As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 28, 2023
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
VIVOPOWER INTERNATIONAL PLC
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
England and Wales
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Not applicable
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(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
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(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
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The Scalpel, 18th Floor, 52 Lime Street
London EC3M 7AF
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 7941 166 696
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
VivoPower International PLC 2017 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan
(Full title of the plan)
Corporation Service Company
251 Little Falls Drive Wilmington, DE 19808
United States
+1 302 636 5400
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ☐
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Accelerated filer ☐
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Non-accelerated filer ☒
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Smaller reporting company ☒
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Emerging growth company ☐
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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
EXPLANATORY NOTE
On July 6, 2023, the shareholders of VivoPower International PLC (the “Registrant”) approved an amendment to the VivoPower International PLC 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan (“OIP”) allowing the number of ordinary shares, nominal value $0.012 per share (the “Ordinary Shares”), reserved under the OIP to automatically increase each July 1, beginning on July 1, 2023, and ending on July 2, 2032, by 5.0% of the outstanding number of Ordinary Shares of the Registrant on the immediately preceding June 30, or such lesser amount as determined by the Registrant’s Remuneration Committee (the “Evergreen Provision”).
This Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) is being filed to register an additional 1,282,557 Ordinary Shares of the Registrant to be issued pursuant to the Registrant’s OIP as a result of the Evergreen Provision. This Registration Statement registers additional securities of the same class as other securities for which the registration statements filed on Form S-8 on December 8, 2022, December 21, 2020 and October 12, 2018 (File Nos. 333-268720, 333-227810 and 333-251546) are effective (collectively, the “Previous Registration Statements”). The information contained in the Previous Registration Statements is hereby incorporated by reference pursuant to General Instruction E of Form S-8.
In accordance with the instructional Note to Part I of Form S-8 as promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the information specified by Part I of Form S-8 has been omitted from this Registration Statement on Form S-8 with respect to the Ordinary Shares.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 8. Exhibits.
+ Denotes management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of London, United Kingdom, on July 28, 2023.
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VIVOPOWER INTERNATIONAL PLC |
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By: |
/s/ Kevin Chin |
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Kevin Chin
Chief Executive Officer, Executive Chairman and Director
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KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Kevin Chin and James Tindal-Robertson, and each or any one of them, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his or her substitutes or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
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Title
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Date
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/s/ Kevin Chin
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Chief Executive Officer, Executive Chairman and Director
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July 28, 2023
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Kevin Chin
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(Principal Executive Officer) |
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/s/ James Tindal-Robertson
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Group Finance Director
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July 28, 2023
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James Tindal-Robertson
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(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
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/s/ Gemma Godfrey
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Director
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July 28, 2023
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Gemma Godfrey
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/s/ Michael Hui
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Director
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July 28, 2023
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Michael Hui
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/s/ Peter Jeavons
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Director
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July 28, 2023
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Peter Jeavons
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/s/ William Langdon
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Director
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July 28, 2023
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William Langdon
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SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED U.S. REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REGISTRANT
Pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of VivoPower International PLC has signed this registration statement on July 28, 2023.
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VIVOPOWER INTERNATIONAL PLC
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By:
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/s/ William Langdon
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Name: William Langdon
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Title: Director
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VivoPower International PLC
The Scalpel
18th Floor
52 Lime Street
London
EC3M 7AF
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Exhibit 5.1
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Our Ref
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ATP/M-00908237
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Date
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28 July 2023
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Dear Sirs
VivoPower International PLC Registration Statement on Form S-8
We have acted as counsel to VivoPower International PLC (company number 09978410) (“Company”), a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales, in connection with the matters set out below.
For the purposes of our opinion, we have examined and relied upon such documents, records, certificates and other instruments as we, in our professional judgment, have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions and statements below.
1.1
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The opinions given in this Opinion Letter (the “Opinions”) are given only with respect to English law as published and applied by the courts of England and Wales at the date of this Opinion Letter.
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1.2
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We express no opinion on the laws of any other jurisdiction. No opinion is expressed as to any provision of the Documents (as defined below) that refers to specific laws or regulations of any jurisdiction other than England and Wales. To the extent that the laws of the United States of America or any other jurisdiction may be relevant to the subject matter of the Opinions, we have made no independent investigation of them and our opinion is subject to the effect of such laws. We express no opinion on the validity of such matters.
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1.3
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The Opinions are given only with respect to the matters expressly set out in paragraph 4.1 and shall not be construed as opinions as to any other matter. The Opinions do not cover the matters set out in paragraph 6.1.
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1.4
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The Opinions are given on the basis of the assumptions set out in paragraph 5. We have not taken any steps to investigate whether they are correct except as may be specified in paragraph 5.
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1.5
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The Opinions are subject to the qualifications listed in paragraph 6 and to any matters not disclosed to us.
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1.6
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By providing you with this Opinion Letter, we do not assume any obligation to notify you of future changes in law which may affect the Opinions or to otherwise update this Opinion Letter in any respect.
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2.1
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We have acted as English legal advisers to VivoPower International PLC, a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales, in connection with the registration statement on Form S-8 which is attached to this Opinion Letter as an exhibit (the “Registration Statement”) filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) pursuant to the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
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2.2
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The Registration Statement relates to an increase of 1,282,557 shares available for issuance by the Company from time to time of ordinary shares each having a nominal value of $0.012 pursuant to the Company’s 2017 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) which was implemented in a general meeting of the Company held on 5 September 2017 (the “New Shares”).
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2.3
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We understand that none of the New Shares are, and are not intended to be, admitted to trading on any market or exchange, or otherwise listed, in the United Kingdom.
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3
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EXAMINATION OF DOCUMENTS AND SEARCHES
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3.1
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For the purpose of giving this Opinion Letter, we have examined the following documents (the “Documents”, each a “Document”):
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3.1.1
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the final copy Registration Statement;
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3.1.2
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copy of the Company’s certificate of incorporation dated 1 February 2016 and copy current articles of association adopted pursuant to a special resolution of the Company’s shareholders passed on 20 August 2018;
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3.1.3
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a minute of the general meeting of the Company held on 5 September 2017 at which certain shareholder resolutions were passed, including the resolution to approve the Plan and the resolution providing a general authority to allot shares in the Company and disapplying statutory pre-emption rights in respect of such allotment of shares or the grant of rights to subscribe for or convert into shares up to an aggregate nominal value of $1,560.00;
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3.1.4
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the final copy registration statement on Form S-8 dated 12 October 2018 which registered 1,355,736 ordinary shares of $0.012 pursuant to the Plan;
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3.1.5
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the final copy registration statement on Form S-8 dated 21 December 2020 which registered 338,237 ordinary shares of $0.012 pursuant to the Plan;
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3.1.6
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the final copy registration statement on Form S-8 dated 8 December 2022 which registered 958,421 ordinary shares of $0.012 pursuant to the Plan;
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3.1.7
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written resolutions of the board of directors passed on 9 October 2020 which resolved to approve the allotment of ordinary shares of $0.012 each up to an aggregate subscription amount of $34,500,000;
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3.1.8
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written resolutions of the board of directions passed on 14 October 2020 which resolved to approve the allotment of ordinary shares of $0.012 each up to an aggregate offering price of $5,750,000;
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3.1.9
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a minute of the general meeting of the Company held on 6 October 2020 at which certain shareholder resolutions were passed, including the resolutions providing a general authority to allot shares in the Company and disapplying statutory pre-emption rights in respect of such allotment of shares or the grant of rights to subscribe for or convert into shares up to an aggregate nominal value of $180,000;
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3.1.10
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resolutions of the general meeting of the Company held on 10 November 2022 at which certain shareholder resolutions were passed, including the resolutions providing a general authority to allot shares in the Company and disapplying statutory pre-emption rights in respect of such allotment of shares or the grant of rights to subscribe for or convert into shares up to an aggregate nominal value of $180,000;
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3.1.11
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a minute of the general meeting of the Company held on 18 December 2020 at which certain shareholder resolutions were passed, including the resolutions providing a general authority to allot ordinary shares in the Company and disapplying statutory pre-emption rights in respect of such allotment of ordinary shares or the grant of rights to subscribe for or convert into ordinary shares up to an aggregate nominal value of $180,000;
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3.1.12
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written resolutions of the board of directors of the Company passed on 12 November 2021 which resolved to approve the filing of the Prospectus Supplement (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement) with the Commission (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement), and written resolutions of the board of directors passed on 12 November 2021 which resolved to approve the allotment and disapplying statutory pre-emption rights in respect of the allotment of ordinary shares up to a subscription amount of $80,000,000;
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3.1.13
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a director’s certificate dated 12 November 2021 in which the directors confirmed no resolutions have been passed which render any part of this Opinion Letter untrue or invalid, and that no resolutions of the board or shareholders have been passed to terminate, amend or vary the equity distribution agreement dated 12 November 2021 made between the Company and Alliance Global Partners, as amended by that certain amendment no. 1 to the equity distribution agreement, dated 29 July 2022 (the “Equity Distribution Agreement”), or prevent it being fulfilled in accordance with its terms, and that there are no orders, judgements or other agreements which do the same;
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3.1.14
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written resolutions of the board of directors of the Company passed on 27 July 2023 which resolved to approve the filing of the Registration Statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission;
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3.1.15
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a certificate of good standing of the Company dated 27 July 2023;
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3.1.16
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at 12:30 on 27 July 2023 an online search of the public records on file and available for inspection at Companies House in respect of the Company; and
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3.1.17
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at 12:40 on 27 July 2023 an online search of the Central Registry of Winding-up Petitions at the Insolvency and Companies List (formerly the Companies Court) in London in respect of the Company.
