S-8

As filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on October 19, 2015

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Under

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

LIVANOVA PLC

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

 

 

England and Wales   3845   N/A

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(Primary Standard Industrial

Classification Code Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

5 Merchant Square

London W2 1AY

United Kingdom

Telephone: +44 20 37865275

(Address, including zip code, of principal executive offices)

 

 

LIVANOVA PLC 2015 INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN

LIVANOVA PLC EMPLOYEE BENEFIT TRUST

CYBERONICS, INC. 2009 STOCK PLAN

CYBERONICS, INC. 2005 STOCK PLAN

CYBERONICS, INC. AMENDED AND RESTATED 1997 STOCK PLAN

CYBERONICS, INC. AMENDED AND RESTATED 1996 STOCK PLAN

CYBERONICS, INC. NEW EMPLOYEE EQUITY INDUCEMENT PLAN

(Full title of the plans)

 

 

c/o C T Corporation System

111 Eighth Avenue

New York, NY 10011

United States

+1(212) 894-8800

(Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies to:

Luke Bergstrom, Esq.

Roderick Branch, Esq.

Bradd Williamson, Esq.

Latham & Watkins LLP

140 Scott Drive

Menlo Park, California 94025

Telephone: (650) 328-4600

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer   x    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   ¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨

 

 

 


CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Each Class of Securities to be

Registered

  Amount to be
Registered (1)
  Proposed Maximum
Offering Price Per
Share
  Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering
Price
  Amount of
Registration Fee

Ordinary Shares, par value £1 per share

  10,586,323 (2)   $1.546 (6)   $16,366,455.36   $1,648.10

Ordinary Shares, par value £1 per share

  180,076 (3)   $51.34 (7)   $9,245,101.84   $930.98

Ordinary Shares, par value £1 per share

  333,430 (4)   $1.546 (6)   $515,482.78   $51.91

Ordinary Shares, par value £1 per share

  813,794 (5)   $44.25 (8)   $36,010,384.50   $3,626.25

 

 

(1) Pursuant to Rule 416(a) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement shall also cover any additional ordinary shares of the Registrant, par value £1 per share (“Ordinary Shares”), that become issuable under the Registrant’s 2015 Incentive Award Plan, the Cyberonics, Inc. 2009 Stock Plan, the Cyberonics, Inc. 2005 Stock Plan, the Cyberonics, Inc. Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Plan, the Cyberonics, Inc. Amended and Restated 1996 Stock Plan and the Cyberonics, Inc. New Employee Equity Inducement Plan (collectively, the “Plans”) by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction effected without receipt of consideration that increases the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares.
(2) Represents Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise or settlement of awards that may be granted pursuant to (a) the LivaNova PLC 2015 Incentive Award Plan and the LivaNova PLC Employee Benefit Trust (8,800,000 Ordinary Shares) and (b) the Cyberonics, Inc. 2009 Stock Plan (based on the existing unused share reserve under such plan, as converted based on the Cyberonics Exchange Ratio) (1,786,323 Ordinary Shares).
(3) Represents Ordinary Shares issuable under the LivaNova PLC 2015 Incentive Award Plan and the LivaNova PLC Employee Benefit Trust upon the exercise of Sorin SARs granted under the Sorin 2014-2016 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2014 LTIP”).
(4) Represents Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of (a) Sorin Performance Awards granted under the Sorin 2012-2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2012 LTIP”), the 2013-2015 Long-Term Incentive Plan and the 2014 LTIP (collectively, the “Sorin LTIP Plans”) (264,821 Ordinary Shares) and (b) Sorin Deferred Bonus Shares granted under the Sorin Deferred Bonus Plan (68,609 Ordinary Shares).
(5) Represents Ordinary Shares issuable upon the exercise of Cyberonics Options granted pursuant to (a) the Cyberonics, Inc. 2009 Stock Plan, (b) the Cyberonics, Inc. 2005 Stock Plan, (c) the Cyberonics, Inc. Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Plan, (d) the Cyberonics, Inc. 1996 Stock Plan and (e) the Cyberonics, Inc. New Employee Equity Inducement Plan (collectively, the “Cyberonics Stock Plans”).
(6) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act based on the book value of the Ordinary Shares, calculated as of October 16, 2015 at the exchange rate of U.S. dollars per British Pound of $1.546 (as reported on October 15, 2015), since there has not been any trading in the Registrant’s Ordinary Shares.
(7) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act. The proposed maximum offering price per share is based on the weighted average exercise price per share of the Sorin SARs (as converted to LivaNova awards based on the Sorin Exchange Ratio).
(8) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act. The proposed maximum offering price per share is based on the weighted average exercise price per share of the outstanding Cyberonics Options (as converted to LivaNova awards based on the Cyberonics Exchange Ratio).

 

2


EXPLANATORY NOTE

On March 23, 2015, LivaNova PLC, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (herein referred to as “LivaNova” or the “Registrant”), Cypher Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of LivaNova PLC (“Merger Sub”), Sorin S.p.A., a joint stock company organized under the laws of Italy (“Sorin”), and Cyberonics, a Delaware corporation (“Cyberonics”), entered into a merger agreement (the “Merger Agreement”). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Sorin merged with and into LivaNova PLC, with LivaNova PLC continuing as the suriving company (the “Sorin Merger”). Immediately following the Sorin Merger, Merger Sub merged with and into Cyberonics, with Cyberonics continuing as the surviving company and as a wholly owned subsidiary of LivaNova PLC (the “Cyberonics Merger”). We refer to the Sorin Merger and the Cyberonics Merger together as the “Mergers”.

At the effective time of the Sorin Merger, each stock appreciation right granted under the 2014 LTIP (each, a “Sorin SAR”) was fully vested and converted into a stock appreciation right issued under the Sub-Plan with respect to a number of Shares equal to the product (rounded down to the nearest whole number) obtained by multiplying (i) the number of ordinary shares of Sorin subject to such Sorin SAR by (ii) the Sorin exchange ratio of 0.0472 (the “Sorin Exchange Ratio”), at an exercise price per share equal to the quotient (rounded up to the nearest whole cent) obtained by dividing (a) the per share exercise price specified in the Sorin SAR by (b) the Sorin Exchange Ratio (which exercise price may have been converted into U.S. dollars or British pounds based on the applicable currency exchange rates). Also as of the effective time of the Sorin Merger, (i) any vesting conditions applicable to each outstanding restricted stock unit pursuant to the Sorin LTIP Plans other than the 2012 LTIP (each a “Sorin RSU”) and each outstanding performance share pursuant to the Sorin LTIP Plans other than the 2012 LTIP (each, a “Sorin Performance Share”) accelerated at 100% at the target level and was converted based on the Sorin Exchange Ratio into the right to receive a number of Shares issued under the Sub-Plan (together, the “Converted Sorin Share Awards”), with a portion of the Converted Sorin Share Awards to be provided within three business days of the effective time of the Sorin Merger, an additional portion of the Converted Sorin Share Awards to be provided on February 26, 2016 and an additional portion of the Converted Sorin Share Awards to be provided on February 26, 2017. As of the effective time of the Sorin Merger, holders of performance shares granted under the 2012 LTIP were entitled to receive a number of Shares equal to the product of (i) 69.43% of the number of Sorin ordinary shares that would have been payable with respect to such performance shares under the terms of the 2012 LTIP if the respective performance target levels had been achieved at 100% with respect to such awards by (ii) the Sorin Exchange Ratio (the “2012 Sorin Performance Shares”). As of the effective time of the Sorin Merger, any vesting conditions applicable to outstanding deferred bonus shares (the “Deferred Shares”) were accelerated and each Deferred Share was converted into the right to receive a number of Shares equal to the product of (i) the number of Sorin ordinary shares subject to the Deferred Share as of the Sorin Merger by (ii) the Sorin Exchange Ratio. All outstanding awards became fully vested in connection with the Sorin Merger.

At the effective time of the Cyberonics Merger, each outstanding unvested Cyberonics stock option granted pursuant to the Cyberonics Stock Plans (the “Cyberonics Options”) became fully vested, and all Cyberonics Options (other than any option granted prior to January 1, 2013 held by any directors or executive officer of Cyberonics which was cashed out) were then cancelled and converted into an option to purchase a number of Shares equal to the product (rounded down to the nearest whole number) of (i) the total number of shares subject to such stock option immediately prior to the Cyberonics Merger and (ii) 1.0 (the “Cyberonics Exchange Ratio”), at an exercise price per share equal to the quotient (rounded up to the nearest whole cent) obtained by dividing (a) the per share exercise price of such Cyberonics Option by (b) the Cyberonics Exchange Ratio. As a result of the Mergers, the Registrant assumed the Cyberonics Stock Plans at the effective time of the Cyberonics Merger and may also issue future equity or equity-based awards under the Cyberonics, Inc. 2009 Stock Plan to employees who (i) were employees of Cyberonics prior to the effective time of the Cyberonics Merger or (ii) are hired by the Registrant or any of its subsidiaries (including Cyberonics) after the effective time of the Cyberonics Merger.

 

3


PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

Item 1. Plan Information.

The documents containing the information specified in Item 1 will be sent or given to participants in the Plans as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) of the Securities Act. Such documents are not required to be and are not filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) either as part of this Registration Statement on Form S-8 (this “Registration Statement”) or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424. These documents and the documents incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this Form S-8, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.

Item 2. Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.

Upon written or oral request, any of the documents incorporated by reference in Item 3 of Part II of this Registration Statement (which documents are incorporated by reference in a Section 10(a) Prospectus), other documents required to be delivered to eligible employees, non-employee directors and consultants, pursuant to Rule 428(b) or additional information about the Plan are available without charge by contacting:

LivaNova PLC

Attn: Brian Sheridan

5 Merchant Square

London W2 1AY

United Kingdom

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

The following documents, which have been filed with the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as applicable, are incorporated by reference in, and shall be deemed to be a part of, this Registration Statement:

(a) LivaNova’s final prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act on August 21, 2015 (the “Prospectus”);

(b) Cyberonics’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 24, 2015, filed with the Commission on June 15, 2015 (as amended by Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A, filed with the Commission on July 1, 2015 and Amendment No. 2 on Form 10-K/A filed on July 28, 2015);

(c) All other reports filed by Cyberonics pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since the annual report referred to in (b) above; and

(d) the description of LivaNova’s Ordinary Shares contained in the Prospectus under the heading “Description of Holdco Ordinary Shares.”

All reports and other documents filed by LivaNova with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act since August 19, 2015 and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered pursuant to this Registration Statement have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents or reports.

 

4


For purposes of this Registration Statement, any document or any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by reference shall be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a subsequently filed document or a statement contained therein, or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference, modifies or supersedes such document or such statement in such document. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

Item 4. Description of Securities.

Not applicable.

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

Not applicable.

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

LivaNova is currently a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales. Chapter 7 of Part 10 of the U.K. Companies Act 2006 contains provisions relating to directors’ liability. All statutory references in this Item 6 are to the U.K. Companies Act 2006.

Section 232(1) makes void any provision that purports to exempt a director of a company from any liability that would otherwise attach to him in connection with any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust in relation to the company.

Section 232(2) makes void any provision by which a company directly or indirectly provides an indemnity for a director of the company against any liability attaching to him or her in connection with any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust in relation to the company, except if permitted as:

(a) liability insurance within Section 233;

(b) qualifying third-party indemnity provisions falling within Section 234; or

(c) qualifying pension scheme indemnity provision under Section 235.

