EX-4.3 3 a14-22781_10ex4d3.htm EX-4.3

EXHIBIT 4.3

 

AMEC plc

 

RULES OF THE AMEC
SAVINGS RELATED SHARE OPTION SCHEME 2005

 

Shareholders’ Approval:

18 May 2005

 

 

Directors’ Adoption:

19 May 2005

 

 

Original HM Revenue and Customs Approval:

9 June 2005

 

 

Original HMRC Ref:

SRS2978/GRP

 

 

Expiry Date: Amended on:24 October 2013

18 May 2015 effective from 17 July 2013

 

 

Amended on:

2 July 2014

 

 

One Silk Street

London EC2Y 8HQ

 

Telephone (44-20) 7456 2000

Facsimile (44-20) 7456 2222

 

Ref 01/145/S Keith

 

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Table of Contents

 

Contents

 

Page

 

 

 

 

1

Definitions

 

1

 

 

 

 

2

Invitations

 

3

 

 

 

 

3

Application

 

4

 

 

 

 

4

Scaling down

 

4

 

 

 

 

5

Option Price

 

5

 

 

 

 

6

Grant of Options

 

5

 

 

 

 

7

Scheme limits

 

6

 

 

 

 

8

Variations in share capital

 

6

 

 

 

 

9

Exercise and lapse - general rules

 

7

 

 

 

 

10

Exercise and lapse - exceptions to the general rules

 

8

 

 

 

 

11

Exchange of Options

 

11

 

 

 

 

12

Exercise of Options

 

12

 

 

 

 

13

General

 

13

 

 

 

 

14

Changing the Scheme and termination

 

16

 

 

 

 

15

Governing law

 

17

 

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Rules of the AMEC Savings Related Share Option Scheme 2005

 

1                                      Definitions

 

1.1                            Meanings of Words Used

 

In these Rules:

 

“Acquiring Company” is any company which has obtained Control of the Company or has become entitled and bound as mentioned in Rule 10.6 (Section 979 notice) as a result of events specified in Rule 10.5 (Takeovers) or Rule 10.7 (Company reconstructions) or Rule 10.8 (Reorganisation or merger);

 

“Associated Company” has the meaning given to it by paragraph 47(1) of Schedule 3;

 

“Bonus Date” means the date on which the bonus becomes payable under the terms of the relevant Savings Contract;

 

“Business Day” means a day on which the London Stock Exchange (or, if relevant and if the directors determine, any stock exchange nominated by the directors on which the Shares are traded) is open for the transaction of business;

 

“Company” means AMEC plc;

 

“Contribution” means a contribution under a Savings Contract;

 

“Control” has the meaning given to it by Section 995 of the Income Tax Act 2007;

 

“Date of Grant” means the date on which an Option is granted;

 

“Date of Royal Assent” means 17 July 2013, being the date on which the Finance Bill 2013 received Royal Assent;

 

“Directors” means the board of directors of the Company or a duly authorised committee of the Board or any other duly authorised person;

 

“Eligible Employee” means any person who satisfies the conditions set out below. The conditions are that the person:

 

(i)                                either is an employee (but not a director) of a Participating Company, or is a director of a Participating Company who is required to work for the company for at least 25 hours a week (excluding meal breaks); and

 

(ii)                             has earnings in respect of his office or employment within paragraph (i) above which are general earnings (or would be if there were any) as described in paragraph 6(2)(c) of Schedule 3; and

 

(iii)                          has such qualifying period (if any) of continuous service (not exceeding five years prior to the Date of Grant) as the Directors may from time to time determine.

 

In addition, it means any person who is an executive director or employee of a Participating Company who is nominated by the Directors (or is nominated as a member of a category of such executive directors or employees).

 

“London Stock Exchange” means London Stock Exchange plc or its successor;

 

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“Model Code” means the UK Listing Authority Model Code for transactions in securities by directors, certain employees and persons connected with them;

 

“Option” means a right to acquire Shares granted under the Scheme which is subject to the Rules;

 

“Optionholder” means a person holding an Option including his personal representatives;

 

“Option Price” means the amount payable for each Share on the exercise of an Option calculated as described in Rule 5 (Option price);

 

“Participating Companies” means:

 

(i)                                   the Company; and

 

(ii)                                any Subsidiary unless the Directors determine otherwise in respect of any particular Subsidiary; and

 

(iii)                             any jointly-owned company (within the meaning of paragraph 46 of Schedule 3) designated by the Directors.

