UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)
of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
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Filed by the Registrant
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Preliminary Proxy Statement
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Confidential, For Use of the Commission
Only (as Permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
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Definitive Proxy Statement
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Definitive Additional Materials
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §
240.14a-12
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SINO AGRO FOOD, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if
other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange
Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
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Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule
0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
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Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials:
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset
as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify
the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
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Amount previously paid:
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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SINO AGRO FOOD, INC.
Room 3801, Block A, China Shine Plaza
No. 9 Lin He Xi Road
Tianhe District, Guangzhou City, P.R.C. 510610
Telephone: (860) 20 22057860
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
We cordially invite you
to attend the 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Sino Agro Food, Inc. (“Sino Agro” or the “Company”).
Our 2016 Annual Meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 20, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. ET and will be our first completely virtual meeting
of shareholders. You will be able to attend the 2016 Annual Meeting, vote, and submit your questions during the meeting via live
webcast by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SIAF2016. To enter the meeting, you must have your twelve-digit control number
that is shown on the proxy card accompanying this Proxy Statement. You will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person.
Details regarding logging
onto and attending the meeting over the website and the business to be conducted are described in the Proxy Card included with
this Proxy Statement. We have also made available a copy of our 2015 Annual Report with this Proxy Statement. We encourage you
to read our Annual Report. It includes our audited financial statements and provides information about our business and products.
The purpose of the meeting
is:
1. To elect the seven
(7) director nominees named in the Proxy Statement to hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders;
2. To ratify the appointment of ECOVIS
David Yeung Hong Kong as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December
31, 2016;
3. To approve the Sino Agro Food, Inc.
2016 Stock Incentive Plan;
4. To approve, on an advisory basis,
the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers;
5. To recommend, on
an advisory basis, a three-year frequency with which the Company should conduct future shareholder advisory votes on named executive
officer compensation; and
6. To act on such other matters as
may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment there.
Only shareholders of record
at the close of business on October 28, 2016, will be entitled to attend and vote at the meeting. The proxy materials
will be mailed to shareholders on or about November 10, 2016.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability
of Proxy Materials for the 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
to be held on December 20, 2016:
The Proxy Statement, the 2016 Stock Incentive
Plan, our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Form 10-Q
for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2016
are available at www.proxyvote.com.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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/s/
Lee Yip Kun (Solomon)
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Lee Yip Kun (Solomon)
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President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors
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November 9, 2016
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HOW TO VOTE
:
Your vote is important. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, we hope you will vote as soon as possible. You may vote
over the Internet, as well as by telephone or, if you requested to receive printed proxy materials, by mailing a proxy or voting
instruction card. Please review the instructions on each of your voting options described in this Proxy Statement as well as in
the proxy card. Your vote is important, no matter how many shares you owned on the Record Date. A return envelope is enclosed for
your convenience and needs no postage if mailed in the United States.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SINO AGRO FOOD, INC.
Room 3801, Block A, China Shine Plaza
No. 9 Lin He Xi Road
Tianhe District, Guangzhou City, P.R.C. 510610
Telephone: (860) 20 22057860
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR THE 2016 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON DECEMBER 20, 2016
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE ANNUAL MEETING
General
The enclosed proxy is
solicited by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Sino Agro Food, Inc. (the “Company,” “SIAF”
or “Sino Agro”), for use at the Annual Meeting of the Company’s shareholders to be held via live webcast on
the Internet at
www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SIAF2016
on December 20, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. ET and at any adjournments
thereof. Whether or not you expect to attend the meeting in person, please vote your shares as promptly as possible to ensure
that your vote is counted. The proxy materials will be furnished to shareholders on or about November 10, 2016.
Action to be Taken under Proxy
Unless otherwise directed
by the giver of the proxy, the persons named in the form of proxy, namely, Lee Yip Kun (Solomon), our Chief Executive Officer,
and Daniel Ritchey, our Chief Financial Officer, or either one of them who acts, will vote:
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FOR the election of the seven (7) director
nominees named in the Proxy Statement to hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders;
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FOR ratification of the appointment of
ECOVIS David Yueng Hong Kong as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December
31, 2016;
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FOR approval of the Sino Agro Food, Inc.
2016 Stock Incentive Plan;
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FOR approval of the executive compensation
of the Company’s named executive officers;
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FOR approval of a three-year frequency
with which the Company should conduct future shareholder advisory votes on named executive officer compensation; and
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According to their discretion, on the
transaction of such other matters as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment there.
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Should any nominee named
herein for election as a director become unavailable for any reason, it is intended that the persons named in the proxy will vote
for the election of such other person in his stead as may be designated by the Board. The Board is not aware of any reason that
might cause any nominee to be unavailable.
By submitting your proxy
(via the Internet, telephone or mail), you authorize Mr. Solomon Lee, Sino Agro’s Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Daniel
Ritchey, Sino Agro’s Chief Financial Officer, to represent you and vote your shares at the meeting in accordance with your
instructions. They also may vote your shares to adjourn the meeting and will be authorized to vote your shares at any postponements
or adjournments of the meeting.
We will be hosting the
2016 Annual Meeting live via the Internet. A summary of the information you need to attend the meeting online is provided below:
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Any shareholder can attend the 2016 Annual Meeting live via the Internet at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SIAF2016;
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Webcast starts at 10:00 a.m. ET;
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Shareholders may vote and submit questions while attending the 2016 Annual Meeting on the Internet;
and
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Shareholders need a twelve-digit control number to join the 2016 Annual Meeting.
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YOUR VOTE
IS IMPORTANT. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE PROMPTLY VOTE YOUR SHARES OVER THE INTERNET, BY TELEPHONE OR
BY MAIL.
Who is Entitled to Vote; Vote Required;
Quorum
As
of the Record Date of October 28, 2016, there were 22,656,859 shares of common stock issued and outstanding and 100 shares of Series
A Preferred Stock issued and outstanding, which constitutes all of the outstanding capital stock of the Company. Shareholders
are entitled to one vote for each share of common stock held by them. The 100 shares of Series A Preferred Stock carry the voting
power of
eighty percent (80%) of all votes entitled
to be voted at any annual or special meeting of shareholders of our company or action by written consent of our shareholders. Each
outstanding share of the Series A Preferred Stock shall represent its proportionate share of the 80%, which is allocated to the
outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock.
A majority of the outstanding
shares, including the voting power of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock, or 113,284,295 shares, will constitute a quorum at
the meeting.
Brokers holding shares
of record for customers generally are not entitled to vote on “non-routine” matters, unless they receive voting instructions
from their customers. As used herein, “uninstructed shares” means shares held by a broker who has not received such
instructions from its customers on a proposal. A “broker non-vote” occurs when a nominee holding uninstructed shares
for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular proposal because the nominee does not have discretionary voting power with
respect to that non-routine matter. In connection with the treatment of abstentions and broker non-votes, the proposals at this
meeting to (i) elect directors, (ii) approve the 2016 Stock Incentive Plan, (iii) approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation
of the Company’s named executive officers, and (iv) approve, on an advisory basis, a three-year frequency with which the
Company should conduct future shareholder advisory votes on named executive officer compensation are considered “non-routine”
matters, and brokers are not entitled to vote uninstructed shares with respect to these proposals. Only the proposal to ratify
the appointment of ECOVIS David Yeung Hong Kong as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is a routine
matter that brokers are entitled to vote shares without receiving instructions.
Determination of whether
a matter specified in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders has been approved will be determined as follows:
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Those persons will be elected directors
who receive a plurality of the votes cast at the Meeting in person or by proxy and entitled to vote on the election. Accordingly,
abstentions or directions to withhold authority will have no effect on the outcome of the vote; and
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For each other matter specified in the
Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of common stock present at the meeting
in person or by proxy and entitled to vote on such matter is required for approval. Abstentions will be considered shares present
by proxy and entitled to vote and, therefore, will have the effect of a vote against the matter. Broker non-votes will be considered
shares not present for this purpose and will have no effect on the outcome of the vote.
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Directions to withhold
authority to vote for directors, abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum
is present for the Meeting.
QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS ABOUT THESE PROXY MATERIALS AND VOTING
What is the purpose of the 2016 Annual Meeting and why is it
being held over the Internet?
At the 2016 Annual Meeting, the shareholders
will be asked:
1. To elect the seven
(7) director nominees named in the Proxy Statement to hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders;
2. To ratify the appointment of ECOVIS
David Yeung Hong Kong as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December
31, 2016;
3. To approve the Sino Agro Food, Inc.
2016 Stock Incentive Plan;
4. To approve, on an advisory basis,
the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers;
5. To recommend, on
an advisory basis, a three-year frequency with which the Company should conduct future shareholder advisory votes on named executive
officer compensation; and
6. To act on such other matters as
may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment there.
The 2016
Annual Meeting is being held on a virtual-only basis in order to reach the broadest number of shareholders possible and to save
costs relative to holding a physical meeting.
Who is entitled to vote?
The Record Date for the
meeting is October 28, 2016. Only shareholders of record at the close of business on that date are entitled to vote at the meeting.
The only class of stock entitled to be voted at the meeting is our common stock and the Series A Preferred Stock, which votes with
the common stock. On the Record Date, there were 113,284,295 shares of common stock, including the voting power of the Series A
Preferred Stock, outstanding and entitled to vote.
Why am I receiving these materials?
We have sent you these
proxy materials because the Board of Sino Agro Food, Inc. (sometimes referred to as the “Company,” “Sino
Agro,” “we” or “us”) is soliciting your proxy to vote at the 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. According
to our records, you were a shareholder of the Company as of the end of business on October 28, 2016, the Record Date for the Annual
Meeting.
You are invited to vote
on the proposals described in this proxy statement. However, you cannot attend the meeting to vote your shares.
The Company intends to
mail these proxy materials on or about November 10, 2016 to all shareholders of record on the Record Date.
What is included in these materials?
These materials include:
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this Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting;
and
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the 2016 Stock Incentive Plan, our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and the Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2016.
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What is the proxy card?
The proxy card enables
you to appoint Solomon Lee, our Chief Executive Officer, and Daniel Ritchey, our Chief Financial Officer, as your representative
at the Annual Meeting. By completing and returning a proxy card, you are authorizing these individuals to vote your shares at the
Annual Meeting in accordance with your instructions on the proxy card. This way, your shares will be voted whether or not you attend
the Annual Meeting.
Can I view these proxy materials over the
Internet?
Yes. The Notice
of Meeting, this Proxy Statement and accompanying proxy card, the 2016 Stock Incentive Plan, our Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2015 and the Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2016 are available at
www.proxyvote.com.
How do I vote by proxy?
If you properly complete, sign and date the
accompanying proxy card or voting instruction card and return it in the enclosed envelope, it will be available for examination
on the Internet through the virtual web conference during the annual meeting.
Please note that there are separate telephone
and Internet arrangements depending on whether you are a registered shareholder (that is, if you hold your stock in your own name)
or you hold your shares in “street name” (that is, in the name of a brokerage firm or bank that holds your securities
account). In either case, you must follow the procedures described in the proxy card.
Am I entitled to vote if my shares are held in “street
name”?
If your shares are held by a bank, brokerage
firm or other nominee, you are considered the “beneficial owner” of shares held in “street name.” If your
shares are held in street name, the proxy materials are being made available to you by your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee
(the “record holder”), along with voting instructions. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your record
holder how to vote your shares, and the record holder is required to vote your shares in accordance with your instructions. If
you do not give instructions to your record holder, it will nevertheless be entitled to vote your shares in its discretion on the
ratification of the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm (Proposal 2), but not on any other proposal.
As the beneficial owner of shares, you are
invited to attend the annual meeting. If you are a beneficial owner, however, you may not vote your shares at the meeting unless
you obtain a legal proxy, executed in your favor, from the record holder of your shares.
How many shares must be present to hold the online meeting?
A quorum must be present at the meeting for
any business to be conducted. The presence at the meeting, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the shares of
common stock, including the voting power of the Series A Preferred Stock, outstanding on the Record Date will constitute a quorum.
Proxies received but marked as abstentions or treated as broker non-votes will be included in the calculation of the number of
shares considered to be present at the meeting.
What if a quorum is not present at the online
meeting?
If a quorum is not present or represented at
the meeting, the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote at the meeting who are present in person or represented by
proxy, or the chairman of the meeting, may adjourn the meeting until a quorum is present or represented. The time and place of
the adjourned meeting will be announced at the time the adjournment is taken, and no other notice will be given.
What do I need in order to be able to attend
the online meeting?
The Company will be hosting the 2016 annual
meeting live online. You can attend the 2016 annual meeting live online at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SIAF2016. The webcast
will start at 10:00 a.m. ET. You may vote and submit questions while attending the meeting online. You will need the twelve-digit
control number included on your proxy card in order to be able to enter the meeting.
How can I vote my shares during the online
meeting?
Shares held in your name as the shareholder
of record may be voted by you, while the polls remain open, at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SIAF2016 during the meeting. You
will need your twelve-digit control number found in the proxy card. Shares held beneficially in street name may be voted by you
at the meeting only if you obtain a legal proxy from the broker, bank, trustee or nominee that holds your shares giving you the
right to vote the shares. Even if you plan to attend the online meeting, we recommend that you also submit your proxy or voting
instructions as described below so that your vote will be counted if you later decide not to attend the online meeting.
How can I vote my shares without attending
the online meeting?
Whether you hold shares directly as the shareholder
of record or beneficially in street name, you may direct how your shares are voted without attending the online meeting. If you
are a shareholder of record, you may vote by proxy. You can vote by proxy over the Internet or telephone by following the instructions
provided on the proxy card. If you hold shares beneficially in street name, you may also vote by proxy over the Internet, telephone
or by mail by following the voting instruction card provided to you by your broker, bank, trustee or nominee.
Is there a deadline for submitting proxies
electronically or by telephone or mail?
Proxies submitted electronically or by telephone
as described above must be received by 11:59 pm ET on December 19, 2016. Proxies submitted by mail should be received before 10:00
am ET on
December 19, 2016.
Can I revoke my proxy and change my vote?
You may change your vote at any time prior
to the taking of the vote at the online meeting. If you are the shareholder of record, you may change your vote by (1) granting
a new proxy bearing a later date (which automatically revokes the earlier proxy) using any of the methods described above (and
until the applicable deadline for each method), (2) providing a written notice of revocation to SIAF’s CEO at Sino Agro Food,
Inc. at Room 3801, Block A, China Shine Plaza, No. 9 Lin He Xi Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou City, P.R.C. 510610 prior to your
shares being voted, or (3) attending the online meeting and voting. Attendance at the online meeting will not cause your previously
granted proxy to be revoked unless you specifically so request. For shares you hold beneficially in street name, you may change
your vote by submitting new voting instructions to your broker, bank, trustee or nominee following the instructions they provided,
or, if you have obtained a legal proxy from your broker, bank, trustee or nominee giving you the right to vote your shares, by
attending the online meeting and voting.
Who can participate in the online meeting?
Only shareholders eligible to vote or their
authorized representatives in possession of a valid twelve-digit control number will be admitted as participants to the online
meeting.
Will my vote be kept confidential?
Yes, your vote will be kept confidential and
not disclosed to SIAF unless:
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you expressly request disclosure on your proxy; or
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there is a proxy contest.
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How does the Board of Directors recommend I vote on the proposals?
Our Board recommends that
you vote your shares “
FOR
” the election of each of the seven (7) nominees for director, “
FOR
”
the ratification of ECOVIS David Yeung Hong Kong as independent registered public accountants of the Company for its fiscal year
ending December 31, 2016, “
FOR
” approval of the Sino Agro Food, Inc. 2016 Stock Incentive Plan, “
FOR
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approval of the executive compensation of the Company’s named executive officers, and “
FOR
” approval of
a three-year frequency with which the Company should conduct future shareholder advisory cotes on named executive officer compensation. Unless
you provide other instructions on your proxy card, the persons named as proxy holders on the proxy card will vote in accordance
with the recommendations of the Board as set forth in this Proxy Statement.
What if I do not specify how my shares are to be voted?
If you return a signed
and dated proxy card without marking any voting selections, your shares will be voted “
FOR
” the election of
each of the seven (7) nominees for director, “
FOR
” the ratification of ECOVIS David Yeung Hong Kong as independent
registered public accountants of the Company for its fiscal year ending December 31, 2016, “
FOR
” approval of
the Sino Agro Food, Inc. 2016 Stock Incentive Plan; “
FOR
” approval of the executive compensation of the Company’s
named executive officers, “
FOR
” approval of a three-year frequency with which the Company should conduct future
shareholder advisory votes on named executive officer compensation, and “
FOR
” approval of any adjournment of
the 2016 Annual Meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting and
all adjournments and postponements thereof; and if any other matter is properly presented at the meeting, your proxy holder (one
of the individuals named on your proxy card) will vote your shares using his best judgment.
Will any other business be conducted at the meeting?
SIAF’s by-laws require shareholders to
give advance notice of any proposal intended to be presented at the meeting. The deadline for this notice has passed and we have
not received any such notices. If any other matter properly comes before the shareholders for a vote at the meeting, however, the
proxy holders will vote your shares in accordance with their best judgment.
How many votes are needed to approve each
proposal?
For the election of directors,
each of the seven (7) nominees receiving “
For
” votes at the meeting in person or by proxy will be elected. Approval
of all other matters requires the favorable vote of a majority of the votes cast on the applicable matter at the Annual Meeting.
How will abstentions be treated?
Abstentions will be treated
as shares present for quorum purposes and entitled to vote, and will have the same practical effect as votes against a proposal.
What are “broker non-votes”?
Broker non-votes occur
when a beneficial owner of shares held in “street name” does not give instructions to the broker or nominee holding
the shares as to how to vote on matters deemed “non-routine.” Generally, if shares are held in street name,
the beneficial owner of the shares is entitled to give voting instructions to the broker or nominee holding the shares.
If the beneficial owner does not provide voting instructions, the broker or nominee can still vote the shares with respect to matters
that are considered to be “routine,” but not with respect to “non-routine” matters. Under the
rules and interpretations of the New York Stock Exchange, “non-routine” matters include director elections (whether
contested or uncontested) and matters involving a contest or a matter that may substantially affect the rights or privileges of
shareholders.
In connection with the
treatment of abstentions and broker non-votes, the proposals at this meeting to (i) elect directors, (ii) approve the 2016 Stock
Incentive Plan, (iii) approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers are considered
“non-routine” matters, and (iv) approve, on an advisory basis, a three-year frequency with which the Company should
conduct future shareholder advisory votes on named executive officer compensation, and brokers are not entitled to vote uninstructed
shares with respect to these proposals. Only the proposal to ratify the appointment of ECOVIS David Yeung Hong Kong as the Company’s
independent registered public accounting firm is a routine matter that brokers are entitled to vote shares without receiving instructions.