Section 233 permits liability insurance, commonly known as directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, purchased and maintained by a company against liability for negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust in relation to the company.

Section 234 allows LivaNova to provide an indemnity against liability incurred by a director to someone other than LivaNova or an associated company of LivaNova. Such an indemnity does not permit indemnification against liability to pay criminal fines or civil penalties to a regulatory authority or the costs of an unsuccessful defense of criminal or civil proceedings or application for relief under Sections 661 (power of court to grant relief in case of acquisition of shares by innocent nominee) or 1157 (general power of court to grant relief in case of honest and reasonable conduct) of the U.K. Companies Act 2006.

Section 235 allows LivaNova to provide indemnification to a director that is a trustee of an occupational pension scheme if joint liability incurred in connection with the company’s activities as trustee of the scheme. Such provision does not permit indemnification against liability to pay criminal fines or civil penalties to a regulatory authority or the costs of an unsuccessful defense of criminal proceedings.

Any indemnity provided under Section 234 or Section 235 must be disclosed in the company’s annual report in accordance with Section 236 and copies of such indemnification provisions made available for inspection in accordance with Section 237 (and every member has a right to inspect and request such copies under Section 238).

 

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Conduct of a director amounting to negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust in relation to the company can be ratified, in accordance with Section 239, by a resolution of the members of the company, disregarding the votes of the director (if a member) and any connected member.

The LivaNova articles of association provide that, subject to the U.K. Companies Act 2006, LivaNova may indemnify any person who is or was a director of LivaNova or any associated company against any loss or liability incurred by him whether in connection with any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust by him or otherwise, in relation to LivaNova or any associated company, and any person who is or was a director of an associated company that is a trustee of an occupational pension scheme, against any liability incurred by him in connection with the company’s activities as trustee of an occupational pension scheme.

The LivaNova articles of association also provide that, subject to the U.K. Companies Act 2006, LivaNova may purchase and maintain insurance for or for the benefit of any person who is or was a director, officer or employee of LivaNova, or any corporate entity which is or was the holding company or subsidiary undertaking of LivaNova, or in which LivaNova or such holding company or subsidiary undertaking has or had any interest or with which LivaNova or such holding company or subsidiary undertaking is or was in any way allied or associated. This includes, without limitation, insurance against any loss or liability or any expenditure such director, officer or employee may incur, whether in connection with any proven or alleged act or omission in the actual or purported execution or discharge of his or her duties or in the exercise or purported exercise of his or her powers or otherwise in relation to his or her duties, powers or offices, whether comprising negligence, default, breach of duty, breach of trust or otherwise, in relation to LivaNova or the relevant body.

The Merger Agreement provides that, from and after the completion of the Mergers, LivaNova and the Cyberonics Merger surviving corporation (in the case of directors, officers, employees and agents of Cyberonics and its subsidiaries), and LivaNova or one of its subsidiaries, to the extent required by law and for a period of six (6) years following the Sorin Merger effective time (in the case of directors, officers, employees and agents of Sorin and its subsidiaries), will indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law (and advance expenses as incurred, provided that the person to whom expenses are advanced provides an undertaking to repay such advances if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to indemnification) each present and former director, officer, employee and agent of Cyberonics, Sorin or any of their subsidiaries against any costs or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), judgments, settlement amounts, fines, losses, claims, damages or liabilities incurred in connection with any claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, whether civil criminal, administrative or investigative, arising out of or related to such person’s service as a director, officer, employee or agent of Sorin or its subsidiaries at or prior to the Sorin merger effective time, or of Cyberonics or any of its subsidiaries at or prior to the Cyberonics merger effective time.

The Merger Agreement further provides that, for a period of not less than six years after completion of the Mergers, the articles of association, certificates of incorporation and by-laws of LivaNova, the Cyberonics Merger surviving corporation and their respective subsidiaries will contain provisions no less favorable with respect to exculpation, indemnification and advancement of expenses to directors, officers, employees and agents than those set forth in Sorin’s, Cyberonics’ and their respective subsidiaries’ certificate of incorporation, by-laws or other equivalent organizational documents as of the date of the letter of intent, except as may be required by applicable law. The contractual indemnification rights, if any, existing as of the date of the letter of intent, of the directors, officers, employees and agents of Sorin and Cyberonics will be assumed by LivaNova and Cyberonics and will continue in full force and effect in accordance with their terms following the completion of the mergers.

Additionally, for the benefit of Sorin’s and Cyberonics’ former directors and officers, prior to completion of the Mergers, Cyberonics and Sorin will be permitted and, if Cyberonics or Sorin are unable to or do not do so, LivaNova will or will cause the Cyberonics Merger surviving corporation following the completion of the Mergers to, as applicable, obtain and fully pay the premium for a “tail” directors’ and officers’ liability insurance and indemnification policy that provides coverage for a period of six (6) years from the effective times for events occurring prior to the effective times, that is no less favorable in the aggregate than Cyberonics’ existing policies, except as may be required by law, and that has a cost not in excess of 300% of the last annual premiums paid by Sorin or Cyberonics, as the case may be, prior to the date of the Merger Agreement for the directors’ and officers’ insurance currently in place in effect for such party as of the date of the Merger Agreement. In the event the annual premiums necessary to provide such coverage exceed 300% of the last annual premium paid prior to the date of the Merger Agreement, LivaNova or Cyberonics, as the case may be, will obtain a policy with the greatest amount of coverage available for a cost not to exceed such amount.

 

6


In the event either LivaNova or Cyberonics (or both) later consolidates with or merges into another person and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger, or transfers all or substantially all of its assets to another person, then proper provision will be made such that the surviving or continuing company will assume the indemnification and insurance obligations of LivaNova and/or Cyberonics, as the case may be, set forth in the Merger Agreement.

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.

Not applicable.

Item 8. Exhibits.

A list of exhibits included as part of this Registration Statement is set forth in the Index to Exhibits appearing elsewhere herein and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9. Undertakings.

(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this Registration Statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) shall not apply if the information required to be included on a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

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(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

8


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Milan, Italy on this 19th day of October, 2015.

 

LIVANOVA PLC
By:   /s/ André-Michel Ballester
  André-Michel Ballester
  Chief Executive Officer


POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Taylor Pollock as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution, for him in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this registration statement (including post-effective amendments or any abbreviated registration statement and any amendments thereto filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, increasing the number of securities for which registration is sought), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact, proxy, and agent 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 for all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact, proxy and agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ André-Michel Ballester

Name: André-Michel Ballester

  

Director and Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

October 19, 2015

/s/ Vivid Sehgal

Name: Vivid Sehgal

  

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

October 19, 2015

/s/ Piero Vecchi

Name: Piero Vecchi

  

Controller

(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

October 19, 2015

/s/ Daniel J. Moore

Name: Daniel J. Moore

  

Director and Chairman

 

October 19, 2015

/s/ Rosario Bifulco

Name: Rosario Bifulco

  

Director

 

October 19, 2015

/s/ Hugh Morrison

Name: Hugh Morrison

  

Director

 

October 19, 2015

/s/ Alfred J. Novak

Name: Alfred J. Novak

  

Director

 

October 19, 2015

/s/ Arthur L. Rosenthal

Name: Arthur L. Rosenthal

  

Director

 

October 19, 2015

/s/ Francesco Bianchi

Name: Francesco Bianchi

  

Director

 

October 19, 2015

/s/ Sharon O’Kane

Name: Sharon O’Kane

  

Director

 

October 19, 2015

/s/ Stefano Gianotti

Name: Stefano Gianotti

  

Director

 

October 19, 2015

/s/ Taylor Pollock

Name: Taylor Pollock

  

Authorized Representative in the United States

 

October 19, 2015


INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description of Exhibit

  3.1    Form of Articles of Association of LivaNova PLC (f/k/a Sand Holdco PLC) is incorporated by reference to Annex D to the LivaNova PLC prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) on August 21, 2015 (Registration File No. 333-203510)
  4.1*    LivaNova PLC 2015 Incentive Award Plan through which ordinary shares under the LivaNova PLC Employee Benefit Trust can be issued or allocated, as the case may be
  4.2    Cyberonics, Inc. 2009 Stock Plan, as amended, is incorporated by reference to Appendix A to Cyberonics’ Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed on August 2, 2012 (Registration File No. 000-19806)
  4.3    Cyberonics, Inc. 2005 Stock Plan, as amended, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Cyberonics’ Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 24, 2008 (Registration File No. 000-19806)
  4.4    Cyberonics, Inc. Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Plan, as amended, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Cyberonics’ Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 24, 2008 (Registration File No. 000-19806)
  4.5    Cyberonics, Inc. Amended and Restated 1996 Stock Plan, as amended, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Cyberonics’ Registration Statement on Form S-8, filed on July 25, 2002 (Registration File No. 333-97095)
  4.6    Amended and Restated Cyberonics, Inc. New Employee Equity Inducement Plan, as amended, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Cyberonics’ Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 24, 2008 (Registration File No. 000-19806)
  5.1*    Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP (London)
23.1*    Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers S.p.A. (Sorin S.p.A.)
23.2*    Consent of Reconta Ernst & Young S.p.A. (Sorin S.p.A.)
23.3*    Consent of KPMG LLP (Cyberonics, Inc.)
23.4*    Consent of Latham & Watkins LLP (London) (included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1*    Powers of Attorney (included in the signature page of the Registration Statement)
99.1*    Consent of Rothschild S.p.A. (Sorin S.p.A.)
99.2*    Consent of Piper Jaffray & Co. (Cyberonics, Inc.)

 

* Filed herewith.
EX-4.1

Exhibit 4.1

LIVANOVA PLC

2015 INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN

ARTICLE 1.

PURPOSE

The purpose of the LivaNova PLC 2015 Incentive Award Plan (as it may be amended or restated from time to time, the “Plan”) is to promote the success and enhance the value of LivaNova PLC, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (the “Company”), by linking the individual interests of the members of the Board, Employees, and Consultants to those of Company stockholders and by providing such individuals with an incentive for outstanding performance to generate superior returns to Company stockholders. The Plan is further intended to provide flexibility to the Company in its ability to motivate, attract, and retain the services of members of the Board, Employees, and Consultants upon whose judgment, interest, and special effort the successful conduct of the Company’s operation is largely dependent.

ARTICLE 2.

DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION

Wherever the following terms are used in the Plan they shall have the meanings specified below, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The singular pronoun shall include the plural where the context so indicates.

2.1 “Administrator” shall mean the entity that conducts the general administration of the Plan as provided in Article 12. With reference to the duties of the Committee under the Plan which have been delegated to one or more persons pursuant to Section 12.6, or as to which the Board has assumed, the term “Administrator” shall refer to such person(s) unless the Committee or the Board has revoked such delegation or the Board has terminated the assumption of such duties.

2.2 “Applicable Accounting Standards” shall mean Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States, International Financial Reporting Standards or such other accounting principles or standards as may apply to the Company’s financial statements under United States federal securities laws from time to time.

2.3 “Applicable Law” shall mean any applicable law, including without limitation: (a) provisions of the Listing Rules of the London Stock Exchange published by the UK Listing Authority, the Code, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and any rules or regulations thereunder; (b) corporate, securities, tax or other laws, statutes, rules, requirements or regulations, whether federal, state, local or foreign, applicable in the United Kingdom, United States or any other jurisdiction; and (c) rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded.


