function for any reason, the Board may take any action under this Plan that would otherwise be the responsibility of the Committee in which case references to the “Committee” shall be deemed references to the Board. The Committee (or a subcommittee thereof) shall be constituted to comply with the requirements of Rule 16(b) of the Exchange Act and any applicable listing or governance requirements of any securities exchange on which the Shares are listed; provided, however, that, if any Committee member is found not to have met the qualification requirements of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, any actions taken or Awards granted by the Committee shall not be invalidated by such failure to so qualify.
2.10 “Change in Control” means any one of the following:
(a) any person or entity, including a “group” as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act other than the Company or an Affiliate of the Company or any employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its Affiliates, becomes the beneficial owner of the Company’s securities having more than 50% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company that may be cast for the election of Directors of the Company;
(b) as the result of, or in connection with, any cash tender or exchange offer, merger or other business combination, or any combination of the foregoing transactions, less than a majority of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company or any successor corporation or entity entitled to vote generally in the election of the Directors of the Company or such other corporation or entity after such transaction are held in the aggregate by the holders of the Company’s securities entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors of the Company immediately prior to such transaction;
(c) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of any such period constitute the Board cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof, unless the election, or the nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, of each Director of the Company first elected during such period was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Directors of the Company then still in office who were Directors of the Company at the beginning of any such period; or
(d) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of the Company or the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, other than a liquidation of the Company into a wholly owned subsidiary.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change in Control constitutes a payment event with respect to any Award (or portion of any Award) that provides for the deferral of compensation that is subject to Code Section 409A to the extent required to avoid the imposition of additional taxes under Code Section 409A, the transaction or event described in subsection (a), (b), (c) or (d) with respect to such Award (or portion thereof) shall only constitute a Change in Control for purposes of the payment timing of such Award if such transaction also constitutes a “change in control event,” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5).
2.11 “Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share, or such other class of share or other securities as may be applicable under Section 4.4 of this Plan.
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2.12 “Company” means Microvast Holdings, Inc., and any successor thereto as provided in Section 23.24.
2.13 “Data” has the meaning set forth in Section 23.4.
2.14 “Director” means any individual who is a member of the Board of Directors of the Company.
2.15 “Disability” means the determination by a physician designated by or otherwise approved by the Company of either of the following: (a) an Employee’s inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months; or (b) by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, an Employee’s receipt of income replacement benefits for a period of not less than 3 months under an accident and health plan covering Employees.
2.16 “Dividend Equivalent” has the meaning set forth in Article 18.
2.17 “Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.
2.18 “Employee” means any individual performing services for the Company or an Affiliate and designated as an employee of the Company or an Affiliate on its payroll records. An Employee shall not include any individual during any period he or she is classified or treated by the Company or Affiliate as an independent contractor, a consultant or an employee of an employment, consulting or temporary agency or any other entity other than the Company or Affiliate, without regard to whether such individual is subsequently determined to have been, or is subsequently retroactively reclassified, as a common-law employee of the Company or Affiliate during such period. An individual shall not cease to be an Employee in the case of (i) any leave of absence approved by the Company or (ii) transfers between locations of the Company or between the Company or any Affiliate. For purposes of Incentive Stock Options, no such leave may exceed 90 days, unless reemployment upon expiration of such leave is guaranteed by statute or contract. If reemployment upon expiration of a leave of absence approved by the Company is not so guaranteed, then three months following the 91st day of such leave, any Incentive Stock Option held by a Participant shall cease to be treated as an Incentive Stock Option and shall be treated for tax purposes as a Nonqualified Stock Option. Neither service as a Director nor payment of a director’s fee by the Company shall be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company.
2.19 “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor act thereto and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder.
2.20 “Fair Market Value” or “FMV” means, with respect to a Share, the fair market value thereof as of the relevant date of determination, as determined in accordance with the valuation methodology approved by the Committee (based on objective criteria) from time to time. In the absence of any alternative valuation methodology approved by the Committee, Fair Market Value shall be deemed to be equal to the closing selling price of a Share on the trading day immediately preceding the date on which such valuation is made on the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”), or such established national securities exchange as may be designated by the Committee or, in the event that the Common Stock is not listed for trading on Nasdaq or such other national securities exchange as may be designated by the Committee but is quoted on an automated system, in any such case on the valuation date (or, if there were no sales on the valuation date, the average of the highest and lowest quoted selling prices as reported on said composite tape or automated system for the most recent day during which a sale occurred). The definition of FMV may differ depending on whether FMV is in reference to the grant, exercise, vesting, settlement or payout of an Award.
2.21 “Grant Date” means the date an Award is granted to a Participant pursuant to this Plan.
2.22 “Grant Price” means the price established at the time of grant of an SAR pursuant to Article 7.
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2.23 “Incentive Stock Option” or “ISO” means an Award granted pursuant to Article 6 that is designated as an Incentive Stock Option and that is intended to meet the requirements of Code Section 422 or any successor provision.
2.24 “Insider” shall mean an individual who is, on the relevant date, an officer (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) of the Exchange Act (or any successor provision)) or Director of the Company, or a more than 10% Beneficial Owner of any class of the Company’s equity securities that is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, as determined by the Board in accordance with Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
2.25 “Non-Employee Director” means a Director who is not an Employee.
2.26 “Nonqualified Stock Option” or “NQSO” means an Award granted pursuant to Article 6 that is not intended to meet the requirements of Code Section 422, or that otherwise does not meet such requirements.
2.27 “Option” means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Article 6, which Award may be an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option.
2.28 “Option Price” means the price at which a Share may be purchased by a Participant pursuant to an Option.
2.29 “Other Stock-Based Award” means an equity-based or equity-related Award not otherwise described by the terms of this Plan that is granted pursuant to Article 12.
2.30 “Participant” means any eligible individual as set forth in Article 5 to whom an Award is granted.
2.31 “Performance Measures” means measures, as described in Article 14, upon which performance goals are based.
2.32 “Performance Period” means the period of time during which performance goals must be met in order to determine the degree of payout and/or vesting with respect to an Award.
2.33 “Performance Share” means an Award granted pursuant to Article 10.
2.34 “Performance Unit” means an Award granted pursuant to Article 11.
2.35 “Period of Restriction” means the period when Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture (based on the passage of time, the achievement of performance goals or upon the occurrence of other events as determined by the Committee, in its discretion) as provided in Articles 8 and 9.
2.36 “Person” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, including a “group” as defined in Section 13(d) thereof.
2.37 “Plan” means the Microvast Holdings, Inc. 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as may be amended from time to time.
2.38 “Prior Plan” means the Microvast, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan.
2.39 “Prior Plan Awards” means awards issued under the Prior Plan that were assumed by the Company pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among Tuscan Holdings Corp., TSCN Merger Sub Inc. and Microvast, Inc., dated as of February 1, 2021.
2.40 “Restricted Stock” means an Award granted pursuant to Article 8.