 

“Rules” means the rules of the Scheme as changed from time to time;

 

“Scheme” means this scheme known as “The AMEC Savings Related Share Option Scheme 2005” as changed from time to time;

 

“Savings Contract” means a contract under an approved savings arrangement within the meaning of paragraph 24(1) of Schedule 3;

 

“Schedule 3” means Schedule 3 to the Income Tax (Earnings and Pension) Act 2003;

 

“Schedule 3 Plan” means a plan in relation to which the requirements of Parts 2 to 9 of Schedule 3 are being met;

 

“Shares” means subject to rule 1.2, fully paid ordinary shares in the capital of the Company for the time being which comply with the requirements of paragraphs 18 to 22 of Schedule 3;

 

“Specified Age” means 65 (for Options granted before the Date of Royal Assent);

 

“Subsidiary” means a company which is:

 

(i)                                  a subsidiary of the Company within the meaning of Section 1159 of the Companies Act 2006; and

 

(ii)                               under the Control of the Company;

 

“Taxable Year” means the 12 month period in respect of which the Optionholder is obliged to pay US Tax or, if it would result in a longer period for the exercise of an Option, the 12 month period in respect of which the Optionholder’s employing company is obliged to pay tax.

 

“Trustee” means the trustee of any employee trust described in Rule 13.7 (Employee trust).

 

“US Taxpayer” means a person who is subject to taxation under the tax rules of the United States of America.

 

“US Tax” means taxation under the tax rules of the United States of America.

 

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1.2                            Shares

 

If any Shares which are subject to an Option cease to satisfy paragraphs 18 to 22 of Schedule 3 and the Scheme ceases to be a Schedule 3 Plan, then the definition of “Shares” in Rule 1.1 is automatically changed to “fully paid ordinary shares in the capital of the Company”. This will not apply if an Option can be exercised under rule 10.10 (Shares no longer within Schedule 3).

 

2                                      Invitations

 

2.1                            Operation

 

The Directors have discretion to decide whether the Scheme will be operated. When they operate the Scheme they must invite all Eligible Employees to apply for an Option.

 

2.2                            Time when invitations may be made

 

2.2.1                   Invitations may only be made within 42 days starting on any of the following:

 

(i)                                the day after the announcement of the Company’s results through a regulatory information service for any period;

 

(ii)                             any day on which changes to the legislation or regulations affecting Schedule 3 Plans are announced, effected or made;

 

(iii)                          any day on which a new Savings Contract prospectus is announced or takes effect; or

 

(iv)                         any day on which the Directors determine that exceptional circumstances exist which justify the making of invitations.

 

2.2.2                   If the Directors cannot make the invitations due to restrictions imposed by statute, order, regulation or Government directive, or by any code adopted by the Company based on the Model Code, the Directors may make the invitations within 42 days after the lifting of such restrictions.

 

2.3                            Form of invitations

 

The invitation will specify:

 

2.3.1                   the requirements a person must satisfy in order to be eligible to participate;

 

2.3.2                  the Option Price or how it is to be calculated;

 

2.3.3                  whether or not the Shares subject to the Option are subject to any restriction (as defined in paragraph 48(3) of Schedule 3) and set out the details of any such restrictions;(1)

 

2.3.4                   the form of application and the date by which applications must be received. This date must not be less than 14 days after the date of the invitation ;

 

2.3.5                   the length of the Savings Contract (including whether it is possible to choose to defer receiving the bonus at the end of the savings period in order to receive an increased bonus) and the date of start of the savings;

 

(1)                                 For Options granted on or after the Date of Royal Assent

 

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2.3.6                   the maximum permitted Contribution in each month which must not be more than the maximum specified by Paragraph 25(3) of Schedule 3; and

 

2.3.7                   the minimum permitted Contribution in each month (which must be between £5 and £10).

 

3                                      Application

 

3.1                            Form of Application

 

An application for an Option must include an application for a Savings Contract with a savings carrier nominated by the Directors. The application will be made in writing, or electronically, or in such other form specified by the Directors and will require the Eligible Employee to state:

 

3.1.1                   the Contribution he wishes to make;

 

3.1.2                   that his proposed Contribution, when added to any Contributions he makes under any other Savings Contract, will not exceed the maximum permitted under Paragraph 25(3) of Schedule 3; and

 

3.1.3                   the length of the Savings Contract if relevant.

 

3.2                            Number of Shares

 

Each Eligible Employee’s application will be for an Option over the largest whole number of Shares which he can acquire at the Option Price with the expected repayment under the related Savings Contract.