2.4 “Automatic Exercise Date” shall mean, with respect to an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right, the last business day of the applicable Option Term or Stock Appreciation Right Term that was initially established by the Administrator for such Option or Stock Appreciation Right (e.g., the last business day prior to the tenth anniversary of the date of grant of such Option or Stock Appreciation Right if the Option or Stock Appreciation Right initially had a ten-year Option Term or Stock Appreciation Right Term, as applicable).

2.5 “Award” shall mean an Option, a Stock Appreciation Right, a Restricted Stock award, a Restricted Stock Unit award, an Other Stock or Cash Based Award or a Dividend Equivalent award, which may be awarded or granted under the Plan.

2.6 “Award Agreement” shall mean any written notice, agreement, terms and conditions, contract or other instrument or document evidencing an Award, including through electronic medium, which shall contain such terms and conditions with respect to an Award as the Administrator shall determine consistent with the Plan.

2.7 “Award Limit” shall mean with respect to Awards that shall be payable in Shares or in cash, as the case may be, the respective limit set forth in Section 3.2.

2.8 “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

2.9 “Closing” shall mean the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreement among Sorin S.P.A., Sand Holdco Limited, Cypher Merger Sub, Inc. and Cyberonics, Inc., dated as of February 26, 2015.

2.10 “Control” shall have the meaning given in section 995 (2) of the Income Tax Act 2007, unless otherwise specified;

2.11 “Change in Control” shall mean and includes each of the following:

(a) a Sale; or

(b) a Takeover.

The Administrator shall have full and final authority, which shall be exercised in its sole discretion, to determine conclusively whether a Change in Control has occurred pursuant to the above definition, the date of the occurrence of such Change in Control and any incidental matters relating thereto; provided that any exercise of authority in conjunction with a determination of whether a Change in Control is a “change in control event” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) shall be consistent with such regulation.

2.12 “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, together with the regulations and official guidance promulgated thereunder, whether issued prior or subsequent to the grant of any Award.

2.13 “Committee” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board, or another committee or subcommittee of the Board or the Compensation Committee of the Board described in Article 12 hereof.

 

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2.14 “Company” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 1.

2.15 “Consultant” shall mean any consultant or adviser engaged to provide services to the Company or any Subsidiary who qualifies as a consultant or advisor under the applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission for registration of shares on a Form S-8 Registration Statement.

2.16 “Covered Employee” shall mean any Employee who is, or could become, a “covered employee” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.

2.17 “Director” shall mean a member of the Board, as constituted from time to time.

2.18 “Director Limit” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.6.

2.19 “Dividend Equivalent” shall mean a right to receive the equivalent value (in cash or Shares) of dividends paid on Shares, awarded under Section 10.2.

2.20 “DRO” shall mean a “domestic relations order” as defined by the Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, or the rules thereunder.

2.21 “Effective Date” shall mean the date of the Closing; provided that the Plan shall be effective immediately following the Closing on the Effective Date and in any event prior to Listing.

2.22 “Eligible Individual” shall mean any person who is an Employee, a Consultant or a Non-Employee Director, as determined by the Administrator.

2.23 “Employee” shall mean any officer or other employee (as determined in accordance with Section 3401(c) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder) of the Company or of any Subsidiary.

2.24 “Equity Restructuring” shall mean a nonreciprocal transaction between the Company and its stockholders, such as a stock dividend, stock split, spin-off, rights offering or recapitalization through a large, nonrecurring cash dividend, that affects the number or kind of Shares (or other securities of the Company) or the share price of the Shares (or other securities) and causes a change in the per-share value of the Shares underlying outstanding Awards.

2.25 “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

2.26 “Expiration Date” shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 13.1(c).

2.27 “Fair Market Value” shall mean, as of any given date, the value of a Share determined as follows:

(a) If the Shares are (i) listed on any established securities exchange (such as the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Capital Market, the NASDAQ Global Market and

 

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the NASDAQ Global Select Market), (ii) listed on any national market system or (iii) listed quoted or traded on any automated quotation system, their Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for a Share as quoted on such exchange or system for such date or, if there is no closing sales price for a Share on the date in question, the closing sales price for a Share on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable;

(b) If the Shares are not listed on an established securities exchange, national market system or automated quotation system, but the Shares are regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer, their Fair Market Value shall be the mean of the high bid and low asked prices for such date or, if there are no high bid and low asked prices for a Share on such date, the high bid and low asked prices for a Share on the last preceding date for which such information exists, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; or

(c) If the Shares are neither listed on an established securities exchange, national market system or automated quotation system nor regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer, their Fair Market Value shall be established by the Administrator in good faith.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Award granted on or prior to the Public Trading Date, the Fair Market Value shall mean the opening price of a Share on the Public Trading Date.

2.28 “Greater Than 10% Stockholder” shall mean an individual then owning (within the meaning of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any subsidiary corporation (as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code) or parent corporation thereof (as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code).

2.29 “Holder” shall mean a person who has been granted an Award.

2.30 “Incentive Stock Option” shall mean an Option that is intended to qualify as an incentive stock option and conforms to the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code.

2.31 “Listing” shall mean the time upon which the Shares are first listed and begin trading on any national securities exchange (as defined in the Exchange Act).

2.32 “Non-Employee Director” shall mean a Director of the Company who is not an Employee.

2.33 “Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Policy” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.6.

2.34 “Non-Qualified Stock Option” shall mean an Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option or which is designated as an Incentive Stock Option but does not meet the applicable requirements of Section 422 of the Code.

2.35 “Option” shall mean a right to purchase Shares at a specified exercise price, granted under Article 6. An Option shall be either a Non-Qualified Stock Option or an Incentive Stock Option; provided, however, that Options granted to Non-Employee Directors and Consultants shall only be Non-Qualified Stock Options.

 

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2.36 “Option Term” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.4.

2.37 “Organizational Documents” shall mean, collectively, (a) the Company’s articles of association, certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other similar organizational documents relating to the creation and governance of the Company, and (b) the Committee’s charter or other similar organizational documentation relating to the creation and governance of the Committee.

2.38 “Other Stock or Cash Based Award” shall mean a cash bonus award, stock bonus award, performance award or incentive award that is paid in cash, Shares or a combination of both, awarded under Section 10.1, which may include, without limitation, deferred stock, deferred stock units, stock payments and performance awards.

2.39 Performance-Based Compensation” shall mean any compensation that is intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” as described in Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code.

2.40 “Performance Criteria” shall mean the criteria (and adjustments) that the Administrator selects for an Award for purposes of establishing the Performance Goal or Performance Goals for a Performance Period, determined as follows:

(a) The Performance Criteria that shall be used to establish Performance Goals are limited to the following: (i) net earnings or losses (either before or after one or more of the following: (A) interest, (B) taxes, (C) depreciation, (D) amortization and (E) non-cash equity-based compensation expense); (ii) gross or net sales or revenue or sales or revenue growth; (iii) net income (either before or after taxes); (iv) adjusted net income; (v) operating earnings or profit (either before or after taxes); (vi) cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow and free cash flow); (vii) return on assets; (viii) return on capital (or invested capital) and cost of capital; (ix) return on stockholders’ equity; (x) total stockholder return; (xi) return on sales; (xii) gross or net profit or operating margin; (xiii) costs, reductions in costs and cost control measures; (xiv) expenses; (xv) working capital; (xvi) earnings or loss per share; (xvii) adjusted earnings or loss per share; (xviii) price per share or dividends per share (or appreciation in and/or maintenance of such price or dividends); (xix) regulatory achievements or compliance (including, without limitation, regulatory body approval for commercialization of a product); (xx) implementation or completion of critical projects; (xxi) market share; (xxii) economic value; (xxiii) productivity; (xxiv) operating efficiency; (xxv) economic value-added; (xxvi) cash flow return on capital; (xxvii) return on net assets; (xxviii); funds from operations; (xxix) funds available for distributions; (xxx) sales and sales unit volume; (xxxi) licensing revenue; (xxxii) brand recognition and acceptance; (xxxiii) inventory turns or cycle time; (xxxiv) market penetration and geographic business expansion; (xxxv) customer satisfaction/growth; (xxxvi) customer service; (xxxvi) employee satisfaction; (xxxvii) recruitment and maintenance of personnel; (xxxviii) human resources management; (xxxix) supervision of litigation and other legal matters; (xl) strategic partnerships and transactions; (xli) financial ratios (including those measuring liquidity, activity, profitability or leverage); (xlii) new or existing store results and operations and new store openings; (xliii) supply chain achievements; (xliv) debt levels or

 

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reductions; (xlv) sales-related goals; (xlvi) financing and other capital raising transactions; (xlvii) year-end cash; (xlviii) acquisition activity; (xlix) investment sourcing activity; (l) marketing initiatives, any of which may be measured either in absolute terms or as compared to any incremental increase or decrease or as compared to results of a peer group or to market performance indicators or indices.

(b) The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may provide that one or more objectively determinable adjustments shall be made to one or more of the Performance Goals. Such adjustments may include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: (i) items related to a change in Applicable Accounting Standards; (ii) items relating to financing activities; (iii) expenses for restructuring or productivity initiatives; (iv) other non-operating items; (v) items related to acquisitions; (vi) items attributable to the business operations of any entity acquired by the Company during the Performance Period; (vii) items related to the sale or disposition of a business or segment of a business; (viii) items related to discontinued operations that do not qualify as a segment of a business under Applicable Accounting Standards; (ix) items attributable to any stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of stock occurring during the Performance Period; (x) any other items of significant income or expense which are determined to be appropriate adjustments; (xi) items relating to unusual or extraordinary corporate transactions, events or developments, (xii) items related to amortization of acquired intangible assets; (xiii) items that are outside the scope of the Company’s core, on-going business activities; (xiv) items related to acquired in-process research and development; (xv) items relating to changes in tax laws; (xvi) items relating to major licensing or partnership arrangements; (xvii) items relating to asset impairment charges; (xviii) items relating to gains or losses for litigation, arbitration and contractual settlements; (xix) items attributable to expenses incurred in connection with a reduction in force or early retirement initiative; (xx) items relating to foreign exchange or currency transactions and/or fluctuations; or (xxi) items relating to any other unusual or nonrecurring events or changes in Applicable Law, Applicable Accounting Standards or business conditions. For all Awards intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, such determinations shall be made within the time prescribed by, and otherwise in compliance with, Section 162(m) of the Code.

2.41 “Performance Goals” shall mean, for a Performance Period, one or more goals established in writing by the Administrator for the Performance Period based upon one or more Performance Criteria. Depending on the Performance Criteria used to establish such Performance Goals, the Performance Goals may be expressed in terms of overall Company performance or the performance of a Subsidiary, division, business unit, or an individual. The achievement of each Performance Goal shall be determined, to the extent applicable, with reference to Applicable Accounting Standards.

2.42 “Performance Period” shall mean one or more periods of time, which may be of varying and overlapping durations, as the Administrator may select, over which the attainment of one or more Performance Goals will be measured for the purpose of determining a Holder’s right to, vesting of, and/or the payment in respect of, an Award.

2.43 “Permitted Transferee” shall mean, with respect to a Holder, any “family member” of the Holder, as defined in the General Instructions to Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act (or any successor form thereto), or any other transferee specifically approved by the Administrator after taking into account Applicable Law.

 

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2.44 “Plan” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 1.