Our election of directors
(Proposal No. 1), approval of the 2016 Stock Incentive Plan (Proposal No. 3), approval of the compensation of the Company’s
named executive officers (Proposal No. 4), and approval of a three-year frequency of voting on compensation of the Company’s
named executive officers (Proposal No. 5) are considered to be “non-routine” matters and as a result, brokers or nominees
cannot vote your shares on these proposals in the absence of your direction.
Who is paying for this proxy solicitation?
We will pay for the entire
cost of soliciting proxies.
In addition to these mailed proxy materials, our directors and employees may also solicit
proxies in person, by telephone or by other means of communication.
Directors and employees will not be paid any
additional compensation for soliciting proxies but may be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the
solicitation. We will also reimburse brokerage firms, banks and other agents for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
incurred in forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners.
What does it mean if I receive more than
one set of proxy materials?
If you receive more than
one set of proxy materials, your shares may be registered in more than one name or in different accounts.
Please
complete, sign and return each proxy card to ensure that all of your shares are voted.
I share the same address with another Sino
Agro Food, Inc. shareholder. Why has our household only received one set of proxy materials?
The SEC’s rules permit
us to deliver a single set of proxy materials to one address shared by two or more of our shareholders. This practice, known as
“householding,” is intended to reduce the Company’s printing and postage costs. We have delivered only one set
of proxy materials to shareholders who hold their shares through a bank, broker or other holder of record and share a single address,
unless we received contrary instructions from any shareholder at that address. However, any such street name holder residing at
the same address who wishes to receive a separate copy of the proxy materials may make such a request by contacting the bank, broker
or other holder of record, or Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. at (800) 542-1061 or in writing at Broadridge, Householding
Department, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. Street name holders residing at the same address who would like to request householding
of Company materials may do so by contacting the bank, broker or other holder of record or Broadridge at the phone number or address
listed above.
How can I find out the results of the voting
at the Annual Meeting?
Final voting results will
be disclosed in a Form 8-K filed after the Annual Meeting.
Who can help answer my questions?
You can contact our corporate
headquarters, at Sino Agro Food, Inc., Room 3801, Block A, China Shine Plaza, No. 9 Lin He Xi Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou
City, P.R.C. 510610 or by sending a letter to Solomon Lee, our Chief Executive Officer, with any questions about the proposal described
in this proxy statement or how to execute your vote.
PROPOSAL NO. 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Information about the Nominees
At the Annual Meeting,
the shareholders will elect seven (7) directors to serve until the next annual meeting of Shareholders or until their respective
successors are elected and qualified. In the event any nominee is unable or unwilling to serve as a director at the time of the
Annual Meeting, the proxies may be voted for the balance of those nominees named and for any substitute nominee designated by the
present Board or the proxy holders to fill such vacancy, or for the balance of the nominees named without nomination of a substitute,
or the size of the Board may be reduced in accordance with the Bylaws of the Company. The Board has no reason to believe that any
of the persons named below will be unable or unwilling to serve as a nominee or as a director if elected.
Assuming a quorum is present,
the seven (7) nominees receiving the highest number of affirmative votes of shares entitled to be voted for them will be elected
as directors of the Company for the ensuing year. Unless marked otherwise, proxies received will be voted "FOR" the election
of each of the eight nominees named below. In the event that additional persons are nominated for election as directors, the proxy
holders intend to vote all proxies received by them in such a manner as will ensure the election of as many of the nominees listed
below as possible, and, in such event, the specific nominees to be voted for will be determined by the proxy holders. All of the
director nominees currently serve as directors.
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NAME
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AGE
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CURRENT POSITION
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Lee Yip Kun Solomon
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President, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors
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Daniel Ritchey
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Acting Chief Financial Officer and Director
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Tan Poay Teik (Peter)
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Chief Marketing Officer and Director
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Chen Bor Hann (Michael)
|
|
51
|
|
Secretary and Director
|
|
Yap Koi Ming (George)
|
|
63
|
|
Independent Director
|
|
Nils-Erik Sandberg
|
|
75
|
|
Independent Director
|
|
Soh Lim Chang (Anthony)
|
|
52
|
|
Independent Director
|
The following information
with respect to the principal occupation or employment of each nominee for director, the principal business of the corporation
or other organization in which such occupation or employment is carried on, and such nominee's business experience during the past
five years, as well as the specific experiences, qualifications, attributes and skills that have led the Board to determine that
such Board members should serve on our Board, has been furnished to the Company by the respective director nominees:
Lee Yip Kun Solomon.
Mr. Lee, the founder of our company, has been a Director and our Chief Executive Officer since August 2007. From March 2004 to
date he has been Company Managing Director of Capital Award Inc. Since May, 1993, he has been the CEO of Irama Edaran Sdn. Bhd.
(Malaysia), a modern fishery developer. There was no formal relationship between Sino Agro Food and Irama Edaran. He received a
B.A. Major in Accounting and Economics from Monash University, Australia and has been associating in the agriculture, aquaculture
and food industry for more than 40 years. As a member of the Board, Mr. Solomon contributes his knowledge of our company and a
deep understanding of all aspects of our business, products and markets, as well substantial experience developing corporate strategy,
assessing emerging industry trends, and business operations.
Daniel Ritchey.
Mr.
Ritchey has been a Director of the Company since February 1, 2014 and was appointed as our Acting Chief Financial Officer since
March 1, 2016 in connection with Mr. Tiusanen’s resignation. While Mr. Ritchey remains a member of the Board, he resigned
as a member of the Audit Committee concomitantly with his appointment as the Company’s Acting Chief Financial Officer. Having
worked in both the public and private sectors, Mr. Ritchey has deployed his years of experience into developing partnerships and
venture capital relationships throughout the agriculture and natural resource industries. Coupled with an undergraduate degree
from Muskingum College (1989) and an MBA from Ohio State University (1994), Mr. Ritchey has as President of The Business Advocate,
Inc. developed 3 successful partnerships, namely DC Capital LLC; 3-D Ranch LLC; and 3-D Oil and Gas LLC, whose business operations
are mainly concentrated in Ohio, and whose commercial property development also extends into the Washington DC area. Mr. Ritchey
continues to serve as a lobbyist on both the State and Federal level, with a focus on issues and industries related to natural
resources and the environment.
Tan Paoy Teik (Peter).
Mr. Tan has been a Director and our Chief Marketing Officer since August 2007. From July, 2005 to December 2014, he was the Company
Managing Director of Milux Corporation Bhd. (Malaysia), a public listed company in Malaysia. As a member of the board, Mr. Tan
contributes his knowledge of the company and a deep understanding of all aspects of our business, products and markets, as well
substantial experience developing corporate strategy, assessing emerging industry trends, and business operations.
Chen Bor Hann (Michael).
Mr. Chen has been a Director and Secretary since August 2007. Since March, 2004, he has been Director and Business Development
Manager of Capital Award Inc. From September 1995 to March 2004, he was Fishery Supervisor of Irama Edaran Sdn. Bhd. (Malaysia).
As a member of the board, Mr. Chen contributes his knowledge of the company and a deep understanding of all aspects of our business,
products and markets, as well substantial experience developing corporate strategy, assessing emerging industry trends, and business
operations.
Nils-Erik Sandberg.
Mr. Sandberg has been an Independent Director of the Company since January 1, 2013. He brings international investment
experience and skills in corporate governance, investor relations, and corporate finance with local knowledge of NASDAQ OMX Stockholm
and Swedish Stock Exchange that will benefit the Company. He was appointed the Chairman of the Compensation Committee of the Company
as of February 1, 2013. He is President of the Jordan Fund, a Swedish investment Company network since 1990. Mr. Sandberg also
currently holds a position as an adviser for Gustavia Energy and Commodities Fund, formerly known as the Stockpicker JF Commodity
Energy Fund, since 2008. Mr. Sandberg was the founder and served as the CEO of Hydrocarbon International HCI AB, a publicly traded
Swedish oil Company, from 1986 to 1993. Mr. Sandberg was the founder and served as the CEO of Grauten Oil AB, a publicly traded
Swedish oil company, from 1986 to 1993. Mr. Sandberg was a director of International Petroleum Corporation, predecessor of Lundin
Oil, later Lundin Petroleum, which trades on both the NASDAQ-OMX and TSX exchanges.
Yap Koi Ming (George).
Mr. Yap has been an Independent Director of the Company since January 1, 2013. He brings international investment banking,
corporate finance, financial reporting, investment strategies, and international auditing experience and skills in corporate governance,
investor relations, and corporate finance with knowledge of NASDAQ OMX Stockholm and the Swedish Stock Exchange that will benefit
the Company. He was appointed the Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Company as of February 1, 2013. He is a practicing international
chartered accountant with over 30 years standing and is a practicing member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England
and Wales since 1984. His international experience has covered Australia-NZ, United Kingdom, Europe, Malaysia, the ASEAN, China
and Hong Kong. Mr. Yap has been the managing principal of K M Yap & Company, a sole proprietary firm of Chartered Accountancy
in NSW, Sydney, since 1990. He has been managing director of Brenna Investments Pty Ltd. since 1998 and has held the position of
Public Interest Director (non-executive) for the Federation of Investment Managers Malaysia, in Malaysia since 2010 (a position
sanctioned by the Securities Commission of Malaysia). Mr. Yap specializes in strategic corporate finance solutions, business plans,
registering listings on stock exchanges, international banking, financial management, risk management, financial reporting, auditing,
financial management, investment management, and providing corporate finance solutions in terms of sourcing finance, as well as
cornerstone investors in IPOs, reverse mergers, and takeovers, that are expected to benefit the Company.
Soh Lim Chang (Anthony).
Mr. Soh was appointed as an Independent Director of the Company on February 5, 2014. He brings investment experience and
skills in corporate governance, corporate finance, new business development and investment strategies with considerable knowledge
in agriculture industry that will benefit the Company. Mr. Soh is a practicing lawyer with 20 years standing and a partner in the
law firm, Edwin Lim Suren & Soh, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He served as Deputy Managing Director of Pontian United Plantations
Berhad (“Pontian”), a Malaysian plantation company in the business of cultivating oil palm on 39,000 acres of land
on a Company basis, and operating an oil mill, from the Year 2009 until October 31, 2013. Prior to his appointment as the Deputy
Managing Director, Mr. Soh was appointed Director in Pontian in 2005, and subsequently promoted to the post of Executive Director
from 2007. He holds an LL.B (Hons) degree from University of Hull, England. In his professional career, Mr. Soh specializes in
mergers and takeovers and corporate re-structuring that are expected to benefit the Company.
Directors serve until the
next annual meeting of shareholders or until their successors are elected and qualified. Officers serve at the discretion of the
Board.
Board Independence
Under NASDAQ Listing Rule
5605(a)(2), a director will not be considered an “independent director” if, such director at any time during the past
three years was an employee of the Company, or if a director (or a director’s family member) accepted compensation from the
Company (other than compensation for board or committee service) in excess of $120,000 during any twelve consecutive month period
within the three years preceding the determination of independence. In addition, a director will not qualify as an “independent
director” if, in the opinion of our Board of Directors, that person has a relationship that would interfere with the exercise
of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Our Board of Directors has determined that each of
the current directors, as well as those standing for re-election, are independent directors as defined by the NASDAQ Listing Rules
governing the independence of directors.
Our Audit and Compensation
Committees are composed entirely of independent directors as required by applicable SEC and NASDAQ rules, including Rule 10A-3
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). In addition, there are no family relationships
among any of the directors or executive officers of the Company.
Board Role in Risk Oversight
Risk is an integral part
of the Board and Board committee deliberations throughout the year. While the Board has the ultimate oversight responsibility for
the risk management process, various committees of the Board also have responsibility for risk management. In particular, the Audit
Committee focuses on financial risk, including internal controls, and receives financial risk assessment reports from management.
Risks related to the compensation programs are reviewed by the Compensation Committee. The Board is advised by these committees
of significant risks and management’s response through periodic updates.
Shareholder Communications with the Board
The Company’s shareholders
may communicate with the Board, including non-executive directors or officers, by sending written communications addressed to such
person or persons in care of Sino Agro Food, Inc., Attention: Secretary, Room 3801, Block A, China Shine Plaza, No. 9 Lin He Xi
Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou City, P.R.C. 510610. All communications will be compiled by the Secretary and submitted to the
addressee. If the Board modifies this process, the revised process will be posted on the Company’s website.
Meetings and Committees of the Board
During the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2015, the Board held quarterly meetings, the Audit Committee held semiannual meetings and the Compensation Committee
held an annual meeting. The Board and Board committees also approved certain actions by unanimous written consent.
Board Committees
The Board has standing
Audit and Compensation Committees. Information concerning the membership and function of each committee is as follows:
Board Committee Membership
|
Name
|
|
Audit
Committee
|
|
Compensation Committee
|
|
|
Lee Yip Kun Solomon
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Daniel Ritchey
|
|
***
|
|
|
|
|
Tan Poay Teik (Peter)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chen Bor Hann (Michael)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yap Koi Ming (George)
|
|
**
|
|
*
|
|
|
Nils-Erik Sandberg
|
|
*
|
|
**
|
|
|
Soh Lim Chang (Anthony)
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
* Member of Committee
** Chairman of Committee
*** Member of Committee until appointment as Acting CFO effective
March 1, 2016
Audit Committee
Our Audit Committee consists
of Yap Koi Ming (George) and Nils-Erik Sandberg, with Mr. Yap elected as Chairman of the Committee. Our Board has determined that
both Yap and Sandberg are “independent” as that term is defined under applicable SEC rules and under the current listing
standards of the NASDAQ Stock Market. Mr. Yap is our audit committee financial expert. Mr. Ritchey was a member of the Audit Committee
until his appointment as the Company’s Acting Chief Financial Officer effective March 1, 2016.
Our Audit Committee’s
responsibilities include: (i) reviewing the independence, qualifications, services, fees, and performance of the independent auditors,
(ii) appointing, replacing and discharging the independent auditor, (iii) pre-approving the professional services provided by the
independent auditor, (iv) reviewing the scope of the annual audit and reports and recommendations submitted by the independent
auditor, and (v) reviewing our financial reporting and accounting policies, including any significant changes, with management
and the independent auditor. The Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with management the Company’s audited financial statements
for the year ended December 31, 2015.
Compensation Committee
Our Compensation Committee
consists of Nils-Erik Sandberg, Yap Koi Ming (George) and Soh Lim Chang (Anthony), with Mr. Sandberg elected as Chairman of the
Committee. Our Board has determined that all of the members are “independent” under the current listing standards of
the NASDAQ Stock Market. Specifically, none of the members of our Compensation Committee is an officer or employee of our company.
None of our executive officers currently serves, or in the past has served, as a member of the Board or compensation committee
of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our Board or Compensation Committee.
Our Board has adopted a
written charter setting forth the authority and responsibilities of the Compensation Committee. Our Compensation Committee has
responsibility for, among other things, evaluating and making decisions regarding the compensation of our executive officers, assuring
that the executive officers are compensated effectively in a manner consistent with our stated compensation strategy, producing
an annual report on executive compensation in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC and periodically
evaluating and administering the terms and administration of our incentive plans and benefit programs. In addition, our Compensation
Committee reviews and makes recommendations to the Board regarding incentive compensation plans that require shareholder approval,
director compensation, the Company’s compensation discussion and analysis (“CD&A”) and the related executive
compensation information for inclusion in the Company’s 10-K and proxy statement, and employment and severance agreements
relating to the chief executive officer.
Nomination of Directors
The Company does not presently
have a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. As a result, the Board is responsible for identifying individuals qualified
to become directors. In evaluating potential candidates for director, the Board considers the entirety of each candidate’s
credentials.
Qualifications for consideration
as a director nominee may vary according to the particular areas of expertise being sought as a complement to the existing composition
of the Board. However, at a minimum, candidates for director must possess:
|
|
·
|
high personal and professional ethics
and integrity;
|
|
|
·
|
the ability to exercise sound judgment;
|
|
|
·
|
the ability to make independent analytical
inquiries;
|
|
|
·
|
a willingness and ability to devote adequate
time and resources to diligently perform Board and committee duties; and
|
|
|
·
|
the appropriate and relevant business
experience and acumen.
|
In addition to these minimum
qualifications, the Board also takes into account the following factors when considering whether to nominate a potential director
candidate:
|
|
·
|
whether the person possesses specific
industry expertise and familiarity with general issues affecting our business;
|
|
|
·
|
whether the person’s nomination
and election would enable the Board to have a member that qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as such
term is defined by the SEC in Item 401 of Regulation S-K;
|
|
|
·
|
whether the person would qualify as an
“independent” director under the listing standards of the Nasdaq Stock Market;
|
|
|
·
|
the importance of continuity of the existing
composition of the Board to provide long term stability and experienced oversight; and
|
|
|
·
|
the importance of diversified Board membership,
in terms of both the individuals involved and their various experiences and areas of expertise.
|
Code of Ethics
The Board has established
a corporate Code of Conduct which qualifies as a “code of ethics” as defined by Item 406 of Regulation S-K of the Exchange
Act. Among other matters, the Code of Conduct is designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote:
|
|
·
|
honest and ethical conduct, including
the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships;
|
|
|
·
|
full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable
disclosure in our SEC reports and other public communications;
|
|
|
·
|
compliance with applicable governmental
laws, rules and regulations;
|
|
|
·
|
prompt internal reporting of violations
of the Code of Conduct to appropriate persons identified in the code; and
|
|
|
·
|
accountability for adherence to the Code
of Conduct.
|
Waivers to the Code of
Conduct may be granted only by the Board. In the event that the Board grants any waivers of the elements listed above to any of
our officers, we expect to announce the waiver within four (4) business days on a Current Report on Form 8-K.
The Code of Conduct applies
to all of the Company’s employees, including our principal executive officer, the principal financial and accounting officer,
and all employees who perform these functions. If we amend our Code of Conduct as it applies to the principal executive officer,
principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller (or persons performing similar functions), we shall disclose
such amendment through the filing of a Current Report on Form 8-K..