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3.2
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Except as stated above, we have not examined any other documents or corporate or other records and we have not made any other searches, enquiries or investigations for the purpose of giving the Opinions.
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4.1
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Based on and subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations set out in this Opinion Letter and subject to any matters not disclosed to us, we are of the opinion that:
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4.1.1
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the Company is a public limited company duly incorporated under English law, noting that our searches undertaken on 27 July 2023 revealed no order or resolution for the winding-up of the Company and no notice of the appointment of a receiver, administrative receiver or administrator in respect of it or any of its assets; and
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4.1.2
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the New Shares will, when issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the Plan and when the names of the holders of such New Shares or their nominees are entered into the register of members of the Company and subject to the receipt by the Company of the aggregate issue price in respect of all the New Shares, be validly issued, fully paid and no further amount may be called thereon.
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4.2
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The opinions in paragraph 4.1 are given only for the benefit of VivoPower International PLC and they may not be relied upon by any other person or for any other purpose.
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4.3
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No person who is permitted to rely on this Opinion Letter may assign it to, or hold the benefit of it on trust for, any other person.
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4.4
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These Opinions may not be disclosed to any person, or quoted in any public document, or otherwise made public in any way, without our prior written consent, except as follows, on a non-reliance basis:
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4.4.1
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where disclosure is required or requested by any court of competent jurisdiction or any governmental, banking, taxation or other regulatory authority or similar body, the rules of any relevant stock exchange or pursuant to any applicable law or regulation; or
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4.4.2
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where disclosure is required in connection with, and for the purposes of, any litigation, arbitration, administrative or other investigations, proceedings or disputes,
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but in each case only on the condition that: (i) such disclosure is made only to enable any such person to be informed that an opinion has been given and to be made aware of its terms; (ii) we do not assume any duty or liability to any person to whom such disclosure is made; (iii) the recipient is informed of the confidential nature of this opinion; and (iv) the recipient may not disclose this opinion to any other person.
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4.5
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Our liability under this Opinion Letter is limited to $5,000,000 for any one claim or series of claims arising out of this Opinion Letter.
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4.6
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The Opinions are given only by Shoosmiths LLP, an English limited liability partnership, and no partner, member or employee shall have any personal responsibility or owe any duty of care in relation to it.
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5.1.1
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the genuineness of all signatures and seals on the Documents (or on the relevant originals where we have examined copies) and the authenticity and completeness of those Documents;
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5.1.2
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the conformity to the original Documents of any Documents submitted to us as certified or uncertified copies or scans of the original Documents; and
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5.1.3
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that there have been no variations to any of the Documents provided to us or to the originals thereof and none of the Documents have been superseded or rescinded.
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5.2
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Other parties and laws
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In relation to the parties to the Documents and all laws other than those of England and Wales we have assumed:
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5.2.1
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the capacity, power and authority to execute and the due execution of the Documents by each party to it (other than the Company as a matter of English law);
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5.2.2
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that the obligations expressed to be assumed by each party to the Documents other than the Company are valid and legally binding upon them (as a matter of English law);
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5.2.3
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that all obligations under the Documents are valid, legally binding upon, and enforceable against, the parties thereto as a matter of all relevant laws other than the laws of England and Wales;
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5.2.4
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due compliance by all relevant parties other than the Company with all matters (including, without limitation, the making of necessary filings, lodgements, registrations and notifications and the payment of stamp duties and other documentary taxes and charges) that govern or relate to the Documents or such parties;
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5.2.5
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where any consents, directions, authorisations, approvals or instructions have to be obtained under any law, regulation or practice for the performance of the Documents (other than any corporate authorisations, approvals and company law requirements the subject of this letter), they have been obtained or that they will be forthcoming within any relevant period in order to be fully effective for such purpose; and
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5.2.6
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other than European Union Law as it affects the laws of England and Wales, there are no laws of any jurisdiction outside England and Wales which would, or might, affect the Opinions.
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5.3
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Corporate actions and status
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In relation to the Company, we have assumed:
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5.3.1
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that each resolution of the directors and shareholders of the Company certified as being true and accurate and provided to us in connection with the giving of the Opinions was duly passed by the required majority at a properly convened and quorate meeting of directors (or a duly authorised committee thereof) and of shareholders of the Company or otherwise in accordance with the constitutional documents of the Company and/or the Companies Act 2006;
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5.3.2
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that each person identified as a director or a secretary in any resolution of the directors of the Company was validly appointed as such and was in office at the date of the Documents;
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5.3.3
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that any provisions contained in the Companies Act 2006 and/or the articles of association of the Company relating to the declaration of directors’, interests or the power of interested directors to vote were duly observed;
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5.3.4
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that any restrictions in the articles of association of the Company on that Company’s and/or on its directors’ authority to guarantee will not be contravened by the entry into and performance by it of the Documents to which it is a party;
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5.3.5
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that the execution and delivery of the Documents by the Company and the exercise of its rights and performance of its obligations under the Documents will promote the success of the Company for the benefit of its members as a whole;
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5.3.6
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that no step has been taken to wind up the Company nor to appoint a receiver, administrator or like officer in respect of the Company or any of its assets and that no voluntary arrangement has been proposed in respect of the Company; and
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5.3.7
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there are no agreements, letters or other arrangements having contractual effect which modify the terms of, or affect, the Documents or which render the Company incapable of or prohibit it from performing any of its obligations under the Documents and no provision of the Documents have been waived and there are no contractual or similar restrictions contained in any agreement or arrangement (other than the Documents) which are binding on the Company which would prohibit it from performing any of its obligations under the Documents.
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5.4
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Reliance on Documents
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5.4.1
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All Documents submitted to us as copies or certified copies are true copies of the originals and such originals and all Documents submitted to us as originals are genuine and complete and all signatures (including electronic signatures), stamps and seals on the documents are genuine.
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5.4.2
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Each Document accurately records the agreement of the parties to it and has not been amended, varied, waived, superseded, rescinded, breached, revoked or terminated.
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5.4.3
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The Documents are in the form produced to the directors of the Company.
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5.4.4
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There have been no amendments to the articles of association of the Company since the date referred to in paragraph 3.1.2.
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5.5.1
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The Documents have been signed by or on behalf of each party to it by person(s) authorised by the relevant party to (in the presence of a witness where applicable).
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5.5.2
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The making of the signatures on the signature pages to the Documents was made or done in a manner recognised by law as valid and the Documents have remained intact since those signatures were made or affixed (as the case may be).
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5.5.3
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The Documents have been dated with the date on which it was signed and duly delivered by the parties to it (where applicable).
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5.6.1
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The information disclosed in response to the searches referred to in paragraph 3.1 of this Opinion Letter was accurate, complete and up to date at the time of those searches and those responses did not fail to disclose any matters which they should have disclosed and which were relevant for the purposes of this Opinion Letter. Since the date of those searches and enquiries there has been no alteration in the status of the Company as revealed in those searches.
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5.6.2
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No event has occurred in relation to the Company, such as the passing of a resolution for or the presentation of a petition or the taking of any other action for the winding-up of, or the appointment of a liquidator, administrator, administrative receiver or receiver of the Company, in respect of which a filing at the Companies Registry or at the Central Index of the Companies Court was required to be made and has not been made or has been made but has not at the date of the searches appeared on the relevant search result relating to the Company.
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5.7.1
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None of the parties to the Documents are or will be seeking to achieve any purpose not apparent from the Documents which might render any of the Documents illegal or void.
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5.7.2
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Where any liability or obligation or right or benefit of a party to the Documents are dependent upon the satisfaction of conditions precedent, those conditions have been or will be duly and properly satisfied.
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5.7.3
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There is no other matter or document which would, or might, affect the Opinions and which was not revealed by the Documents.
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6.1.1
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We express no opinion as to matters of fact, opinion or intention.
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6.1.2
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No opinion is expressed as to any provision of the Documents to the extent it purports to declare or impose a trust, turnover or similar arrangement in relation to any payments or assets received.
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6.1.3
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Except to the extent expressly set out in the Opinions, we express no opinion as to any taxation, financial or accountancy matters or any liability to tax which may arise or be suffered as a result of, or in connection with, the Documents or any transaction relating to them.
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6.1.4
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We have not investigated the tax affairs of the Company and the Opinion is subject to the general tax laws of the United Kingdom.
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6.1.5
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We express no opinion on immunity including the existence, scope, nature and waiver of it or any entitlement to claim immunity from suit or enforcement of the Company and any consequences of such entitlement on its obligations under, or the enforceability of, the Documents.
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6.2.1
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The validity, performance and enforcement of the Documents may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, reorganisation or prescription or similar laws of general application relating to or affecting the rights of creditors.
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6.2.2
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Any provision in the Documents which confers, purports to confer or waives a right of set-off or similar right may be ineffective against a liquidator or creditor.
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6.2.3
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A power of attorney may, in limited circumstances, be revoked by the winding-up or dissolution of the donor company.
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6.2.4
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The searches and enquiries referred to in paragraph 3 of this Opinion Letter are not conclusively capable of revealing whether insolvency or similar procedures, or steps towards them, have been started against the Company.
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6.3.1
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Remedies such as specific performance or the issue of an injunction are available only at the discretion of the courts of England and Wales according to general principles of equity. Specific performance is not usually granted and an injunction is not usually issued where damages would be an adequate alternative.