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2.41 “Restricted Stock Unit” means an Award granted pursuant to Article 9.
2.42 “Retirement” shall have the meaning set forth in the applicable Award Agreement or such other definition as the Committee may determine from time to time.
2.43 “Share” means a share of Common Stock.
2.44 “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means an Award granted pursuant to Article 7.
2.45 “Subsidiary” means (i) a corporation or other entity (domestic or foreign) with respect to which the Company, directly or indirectly, has the power, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, to elect at least a majority of the members of such corporation’s board of directors or analogous governing body, or (ii) any other corporation or entity in which the Company, directly or indirectly, has an equity or similar interest and which the Committee designates as a Subsidiary for purposes of this Plan.
2.46 “Successor” has the meaning set forth in Section 23.24.
2.47 “Termination of Employment” means the termination of the Participant’s employment with the Company and its Affiliates, regardless of the reason for the termination of employment.
2.48 “Termination of Directorship” means the time when a Non-Employee Director ceases to be a Non-Employee Director for any reason, including, but not by way of limitation, a termination by resignation, failure to be elected or death.
2.49 “Third-Party Service Provider” means any consultant, agent, advisor or independent contractor who renders bona fide services to the Company or an Affiliate that (a) are not in connection with the offer and sale of the Company’s securities in a capital raising transaction, (b) do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities, and (c) are provided by a natural person who has contracted directly with the Company or an Affiliate to render such services.
Article 3. ADMINISTRATION
3.1 General. The Committee shall be responsible for administering this Plan, subject to this Article 3 and the other provisions of this Plan. In consultation with management of the Company, the Committee may employ attorneys, consultants, accountants, agents and other individuals as may reasonably be necessary to assist it in the administration of this Plan, any of whom may be an Employee, and the Committee, the Company, and its officers and Directors shall be entitled to rely upon the advice, opinions or valuations of any such individuals. No member of the Committee shall be liable for any action taken or not taken in reliance upon any such information and/or advice. All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Committee under this Plan shall be made in its sole discretion and shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the Participants, the Company or any Affiliate, and all other interested individuals.
3.2 Authority of the Committee. Subject to any express limitations set forth in this Plan, the Committee shall have full and exclusive discretionary power and authority to take such actions as it deems necessary and advisable with respect to the administration, interpretation and implementation of this Plan including, but not limited to, the following:
(a) To determine from time to time which of the persons eligible under the Plan shall be granted Awards, when and how each Award shall be granted, what type or combination of types of Awards shall be granted, the provisions of each Award granted (which need not be identical), including the time or times when a person shall be permitted to receive Shares pursuant to an Award and the number of Shares subject to an Award;
(b) To construe and interpret this Plan and Awards granted under it, and to establish, amend, and revoke rules and regulations for its administration. The Committee, in the exercise of this power, may correct any defect, omission or inconsistency in this Plan or in an Award Agreement, in a manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary or expedient to make this Plan fully effective;
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(c) To approve forms of Award Agreements for use under this Plan;
(d) To determine Fair Market Value of a Share;
(e) To employ attorneys, consultants, accountants, agents and other individuals as may reasonably be necessary to assist it in the administration of this Plan, any of whom may be an Employee;
(f) To amend this Plan, an Award or any Award Agreement after the date of grant subject to the terms of this Plan;
(g) To adopt sub-plans and/or special provisions applicable to stock awards regulated by the laws of a jurisdiction other than and outside of the United States. Such sub-plans and/or special provisions may take precedence over other provisions of this Plan, but unless otherwise superseded by the terms of such sub-plans and/or special provisions, the provisions of this Plan shall govern;
(h) To authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required to effect the grant of an Award previously granted by the Board;
(i) To determine whether Awards will be settled in Shares, cash or in any combination thereof;
(j) To determine whether Awards will provide for Dividend Equivalents;
(k) To establish a program whereby Participants designated by the Committee may elect to receive Awards under this Plan in lieu of compensation otherwise payable in cash; and
(l) To impose such restrictions, conditions or limitations as it determines appropriate as to the timing and manner of any resales by a Participant or other subsequent transfers by a Participant of any Shares, including, without limitation, restrictions under an insider trading policy and restrictions as to the use of a specified brokerage firm for such resales or other transfers.
3.3 Delegation. To the extent not prohibited by applicable laws, rules and regulations, the Committee may delegate to (i) one or more of its members, (ii) one or more officers of the Company or any Affiliate or (iii) one or more agents or advisors such administrative duties or powers as it may deem appropriate or advisable under such conditions and limitations as the Committee may set at the time of such delegation or thereafter. The Committee or any individuals to whom it has delegated duties or powers as aforesaid may employ one or more individuals to render advice with respect to any responsibility the Committee or such individuals may have under this Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may not delegate its authority (i) to make Awards to Employees (A) who are Insiders or (B) who are officers of the Company who are delegated authority by the Committee hereunder, or (ii) pursuant to Article 21 of this Plan. For purposes of this Plan, reference to the Committee shall be deemed to refer to any subcommittee, subcommittees, or other persons or groups of persons to whom the Committee delegates authority pursuant to this Section 3.3.
Article 4. SHARES SUBJECT TO THIS PLAN AND MAXIMUM AWARDS
4.1 Number of Shares Authorized and Available for Awards. Subject to adjustment as provided under the Plan, the maximum number of Shares that are available for Awards under this Plan shall be 20,281,428, plus the amount of Shares subject to Prior Plan Awards. Such Shares may be authorized and unissued Shares, Shares that have been reacquired by the Company, treasury Shares or any combination of the foregoing, as may be determined from time to time by the Board or by the Committee. Any of the authorized Shares may be used for any type of Award under this Plan, and any or all of the Shares may be allocated to Incentive Stock Options.
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4.2 Share Usage. The number of Shares remaining available for issuance will be reduced by the number of Shares subject to outstanding Awards and, for Awards that are not denominated by Shares, by the number of Shares actually delivered upon settlement or payment of the Award. For purposes of determining the number of Shares that remain available for issuance under this Plan, the number of Shares related to an Award granted under this Plan that terminates by expiration, forfeiture, cancellation or otherwise without the issuance of the Shares, are settled through the issuance of consideration other than Shares (including cash), shall be available again for grant under this Plan. Shares tendered by a Participant, repurchased by the Company using proceeds from the exercise of Options or withheld by the Company in payment of the exercise price of an Option or to satisfy any tax withholding obligation for an Award will not again be available for Awards.