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires our directors, executive officers and holders of more than 10% of our common
stock to file with the SEC reports regarding their ownership and changes in ownership of our securities. We believe that, except
as set forth below, during fiscal 2015, our directors, executive officers and all 10% shareholders complied with all Section 16(a)
filing requirements.
|
|
•
|
Each independent member of the Board received 5,051 shares of the Company’s common stock
on May 6, 2015. Mr. Ritchey, who was at the time an independent director, filed a Form 4 reporting his receipt thereof on June
23, 2015. Mr. Soh filed a Form 4 reporting his receipt thereof on June 24, 2015. Mr. Yap filed a Form 4 reporting his receipt thereof
on June 30, 2015. Mr. Sandberg filed a Form 4 reporting his receipt thereof on July 6, 2015.
|
|
|
•
|
Separately, Mr. Lee converted 7,000,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock into shares of common
stock of the Company on June 15, 2015. Mr. Lee filed his form 4 reporting the conversion on August 3, 2015.
|
|
|
•
|
On August 29, 2014 the Company completed the closing of a private placement financing transaction
with Euro China Capital AB (“ECAB”), which purchased a 10.5% convertible note (the “Note”) in the aggregate
principal amount of up to USD 33,300,000. The Note is convertible, at the discretion of ECAB, into shares of the Company’s
common stock (i) at any time following an event of default, or (ii) for a period of thirty (30) calendar days following October
1, 2015 and each anniversary thereof, at an initial conversion price per share of USD 9.90, subject to adjustment for stock splits,
reverse stock splits, stock dividends and other similar transactions and subject to the terms of the Note. ECAB did not file a
Form 3 at any time.
|
The proxy holders intend
to vote the shares represented by proxies for all of the Board's nominees, except to the extent authority to vote for the nominees
is withheld.
The Board unanimously recommends a vote “FOR”
each of its nominees
PROPOSAL NO. 2
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF OUR INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Audit Committee has
appointed the firm of ECOVIS David Yeung Hong Kong as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the
year ending December 31, 2016, subject to ratification of the appointment by the Company's shareholders. A representative of ECOVIS
David Yeung Hong Kong is expected to attend the Annual Meeting to respond to appropriate questions and will have an opportunity
to make a statement if he or she so desires.
Review of the Company's Audited Financial
Statements for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2015
The Audit Committee met
and held discussions with management and the independent auditors. Management represented to the Audit Committee that the Company's
consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States,
and the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the consolidated financial statements with management and the independent auditors.
The Audit Committee also discussed with the independent auditors the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing
Standards No. 114 (Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, AU 380), as amended.
In addition, the Audit
Committee discussed with the independent auditors the auditors' independence from the Company and its management, and the independent
auditors provided to the Audit Committee the written disclosures and letter required by the Independence Standards Board Standard
No. 1 (Independence Discussions With Audit Committees).
The Audit Committee discussed
with the Company's independent auditors the overall scope and plans for their respective audits. The Audit Committee met with the
independent auditors, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examinations and the overall quality
of the Company's internal controls and financial reporting.
Based on the reviews and
discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee approved the audited financial statements be included in the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 for filing with the SEC.
Fees Paid to Auditors
Audit Fees
The aggregate fees billed
for each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountants ECOVIS David Yeung Hong Kong
with respect to FYE 2015 (“Ecovis”) and Anthony Kam & Associates Limited with respect to FYE 2014 (“AK&A”),
for our audit of annual financial statements and review of financial statements included in our quarterly reports or services that
are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for those fiscal years
were:
|
Ecovis
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
$
|
180,000
|
|
|
AK&A
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
$
|
161,000
|
|
Audit-Related Fees
We did not incur fees to
our independent registered public accounting firm for audit related fees during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.
Tax and Other Fees
We did not incur fees to
our independent registered public accounting firm for tax services during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
Consistent with SEC policies
and guidelines regarding audit independence, the Audit Committee is responsible for the pre-approval of all audit and permissible
non-audit services provided by our principal accountants on a case-by-case basis. Our Audit Committee has established a policy
regarding approval of all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by our principal accountants. Our Audit Committee pre-approves
these services by category and service. Our Audit Committee has pre-approved all of the services provided by our principal accountants.
The Board unanimously recommends a vote “FOR”
the ratification of ECOVIS David Yeung Hong Kong
as the Company’s independent registered
public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2016
REPORT OF
THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The
Audit Committee of the Board of Sino Agro Food, Inc. has furnished the following report on its activities during the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2015. The report is not deemed to be “soliciting material” or “filed” with the SEC or
subject to the SEC’s proxy rules or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, and the report shall not be
deemed to be incorporated by reference into any prior or subsequent filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities
Act”), or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that Sino Agro Food, Inc. specifically incorporates it by reference into
any such filing.
The
Audit Committee oversees the financial reporting process on behalf of the Board. Management has the primary responsibility for
the financial reporting process, principles and internal controls as well as preparation of our financial statements. For the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2015, the members of the Audit Committee were Mr. Yap (Committee Chair), Mr. Sandberg and Mr. Ritchey,
each of whom was an independent director as defined by the applicable NASDAQ and SEC rules until March 1, 2016, when Mr. Ritchey
resigned from the Audit Committee in connection with his agreement to serve as the Company’s Acting Chief Financial Officer.
Messrs. Yap and Sandberg remain independent member of the Board and members of the Audit Committee.
In
fulfilling its responsibilities, the Audit Committee appointed independent auditors ECOVIS David Yeung Hong Kong for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2015. The Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with the independent auditors the overall scope and specific
plans for their audit. The Audit Committee also reviewed and discussed with the independent auditors and with management the Company’s
audited financial statements and the adequacy of its internal controls. The Audit Committee met with the independent auditors,
without management present, to discuss the results of our independent auditor’s audits, their evaluations of the Company’s
internal controls and the overall quality of the Company’s financial reporting.
The
Audit Committee monitored the independence and performance of the independent auditors. The Audit Committee discussed with the
independent auditors the matters required to be discussed by Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) Auditing
Standard No. 16—Communications with Audit Committees. The Company’s independent auditors have provided the Audit
Committee with the written disclosures and the letter required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding the independent
auditors’ communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and the Audit Committee has discussed with the
independent auditor the independent auditor’s independence. Based upon the review and discussions referred to above, the
Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited financial statements be included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, for filing with the SEC.
Mr. Yap Koi Ming (George),
Committee Chair
Mr. Nils-Erik Sandberg
Mr. Daniel Ritchey
(until March 1, 2016)
PROPOSAL NO. 3
APPROVAL OF THE SINO AGRO FOOD, INC.
2016 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
Overview
On
September 30, 2016, the Board adopted, upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, the Sino Agro Food, Inc. 2016 Stock
Incentive Plan (the “2016 Plan”), subject to and effective upon shareholder approval at the annual meeting. We are
asking our shareholders to approve the 2016 Plan in order to permit the Company to use the 2016 Plan to achieve the Company's performance,
recruiting, retention and incentive goals.
The
2016 Plan includes a variety of forms of awards, including stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted
stock units and dividend equivalents to allow the Company to adapt its incentive program to meet the needs of the Company in the
changing business environment in which the Company operates.
We
strongly believe that the approval of the 2016 Plan is essential to our continued success. We believe that equity is an important
and significant component of our employees’ compensation. The Board further believes that equity incentives motivate high
levels of performance, align the interests of our employees and shareholders by giving directors, employees and consultants the
perspective of an owner with an equity stake in the Company, and provide an effective means of recognizing their contributions
to the success of the Company. The Board and management believe that the ability to grant equity incentives will be important to
the future success of the Company and is in the best interests of the Company's shareholders.
The
potential dilution resulting from issuing all of the proposed 1,000,000 shares under the 2016 Plan would be 4.5% on a fully-diluted
basis.
If
approved, the 2016 Plan will constitute the first such plan ever adopted by the Company. Assuming shareholders approve the 2016
Plan, the 2016 Plan will be effective as the date of the annual meeting.
We
are seeking shareholder approval of the 2016 Plan in order to satisfy certain legal requirements, including making awards under
it eligible for beneficial tax treatment. In addition, the Board regards shareholder approval of the 2016 Plan as desirable and
consistent with good corporate governance practices.
Best Practices
We have designed the 2016
Plan to include a number of provisions that we believe promote best practices by reinforcing the alignment between equity compensation
arrangements for directors, employees and consultants and shareholders’ interests. These provisions include, but are not
limited to, the following:
|
2016 Plan Provision
|
|
Description of Best Practice
|
|
No Liberal Share Recycling
|
|
Shares will not be recycled for issuance as awards under the 2016 Plan in the following circumstances: shares delivered as a result of the net settlement of an outstanding SAR or a stock option; shares used to pay the exercise price or withholding taxes related to an outstanding award; or shares repurchased on the open market with the proceeds of a stock option exercise price
|
|
No Repricing without Shareholder Approval
|
|
Except in case of certain corporate events, the Company cannot reduce the exercise price of stock options and SARs or buyout for cash underwater options and SARs without the approval of its shareholders
|
|
Double Trigger Acceleration; No “liberal” Change of Control definition
|
|
Awards granted under the 2016 Plan are subject to double-trigger vesting provisions upon a change of control. This means that rather than vesting automatically upon a change of control, such awards will be subject to accelerated vesting only in the event of a qualifying termination following a change of control or in the event the acquiring company does not assume the award. The change of control definition in the 2016 Plan is not “liberal” and, for example, would not occur merely upon shareholder approval of a transaction. A change of control must actually occur in order for the Change of Control provisions in the 2016 Plan to be triggered.
|
|
Minimum Vesting Schedules
|
|
All full value awards (awards other than options and SARs) will vest no earlier than one year from the date of grant (except with respect to a maximum of 5% of the shares under the 2016 Plan)
|
|
Limits on individual director compensation per year
|
|
$350,000 in total value, either in cash, shares of stock or a combination of cash and stock, provided, however, that in extraordinary circumstances, that limit can be increased to $500,000
|
|
Clawback Provision
|
|
Includes language subjecting awards to recovery pursuant to any law, government regulation, stock exchange listing requirement including the SEC clawback rules or Company policy
|
Summary of the 2016 Plan
The following is a description
of the principal terms of the 2016 Plan. The summary is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the 2016 Plan, which is attached
as Appendix A to this Proxy Statement.
General.
The
2016 Plan would authorize the grant to eligible individuals of (1) stock options (incentive and nonstatutory), (2) restricted stock,
(3) stock appreciation rights, or SARs, (4) restricted stock units, and (5) other stock-based compensation.
Stock Subject to the
2016 Plan.
The maximum number of shares of our common stock that may be issued under the 2016 Plan is 1,000,000
shares, which amount will be increased to the extent that compensated granted under the 2016 Plan are forfeited, expire or
are settled for cash (except as otherwise provided in the 2016 Plan).
Substitute awards (awards
made or shares issued by the Company in assumption of, or in substitution or exchange for, awards previously granted, or the right
or obligation to make future awards, in each case by a company acquired by the Company or any Company subsidiary or with which
the Company or any subsidiary combines) will not reduce the shares authorized for grant under the 2016 Plan, nor will shares subject
to a substitute award be added to the shares available for issuance or transfer under the 2016 Plan.
No Liberal Share Recycling.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, any and all stock that is (i) withheld or tendered in payment of an option exercise
price; (ii) withheld by the Company or tendered by the grantee to satisfy any tax withholding obligation with respect to any award;
(iii) covered by a SAR that it is settled in stock, without regard to the number of shares of stock that are actually issued to
the grantee upon exercise; or (vi) reacquired by the Company on the open market or otherwise using cash proceeds from the exercise
of options, shall not be added to the maximum number of shares of stock that may be issued under the 2016 Plan.
Limits per Participant.
With respect to awards intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, the 2016 Plan
provides that, subject to adjustment as provided in the 2016 Plan, no participant may, in any 12-month period (i) be granted options
or SARs with respect to more than 750,000 shares of our common stock, (ii) earn more than 500,000 shares of our common stock under
restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards, performance awards and/or other share-based awards, or (iii) earn more than
$5,000,000 under an award; provided, however, that each of these limitations shall be multiplied by two (2) with respect to awards
granted to a participant during the first calendar year in which the participant commences employment with us or any of our subsidiaries.
Notwithstanding any other
provision of the 2016 Plan to the contrary, no non-employee director may be granted awards during any calendar year in excess of
$350,000 in total value, either in cash, shares of stock or a combination of cash and stock, provided, however, that in extraordinary
circumstances, that limit can be increased to $500,000.
Eligibility.
Employees
of, and consultants to, our Company or its affiliates and members of our Board are eligible to receive equity awards under the
2016 Plan. Only our employees, and employees of our parent and subsidiary corporations, if any, are eligible to receive Incentive
Stock Options. Employees, directors (including non-employee directors) and consultants of or for our Company and its affiliates
are eligible to receive Nonstatutory Stock Options, Restricted Stock, Purchase Rights and any other form of award the 2016 Plan
authorizes.
Purpose.
The
purpose of the 2016 Plan is to promote the interests of the Company and its shareholders by providing executive officers,
employees, non-employee directors, and key advisors of the Company and its defined subsidiaries with appropriate incentives
and rewards to encourage them to enter into and remain in their positions with the Company and to acquire a proprietary interest
in the long-term success of the Company, as well as to reward the performance of these individuals in fulfilling their personal
responsibilities for long-range and annual achievements.
Administration.
Unless
otherwise determined by the Board, the Compensation Committee administers the 2016 Plan. The Compensation Committee is composed
solely of “non-employee directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, “outside directors”
within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, and “independent directors” within the meaning
of NASDAQ listing standards. The Compensation Committee has the power, in its discretion, to grant awards under the 2016 Plan,
to select the individuals to whom awards are granted, to determine the terms of the grants, to interpret the provisions of the
2016 Plan and to otherwise administer the 2016 Plan. Except as prohibited by applicable law or any rule promulgated by a national
securities exchange to which the Company may in the future be subject, the Compensation Committee may delegate all or any of its
responsibilities and powers under the 2016 Plan to one or more of its members, including, without limitation, the power to designate
participants and determine the amount, timing and term of awards under the 2016 Plan. In no event, however, shall the Compensation
Committee have the power to accelerate the payment or vesting of any award, other than in the event of death, disability, retirement
or a change of control of the Company.
The 2016 Plan provides
that members of the Compensation Committee shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from any loss or expense
resulting from claims and litigation arising from actions related to the 2016 Plan.
Term.
If approved, the 2016 Plan is effective December 20, 2016 and awards may be granted through December 19, 2026. No awards may be
granted under the 2016 Plan subsequent to that date. The Board may suspend or terminate the 2016 Plan without shareholder approval
or ratification at any time or from time to time.
Amendments.
Subject to the terms of the 2016 Plan, the Compensation Committee as administrator has the sole discretion to interpret the provisions
of the 2016 Plan and outstanding awards. Our Board generally may amend or terminate the 2016 Plan at any time and for any reason,
except that no amendment, suspension, or termination may impair the rights of any participant without his or her consent, and except
that approval of our shareholders is required for any amendment which:
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Increases
the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the 2016 Plan;
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Decreases
the price at which grants may be granted;
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Reprices
existing options;
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Materially
increases the benefits to participants; or
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Changes
the class of persons eligible to receive grants under the 2016 Plan.
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Repricing
Prohibition.
Other than in connection with certain corporate events, the Compensation Committee shall not, without the approval
of the Company’s shareholders, (a) lower the option price per share of an option or SAR after it is granted, (b) cancel an
Option or SAR when the exercise price per share exceeds the fair market value of one share in exchange for cash or another award
(other than in connection with a change of control), or (c) take any other action with respect to an Option or SAR that would be
treated as a repricing under the rules and regulations of the principal U.S. national securities exchange on which the Company’s
shares are then listed.
Minimum Vesting
Requirement.
Grantees of full-value awards (i.e., awards other than options and SARs), will be required to continue to provide
services to the Company or an affiliated company) for not less than one-year following the date of grant in order for any such
full-value Awards to fully or partially vest (other than in case of death, disability or a Change of Control). Notwithstanding
the foregoing, up to five percent (5%) of the available shares of stock authorized for issuance under the 2016 Plan may provide
for vesting of full-value awards, partially or in full, in less than one-year.
Adjustments upon
Changes in Capitalization.
In the event of any merger, reorganization, consolidation, recapitalization, dividend or distribution
(whether in cash, shares or other property, other than a regular cash dividend), stock split, reverse stock split, spin-off or
similar transaction or other change in our corporate structure affecting our common stock or the value thereof, appropriate adjustments
to the 2016 Plan and awards will be made as the Board determines to be equitable or appropriate, including adjustments in the number
and class of shares of stock available for issuance under the 2016 Plan, the number, class and exercise or grant price of shares
subject to awards outstanding under the 2016 Plan, and the limits on the number of awards that any person may receive.
Change of Control.
Agreements evidencing awards under the 2016 Plan may provide that upon a Change of Control (as defined in the 2016 Plan), unless
otherwise provided in the agreement evidencing an award), outstanding Awards may be cancelled and terminated without payment if
the consideration payable with respect to one share of Stock in connection with the Change of Control is less than the exercise
price or grant price applicable to such Award, as applicable.
Notwithstanding any
other provisions of the 2016 Plan to the contrary, the vesting, payment, purchase or distribution of an Award may not be accelerated
by reason of a Change of Control for any participant unless the Grantee’s employment is involuntarily terminated as a result
of the Change of Control as provided in the Award agreement or in any other written agreement, including an employment agreement,
between us and the participant. If the Change of Control results in the involuntary termination of participant’s employment,
outstanding awards will immediately vest, become fully exercisable and may thereafter be exercised.
Generally, under the
2016 Plan, a Change of Control occurs upon (i) the consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation of our Company with
or into another entity, pursuant to which our shareholders immediately prior to the transaction do not own more than 50% of the
total combined voting power after the transaction, (ii) the consummation of the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially
all of our assets, (iii) certain changes in the majority of our Board from those in office on the effective date of the 2016 Plan,
(iv) the acquisition of more than 50% of the total combined voting power in our outstanding securities by any person, or (v) the
Company is dissolved or liquidated.
Types of Awards
Stock
Options.
Incentive Stock Options and Nonstatutory Stock Options are granted pursuant to award agreements adopted by our
Compensation Committee. Our Compensation Committee determines the exercise price for a stock option, within the terms and conditions
of the 2016 Plan; provided, that the exercise price of an Incentive
Stock Option cannot be less
than 100% of the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant. Options granted under the 2016 Plan vest at the rate
specified by our Compensation Committee.
The
Compensation Committee determines the term of stock options granted under the 2016 Plan, up to a maximum of 10 years, except in
the case of certain Incentive Stock Options, as described below. The Compensation Committee will also determine the length of period
during which an optionee may exercise their options if an optionee’s relationship with us, or any of our affiliates, ceases
for any reason; for Incentive Stock Options, this period is limited by applicable law. The Compensation Committee may extend the
exercise period in the event that exercise of the option following termination of service is prohibited by applicable securities
laws. In no event, however, may an option be exercised beyond the expiration of its term unless the term is extended in accordance
with applicable law.