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6.3.2
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Enforcement of claims arising pursuant to the Documents may become barred under the Limitation Act 1980 or may be subject to a defence of set-off or counterclaim.
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6.3.3
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Enforcement may be limited by the provisions of the laws of England and Wales applicable to agreements held to have been frustrated by events happening after execution of a document.
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6.3.4
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A party to a contract may be able to avoid its obligations under that contract (and may have other remedies) where it has been induced to enter into that contract by a misrepresentation and the courts of England and Wales will generally not enforce an obligation if there has been fraud.
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6.3.5
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In this letter “enforceable” means, in relation to an obligation, that it is of a type which the courts of England and Wales enforce. It does not mean that such obligation will be enforced in all circumstances in accordance with the terms of the relevant Document.
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6.4.1
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The courts of England and Wales may stay proceedings if concurrent proceedings are being brought elsewhere.
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6.4.2
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There could be circumstances in which the courts of England and Wales would not treat as conclusive those certificates and determinations which any of the Documents state are to be so treated.
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6.4.3
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The question whether or not any provisions of the Documents which may be invalid on account of illegality may be severed from the other provisions thereof in order to save those other provisions would be determined by the courts of England and Wales in their discretion.
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An express choice of the laws of England and Wales will be subject to the discretion of the courts of England and Wales to give effect to the mandatory provisions of law of the country where the obligations arising out of the contract are to be performed insofar as those provisions render performance of the contract unlawful.
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6.6
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We have not investigated the laws of any country other than England and Wales and the Opinions are given only with respect to the laws of England and Wales as at the date of this letter.
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6.7
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Where any party to any Document is vested with a discretion or may determine a matter in its opinion, the laws of England and Wales may require that such discretion is exercised reasonably and for a proper purpose and/or that such opinion is formed in good faith based on reasonable grounds.
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6.8
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Any provisions excluding liability may be limited by law.
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This Opinion Letter is given on the condition that it will be construed in accordance with English law and that each addressee submits to the jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales and waives any objection to the exercise of such jurisdiction in relation to any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Opinion Letter.
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Yours faithfully
/S/ SHOOSMITHS LLP
SHOOSMITHS LLP
Dated: 28 July 2023
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the use in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of VivoPower International plc of our report dated September 16, 2022 relating to the financial statements of VivoPower International plc, which appears in this Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
/s/ PKF Littlejohn LLP
London, England
July 28, 2023
Exhibit 99.1
AMENDED AND RESTATED VIVOPOWER OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN
1. Purpose. The purpose of the Amended and Restated VivoPower International PLC 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan is to provide a means through which the Company and its Subsidiaries may attract and retain key personnel and to provide a means whereby, executive officers and employees (and prospective executive officers and employees) of the Company and its Subsidiaries can acquire and maintain an equity interest in the Company, or be paid incentive compensation, which may (but need not) be measured by reference to the value of Common Stock, thereby strengthening their commitment to the welfare of the Company and its Subsidiaries and aligning their interests with those of the Company’s stockholders.
2. Definitions. The following definitions shall be applicable throughout the Plan:
(a) “Affiliate” means (i) any person or entity that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the Company (together with, if different, any Subsidiary) and/or (ii) to the extent provided by the Committee, any person or entity in which the Company has a significant interest. The term “control” (including, with correlative meaning, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as applied to any person or entity, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such person or entity, whether through the ownership of voting or other securities, by contract or otherwise.
(b) “Award” means, individually or collectively, any Incentive Stock Option, Nonqualified Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Stock Bonus Award, and Performance Compensation Award granted under the Plan.
(c) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(d) “Business Combination” has the meaning given such term in the definition of “Change in Control.”
(e) “Cause” means, in the case of a particular Award, unless the applicable Award agreement states otherwise, (i) the Company or an Affiliate having cause to terminate a Participant’s employment or service, as provided in any employment or similar agreement between the Participant and the Company or an Affiliate in effect at the time of such termination or (ii) in the absence of any such employment or similar agreement (or the absence of any provisions regarding cause to terminate contained therein), (A) the Participant’s conviction for, plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude, or other material act or omission involving dishonesty or fraud, (B) the Participant’s conduct that brings the Company or any of its Affiliates into public disgrace or disrepute in a way that affects the Company’s or any Affiliate’s business in any material way, (C) the Participant’s willful failure to perform material duties as reasonably directed by the Participant’s supervisor or the Participant’s material violation of any rule, regulation, policy or plan for the conduct of any service provider to the Company or its Affiliates or its or their business (which, if curable, is not cured within 20 days after notice thereof is provided to the Participant) or (D) the Participant’s gross negligence, willful malfeasance or material act of disloyalty with respect to the Company or its Affiliates (which, if curable, is not cured within 20 days after notice thereof is provided to the Participant).
(f) “Change in Control” shall, in the case of a particular Award, unless the applicable Award agreement states otherwise or contains a different definition of “Change in Control,” be deemed to occur upon:
(i) Any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) (a “Person”) becomes the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of more than 50% of either (A) the then-outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (B) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that, for purposes of this Section 2(f), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (I) any acquisition directly from the Company, (II) any acquisition by the Company, (III) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Affiliate, or (IV) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction that complies with Sections 2(f)(iii)(A), 2(f)(iii)(B) and 2(f)(iii)(C);
(ii) During any period of twelve (12) consecutive months, individuals who, as of the date hereof, 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 date hereof 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 an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board;
(iii) Consummation of a reorganization (excluding a reorganization under either Chapter 7 or Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code), merger, statutory share exchange or consolidation or similar transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (each, a “Business Combination”), in each case unless, following such Business Combination, (A) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities that were the beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the then-outstanding shares of common stock (or, for a non-corporate entity, equivalent securities) and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (or, for a non-corporate entity, equivalent governing body), as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, an entity that, as a result of such transaction, owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more Subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (B) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation, except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination, and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors (or, for a non-corporate entity, equivalent governing body) of the entity resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or of the action of the Board providing for such Business Combination; or
(iv) A complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
(g) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor thereto. Reference in the Plan to any section of the Code shall be deemed to include any regulations or other interpretative guidance under such section, and any amendments or successor provisions to such section, regulations or guidance.
(h) “Committee” means the Company’s Remuneration Committee.
(i) “Common Stock” means the ordinary shares, par value $0.012 per share, of the Company (and any stock or other securities into which such common stock may be converted or into which it may be exchanged).
(j) “Company” means VivoPower International PLC, a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales (registered number 09978410) and any successor thereto.
(k) “Date of Grant” means the date on which the granting of an Award is authorized, or such other date as may be specified in such authorization.
(l) “Effective Date” means September 5, 2017.
(m) “Eligible Director” means a person who is a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act.
(n) “Eligible Person” means any (i) individual employed by or holding executive office with the Company or a Subsidiary; or (ii) prospective employees or executive officers who have accepted offers of employment from the Company or its Subsidaries (and would satisfy the provisions of clause (i) above once he or she begins employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries).
(o) “Exchange Act” has the meaning given such term in the definition of “Change in Control,” and any reference in the Plan to any section of (or rule promulgated under) the Exchange Act shall be deemed to include any rules, regulations or other interpretative guidance under such section or rule, and any amendments or successor provisions to such section, rules, regulations or guidance.
(p) “Exercise Price” has the meaning given such term in Section 7(b) of the Plan.
(q) “Fair Market Value” means, on a given date, (i) if the Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange or another national securities exchange, the closing sales price of the Common Stock reported on such national securities exchange, or, if there is no such sale on that date, then on the last preceding date on which such a sale was reported; (ii) if the Common Stock is not listed on the New York Stock Exchange or another national securities exchange, but is quoted in the NASDAQ National Market Reporting System or another inter-dealer quotation system on a last sale basis, the closing bid price or, if there is no such sale on that date, then on the last preceding date on which a sale was reported; or (iii) if the Common Stock is not listed on a national securities exchange or quoted in an inter-dealer quotation system on a last sale basis, the amount determined by the Committee in its sole discretion; provided, that, to the extent applicable, such determination shall be made in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and the regulations thereunder to be the fair market value of the Common Stock.
(r) “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that is designated by the Committee as an incentive stock option as described in Section 422 of the Code and otherwise meets the requirements set forth in the Plan.
(s) “Incumbent Board” has the meaning given such term in the definition of “Change in Control.”
(t) “Indemnifiable Person” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(e) of the Plan.
(u) “Mature Shares” means shares of Common Stock owned by a Participant that are not subject to any pledge or security interest and that have been either previously acquired by the Participant on the open market or meet such other requirements, if any, as the Committee may determine are necessary in order to avoid an accounting earnings charge on account of the use of such shares to pay the Exercise Price or satisfy a withholding obligation of the Participant.
(v) “Nonqualified Stock Option” means an Option that is not designated by the Committee as an Incentive Stock Option.
(w) “Option” means an Award granted under Section 7 of the Plan.
(x) “Option Period” has the meaning given such term in Section 7(c) of the Plan.
(y) “Outstanding Company Common Stock” has the meaning given such term in the definition of “Change in Control.”
(z) “Outstanding Company Voting Securities” has the meaning given such term in the definition of “Change in Control.”
(aa) “Participant” means an Eligible Person who has been selected by the Committee to participate in the Plan and to receive an Award pursuant to Section 6 of the Plan.
(bb) “Performance Compensation Award” shall mean any Award designated by the Committee as a Performance Compensation Award pursuant to Section 11 of the Plan.
(cc) “Performance Criteria” shall mean the criterion or criteria that the Committee shall select for purposes of establishing the Performance Goal(s) for a Performance Period with respect to any Performance Compensation Award under the Plan.