4.3 Adjustments in Authorized Shares. Adjustment in authorized Shares available for issuance under this Plan or under an outstanding Award and adjustments in Annual Award Limits shall be subject to the following provisions:
(a) In the event of any corporate event or transaction such as a merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, separation, reclassification, partial or complete liquidation, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, split up, spin-off, distribution of stock or property of the Company, combination of Shares, exchange of Shares, dividend in kind, extraordinary cash dividend, rights offering to purchase Shares at a price that is substantially below FMV or any other similar corporate event or transaction (“Corporate Transactions”), the Committee, in order to preserve, but not increase, Participants’ rights under this Plan, shall substitute or adjust, as applicable, (1) the number and kind of Shares that may be issued under this Plan or under particular forms of Award Agreements, (2) the number and kind of Shares subject to outstanding Awards (including by payment of cash to a Participant), (3) the Option Price or Grant Price applicable to outstanding Awards, and (4) the Annual Award Limits and other value determinations applicable to outstanding Awards. The Committee, in its discretion, shall determine the methodology or manner of making such substitution or adjustment subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations.
(b) In addition to the adjustments permitted under paragraph 4.3(a) above, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may make such other adjustments or modifications in the terms of any Award that it deems appropriate to reflect any Corporate Transaction, including, but not limited to, modifications of performance goals and changes in the length of Performance Periods, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 14.2.
(c) The determination of the Committee as to the foregoing adjustments, if any, shall be conclusive and binding on Participants under this Plan. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, such adjusted Awards shall be subject to the same restrictions and vesting or settlement schedule to which the underlying Award is subject.
Article 5. ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION
5.1 Eligibility to Receive Awards. Individuals eligible to participate in this Plan include all Employees, Directors and Third-Party Service Providers.
5.2 Participation in this Plan. Subject to the provisions of this Plan, the Committee may, from time to time, select from all individuals eligible to participate in this Plan, those individuals to whom Awards shall be granted and shall determine, in its sole discretion, the nature of any and all terms permissible by law and the amount of each Award.
Article 6. STOCK OPTIONS
6.1 Grant of Options. Options may be granted to Participants in such number, and upon such terms, and at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion. Each grant of an Option shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement which shall specify whether the Option is in the form of a Nonqualified Stock Option or an Incentive Stock Option.
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6.2 Option Price. The Option Price for each grant of an Option shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion and shall be specified in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option; provided, however, the Option Price must be at least equal to 100% of the FMV of a Share as of the Option’s Grant Date, subject to adjustment as provided for under Section 4.3.
6.3 Term of Option. The term of an Option granted to a Participant shall be determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion; provided, however, no Option shall be exercisable later than the tenth anniversary date of its grant. If upon the expiration of the term of an Option (other than an Incentive Stock Option), a Participant is prohibited from trading in the Shares by applicable laws, rules or regulations or the Company’s insider trading plan as in effect from time to time, the term of the Option shall be automatically extended to the 30th day following the expiration of such prohibition; provided, however, that this provision shall not apply if prohibited by applicable laws, rules and regulations in effect from time to time.
6.4 Exercise of Option. An Option shall be exercisable at such times and be subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Committee shall in each instance approve, which terms and restrictions need not be the same for each grant or for each Participant.
6.5 Payment of Option Price. An Option shall be exercised by the delivery of a notice of exercise to the Company or an agent designated by the Company in a form specified or accepted by the Committee, or by complying with any alternative procedures that may be authorized by the Committee, setting forth the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is to be exercised, accompanied by full payment for the Shares. A condition of the issuance of the Shares as to which an Option shall be exercised shall be the payment of the Option Price. The Option Price of any exercised Option shall be payable to the Company in accordance with one of the following methods:
(a) in cash or its equivalent;
(b) by tendering (either by actual delivery or attestation) previously acquired Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value at the time of exercise equal to the Option Price;
(c) by a cashless (broker-assisted) exercise in accordance with procedures authorized by the Committee from time to time;
(d) through net share settlement or similar procedure involving the withholding of Shares subject to the Option with a value equal to the Option Price;
(e) by any combination of (a), (b), (c) and (d); or
(f) any other method approved or accepted by the Committee in its sole discretion.
Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, all payments under all of the methods indicated above shall be paid in United States dollars or Shares, as applicable.
6.6 Special Rules Regarding ISOs. The terms of any Incentive Stock Option (“ISO”) granted under this Plan shall comply in all respects with the provisions of Code Section 422, or any successor provision thereto, as amended from time to time. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, an Option granted in the form of an ISO to a Participant shall be subject to the following rules:
(a) Special ISO definitions:
(i) “Parent Corporation” shall mean as of any applicable date a corporation in respect of the Company that is a parent corporation within the meaning of Code Section 424(e).
(ii) “ISO Subsidiary” shall mean as of any applicable date any corporation in respect of the Company that is a subsidiary corporation within the meaning of Code Section 424(f).
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(iii) A “10% Owner” is an individual who owns stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or its Parent Corporation or any ISO Subsidiary.
(b) Eligible Employees. An ISO may be granted solely to eligible Employees of the Company, Parent Corporation, or ISO Subsidiary.
(c) Specified as an ISO. An Award Agreement evidencing the grant of an ISO shall specify that such grant is intended to be an ISO.
(d) Option Price. The Option Price for each grant of an ISO shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion and shall be specified in the Award Agreement; provided, however, the Option Price must be at least equal 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share as of the ISO’s Grant Date (in the case of 10% Owners, the Option Price may not be less than 110% of such Fair Market Value), subject to adjustment provided for under Section 4.3.
(e) Right to Exercise. Any ISO granted to a Participant shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime solely by such Participant.
(f) Exercise Period. The period during which a Participant may exercise an ISO shall not exceed ten years (five years in the case of a Participant who is a 10% Owner) from the date on which the ISO was granted.
(g) Termination of Employment. In the event a Participant terminates employment due to death or Disability (as defined in Code Section 22(e)(3)), the Participant (or, in the case of death, the person(s) to whom the Option is transferred by will or the laws of descent and distribution) shall have the right to exercise the Participant’s ISO award during the period specified in the applicable Award Agreement solely to the extent the Participant had the right to exercise the ISO on the date of his death or Disability; as applicable, provided, however, that such period may not exceed one year from the date of such termination of employment or if shorter, the remaining term of the ISO. In the event a Participant terminates employment for reasons other than death or Disability, the Participant shall have the right to exercise the Participant’s ISO during the period specified in the applicable Award Agreement solely to the extent the Participant had the right to exercise the ISO on the date of such termination of employment; provided, however, that such period may not exceed three months from the date of such termination of employment or if shorter, the remaining term of the ISO.
(h) Dollar Limitation. To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of (i) the Shares with respect to which Options designated as Incentive Stock Options plus (ii) the shares of stock of the Company, Parent Corporation and any ISO Subsidiary with respect to which other Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by a holder of such Incentive Stock Options during any calendar year under all plans of the Company and ISO Subsidiary exceeds $100,000, such Options shall be treated as Nonqualified Stock Options. For purposes of the preceding sentence, Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted, and the Fair Market Value of the Shares shall be determined as of the time the Option or other incentive stock option is granted.
(i) Duration of Plan. No ISO may be granted more than ten years after the earlier of (a) adoption of this Plan by the Board and (b) the Effective Date.