2.45 “Program” shall mean any program adopted by the Administrator pursuant to the Plan containing the terms and conditions intended to govern a specified type of Award granted under the Plan and pursuant to which such type of Award may be granted under the Plan.

2.46 “Public Trading Date” shall mean the date of Listing.

2.47 “Restricted Stock” shall mean Shares awarded under Article 8 that is subject to certain restrictions and may be subject to risk of forfeiture or repurchase.

2.48 “Restricted Stock Units” shall mean the right to receive Shares awarded under Article 9.

2.49 “Sale” shall mean the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.

2.50 “SAR Term” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.4.

2.51 “Section 409A” shall mean Section 409A of the Code and the Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including, without limitation, any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the Effective Date.

2.52 “Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

2.53 “Shares” shall mean ordinary shares in the capital of the Company.

2.54 “Stock Appreciation Right” shall mean an Award entitling the Holder (or other person entitled to exercise pursuant to the Plan) to exercise all or a specified portion thereof (to the extent then exercisable pursuant to its terms) and to receive from the Company an amount (in cash or Shares, at the discretion of the Administrator) determined by multiplying the difference obtained by subtracting the exercise price per share of such Award from the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise of such Award by the number of Shares with respect to which such Award shall have been exercised, subject to any caps or limitations the Administrator may impose.

2.55 “Subsidiary” shall mean a company that is a subsidiary of the Company within the meaning of Section 1159 of the Companies Act 2006.

2.56 “Substitute Award” shall mean an Award granted under the Plan in connection with a corporate transaction, such as a merger, combination, consolidation or acquisition of property or stock, in any case, upon the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding equity awards previously granted by a company or other entity; provided, however, that in no event shall the term “Substitute Award” be construed to refer to an award made in connection with the cancellation and repricing of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right.

 

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2.57 “Takeover” shall mean if any person (or a group of persons acting in concert) (the “Acquiring Person”):

(a) obtains Control of the Company as the result of making a general offer to:-

(i) acquire all of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company, which is made on a condition that, if it is satisfied, the Acquiring Person will have Control of the Company; or

(ii) acquire all of the shares in the Company which are of the same class as the Shares; or

(b) obtains Control of the Company as a result of a compromise or arrangement sanctioned by a court under Section 899 of the Companies Act 2006, or sanctioned under any other similar law of another jurisdiction; or

(c) becomes bound or entitled under Sections 979 to 985 of the Companies Act 2006 (or similar law of another jurisdiction) to acquire shares of the same class as the Shares; or

(d) obtains Control of the Company in any other way.

2.58 “Termination of Service” shall mean:

(a) As to a Consultant, the time when the engagement of a Holder as a Consultant to the Company or a Subsidiary is terminated for any reason, with or without cause, including, without limitation, by resignation, discharge, death or retirement, but excluding terminations where the Consultant simultaneously commences or remains in employment or service with the Company or any Subsidiary.

(b) As to a Non-Employee Director, the time when a Holder who is a Non-Employee Director ceases to be a Director for any reason, including, without limitation, a termination by resignation, failure to be elected, death or retirement, but excluding terminations where the Holder simultaneously commences or remains in employment or service with the Company or any Subsidiary.

(c) As to an Employee, the time when the employee-employer relationship between a Holder and the Company or any Subsidiary is terminated for any reason, including, without limitation, a termination by resignation, discharge, death, disability or retirement; but excluding terminations where the Holder simultaneously commences or remains in employment or service with the Company or any Subsidiary.

The Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall determine the effect of all matters and questions relating to any Termination of Service, including, without limitation, whether a Termination of Service has occurred, whether a Termination of Service resulted from a discharge for cause and all questions of whether particular leaves of absence constitute a Termination of Service; provided, however, that, with respect to Incentive Stock Options, unless the Administrator otherwise provides in the terms of any Program, Award Agreement or otherwise,

 

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or as otherwise required by Applicable Law, a leave of absence, change in status from an employee to an independent contractor or other change in the employee-employer relationship shall constitute a Termination of Service only if, and to the extent that, such leave of absence, change in status or other change interrupts employment for the purposes of Section 422(a)(2) of the Code and the then-applicable regulations and revenue rulings under said Section. For purposes of the Plan, a Holder’s employee-employer relationship or consultancy relations shall be deemed to be terminated in the event that the Subsidiary employing or contracting with such Holder ceases to remain an Subsidiary following any merger, sale of stock or other corporate transaction or event (including, without limitation, a spin-off).

ARTICLE 3.

SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

3.1 Number of Shares.

(a) Subject to Sections 3.1(b) and 13.2, the aggregate number of Shares which may be issued or transferred pursuant to Awards (including, without limitation, Incentive Stock Options) under the Plan is 8,800,000. Any Shares distributed pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Shares, treasury Shares or Shares purchased on the open market.

(b) If any Shares subject to an Award are forfeited or expire, are converted to shares of another Person in connection with a Takeover, Sale, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, exchange of shares or other similar event, or such Award is settled for cash (in whole or in part) (including Shares repurchased by the Company under Section 8.4 at the same price paid by the Holder), the Shares subject to such Award shall, to the extent of such forfeiture, expiration or cash settlement, again be available for future grants of Awards under the Plan. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the following Shares shall not be added to the Shares authorized for grant under Section 3.1(a) and shall not be available for future grants of Awards: (i) Shares tendered by a Holder or withheld by the Company in payment of the exercise price of an Option; (ii) Shares tendered by the Holder or withheld by the Company to satisfy any tax withholding obligation with respect to an Option or Stock Appreciation Right; (iii) Shares subject to a Stock Appreciation Right that are not issued in connection with the stock settlement of the Stock Appreciation Right on exercise thereof; and (iv) Shares purchased on the open market with the cash proceeds from the exercise of Options. Any Shares repurchased by the Company under Section 8.4 at the same price paid by the Holder so that such Shares are returned to the Company shall again be available for Awards. The payment of Dividend Equivalents in cash in conjunction with any outstanding Awards shall not be counted against the Shares available for issuance under the Plan. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 3.1(b), no Shares may again be optioned, granted or awarded if such action would cause an Incentive Stock Option to fail to qualify as an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Code.

(c) Substitute Awards shall not reduce the Shares authorized for grant under the Plan, except as may be required by reason of Section 422 of the Code. Additionally, in the event that a company acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary or with which the Company or

 

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any Subsidiary combines has shares available under a pre-existing plan approved by its stockholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination, the shares available for grant pursuant to the terms of such pre-existing plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, using the exchange ratio or other adjustment or valuation ratio or formula used in such acquisition or combination to determine the consideration payable to the holders of shares of the entities party to such acquisition or combination) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the Shares authorized for grant under the Plan; provided that Awards using such available Shares shall not be made after the date awards or grants could have been made under the terms of the pre-existing plan, absent the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were not employed by or providing services to the Company or its Subsidiaries immediately prior to such acquisition or combination.

3.2 Limitation on Number of Shares Subject to Awards. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, and subject to Section 13.2, the maximum aggregate number of Shares with respect to one or more Awards that may be granted to any one person during any calendar year shall be 1,000,000 and the maximum aggregate amount of cash that may be paid in cash to any one person during any calendar year with respect to one or more Awards payable in cash shall be $10,000,000. To the extent required by Section 162(m) of the Code, Shares subject to Awards that are cancelled shall continue to be counted against the Award Limit.

ARTICLE 4.

GRANTING OF AWARDS

4.1 Participation. The Administrator may, from time to time, select from among all Eligible Individuals, those to whom an Award shall be granted and shall determine the nature and amount of each Award, which shall not be inconsistent with the requirements of the Plan. Except for any Non-Employee Director’s right to Awards that may be required pursuant to the Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Policy as described in Section 4.6, no Eligible Individual or other Person shall have any right to be granted an Award pursuant to the Plan and neither the Company nor the Administrator is obligated to treat Eligible Individuals, Holders or any other persons uniformly. Participation by each Holder in the Plan shall be voluntary and nothing in the Plan or any Program shall be construed as mandating that any Eligible Individual or other Person shall participate in the Plan.

4.2 Award Agreement. Each Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that sets forth the terms, conditions and limitations for such Award as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion (consistent with the requirements of the Plan and any applicable Program). Award Agreements evidencing Awards intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation shall contain such terms and conditions as may be necessary to meet the applicable provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code. Award Agreements evidencing Incentive Stock Options shall contain such terms and conditions as may be necessary to meet the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code.

4.3 Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Plan, and any Award granted or awarded to any individual who is then

 

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subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act and any amendments thereto) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Plan and Awards granted or awarded hereunder shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.

4.4 At-Will Service. Nothing in the Plan or in any Program or Award Agreement hereunder shall confer upon any Holder any right to continue in the employ of, or as a Director or Consultant for, the Company or any Subsidiary, or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the Company and any Subsidiary, which rights are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge any Holder at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause, and with or without notice, or to terminate or change all other terms and conditions of employment or engagement, except to the extent expressly provided otherwise in a written agreement between the Holder and the Company or any Subsidiary.

4.5 Foreign Holders. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or applicable Program to the contrary, in order to comply with the laws in countries other than the United States in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate or have Employees, Non-Employee Directors or Consultants, or in order to comply with the requirements of any foreign securities exchange or other Applicable Law, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to: (a) determine which Subsidiaries shall be covered by the Plan; (b) determine which Eligible Individuals outside the United States are eligible to participate in the Plan; (c) modify the terms and conditions of any Award granted to Eligible Individuals to comply with Applicable Law (including, without limitation, applicable foreign laws or listing requirements of any foreign securities exchange); (d) establish sub-plans and modify exercise procedures and other terms and procedures, to the extent such actions may be necessary or advisable; provided, however, that no such sub-plans and/or modifications shall increase the share limitation contained in Section 3.1, the Award Limit or the Director Limit; and (e) take any action, before or after an Award is made, that it deems advisable to obtain approval or comply with any necessary local governmental regulatory exemptions or approvals or listing requirements of any foreign securities exchange.

4.6 Non-Employee Director Awards. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may provide that Awards granted to Non-Employee Directors shall be granted pursuant to a written nondiscretionary formula established by the Administrator (the “Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Policy”), subject to the limitations of the Plan. The Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Policy shall set forth the type of Award(s) to be granted to Non-Employee Directors, the number of Shares to be subject to Non-Employee Director Awards, the conditions on which such Awards shall be granted, become exercisable and/or payable and expire, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine in its sole discretion. The Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Policy may be modified by the Administrator from time to time in its sole discretion. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the Plan or in the Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Policy, the sum of the grant date fair value of equity-based Awards and the amount of any cash-based Awards granted to a Non-Employee Director during any calendar year shall not exceed $500,000 (the “Director Limit”).

 

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ARTICLE 5.

PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS INTENDED TO QUALIFY AS PERFORMANCE-BASED COMPENSATION

5.1 Purpose. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may determine whether such Award is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation. If the Administrator, in its sole discretion, decides to grant an Award that is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation (other than an Option or Stock Appreciation Right), then the provisions of this Article 5 shall control over any contrary provision contained in the Plan or any applicable Program. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may grant Awards to other Eligible Individuals that are based on Performance Criteria or Performance Goals or any such other criteria and goals as the Administrator shall establish, but that do not satisfy the requirements of this Article 5 and that are not intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation. Unless otherwise specified by the Administrator at the time of grant, the Performance Criteria with respect to an Award intended to be Performance-Based Compensation payable to a Covered Employee shall be determined on the basis of Applicable Accounting Standards.