(dd) “Performance Formula” shall mean, for a Performance Period, the one or more objective formulae applied against the relevant Performance Goal to determine, with regard to the Performance Compensation Award of a particular Participant, whether all, some portion but less than all, or none of the Performance Compensation Award has been earned for the Performance Period.
(ee) “Performance Goals” shall mean, for a Performance Period, the one or more goals established by the Committee for the Performance Period based upon the Performance Criteria.
(ff) “Performance Period” shall mean the one or more periods of time, as the Committee may select, over which the attainment of one or more Performance Goals will be measured for the purpose of determining a Participant’s right to, and the payment of, a Performance Compensation Award.
(gg) “Permitted Transferee” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 15(b) of the Plan.
(hh) “Person” has the meaning given such term in the definition of “Change in Control.”
(ii) “Plan” means this Amended and Restated VivoPower International PLC 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan.
(jj) “Restricted Period” means the period of time determined by the Committee during which an Award is subject to restrictions or, as applicable, the period of time within which performance is measured for purposes of determining whether an Award has been earned.
(kk) “Restricted Stock Unit” means an unfunded and unsecured promise to deliver shares of Common Stock, cash, other securities or other property, subject to certain restrictions (including, without limitation, a requirement that the Participant remain continuously employed or provide continuous services for a specified period of time), granted under Section 9 of the Plan.
(ll) “Restricted Stock” means Common Stock, subject to certain specified restrictions (including, without limitation, a requirement that the Participant remain continuously employed or provide continuous services for a specified period of time), granted under Section 9 of the Plan.
(mm) “SAR Period” has the meaning given such term in Section 8(b) of the Plan.
(nn) “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any successor thereto. Reference in the Plan to any section of the Securities Act shall be deemed to include any rules, regulations or other interpretative guidance under such section, and any amendments or successor provisions to such section, rules, regulations or guidance.
(oo) “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means an Award granted under Section 8 of the Plan.
(pp) “Stock Bonus Award” means an Award granted under Section 10 of the Plan.
(qq) “Strike Price” means, except as otherwise provided by the Committee in the case of Substitute Awards, (i) in the case of a SAR granted in tandem with an Option, the Exercise Price of the related Option, or (ii) in the case of a SAR granted independent of an Option, the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock, as of the Date of Grant (provided that in any case where SARs are to be satisfied by the issue of new shares of Common Stock such Fair Market Value shall not be less than the par value of such shares of Common Stock).
(rr) “Subsidiary” has the meaning given to that term in section 1159 of the UK Companies Act 2006
(ss) “Substitute Award” has the meaning given such term in Section 5(f).
3. Effective Date; Duration. The Plan shall be effective as of the Effective Date. The expiration date of the Plan, on and after which date no Awards may be granted hereunder, shall be the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date; provided, however, that such expiration shall not affect Awards then outstanding, and the terms and conditions of the Plan shall continue to apply to such Awards.
4. Administration.
(a) The Committee shall administer the Plan. To the extent required to comply with the provisions of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act (if the Board is not acting as the Committee under the Plan), it is intended that each member of the Committee shall, at the time he takes any action with respect to an Award under the Plan, be an Eligible Director. However, the fact that a Committee member shall fail to qualify as an Eligible Director shall not invalidate any Award granted by the Committee that is otherwise validly granted under the Plan. The majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum. The acts of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present or acts approved in writing by a majority of the Committee shall be deemed the acts of the Committee.
(b) Subject to the provisions of the Plan and applicable law, the Committee shall have the sole and plenary authority, in addition to other express powers and authorizations conferred on the Committee by the Plan, to: (i) designate Participants; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to a Participant; (iii) determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by, or with respect to which payments, rights, or other matters are to be calculated in connection with, Awards; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award; (v) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances Awards may be settled or exercised in cash, shares of Common Stock, other securities, other Awards or other property, or canceled, forfeited, or suspended and the method or methods by which Awards may be settled, exercised, canceled, forfeited, or suspended; (vi) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances the delivery of cash, Common Stock, other securities, other Awards or other property and other amounts payable with respect to an Award shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the Participant or of the Committee; (vii) interpret, administer, reconcile any inconsistency in, correct any defect in and/or supply any omission in the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award granted under, the Plan; (viii) establish, amend, suspend, or waive any rules and regulations and appoint such agents as the Committee shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; (ix) accelerate the vesting or exercisability of, payment for or lapse of restrictions on, Awards; and (x) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan. In the event of conflict between the terms of an Award agreement and an employment agreement between the Company (or its Affiliate) and a Participant, absent language to the contrary, the terms of such employment agreement shall be binding.
(c) The Committee may delegate to one or more officers of the Company or any Affiliate the authority to act on behalf of the Committee with respect to any matter, right, obligation, or election that is the responsibility of or that is allocated to the Committee herein, and that may be so delegated as a matter of law, except for (i) grants of Awards to persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act and (ii) matters encompassed by Section 14 below.
(d) Subject to the provisions of the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations, and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any Award or any documents evidencing Awards granted pursuant to the Plan shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all Persons, including, without limitation, the Company, any Affiliate, any Participant, any holder or beneficiary of any Award, and any stockholder of the Company.
(e) No member of the Board, the Committee, delegate of the Committee or any employee or agent of the Company (each such person, an “Indemnifiable Person”) shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken or any determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award hereunder. Each Indemnifiable Person shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from any loss, cost, liability, or expense (including attorneys’ fees) that may be imposed upon or incurred by such Indemnifiable Person in connection with or resulting from any action, suit or proceeding to which such Indemnifiable Person may be a party or in which such Indemnifiable Person may be involved by reason of any action taken or omitted to be taken under the Plan or any Award agreement and against and from any and all amounts paid by such Indemnifiable Person with the Company’s approval, in settlement thereof, or paid by such Indemnifiable Person in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding against such Indemnifiable Person, provided, that the Company shall have the right, at its own expense, to assume and defend any such action, suit or proceeding and once the Company gives notice of its intent to assume the defense, the Company shall have sole control over such defense with counsel of the Company’s choice. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be available to an Indemnifiable Person to the extent that a final judgment or other final adjudication (in either case not subject to further appeal) binding upon such Indemnifiable Person determines that the acts or omissions of such Indemnifiable Person giving rise to the indemnification claim resulted from such Indemnifiable Person’s bad faith, fraud or willful criminal act or omission or that such right of indemnification is otherwise prohibited by law or by the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such Indemnifiable Persons may be entitled under the Company’s certificate of incorporation, bylaws, memorandum and/or articles of association, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any other power that the Company may have to indemnify such Indemnifiable Persons or hold them harmless.
(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Plan, the Board may, in its sole discretion, at any time and from time to time, grant Awards and administer the Plan with respect to such Awards. In any such case, the Board shall have all the authority granted to the Committee under the Plan.
5. Grant of Awards; Shares Subject to the Plan; Limitations.
(a) The Committee may, from time to time, grant Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Bonus Awards and/or Performance Compensation Awards to one or more Eligible Persons.
(b) Subject to Section 12 of the Plan, the Committee is authorized to issue under the Plan an aggregate of not more than 10% (ten percent) of the Common Stock issued and outstanding from time to time on a fully-diluted basis.
(c) Notwithstanding Subparagraph (b) above, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available for Awards under the Plan is increased commencing on July 1, 2023 and continuing annually on the anniversary thereof through (and including) July 2, 2032, equal to the lesser of (A) 5% of the aggregate number of shares of all classes of Common Stock outstanding on the last day of the immediately preceding June 30 and (B) such smaller number of shares as determined by the Committee.
(d) Use of shares of Common Stock to pay the required Exercise Price or tax obligations, or shares not issued in connection with settlement of an Option or SAR or that are used or withheld to satisfy tax obligations of the Participant shall, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, not be available again for other Awards under the Plan. Shares underlying Awards under the Plan that are forfeited, cancelled, expire unexercised, or are settled in cash are available again for Awards under the Plan.
(e) Shares of Common Stock delivered by the Company in settlement of Awards may be authorized and unissued shares, shares held in the treasury of the Company, shares purchased on the open market or by private purchase, or a combination of the foregoing.
(f) Awards may, in the sole discretion of the Committee, be granted under the Plan in assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by an entity acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines (“Substitute Awards”). The number of shares of Common Stock underlying any Substitute Awards shall be counted against the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available for Awards under the Plan.
6. Eligibility. Participation shall be limited to Eligible Persons who have entered into an Award agreement or who have received written notification from the Committee, or from a person designated by the Committee, that they have been selected to participate in the Plan.
7. Options.
(a) Generally. Each Option granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award agreement (whether in paper or electronic medium (including email or the posting on a web site maintained by the Company or a third party under contract with the Company)). Each Option so granted shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 7, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award agreement. All Options granted under the Plan shall be Nonqualified Stock Options unless the applicable Award agreement expressly states that the Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option. Incentive Stock Options shall be granted only to Eligible Persons who are employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and no Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to any Eligible Person who is ineligible to receive an Incentive Stock Option under the Code. No Option shall be treated as an Incentive Stock Option unless the Plan has been approved by the stockholders of the Company in a manner intended to comply with the stockholder approval requirements of Section 422(b)(1) of the Code, provided that any Option intended to be an Incentive Stock Option shall not fail to be effective solely on account of a failure to obtain such approval, but rather such Option shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option unless and until such approval is obtained. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the terms and conditions of such grant shall be subject to and comply with such rules as may be prescribed by Section 422 of the Code. If for any reason an Option intended to be an Incentive Stock Option (or any portion thereof) shall not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, then, to the extent of such nonqualification, such Option or portion thereof shall be regarded as a Nonqualified Stock Option appropriately granted under the Plan.