(j) Notification of Disqualifying Disposition. If any Participant shall make any disposition of Shares issued pursuant to the exercise of an ISO, such Participant shall notify the Company of such disposition within 30 days thereof. The Company shall use such information to determine whether a disqualifying disposition as described in Code Section 421(b) has occurred.
(k) Transferability. No ISO may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution; provided, however, that at the discretion of the Committee, an ISO may be transferred to a grantor trust under which Participant making the transfer is the sole beneficiary.
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Article 7. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
7.1 Grant of SARs. SARs may be granted to Participants in such number, and upon such terms, and at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion. Each grant of SARs shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement.
7.2 Grant Price. The Grant Price for each grant of an SAR shall be determined by the Committee and shall be specified in the Award Agreement evidencing the SAR; provided, however, the Grant Price must be at least equal to 100% of the FMV of a Share as of the Grant Date, subject to adjustment as provided for under Section 4.3.
7.3 Term of SAR. The term of an SAR granted to a Participant shall be determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion; provided, however, no SAR shall be exercisable later than the tenth anniversary date of its grant.
7.4 Exercise of SAR. An SAR shall be exercisable at such times and be subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Committee shall in each instance approve, which terms and restrictions need not be the same for each grant or for each Participant.
7.5 Notice of Exercise. An SAR shall be exercised by the delivery of a notice of exercise to the Company or an agent designated by the Company in a form specified or accepted by the Committee, or by complying with any alternative procedures that may be authorized by the Committee, setting forth the number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is to be exercised.
7.6 Settlement of SARs. Upon the exercise of an SAR, pursuant to a notice of exercise properly completed and submitted to the Company in accordance with Section 7.5, a Participant shall be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount equal to the product of (a) and (b) below:
(a) The excess of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over the Grant Price.
(b) The number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised.
Payment shall be made in cash, Shares or a combination thereof as specified in the Award Agreement.
Article 8. RESTRICTED STOCK
8.1 Grant of Restricted Stock. Restricted Stock may be granted to Participants in such number, and upon such terms, and at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion. Each grant of Restricted Stock shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement.
8.2 Nature of Restrictions. Each grant of Restricted Stock shall subject to a Restriction Period that shall lapse upon the satisfaction of such conditions and restrictions as are determined by the Committee in its sole discretion and set forth in an applicable Award Agreement. Such conditions or restrictions may include, without limitation, one or more of the following:
(a) A requirement that a Participant pay a stipulated purchase price for each Share of Restricted Stock;
(b) Restrictions based upon the achievement of specific performance goals;
(c) Time-based restrictions on vesting following the attainment of the performance goals;
(d) Time-based restrictions; and/or
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(e) Restrictions under applicable laws and restrictions under the requirements of any stock exchange or market on which such Shares are listed or traded.
8.3 Issuance of Shares. To the extent deemed appropriate by the Committee, the Company may retain the certificates representing Shares of Restricted Stock in the Company’s possession until such time as all conditions or restrictions applicable to such Shares have been satisfied or lapse. Shares of Restricted Stock covered by each Restricted Stock grant shall become freely transferable by the Participant after all conditions and restrictions applicable to such Shares have been satisfied or lapsed (including satisfaction of any applicable tax withholding obligations).
8.4 Shareholder Rights. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and set forth in a Participant’s applicable Award Agreement, to the extent permitted or required by law a Participant holding Shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder shall be granted full rights as a shareholder (including voting rights) with respect to those Shares during the Period of Restriction.
Article 9. RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS
9.1 Grant of Restricted Stock Units. Restricted Stock Units may be granted to Participants in such number, and upon such terms, and at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion. A grant of a Restricted Stock Unit or Restricted Stock Units shall not represent the grant of Shares but shall represent a promise to deliver a corresponding number of Shares or the value of each Share based upon the completion of service, performance conditions, or such other terms and conditions as specified in the applicable Award Agreement over the Restriction Period. Each grant of Restricted Stock Units shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement.
9.2 Nature of Restrictions. Each grant of Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to a Restriction Period that shall lapse upon the satisfaction of such conditions and restrictions as are determined by the Committee in its sole discretion and set forth in an applicable Award Agreement. Such conditions or restrictions may include, without limitation, one or more of the following:
(a) A requirement that a Participant pay a stipulated purchase price for each Restricted Stock Unit;
(b) Restrictions based upon the achievement of specific performance goals;
(c) Time-based restrictions on vesting following the attainment of the performance goals;
(d) Time-based restrictions; and/or
(e) Restrictions under applicable laws or under the requirements of any stock exchange on which Shares are listed or traded.
9.3 Settlement and Payment Restricted Stock Units. Unless otherwise elected by the Participant or otherwise provided for in the Award Agreement, Restricted Stock Units shall be settled upon the date such Restricted Stock Units vest. Such settlement may be made in Shares, cash or a combination thereof, as specified in the Award Agreement.
Article 10. PERFORMANCE SHARES
10.1 Grant of Performance Shares. Performance Shares may be granted to Participants in such number, and upon such terms and at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion. Each grant of Performance Shares shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement.
10.2 Value of Performance Shares. Each Performance Share shall have an initial value equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Grant Date. The Committee shall set performance goals in its discretion that, depending on the extent to which they are met over the specified Performance Period, shall determine the number of Performance Shares that shall be paid to a Participant.
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10.3 Earning of Performance Shares. After the applicable Performance Period has ended, the number of Performance Shares earned by the Participant over the Performance Period shall be determined as a function of the extent to which the applicable corresponding performance goals have been achieved. This determination shall be made solely by the Committee.
10.4 Form and Timing of Payment of Performance Shares. The Committee shall pay at the close of the applicable Performance Period, or as soon as practicable thereafter, any earned Performance Shares in the form of cash or in Shares or in a combination thereof, as specified in a Participant’s applicable Award Agreement. Any Shares paid to a Participant under this Section 10.4 may be subject to any restrictions deemed appropriate by the Committee.
Article 11. PERFORMANCE UNITS
11.1 Grant of Performance Units. Subject to the terms and provisions of this Plan, Performance Units may be granted to a Participant in such number, and upon such terms and at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion. Each grant of Performance Units shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement.
11.2 Value of Performance Units. Each Performance Unit shall have an initial notional value equal to a dollar amount determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion. The Committee shall set performance goals in its discretion that, depending on the extent to which they are met over the specified Performance Period, will determine the number of Performance Units that shall be settled and paid to the Participant.
11.3 Earning of Performance Units. After the applicable Performance Period has ended, the number of Performance Units earned by the Participant over the Performance Period shall be determined as a function of the extent to which the applicable corresponding performance goals have been achieved. This determination shall be made solely by the Committee.
11.4 Form and Timing of Payment of Performance Units. The Committee shall pay at the close of the applicable Performance Period, or as soon as practicable thereafter, any earned Performance Units in the form of cash or in Shares or in a combination thereof, as specified in a Participant’s applicable Award Agreement. Any Shares paid to a Participant under this Section 11.4 may be subject to any restrictions deemed appropriate by the Committee.