5.2 Procedures with Respect to Performance-Based Awards. To the extent necessary to comply with the requirements of Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code, with respect to any Award which is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, no later than 90 days following the commencement of any Performance Period or any designated fiscal period or period of service (or such earlier time as may be required under Section 162(m) of the Code), the Administrator shall, in writing, (a) designate one or more Eligible Individuals, (b) select the Performance Criteria applicable to the Performance Period, (c) establish the Performance Goals, and amounts of such Awards, as applicable, which may be earned for such Performance Period based on the Performance Criteria, and (d) specify the relationship between Performance Criteria and the Performance Goals and the amounts of such Awards, as applicable, to be earned by each Covered Employee for such Performance Period. Following the completion of each Performance Period, the Administrator shall certify in writing whether and the extent to which the applicable Performance Goals have been achieved for such Performance Period. In determining the amount earned under such Awards, unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, the Administrator shall have the right to reduce or eliminate (but not to increase) the amount payable at a given level of performance to take into account additional factors that the Administrator may deem relevant, including the assessment of individual or corporate performance for the Performance Period.

5.3 Payment of Performance-Based Awards. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Program or Award Agreement and only to the extent otherwise permitted by Section 162(m) of the Code, as to an Award that is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, the Holder must be employed by the Company or a Subsidiary throughout the Performance Period. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Program or Award Agreement, a Holder shall be eligible to receive payment pursuant to such Awards for a Performance Period only if and to the extent the Performance Goals for such Performance Period are achieved.

5.4 Additional Limitations. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan and except as otherwise determined by the Administrator, any Award which is granted to an Eligible

 

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Individual and is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in Section 162(m) of the Code or any regulations or rulings issued thereunder that are requirements for qualification as Performance-Based Compensation, and the Plan and the applicable Program and Award Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such requirements.

ARTICLE 6.

GRANTING OF OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

6.1 Granting of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights to Eligible Individuals. The Administrator is authorized to grant Options and Stock Appreciation Rights to Eligible Individuals from time to time, in its sole discretion, on such terms and conditions as it may determine, which shall not be inconsistent with the Plan.

6.2 Qualification of Incentive Stock Options. The Administrator may grant Options intended to qualify as Incentive Stock Options only to employees of the Company, any of the Company’s present or future “parent corporations” or “subsidiary corporations” as defined in Sections 424(e) or (f) of the Code, respectively, and any other entities the employees of which are eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options under the Code. No person who qualifies as a Greater Than 10% Stockholder may be granted an Incentive Stock Option unless such Incentive Stock Option conforms to the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code. To the extent that the aggregate fair market value of stock with respect to which “incentive stock options” (within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, but without regard to Section 422(d) of the Code) are exercisable for the first time by a Holder during any calendar year under the Plan, and all other plans of the Company and any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation thereof (as defined in Section 424(e) and 424(f) of the Code, respectively), exceeds $100,000, the Options shall be treated as Non-Qualified Stock Options to the extent required by Section 422 of the Code. The rule set forth in the immediately preceding sentence shall be applied by taking Options and other “incentive stock options” into account in the order in which they were granted and the fair market value of stock shall be determined as of the time the respective options were granted. Any interpretations and rules under the Plan with respect to Incentive Stock Options shall be consistent with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code. Neither the Company nor the Administrator shall have any liability to a Holder, or any other Person, (a) if an Option (or any part thereof) which is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option fails to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option or (b) for any action or omission by the Company or the Administrator that causes an Option not to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, including without limitation, the conversion of an Incentive Stock Option to a Non-Qualified Stock Option or the grant of an Option intended as an Incentive Stock Option that fails to satisfy the requirements under the Code applicable to an Incentive Stock Option.

6.3 Option and Stock Appreciation Right Exercise Price. The exercise price per Share subject to each Option and Stock Appreciation Right shall be set by the Administrator, but shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, as applicable, is granted (or, as to Incentive Stock Options, on the date the Option is modified, extended or renewed for purposes of Section 424(h) of the Code). In addition, in the case of Incentive Stock Options granted to a Greater Than 10% Stockholder,

 

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such price shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Option is granted (or the date the Option is modified, extended or renewed for purposes of Section 424(h) of the Code). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right that is a Substitute Award, the exercise price per share of the Shares subject to such Option or Stock Appreciation Right, as applicable, may be less than the Fair Market Value per share on the date of grant; provided that the exercise price of any Substitute Award shall be determined in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 424 and 409A of the Code.

6.4 Option and SAR Term. The term of each Option (the “Option Term”) and the term of each Stock Appreciation Right (the “SAR Term”) shall be set by the Administrator in its sole discretion; provided, however, that the Option Term or SAR Term, as applicable, shall not be more than (a) ten (10) years from the date the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, as applicable, is granted to an Eligible Individual (other than a Greater Than 10% Stockholder), or (b) five (5) years from the date an Incentive Stock Option is granted to a Greater Than 10% Stockholder. Except as limited by the requirements of Section 409A or Section 422 of the Code and regulations and rulings thereunder or the first sentence of this Section 6.4 and without limiting the Company’s rights under Section 11.7, the Administrator may extend the Option Term of any outstanding Option or the SAR Term of any outstanding Stock Appreciation Right, and may extend the time period during which vested Options or Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised, in connection with any Termination of Service of the Holder or otherwise, and may amend, subject to Section 11.7 and 13.1, any other term or condition of such Option or Stock Appreciation Right relating to such Termination of Service of the Holder or otherwise.

6.5 Option and SAR Vesting. The period during which the right to exercise, in whole or in part, an Option or Stock Appreciation Right vests in the Holder shall be set by the Administrator and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator in the Award Agreement, the applicable Program or by action of the Administrator following the grant of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, (a) no portion of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right which is unexercisable at a Holder’s Termination of Service shall thereafter become exercisable and (b) the portion of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right that is unexercisable at a Holder’s Termination of Service shall automatically expire on the date of such Termination of Service.

6.6 Substitution of Stock Appreciation Rights; Early Exercise of Options. The Administrator may provide in the applicable Program or Award Agreement evidencing the grant of an Option that the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall have the right to substitute a Stock Appreciation Right for such Option at any time prior to or upon exercise of such Option; provided that such Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable with respect to the same number of Shares for which such substituted Option would have been exercisable, and shall also have the same exercise price, vesting schedule and remaining term as the substituted Option. The Administrator may provide in the terms of an Award Agreement that the Holder may exercise an Option in whole or in part prior to the full vesting of the Option in exchange for unvested shares of Restricted Stock with respect to any unvested portion of the Option so exercised. Shares of Restricted Stock acquired upon the exercise of any unvested portion of an Option shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine.

 

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ARTICLE 7.

EXERCISE OF OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

7.1 Exercise and Payment. An exercisable Option or Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised in whole or in part. However, an Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall not be exercisable with respect to fractional Shares and the Administrator may require that, by the terms of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, a partial exercise must be with respect to a minimum number of Shares. Payment of the amounts payable with respect to Stock Appreciation Rights pursuant to this Article 7 shall be in cash, Shares (based on its Fair Market Value as of the date the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised), or a combination of both, as determined by the Administrator.

7.2 Manner of Exercise. Except as set forth in Section 7.3, all or a portion of an exercisable Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be deemed exercised upon delivery of all of the following to the Secretary of the Company, the stock plan administrator of the Company or such other person or entity designated by the Administrator, or his, her or its office, as applicable:

(a) A written or electronic notice complying with the applicable rules established by the Administrator stating that the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, or a portion thereof, is exercised. The notice shall be signed by the Holder or other person then entitled to exercise the Option or Stock Appreciation Right or such portion thereof;

(b) Such representations and documents as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, deems necessary or advisable to effect compliance with Applicable Law.

(c) In the event that the Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercised pursuant to Section 11.3 by any person or persons other than the Holder, appropriate proof of the right of such person or persons to exercise the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, as determined in the sole discretion of the Administrator; and

(d) Full payment of the applicable withholding taxes for the Shares with respect to which the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, or portion thereof, is exercised, and, in the case of an Option, full payment of the exercise price, in a manner permitted by the Administrator in accordance with Sections 11.1 and 11.2.

7.3 Expiration of Option Term or SAR Term: Automatic Exercise of In-The-Money Options and Stock Appreciation Rights. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator in an Award Agreement or otherwise or as otherwise directed by an Option or Stock Appreciation Rights Holder in writing to the Company, each vested and exercisable Option and Stock Appreciation Right outstanding on the Automatic Exercise Date with an exercise price per Share that is less than the Fair Market Value per Share as of such date shall automatically and without further action by the Option or Stock Appreciation Rights Holder or the Company be exercised on the Automatic Exercise Date. In the sole discretion of the Administrator, payment of the exercise price of any such Option shall be made pursuant to Section 11.1(b) or 11.1(c) and the Company or any Subsidiary shall be entitled to deduct or withhold an amount sufficient to satisfy

 

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all taxes associated with such exercise in accordance with Section 11.2. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, this Section 7.3 shall not apply to an Option or Stock Appreciation Right if the Holder of such Option or Stock Appreciation Right incurs a Termination of Service on or before the Automatic Exercise Date. For the avoidance of doubt, no Option or Stock Appreciation Right with an exercise price per Share that is equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value per Share on the Automatic Exercise Date shall be exercised pursuant to this Section 7.3.

7.4 Notification Regarding Disposition. The Holder shall give the Company prompt written or electronic notice of any disposition of Shares acquired by exercise of an Incentive Stock Option which occurs within (a) two years from the date of granting (including the date the Option is modified, extended or renewed for purposes of Section 424(h) of the Code) such Option to such Holder, or (b) one year after the date of transfer of such Shares to such Holder. Such notice shall specify the date of such disposition or other transfer and the amount realized, in cash, other property, assumption of indebtedness or other consideration, by the Holder in such disposition or other transfer.

ARTICLE 8.

AWARD OF RESTRICTED STOCK

8.1 Award of Restricted Stock. The Administrator is authorized to grant Restricted Stock to Eligible Individuals, and shall determine the terms and conditions, including the restrictions applicable to each award of Restricted Stock, which terms and conditions shall not be inconsistent with the Plan or any applicable Program, and may impose such conditions on the issuance of such Restricted Stock as it deems appropriate. The Administrator shall establish the purchase price, if any, and form of payment for Restricted Stock; provided, however, that if a purchase price is charged, such purchase price shall be no less than the par value, if any, of the Shares to be purchased, unless otherwise permitted by Applicable Law. In all cases, legal consideration shall be required for each issuance of Restricted Stock to the extent required by Applicable Law.

8.2 Rights as Stockholders. Subject to Section 8.4, upon issuance of Restricted Stock, the Holder shall have, unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, all the rights of a stockholder with respect to said Shares, subject to the restrictions in the Plan, any applicable Program and/or the applicable Award Agreement, including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions paid or made with respect to the Shares to the extent such dividends and other distributions have a record date that is on or after the date on which the Holder to whom such Restricted Stock are granted becomes the record holder of such Restricted Stock; provided, however, that, in the sole discretion of the Administrator, any extraordinary distributions with respect to the Shares may be subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 8.3. In addition, with respect to a share of Restricted Stock with performance-based vesting, dividends which are paid prior to vesting shall only be paid out to the Holder to the extent that the performance-based vesting conditions are subsequently satisfied and the share of Restricted Stock vests.