(b) Exercise Price. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee in the case of Substitute Awards, the exercise price (“Exercise Price”) per share of Common Stock for each Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of such share (determined as of the Date of Grant); provided, however, that in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to an employee who, at the time of the grant of such Option, owns stock representing more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Affiliate, the Exercise Price per share shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per share on the Date of Grant provided further that in any case where Options are to be satisfied by the issue of new shares of Common Stock, the Exercise Price shall not be less that the par value per share of Common Stock.
(c) Vesting and Expiration. Options shall vest and become exercisable in such manner and on such date or dates determined by the Committee according to the terms and conditions set forth in the applicable Award agreement and shall expire after such period, not to exceed ten years, as may be determined by the Committee (the “Option Period”); provided, however, that the Option Period shall not exceed five years from the Date of Grant in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Participant who on the Date of Grant owns stock representing more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Affiliate; provided, further, that notwithstanding any vesting dates set by the Committee, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the exercisability of any Option, which acceleration shall not affect the terms and conditions of such Option other than with respect to exercisability. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in an Award agreement: (i) the unvested portion of an Option shall expire upon termination of employment or service of the Participant granted the Option, and the vested portion of such Option shall remain exercisable for (A) one year following termination of employment or service by reason of such Participant’s death or disability (as determined by the Committee), but not later than the expiration of the Option Period or (B) 90 days following termination of employment or service for any reason other than such Participant’s death or disability, and other than such Participant’s termination of employment or service for Cause, but not later than the expiration of the Option Period; and (ii) both the unvested and the vested portion of an Option shall expire upon the termination of the Participant’s employment or service by the Company for Cause.
(d) Method of Exercise and Form of Payment. No shares of Common Stock shall be delivered pursuant to any exercise of an Option until payment in full of the Exercise Price therefor is received by the Company, and the Participant has paid to the Company an amount equal to any federal, state, local and non-U.S. income and employment taxes required to be withheld. Options that have become exercisable may be exercised by delivery of written or electronic notice of exercise to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Option accompanied by payment of the Exercise Price. The Exercise Price shall be payable (i) in cash or check, and; (ii) by such other method as the Committee may permit in its sole discretion, including without limitation: (A) if there is a public market for the shares of Common Stock at such time, by means of a broker-assisted “cashless exercise” pursuant to which the Company is delivered a copy of irrevocable instructions to a stockbroker to sell the shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable upon the exercise of the Option and to deliver promptly to the Company an amount equal to the Exercise Price or (B) by a “net exercise” method whereby the Company withholds from the delivery of the shares of Common Stock for which the Option was exercised that number of shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the aggregate Exercise Price for the shares of Common Stock for which the Option was exercised or (C) such other means as satisfies the requirements of the UK Companies Act 2006.
(e) Notification upon Disqualifying Disposition of an Incentive Stock Option. Each Participant awarded an Incentive Stock Option under the Plan shall notify the Company in writing immediately after the date he makes a disqualifying disposition of any Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of such Incentive Stock Option. A disqualifying disposition is any disposition (including, without limitation, any sale) of such Common Stock before the later of (A) two years after the Date of Grant of the Incentive Stock Option or (B) one year after the date of exercise of the Incentive Stock Option. The Company may, if determined by the Committee and in accordance with procedures established by the Committee, retain possession of any Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option as agent for the applicable Participant until the end of the period described in the preceding sentence.
(f) Compliance With Laws, etc. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall a Participant be permitted to exercise an Option in a manner that the Committee determines would violate the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or any other applicable law or the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the applicable rules and regulations of any securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the securities of the Company are listed or traded or any other governing statute, regulation or law which the Company is subject to.
8. Stock Appreciation Rights.
(a) Generally. Each SAR granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award agreement (whether in paper or electronic medium (including email or the posting on a web site maintained by the Company or a third party under contract with the Company)). Each SAR so granted shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 8, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award agreement. Any Option granted under the Plan may include tandem SARs. The Committee also may award SARs to Eligible Persons independent of any Option.
(b) Vesting and Expiration. A SAR granted in connection with an Option shall become exercisable and shall expire according to the same vesting schedule and expiration provisions as the corresponding Option. A SAR granted independent of an Option shall vest and become exercisable and shall expire in such manner and on such date or dates determined by the Committee and shall expire after such period, not to exceed ten years, as may be determined by the Committee (the “SAR Period”); provided, however, that notwithstanding any vesting dates set by the Committee, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the exercisability of any SAR, which acceleration shall not affect the terms and conditions of such SAR other than with respect to exercisability. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in an Award agreement: (i) the unvested portion of a SAR shall expire upon termination of employment or service of the Participant granted the SAR, and the vested portion of such SAR shall remain exercisable for (A) one year following termination of employment or service by reason of such Participant’s death or disability (as determined by the Committee), but not later than the expiration of the SAR Period or (B) 90 days following termination of employment or service for any reason other than such Participant’s death or disability, and other than such Participant’s termination of employment or service for Cause, but not later than the expiration of the SAR Period; and (ii) both the unvested and the vested portion of a SAR shall expire upon the termination of the Participant’s employment or service by the Company for Cause.
(c) Method of Exercise. SARs that have become exercisable may be exercised by delivery of written or electronic notice of exercise to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Award, specifying the number of SARs to be exercised and the date on which such SARs were awarded. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if on the last day of the Option Period (or in the case of a SAR independent of an option, the SAR Period), the Fair Market Value exceeds the Strike Price, the Participant has not exercised the SAR or the corresponding Option (if applicable), and neither the SAR nor the corresponding Option (if applicable) has expired, such SAR shall be deemed to have been exercised by the Participant on such last day and the Company shall make the appropriate payment therefor.
(d) Payment. Upon the exercise of a SAR, the Company shall pay to the Participant an amount equal to the number of shares subject to the SAR that are being exercised multiplied by the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the exercise date over the Strike Price, less an amount equal to any federal, state, local and non-U.S. income and employment taxes required to be withheld. The Company shall pay such amount in cash, in shares of Common Stock valued at Fair Market Value, or any combination thereof, as determined by the Committee.
9. Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units.
(a) Generally. Each grant of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units shall be evidenced by an Award agreement (whether in paper or electronic medium (including email or the posting on a web site maintained by the Company or a third party under contract with the Company)). Each such grant shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 9, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award agreement.
(b) Stock Certificates; Escrow or Similar Arrangement. Upon the grant of Restricted Stock, the Committee shall cause a stock certificate registered in the name of the Participant to be issued and, if the Committee determines that the Restricted Stock shall be held by the Company or in escrow rather than delivered to the Participant pending the release of the applicable restrictions, the Committee may require the Participant to additionally execute and deliver to the Company (i) an escrow agreement satisfactory to the Committee, if applicable, and (ii) the appropriate stock power (endorsed in blank) with respect to the Restricted Stock covered by such agreement. If a Participant shall fail to execute an agreement evidencing an Award of Restricted Stock and, if applicable, an escrow agreement and blank stock power within the amount of time reasonably specified by the Committee, the Award shall be null and void. Subject to the restrictions set forth in this Section 9 and/or the applicable Award agreement, the Participant generally shall have the rights and privileges of a stockholder as to such Restricted Stock, including, without limitation, the right to vote such Restricted Stock and, except as provided below, the right to receive any cash dividends or distributions. To the extent shares of Restricted Stock are forfeited, any stock certificates issued to the Participant evidencing such shares shall be returned to the Company, and all rights of the Participant to such shares and as a stockholder with respect thereto shall terminate without further obligation on the part of the Company.
(c) Termination. Except as provided below or in the applicable Award agreement or employment agreement, the unvested portion of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units shall terminate and be forfeited upon termination of employment or service of the Participant granted the applicable Award.
(d) Delivery of Restricted Stock and Settlement of Restricted Stock Units.
(i) Upon the expiration of the Restricted Period with respect to any shares of Restricted Stock, the restrictions set forth in the applicable Award agreement shall be of no further force or effect with respect to such shares, except as set forth in the applicable Award agreement. If an escrow arrangement is used, upon such expiration, the Company shall deliver to the Participant, or his beneficiary, without charge, the stock certificate evidencing the shares of Restricted Stock that have not then been forfeited and with respect to which the Restricted Period has expired (rounded down to the nearest full share). Dividends, if any, that may have been withheld by the Committee and attributable to any particular share of Restricted Stock shall be distributed to the Participant in cash or, at the sole discretion of the Committee, in shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such dividends, upon the release of restrictions on such share and, if such share is forfeited, the Participant shall have no right to such dividends (except as otherwise set forth by the Committee in the applicable Award agreement).
(ii) Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in an Award agreement, upon the expiration of the Restricted Period with respect to any outstanding Restricted Stock Units, the Company shall deliver to the Participant, or his beneficiary, without charge, one share of Common Stock for each such outstanding Restricted Stock Unit; provided, however, that the Committee may, in its sole discretion, elect to (i) pay cash or part cash and part Common Stock in lieu of delivering only shares of Common Stock in respect of such Restricted Stock Units or (ii) defer the delivery of Common Stock (or cash or part Common Stock and part cash, as the case may be) beyond the expiration of the Restricted Period. If a cash payment is made in lieu of delivering shares of Common Stock, the amount of such payment shall be equal to the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock as of the date on which the Restricted Period lapsed with respect to such Restricted Stock Units, less an amount equal to any federal, state, local and non-U.S. income and employment taxes required to be withheld.