Article 12. OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS AND CASH-BASED AWARDS
12.1 Grant of Other Stock-Based Awards and Cash-Based Awards
(a) The Committee may grant Other Stock-Based Awards not otherwise described by the terms of this Plan, including, but not limited to, the grant or offer for sale of unrestricted Shares and the grant of deferred Shares or deferred Share units, in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions, as the Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion. Such Awards may involve the transfer of actual Shares to Participants, or payment in cash or otherwise of amounts based on the value of Shares.
(b) The Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Cash-Based Awards to a Participant in such amounts and upon such terms as the Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion.
12.2 Value of Other Stock-Based Awards and Cash-Based Awards.
(a) Each Other Stock-Based Award shall be expressed in terms of Shares or units based on Shares, as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion.
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(b) Each Cash-Based Award shall specify a payment amount or payment range as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion. If the Committee exercises its discretion to establish performance goals, the value of Cash-Based Awards paid to the Participant will depend on the extent to which such performance goals are met.
12.3 Payment of Other Stock-Based Awards and Cash-Based Awards. Payment, if any, with respect to Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Award shall be made in accordance with the terms of the applicable Award Agreement, in cash, Shares or a combination of both as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.
Article 13. TRANSFERABILITY OF AWARDS AND SHARES
13.1 Transferability of Awards. Except as provided in Section 13.2, during a Participant’s lifetime, Options and SARs shall be exercisable only by the Participant. Awards shall not be transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a domestic relations order entered into by a court of competent jurisdiction. No Awards shall be subject, in whole or in part, to attachment, execution or levy of any kind. Any purported transfer in violation of this Section 13.1 shall be null and void.
13.2 Committee Action. Notwithstanding Section 13.1, the Committee may, subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations and such terms and conditions as it shall specify, determine that any or all Awards shall be transferable, for no consideration to a Permitted Transferee. Any Award transferred to a Permitted Transferee shall be further transferable only by last will and testament or the laws of descent and distribution or, for no consideration, to another Permitted Transferee of the Participant. “Permitted Transferees” include (i) a Participant’s family member, (ii) one or more trusts established in whole or in part for the benefit of one or more of such family members, (iii) one or more entities which are beneficially owned in whole or in part by one or more such family members, or (iv) a charitable or not-for-profit organization. No Award may be transferred for value without shareholder approval.
13.3 Restrictions on Share Transferability. The Committee may impose such restrictions on any Shares acquired by a Participant under this Plan as it may deem advisable, including, without limitation, minimum holding period requirements, restrictions under applicable federal securities laws, under the requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which such Shares are then listed or traded or under any blue sky or state securities laws applicable to such Shares.
Article 14. PERFORMANCE MEASURES
14.1 Performance Measures. Any Award to a Participant may be subject to performance goals as determined at the discretion of the Committee, which may include, but are not limited to, any of the following: (i) book value or earnings per Share; (ii) cash flow, free cash flow or operating cash flow; (iii) earnings before or after any of, or any combination of, interest, taxes, depreciation, or amortization; (iv) expenses/costs; (v) gross, net or pre-tax income (aggregate or on a per-share basis); (vi) net income as a percentage of sales; (vii) gross or net operating margins or income, including operating income; (viii) gross or net sales or revenues; (ix) gross profit or gross margin; (x) improvements in capital structure, cost of capital or debt reduction; (xi) market share or market share penetration; (xii) growth in managed assets; (xiii) reduction of losses, loss ratios and expense ratios; (xiv) asset turns, inventory turns or fixed asset turns; (xv) operational performance measures; (xvi) profitability ratios (pre or post tax); (xvii) profitability of an identifiable business unit or product; (xviii) return measures (including return on assets, return on equity, return on investment, return on capital, return on invested capital, gross profit return on investment, gross margin return on investment, economic value added or similar metric); (xix) share price (including growth or appreciation in share price and total shareholder return); (xx) strategic business objectives (including objective project milestones); (xxi) transactions relating to acquisitions or divestitures; or (xxii) working capital. Any Performance Measure(s) may, as the Committee in its sole discretion deems appropriate, (i) relate to the performance of the Company or any Affiliate as a whole or any business unit or division of the Company or any Affiliate or any combination thereof, (ii) be compared to the performance of a group of comparator companies, or published or special index, (iii) be based on change in the Performance Measure over a specified period of time and such change may be measured based on an arithmetic change over the specified period (e.g., cumulative change or average change), or percentage change over the specified period (e.g., cumulative percentage change, average percentage change or compounded percentage change), (iv) relate to or be compared to one or more other Performance Measures, or (v) any combination of the foregoing. Subject to Section 23.1, the Committee also has the authority to provide for accelerated vesting of any Award based on the achievement of performance goals pursuant to any Performance Measures.
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14.2 Evaluation of Performance. The Performance Measures shall, to the extent possible, be determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied on a business unit, divisional, subsidiary or consolidated basis or any combination thereof. The Committee may provide in any Award that any evaluation of performance may include or exclude the impact, if any, on reported financial results of any events that occurs during a Performance Period including, but not limited to: (a) asset write-downs, (b) litigation or claim judgments or settlements, (c) changes in tax laws, accounting principles or other laws or provisions, (d) reorganization or restructuring programs, (e) acquisitions or divestitures, (f) foreign exchange gains and losses and (g) gains and losses that are treated as unusual or infrequently occurring items within the meaning of the accounting standards of the Financial Accounting Standard Board or such comparable successor term.
14.3 Adjustment of Awards. The Committee shall retain the discretion to adjust any Awards, either on a formula or discretionary basis or any combination, as the Committee determines, in its sole discretion.
Article 15. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT; TERMINATION OF DIRECTORSHIP AND TERMINATION AS A THIRD-PARTY SERVICE PROVIDER
The Committee shall specify at or after the time of grant of an Award the provisions governing the disposition of an Award in the event of a Participant’s Termination of Employment or Termination of Directorship. Subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations, in connection with a Participant’s termination, as well as Section 23.1, the Committee shall have the discretion to accelerate the vesting, exercisability or settlement of, eliminate the restrictions and conditions applicable to, or extend the post-termination exercise period of an outstanding Award. Such provisions shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion and may be specified in the applicable Award Agreement or determined at a subsequent time. The Committee’s decisions need not be uniform among all Award Agreements and Participants and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination. In addition, the Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion, the circumstances constituting a termination as a Third-Party Service Provider and shall set forth those circumstances in each Award Agreement entered into with each Third-Party Service Provider.