Acceptable
consideration for the purchase of common stock issued upon the exercise of a stock option will be determined by the Compensation
Committee and may include (a) cash or its equivalent, (b) delivering a properly executed notice of exercise of the option
to us and a broker, with irrevocable instructions to the broker promptly to deliver to us the amount necessary to pay the exercise
price of the option, (c) any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Compensation Committee or (d) any
combination of (a), (b) or (c).
Unless
the Compensation Committee provides otherwise, options are generally transferable in accordance with applicable law, provided that
any transferee of such options agrees to become bound by the terms of the 2016 Plan. An optionee may also designate a beneficiary
who may exercise the option following the optionee’s death.
Incentive
or Nonstatutory Stock Options.
Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to our employees, and the employees of our
parent or subsidiary corporations, if any. The Compensation Committee may grant awards of Incentive or Nonstatutory Stock Options
that are fully vested on the date made, to any of our employees, directors or consultants. Option Awards are granted pursuant to
award agreements adopted by our Compensation Committee. To the extent required by applicable law, the aggregate fair market value,
determined at the time of grant, of shares of our Common Stock with respect to Incentive Stock Options that are exercisable for
the first time by an optionee during any calendar year may not exceed $100,000. To the extent required by applicable law, no Incentive
Stock Option may be granted to any person who, at the time of the grant, owns or is deemed to own stock possessing more than 10%
of our total combined voting power or that of any of our affiliates unless (a) the option exercise price is at least 110%
of the fair market value of the stock subject to the option on the date of grant and (b) the term of the incentive stock option
does not exceed five years from the date of grant.
Stock
Appreciation Rights
. A SAR is the right to receive stock, cash, or other property equal in value to the difference between
the grant price of the SAR and the market price of the Company’s Common Stock on the exercise date. SARs may be granted independently
or in tandem with an Option at the time of grant of the related Option. An SAR granted in tandem with an Option shall be exercisable
only to the extent the underlying Option is exercisable. An SAR confers on the grantee a right to receive an amount with respect
to each share of Common Stock subject thereto, upon exercise thereof,
equal
to the excess of (A) the fair market value of one share of Common Stock on the date of exercise over (B) the grant price of the
SAR (which in the case of an SAR granted in tandem with an Option shall be equal to the exercise price of the underlying Option,
and which in the case of any other SAR shall be such price as the Compensation Committee may determine but in no event shall be
less than the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date of grant of such SAR).
Restricted Stock
and Restricted Stock Units
. Restricted Stock is common stock that the Company grants subject to transfer restrictions and vesting
criteria. A Restricted Stock Unit is a right to receive stock or cash equal to the value of a share of stock at the end of a specified
period that the Company grants subject to transfer restrictions and vesting criteria. The grant of these awards under the 2016
Plan are subject to such terms, conditions and restrictions as the Compensation Committee determines consistent with the terms
of the 2016 Plan.
At the time of grant,
the Compensation Committee may place restrictions on Restricted Stock and restricted stock units that shall lapse, in whole or
in part, only upon the attainment of Performance Goals; provided that such Performance Goals shall relate to periods of performance
of at least one fiscal year, and if the award is granted to a 162(m) Officer, the grant of the award and the establishment
of the Performance Goals shall be made during the period required under Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m). Except to the
extent restricted under the award agreement relating to the Restricted Stock, a grantee granted Restricted Stock shall have all
of the rights of a shareholder including the right to vote Restricted Stock and the right to receive dividends.
Unless otherwise provided
in an award agreement, upon the vesting of a Restricted Stock Unit, there shall be delivered to the grantee, within 30 days of
the date on which such award (or any portion thereof) vests, the number of shares of common stock equal to the number of restricted
stock units becoming so vested.
Other
Stock-Based Awards.
The 2016 Plan also allows the Compensation Committee to grant “Other Stock-Based Awards,”
which means a right or other interest that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise
based on, or related to, common stock. Subject to the limitations contained in the 2016 Plan, this includes, without limitation,
(i) unrestricted stock awarded as a bonus or upon the attainment of Performance Goals or otherwise as permitted under the
2016
Plan and (ii) a right to acquire stock from the Company containing terms and conditions prescribed
by the Compensation Committee. At the time of the grant of Other Stock-Based Awards, the Compensation Committee may place restrictions
on the payout or vesting of Other Stock-Based Awards that shall lapse, in whole or in part, only upon the attainment of Performance
Goals; provided that such Performance Goals shall relate to periods of performance of at least one fiscal year, and if the
award is granted to a 162(m) Officer, the grant of the Award and the establishment of the Performance Goals shall be made
during the period required under Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m). Other Stock-Based Awards may not be granted with the
right to receive dividend equivalent payments.
Performance
Awards
. Performance awards provide participants with the opportunity to receive shares of our common stock, cash or other property
based on performance and other vesting conditions. Performance awards may be granted from time to time as determined at the discretion
of the Board, or the Compensation Committee (as applicable). Subject to the share limit and maximum dollar value set forth above
under “
Limits per Participant
,” the Board, or the Compensation Committee (as applicable), has the discretion
to determine (i) the number of shares of common stock under, or the dollar value of, a performance award and (ii) the conditions
that must be satisfied for grant or for vesting, which typically will be based principally or solely on achievement of performance
goals.
Performance
Criteria
. With respect to awards intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m), a committee
of “outside directors” (as defined in Code Section 162(m)) with authority delegated by our
Board
will determine the terms and conditions of such awards, including the performance criteria. The performance goals for restricted
stock awards, restricted stock units, performance awards or other share-based awards shall be based on the attainment of specified
levels of one or any combination of the following:
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the
attainment of certain target levels of, or a specified percentage increase in, revenues, earnings, income before taxes and extraordinary
items, net income, operating income, earnings before or after deduction for all or any portion of income tax, earnings before
interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization or a combination of any or all of the foregoing;
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the attainment of certain target levels
of, or a percentage increase in, after-tax or pre-tax profits including, without limitation, that attributable to continuing and/or
other operations;
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the attainment of certain target levels
of, or a specified increase in, operational cash flow;
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the achievement of a certain level of,
reduction of, or other specified objectives with regard to limiting the level of increase in, all or a portion of, the Company’s
bank debt or other long-term or short-term public or private debt or other similar financial obligations of the Company, which
may be calculated net of such cash balances and/or other offsets and adjustments as may be established by the Compensation Committee;
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earnings per share or the attainment of
a specified percentage increase in earnings per share or earnings per share from continuing operations;
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the attainment of certain target levels
of, or a specified increase in return on capital employed or return on invested capital;
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the attainment of certain target levels
of, or a percentage increase in, after-tax or pre-tax return on shareholders’ equity;
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the attainment of certain target levels
of, or a specified increase in, economic value added targets based on a cash flow return on investment formula;
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the attainment of certain target levels
in, or specified increases in, the fair market value of the shares of the Company’s common stock;
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the growth in the value of an investment
in the Company’s common stock;
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the attainment of a certain level of,
reduction of, or other specified objectives with regard to limiting the level in or increase in, all or a portion of controllable
expenses or costs or other expenses or costs;
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gross or net sales, revenue and growth
of sales revenue (either before or after cost of goods, selling and general administrative expenses, research and development expenses
and any other expenses or interest);
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total shareholder return;
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return on assets or net assets;
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operating profit or net operating profit;
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gross or net profit margin;
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cost reductions or savings;
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customer satisfaction; and
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to the extent that an Award is not intended
to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code, other measures of performance selected by the Board.
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The
performance goals may be based solely by reference to our performance or the performance of one or more of our subsidiaries, parents,
divisions, business segments or business units, or based upon the relative performance of other companies or upon comparisons of
any of the indicators of performance relative to other companies. The authorized committee of outside directors may also exclude
under the terms of the performance awards, the impact of an event or occurrence that the committee determines should appropriately
be excluded, including (i) restructurings, discontinued operations, extraordinary items, and other unusual or non-recurring charges,
or (ii) changes in generally accepted accounting principles or practices.
In
connection with the approval of the 2016 Plan, the shareholders also are being asked to approve the above criteria for purposes
of Section 162(m) of the Code.
New Plan Benefits under the 2016 Plan
Because future awards
under the 2016 Plan will be granted in the discretion of the Compensation Committee, the type, number, recipients, and other
terms of such awards cannot be determined at this time.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
The
following is a brief description of the material United States federal income tax consequences associated with awards under
the 2016 Plan. It is based on existing United States laws and regulations, and there can be no assurance that those laws and
regulations will not change in the future. Tax consequences in other countries may vary. This information is not intended as tax
advice to anyone, including participants in the 2016 Plan.
Stock
Options
. Neither incentive stock option grants nor non-qualified stock option grants cause any tax consequences to the
participant or the Company at the time of grant. Upon the exercise of a non-qualified stock option, the excess of the market
value of the shares acquired over their exercise price is ordinary income to the participant and is deductible by the Company.
The participant’s tax basis for the shares is the market value thereof at the time of exercise. Any gain or loss realized
upon a subsequent disposition of the stock will generally constitute capital gain, in connection with which the Company will
not be entitled to a tax deduction.
Upon
the exercise of an incentive stock option, the participant will not realize taxable income, but the excess of the fair market value
of the stock over the exercise price may give rise to alternative minimum tax. When the stock acquired upon exercise of an incentive
stock option is subsequently sold, the participant will recognize income equal to the difference between the sales price and the
exercise price of the option. If the sale occurs after the expiration of two years from the grant date and one year from the exercise
date, the income will constitute long-term capital gain. If the sale occurs prior to that time, the participant will recognize
ordinary income to the extent of the lesser of the gain realized upon the sale or the difference between the fair market value
of the acquired stock at the time of exercise and the exercise price; any additional gain will constitute capital gain. The Company
will be entitled to a deduction in an amount equal to the ordinary income recognized by the participant, but no deduction in connection with
any capital gain recognized by the participant. If the participant exercises an incentive stock option more than three months after
his or her termination of employment due to retirement or other separation other than death or disability, or more than twelve
months after his or her termination of employment due to death or permanent disability, he or she is deemed to have exercised a
non-qualified stock option.
Compensation
realized by participants on the exercise of non-qualified stock options or the disposition of shares acquired upon exercise
of any incentive stock options should qualify as performance-based compensation under the Code and thus not be subject to the $1,000,000
deductibility limit of Code Section 162(m).
Stock
Appreciation Rights
. A participant granted a stock appreciation right under the 2016 Plan will not recognize income, and the
Company will not be allowed a tax deduction, at the time the award is granted. When the participant exercises the stock appreciation
right, the amount of cash and the fair market value of any shares of stock or other consideration received will be ordinary income
to the participant and the Company will be allowed a corresponding federal income tax deduction at that time. Compensation realized
by the participant on the exercise of the stock appreciation right should qualify as performance-based compensation under the Code
and thus not be subject to the $1,000,000 deductibility limit of Code Section 162(m).
Restricted
Stock
. Restricted stock is not taxable to a participant at the time of grant, but instead is included in ordinary income (at
its then fair market value) when the restrictions lapse. A participant may elect, however, to recognize income at the time of grant,
in which case the fair market value of the restricted shares at the time of grant is included in ordinary income and there is no
further income recognition when the restrictions lapse. If a participant makes such an election and thereafter forfeits the
restricted shares, he or she will be entitled to no tax deduction, capital loss or other tax benefit. The Company is entitled
to a tax deduction in an amount equal to the ordinary income recognized by the participant, subject to any applicable limitations
under Code Section 162(m).
A
participant’s tax basis for restricted shares will be equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the participant.
The participant will recognize capital gain (or loss) on a sale of the restricted stock if the sale price exceeds (or is lower
than) such basis. The holding period for restricted shares for purposes of characterizing gain or loss on the sale of any shares
as long- or short-term commences at the time the participant recognizes ordinary income pursuant to an award. the Company is not
entitled to a tax deduction corresponding to any capital gain or loss of the participant.
Restricted
Stock Units
. A participant will not recognize income, and the Company will not be allowed a tax deduction, at the time a restricted
stock unit award is granted. Upon receipt of shares of stock (or the equivalent value in cash or any combination of cash and the
Company common stock) in settlement of a restricted stock unit award, a participant will recognize ordinary income equal to the
fair market value of the stock and cash received as of that date (less any amount he or she paid for the stock and cash), and the
Company will be allowed a corresponding federal income tax deduction at that time, subject to any applicable limitations under
Code Section 162(m).
Performance
Awards
. A participant will not recognize income, and the Company will not be allowed a tax deduction, at the time a performance
award is granted (for example, when the performance goals are established). Upon receipt of stock or cash (or a combination thereof)
in settlement of a performance award, the participant will recognize ordinary income equal to the fair market value of the stock
and cash received, and the Company will be allowed a corresponding federal income tax deduction at that time, subject to any applicable
limitations under Code Section 162(m).
Code
Section 409A
. If an award is subject to Code Section 409A (which relates to nonqualified deferred compensation
plans), and if the requirements of Section 409A are not met, the taxable events as described above could apply earlier than
described, and could result in the imposition of additional taxes and penalties. All awards that comply with the terms of the 2016
Plan, however, are intended to be exempt from the application of Code Section 409A or meet the requirements of Section 409A
in order to avoid such early taxation and penalties.
Tax
Withholding
. The Company has the right to deduct or withhold, or require a participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient
to satisfy federal, state and local taxes (including employment taxes) required by law to be withheld with respect to any exercise,
lapse of restriction or other taxable event arising as a result of the 2016 Plan. The Compensation Committee may, at the time the
award is granted or thereafter, require or permit that any such withholding requirement be satisfied, in whole or in part,
by delivery of, or withholding from the award, shares having a fair market value on the date of withholding equal to the amount
required to be withheld for tax purposes.
Required Vote
Approval
of the 2016 Plan requires the receipt of the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of the Company's common
stock present in person or by proxy and voting at the Annual Meeting.
The Board unanimously recommends a vote
“FOR” the approval
of the Sino Agro Food, Inc. 2016 Stock
Incentive Plan
PROPOSAL NO. 4
ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE NAMED EXECUTIVE
OFFICER COMPENSATION
We
are asking our shareholders to provide an advisory vote to approve the compensation of our named executive officers, including
the CD&A, the compensation tables and narrative disclosures as described in this Proxy Statement. The Company currently holds
such an advisory vote every three years, and this proposal, commonly known as a “say-on-pay” proposal, gives our shareholders
the opportunity to express their views on the compensation of our named executive officers.
Please
see the CD&A section of this Proxy Statement, the compensation tables and the narrative disclosures that accompany the compensation
tables for greater detail about our executive compensation programs, including information about the fiscal year 2015 compensation
of our named executive officers.
We
believe that our overall compensation program and philosophy support and help drive the Company’s long-term value creation,
business strategy and operating performance objectives. We are again asking our shareholders to indicate their support for our
named executive officer compensation as described in this proxy statement by voting “FOR” the following resolution
at the Annual Meeting:
“RESOLVED,
that the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation
S-K, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables and narrative discussion is hereby APPROVED.”
While
this say-on-pay vote is advisory and does not bind the Company to any particular action, the Board and the Compensation Committee
value your opinion. Accordingly, the Board and the Compensation Committee will consider the outcome of this vote when making future
compensation decisions for the Company’s named executive officers.
Approval
of this resolution requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the votes cast in person or by proxy at the Annual
Meeting.
The Board unanimously recommends a vote
“FOR” the approval
of the compensation of our named executive
officers, as disclosed in this Proxy Statement.
PROPOSAL NO. 5
ADVISORY VOTE ON THE FREQUENCY OF HOLDING
AN ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Dodd-Frank Act
requires the Company’s shareholders to have the opportunity to cast a non-binding advisory vote regarding how frequently
the Company should seek from its shareholders a non-binding advisory vote (similar to Proposal No. 4 above) on the compensation
disclosed in the Company’s proxy statement of its Named Executive Officers. The Company has included this proposal among
the items to be considered at the Annual Meeting pursuant to the requirements of Section 14A of the Exchange Act. By voting on
this frequency proposal, shareholders may indicate whether they would prefer that the advisory vote on the compensation of the
Company’s Named Executive Officers occur every one, two or three years. Shareholders may also abstain from voting on the
proposal. Accordingly, the following resolution is submitted for an advisory shareholder vote at the Annual Meeting:
RESOLVED, that the
highest number of votes cast by the shareholders of Sino Agro Food, Inc. for the option set forth below shall be the preferred
frequency of the Company’s shareholders for holding an advisory vote on the compensation of the Company’s executive
officers who are named in the Summary Compensation Table of the Company’s Proxy Statement:
every year;
every two years; or
every three years.
The Board of Directors
has determined that an advisory vote by the Company’s shareholders on executive compensation that occurs every three years
is the most appropriate alternative for the Company. In formulating its conclusion, the Board of Directors considered that, because
the Company’s compensation program for executive officers is not complex, a shareholder advisory vote every three years should
be sufficient to permit our shareholders to express their views about our compensation program. Also, the Board of Directors believes
that the success of the Company’s executive compensation program should be judged over a period time that is longer than
one year.
You may cast your vote
on your preferred voting frequency by choosing the option of one year, two years or three years when you vote in response to this
proposal, and you may also abstain from voting on the proposal. Your vote on this proposal is not a vote to approve or disapprove
of the Board’s recommendation but rather is a vote to select one of the options described in the preceding sentence. The
option of one year, two years or three years that receives the highest number of votes cast by shareholders will be the frequency
of the advisory vote on executive compensation that has been recommended by the shareholders. However, because this vote is advisory
and not binding on either the Board of Directors or the Company, the Board of Directors may subsequently decide that it is in the
best interests of the Company and its shareholders to hold an advisory vote on executive compensation that differs in frequency
from the option that received the highest number of votes from the Company’s shareholders at the Annual Meeting.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD FOR PROPOSAL
NO. 5:
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR
A THREE-YEAR FREQUENCY FOR HOLDING AN ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Executive Officers
The executive officers
are elected by our Board and hold office until their successors are elected and duly qualified. There are no family relationships
between any of our directors or executive officers. The current executive officers of the Company are as follows:
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NAME
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AGE
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OFFICES HELD
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Lee Yip Kun Solomon
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73
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President, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors
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Daniel Ritchey
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48
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Chief Financial Officer and Director
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Tan Poay Teik (Peter)
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57
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Chief Marketing Officer and Director
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Chen Bor Hann (Michael)
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51
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Secretary and Director
|
Biographical information about Mr. Lee is
provided in “Proposal No. 1 – Election of Directors.”