(e) Legends on Restricted Stock. Each certificate representing Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan shall bear a legend substantially in the form of the following in addition to any other information the Company deems appropriate until the lapse of all restrictions with respect to such Common Stock:
TRANSFER OF THIS CERTIFICATE AND THE SHARES REPRESENTED HEREBY IS RESTRICTED PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF THE VIVOPOWER INTERNATIONAL PLC 2017 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN AND A RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT, BETWEEN VIVOPOWER INTERNATIONAL PLC AND PARTICIPANT. A COPY OF SUCH PLAN AND AWARD AGREEMENT IS ON FILE AT THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF VIVOPOWER INTERNATIONAL PLC.
10. Stock Bonus Awards. The Committee may issue unrestricted Common Stock, or other Awards denominated in Common Stock, under the Plan to Eligible Persons, either alone or in tandem with other awards, in such amounts as the Committee shall from time to time in its sole discretion determine. Each Stock Bonus Award granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award agreement (whether in paper or electronic medium (including email or the posting on a web site maintained by the Company or a third party under contract with the Company)). Each Stock Bonus Award so granted shall be subject to such conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award agreement.
11. Performance Compensation Awards.
(a) Generally. The Committee shall have the authority, at the time of grant of any Award described in Sections 7 through 10 of the Plan, to designate such Award as a Performance Compensation Award. The Committee shall have the authority to make an award of a cash bonus to any Participant and designate such Award as a Performance Compensation Award.
(b) Discretion of Committee with Respect to Performance Compensation Awards. With regard to a particular Performance Period, the Committee shall have sole discretion to select the length of such Performance Period, the type(s) of Performance Compensation Awards to be issued, the Performance Criteria that will be used to establish the Performance Goal(s), the kind(s) and/or level(s) of the Performance Goals(s) that is (are) to apply and the Performance Formula.
(c) Performance Criteria. The Performance Criteria that will be used to establish the Performance Goal(s) shall be based on the attainment of specific levels of performance of the Company (and/or one or more Affiliates, divisions or operational units, or any combination of the foregoing) or individual performance, such as any of the following or a combination thereof: (i) net earnings or net income (before or after taxes); (ii) basic or diluted earnings per share (before or after taxes); (iii) net revenue or revenue growth; (iv) gross profit or gross profit growth; (v) operating profit (before or after taxes); (vi) return measures (including, but not limited to, return on assets, capital, invested capital, equity, or sales); (vii) cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow, free cash flow, and cash flow return on capital); (viii) earnings before or after taxes, interest, depreciation and/or amortization; (ix) gross or operating margins; (x) productivity ratios; (xi) share price (including, but not limited to, growth measures and total stockholder return); (xii) expense targets; (xiii) margins; (xiv) operating efficiency; (xv) objective measures of customer satisfaction; (xvi) working capital targets; (xvii) measures of economic value added; (xviii) inventory control; (xix) enterprise value; (xx) sales; (xxi) debt levels and net debt; (xxii) timely launch of new facilities; (xxiii) client retention; (xxiv) employee retention; (xxv) timely completion of new product rollouts; and (xxvi) objective measures of personal targets, goals, reviews or completion of projects. Any one or more of the Performance Criteria may be used on an absolute or relative basis to measure the performance of the Company and/or one or more Affiliates as a whole or any business unit(s) of the Company and/or one or more Affiliates or any combination thereof, as the Committee may deem appropriate, or any of the above Performance Criteria 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. The Committee also has the authority to provide for accelerated vesting of any Award based on the achievement of Performance Goals pursuant to the Performance Criteria specified in this paragraph.
(d) Modification of Performance Goal(s). To the extent that applicable law or regulations allow (e.g., tax, securities, accounting, etc.), the Committee may alter the governing Performance Criteria without obtaining stockholder approval of such alterations, and the Committee shall have sole discretion to make such alterations without obtaining stockholder approval, including, without limitation, due to the following events: (i) asset write-downs; (ii) litigation or claim judgments or settlements; (iii) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting principles, or other laws or regulatory rules affecting reported results; (iv) any reorganization and restructuring programs; (v) nonrecurring items in the Company’s publicly filed documents; (vi) acquisitions or divestitures; (vii) any other specific unusual, infrequent or nonrecurring events, or objectively determinable category thereof; (viii) foreign exchange gains and losses; and (ix) a change in the Company’s fiscal year.
(e) Payment of Performance Compensation Awards.
(i) Condition to Receipt of Payment. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award agreement or employment agreement, a Participant must be employed by the Company on the date of payment, to be eligible for payment in respect of a Performance Compensation Award for any Performance Period.
(ii) Limitation. A Participant shall be eligible to receive payment in respect of a Performance Compensation Award only to the extent that: (A) the Performance Goals for such period are achieved; and (B) all or some of the portion of such Participant’s Performance Compensation Award has been earned for the Performance Period based on the application of the Performance Formula to such achieved Performance Goals.
(iii) Certification. Following the completion of a Performance Period, the Committee shall review and certify in writing whether, and to what extent, the Performance Goals for the Performance Period have been achieved and, if so, calculate and certify in writing that amount of the Performance Compensation Awards earned for the period based upon the Performance Formula. The Committee shall then determine the amount of each Participant’s Performance Compensation Award actually payable for the Performance Period.
(f) Timing of Award Payments. Performance Compensation Awards granted for a Performance Period shall be paid to Participants as soon as administratively practicable following completion of the certifications required by this Section 11 in the fiscal year following the completion of the Performance Period, but in no event later than two-and-one-half months following the end of the fiscal year during which the Performance Period is completed.
12. Changes in Capital Structure and Similar Events. In the event of (a) any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, shares of Common Stock, other securities or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, split-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to acquire shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, or other similar corporate transaction or event (including, without limitation, a Change in Control) that affects the shares of Common Stock, or (b) unusual, infrequent or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, a Change in Control) affecting the Company, any Affiliate, or the financial statements of the Company or any Affiliate, or changes in applicable rules, rulings, regulations or other requirements of any governmental body or securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system, accounting principles or law that in the judgment of the Committee necessitates action by way of adjusting the terms of the outstanding Awards, then:
(i) the Committee may appropriate adjust in its discretion any or all of (A) the number of shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or other property) that may be delivered in respect of Awards or with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan (including, without limitation, adjusting any or all of the limitations under Section 5 of the Plan) and (B) the terms of any outstanding Award, including, without limitation, (i) the number of shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or other property) subject to outstanding Awards or to which outstanding Awards relate, (ii) the Exercise Price or Strike Price with respect to any Award or (iii) any applicable performance measures (including, without limitation, Performance Criteria and Performance Goals), provided in each case such adjustments do not have an adverse economic impact on the Participant as determined at the time of the adjustments;
(ii) providing for a substitution or assumption of Awards, accelerating the exercisability of, lapse of restrictions on, or termination of, Awards or providing for a period of time for exercise prior to the occurrence of such event, provided that such adjustments do not have an adverse economic impact on the Participant as determined at the time of the adjustments; and
(iii) cancelling any one or more outstanding Awards and causing to be paid to the holders thereof, in cash, shares of Common Stock, other securities or other property, or any combination thereof, the value of such Awards if any (which if applicable may be based upon the price per share of Common Stock received or to be received by other stockholders of the Company in such event) including without limitation, in the case of an outstanding Option or SAR, a cash payment in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value (as of a date specified by the Committee) of the shares of Common Stock subject to such Option or SAR over the aggregate Exercise Price or Strike Price of such Option or SAR, respectively (it being understood that, in such event, any Option or SAR having a per share Exercise Price or Strike Price equal to, or in excess of, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock subject thereto may be canceled and terminated without any payment or consideration therefor);
provided, however, that the Committee shall ensure that any adjustment which would have the effect of reducing the Exercise Price or Strike Price with respect to any Award to less than the par value of a share of Common Stock subject to such Award may only be made if and to the extent that the Committee shall be authorized to capitalize from the reserves of the Company a sum equal to the amount by which the par value of a share of Common Stock exceeds the adjusted Exercise Price or Strike Price per share of Common Stock or, where required by any applicable law, using such mechanism involving a third party as the Committee considers necessary; and
provided, however, that in the case of any equity restructuring, the Committee shall make an equitable or proportionate adjustment to outstanding Awards to reflect such equity restructuring. Any adjustment in Incentive Stock Options under this Section 12 (other than any cancellation of Incentive Stock Options) shall be made only to the extent not constituting a “modification” within the meaning of Section 424(h)(3) of the Code, and any adjustments under this Section 12 shall be made in a manner that does not adversely affect the exemption provided pursuant to Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, to the extent applicable. The Company shall give each Participant notice of an adjustment hereunder and, upon notice, such adjustment shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes.
13. Effect of Change in Control. Except to the extent otherwise provided in an Award agreement, in the event of a Participant’s termination of employment or service without Cause within 12 months following the occurrence of a Change in Control, all outstanding Awards shall vest, as follows:
(a) the then outstanding Options and SARs shall become immediately exercisable as of a time prior to the Change in Control;
(b) the Restricted Period shall expire as of a time prior to the Change in Control (including without limitation a waiver of any applicable Performance Goals);
(c) Performance Periods in effect on the date the Change in Control occurs shall end on such date, and the Committee shall (i) determine the extent to which Performance Goals with respect to each such Performance Period have been met based upon such audited or unaudited financial information or other information then available as it deems relevant and (ii) cause the Participant to receive partial or full payment of Awards for each such Performance Period based upon the Committee’s determination of the degree of attainment of the Performance Goals, or assuming that the applicable “target” levels of performance have been attained or on such other basis determined by the Committee; and
(d) cause Awards previously deferred to be settled in full as soon as practicable.
