Resolution 3 – Approval of the Cenntro Electric Group Limited 2022 Stock Incentive Plan and approval of provision of potential termination benefits under the 2022 Stock Incentive Plan
Overview
On 30 December 2021 (Eastern Standard Time) (31 December 2021 (Australian Eastern Time)), in connection with the closing of the Combination, the Board adopted the 2022 Plan, which became effective on that date, subject to Shareholder approval being received at this Meeting. Resolution 3 seeks Shareholder approval for the adoption of the 2022 Plan and for the provision of potential termination benefits under the 2022 Plan.
Material terms of 2022 Plan
The following is a description of the material terms of the 2022 Plan. The summary below does not contain a complete description of all provisions of the 2022 Plan and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the 2022 Plan, a copy of which was filed as Exhibit 10.5 to our Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K, filed with the SEC on January 5, 2022, and is incorporated herein by reference.
Share Awards. The 2022 Plan provides for the grant of ISOs, NSOs, restricted share awards, share unit awards, share appreciation rights, cash-based awards, and performance-based share awards, or collectively, share awards. ISOs may be granted only to our employees, including officers, and the employees of our subsidiaries. All other share awards may be granted to our employees, officers, our non-employee directors, and consultants and the employees and consultants of our subsidiaries and affiliates.
Share Reserve. The aggregate number of Shares that may be issued pursuant to share awards under the 2022 Plan will not exceed the sum of (x) 25,965,234 Shares, plus an annual increase on the first day of each fiscal year, for a period of not more than nine (9) years, beginning on January 1, 2023 and ending on (and including) January 1, 2031, in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year or (ii) such lesser amount (including zero) that the compensation committee (as defined below) determines for purposes of the annual increase for that fiscal year.
If restricted securities or securities issued upon the exercise of options are forfeited, then such shares shall again become available for awards under the 2022 Plan. If share units, options or share appreciation rights are forfeited or terminate for any reason before being exercised or settled, or an award is settled in cash without the delivery of shares to the holder, then the corresponding shares will again become available for awards under the 2022 Plan. Any Shares withheld to satisfy the exercise price or tax withholding obligation pursuant to any award of options or share appreciation rights shall again become available for awards under the 2022 Plan. If share units or share appreciation rights are settled, then only the number of shares (if any) actually issued in settlement of such share units or share appreciation rights shall reduce the number of shares available under the 2022 Plan, and the balance (including any shares withheld to cover taxes) shall again become available for awards under the 2022 Plan.
Incentive Stock Option Limit. The maximum number of Shares that may be issued upon the exercise of ISOs under the 2022 Plan is 25,965,234 shares.
Grants to Outside Directors. The fair market value of any awards granted under the 2022 Plan to an outside director as compensation for services as an outside director during any twelve-month period may not exceed $500,000 on the date of grant, provided that any award granted to an outside director in lieu of an annual cash retainer payment and/or cash meeting fees (if any) will be excluded from such limit. An outside director may elect to receive his or her annual cash retainer payments and/or cash meeting fees (if any) in the form of cash, options, share appreciation rights, restricted securities, share units, or a combination thereof, as determined by our Board.
Administration. The 2022 Plan will be administered by our Board or a committee appointed by our Board, or the compensation committee. Subject to the limitations set forth in the 2022 Plan and compensation committee charter, the compensation committee has the authority to determine, among other things, to whom awards will be granted, the number of shares subject to awards, the term during which an option or share appreciation right may be exercised and the rate at which the awards may vest or be earned, including any performance criteria to which they may be subject. The compensation committee also has the authority to determine the consideration and methodology of payment for awards.
Repricing; Cancellation and Re-Grant of Share Awards. The compensation committee has the authority to modify outstanding awards under the 2022 Plan. Subject to the terms of the 2022 Plan, the compensation committee has the