Article 16. NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR AWARDS
16.1 Awards to Non-Employee Directors. The Board or Committee shall determine and approve all Awards to Non-Employee Directors. The terms and conditions of any grant of any Award to a Non-Employee Director shall be set forth in an Award Agreement. The aggregate maximum Fair Market Value (determined as of the Grant Date) of the Shares with respect to Awards granted under this Plan in any calendar year to any Non-Employee Director when added to retainer fees, meeting fees and any other compensation earned in respect of services as a Non-Employee Director for such a year shall not exceed $750,000.
16.2 Awards in Lieu of Fees. The Board or Committee may permit a Non-Employee Director the opportunity to receive an Award in lieu of payment of all or a portion of future director fees (including but not limited to cash retainer fees and meeting fees) or other type of Awards pursuant to such terms and conditions as the Board or Committee may prescribe and set forth in an applicable sub-plan or Award Agreement.
Article 17. EFFECT OF A CHANGE IN CONTROL
17.1 Change in Control. Subject to Section 23.1, if a Participant has in effect an employment, retention, change in control, severance or similar agreement with the Company or any Affiliate or is subject to a policy or plan that discusses the effect of a Change in Control on a Participant’s Awards, then such agreement, plan or policy shall control. In all other cases, unless provided otherwise in an Award Agreement or by the Committee prior to the date of the Change in Control, in the event of a Change in Control:
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(a) If a Successor so agrees, some or all outstanding Awards shall be assumed, or replaced with the same type of award with similar terms and conditions, by a Successor in the Change in Control transaction. If applicable, each Award that is assumed by a Successor shall be appropriately adjusted, immediately after such Change in Control, to apply to the number and class of securities that would have been issuable to a Participant upon the consummation of such Change in Control had the Award been exercised, vested or earned immediately prior to such Change in Control, and other appropriate adjustments in the terms and conditions of the Award shall be made. Subject to Section 23.1, upon the termination of a Participant’s employment with a Successor in connection with or within 24 months following the Change in Control for any reason other than an involuntary termination by a Successor for cause or a voluntary termination by the Participant without good reason (as cause and good reason (or analogous terms) are defined by an applicable employment agreement or a change in control plan or policy or, if not applicable, the policies generally applicable to employees of a Successor), all of the Participant’s Awards that are in effect as of the date of such termination shall be vested in full or deemed earned in full (assuming the target performance goals provided under such Award were met, if applicable) effective on the date of such termination.
(b) To the extent a Successor in the Change in Control transaction does not assume the Awards or issue replacement awards as provided in clause (a), then, unless provided otherwise in an Award Agreement or determined by the Committee, immediately prior to the date of the Change in Control all Awards that are then held by Participants shall be cancelled in exchange for the right to receive the following:
(i) For each Option or SAR, a cash payment equal to the excess of the Change in Control price of the Shares covered by the Option or SAR that is so cancelled over the purchase or grant price of such Shares under the Award;
(ii) For each Share of Restricted Stock and each Restricted Stock Unit, the Change in Control price per Share in cash or such other consideration as the Company or the shareholders of the Company receive in such Change in Control;
(iii) For all Performance Shares and/or Performance Units that are earned but not yet paid, a cash payment equal to the value of the Performance Share and/or Performance Unit;
(iv) For all Performance Shares and Performance Units for which the performance period has not expired, a cash payment equal to the product of (x) and (y) where (x) is the Award the Participant would have earned based on target performance and (y) is a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of calendar months that the Participant was employed by the Company during the performance period (with any partial month counting as a full month for this purpose) and the denominator of which is the number of months in the performance period;
(v) For all other Awards that are earned but not yet paid, a cash payment equal to the value of the other Awards;
(vi) For all other Awards that are not yet earned, a cash payment equal to either the amount that would have been due under such Award(s) if any performance goals (as measured at the time of the Change in Control) were to be achieved at the target level through the end of the performance period or a cash payment based on the value of the Award as of the date of the Change in Control; and
(vii) For all Dividend Equivalents, a cash payment equal to the value of the Dividend Equivalents as of the date of the Change in Control.
If the value of an Award is based on the Fair Market Value of a Share, Fair Market Value shall be deemed to mean the per share Change in Control price. The Committee shall determine the per share Change in Control price paid or deemed paid in the Change in Control transaction.
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Article 18. DIVIDENDS AND DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS
The Committee may provide Participants with the right to receive dividends or payments equivalent to dividends (“Dividend Equivalents”) or interest with respect to an outstanding Award, which payments can either be paid in cash or deemed to have been reinvested in Shares, or a combination thereof, as the Committee shall determine, in each case, subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, Code Section 409A. Dividends or Dividend Equivalents with respect to Awards that vest based on the achievement of Performance Measures shall be accumulated until such Award is earned and vested, and the dividends or Dividend Equivalents shall not be paid if the Performance Measures and time-based vesting restrictions are not satisfied. Dividends or Dividend Equivalents with respect to Awards that are subject to time-based vesting restrictions shall be accumulated until such Awards vest in accordance with their terms, and the dividends or Dividend Equivalents shall not be paid if the time-based vesting restrictions are not satisfied. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no dividends or Dividend Equivalents shall be paid with respect to Options or Stock Appreciation Rights.
Article 19. BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION
Each Participant under this Plan may, from time to time, name any beneficiary or beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) to whom any benefit under this Plan is to be paid in case of his death before he receives any or all of such benefit. Each such designation shall revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the Committee, and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Company during the Participant’s lifetime. In the absence of any such beneficiary designation, benefits remaining unpaid or rights remaining unexercised at the Participant’s death shall be paid to or exercised by the Participant’s executor, administrator or legal representative.
Article 20. RIGHTS OF PARTICIPANTS
20.1 Employment. Nothing in this Plan or an Award Agreement shall (a) interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or any Affiliate to terminate any Participant’s employment with the Company or any Affiliate at any time or for any reason not prohibited by law or (b) confer upon any Participant any right to continue his employment or service as a Director or Third-Party Service Provider for any specified period of time. Neither an Award nor any benefits arising under this Plan shall constitute an employment contract with the Company or any Affiliate and, accordingly, subject to Article 3 and Article 21, this Plan and the benefits hereunder may be amended or terminated at any time in the sole and exclusive discretion of the Board without giving rise to any liability on the part of the Company, any Affiliate, the Committee or the Board.
20.2 Participation. No individual shall have the right to be selected to receive an Award under this Plan, or, having been so selected, to be selected to receive a future Award. The Committee may grant more than one Award to a Participant and may designate an individual as a Participant for overlapping periods of time.
20.3 Rights as a Shareholder. Except as otherwise provided herein, a Participant shall have none of the rights of a shareholder with respect to Shares covered by any Award until the Participant becomes the record holder of such Shares. No adjustment shall be made for dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date on which the Participant becomes the record holder of the Shares.