To the extent practicable, any actions taken by the Committee under the immediately preceding clauses (a) through (d) shall occur in a manner and at a time which allows affected Participants the ability to participate in the Change in Control transactions with respect to the Common Stock subject to their Awards.
14. Amendments and Termination.
(a) Amendment and Termination of the Plan. The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time; provided, that (i) no amendment to Section 14(b) (to the extent required by the proviso in such Section 14(b)) shall be made without stockholder approval and (ii) no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination shall be made without stockholder approval if such approval is necessary to comply with any tax or regulatory requirement applicable to the Plan (including, without limitation, as necessary to comply with any rules or requirements of any securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the shares of Common Stock may be listed or quoted); provided, further, that any such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance or termination that would materially and adversely affect the rights of any Participant or any holder or beneficiary of any Award theretofore granted shall not to that extent be effective without the consent of the affected Participant, holder or beneficiary unless such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance or termination is required in order to comply with applicable law.
(b) Amendment of Award Agreements. The Committee may, to the extent consistent with the terms of any applicable Award agreement, waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or alter, suspend, discontinue, cancel or terminate, any Award theretofore granted or the associated Award agreement, prospectively or retroactively; provided that any such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancellation or termination that would materially and adversely affect the rights of any Participant with respect to any Award theretofore granted shall not to that extent be effective without the consent of the affected Participant; provided, further, that without stockholder approval to the extent required by the rules of any applicable national securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted, except as otherwise permitted under Section 12 of the Plan, (i) no amendment or modification may reduce the Exercise Price of any Option or the Strike Price of any SAR, (ii) the Committee may not cancel any outstanding Option or SAR and replace it with a new Option or SAR, another Award or cash and (iii) the Committee may not take any other action that is considered a “repricing” for purposes of the stockholder approval rules of the applicable securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system.
15. General.
(a) Award Agreements. Each Award under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award agreement , which shall be delivered to the Participant (whether in paper or electronic medium (including email or the posting on a web site maintained by the Company or a third party under contract with the Company)) and shall specify the terms and conditions of the Award any rules applicable thereto, including without limitation, the effect on such Award of the death, disability or termination of employment or service of a Participant, or of such other events as may be determined by the Committee.
(b) Nontransferability.
(i) Each Award shall be exercisable only by a Participant during the Participant’s lifetime, or, if permissible under applicable law, by the Participant’s legal guardian, legatee or representative. No Award may be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and any such purported assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against the Company or an Affiliate; provided that the designation of a beneficiary shall not constitute an assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance.
(i) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, permit Awards (other than Incentive Stock Options) to be transferred by a Participant, without consideration, subject to such rules as the Committee may adopt consistent with any applicable Award agreement to preserve the purposes of the Plan, to: (A) any person who is the spouse, civil partner, surviving spouse, surviving civil partner, or minor children or step-children of the Participant provided that such person is a “family member” of the Participant, as such term is used in the instructions to Form S-8 under the Securities Act (collectively, the “Immediate Family Members”); (B) a trust solely for the benefit of the Participant and his or her Immediate Family Members; or (C) a partnership or limited liability company whose only partners or stockholders are the Participant and his or her Immediate Family Members;. (each transferee described in clauses (A), (B) and (C) above is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Transferee”); provided, that the Participant gives the Committee advance written notice describing the terms and conditions of the proposed transfer and the Committee notifies the Participant in writing that such a transfer would comply with the requirements of the Plan. Notwithstanding any of the preceding in this Section 15, under no circumstances will a Participant be permitted to transfer an Option to a third-party financial institution without prior stockholder approval.
(ii) The terms of any Award transferred in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence shall apply to the Permitted Transferee and any reference in the Plan, or in any applicable Award agreement, to a Participant shall be deemed to refer to the Permitted Transferee, except that (A) Permitted Transferees shall not be entitled to transfer any Award, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution; (B) Permitted Transferees shall not be entitled to exercise any transferred Option unless there shall be in effect a registration statement on an appropriate form covering the shares of Common Stock to be acquired pursuant to the exercise of such Option if the Committee determines, consistent with any applicable Award agreement, that such a registration statement is necessary or appropriate; (C) the Committee or the Company shall not be required to provide any notice to a Permitted Transferee, whether or not such notice is or would otherwise have been required to be given to the Participant under the Plan or otherwise; and (D) the consequences of the termination of the Participant’s employment by, or services to, the Company or an Affiliate under the terms of the Plan and the applicable Award agreement shall continue to be applied with respect to the Participant, including, without limitation, that an Option shall be exercisable by the Permitted Transferee only to the extent, and for the periods, specified in the Plan and the applicable Award agreement.
(c) Tax Withholding.
(i) Notwithstanding anything else herein, a Participant shall be required to pay to the Company or any Affiliate, and the Company or any Affiliate shall have the right and is hereby authorized to withhold, from any cash, shares of Common Stock, other securities or other property deliverable under any Award or from any compensation or other amounts owing to a Participant, the amount (in cash, Common Stock, other securities or other property) of any required withholding taxes in respect of an Award, its exercise, or any payment or transfer under an Award or under the Plan and to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Committee or the Company to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such withholding and taxes.
(ii) Without limiting the generality of clause (i) above, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, require a Participant to satisfy, in whole or in part, the foregoing withholding liability by (A) the delivery of shares of Common Stock (which are not subject to any pledge or other security interest and are Mature Shares) owned by the Participant having a Fair Market Value equal to such withholding liability, (B) having the Company withhold from the number of shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable or deliverable pursuant to the exercise or settlement of the Award a number of shares with a Fair Market Value equal to such withholding liability, up to the maximum required statutory withholding liability or (C) any combination of the foregoing, subject to compliance with any applicable securities laws.
(iii) Notwithstanding anything else herein, the Committee may, at its sole discretion require a Participant to pay (including by any of the methods referred to in clause (ii) above) to the Company or any Affiliate an amount equivalent to all or such proportion (if any) of employer's social security contributions which would otherwise be payable by the Company or any Affiliate as is determined to be recoverable from the Participant (to the extent permitted by law) by the Committee, or which the Participant has agreed to pay or which are subject to recovery, pursuant to an election to which paragraph 3B of Schedule 1 to the UK Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 applies.
(a) Clawback / Forfeiture. Notwithstanding any other provisions in the Plan, any Award that is subject to recovery under any company policy or arrangement, law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement, will be subject to cancellation, deductions, forfeitures and clawbacks as may be required to be made pursuant to such policy or arrangement, law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement (including on a retroactive basis). The Committee may also provide in an Award agreement that if the Participant receives any amount in excess of what the Participant should have received under the terms of the Award agreement for any reason (including, without limitation, by reason of a financial restatement, mistake in calculations or administrative error), all as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, then the Participant shall be required to promptly repay any such excess amount to the Company.
(b) No Claim to Awards; No Rights to Continued Employment; Waiver. In order to become a Participant, an Eligible Person must be selected by the Committee and enter into an Award agreement. No employee of the Company or an Affiliate, or other person, shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award under the Plan or, having been selected for the grant of an Award, to be selected for a grant of any other Award, except to the extent such person has entered into an Award agreement with the Company pertaining to such Award. There is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants or holders or beneficiaries of Awards. The terms and conditions of Awards and the Committee’s determinations and interpretations with respect thereto need not be the same with respect to each Participant and may be made selectively among Participants, whether or not such Participants are similarly situated. Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any Participant any right to be retained in the employ of the Company or an Affiliate, nor shall it be construed as giving any Participant any rights to continued service on the Board. The Company or any of its Affiliates may at any time dismiss a Participant from employment, free from any liability or any claim under the Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or any Award agreement or employment agreement.
(c) International Participants. With respect to Participants who reside or work outside of the United States of America, the Committee may in its sole discretion amend the terms of the Plan or outstanding Awards with respect to such Participants in order to conform such terms with the requirements of local law or to obtain more favorable tax or other treatment for a Participant, the Company or its Affiliates.
(d) Designation and Change of Beneficiary. Each Participant may file with the Committee a written designation of one or more persons as the beneficiary(ies) who shall be entitled to receive the amounts payable with respect to an Award, if any, due under the Plan upon his death. A Participant may, from time to time, revoke or change his beneficiary designation without the consent of any prior beneficiary by filing a new designation with the Committee. The last such designation received by the Committee shall be controlling; provided, however, that no designation, or change or revocation thereof, shall be effective unless received by the Committee prior to the Participant’s death, and in no event shall it be effective as of a date prior to such receipt. If no beneficiary designation is filed by a Participant, the beneficiary shall be deemed to be his or her spouse or, if the Participant is unmarried at the time of death, his or her estate.
(e) Termination of Employment/Service. Unless determined otherwise by the Committee at any point following such event: (i) neither a temporary absence from employment or service due to illness, vacation or leave of absence nor a transfer from employment or service with the Company or a Subsidiary to employment or service with an Affiliate shall be considered a termination of employment or service with the Company or such a Subsidiary; and (ii) if a Participant’s employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries terminates, but such Participant continues to provide services to the Company and its Affiliates in a non-employee capacity (or vice-versa), such change in status shall not be considered a termination of employment with the Company or a Subsidiary.