Biographical information about Mr. Ritchey
is provided in “Proposal No. 1 – Election of Directors.”
Biographical information about Mr. Tan is
provided in “Proposal No. 1 – Election of Directors.”
Biographical information about Mr. Chen
is provided in “Proposal No. 1 – Election of Directors.”
Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings
Our directors and executive
officers have not been involved in any of the following events during the past ten years:
|
|
1.
|
any bankruptcy petition filed by or against such person or any business of which such person was a general partner or executive
officer either at the time of the bankruptcy or within two years prior to that time;
|
|
|
2.
|
any conviction in a criminal proceeding or being subject to a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and
other minor offenses);
|
|
|
3.
|
being subject to any order, judgment, or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of competent
jurisdiction, permanently or temporarily enjoining him from or otherwise limiting his involvement in any type of business, securities
or banking activities or to be associated with any person practicing in banking or securities activities;
|
|
|
4.
|
being found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action, the Securities and Exchange Commission or the Commodity
Futures Trading Commission to have violated a Federal or state securities or commodities law, and the judgment has not been reversed,
suspended, or vacated;
|
|
|
5.
|
being subject of, or a party to, any Federal or state judicial or administrative order, judgment decree, or finding, not subsequently
reversed, suspended or vacated, relating to an alleged violation of any Federal or state securities or commodities law or regulation,
any law or regulation respecting financial institutions or insurance companies, or any law or regulation prohibiting mail or wire
fraud or fraud in connection with any business entity; or
|
|
|
6.
|
being subject of or party to any sanction or order, not subsequently reversed, suspended, or vacated, of any self-regulatory
organization, any registered entity or any equivalent exchange, association, entity or organization that has disciplinary authority
over its members or persons associated with a member.
|
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Our CD&A discusses
the compensation of the individuals who served as our executive officers during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, as set
forth in the summary compensation table, subsequent tables and related disclosure in this proxy statement. Our CD&A describes
our overall executive compensation philosophy, objectives and practices, as well as the Board’s decisions and determinations
regarding executive compensation for 2015. It also describes key decisions made by the Board and Compensation Committee for 2016
prior to the filing of this proxy statement.
We refer to the following individuals as
“named executive officers” for 2015:
|
Name
|
|
Title
|
|
Lee Yip Kun Solomon
|
|
President and Chief Executive Officer
|
|
Tan Paoy Teik (Peter)
|
|
Chief Marketing Officer
|
|
Chen Bor Hann
|
|
Secretary
|
Historically, the Compensation
Committee of our Board made recommendations to the full Board regarding executive compensation. In March of 2013, the Board approved
a Compensation Committee charter. The Compensation Committee will regularly review our program to ensure that we maintain an effective
link between pay and performance and that there are no compensation-related risks that would be likely to have a material adverse
effect on the Company. This oversight responsibility is described in more detail throughout this CD&A, including information
regarding our compensation governance practices, the outcome of our shareholder advisory vote on executive compensation (the “Say-on-Pay”
vote), and selection and composition of our compensation peer group.
Compensation Philosophy and Practices
We believe that the performance of our
executive officers significantly impacts our ability to achieve our corporate goals. We, therefore, place considerable importance
on the design and administration of our executive officer compensation program. This program is intended to enhance shareholder
value by attracting, motivating and retaining qualified individuals to perform at the highest levels and to contribute to our growth
and success. Our executive officer compensation program is designed to provide compensation opportunities that are tied to individual
and corporate performance.
Our compensation packages
are also designed to be competitive in our industry. The Compensation Committee consults with legal counsel and other advisors
in designing our compensation program, including in evaluating the competitiveness of individual compensation packages and in relation
to our corporate goals.
The
main principles of our fiscal year 2015 compensation strategy included the following:
|
|
•
|
Equity
as a key component to align the interests of our executives with those of our shareholders.
Our Compensation Committee
continues to believe that keeping executives interests aligned with those of our shareholders is critical to driving toward achievement
of long-term goals of both our shareholders and the Company; and
|
|
|
•
|
Peer
group positioning
. While the Compensation Committee considers the level of compensation paid by the companies in our peer
group as a reference point that provides a framework for its compensation decisions, in order to maintain competiveness and flexibility,
the Compensation Committee does not target compensation at a particular level relative to the peer group; nor does the Compensation
Committee employ a formal benchmarking strategy or rely upon specific peer–derived targets.
|
In 2015, we also continued
practices that demonstrate good governance and careful stewardship of corporate assets, including:
|
|
•
|
Limited
personal benefits
. Our executive officers are eligible for the same benefits as our non-executive salaried employees, and
they do not receive any additional perquisites.
|
|
|
•
|
No
retirement benefits
. We do not provide our executive officers with a traditional retirement plan, or with any supplemental
deferred compensation or retirement benefits.
|
|
|
•
|
No
tax gross-ups
. We do not provide our executive officers with any tax gross-ups.
|
We
will conduct our first advisory vote on executive compensation, commonly referred to as a “say-on-pay” vote, at the
2016 annual meeting. Our Compensation Committee and our Board will consider shareholder feedback through the say-on-pay vote.
Compensation Processes and Procedures
The
Compensation Committee seeks to fulfill the Board’s responsibilities to oversee the Company’s compensation policies,
plans and programs and reviewing and determining, as appropriate, the compensation to be paid to executive officers and directors.
However, the Board has the final say on whether to accept or reject any recommendation made by the Compensation Committee. In performing
this task, the Compensation Committee (i) reviews and approves corporate and individual performance goals and objectives that
support and reinforce the Company’s long-term strategic goals and compensation plans; (ii) establishes policies with
respect to equity compensation arrangements, equity awards for newly hired employees, promotions and annual awards for executive
and non-executive employees and directors; (iii) reviews and approves the terms of any employment agreements, severance agreements,
change-of-control protections and any other compensatory arrangements of the executive officers; (iv) performs and considers
a compensation risk assessment; and (v) considers shareholder feedback and Say-on-Pay voting results.
With
respect to the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation Committee evaluates the Chief Executive Officer’s
performance in light of relevant performance goals and objectives, taking into account the policies of the Compensation Committee
and, with respect to long-term incentive compensation, shareholder return and the results of the most recent shareholder advisory
vote on executive compensation. The Compensation Committee recommends to the Board for final determination and approval individual
and corporate performance goals and objectives of the Company’s executive officers. The Compensation Committee also makes
recommendations to the Board with respect to this CD&A section and recommends that such section be included in any of the Company’s
annual reports on Form 10-K, registration statements, proxy statements or information statements.
Our Compensation Committee
generally meets at least once in the first quarter of the year, and again throughout the year as needed. The agenda for each meeting
is usually developed by the Chair of the Compensation Committee, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer. From time to
time, members of management and other employees as well as outside advisors or consultants are invited by the Compensation Committee
to make presentations, to provide financial or other background information or advice or to otherwise participate in Compensation
Committee meetings. The Compensation Committee also meets regularly in executive session.
Role of our Management
In general, our CEO
and finance department work together to prepare materials requested by and to be presented to the Compensation Committee, including
analyses of financial data and other briefing materials. Our CEO typically presents proposals, along with any background information,
to the Compensation Committee for review and consideration. The Compensation Committee may approve, modify, or reject those proposals,
or may request additional information from management on those matters.
For setting compensation
levels for executives other than our CEO, the Compensation Committee will solicit and consider the recommendations of the CEO,
including his review of the officers’ performance and contributions in the prior year, and his recommendations for the potential
compensation levels that should be set for each executive officer for the coming year.
With respect to our
CEO, the Compensation Committee generally prepares an evaluation of the CEO, which it then informally reviews with the independent
members of the Board for their input and consideration. The Compensation Committee also notifies the Board of its recommendations
for CEO compensation. The final compensation elements and levels for the CEO are then determined by the Board.
No executive officer
is present or participates directly in approving the amount of any component of his or her own compensation package.
Elements of Executive Compensation
Our Compensation Committee
believes that our compensation programs should include short-term and long-term components, including cash and equity-based compensation,
and should reward performance as measured against established goals. The Compensation Committee evaluates both performance and
compensation to make sure that the compensation provided to executives remains competitive relative to compensation paid by companies
of similar size and stage of development operating in the Company’s industry, taking into account our relative performance
and our own strategic goals. Our Compensation Committee considers the total current and potential long-term compensation of each
of our executive officers in establishing each element of compensation, viewing each element as related but distinct.
The compensation of
our executive officers generally consists of three principal components: base salary, long-term equity incentives, and employee
benefits. We also provide severance and other benefits following termination of employment under certain circumstances for two
of our executive officers.
Base Salary
As a general matter,
we pay our named executive officers a base salary to provide them a stable source of income for the work that they perform during
the year. Base salaries are initially established through negotiation at the time the executive is hired, taking into account his
or her qualifications, experience, prior salary, and competitive market salary information for similar positions in our industry.
Thereafter, the Compensation Committee reviews the base salaries of our executive officers annually and adjustments, if any, are
made based on our Company’s performance and available budget, the performance of each executive officer against his individual
job and functional area’s responsibilities, competitive market conditions for executive compensation for similar positions,
as well as increases in the cost of living.
Equity Compensation
No equity awards have
been granted under our 2016 Plan to named executive officers. We expect that such awards will in the future consist primarily in
the form of stock options. The Compensation Committee believes that stock options continue to be the most appropriate vehicle for
equity awards at this time, because our executives only are able to realize rewards if our shareholders also have gains.
In determining the
size of long-term equity incentives to award to our named executive officers, the Compensation Committee will refer to guidelines
we have developed based on an executive’s position. Our Compensation Committee will also consider the role and responsibilities
of the named executive officers, competitive factors, the non-equity compensation received by the named executive officers in current
and previous years, as well as the total available pool of equity to be granted in the pertinent fiscal year and each executive’s
current equity ownership in the Company and the extent to which outstanding awards are fully vested. In addition, we will evaluate
each employee’s awards based on the factors described above and competitive market factors in our industry. After reviewing
all of these factors, the Compensation Committee awarded our then-serving named executive officers the stock options reflected
in the tables that follow this CD&A.
Our stock option awards will typically vest over a three year
period, subject to the continued service of the employee to the Company. One-third of the shares typically vest on the first anniversary
of the option award, with the remaining shares vesting monthly in equal amounts over the remaining 24 months of the vesting period.
Employment Agreements
Employment Agreements with Lee Yip Kun
Solomon, Tan Paoy Teik and Chen Bor Hann
Lee Yip Kun Solomon.
On December 29, 2014, we renewed the three-year employment agreement effective and continuing as of January 1, 2016 with Lee Yip
Kun Solomon, our Chief Executive Officer and President (the “Lee Agreement”). Pursuant to the Lee Agreement, Mr. Lee
is entitled to an annual base salary of $336,000 and to receive 33,939 shares of our common stock. Such shares have not been issued
to Mr. Lee. Mr. Lee shall also be eligible for discretionary performance bonus payments; no such bonus has been paid. The Lee Agreement
provides for Mr. Lee to be eligible to participate in any incentive compensation established by the Company; no such plan has been
established. The Lee Agreement also includes confidentiality obligations to which Mr. Lee must adhere.
Tan Paoy Teik. On December
29, 2014, we renewed the three-year employment agreement effective and continuing as of January 1, 2016 with Tan Paoy Teik, our
Chief Marketing Officer (the “Tan Agreement”). Pursuant to the Tan Agreement, Mr. Tan is entitled to an annual base
salary of $174,000 and to receive 17,575 shares of our common stock. Such shares have not been issued to Mr. Tan. Mr. Tan shall
also be eligible for discretionary performance bonus payments; no such bonus has been paid. The Tan Agreement provides for Mr.
Tan to be eligible to participate in any incentive compensation established by the Company; no such plan has been established.
The Tan Agreement also includes confidentiality obligations to which Mr. Tan must adhere.
Chen Bor Hann. On December 29, 2014, we
renewed the three-year employment agreement effective and continuing as of January 1, 2016 with Chen Bor Hann, our Secretary (the
“Hann Agreement”). Pursuant to the Hann Agreement, Mr. Hann is entitled to an annual base salary of $60,000 and to
receive 6,060 shares of our common stock. Such shares have not been issued to Mr. Hann. Mr. Hann shal1 also be eligible for discretionary
performance bonus payments; no such bonus has been paid. The Hann Agreement provides for Mr. Hann to be eligible to participate
in any incentive compensation established by the Company; no such plan has been established. The Hann Agreement also includes confidentiality
obligations to which Mr. Hann must adhere.
Tax and Accounting Considerations
The accounting and
tax consequences to the Company of certain compensation elements are important considerations for the Compensation Committee when
evaluating and recommending compensation packages for our executive officers. Generally, the Compensation Committee seeks to balance
its objective to create an effective compensation program that attracts, retains and rewards executives in order to maximize the
return to shareholders with the need for appropriate accounting and tax consequences of such compensation.
The Compensation Committee
is responsible for addressing the issues raised by Section 162(m) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”),
which makes certain “non-performance-based” compensation to certain executives of the Company in excess of $1,000,000
non-deductible to us. To qualify as “performance-based” under Section 162(m), compensation payments must be determined
pursuant to a plan, by a committee of at least two “outside” directors (as defined in the regulations promulgated under
the Code) and must be based on achieving objective performance goals. In addition, the material terms of the 2016 Plan must be
disclosed to and approved by shareholders and the outside directors or the Compensation Committee, as applicable, must certify
that the performance goals were achieved before payments can be awarded.
The Compensation Committee
will continue to examine the effects of Section 162(m), to monitor the level of compensation paid to executive officers and
take appropriate action in response to the provisions of Section 162(m), to the extent practicable while maintaining competitive
compensation practices. The Compensation Committee, however, reserves the right to recommend and award compensation that is not
deductible under Section 162(m).
In addition to considering
the tax consequences, the Compensation Committee considers the accounting consequences of its decisions, including the impact of
expenses being recognized in connection with equity-based awards, in determining the size and form of different equity-based awards.
Compensation Committee Report
The material in this report is not “soliciting
material,” is not deemed “filed” with the Commission and is not to be incorporated by reference in any filing
of the Company under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, other than in Sino Agro’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, where
it shall be deemed to be furnished, whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation
language in any such filing.
The Compensation Committee
has reviewed and discussed with management the CD&A contained in this proxy statement. Based on this review and discussion,
the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board that the CD&A be included in this proxy statement.
The foregoing report has been furnished
by the Compensation Committee.
Nils-Erik Sandberg, Committee Chair
Yap Koi Ming (George)
Lim Chang Soh (Anthony)
Summary Compensation Table
The table below summarizes
all compensation awarded to, earned by, or paid to our Principal Executive Officer, our two most highly compensated executive officers
other than our CEO who occupied such position at the end of our latest fiscal year and up to two additional executive officers
who would have been included in the table below except for the fact that they were not executive officers at the end of our latest
fiscal year, by us, or by any third party where the purpose of a transaction was to furnish compensation, for all services rendered
in all capacities to us or our subsidiary for the latest fiscal year ended December 31, 2015.
Name & Principal
Position
|
|
Year
|
|
Salary
($)
|
|
|
Bonus
($)
|
|
|
Stock
Awards
($)
|
|
|
Option
Awards
($) (1)
|
|
|
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
|
|
|
Non-Qualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings ($)
|
|
|
All Other
Compensation
($)
|
|
|
Total ($)
|
|
|
Lee Kip Yun Solomon
|
|
2015
|
|
|
336,000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
336,000
|
|
|
Chief Executive Officer
|
|
2014
|
|
|
336,000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
336,000
|
|
|
Tan Paoy Teik (Peter)
|
|
2015
|
|
|
174,000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
174,000
|
|
|
Chief Marketing Officer
|
|
2014
|
|
|
174,000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
174,000
|
|
|
Chen Bor Hann (Michael)
|
|
2015
|
|
|
60,000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
60,000
|
|
|
Secretary
|
|
2014
|
|
|
60,000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
60,000
|
|
Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal
2015
There has been no grant
of a plan-based award made to any of our executive officers as of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2015.
Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31,
2015
There has been no equity
incentive award made to any of our executive officers as of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2015.
Option Exercises and Stock Vested
No options were exercised
by any of the named executive officers and no named executive officers held restricted stock units during the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2015.
Potential Payments upon Termination or Change of Control
for each Named Executive Officer
Not applicable.
Director Compensation
2015 Grants
We made grants to our
independent Board members on May 6, 2015. Each independent member of our board received 5,051 shares of our common stock.
Directors Compensation Table
The following table
sets forth summary information concerning the total compensation paid to our non-employee directors in 2015 for services to our
Company.
|
Name
|
|
Stock
Awards ($)
(1)
|
|
|
Daniel Ritchey
|
|
$
|
76,775
|
|
|
Yap Koi Ming (George)
|
|
$
|
76,775
|
|
|
Nils-Erik Sandberg
|
|
$
|
76,775
|
|
|
Lim Chang Soh (Anthony)
|
|
$
|
76,775
|
|
|
Total:
|
|
$
|
307,100
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
Represents
the aggregate grant date fair value of options granted in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. For the relevant assumptions used
in determining these amounts, refer to Note 27 to our unaudited financial statements for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2015
included in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 14, 2015.
|
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL
OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table
sets forth certain information concerning the number of shares of our common stock owned beneficially based on 22,656,859 issued
and outstanding shares of common stock as of the Record Date by: (i) each of our directors; (ii) each of our named executive officers;
and (iii) each person or Company known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our outstanding shares of common stock.
Beneficial ownership
is determined in accordance with SEC rules and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to securities. Other
than as described in the notes to the table, we believe that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power
with respect to shares beneficially owned by them. All share ownership figures include shares issuable upon exercise of options
or warrants exercisable within 60 days of the date of this Annual Report, which are deemed outstanding and beneficially owned by
such person for purposes of computing his or her percentage ownership, but not for purposes of computing the percentage ownership
of any other person.