 

3.3                            Modification of application and proposals

 

If there are applications for Options over more Shares than the maximum specified in the invitation, each application and proposal for a Savings Contract will be deemed to have been modified or withdrawn as described in Rule 4.

 

If an application for a Savings Contract specifies a Contribution which, when added to any other Contributions already being made by the Eligible Employee, exceeds the maximum permitted (whether under Schedule 3, the Savings Contract or any limit specified in the invitation), the Directors are authorised to modify it by reducing the Contribution to the maximum possible amount. Any such modification must be made before the Option is granted and before the application for the Savings Contract is accepted.

 

4                                      Scaling down

 

4.1                           Method

 

If valid applications are received for a total number of Shares in excess of any maximum number specified in the invitation or any limit under Rule 7, the Directors will scale down applications by choosing one or more of the following methods:

 

4.1.1                   reducing the proposed Contributions by the same proportion to an amount not less than the minimum amount permitted under the Savings Contract; or

 

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4.1.2                   reducing the proposed Contributions in excess of an amount chosen by the Directors, which must not be less than the minimum amount permitted under the Savings Contract, by the same proportion to an amount not less than the amount chosen by the Directors; or

 

4.1.3                   treating any elections for the maximum bonus as elections for the standard bonus; or

 

4.1.4                   treating bonuses as wholly excluded from the expected repayment amount.

 

The Directors may use other methods provided the Scheme remains a Schedule 3 Plan.

 

4.2                            Insufficient Shares

 

If, having scaled down as described in Rule 4.1 (Method), the number of Shares available is insufficient to enable Options to be granted to all Eligible Employees making valid applications, the Directors may either select by lot, or decide not to grant any Options.

 

5                                      Option Price

 

5.1                            Setting the price

 

The Directors will set the Option Price which must be:

 

5.1.1                   not manifestly less than 80 per cent of the Market Value of a Share; and

 

5.1.2                   if the Shares are to be subscribed, not less than the nominal value of a Share.

 

5.2                            Market Value

 

“Market Value” on any particular day means:

 

5.2.1                   their price for the immediately preceding Business Day; or

 

5.2.2                   if the Directors decide, the average price for the 3 immediately preceding Business Days; or

 

5.2.3                   such other price as Shares and Assets Valuation at HM Revenue and Customs may agree in advance.

 

The “price” is the mid market closing price taken from the Daily Official List of the London Stock Exchange.

 

Any restriction referred to in rule 2.3.3 will be ignored when determining Market Value.(2)

 

6                                      Grant of Options

 

6.1                            Time of grant

 

Subject to Rule 4.2 (Insufficient Shares), the Directors must grant an Option to each Eligible Employee who has submitted and not withdrawn a valid application. The Option is to acquire, at the Option Price, the number of Shares for which the Eligible Employee has applied (or is deemed to have applied). The grant must be made within 30 days (or 42 days if applications are scaled down) of the first day by reference to which the Option Price was set.

 

(2)                                 For Options granted on or after the Date of Royal Assent

 

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6.2                            Restrictions on grant

 

6.2.1                   An Option cannot be granted to a person who is not an Eligible Employee at the Date of Grant. Any Option granted to such a person (for example, an Option granted in error) is void.

 

6.2.2                   Options may only be granted under the Scheme between the date of approval of the Scheme by the Company in general meeting and the tenth anniversary of that date.

 

6.3                            Option certificates

 

6.3.1                   The Directors will send to each Optionholder an option certificate as soon as practicable after the Date of Grant. The Directors will set the form of the certificate, but the certificate must be consistent with these Rules.

 

6.3.2                   If any option certificate is lost or damaged the Directors may replace it on such conditions as they wish to set.

 

6.4                            No payment

 

Optionholders are not required to pay for the grant of any Option.

 

6.5                            Disposal restrictions

 

An Optionholder must not transfer, assign or otherwise dispose of an Option or any rights in respect of it. If, in breach of this Rule, an Optionholder transfers, assigns or disposes of an Option or rights, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, then the relevant Option will immediately lapse. This Rule 6.5 does not apply to the transmission of an Option on the death of an Optionholder to his personal representatives.

 

7                                      Scheme limits

 

7.1                            10 per cent in 10 year limit

 

The number of Shares which may be allocated under the Scheme on any day must not exceed 10 per cent of the ordinary share capital of the Company in issue immediately before that day, when added to the total number of Shares which have been allocated in the previous 10 years under the Scheme and any other employee share plan operated by the Company.