(f) No Rights as a Stockholder. Except as otherwise specifically provided in the Plan or any Award agreement, no person shall be entitled to the privileges of ownership in respect of shares of Common Stock that are subject to Awards hereunder until such shares have been issued or delivered to that person.
(g) Government and Other Regulations.
(i) The obligation of the Company to settle Awards in Common Stock or other consideration shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by governmental agencies as may be required. Notwithstanding any terms or conditions of any Award to the contrary, the Company shall be under no obligation to offer to sell or to sell, and shall be prohibited from offering to sell or selling, any shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Award unless such shares have been properly registered for sale pursuant to the Securities Act with the Securities and Exchange Commission or unless the Company has received an opinion of counsel, satisfactory to the Company, that such shares may be offered or sold without such registration pursuant to an available exemption therefrom and the terms and conditions of such exemption have been fully complied with. The Company shall be under no obligation to register for sale under the Securities Act any of the shares of Common Stock to be offered or sold under the Plan. The Committee shall have the authority to provide that all certificates for shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company or any Affiliate delivered under the Plan shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan, the applicable Award agreement, securities laws, or the rules, regulations and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system upon which such shares or other securities are then listed or quoted and any other applicable federal, state, local or non-U.S. laws, and, without limiting the generality of Section 9 of the Plan, the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, the Committee reserves the right to add any additional terms or provisions to any Award granted under the Plan that it in its sole discretion deems necessary or advisable in order that such Award complies with the legal requirements of any governmental entity to whose jurisdiction the Award is subject.
(ii) The Committee may cancel an Award or any portion thereof if it determines, in its sole discretion, that legal or contractual restrictions and/or blockage and/or other market considerations would make the Company’s acquisition of shares of Common Stock from the public markets, the Company’s issuance of Common Stock to the Participant, the Participant’s acquisition of Common Stock from the Company and/or the Participant’s sale of Common Stock to the public markets, illegal, impracticable or inadvisable. If the Committee determines to cancel all or any portion of an Award in accordance with the foregoing, the Company shall pay to the Participant an amount equal to the excess of (A) the aggregate Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock subject to such Award or portion thereof canceled (determined as of the applicable exercise date, or the date that the shares would have been vested or delivered, as applicable), over (B) the aggregate Exercise Price or Strike Price (in the case of an Option or SAR, respectively) or any amount payable as a condition of delivery of shares of Common Stock (in the case of any other Award). Such amount shall be delivered to the Participant as soon as practicable following the cancellation of such Award or portion thereof.
(h) Payments to Persons Other Than Participants. If the Committee shall find that any person to whom any amount is payable under the Plan is unable to care for his affairs because of illness or accident, or is a minor, or has died, then any payment due to such person or his estate (unless a prior claim therefor has been made by a duly appointed legal representative) may, if the Committee so directs the Company, be paid to his spouse, child, relative, an institution maintaining or having custody of such person, or any other person deemed by the Committee to be a proper recipient on behalf of such person otherwise entitled to payment. Any such payment shall be a complete discharge of the liability of the Committee and the Company therefor.
(i) Nonexclusivity of the Plan. Neither the adoption of the Plan by the Board nor the submission of the Plan to the stockholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable, including, without limitation, the granting of stock options otherwise than under the Plan, and such arrangements may be either applicable generally or only in specific cases.
(j) No Trust or Fund Created. Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Affiliate, on the one hand, and a Participant or other person or entity, on the other hand. No provision of the Plan or any Award shall require the Company, for the purpose of satisfying any obligations under the Plan, to purchase assets or place any assets in a trust or other entity to which contributions are made or otherwise to segregate any assets, nor shall the Company maintain separate bank accounts, books, records or other evidence of the existence of a segregated or separately maintained or administered fund for such purposes. Participants shall have no rights under the Plan other than as unsecured general creditors of the Company, except that insofar as they may have become entitled to payment of additional compensation by performance of services, they shall have the same rights as other employees under general law.
(k) Reliance on Reports. Each member of the Committee and each member of the Board shall be fully justified in acting or failing to act, as the case may be, and shall not be liable for having so acted or failed to act in good faith, in reliance upon any report made by the independent public accountant of the Company and its Affiliates and/or any other information furnished in connection with the Plan by any agent of the Company or the Committee or the Board, other than himself.
(l) Relationship to Other Benefits. No payment under the Plan shall be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, profit sharing, group insurance or other benefit plan of the Company except as otherwise specifically provided in such other plan.
(m) Governing Law. The Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and performed wholly within the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the conflict of laws provisions thereof.
(n) Severability. If any provision of the Plan or any Award or Award agreement is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any person or entity or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to the applicable laws, or if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be construed or deemed stricken as to such jurisdiction, person or entity or Award and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.
(o) Obligations Binding on Successors. The obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be binding upon any successor corporation or organization resulting from the merger, consolidation or other reorganization of the Company, or upon any successor corporation or organization succeeding to substantially all of the assets and business of the Company.
(p) Expenses; Gender; Titles and Headings. The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company and its Affiliates. Masculine pronouns and other words of masculine gender shall refer to both men and women. The titles and headings of the sections in the Plan are for convenience of reference only, and in the event of any conflict, the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings shall control.
(q) Other Agreements. Notwithstanding the above, the Committee may require, as a condition to the grant of and/or the receipt of shares of Common Stock under an Award, that the Participant execute lock-up, stockholder or other agreements, as it may determine in its sole and absolute discretion.
(r) Payments. Participants shall be required to pay, to the extent required by applicable law, any amounts required to receive shares of Common Stock under any Award made under the Plan.
(s) Code Section 409A. The Plan is intended to comply with Code Section 409A to the extent subject thereto, and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, the Plan shall be interpreted and administered to be in compliance therewith. Each Participant is solely responsible and liable for the satisfaction of all taxes and penalties that may be imposed on or in respect of such Participant in connection with this Plan or any other plan maintained by the Company (including any taxes and penalties under Code Section 409A), and neither the Company nor any Affiliate shall have any obligation to indemnify or otherwise hold such Participant (or any beneficiary) harmless from any or all of such taxes or penalties. With respect to any Award that is considered “deferred compensation” subject to Code Section 409A, references in the Plan to “termination of employment” or “termination of service) (and all similar phrases) shall mean “separation from service” within the meaning of Code Section 409A. For purposes of Code Section 409A, each of the payments that may be made in respect of any Award granted under the Plan is designated as separate payments. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, if a Participant is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i), no payments or deliveries in respect of any Awards that are “deferred compensation” subject to Code Section 409A shall be made to such Participant prior to the date that is six months after the date of such Participant’s “separation from service” (as defined in Code Section 409A) or, if earlier, the Participant’s date of death. Following any applicable six month delay, all such delayed payments or deliveries will be paid or delivered (without interest) in a single lump sum on the earliest date permitted under Code Section 409A that is also a business day.
(t) No Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan. The Committee shall determine whether cash, additional Awards or other securities or property shall be issued or paid in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock or whether any fractional shares should be rounded, forfeited or otherwise eliminated.
(u) Issuance or transfer of shares of Common Stock. Where shares of Common Stock are to be issued directly to a grantee in satisfaction of any Award and no amount (or less than the par value per share of Common Stock) is to be paid by a Participant, where required by any applicable law, this may be done using such mechanism involving a third party as the Committee considers necessary or by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company paying (or procuring payment of) a bonus to the Participant in respect of the par value of each share of Common Stock and, with the Participant's agreement, using such amount to pay up par value or by capitalising reserves in accordance with the Company's articles of association.
* * *
As adopted by the Board of Directors, and approved by the stockholders, of VivoPower International PLC on September 5, 2017, as amended on July 28, 2023.
APPENDIX TO THE VIVOPOWER INTERNATIONAL PLC 2017 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN
(Sub-Plan for Non-Employees)
This Appendix constitutes the Sub Plan of the VivoPower International Plc 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan. The terms of the Sub-Plan shall be identical to the terms of the Plan, as amended from time to time except that consultants, advisors, non-executive officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries, or prospective consultants, advisors or non-executive officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries are eligible to be selected to receive an Award under the Plan by the Committee, and the Rules of the Plan shall be construed accordingly.
Exhibit 107
Calculation of Filing Fee Table
Form S-8
(Form Type)
VivoPower International PLC
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Table 1: Newly Registered Securities
Security Type
|
|
Security Class Title
|
|
Fee Calculation Rule
|
|
Amount Registered (1)
|
|
Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit
|
|
Maximum Aggregate Offering Price
|
|
Fee Rate
|
|
Amount of Registration Fee
|
Equity
|
|
Ordinary Shares, nominal value $0.012 per share
|
|
457(c) and 457(h)
|
|
1,282,557
|
|
$0.6299 (2)
|
|
$807,882.6543
|
|
$0.00011020
|
|
$89.03
|
Total Offering Amounts
|
|
|
|
$807,882.6543
|
|
|
|
$89.03
|
Total Fee Offsets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
Net Fee Due
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$89.03
|
(1)
|
Represents ordinary shares, nominal value $0.012 per share (the “Ordinary Shares”) that may be issued under the Amended and Restated VivoPower International PLC 2017 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this registration statement shall also cover any additional Ordinary Shares that become issuable under the Plan as a result of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or similar transaction effected without the Registrant’s receipt of consideration which would increase the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares.
|
(2)
|
Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) and Rule 457(h) promulgated under the Securities Act on the basis of the average of the high and the low price of Registrant’s Common Stock as reported on The Nasdaq Capital Market on July 26, 2023.
|
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