8.3 Restrictions. All shares of Restricted Stock (including any shares received by Holders thereof with respect to shares of Restricted Stock as a result of stock dividends, stock

 

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splits or any other form of recapitalization) shall be subject to such restrictions and vesting requirements as the Administrator shall provide in the applicable Program or Award Agreement. By action taken after the Restricted Stock is issued, the Administrator may, on such terms and conditions as it may determine to be appropriate, accelerate the vesting of such Restricted Stock by removing any or all of the restrictions imposed by the terms of the applicable Program or Award Agreement.

8.4 Repurchase or Forfeiture of Restricted Stock. Except as otherwise determined by the Administrator, if no price was paid by the Holder for the Restricted Stock, upon a Termination of Service during the applicable restriction period, the Holder’s rights in unvested Restricted Stock then subject to restrictions shall lapse, and such Restricted Stock shall be surrendered to the Company or a person nominated by the Company without consideration on the date of such Termination of Service. If a price was paid by the Holder for the Restricted Stock, upon a Termination of Service during the applicable restriction period, the Company or a person nominated by the Company shall have the right to repurchase from the Holder the unvested Restricted Stock then subject to restrictions at a cash price per share equal to the price paid by the Holder for such Restricted Stock or such other amount as may be specified in the applicable Program or Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may provide that upon certain events, including, without limitation, a Change in Control, the Holder’s death, retirement or disability or any other specified Termination of Service or any other event, the Holder’s rights in unvested Restricted Stock then subject to restrictions shall not lapse, such Restricted Stock shall vest and cease to be forfeitable and, if applicable, the Company shall cease to have a right of repurchase.

8.5 Section 83(b) Election. If a Holder makes an election under Section 83(b) of the Code to be taxed with respect to the Restricted Stock as of the date of transfer of the Restricted Stock rather than as of the date or dates upon which the Holder would otherwise be taxable under Section 83(a) of the Code, the Holder shall be required to deliver a copy of such election to the Company promptly after filing such election with the Internal Revenue Service along with proof of the timely filing thereof with the Internal Revenue Service.

ARTICLE 9.

AWARD OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

9.1 Grant of Restricted Stock Units. The Administrator is authorized to grant Awards of Restricted Stock Units to any Eligible Individual selected by the Administrator in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Administrator.

9.2 Term. Except as otherwise provided herein, the term of a Restricted Stock Unit award shall be set by the Administrator in its sole discretion.

9.3 Purchase Price. The Administrator shall specify the purchase price, if any, to be paid by the Holder to the Company with respect to any Restricted Stock Unit award; provided, however, that value of the consideration shall not be less than the par value of a Share, unless otherwise permitted by Applicable Law.

 

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9.4 Vesting of Restricted Stock Units. At the time of grant, the Administrator shall specify the date or dates on which the Restricted Stock Units shall become fully vested and nonforfeitable, and may specify such conditions to vesting as it deems appropriate, including, without limitation, vesting based upon the Holder’s duration of service to the Company or any Subsidiary, one or more Performance Criteria, Company performance, individual performance or other specific criteria, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods, as determined by the Administrator.

9.5 Maturity and Payment. At the time of grant, the Administrator shall specify the maturity date applicable to each grant of Restricted Stock Units, which shall be no earlier than the vesting date or dates of the Award and may be determined at the election of the Holder (if permitted by the applicable Award Agreement); provided that, except as otherwise determined by the Administrator, and subject to compliance with Section 409A, in no event shall the maturity date relating to each Restricted Stock Unit occur following the later of (a) the 15th day of the third month following the end of calendar year in which the applicable portion of the Restricted Stock Unit vests; or (b) the 15th day of the third month following the end of the Company’s fiscal year in which the applicable portion of the Restricted Stock Unit vests. On the maturity date, the Company shall, in accordance with the applicable Award Agreement and subject to Section 11.4(f), transfer to the Holder one unrestricted, fully transferable Share for each Restricted Stock Unit scheduled to be paid out on such date and not previously forfeited, or in the sole discretion of the Administrator, an amount in cash equal to the Fair Market Value of such Shares on the maturity date or a combination of cash and Shares as determined by the Administrator.

9.6 Payment upon Termination of Service. An Award of Restricted Stock Units shall only be payable while the Holder is an Employee, a Consultant or a member of the Board, as applicable; provided, however, that the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may provide (in an Award Agreement or otherwise) that a Restricted Stock Unit award may be paid subsequent to a Termination of Service in certain events, including a Change in Control, the Holder’s death, retirement or disability or any other specified Termination of Service.

ARTICLE 10.

AWARD OF OTHER STOCK OR CASH BASED AWARDS AND DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS

10.1 Other Stock or Cash Based Awards. The Administrator is authorized to (a) grant Other Stock or Cash Based Awards, including awards entitling a Holder to receive Shares or cash to be delivered immediately or in the future, to any Eligible Individual and (b) determine whether such Other Stock or Cash Based Awards shall be Performance-Based Compensation. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and any applicable Program, the Administrator shall determine the terms and conditions of each Other Stock or Cash Based Award, including the term of the Award, any exercise or purchase price, performance goals, including the Performance Criteria, transfer restrictions, vesting conditions and other terms and conditions applicable thereto, which shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. Other Stock or Cash Based Awards may be paid in cash, Shares, or a combination of cash and Shares, as determined by the Administrator, and may be available as a form of payment in the settlement of other Awards granted under the Plan, as stand-alone payments, as a part of a bonus, deferred bonus, deferred compensation or other arrangement, and/or as payment in lieu of compensation to which an Eligible Individual is otherwise entitled.

 

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10.2 Dividend Equivalents. Dividend Equivalents may be granted by the Administrator, either alone or in tandem with another Award, based on dividends declared on the Shares, to be credited as of dividend payment dates during the period between the date the Dividend Equivalents are granted to a Holder and the date such Dividend Equivalents terminate or expire, as determined by the Administrator. Such Dividend Equivalents shall be converted to cash or additional Shares by such formula and at such time and subject to such restrictions and limitations as may be determined by the Administrator. In addition, Dividend Equivalents with respect to an Award with performance-based vesting that are based on dividends paid prior to the vesting of such Award shall only be paid out to the Holder to the extent that the performance-based vesting conditions are subsequently satisfied and the Award vests. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Dividend Equivalents shall be payable with respect to Options or Stock Appreciation Rights.

ARTICLE 11.

ADDITIONAL TERMS OF AWARDS

11.1 Payment. The Administrator shall determine the method or methods by which payments by any Holder with respect to any Awards granted under the Plan shall be made, including, without limitation: (a) cash or check, (b) Shares (including, in the case of payment of the exercise price of an Award, Shares issuable pursuant to the exercise of the Award) or Shares held for such minimum period of time as may be established by the Administrator, in each case, having a Fair Market Value on the date of delivery equal to the aggregate payments required, (c) delivery of a written or electronic notice that the Holder has placed a market sell order with a broker acceptable to the Company with respect to Shares then issuable upon exercise or vesting of an Award, and that the broker has been directed to pay a sufficient portion of the net proceeds of the sale to the Company in satisfaction of the aggregate payments required; provided that payment of such proceeds is then made to the Company upon settlement of such sale, (d) other form of legal consideration acceptable to the Administrator in its sole discretion, or (e) any combination of the above permitted forms of payment. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, no Holder who is a Director or an “executive officer” of the Company within the meaning of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act shall be permitted to make payment with respect to any Awards granted under the Plan, or continue any extension of credit with respect to such payment, with a loan from the Company or a loan arranged by the Company in violation of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act.

11.2 Tax Withholding. The Company or any Subsidiary shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Holder to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy any federal, state, local and foreign taxes (including the Holder’s FICA, employment tax or other social security contribution obligation) required by law to be withheld or otherwise arising with respect to any taxable event concerning a Holder arising as a result of the Plan or any Award. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion and in satisfaction of the foregoing requirement, allow a Holder to satisfy such obligations by any payment means

 

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described in Section 11.1 hereof, including without limitation, by allowing such Holder to have the Company or any Subsidiary withhold Shares otherwise issuable under an Award (or allow the surrender of Shares). The number of Shares which may be so withheld or surrendered shall be limited to the number of Shares which have a fair market value on the date of withholding or repurchase no greater than the aggregate amount of such liabilities based on the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal, state, local and foreign income tax and payroll tax purposes that are applicable to such supplemental taxable income (or such other number as would not result in adverse financial accounting consequences for the Company or any of its Subsidiaries). The Administrator shall determine the fair market value of the Shares, consistent with applicable provisions of the Code, for tax withholding obligations due in connection with a broker-assisted cashless Option or Stock Appreciation Right exercise involving the sale of Shares to pay the Option or Stock Appreciation Right exercise price or any tax withholding obligation.

11.3 Transferability of Awards.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in Sections 11.3(b) and 11.3(c):

(i) No Award under the Plan may be sold, pledged, assigned or transferred in any manner other than (A) by will or the laws of descent and distribution or (B) subject to the consent of the Administrator, pursuant to a DRO, unless and until such Award has been exercised or the Shares underlying such Award have been issued, and all restrictions applicable to such Shares have lapsed;

(ii) No Award or interest or right therein shall be liable for or otherwise subject to the debts, contracts or engagements of the Holder or the Holder’s successors in interest or shall be subject to disposition by transfer, alienation, anticipation, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, assignment or any other means whether such disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy) unless and until such Award has been exercised, or the Shares underlying such Award have been issued, and all restrictions applicable to such Shares have lapsed, and any attempted disposition of an Award prior to satisfaction of these conditions shall be null and void and of no effect, except to the extent that such disposition is permitted by Section 11.3(a)(i); and

(iii) During the lifetime of the Holder, only the Holder may exercise any exercisable portion of an Award granted to such Holder under the Plan, unless it has been disposed of pursuant to a DRO. After the death of the Holder, any exercisable portion of an Award may, prior to the time when such portion becomes unexercisable under the Plan or the applicable Program or Award Agreement, be exercised by the Holder’s personal representative or by any person empowered to do so under the deceased Holder’s will or under the then-applicable laws of descent and distribution.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 11.3(a), the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may determine to permit a Holder or a Permitted Transferee of such Holder to transfer an Award other than an Incentive Stock Option (unless such Incentive Stock Option is intended to become a Nonqualified Stock Option) to any one or more Permitted Transferees of such Holder, subject

 

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to the following terms and conditions: (i) an Award transferred to a Permitted Transferee shall not be assignable or transferable by the Permitted Transferee other than (A) to another Permitted Transferee of the applicable Holder or (B) by will or the laws of descent and distribution or, subject to the consent of the Administrator, pursuant to a DRO; (ii) an Award transferred to a Permitted Transferee shall continue to be subject to all the terms and conditions of the Award as applicable to the original Holder (other than the ability to further transfer the Award to any Person other than another Permitted Transferee of the applicable Holder); and (iii) the Holder (or transferring Permitted Transferee) and the receiving Permitted Transferee shall execute any and all documents requested by the Administrator, including, without limitation documents to (A) confirm the status of the transferee as a Permitted Transferee, (B) satisfy any requirements for an exemption for the transfer under Applicable Law and (C) evidence the transfer. In addition, and further notwithstanding Section 11.3(a), hereof, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may determine to permit a Holder to transfer Incentive Stock Options to a trust that constitutes a Permitted Transferee if, under Section 671 of the Code and other Applicable Law, the Holder is considered the sole beneficial owner of the Incentive Stock Option while it is held in the trust.