 

7.2                            Exclusions

 

Where the right to acquire Shares is released or lapses without being exercised these Shares are ignored when calculating the limits in this Rule.

 

7.3                           Meaning of “allocate”

 

Shares are “allocated” if they have been or may be issued.

 

8                                      Variations in share capital

 

8.1                            Adjustment of Options

 

If there is a variation in the equity share capital of the Company, including a capitalisation or rights issue, sub-division, consolidation or reduction of share capital:

 

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8.1.1                   the number of Shares comprised in each Option; and

 

8.1.2                   the Option Price,

 

may be adjusted in any way (including retrospective adjustments) which the Directors consider appropriate provided:

 

8.1.3                   the adjusted total Option Price must be substantially the same as before the adjustment and must not exceed the expected proceeds of the related Savings Contract at the Bonus Date;

 

8.1.4                   the total market value of the shares must remain substantially the same; and

 

8.1.5                   the Scheme must continue to be a Schedule 3 Plan.

 

An annual return relating to the Scheme submitted to HMRC following any such adjustment must include a declaration that the Scheme continues to comply with Schedule 3.

 

8.2                            Nominal value

 

8.2.1                   The Option Price may be adjusted to less than nominal value. However, where Shares are to be subscribed, Rule 8.2.2 must be followed.

 

8.2.2                   Where Shares are to be subscribed, the Option Price may only be adjusted to a price less than nominal value if the Directors resolve to capitalise the reserves of the Company, subject to any necessary conditions. This capitalisation will be of an amount equal to the difference between the adjusted Option Price payable for the Shares to be issued on exercise and the nominal value of such Shares on the date of allotment of the Shares. If, at the time of exercise, the Directors do not resolve to capitalise the reserves of the Company for this purpose then the adjustment under this Rule 8.2 will be deemed not to have taken place.

 

8.3                            Notice

 

The Directors may notify Optionholders of any adjustment made under this Rule 8.

 

9                                      Exercise and lapse - general rules

 

9.1                            Exercise

 

Except where exercise is permitted as described in Rule 10 (Exercise and lapse - exceptions to the general rules), an Option can only be exercised:

 

9.1.1                   during the period of six months after the Bonus Date; and

 

9.1.2                   so long as the Optionholder is a director or employee of a Participating Company.

 

9.2                            Lapse

 

An Option will lapse on the earliest of:

 

9.2.1                   the date the Optionholder ceases to be a director or employee of a Participating Company, unless any of the provisions of Rule 10 (Exercise and lapse - exceptions to the general rules) apply;

 

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9.2.2                   the date on which the Optionholder is deemed to give notice under the Savings Contract that he intends to stop paying contributions under his Savings Contract;

 

9.2.3                   the date on which the Optionholder stops paying contributions under his Savings Contract unless any of the provisions of Rule 10 (Exercise and lapse - exceptions to the general rules) apply;

 

9.2.4                   the expiry of any period specified in Rule 10 (Exercise and lapse - exceptions to the general rules) except Rule 10.4 (Specified Age); or

 

9.2.5                   six months after the Bonus Date unless Rule 10.3 (Death) applies.

 

When this Rule 9.2 applies to an Optionholder who is a US Taxpayer, an Option will lapse on the date specified in this Rule 9.2 or, if earlier, on the expiry of 2.5 calendar months after the end of the Taxable Year in which the Option became exercisable.

 

10                               Exercise and lapse - exceptions to the general rules

 

10.1                     Cessation of employment

 

10.1.1            An Optionholder may exercise his Option within 6 months after he ceases to be a director or an employee of a Participating Company for one of the reasons set out below. The reasons are:

 

(i)                                  injury, disability, redundancy within the meaning of the Employment Rights Act 1996; or

 

(ii)                               retirement; or

 

(iii)                            in the case of Options granted before the Date of Royal Assent, retirement on reaching the Specified Age; or

 

(iv)                           a relevant transfer within the meaning of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006, or

 

(v)                              his office or employment being in an associated company (as defined in paragraph 35(4) of Schedule 3) of the Company which ceases to be an associated company by reason of a change of control (as determined in accordance with sections 450 and 451 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010).

 

10.1.2            If the Optionholder ceases to be a director or employee of a Participating Company more than three years after the Date of Grant for any reason permitted by the Directors he may exercise his option within six months after leaving.