The address for each
of the officers and directors is c/o Sino Agro Food, Inc., Room 3801, Block A, China Shine Plaza, No. 9 Lin He Xi Road, Tianhe
District, Guangzhou City, P.R.C.
|
Name and Address
|
|
Shares of Common
Stock
|
|
|
Percent of
Common Stock
|
|
|
Shares of Series A
Preferred Stock
|
|
|
Percent of Series A
Preferred Stock
|
|
|
Percent of Capital
Stock (1)
|
|
|
Directors and Officers:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lee Yip Kun Solomon
|
|
|
2,459,697
|
|
|
|
10.9
|
%
|
|
|
75
|
|
|
|
75
|
%
|
|
|
62.2
|
%
|
|
Tan Poay Teik (Peter)
|
|
|
220,000
|
|
|
|
*
|
%
|
|
|
20
|
|
|
|
20
|
%
|
|
|
16.2
|
%
|
|
Chen Bor Hann
|
|
|
82,787
|
|
|
|
*
|
%
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
|
5
|
%
|
|
|
4.1
|
%
|
|
George Yap
|
|
|
29,774
|
|
|
|
*
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
Nils-Erik Sandberg (2)
|
|
|
431,372
|
|
|
|
1.9
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
Daniel Ritchey
|
|
|
161,352
|
|
|
|
*
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
Anthony Soh
|
|
|
14,887
|
|
|
|
*
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All Officers and Directors as a Company (7 persons)
|
|
|
3,399,869
|
|
|
|
15
|
%
|
|
|
100
|
|
|
|
100
|
%
|
|
|
83
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5% or Greater Beneficial Owners
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nordnet Pensionsförsäkring AB (3)
|
|
|
2,115,278
|
|
|
|
9.3
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
1.9
|
%
|
|
Forsakringsaktiebolaget Avanza Pension (4)
|
|
|
3,020,429
|
|
|
|
13.3
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
2.7
|
%
|
|
City National Rochdale, LLC (5)
|
|
|
1,069,314
|
|
|
|
4.7
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
*
|
%
|
|
Incentive AS (6)
|
|
|
1,085,887
|
|
|
|
4.8
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
*
|
%
|
|
Euro China Capital AB (7)
|
|
|
3,663,512
|
|
|
|
16.2
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
3.2
|
%
|
* Denotes less than 1%
(1) Includes the voting power of the 100
shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued and outstanding, which in the aggregate carry the voting power of eighty percent (80%)
of all votes entitled to be voted at any annual or special meeting of shareholders of our company or action by written consent
of our shareholders. Each outstanding share of the Series A Preferred Stock shall represent its proportionate share of the 80%,
which is allocated to the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock.
(2) Includes 86,949 shares of common stock
owned of record by Mr. Sandberg’s spouse and 90,858 shares of common stock owned of record by Ängby Sportklubb, a not-for-profit
organization of which Mr. Sandberg is the chairman of the board of directors. Mr. Sandberg disclaims any beneficial ownership of
the shares of common stock held by Ängby Sportklubb.
(3) Carina Tovi is the Chief Executive
Officer of Nordnet Pensionsförsäkring AB, whose address is Gustavlundvägen 141, P.O. Box 14095 SE-167 14, Bromma,
Sweden.
(4) Annika Saramies is the Chief Executive
Officer of Forsakringsaktiebolaget Avanza Pension, whose address is Box 1399, Stockholm, Sweden 11193.
(5) Michael Gozzillo is the Chief Compliance
Officer of City National Rochdale, LLC, whose address is 570 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10022.
(6) Svein R. Hogset is the Managing Director
of Incentive AS, whose address is Filipstad Brygge 2, 0252 Oslo, Norway.
(7) Consists of a note convertible into
shares of our common stock. Fredrik Danielsson is the Managing Partner of Euro China Capital AB, whose address is Hovslagargatan
5, 114 11 Stockholm, Sweden.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table sets forth certain information as of December
31, 2015, with respect to compensation plans under which the Company’s equity securities are authorized for issuance:
|
Plan Category
|
|
Number of securities to be
issued upon exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
(A)
|
|
|
Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
(B)
|
|
|
Number of securities remaining
available for future issuance
under equity compensation
plans (excluding securities
reflected in column A)
(2)
(C)
|
|
Equity compensation plans approved
by security holders
(1)
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
On December 31, 2014, we were indebted
to Mr. Lee in the amount of $1,172,059, and on December 31, 2015 we were indebted to Mr. Lee in the amount of $211,247. The amounts
are unsecured, interest free and have no fixed term of repayment.
PROPOSALS OF SHAREHOLDERS FOR THE 2017
ANNUAL MEETING
If you want to submit
a proposal for inclusion in our proxy statement for the 2017 Annual Meeting of shareholders, you may do so by following the procedures
in Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange. To be eligible for inclusion, shareholder proposals (other than nominees for
directors) must be received at the Company’s principal executive office, at the following address: Room 3801, Block A, China
Shine Plaza, No. 9 Lin He Xi Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou City, P.R.C. 510610, Attention: Secretary, no later than July 14,
2017 (120 days before the anniversary of this year’s mailing date).
A shareholder’s
notice to the Secretary must set forth as to each matter the shareholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting: (i) a
description in reasonable detail of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons for conducting
such business at the annual meeting, (ii) the name and address, as they appear on the Company’s books, of the shareholder
proposing such business and of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, (iii) such information regarding
each director nominee or each matter of business to be proposed by such shareholder as would be required to be included in a proxy
statement filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, had the nominee been nominated,
or intended to be nominated, or the matter been proposed, or intended to be proposed by the Board; (iv) if applicable, the consent
of each nominee to be named in the proxy statement and to serve as director of the Company if so elected; (v) the class and
number of shares of the Company that are owned beneficially and of record by the shareholder proposing such business and by the
beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, and (vi) any material interest of such shareholder proposing
such business and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made in such business.
OTHER BUSINESS
The Board knows of
no business to be brought before the Annual Meeting other than as set forth above. If other matters properly come before the shareholders
at the meeting, it is the intention of the persons named on the proxy to vote the shares represented thereby on such matters in
accordance with their judgment.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
|
/s/ LEE YIP KUN SOLOMON
|
|
|
Lee Yip Kun Solomon
|
|
|
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors
|
|
|
|
|
|
November 10, 2016
|
|
SINO AGRO FOOD,
INC.
2016 STOCK INCENTIVE
PLAN
(effective December
20, 2016, subject to stockholder approval)
1.1
Purpose
.
The purposes of the Sino Agro Food, Inc. 2016 Stock Incentive Plan (the “
Plan
”) is to promote the interests
of Sino Agro Food, Inc. (the “
Company
”) and the stockholders of the Company by providing (i) executive officers
and other employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries (as defined below), (ii) certain advisors who perform services for the
Company and its Subsidiaries and (iii) non-employee members of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “
Board
”)
with appropriate incentives and rewards to encourage them to enter into and continue in the employ and service of the Company and
to acquire a proprietary interest in the long-term success of the Company, as well as to reward the performance of these individuals
in fulfilling their personal responsibilities for long-range and annual achievements.
1.2
Effective
Date and Term
. The Plan will become effective upon the date it is approved by the stockholders of the Company (the “
Effective
Date
”). Unless terminated earlier by the Committee, the Plan will expire on the tenth (10
th
) anniversary of
the Effective Date.
1.3
Definitions
.
Capitalized terms in the Plan, unless defined elsewhere in the Plan, shall be defined as set forth below:
162(m)
Term.
The term “162(m) Term” means the period starting on the date when the Company’s stockholders first
approve this Plan and ending on the date of the first meeting of the Company’s stockholders that occurs in the fifth year
following the year in which the Company’s stockholders first approve this Plan.
1934
Act
. The term “1934 Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder and any successor thereto.
Affiliated
Company
. The term “Affiliated Company” means any company, partnership, association, organization or other entity
controlled by, controlling or under common control with the Company.
Award
.
The term “Award” means any award or benefit granted under the Plan, including, without limitation, Options, SARs, Restricted
Stock, Restricted Stock Units and Other Stock-Based Awards.
Award
Agreement
. The term “Award Agreement” means a written or electronic Award grant agreement under the Plan.
Change
of Control
. The term “Change of Control” shall be deemed to occur if and when:
|
|
(i)
|
any person, including a “person” as such term
is used in Section 14(d)(2) of the 1934 Act (a “
Person
”), is or becomes a beneficial owner (as such term is
defined in Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the
combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities;
|
|
|
(ii)
|
individuals who, as of the Effective Date, constitute the
Board (the “
Incumbent Board
”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided,
however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the Effective Date whose election, or nomination for election by
the Company’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent
Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding for this purpose any such
individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest (as such terms
are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the 1934 Act) or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies
or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board;
|
|
|
(iii)
|
all or substantially all of the assets of the Company are
sold, transferred or distributed, or the Company is dissolved or liquidated; or
|
|
|
(iv)
|
a reorganization, merger, consolidation or other corporate
transaction involving the Company (a “
Transaction
”) is consummated, in each case, with respect to which the
stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such Transaction do not, immediately after the Transaction, own more than 50%
of the combined voting power of the Company or other corporation resulting from such Transaction in substantially the same respective
proportions as such stockholders’ ownership of the voting power of the Company immediately before such Transaction.
|
Notwithstanding the
foregoing or any other provision of this Plan, the term Change of Control shall not include a sale of assets, merger or other transaction
effected exclusively for the purpose of changing the domicile of the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, solely with respect to
any Award that constitutes “deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code and that is payable on account
of a Change of Control (including any installments or stream of payments that are accelerated on account of a Change of Control),
a Change of Control shall occur only if such event also constitutes a “change in the ownership”, “change in effective
control”, and/or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of assets” of the Company as those terms
are defined under Treasury Regulation §1.409A-3(i)(5), but only to the extent necessary to establish a time or form of payment
that complies with Section 409A of the Code, without altering the definition of Change of Control for purposes of determining whether
a Grantee's rights to such Award become vested or otherwise unconditional upon the Change in Control.
Code
.
The term “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. A reference to any provision of the Code shall
include reference to any successor provision of the Code.
Committee
.
The term “Committee” means the committee of the Board described in Section 2 hereof and any sub-committee established
by such Committee pursuant to Section 2.4.
Covered
Employee
. The term “Covered Employee” means an Employee who is, or who is anticipated to become, between the time
of grant and payment of the Award, a “covered employee,” as such term is defined in Section 162(m)(3) of the Code
(or any successor section thereof).
Disability
.
The term “Disability” means “Disability” as defined in any Award Agreement to which the Grantee is a party.
Eligible
Grantee
. The term “Eligible Grantee” shall mean any Employee, Non-Employee Director or Key Advisor, as determined
by the Committee in its sole discretion.
Employee
.
The term “Employee” means an active employee of the Company or a Subsidiary, but excluding any person who is classified
by the Company or a Subsidiary as a “contractor” or “consultant,” no matter how characterized by the Internal
Revenue Service, other governmental agency or a court, or any employee who is not actively employed, as determined by the Committee.
Any change of characterization of an individual by the Internal Revenue Service or any court or government agency shall have no
effect upon the classification of an individual as an Employee for purposes of this Plan, unless the Committee determines otherwise.
Fair
Market Value.
For purposes of determining the “Fair Market Value” of a share of Stock as of any date, the
“Fair Market Value” as of that date shall be, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the closing sale price
during regular trading hours of the Stock on the date on the principal securities market in which shares of Stock is then traded;
or, if there were no trades on that date, the closing sale price during regular trading hours of the Stock on the first trading
day prior to that date. If the Stock is not publicly traded at the time a determination of Fair Market Value is required to be
made hereunder, the determination of such amount shall be made by the Committee in such manner as it deems appropriate.
Grantee
.
The term “Grantee” means an Employee, Non-Employee Director or Key Advisor of the Company or a Subsidiary who has been
granted an Award under the Plan.
ISO
.
The term “ISO” means any Option intended to be and designated as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422
of the Code.
Key
Advisor
. The term “Key Advisor” means a consultant or other key advisor who performs services for the Company or
a Subsidiary.
Non-Employee
Director
. The term “Non-Employee Director” means a member of the Board who is not an Employee.
NQSO
.
The term “NQSO” means any Option that is not designated as an ISO, or which is designated by the Committee as an ISO
but which subsequently fails or ceases to qualify as an ISO.
Option
.
The term “Option” means a right, granted to an Eligible Grantee under Section 4.2(i), to purchase shares of Stock.
An Option may be either an ISO or an NQSO.
Other
Stock-Based Award
. The term “Other Stock-Based Award” means a right or other interest granted to an Eligible Grantee
under Section 4.2(v) of the Plan that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise
based on, or related to, Stock, including but not limited to (i) unrestricted Stock awarded as a bonus or upon the attainment of
Performance Goals or otherwise as permitted under the Plan, and (ii) a right granted to an Eligible Grantee to acquire Stock from
the Company containing terms and conditions prescribed by the Committee.
Performance
Goals
. The term “Performance Goals” means performance goals based on the attainment on an absolute or relative
basis by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or any Affiliated Company (or any division or business unit of any such entity),
or any two or more of the foregoing, of performance goals pre-established by the Committee in its sole discretion, based on one
or more of the following criteria (if applicable,
a
ny performance
criteria that are financial metrics, may be determined in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
(“
GAAP
”) or may be adjusted when established to include or exclude any items otherwise includable or excludable
under GAAP): (i) the attainment of certain target levels of, or a specified percentage increase in, revenues, earnings, income
before taxes and extraordinary items, net income, operating income, earnings before or after deduction for all or any portion of
income tax, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization or a combination of any or all of the foregoing; (ii) the
attainment of certain target levels of, or a percentage increase in, after-tax or pre-tax profits including, without limitation,
that attributable to continuing and/or other operations; (iii) the attainment of certain target levels of, or a specified
increase in, operational cash flow; (iv) the achievement of a certain level of, reduction of, or other specified objectives
with regard to limiting the level of increase in, all or a portion of, the Company’s bank debt or other long-term or short-term
public or private debt or other similar financial obligations of the Company, which may be calculated net of such cash balances
and/or other offsets and adjustments as may be established by the Committee; (v) earnings per share or the attainment of a
specified percentage increase in earnings per share or earnings per share from continuing operations; (vi) the attainment
of certain target levels of, or a specified increase in return on capital employed or return on invested capital; (vii) the
attainment of certain target levels of, or a percentage increase in, after-tax or pre-tax return on stockholders’ equity;
(viii) the attainment of certain target levels of, or a specified increase in, economic value added targets based on a cash
flow return on investment formula; (ix) the attainment of certain target levels in, or specified increases in, the fair market
value of the shares of the Company’s common stock; (x) the growth in the value of an investment in the Company’s
common stock; (xi) the attainment of a certain level of, reduction of, or other specified objectives with regard to limiting
the level in or increase in, all or a portion of controllable expenses or costs or other expenses or costs; (xii) gross or
net sales, revenue and growth of sales revenue (either before or after cost of goods, selling and general administrative expenses,
research and development expenses and any other expenses or interest); (xiii) total stockholder return; (xiv) return
on assets or net assets; (xv) return on sales; (xvi) operating profit or net operating profit; (xvii) operating
margin; (xviii) gross or net profit margin; (xix) cost reductions or savings; (xx) productivity; (xxi) operating
efficiency; (xxii) working capital; (xxiii) market share; (xxiv) customer satisfaction; and (xxv) to the extent
that an Award is not intended to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code, other measures of performance selected by the Board.
Any of the above Performance Goals may be compared to the performance of a selected group of comparison companies, or a published
or special index that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate, or as compared to various stock market indices.
Subject to the limitations in Section 4.2, the Committee in its sole discretion may designate additional business criteria
on which the Performance Goals may be based or adjust, or modify or amend the aforementioned business criteria. The relative weights
of the criteria that comprise the Performance Goals shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. In establishing
the Performance Goals for a performance period, the Committee may establish different Performance Goals for individual Grantees
or groups of Grantees. Subject to the limitations in Section 4.2(ix)(d), the Committee in its sole discretion shall have the
authority to make equitable adjustments to the Performance Goals in recognition of unusual or non-recurring events affecting the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or any Affiliated Company or the financial statements of the Company or any Subsidiary
of the Company or any Affiliated Company, in response to changes in applicable laws or regulations, including changes in generally
accepted accounting principles or practices, or to account for items of gain, loss or expense determined to be extraordinary or
unusual in nature or infrequent in occurrence or related to the disposal of a segment of a business, as applicable. Performance
Goals may include a threshold level of performance below which no Award will be earned, a level of performance at which the target
amount of an Award will be earned and a level of performance at which the maximum amount of the Award will be earned.
Restricted
Stock
. The term “Restricted Stock” means an Award of shares of Stock to an Eligible Grantee under Section 4.2(iii)
that may be subject to certain restrictions and to a risk of forfeiture. Stock issued upon the exercise of Options or SARs is not
“Restricted Stock” for purposes of the plan, even if subject to post-issuance transfer restrictions or forfeiture conditions.
When Restricted Stock vests, it ceases to be “Restricted Stock” for purposes of the Plan.
Restricted
Stock Unit
. The term “Restricted Stock Unit” means a right granted to an Eligible Grantee under Section 4.2(iv)
to receive Stock or cash at the end of a specified deferral period, which right may be conditioned on the satisfaction of specified
performance or other criteria.
Retirement
.
The term “Retirement” means any termination of employment or service as an Employee, Non-Employee Director or Key Advisor
as a result of retirement in good standing under the rules of the Company or a Subsidiary, as applicable, then in effect.
Rule 16b-3
.
The term “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3, as from time to time in effect promulgated by the Securities and
Exchange Commission under Section 16 of the 1934 Act, including any successor to such Rule.
Stock
.
The term “Stock” means shares of the common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company.
Stock
Appreciation Right or SAR
. The term “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means the right, granted to
an Eligible Grantee under Section 4.2(ii), to be paid an amount measured by the appreciation in the Fair Market Value of Stock
from the date of grant to the date of exercise of the right.
Subsidiary
.
The term “Subsidiary” means any present or future subsidiary corporation of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(f)
of the Code, and any present or future business venture designated by the Committee in which the Company has a significant interest,
including, without limitation, any subsidiary corporation in which the Company has at least a 50% ownership interest, as determined
in the discretion of the Committee.
Substitute
Award
. The term “Substitute Award” means an Award granted or Stock issued by the Company in assumption of, or in
substitution or exchange for, an award previously granted, or the right or obligation to make a future award, in all cases by a
company acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or with which the Company or a Subsidiary combines.
2.1
Committee
.