(c) Notwithstanding Section 11.3(a), a Holder may, in the manner determined by the Administrator, designate a beneficiary to exercise the rights of the Holder and to receive any distribution with respect to any Award upon the Holder’s death. A beneficiary, legal guardian, legal representative, or other person claiming any rights pursuant to the Plan is subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and any Program or Award Agreement applicable to the Holder and any additional restrictions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Administrator. If the Holder is married or a domestic partner in a domestic partnership qualified under Applicable Law and resides in a community property state, a designation of a person other than the Holder’s spouse or domestic partner, as applicable, as the Holder’s beneficiary with respect to more than 50% of the Holder’s interest in the Award shall not be effective without the prior written or electronic consent of the Holder’s spouse or domestic partner. If no beneficiary has been designated or survives the Holder, payment shall be made to the person entitled thereto pursuant to the Holder’s will or the laws of descent and distribution. Subject to the foregoing, a beneficiary designation may be changed or revoked by a Holder at any time; provided that the change or revocation is delivered in writing to the Administrator prior to the Holder’s death.

11.4 Conditions to Issuance of Shares.

(a) The Administrator shall determine the methods by which Shares shall be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Holders. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates or make any book entries evidencing Shares pursuant to the exercise of any Award, unless and until the Administrator has determined, with advice of counsel, that the issuance of such Shares is in compliance with Applicable Law and the Shares are covered by an effective registration statement or applicable exemption from registration. In addition to the terms and conditions provided herein, the Administrator may require that a Holder make such reasonable covenants, agreements and representations as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, deems advisable in order to comply with Applicable Law.

(b) All share certificates delivered pursuant to the Plan and all Shares issued pursuant to book entry procedures are subject to any stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as

 

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the Administrator deems necessary or advisable to comply with Applicable Law. The Administrator may place legends on any share certificate or book entry to reference restrictions applicable to the Shares (including, without limitation, restrictions applicable to Restricted Stock).

(c) The Administrator shall have the right to require any Holder to comply with any timing or other restrictions with respect to the settlement, distribution or exercise of any Award, including a window-period limitation, as may be imposed in the sole discretion of the Administrator.

(d) No fractional Shares shall be issued and the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall determine whether cash shall be given in lieu of fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares shall be eliminated by rounding down.

(e) The Company, in its sole discretion, may (i) retain physical possession of any stock certificate evidencing Shares until any restrictions thereon shall have lapsed and/or (ii) require that the stock certificates evidencing such Shares be held in custody by a designated escrow agent (which may but need not be the Company) until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed, and that the Holder deliver a stock power, endorsed in blank, relating to such Shares.

(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator or required by Applicable Law, the Company shall not deliver to any Holder certificates evidencing Shares issued in connection with any Award and instead such Shares shall be recorded in the books of the Company (or, as applicable, its transfer agent or stock plan administrator).

11.5 Forfeiture and Claw-Back Provisions. All Awards (including any proceeds, gains or other economic benefit actually or constructively received by a Holder upon any receipt or exercise of any Award or upon the receipt or resale of any Shares underlying the Award) shall be subject to the terms of applicable law, regulation and governance codes that regulate or govern executive remuneration and compensation from time to time and the provisions of any claw-back policy implemented by the Company, including, without limitation, any claw-back policy adopted to comply with the requirements of Applicable Law, including, without limitation, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder, to the extent set forth in such claw-back policy and/or in the applicable Award Agreement.

11.6 Prohibition on Repricing. Subject to Section 13.2, the Administrator shall not, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, (a) authorize the amendment of any outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right to reduce its price per Share, or (b) cancel any Option or Stock Appreciation Right in exchange for cash or another Award when the Option or Stock Appreciation Right price per Share exceeds the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares. Furthermore, for purposes of this Section 11.6, except in connection with a corporate transaction involving the Company (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination or exchange of shares), the terms of outstanding Awards may not be amended to reduce the exercise price per Share of outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation

 

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Rights or cancel outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights in exchange for cash, other Awards or Options or Stock Appreciation Rights with an exercise price per Share that is less than the exercise price per Share of the original Options or Stock Appreciation Rights without the approval of the stockholders of the Company.

11.7 Amendment of Awards. Subject to Applicable Law, the Administrator may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding Award, including but not limited to, substituting therefor another Award of the same or a different type, changing the date of exercise or settlement, and converting an Incentive Stock Option to a Non-Qualified Stock Option. The Holder’s consent to such action shall be required unless (a) the Administrator determines that the action, taking into account any related action, would not materially and adversely affect the Holder, or (b) the change is otherwise permitted under the Plan (including, without limitation, under Section 13.2 or 13.10).

11.8 Data Privacy. As a condition of receipt of any Award, each Holder explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of personal data as described in this Section 11.8 by and among, as applicable, the Company and its Subsidiaries for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing the Holder’s participation in the Plan. The Company and its Subsidiaries may hold certain personal information about a Holder, including but not limited to, the Holder’s name, home address and telephone number, date of birth, social security or insurance number or other identification number, salary, nationality, job title(s), any shares of stock held in the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, details of all Awards, in each case, for the purpose of implementing, managing and administering the Plan and Awards (the “Data”). The Company and its Subsidiaries may transfer the Data amongst themselves as necessary for the purpose of implementation, administration and management of a Holder’s participation in the Plan, and the Company and its Subsidiaries may each further transfer the Data to any third parties assisting the Company and its Subsidiaries in the implementation, administration and management of the Plan. These recipients may be located in the Holder’s country, or elsewhere, and the Holder’s country may have different data privacy laws and protections than the recipients’ country. Through acceptance of an Award, each Holder authorizes such recipients to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the purposes of implementing, administering and managing the Holder’s participation in the Plan, including any requisite transfer of such Data as may be required to a broker or other third party with whom the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the Holder may elect to deposit any Shares. The Data related to a Holder will be held only as long as is necessary to implement, administer, and manage the Holder’s participation in the Plan. A Holder may, at any time, view the Data held by the Company with respect to such Holder, request additional information about the storage and processing of the Data with respect to such Holder, recommend any necessary corrections to the Data with respect to the Holder or refuse or withdraw the consents herein in writing, in any case without cost, by contacting his or her local human resources representative. The Company may cancel Holder’s ability to participate in the Plan and, in the Administrator’s discretion, the Holder may forfeit any outstanding Awards if the Holder refuses or withdraws his or her consents as described herein. For more information on the consequences of refusal to consent or withdrawal of consent, Holders may contact their local human resources representative.

 

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ARTICLE 12.

ADMINISTRATION

12.1 Administrator. The Committee shall administer the Plan (except as otherwise permitted herein). To the extent necessary to comply with Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act, and with respect to Awards that are intended to be Performance-Based Compensation, including Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, then the Committee shall take all action with respect to such Awards, and the individuals taking such action shall consist solely of two or more Non-Employee Directors, each of whom is intended to qualify as both a “non-employee director” as defined by Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor rule and an “outside director” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code. Additionally, to the extent required by Applicable Law, each of the individuals constituting the Committee shall be an “independent director” under the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any action taken by the Committee shall be valid and effective, whether or not members of the Committee at the time of such action are later determined not to have satisfied the requirements for membership set forth in this Section 12.1 or the Organizational Documents. Except as may otherwise be provided in the Organizational Documents or as otherwise required by Applicable Law, (a) appointment of Committee members shall be effective upon acceptance of appointment, (b) Committee members may resign at any time by delivering written or electronic notice to the Board and (c) vacancies in the Committee may only be filled by the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) the full Board, acting by a majority of its members in office, shall conduct the general administration of the Plan with respect to Awards granted to Non-Employee Directors and, with respect to such Awards, the terms “Administrator” as used in the Plan shall be deemed to refer to the Board and (b) the Board or Committee may delegate its authority hereunder to the extent permitted by Section 12.6.

12.2 Duties and Powers of Administrator. It shall be the duty of the Administrator to conduct the general administration of the Plan in accordance with its provisions. The Administrator shall have the power to interpret the Plan, all Programs and Award Agreements, and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan and any Program as are not inconsistent with the Plan, to interpret, amend or revoke any such rules and to amend any Program or Award Agreement; provided that the rights or obligations of the Holder of the Award that is the subject of any such Program or Award Agreement are not materially and adversely affected by such amendment, unless the consent of the Holder is obtained or such amendment is otherwise permitted under Section 11.5 or Section 13.10. In its sole discretion, the Board may at any time and from time to time exercise any and all rights and duties of the Committee in its capacity as the Administrator under the Plan except with respect to matters which under Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act or any successor rule, or Section 162(m) of the Code, or any regulations or rules issued thereunder, or the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded are required to be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee.

12.3 Action by the Administrator. Unless otherwise established by the Board, set forth in any Organizational Documents or as required by Applicable Law, a majority of the Administrator shall constitute a quorum and the acts of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present, and acts approved in writing by all members of the

 

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Administrator in lieu of a meeting, shall be deemed the acts of the Administrator. Each member of the Administrator is entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to that member by any officer or other employee of the Company or any Subsidiary, the Company’s independent certified public accountants, or any executive compensation consultant or other professional retained by the Company to assist in the administration of the Plan.

12.4 Authority of Administrator. Subject to the Organizational Documents, any specific designation in the Plan and Applicable Law, the Administrator has the exclusive power, authority and sole discretion to:

(a) Designate Eligible Individuals to receive Awards;

(b) Determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Eligible Individual (including, without limitation, any Awards granted in tandem with another Award granted pursuant to the Plan);

(c) Determine the number of Awards to be granted and the number of Shares to which an Award will relate;

(d) Determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted pursuant to the Plan, including, but not limited to, the exercise price, grant price, purchase price, any Performance Criteria or performance criteria, any reload provision, any restrictions or limitations on the Award, any schedule for vesting, lapse of forfeiture restrictions or restrictions on the exercisability of an Award, and accelerations or waivers thereof, and any provisions related to non-competition and claw-back and recapture of gain on an Award, based in each case on such considerations as the Administrator in its sole discretion determines;

(e) Determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances an Award may be settled in, or the exercise price of an Award may be paid in cash, Shares, other Awards, or other property, or an Award may be canceled, forfeited, or surrendered;

(f) Prescribe the form of each Award Agreement, which need not be identical for each Holder;

(g) Decide all other matters that must be determined in connection with an Award;

(h) Establish, adopt, or revise any Programs, rules and regulations as it may deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan;

(i) Interpret the terms of, and any matter arising pursuant to, the Plan, any Program or any Award Agreement;

(j) Make all other decisions and determinations that may be required pursuant to the Plan or as the Administrator deems necessary or advisable to administer the Plan; and

 

25


(k) Accelerate wholly or partially the vesting or lapse of restrictions of any Award or portion thereof at any time after the grant of an Award, subject to whatever terms and conditions it selects and Section 13.2.

12.5 Decisions Binding. The Administrator’s interpretation of the Plan, any Awards granted pursuant to the Plan, any Program or any Award Agreement and all decisions and determinations by the Administrator with respect to the Plan are final, binding and conclusive on all Persons.