 

10.1.3            For the purposes of this Rule 10.1, an Optionholder is not treated as ceasing to be a director or employee of a Participating Company until he has ceased to be a director or employee of:

 

(i)                                  the Company;

 

(ii)                               an Associated Company; and

 

(iii)                            a company under the control of the Company.

 

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10.1.4            This rule applies if an Optionholder:

 

(i)                                  ceases to be a director or employee of a Participating Company but on or immediately after the date of cessation is a director or employee of an Associated Company, and

 

(ii)                               subsequently ceases to be a director or employee of the Associated Company.

 

When this rule applies, the Optionholder can exercise his Option if the reason for him ceasing to be a director or employee of the Participating Company (not the Associated Company) was one of the reasons set out in Rule 10.1.1 or 10.1.2.

 

10.2                     Employment with an Associated Company

 

If on the Bonus Date an Optionholder is an employee or director of an Associated Company or a company of which the Company has Control, he may exercise his Option within six months of that date.

 

10.3                     Death

 

If an Optionholder dies, his Option may be exercised by his personal representatives within one year after:

 

10.3.1            the date of his death if death occurred before the relevant Bonus Date; or

 

10.3.2            the Bonus Date if the death occurred on or within six months after the relevant Bonus Date.

 

10.4                     Specified Age

 

If an Optionholder continues to be a director or employee of a Participating Company after the date on which he reaches the Specified Age, he may exercise any Option granted before the Date of Royal Assent within 6 months after reaching the Specified Age.

 

10.5                     Takeovers

 

This Rule applies where a person (or a group of persons acting in concert) obtains Control of the Company as a result of making a general offer to acquire shares in the Company which falls within paragraph 37(3) of Schedule 3.

 

When this Rule applies Options may, subject to Rules 10.8 (Reorganisation or merger) and 10.10 (Shares no longer within Schedule 3), be exercised within the 6 month period after the person making the offer has obtained Control of the Company and any condition subject to which the offer is made has been satisfied.

 

The Options will lapse at the end of the 6 month period unless the Directors give written notice to all the Optionholders before the end of the 6 month period that the Options will not lapse.

 

10.6                     Section 979 notice

 

This Rule applies if a person (or a group of persons acting in concert) becomes bound or entitled to acquire Shares by serving a notice under section 979 of the Companies Act 2006 or other local legislation which HM Revenue and Customs agrees is equivalent (a “section 979 notice”). Subject to Rules 10.8 (Reorganisation or merger) and 10.10 (Shares no longer within Schedule 3), Options may be exercised at any time when that person remains so bound or entitled, which is the period of six weeks from the date of the section 979 notice.

 

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10.7                     Company reconstructions

 

This Rule applies if under section 899 of the Companies Act 2006 (or other local legislation which HM Revenue and Customs agrees is equivalent):

 

10.7.1            a court sanctions a compromise or arrangement falling within paragraph 37(4) of Schedule 3; or

 

10.7.2            there is a local procedure which HM Revenue and Customs agrees is equivalent.

 

Options may, subject to Rules 10.8 (Reorganisation or merger) and 10.10 (Shares no longer within Schedule 3), be exercised within the 6 month period after the date of the sanction.

 

10.8                     Reorganisation or merger

 

If this Rule applies, no Options are exercisable. Instead all Options are exchanged during the period set out in paragraph 38(3) of Schedule 3. Rules 11.3 (Exchange) and 11.4 (Grant) apply to the exchange.

 

This Rule applies when:

 

10.8.1            an Acquiring Company has obtained Control of the Company or has become entitled and bound as mentioned in Rule 10.6 (Section 979 notice); and

 

10.8.2            the shareholders of the Acquiring Company, immediately after it has obtained such Control, are substantially the same as the shareholders of the Company immediately before then or the obtaining of Control amounts to a merger with the Company; and

 

10.8.3            the Acquiring Company consents to the exchange of Options under this Rule.

 

10.9                     Winding-up

 

If the Company passes a resolution for its voluntary winding-up, Options may be exercised within six months after the date of the resolution. However, the issue of Shares after such exercise has to be authorised by the liquidator or the court (if appropriate), and the Optionholder must apply for this authority and pay his application cost. Any Options not exercised during that period will lapse at the end of the period.