Article 21. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
21.1 Amendment and Termination of this Plan and Awards. Subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations and Section 21.3 of this Plan, the Board may at any time amend or terminate this Plan or amend or terminate any outstanding Award. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment of this Plan shall be made without shareholder approval if shareholder approval is required pursuant to rules promulgated by any stock exchange or quotation system on which Shares are listed or quoted or by applicable U.S. state corporate laws or regulations, applicable U.S. federal laws or regulations and the applicable laws of any foreign country or jurisdiction where Awards are, or will be, granted under this Plan.
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21.2 Adjustment of Awards Upon the Occurrence of Certain Unusual or Nonrecurring Events. Subject to Section 14.2, the Committee may make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, the events described in Section 4.3) affecting the Company or the financial statements of the Company or of changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles, whenever the Committee determines that such adjustments are appropriate in order to prevent unintended dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under this Plan. The determination of the Committee as to the foregoing adjustments, if any, shall be conclusive and binding on Participants under this Plan. By accepting an Award under this Plan, a Participant agrees to any adjustment to the Award made pursuant to this Section 21.2 without further consideration or action.
21.3 Awards Previously Granted. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, other than Sections 21.2, 21.4 and 23.16, no termination or amendment of this Plan or an Award Agreement shall adversely affect in any material way any Award previously granted under this Plan, without the written consent of the Participant holding such Award.
21.4 Amendment to Conform to Law. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, the Committee shall have the broad authority to amend this Plan, an Award or an Award Agreement, to take effect retroactively or otherwise, as deemed necessary or advisable in order to comply with, take into account changes in, or interpretations of, applicable tax laws, securities laws, employment laws, accounting rules and other applicable laws, rules, rulings and regulations promulgated thereunder. By accepting an Award under this Plan, a Participant agrees to any amendment made pursuant to this Section 21.4 to this Plan, an Award or an Award Agreement without further consideration or action.
21.5 Repricing of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights. Except in connection with a corporate transaction involving the Company (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, or exchange of Shares), the terms of outstanding Awards may not be amended, without stockholder approval, to reduce the exercise price of outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, or to cancel outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights in exchange for cash, other Awards, or Options or Stock Appreciation Rights with an exercise price that is less than the exercise price of the original Options or Stock Appreciation Rights.
Article 22. TAX WITHHOLDING
22.1 Tax Withholding. The Company may require any individual entitled to receive a payment of an Award to remit to the Company prior to payment, an amount sufficient to satisfy any applicable federal, state, local and foreign tax withholding requirements. The Company shall also have the right to deduct from all cash payments made to a Participant (whether or not such payment is made in connection with an Award) any applicable taxes required to be withheld with respect to such Award.
22.2 Share Withholding. With respect to withholding required upon the exercise of Options or SARs, upon the lapse of restrictions on Restricted Stock, upon the settlement of Restricted Stock Units, or upon the achievement of performance goals related to Performance Shares, or any other taxable event arising as a result of an Award granted hereunder (collectively and individually referred to as a “Share Payment”), the Committee may permit or require a Participant to satisfy the withholding requirement, in whole or in part, by having the Company withhold Shares from a Share Payment (or repurchase Shares that were previously issued) having a Fair Market Value on the date the withholding is to be determined equal to the minimum statutory withholding requirement or such other rate as will not result in any adverse accounting consequences, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion.
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Article 23. GENERAL PROVISIONS
23.1 Minimum Vesting. All Awards shall be subject to a minimum time-based vesting restriction or Performance Period, as applicable, of not less than one year (or, in the case of awards to Non-Employee Directors, the period from one annual meeting of Shareholders to the next); provided, however, the requirements set forth in this sentence shall not apply (i) to acceleration in the event of a Termination of Employment or Termination of Directorship on or following a Change in Control, or due to Retirement, death or Disability, and in the circumstances described in Section 17.1(b), (ii) to substitute Awards subject to time-based vesting restrictions no less than the restrictions of the Awards being replaced, and (iii) Awards involving an aggregate number of Shares not in excess of 5% of the total shares authorized for issuance under this Plan.
23.2 Forfeiture Events. The Committee may specify in an Award Agreement that the Participant’s rights, payments and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain specified events as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.
23.3 Legend. All certificates for Shares delivered under this Plan shall be subject to such stock-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any exchange upon which the Shares are then listed, and any applicable securities law, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.
23.4 Data Privacy. As a condition for receiving any Award, each Participant explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of personal data as described in this section by and among the Company and its Affiliates exclusively for implementing, administering and managing the Participant’s participation in the Plan. The Company and its Affiliates may hold certain personal information about a Participant, including the Participant’s name, address and telephone number; birthdate; social security, insurance number or other identification number; salary; nationality; job title(s); any Shares held in the Company or its affiliates; and Award details, to implement, manage and administer the Plan and Awards (the “Data”). The Company and its Affiliates may transfer the Data amongst themselves as necessary to implement, administer and manage a Participant’s participation in the Plan, and the Company and its Affiliates may transfer the Data to third parties assisting the Company with Plan implementation, administration and management. These recipients may be located in the Participant’s country, or elsewhere, and the Participant’s country may have different data privacy laws and protections than the recipients’ country. By accepting an Award, each Participant authorizes such recipients to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, to implement, administer and manage the Participant’s participation in the Plan, including any required Data transfer to a broker or other third party with whom the Company or the Participant may elect to deposit any Shares. The Data related to a Participant will be held only as long as necessary to implement, administer, and manage the Participant’s participation in the Plan. A Participant may, at any time, view the Data that the Company holds regarding such Participant, request additional information about the storage and processing of the Data regarding such Participant, recommend any necessary corrections to the Data regarding the Participant or refuse or withdraw the consents in this Section 23.4 in writing, without cost, by contacting the local human resources representative. If the Participant refuses or withdraws the consents in this Section 23.4, the Company may cancel Participant’s ability to participate in the Plan and, in the Committee’s discretion, the Participant may forfeit any outstanding Awards. For more information on the consequences of refusing or withdrawing consent, Participants may contact their local human resources representative.
23.5 Gender and Number. Except where otherwise indicated by the context, any masculine term used herein also shall include the feminine, the plural shall include the singular, and the singular shall include the plural.
23.6 Severability. In the event any provision of this Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of this Plan, and this Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.
23.7 Requirements of Law. The granting of Awards and the issuance of Shares under this Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required.
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23.8 Delivery of Title. The Company shall have no obligation to issue or deliver evidence of title for Shares issued under this Plan prior to:
(a) Obtaining any approvals from governmental agencies that the Company determines are necessary or advisable; and
(b) Completion of any registration or other qualification of the Shares under any applicable national, state or foreign law or ruling of any governmental body that the Company determines to be necessary or advisable.
23.9 Inability to Obtain Authority. The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.
23.10 Investment Representations. The Committee may require any individual receiving Shares pursuant to an Award under this Plan to represent and warrant in writing that the individual is acquiring the Shares for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares.