The authority to manage the operation of and administer the Plan shall be vested in a committee (the “
Committee
”)
in accordance with this Section 2. The Committee shall be selected by the Board, and shall consist solely of two or more members
of the Board who are non-employee directors within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 and are outside directors within the meaning
of Code Section 162(m). Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the Company’s Compensation Committee shall be designated
as the “Committee” hereunder.
|
|
2.2
|
Powers of the Committee
. The Committee’s administration
of the Plan shall be subject to the following:
|
|
|
(i)
|
Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee will
have the authority and discretion to select from among the Eligible Grantees those persons who shall receive Awards, to determine
the time or times of receipt, to determine the types of Awards and the number of shares covered by the Awards, and to establish
the terms, conditions, performance criteria, restrictions, and other provisions of such Awards;
|
|
|
(ii)
|
The Committee will have the authority and discretion to
interpret the Plan, to establish, amend, and rescind any rules and regulations relating to the Plan, to determine the terms and
provisions of any Award Agreement made pursuant to the Plan, and to make all other determinations that may be necessary or advisable
for the administration of the Plan;
|
|
|
(iii)
|
Any interpretation of the Plan by the Committee and any
decision made by it under the Plan is final and binding on all persons; and
|
|
|
(iv)
|
In managing the operation of and administering the Plan,
the Committee shall take action in a manner that conforms to the articles of incorporation and by-laws of the Company, and applicable
state corporate law.
|
2.3
Prohibition
Against Repricing
. Other than pursuant to Section 3.3, the Committee shall not, without the approval of the Company’s
stockholders, (a) lower the option price per share of an Option or SAR after it is granted, (b) cancel an Option or SAR when the
exercise price per Share exceeds the Fair Market Value of one share in exchange for cash or another Award (other than in connection
with a Change in Control), or (c) take any other action with respect to an Option or SAR that would be treated as a repricing under
the rules and regulations of the principal U.S. national securities exchange on which the Company’s shares are then listed.
2.4
Delegation
of Authority
. To the extent not inconsistent with applicable law, the rules of any national securities exchange that may in
the future apply to the Company, or other provisions of the Plan, the Committee may, at any time, allocate all or any portion of
its responsibilities and powers to any one or more of its members or, with respect to Awards made to Employees other than executive
officers, the Chief Executive Officer, including without limitation, the power to designate Grantees hereunder and determine the
amount, timing and terms of Awards hereunder. Any such allocation or delegation may be revoked by the Committee at any time.
2.5
Indemnification
.
Each person who is or shall have been a member of the Committee, or the Board, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company
against and from 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 action taken in good faith or failure to act in good faith under the Plan and against and from 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 or her own behalf. The foregoing
right of indemnification shall be in addition to any other rights of indemnification or elimination of liability to which such
persons 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.
2.6
Minimum
Vesting Requirement for Full-Value Awards.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, Grantees of full-value Awards (i.e., Awards
other than Options and SARs), will be required to continue to provide services to the Company (or an Affiliated Company) for not
less than one-year following the date of grant in order for any such full-value Awards to fully or partially vest (other than in
case of death, Disability or a Change of Control). Notwithstanding the foregoing, up to five percent (5%) of the available shares
of Stock authorized for issuance under the Plan pursuant to Section 3.1 may provide for vesting of full-value Awards, partially
or in full, in less than one-year.
|
|
3
|
Available Shares of Stock under the Plan
|
3.1
Shares
Available for Awards
. Subject to the adjustments described in Section 3 herein, the maximum number of shares of Stock reserved
for the grant of Awards under the Plan shall be 1,000,000. Any shares of Stock that are subject to Options or SARs shall be counted
against this limit as one (1) share for every one (1) share granted, and any shares of Stock that are subject to Awards other than
Options or SARs shall be counted against this limit as 1.25 shares for every one (1) share granted.
3.2
Forfeited,
Cancelled and Expired Awards
. Awards granted under the Plan that are forfeited, expire or are canceled or settled without issuance
of Stock shall not count against the maximum number of shares that may be issued under the Plan as set forth in Section 3.1 and
shall be available for future Awards under the Plan. Any Stock that again becomes available for Awards under the Plan pursuant
to this Section 3.2 shall be added as (i) one (1) share for every one (1) share subject to Options or SARs granted under the Plan
or options, and (ii) as 1.25 shares for every one (1) share subject to Awards other than Options or Stock Appreciation Rights granted
under the Plan.
3.3
Prohibition
on Share Recycling.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, any and all Stock that is (i) withheld or tendered in payment
of an Option exercise price; (ii) withheld by the Company or tendered by the Grantee to satisfy any tax withholding obligation
with respect to any Award; (iii) covered by a SAR (to the extent that it is settled in Stock, without regard to the number of shares
of Stock that are actually issued to the Grantee upon exercise); (iv) reacquired by the Company on the open market or otherwise
using cash proceeds from the exercise of Options, shall not be added to the maximum number of shares of Stock that may be issued
under the Plan as set forth in Section 3.1.
3.4 Adjustments
.
In the event of any change in the Company’s capital structure, including but not limited to a change in the number of shares
of Stock outstanding, on account of (i) any stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or any similar equity restructuring,
or (ii) any combination or exchange of equity securities, merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization, or divesture
or any other similar event affecting the Company’s capital structure, to reflect such change in the Company’s capital
structure, the Committee shall make appropriate equitable adjustments to (a) the maximum number of shares of Stock that may be
issued under the Plan as set forth in Section 3.1, (b) the number of shares of Stock issuable upon outstanding Awards, and (c)
any individual Award limitations or restrictions, as applicable. In the event of any extraordinary dividend, divestiture or other
distribution (other than ordinary cash dividends) of assets to stockholders, or any transaction or event described above, to the
extent necessary to prevent the enlargement or diminution of the rights of Grantees, the Committee shall make appropriate equitable
adjustments to the number or kind of shares subject to an outstanding Award, the exercise price applicable to an outstanding Award,
and/or a Performance Goals. Any adjustments under this Section 3.3 shall be consistent with Section 409A or Section 424 of
the Code, to the extent applicable, and made in a manner that does not adversely affect the exemption provided pursuant to Rule
16b-3 or qualification under Section 162(m) of the Code, to the extent each may be applicable. The Company shall give each Grantee
notice of an adjustment to an Award hereunder and, upon notice, such adjustment shall be final, binding and conclusive for all
purposes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee shall decline to adjust any Award made to a Grantee if such adjustment would
violate applicable law.
3.5
Fractional
Shares
. The Company shall not be obligated to issue any fractional shares of Stock in settlement of Awards granted under the
Plan. Except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or determined by the Committee, (i) the total number of shares issuable
pursuant to the exercise, vesting or earning of an Award shall be rounded down to the nearest whole share, and (ii) no fractional
shares shall be issued. The Committee may, in its discretion, determine that a fractional share shall be settled in cash.
3.6
Substitute
Awards; Plans of Acquired Companies
. Substitute Awards shall not count against the maximum number of shares that may be issued
under the Plan as set forth in Section 3.1. In addition, shares of Stock issued in connection with awards that are assumed, converted
or substituted as a result of the acquisition of another company by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (including by
way of merger, combination or similar transaction) will not count against the number of shares of Stock that may be issued under
the Plan. Available shares under a stockholder-approved plan of an acquired company (as appropriately adjusted to reflect the transaction)
may be used for Awards under the Plan and do not reduce the maximum number of shares available for grant under the Plan, subject
to applicable stock exchange requirements.
4.1
General
.
The term of each Award shall be for such period as may be determined by the Committee, subject to the limitations set forth below.
Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, payments to be made by the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company upon the grant, maturation, or exercise of an Award may be made in such forms as the Committee shall determine at the date
of grant or thereafter, including, without limitation, cash, Stock, or other property. In addition to the foregoing, the Committee
may impose on any Award or the exercise thereof, at the date of grant, such additional terms and conditions not inconsistent with
the provisions of the Plan, including, but not limited to forfeiture and clawback provisions, as the Committee shall determine;
provided, however, that any such terms and conditions shall not be inconsistent with Section 409A of the Code.
4.2
Types
of Awards
. The Committee is authorized to grant the Awards described in this Section 4.2, under such terms and conditions
as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan. Such Awards may be granted with value and payment contingent
upon Performance Goals. Each Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement containing such terms and conditions applicable to
such Award as the Committee shall determine.
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(i)
|
Options
. The Committee is authorized to grant Options
to Grantees on the following terms and conditions:
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a.
|
Type of Award
. The Award Agreement evidencing an
Option shall designate the Option as either an ISO or an NQSO, as determined in the discretion of the Committee. At the time of
the grant of Options, the Committee may place restrictions on the exercisability or vesting of Options that shall lapse, in whole
or in part, upon the attainment of Performance Goals; provided that such Performance Goals shall relate to periods of performance
of at least one fiscal year.
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b.
|
Exercise Price
. The exercise price of each Option
granted under this Section 4.2 shall be established by the Committee or shall be determined by a method established by the
Committee at the time the Option is granted; provided, however, that the exercise price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair
Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of grant of the Award. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the exercise price of any Substitute
Awards may be issued at any such price as the Committee determines necessary in order to preserve for such newly Eligible Grantee
the economic value of all or a portion of such acquired entity award. No dividends or dividend equivalents will be paid on shares
of Stock subject to an Option.
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c.
|
Exercise
. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions
relating to vesting and exercisability, as determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement, and upon provision
for the payment in full of the exercise price and applicable taxes due, the Grantee shall be entitled to exercise the Option and
receive the number of shares of Stock issuable in connection with the Option exercise provided, however, that no Option may be
exercised more than ten years after its grant date. Except as set forth in Section 4.3, no NQSO granted hereunder may be
exercised after the earlier of (A) the expiration of the NQSO or (B) unless otherwise provided by the Committee in an Award Agreement,
ninety days after the severance of an NQSO holder’s employment or service with the Company or any Subsidiary. The shares
issued in connection with the Option exercise may be subject to such conditions and restrictions as the Committee may determine,
from time to time. An Option may be exercised by any method as may be permitted by the Committee from time to time, including
but not limited to any “net exercise” or other “cashless” exercise method.
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d.
|
Restrictions Relating to ISOs
. In addition to being
subject to the terms and conditions of this Section 4.2(i), ISOs shall comply with all other requirements under Section 422
of the Code. Accordingly, ISOs may be granted only to Eligible Grantees who are employees (as described in Treasury Regulation
Section 1.421-7(h)) of the Company or of any “Parent Corporation” (as defined in Code Section 424(e)) or of any “Subsidiary
Corporation” (as defined in Code Section 424(f)) on the date of grant. The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of
the time the ISO is granted) of the Stock with respect to which ISOs (under all option plans of the Company and of any Parent
Corporation and of any Subsidiary Corporation) are exercisable for the first time by an Eligible Grantee during any calendar year
shall not exceed $100,000. ISOs shall not be transferable by the Eligible Grantee otherwise than by will or the laws of descent
and distribution and shall be exercisable, during the Eligible Grantee's lifetime, only by such Eligible Grantee. The Committee
shall not grant ISOs to any Employee who, at the time the ISO is granted, owns stock possessing (after the application of the
attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting stock of the Company
or of any Parent Corporation or of any Subsidiary Corporation, unless the exercise price of the ISO is fixed at not less than
one hundred and ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant and the exercise of
such ISO is prohibited by its terms after the fifth (5th) anniversary of the ISO's date of grant. In addition, no ISO shall be
issued to an Eligible Grantee in tandem with a NQSO issued to such Eligible Grantee in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section
14a.422A-1, Q/A-39.
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(ii)
|
SARs
. The Committee is authorized to grant SARs
to Grantees on the following terms and conditions:
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a.
|
In General
. SARs may be granted independently or
in tandem with an Option at the time of grant of the related Option. An SAR granted in tandem with an Option shall be exercisable
only to the extent the underlying Option is exercisable. Payment of an SAR may be made in cash, Stock, or a combination of the
foregoing, as specified in the Award Agreement or determined in the sole discretion of the Committee. At the time of the grant
of SARs, the Committee may place restrictions on the exercisability or vesting of SARs that shall lapse, in whole or in part,
upon the attainment of Performance Goals; provided that such Performance Goals shall relate to periods of performance of at least
one fiscal year.
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b.
|
Term and Exercisability of SARs
. SARs shall be exercisable
over the exercise period at such times and upon such conditions as the Committee may determine, as reflected in the Award Agreement;
provided, however, that no SAR may be exercised more than ten years after its grant date. Except as set forth in Section 4.3,
no SAR granted hereunder may be exercised after the earlier of (A) the expiration of the SAR or (B) unless otherwise provided
by the Committee in an Award Agreement, ninety days after the severance of an SAR holder’s employment or service with the
Company or any Subsidiary.
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c.
|
Payment
. An SAR shall confer on the Grantee a right
to receive an amount with respect to each share of Stock subject thereto, upon exercise thereof, equal to the excess of (A) the
Fair Market Value of one share of Stock on the date of exercise over (B) the grant price of the SAR (which in the case of an SAR
granted in tandem with an Option shall be equal to the exercise price of the underlying Option, and which in the case of any other
SAR shall be such price as the Committee may determine but in no event shall be less than the Fair Market Value of a share of
Stock on the date of grant of such SAR). An SAR may be exercised by giving written notice of such exercise to the Committee or
its designated agent. No dividends or dividend equivalents will be paid on shares of Stock subject to an SAR.
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(iii)
|
Restricted Stock
. The Committee is authorized to
grant Restricted Stock to Grantees on the following terms and conditions:
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a.
|
Issuance and Restrictions
. Restricted Stock shall
be subject to such restrictions on transferability and other restrictions, if any, as the Committee may impose at the date of
grant, which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times, under such circumstances, in such installments,
or otherwise, as the Committee may determine. The Committee may place restrictions on Restricted Stock that shall lapse, in whole
or in part, upon the attainment of Performance Goals; provided that such Performance Goals shall relate to periods of performance
of at least one fiscal year. Except to the extent restricted under the Award Agreement relating to the Restricted Stock, a Grantee
granted Restricted Stock shall have all of the rights of a stockholder including, without limitation, the right to vote Restricted
Stock and the right to receive dividends thereon.
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b.
|
Certificates for Stock
. Restricted Stock granted
under the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall determine. If certificates representing Restricted Stock
are registered in the name of the Grantee, such certificates shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions,
and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock, and the Company may retain physical possession of the certificate.
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c.
|
Dividends
. Except to the extent restricted under
the applicable Award Agreement, cash dividends paid on Restricted Stock shall be paid at the dividend payment date subject to
no restriction. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, Stock distributed in connection with a stock split or stock
dividend shall be subject to the transfer restrictions, forfeiture risks and vesting conditions to the same extent as the Restricted
Stock with respect to which such Stock or other property has been distributed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may
not provide for the current payment of dividends for Restricted Stock subject to Performance Goals; for such Awards, dividends
may accrue but shall not be payable unless and until the Award vests upon satisfaction of the applicable Performance Goals and
all other applicable conditions to vesting.
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(iv)
|
Restricted Stock Units
. The Committee is authorized
to grant Restricted Stock Units to Grantees, subject to the following terms and conditions:
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a.
|
Conditions to Vesting
. At the time of the grant
of Restricted Stock Units, the Committee may place restrictions on Restricted Stock Units that shall lapse, in whole or in part,
upon the attainment of Performance Goals; provided that such Performance Goals shall relate to periods of performance of at least
one fiscal year.
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b.
|
Benefit upon Vesting
. Unless otherwise provided
in an Award Agreement, upon the vesting of a Restricted Stock Unit, there shall be delivered to the Grantee, within 30 days of
the date on which such Award (or any portion thereof) vests, the number of shares of Stock equal to the number of Restricted Stock
Units becoming so vested.
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c.
|
Dividend Equivalents
. To the extent provided in
an Award Agreement, subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, an Award of Restricted Stock Units may provide
the Grantee with the right to receive dividend equivalent payments with respect to Stock subject to the Award (both before and
after the Stock subject to the Award is earned, vested, or acquired), which payments may be either made currently or credited
to an account for the Grantee, and may be settled in cash or Stock, as determined by the Committee. Any such settlements and any
such crediting of dividend equivalents may, at the time of grant of the Restricted Stock Unit, be made subject to the transfer
restrictions, forfeiture risks, vesting and conditions of the Restricted Stock Units and subject to such other conditions, restrictions
and contingencies as the Committee shall establish at the time of grant of the Restricted Stock Unit, including the reinvestment
of such credited amounts in Stock equivalents, provided that all such conditions, restrictions and contingencies shall comply
with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing in this Section 4.2(iv)(c), dividend
equivalents may accrue on unearned Restricted Stock Units subject to Performance Goals but shall not be payable unless and until
the applicable Performance Goals are met and certified.
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(v)
|
Other Stock-Based Awards
. The Committee is authorized
to grant Awards to Grantees in the form of Other Stock-Based Awards, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes
of the Plan. At the time of the grant of Other Stock-Based Awards, the Committee may place restrictions on the payout or vesting
of Other Stock-Based Awards that shall lapse, in whole or in part, upon the attainment of Performance Goals; provided that such
Performance Goals shall relate to periods of performance of at least one fiscal year. The Committee shall determine the terms
and conditions of such Awards at the date of grant. Other Stock-Based Awards may not be granted with the right to receive dividend
equivalent payments.
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(vi)
|
Settlement of Options and SARs
. Shares of Stock
delivered pursuant to the exercise of an Option or SAR shall be subject to such conditions, restrictions and contingencies as
the Committee may establish in the applicable Award Agreement. Settlement of SARs may be made in shares of Stock (valued at their
Fair Market Value at the time of exercise), in cash, or in a combination thereof, as determined in the discretion of the Committee
and set forth in the Award Agreement. The Committee, in its discretion, may impose such conditions, restrictions and contingencies
with respect to shares of Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Option or an SAR as the Committee determines to be desirable.
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(vii)
|
Vesting; Additional Terms
. Subject to Section 2.6
and except as provided in Section 4.3, other than Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Other Stock-Based
Awards conditioned upon the attainment of Performance Goals that relate to performance periods of at least one fiscal year, Options,
SARs, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Other Stock-Based Awards granted hereunder shall vest as determined by the Committee
and set forth in the Award Agreement. The term of any Award granted under the Plan will not exceed ten years from the date of
grant.
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|
(viii)
|
Qualified Performance-Based Compensation
.
|
|
|
a.
|
The Committee may determine that Restricted Stock, Restricted
Stock Units or Other Stock-Based Awards granted to a Covered Employee shall be considered “qualified performance-based compensation”
under section 162(m) of the Code, in which case the provisions of this Section 4.2(ix) shall apply. As required pursuant
to Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder, the Committee’s authority to grant new awards
that are intended to qualify as performance-based compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code (other than qualifying
Options and qualifying SARs) shall terminate upon the first meeting of the Company’s stockholders that occurs in the fifth
year following the year in which the Company’s stockholders first approve this Plan.
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b.
|
When Awards are made under this Section 4.2(ix), the Committee
shall establish in writing (i) the objective Performance Goals that must be met, (ii) the period during which performance will
be measured, (iii) the maximum amounts that may be paid if the Performance Goals are met, and (iv) any other conditions that the
Committee deems appropriate and consistent with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code for “qualified performance-based
compensation.” The Performance Goals shall satisfy the requirements for “qualified performance-based compensation,”
including the requirement that the achievement of the goals be substantially uncertain at the time they are established and that
the Performance Goals be established in such a way that a third party with knowledge of the relevant facts could determine whether
and to what extent the Performance Goals have been met. The Committee shall not have discretion to increase the amount of compensation
that is payable, but may reduce the amount of compensation that is payable, pursuant to Awards identified by the Committee as
“qualified performance-based compensation.”