 

10.10              Shares no longer within Schedule 3

 

This rule applies where:

 

10.10.1     Rule 10.5 (Takeovers) applies; or

 

10.10.2     a person obtains Control of the Company as a result of a compromise or arrangement mentioned in Rule 10.7; or

 

10.10.3     a person is bound or entitled to acquire Shares as described in Rule 10.6 (Compulsory acquisition); and

 

as a result, Shares in the Company would no longer meet the requirements of paragraphs 18 to 22 of Schedule 3.

 

If this rule applies, Options may be exercised under those rules within a 20 day period before (and conditionally on) the relevant event taking place. Options may alternatively be exercised under those rules during a 20 day period after the relevant event and any Options not so exercised will lapse at the end of that period.

 

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10.11              Priority

 

If there is any conflict between any of the provisions in Rules 9 (Exercise and lapse - general rules) and 10 (Exercise and lapse - exceptions to the general rules), the provision which results in the shortest exercise period will prevail.

 

11                               Exchange of Options

 

11.1                     Application

 

This Rule 0 applies to all Options (whether or not already exercisable) if the Acquiring Company:

 

11.1.1            obtains Control of the Company as a result of making a general offer to acquire shares in the Company which falls within paragraph 38(2)(a) of Schedule 3; or

 

11.1.2            obtains Control of the Company under a scheme of arrangement sanctioned by the court under Section 899 Companies Act 2006; or

 

11.1.3            becomes entitled or bound to acquire Shares under Section 981 Companies Act 2006 or other local legislation which HM Revenue and Customs agrees is equivalent.

 

11.2                     Agreement to exchange

 

If this Rule 11.2 applies, the Optionholder may, with the agreement of the Acquiring Company, exchange his Options under Rule 11.3 (Exchange) during the period set out in paragraph 38(3) of Schedule 3.

 

11.3                     Exchange

 

Where an Option is to be exchanged the Optionholder will be granted a new option to replace it.

 

Where an Optionholder is granted a new option then:

 

11.3.1            the new option will be in respect of shares, which satisfy the conditions of paragraph 39 of Schedule 3 in any body corporate (falling within paragraph 18(b) or (c) of Schedule 3), determined by the Acquiring Company;

 

11.3.2            the new option will be equivalent to the Option that was exchanged as provided in paragraph 39(4) of Schedule 3 and for the purposes of equivalence, market value will be determined according to a methodology agreed by HMRC;

 

11.3.3            the new option will be treated as having been acquired at the same time as the Option that was exchanged and be exercisable in the same manner and at the same time;

 

11.3.4            the new option will be subject to the Rules as they last had effect in relation to the Option that was exchanged;

 

11.3.5            with effect from the exchange, the Rules will be construed in relation to the new option as if references to Shares were references to the shares over which the new option is granted and references to the Company were references to the body corporate determined by the Directors under Rule 11.3.1.

 

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11.4                     Grant

 

The Acquiring Company must not grant Options under the Scheme other than under Rule 11.3 (Exchange).

 

12                               Exercise of Options

 

12.1                     Limit on exercise

 

An Optionholder may exercise his Option using funds equal to or less than the amount repayable under his Savings Contract, including any bonus or interest. An Optionholder can only use Contributions made before the date of exercise of the Option, and any bonus or interest on them.

 

12.2                     Manner of exercise

 

Options must be exercised by notice in a form specified by the Company and executed by the Optionholder or by his agent and delivered to the Company or its agent. The Optionholder must also send:

 

12.2.1            if the Company so requires, the relevant option certificate; and either

 

12.2.2            payment in full in cleared funds and evidence of the termination of the Savings Contract; or

 

12.2.3            authority to terminate the Savings Contract and use the amount needed to acquire the number of Shares over which the Option is being exercised.

 

The exercise of the Option is effective on the date of receipt by the Company or its agent of the notice, the option certificate (if required) and the relevant payment or authority.

 

12.3                     Part exercise

 

12.3.1            Subject to any other restriction in the Rules, Options may be exercised in respect of all the Shares under the Option or only some of the Shares.

 

12.3.2            If an Option is exercised in part, the unexercised balance will lapse.

 

12.4                     Issue or transfer

 

Subject to Rule 12.6 (Consents):

 

12.4.1           Shares to be issued or transferred out of treasury following the exercise of an Option must be issued within 30 days of the date of exercise; and

 

12.4.2           if Shares are to be transferred following the exercise of an Option, the Directors must procure this transfer within 30 days of the date of exercise.

 

12.5                     Rights

 

12.5.1            Shares issued on exercise of an Option rank equally in all respects with the Shares in issue on the date of allotment. They do not rank for any rights attaching to Shares by reference to a record date preceding the date of allotment.