23.11 Employees Based Outside of the United States. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, subject to Section 23.1, in order to comply with the laws in other countries in which the Company or any Affiliates operate or have Employees, Directors or Third-Party Service Providers, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to:
(a) Determine which Affiliates shall be covered by this Plan;
(b) Determine which Employees, Directors or Third-Party Service Providers outside the United States are eligible to participate in this Plan;
(c) Modify the terms and conditions of any Award granted to Employees, Directors or Third-Party Service Providers outside the United States to comply with applicable foreign laws;
(d) Establish sub-plans and modify exercise procedures and other terms and procedures, to the extent such actions may be necessary or advisable. Any sub-plans and modifications to Plan terms and procedures established under this Section 23.11 by the Committee shall be attached to this Plan document as appendices; and
(e) Take any action, before or after an Award is made, that it deems advisable to obtain approval or comply with any necessary local government regulatory exemptions or approvals.
Notwithstanding the above, the Committee may not take any actions hereunder, and no Awards shall be granted, that would violate applicable law.
23.12 Uncertificated Shares. To the extent that this Plan provides for issuance of certificates to reflect the transfer of Shares, the transfer of such Shares may be affected on a noncertificated basis, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange.
23.13 Unfunded Plan. Participants shall have no right, title or interest whatsoever in or to any investments that the Company or any Affiliates may make to aid it in meeting its obligations under this Plan. Nothing contained in this Plan, and no action taken pursuant to its provisions, shall create or be construed to create a trust of any kind, or a fiduciary relationship between the Company and any Participant, beneficiary, legal representative or any other individual. To the extent that any individual acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any Affiliate under this Plan, such right shall be no greater than the right of an unsecured general creditor of the Company or any Affiliate, as the case may be. All payments to be made hereunder shall be paid from the general funds of the Company, or any Affiliate, as the case may be, and no special or separate fund shall be established, and no segregation of assets shall be made to assure payment of such amounts except as expressly set forth in this Plan.
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23.14 No Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to this Plan or any Award. The Committee shall determine whether cash, Awards or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.
23.15 Retirement and Welfare Plans. Neither Awards made under this Plan nor Shares or cash paid pursuant to such Awards may be included as “compensation” for purposes of computing the benefits payable to any Participant under the Company’s or any Affiliate’s retirement plans (both qualified and nonqualified) or welfare benefit plans unless such other plan expressly provides that such compensation shall be taken into account in computing a Participant’s benefit.
23.16 Deferrals.
(a) Notwithstanding any contrary provision in this Plan or an Award Agreement, if any provision of this Plan or an Award Agreement contravenes any regulations or guidance promulgated under Code Section 409A or would cause an Award to be subject to additional taxes, accelerated taxation, interest and/or penalties under Code Section 409A, such provision of this Plan or Award Agreement may be modified by the Committee without consent of the Participant in any manner the Committee deems reasonable or necessary. In making such modifications the Committee shall attempt, but shall not be obligated, to maintain, to the maximum extent practicable, the original intent of the applicable provision without contravening the provisions of Code Section 409A. Moreover, any discretionary authority that the Committee may have pursuant to this Plan shall not be applicable to an Award that is subject to Code Section 409A to the extent such discretionary authority would contravene Code Section 409A or the guidance promulgated thereunder.
(b) If a Participant is a “specified employee” as defined under Code Section 409A and the Participant’s Award is to be settled on account of the Participant’s separation from service (for reasons other than death) and such Award constitutes “deferred compensation” as defined under Code Section 409A, then any portion of the Participant’s Award that would otherwise be settled during the six-month period commencing on the Participant’s separation from service shall be settled as soon as practicable following the conclusion of the six-month period (or following the Participant’s death if it occurs during such six-month period).
(c) In accordance with the procedures authorized by, and subject to the approval of, the Committee, Participants may be given the opportunity to defer the payment or settlement of an Award to one or more dates selected by the Participant; provided, however, that the terms of any deferrals must comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, Code Section 409A. No deferral opportunity shall exist with respect to an Award unless explicitly permitted by the Committee on or after the time of grant.
23.17 Nonexclusivity of this Plan. The adoption of this Plan shall not be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board or Committee to adopt such other compensation arrangements as it may deem desirable for any Participant.
23.18 No Constraint on Corporate Action. Nothing in this Plan shall be construed to: (i) limit, impair, or otherwise affect the Company’s or a Affiliate’s right or power to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations or changes of its capital or business structure, or to merge or consolidate, or dissolve, liquidate, sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets, or (ii) limit the right or power of the Company or any Affiliate to take any action that such entity deems to be necessary or appropriate. The proceeds received by the Company from the sale of Shares pursuant to Awards will be used for general corporate purposes.
23.19 Conflicts. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the Plan and any Award Agreement, this Plan shall govern and the Award Agreement shall be interpreted to minimize or eliminate any such inconsistency.
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23.20 Recoupment. Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, all Awards granted under this Plan and any payments made under this Plan shall be subject to claw-back or recoupment as permitted or mandated by applicable law, rules, regulations or Company policy as enacted, adopted or modified from time to time. For the avoidance of doubt, this provision shall apply to any gains realized upon exercise or settlement of an Award.
23.21 Delivery and Execution of Electronic Documents. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Company may (i) deliver by email or other electronic means (including posting on a website maintained by the Company or by a third party under contract with the Company) all documents relating to this Plan or any Award thereunder (including without limitation, prospectuses and other securities requirements) and all other documents that the Company is required to deliver to its security holders (including without limitation, annual reports and proxy statements) and (ii) permit Participants to electronically execute applicable Plan documents (including, but not limited to, Award Agreements) in a manner prescribed to the Committee.
23.22 No Representations or Warranties Regarding Tax Effect. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, the Company, Affiliates, the Board and the Committee neither represent nor warrant the tax treatment under any federal, state, local or foreign laws and regulations thereunder (individually and collectively referred to as the “Tax Laws”) of any Award granted or any amounts paid to any Participant under this Plan including, but not limited to, when and to what extent such Awards or amounts may be subject to tax, penalties and interest under the Tax Laws.
23.23 Indemnification. Subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations and the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation as it may be amended from time to time, each individual who is or shall have been a member of the Board, or a Committee appointed by the Board, or an officer of the Company to whom authority was delegated in accordance with Article 3, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from (i) any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any good faith action taken or failure to act under this Plan, (ii) any and all amounts paid by him or her in settlement thereof, with the Company’s approval, or paid by him or her in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit, or proceeding against him or her, provided he or she shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his/her own behalf. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no individual shall be entitled to indemnification if such loss, cost, liability or expense is a result of his/her own willful misconduct. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such individuals may be entitled under the Company’s Articles of Incorporation or By-laws, as a matter of law or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.
23.24 Successors. Subject to Article 17, all obligations of the Company under this Plan with respect to Awards granted hereunder shall be binding on any successor to the Company (each, a “Successor”), whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company.
23.25 Governing Law. The Plan and each Award Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware excluding any conflicts or choice of law rule or principle that might otherwise refer construction or interpretation of this Plan to the substantive law of another jurisdiction.
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