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|
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c.
|
Performance Goals must be pre-established by the Committee.
A Performance Goal is considered pre-established if it is established in writing not later than 90 days after the commencement
of the period of service to which the Performance Goal relates, provided that the outcome is substantially uncertain at the time
the Committee actually established the goal. However, in no event will a Performance Goal be considered pre-established if it
is established after 25% of the period of service (as scheduled in good faith at the time the goal is established) has elapsed.
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d.
|
The Committee in its sole discretion shall have the authority
to make equitable adjustments to the Performance Goals in recognition of unusual or non-recurring events affecting the Company
or any Subsidiary of the Company or any Affiliated Company or the financial statements of the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company or any Affiliated Company, for the following items: (1) asset write-downs; (2) litigation or claim judgments or settlements;
(3) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting principles, regulations, or other laws or regulations affecting reported results;
(4) any reorganization and restructuring programs, including discontinued operations; (5) acquisitions or divestitures; (6) unusual
nonrecurring or extraordinary items identified in the Company’s audited financial statements, including footnotes; (7) any
reorganization or change in the corporate or capital structures of the Company; (8) foreign exchange gains and losses; (9) business
interruption events; (10) annual incentive payments or other bonuses; or (11) capital charges, provided such adjustment occurs
in writing not later than 90 days after the commencement of the period of service to which the Performance Goal relates (and in
no event later than the date that 25% of the period of service has elapsed). In addition, the Committee may specify that certain
equitable adjustments to the Performance Goals will be made during the applicable Performance Period, provided such specification
occurs in writing not later than 90 days after the commencement of the period of service to which the Performance Goal relates
(and in no event later than the date that 25% of the period of service has elapsed).
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e.
|
The Committee shall certify the performance results for
the performance period specified in the Award Agreement after the performance period ends. The Committee shall determine the amount,
if any, to be paid pursuant to each Award based on the achievement of the Performance Goals and the satisfaction of all other
terms of the Award Agreement. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3.4, the following limits will apply to Awards of the
specified type granted to any one Grantee in any single fiscal year:
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|
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i.
|
Appreciation Awards – Options and SARs: 750,000 shares;
and
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ii.
|
Full Value Awards – Awards (other than Options and
SARs) that are denominated in Shares: 500,000 shares.
|
In applying the foregoing limits,
(a) all Awards of the specified type granted to the same Grantee in the same fiscal year will be aggregated and made subject to
one limit; (b) the limits applicable to Options and SARs refer to the number of shares of Stock subject to those Awards; (c) the
share limit under clause (y) refers to the maximum number of shares of Stock that may be delivered under an Award or Awards of
the type specified in clause (y) assuming a maximum payout; (d) the dollar limit under clause (z) refers to the maximum dollar
amount payable under an Award or Awards of the type specified in clause (z) assuming a maximum payout, (e) the respective limits
for Awards of the type specified in clause (y) and clause (z) are only applicable to Awards that are intended to comply with the
performance-based exception under Code Section 162(m), and (f) each of the specified limits in clauses (x), (y) and (z) is multiplied
by two (2) for Awards granted to a Grantee in the year employment commences.
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|
f.
|
The Committee may provide in the Award Agreement that Awards
under this Section 4.2(ix) shall be payable, in whole or in part, in the event of the Grantee’s death or Disability,
or under other circumstances consistent with the Treasury regulations and rulings under Section 162(m) of the Code.
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|
|
(ix)
|
Automatic Extended Exercisability in Certain Cases
.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, if the date an Award would otherwise terminate is a date that the Grantee
is prohibited from exercising the Award under the Company’s insider trading policy or such other conditions under applicable
securities laws as the Committee shall specify, the term of the Award shall be extended to the second business day after the Grantee
is no longer so prohibited from exercising the Award, but in no event shall the Award be extended beyond the original stated term
of the Award.
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|
4.3
|
Change of Control of the Company.
|
|
|
(i)
|
The Committee may, at the time an Award is made or at any
time prior to, coincident with or after the time of a Change of Control:
|
|
|
a.
|
provide for the cancellation of any Awards then outstanding
if the surviving entity or acquiring entity (or the surviving or acquiring entity’s parent company) in the Change of Control
replaces the Awards with new rights of substantially equivalent value, as determined by the Committee. For an Award to be validly
assumed by a successor for purpose of this Section 4.3(b), it must (x) provide such Grantee with rights and entitlements substantially
equivalent to or better than the rights, terms and conditions applicable under such Award, including, but not limited to, an identical
or better exercise or vesting schedules; (y) have substantially equivalent value to such Award (determined at the time of the
Change in Control); and (z) be based on stock that is traded on an established U.S. securities market or an established securities
market outside the United Stated upon which the Grantees could readily trade the stock without administrative burdens or complexities.
In the event of any ambiguity or discrepancy, the determination of the Committee shall be final and binding;
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|
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b.
|
provide that upon an involuntary termination of a Grantee’s
employment as a result of a Change of Control, any time periods shall accelerate, and any other conditions relating to the vesting,
exercise, payment or distribution of an Award shall be waived; or
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|
|
c.
|
provide that Awards shall be purchased for an amount of
cash equal to the amount that could have been obtained for the shares covered by a Restricted Stock Award if it had been vested
and or by an Option or SAR if it had been exercised at the time of the Change of Control, provided however that Awards outstanding
as of the date of the Change in Control may be cancelled and terminated without payment if the consideration payable with respect
to one share of Stock in connection with the Change in Control is less than the exercise price or grant price applicable to such
Award, as applicable.
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|
|
(ii)
|
Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan or an
Award Agreement to the contrary, the vesting, payment, purchase or distribution of an Award may not be accelerated by reason of
a Change of Control for any Grantee unless the Grantee’s employment is involuntarily terminated as a result of the Change
of Control
as provided in the Award Agreement or in any other written agreement, including
an employment agreement, between us and the Grantee
.
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4.4
Limitation
on Award Grants to Non-Employee Directors
. The maximum number of shares of Stock subject to Awards granted during a single
fiscal year to any non-employee director, taken together with any cash fees paid to such non-employee director during the fiscal
year, shall not exceed $350,000 in total value (calculating the value of any such Awards based on the grant date fair value of
such Awards for financial reporting purposes);
provided
, that the Board may make exceptions to this limit for individual
non-employee directors in extraordinary circumstances as the Board may determine in its sole discretion, so long as (x) the aggregate
limit does not exceed $500,000 in total value during a fiscal year and (y) the non-employee director receiving such additional
compensation does not participate in the decision to award such compensation or in other contemporaneous compensation decisions
involving non-employee directors.
5.1
Duration
.
Grants may be made under the Plan through December 19, 2026. In the event of Plan termination while Awards remain outstanding,
the Plan shall remain in effect as long as any Awards under it are outstanding, although no further grants may be made following
Plan termination.
5.2
Uncertificated
Stock
. Nothing contained in the Plan shall prohibit the issuance of Stock on an uncertificated basis, to the extent allowed
by the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, by applicable law and by the applicable rules of any stock exchange.
5.3
Tax
Withholding
. All distributions under the Plan are subject to withholding of all applicable taxes, and the Committee may condition
the delivery of any shares or other benefits under the Plan on satisfaction of the applicable withholding obligations. The Committee,
in its discretion, and subject to such requirements as the Committee may impose prior to the occurrence of such withholding, may
permit such withholding obligations to be satisfied through cash payment by the Grantee, through the surrender of shares of Stock
which the Grantee already owns, through withholding from other compensation payable to the Grantee or through the surrender of
unrestricted shares of Stock to which the Grantee is otherwise entitled under the Plan, but only to the extent of the minimum amount
required to be withheld under applicable law (or, if permitted by the Company, such other withholding rate as will not cause adverse
accounting consequences and is permitted under applicable IRS withholding rules).
5.4
Use
of Shares.
Subject to the limitations on the number of shares of Stock that may be delivered under the Plan, the Committee
may use available shares of Stock as the form of payment for compensation, grants or rights earned or due under any other compensation
plans or arrangements of the Company or a Subsidiary, including the plans and arrangements of the Company or a Subsidiary assumed
in business combinations.
5.5
Non-transferability
.
Awards granted under the Plan, and during any period of restriction on transferability, shares of Common Stock issued in connection
with the exercise of an Option or a SAR, or vesting of a Restricted Stock Award may not be sold, pledged, hypothecated, assigned,
margined or otherwise transferred by a Grantee in any manner other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, unless
and until the shares underlying such Award have been issued, and all restrictions applicable to such shares have lapsed or have
been waived by the Committee. No Award or interest or right therein shall be subject to the debts, contracts or engagements of
a Grantee or his or her successors in interest or shall be subject to disposition by transfer, alienation, anticipation, pledge,
encumbrance, assignment or any other means whether such disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law, by judgment,
lien, levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy and divorce), and any attempted
disposition thereof shall be null and void, of no effect, and not binding on the Company in any way. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Committee may permit Options and/or shares issued in connection with an Option or a SAR exercise that are subject to restrictions
on transferability, to be transferred one time and without payment or consideration to a member of a Grantee’s immediate
family or to a trust or similar vehicle for the benefit of a Grantee’s immediate family members. During the lifetime of a
Grantee, all rights with respect to Awards shall be exercisable only by such Grantee or, if applicable pursuant to the preceding
sentence, a permitted transferee.
5.6
Form
and Time of Elections
. Unless otherwise specified herein, each election required or permitted to be made by any Grantee
or other person entitled to benefits under the Plan, and any permitted modification, or revocation thereof, shall be in writing
filed with the Committee at such times, in such form, and subject to such restrictions and limitations, not inconsistent with the
terms of the Plan, as the Committee shall require.
5.7
Agreement
with Company
. An Award under the Plan shall be subject to such terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as the
Committee shall, in its sole discretion, prescribe. The terms and conditions of any Award to any Grantee shall be reflected in
such form of written document as is determined by the Committee. A copy of such document shall be provided to the Grantee, and
the Committee may, but need not, require that the Grantee shall sign a copy of such document. Such document is referred to in the
Plan as an “Award Agreement” regardless of whether any Grantee signature is required.
5.8
Gender
and Number
. Where the context admits, words in any gender shall include any other gender, words in the singular shall include
the plural and the plural shall include the singular.
5.9
Limitation
of Implied Rights.
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|
(i)
|
The Plan shall at all times be unfunded and neither a Grantee
nor any other person shall, by reason of participation in the Plan, acquire any right in or title to any assets, funds or property
of the Company or any Subsidiary whatsoever, including, without limitation, any specific funds, assets, or other property which
the Company or any Subsidiary, in its sole discretion, may set aside in anticipation of a liability under the Plan. Nothing contained
in the Plan and no action taken pursuant hereto shall create or be construed to create a fiduciary relationship between the Company
and any Grantee or any other person. A Grantee shall have only a contractual right to the Stock or amounts, if any, payable under
the Plan, unsecured by any assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, and nothing contained in the Plan shall constitute a guarantee
that the assets of the Company or any Subsidiary shall be sufficient to pay any benefits to any person.
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|
|
(ii)
|
The Plan does not constitute a contract of employment or
service, and selection as a Grantee will not give any participating Employee, Non-Employee Director or Key Advisor the right
to be retained in the employ or service of the Company or any Subsidiary, nor any right or claim to any benefit under the Plan,
unless such right or claim has specifically accrued under the terms of the Plan. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or the
Award Agreement, no Award under the Plan shall confer upon the holder thereof any rights as a stockholder of the Company prior
to the date on which the individual fulfills all conditions for receipt of such rights.
|
5.10
Section 409A
.
It is intended that all Options and SARs granted under the Plan shall be exempt from the provisions of Section 409A of the
Code and that all other Awards under the Plan, to the extent that they constitute “non-qualified deferred compensation”
within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, will comply with Section 409A of the Code (and any regulations and guidelines
issued thereunder). The Plan and any Award Agreements issued hereunder may be amended in any respect deemed by the Board or the
Committee to be necessary in order to preserve compliance with Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding anything in this
Plan to the contrary, if required by Section 409A of the Code, if a Grantee is considered a “specified employee”
for purposes of Section 409A of the Code and if payment of any Award under this Plan is required to be delayed for a period
of six months after “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, payment of such
Award shall be delayed as required by Section 409A of the Code, and the accumulated amounts with respect to such Award shall
be paid in a lump sum payment within ten days after the end of the six month period. If the Grantee dies during the postponement
period prior to the payment of benefits, the amounts withheld on account of Section 409A of the Code shall be paid to the
Grantee’s beneficiary within sixty (60) days after the date of the Grantee’s death. For purposes of Section 409A
of the Code, each payment under the Plan shall be treated as a separate payment. In no event shall a Grantee, directly or indirectly,
designate the calendar year of payment. To the extent that any provision of the Plan would cause a conflict with the requirements
of section 409A of the Code, or would cause the administration of the Plan to fail to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A
of the Code, such provision shall be deemed null and void to the extent permitted by applicable law. Notwithstanding anything in
the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, each Grantee shall be solely responsible for the tax consequences of Awards under
the Plan, and in no event shall the Company have any responsibility or liability if an Award does not meet any applicable requirements
of Section 409A of the Code. Although the Company intends to administer the Plan to prevent taxation under Section 409A
of the Code, the Company does not represent or warrant that the Plan or any Award complies with any provision of federal, state,
local or other tax law.
5.11
Regulations
and Other Approvals
.
|
|
(i)
|
The obligation of the Company to sell or deliver Stock
with respect to any Award granted under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including all
applicable federal and state securities laws, and the obtaining of all such approvals by governmental agencies as may be deemed
necessary or appropriate by the Committee.
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(ii)
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Each Award is subject to the requirement that, if at any
time the Committee determines, in its absolute discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of Stock issuable pursuant
to the Plan is required by any securities exchange or under any state or federal law, or the consent or approval of any governmental
regulatory body is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the grant of an Award or the issuance
of Stock, no such Award shall be granted or payment made or Stock issued, in whole or in part, unless listing, registration, qualification,
consent or approval has been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Committee.
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(iii)
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In the event that the disposition of Stock acquired pursuant
to the Plan is not covered by a then current registration statement under the Securities Act and is not otherwise exempt from
such registration, such Stock shall be restricted against transfer to the extent required by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
or regulations thereunder, and applicable state securities laws, and the Committee may require a Grantee receiving Stock pursuant
to the Plan, as a condition precedent to receipt of such Stock, to represent to the Company in writing that the Stock acquired
by such Grantee is acquired for investment only and not with a view to distribution.
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(iv)
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With respect to persons subject to section 16 of the
1934 Act, it is the intent of the Company that the Plan and all transactions under the Plan comply with all applicable provisions
of Rule 16b-3.
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(v)
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All Awards under the Plan will be subject to any compensation,
clawback and recoupment policies that may be applicable to the employees of the Company, as in effect from time to time and as
approved by the Board or Committee, whether or not approved before or after the Effective Date. Subject to the requirements of
applicable law, any such compensation, clawback and recoupment policies shall apply to Awards made after the effective date of
the policy.
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5.12
Non-Employee
Director Award Deferrals
. The Committee may permit a Non-Employee Director to defer receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery
of shares that would otherwise be due to such Non-Employee Director in connection with any Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock
Units or Other Stock-Based Awards. If any such deferral election is permitted, the Committee shall establish rules and procedures
for such deferrals and may provide for interest or other earnings to be paid on such deferrals, which rules and procedures shall
be consistent with applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code. Unless otherwise specified in a Non-Employee Director’s
valid election, any deferred amount will be deferred until the earliest to occur of the Non-Employee Director’s death, separation
from service, or Change of Control; provided that any such deferral election is made by the Non-Employee Director on or prior
to December 31 of the calendar year preceding the calendar year in which any such amounts are earned, or, if such Non-Employee
Director is newly eligible for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, then within 30 days following the date he or she is first
eligible, and then only with respect to amounts earned after the date of the election.
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6
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Amendment and Termination
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The
Plan may be terminated or amended by the Board at any time, except that the following actions may not be taken without stockholder
approval:
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(i)
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any increase in the number of shares that may be issued
under the Plan (except by certain adjustments provided for under the Plan);
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(ii)
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any change in the class of persons eligible to receive
ISOs under the Plan;
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(iii)
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any change in the requirements of Sections 4.2(i)(b) and
4.2(ii)(c) hereof regarding the exercise price of Options and the grant price of SARs;
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(iv)
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any repricing or cancellation and regrant of any Option
or, if applicable, other Award at a lower exercise, base or purchase price, as set forth in Section 2.3; or
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(v)
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any other amendment to the Plan that would require approval
of the Company’s stockholders under applicable law, regulation or rule or stock exchange listing requirement.
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Notwithstanding
any of the foregoing, adjustments pursuant to Section 3 shall not be subject to the foregoing limitations of this Section 6.
The
Plan and all Award Agreements entered into under the Plan shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the
State of New York, except that any principles or provisions of New York law that would apply the law of another jurisdiction (other
than applicable provisions of U.S. Federal law) shall be disregarded. Notwithstanding the foregoing, matters with respect to indemnification,
delegation of authority under the Plan, and the legality of shares of Stock issued under the Plan, shall be governed by the Nevada
Revised Statutes.
If
any of the provision of this Plan is finally held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable (whether in whole or in part), such provision
shall be deemed modified to the extent, but only to the extent, of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability and the remaining
provisions shall not be affected thereby; provided that, if any such provision is finally held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable
because it exceeds the maximum scope determined to be acceptable to permit such provision to be enforceable, such provision shall
be deemed modified to the minimum extent necessary in order to make such provision enforceable.
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9
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Clawback and Non-compete
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Notwithstanding
any other provisions of this Plan, any Award which is subject to recovery under any law, government regulation, stock exchange
listing requirement, or Company policy, will be subject to such deductions and clawback as may be required to be made pursuant
to such law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement, or any policy adopted by the Company whether pursuant
to any such law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement or otherwise. In addition and notwithstanding any
other provisions of this Plan, any Award shall be subject to such noncompete provisions under the terms of the Agreement or any
other agreement or policy adopted by the Company, including, without limitation, any such terms providing for immediate termination
and forfeiture of an Award if and when a Participant becomes an employee, agent or principal of a competitor without the express
written consent of the Company.
* * * * *
Sino Agro Food (CE) (USOTC:SIAF)
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Sino Agro Food (CE) (USOTC:SIAF)
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