 

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12.5.2            Where Shares are to be transferred including transferred out of treasury on the exercise of an Option, Optionholders are entitled to all rights attaching to the Shares by reference to a record date after the transfer date. They are not entitled to rights before that date.

 

12.6                     Consents

 

All allotments, issues and transfers of Shares are subject to any necessary consents under any relevant enactments or regulations for the time being in force in the United Kingdom or elsewhere. The Optionholder is responsible for complying with any requirements to obtain or avoid the need for any such consent.

 

12.7                     Articles of Association

 

Any Shares acquired on the exercise of Options are subject to the Articles of Association of the Company from time to time in force.

 

12.8                     Listing

 

If and so long as the Shares are listed on the Official List of the UK Listing Authority or of any other stock exchange where Shares are traded, the Company must apply for listing of any Shares issued pursuant to the Scheme as soon as practicable after their allotment.

 

13                               General

 

13.1                     Notices

 

13.1.1            Any notice or other document which has to be given to an Eligible Employee or Optionholder under or in connection with the Scheme may be:

 

(i)                                delivered or sent by post to him at his home address according to the records of his employing company; or

 

(ii)                             sent by e-mail or fax to any e-mail address or fax number which, according to the records of his employing company, is used by him;

 

or in either case such other address which the Company considers appropriate.

 

13.1.2            Any notice or other document which has to be given to the Company or other duly appointed agent under or in connection with the Scheme may be delivered or sent by post to it at its respective registered office (or such other place as the Directors or the duly appointed agent may from time to time decide and notify to Optionholders) or sent by e-mail or fax to any e-mail address or fax number notified to the sender.

 

13.1.3            Notices sent by post will be deemed to have been given on the earlier of the date of actual receipt and the second day after the date of posting. However, notices sent by or to an Optionholder who is working overseas will be deemed to have been given on the earlier of the date of actual receipt and the seventh day after the date of posting.

 

13.1.4            Notices sent by e-mail or fax, in the absence of evidence of non-delivery, will be deemed to have been received on the day after sending.

 

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13.2                     Documents sent to shareholders

 

The Company may send to Optionholders copies of any documents or notices normally sent to the holders of its Shares.

 

13.3                     Directors’ decisions final and binding

 

The decision of the Directors on the interpretation of the Rules or in any dispute relating to an Option or matter relating to the Scheme is conclusive.

 

13.4                     Costs

 

The Company may require each Participating Company to reimburse the Company for any costs incurred in connection with the grant of Options to, or exercise of Options by, employees of that Participating Company.

 

13.5                     Administration

 

The Directors have the power from time to time to make or vary regulations for the administration and operation of the Scheme.

 

13.6                     Terms of employment

 

13.6.1            For the purposes of this Rule, “Employee” means any Optionholder, any Eligible Employee or any other person.

 

13.6.2            This Rule applies:

 

(i)                                during an Employee’s employment or employment relationship; and

 

(ii)                             after the termination of an Employee’s employment or employment relationship, whether the termination is lawful or unlawful.

 

13.6.3            Nothing in the Rules or the operation of the Scheme forms part of the contract of employment or employment relationship of an Employee. The rights and obligations arising from the employment relationship between the Employee and the Company are separate from, and are not affected by, the Scheme. Participation in the Scheme does not create any right to, or expectation of, continued employment or a continued employment relationship.

 

13.6.4            The grant of Options on a particular basis in any year does not create any right to or expectation of the grant of Options on the same basis, or at all, in any future year.

 

13.6.5            Without prejudice to Rule 2.1, no Employee is entitled to participate in the Scheme, or be considered for participation in it, at a particular level or at all. Participation in one operation of the Scheme does not imply any right to participate, or to be considered for participation in any later operation of the Scheme.

 

13.6.6            Without prejudice to an Employee’s right to exercise an Option subject to and in accordance with the express terms of the Rules, no Employee has any rights in respect of the making or omission to make any decision, relating to the Option. Any and all  decisions or omissions relating to the Option may operate to the disadvantage of the Employee, even if this could be regarded as capricious or unreasonable, or could be regarded as in breach of any implied term

 

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between the Employee and his employer, including any implied duty of trust and confidence. Any such implied term is excluded and overridden by this Rule.

 

13.6.7            No Employee has any right to compensation for any loss in relation to the Scheme, including:

 

(i)                                  any loss or reduction of any rights or expectations under the Scheme in any circumstances or for any reason (including lawful or unlawful termination of employment or the employment relationship);

 

(ii)                               a decision taken in relation to an Option or to the Scheme, or any failure to take a decision;

 

(iii)                            the operation, suspension, termination or amendment of the Scheme.

 

13.6.8            Participation in the Scheme is permitted only on the basis that the Participant accepts all the provisions of the Rules, including in particular this Rule. By participating in the Scheme, an Employee waives all rights under the Scheme, other than the right to exercise an Option subject to and in accordance with the express terms of the Rules, in consideration for, and as a condition of, the grant of an Option under the Scheme.

 

13.6.9            Nothing in this Scheme confers any benefit, right or expectation on a person who is not an Employee. No such third party has any rights under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any term of this Scheme. This does not affect any other right or remedy of a third party which may exist.

 

13.6.10     Each of the provisions of this Rule is entirely separate and independent from each of the other provisions. If any provision is found to be invalid then it will be deemed never to have been part of these Rules and to the extent that it is possible to do so, this will not affect the validity or enforceability of any of the remaining provisions.

 

13.7                     Employee trust

 

The Company and any Subsidiary of the Company may provide money to the trustee of any trust or any other person to enable the trust or him to acquire Shares for the purposes of the Scheme, or enter into any guarantee or indemnity for those purposes, to the extent permitted by Section 682 of the Companies Act 2006.

 

13.8                     Data protection

 

By participating in the Scheme the Optionholder consents to the holding and processing of personal data provided by the Optionholder to the Company for all purposes relating to the operation of the Scheme. These include, but are not limited to:

 

13.8.1            administering and maintaining Optionholder records;

 

13.8.2            providing information to trustees of any employee benefit trust, registrars, brokers savings carrier or other third party administrators of the Scheme;

 

13.8.3            providing information to future purchasers of the Company or the business in which the Optionholder works; and

 

13.8.4            transferring information about the Optionholder to a country or territory outside the European Economic Area.

 

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14                               Changing the Scheme and termination

 

14.1                     Directors’ powers

 

Except as described in the rest of this Rule 14, the Directors may at any time change the Scheme in any way.

 

14.2                     Shareholders’ approval

 

14.2.1            Except as described in Rule 14.2.2, the Company in general meeting must approve in advance by ordinary resolution any proposed change to the Rules to the advantage of present or future Optionholders which relates to the following:

 

(i)                                  the persons to whom or for whom Shares may be provided under the Scheme;

 

(ii)                               the limitations on the number of Shares which may be issued under the Scheme;

 

(iii)                            the maximum Contribution which may be made under the Scheme;

 

(iv)                           the determination of the Option Price;

 

(v)                              any rights attaching to the Options and the Shares;

 

(vi)                           the rights of Optionholders in the event of a capitalisation issue, rights issue, sub-division or consolidation of shares or reduction or any other variation of capital of the Company;

 

(vii)                        the terms of this Rule 14.2.1.

 

14.2.2            The Directors need not obtain the approval of the Company in general meeting for any minor changes:

 

(i)                                  to benefit the administration of the Scheme;

 

(ii)                               which are necessary or desirable in order to ensure that the Scheme becomes or remains a Schedule 3 Plan or maintains its tax efficiency;

 

(iii)                            to comply with or take account of the provisions of any proposed or existing legislation;

 

(iv)                           to take account of any changes to the legislation; or

 

(v)                              to obtain or maintain favourable tax, exchange control or regulatory treatment of the Company, any Subsidiary or any present or future Optionholder.

 

14.3                     Schedule 3 restrictions

 

14.3.1            For so long as the Scheme is to remain a Schedule 3 Plan, the Scheme must comply with Schedule 3 after any change to a “key feature”.

 

14.3.2            An annual return relating to the Scheme submitted to HMRC following any such change must include a declaration that the Scheme continues to comply with Schedule 3.

 

14.3.3            A “key feature”“ is any Scheme provision necessary to comply with Parts 2 to 7 of Schedule 3.

 

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14.4                     Notice

 

The Directors may give written notice of any changes made to any Optionholder affected.

 

14.5                     Termination of the Scheme

 

The Scheme will terminate on 18 May 2015, but the Directors may terminate the Scheme at any time before that date. However, Options granted before such termination will continue to be valid and exercisable as described in these Rules.

 

15                               Governing law

 

English law governs the Scheme and all Options and their construction. The English Courts have non-exclusive jurisdiction in respect of disputes arising under or in connection with the Scheme or any Option.

 

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