12.6 Delegation of Authority. The Board or Committee may from time to time delegate to a committee of one or more members of the Board or one or more officers of the Company the authority to grant or amend Awards or to take other administrative actions pursuant to this Article 12; provided, however, that in no event shall an officer of the Company be delegated the authority to grant Awards to, or amend Awards held by, the following individuals: (a) individuals who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, (b) Covered Employees with respect to Awards intended to constitute Performance Based Compensation, or (c) officers of the Company (or Directors) to whom authority to grant or amend Awards has been delegated hereunder; provided, further, that any delegation of administrative authority shall only be permitted to the extent it is permissible under any Organizational Documents and Applicable Law (including, without limitation, Section 162(m) of the Code). Any delegation hereunder shall be subject to the restrictions and limits that the Board or Committee specifies at the time of such delegation or that are otherwise included in the applicable Organizational Documents, and the Board or Committee, as applicable, may at any time rescind the authority so delegated or appoint a new delegatee. At all times, the delegatee appointed under this Section 12.6 shall serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the Board or the Committee, as applicable, and the Board or the Committee may abolish any committee at any time and re-vest in itself any previously delegated authority.

ARTICLE 13.

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

13.1 Amendment, Suspension or Termination of the Plan.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 13.1(b), the Plan may be wholly or partially amended or otherwise modified, suspended or terminated at any time or from time to time by the Board; provided that, except as provided in Section 11.5 and Section 13.10, no amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan shall, without the consent of the Holder, materially and adversely affect any rights or obligations under any Award theretofore granted or awarded, unless the Award itself otherwise expressly so provides.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 13.1(a), the Board may not, except as provided in Section 13.2, take any of the following actions without approval of the Company’s stockholders given within twelve (12) months before or after such action: (i) increase the limit imposed in Section 3.1 on the maximum number of Shares which may be issued under the Plan, the Award Limit or the Director Limit, (ii) reduce the price per share of any outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan or take any action prohibited under Section 11.6, or (iii) cancel any Option or Stock Appreciation Right in exchange for cash or another Award in violation of Section 11.6.

 

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(c) No Awards may be granted or awarded during any period of suspension or after termination of the Plan, and notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event may any Award be granted under the Plan after the tenth (10th) anniversary of the earlier of (i) the date on which the Plan was adopted by the Board or (ii) the date the Plan was approved by the Company’s stockholders (such anniversary, the “Expiration Date”). Any Awards that are outstanding on the Expiration Date shall remain in force according to the terms of the Plan, the applicable Program and the applicable Award Agreement.

13.2 Changes in Shares or Assets of the Company, Acquisition or Liquidation of the Company and Other Corporate Events.

(a) In the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Company assets to stockholders, or any other change affecting the shares of the Company’s stock or the share price of the Company’s stock other than an Equity Restructuring, the Administrator may make equitable adjustments, if any, to reflect such change with respect to: (i) the aggregate number and kind of Shares that may be issued under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitations in Section 3.1 on the maximum number and kind of Shares which may be issued under the Plan and adjustments of the Award Limit); (ii) the number and kind of Shares (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards; (iii) the terms and conditions of any outstanding Awards (including, without limitation, any applicable performance targets or criteria with respect thereto); (iv) the grant or exercise price per share for any outstanding Awards under the Plan; and (v) the number and kind of Shares (or other securities or property) for which automatic grants are subsequently to be made to new and continuing Non-Employee Directors pursuant to Section 4.6. Any adjustment affecting an Award intended as Performance-Based Compensation shall be made consistent with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code unless otherwise determined by the Administrator.

(b) In the event of any transaction or event described in Section 13.2(a) or any unusual or nonrecurring transactions or events affecting the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, or the financial statements of the Company or any Subsidiary, or of changes in Applicable Law or Applicable Accounting Standards, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, and on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, either by the terms of the Award or by action taken prior to the occurrence of such transaction or event, is hereby authorized to take any one or more of the following actions whenever the Administrator determines that such action is appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan or with respect to any Award under the Plan, to facilitate such transactions or events or to give effect to such changes in Applicable Law or Applicable Accounting Standards:

(i) To provide for the termination of any such Award in exchange for an amount of cash and/or other property with a value equal to the amount that would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Holder’s rights (and, for the avoidance of doubt, if as of the date of the occurrence of the transaction or event described in this Section 13.2 the Administrator determines in good faith that no amount would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Holder’s rights, then such Award may be terminated by the Company without payment);

 

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(ii) To provide that such Award be assumed by the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, or shall be substituted for by similar options, rights or awards covering the stock of the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and applicable exercise or purchase price, in all cases, as determined by the Administrator;

(iii) To make adjustments in the number and type of Shares of the Company’s stock (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards, and/or in the terms and conditions of (including the grant or exercise price), and the criteria included in, outstanding Awards and Awards which may be granted in the future;

(iv) To provide that such Award shall be exercisable or payable or fully vested with respect to all Shares covered thereby, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or the applicable Program or Award Agreement;

(v) To replace such Award with other rights or property selected by the Administrator; and/or

(vi) To provide that the Award cannot vest, be exercised or become payable after such event.

(c) In connection with the occurrence of any Equity Restructuring, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Sections 13.2(a) and 13.2(b):

(i) The number and type of securities subject to each outstanding Award and the exercise price or grant price thereof, if applicable, shall be equitably adjusted (and the adjustments provided under this Section 13.2(c)(i) shall be nondiscretionary and shall be final and binding on the affected Holder and the Company); and/or

(ii) The Administrator shall make such equitable adjustments, if any, as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may deem appropriate to reflect such Equity Restructuring with respect to the aggregate number and kind of Shares that may be issued under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitation in Section 3.1 on the maximum number and kind of Shares which may be issued under the Plan and adjustments of the Award Limit).

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, in the event of a Change in Control, unless the Administrator elects to (i) terminate an Award in exchange for cash, rights or property, or (ii) cause an Award to become fully exercisable and no longer subject to any forfeiture restrictions prior to the consummation of a Change in Control, pursuant to Section 13.2, (A) such Award (other than any portion subject to performance-based vesting) shall continue in effect or be assumed or an equivalent Award substituted by the successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation and (B) the portion of such Award subject to performance-based vesting shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable Award Agreement and, in the absence of applicable terms and conditions, the Administrator’s discretion.

 

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(e) In the event that the successor corporation in a Change in Control refuses to assume or substitute for an Award (other than any portion subject to performance-based vesting), the Administrator may cause (i) any or all of such Award (or portion thereof) to terminate in exchange for cash, rights or other property pursuant to Section 13.2(b)(i) or (ii) any or all of such Award (or portion thereof) to become fully exercisable immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction and all forfeiture restrictions on any or all of such Award to lapse. If any such Award is exercisable in lieu of assumption or substitution in the event of a Change in Control, the Administrator shall notify the Holder that such Award shall be fully exercisable for a period of fifteen (15) days from the date of such notice, contingent upon the occurrence of the Change in Control, and such Award shall terminate upon the expiration of such period.

(f) For the purposes of this Section 13.2, an Award shall be considered assumed if, following the Change in Control, the Award confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share subject to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the Change in Control by holders of the Shares for each Share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the Change in Control was not solely shares of the successor (or acquiring) corporation or its parent, the Administrator may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of the Award, for each Share subject to an Award, to be solely shares of the successor (or acquiring) corporation or its parent equal in fair market value to the per-share consideration received by holders of the Shares in the Change in Control.

(g) The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may include such further provisions and limitations in any Award, agreement or certificate, as it may deem equitable and in the best interests of the Company that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan.

(h) Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, no adjustment or action described in this Section 13.2 or in any other provision of the Plan shall be authorized to the extent it would (i) with respect to Awards which are granted to Covered Employees and are intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, cause such Award to fail to so qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, (ii) cause the Plan to violate Section 422(b)(1) of the Code, (iii) result in short-swing profits liability under Section 16 of the Exchange Act or violate the exemptive conditions of Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act, or (iv) cause an Award to fail to be exempt from or comply with Section 409A.

(i) The existence of the Plan, any Program, any Award Agreement and/or the Awards granted hereunder shall not affect or restrict in any way the right or power of the Company or the stockholders of the Company to make or authorize any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s capital structure or its business, any merger or consolidation of the Company, any issue of stock or of options, warrants or rights to purchase stock or of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference stocks whose

 

29


rights are superior to or affect the Shares or the rights thereof or which are convertible into or exchangeable for Shares, or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or any other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise.

(j) In the event of any pending stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Company assets to stockholders, or any other change affecting the Shares or the share price of the Shares including any Equity Restructuring, for reasons of administrative convenience, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may refuse to permit the exercise of any Award during a period of up to thirty (30) days prior to the consummation of any such transaction.

13.3 Approval of Plan by Stockholders. The Plan shall be submitted for the approval of the Company’s stockholders within twelve (12) months after the date of the Board’s initial adoption of the Plan.

13.4 No Stockholders Rights. Except as otherwise provided herein or in an applicable Program or Award Agreement, a Holder shall have none of the rights of a stockholder with respect to Shares covered by any Award until the Holder becomes the record owner of such Shares.

13.5 Paperless Administration. In the event that the Company establishes, for itself or using the services of a third party, an automated system for the documentation, granting or exercise of Awards, such as a system using an internet website or interactive voice response, then the paperless documentation, granting or exercise of Awards by a Holder may be permitted through the use of such an automated system.

13.6 Effect of Plan upon Other Compensation Plans. The adoption of the Plan shall not affect any other compensation or incentive plans in effect for the Company or any Subsidiary. Nothing in the Plan shall be construed to limit the right of the Company or any Subsidiary: (a) to establish any other forms of incentives or compensation for Employees, Directors or Consultants of the Company or any Subsidiary, or (b) to grant or assume options or other rights or awards otherwise than under the Plan in connection with any proper corporate purpose including without limitation, the grant or assumption of options in connection with the acquisition by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of the business, stock or assets of any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, firm or association.

13.7 Compliance with Laws. The Plan, the granting and vesting of Awards under the Plan and the issuance and delivery of Shares and the payment of money under the Plan or under Awards granted or awarded hereunder are subject to compliance with all Applicable Law (including but not limited to state, federal and foreign securities law and margin requirements), and to such approvals by any listing, regulatory or governmental authority as may, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, be necessary or advisable in connection therewith. Any securities delivered under the Plan shall be subject to such restrictions, and the person acquiring such securities shall, if requested by the Company, provide such assurances and representations to the Company as the Company may deem necessary or desirable to assure compliance with all

 

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Applicable Law. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may take whatever actions it deems necessary or appropriate to effect compliance with Applicable Law, including, without limitation, placing legends on share certificates and issuing stop-transfer notices to agents and registrars. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Administrator may not take any actions hereunder, and no Awards shall be granted, that would violate Applicable Law. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Plan and Awards granted or awarded hereunder shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to Applicable Law.

13.8 Titles and Headings, References to Sections of Applicable Law. 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. References to sections of the Code or the Exchange Act or any other Applicable Law shall include any amendment or successor thereto.

13.9 Governing Law. The Plan and any Programs and Award Agreements hereunder shall be administered, interpreted and enforced under the internal laws of the State of Delaware without regard to conflicts of laws thereof or of any other jurisdiction.

13.10 Section 409A. To the extent that the Administrator determines that any Award granted under the Plan is subject to Section 409A, the Plan, the Program pursuant to which such Award is granted and the Award Agreement evidencing such Award shall incorporate the terms and conditions required by Section 409A. To the extent applicable, the Plan, the Program and any Award Agreements shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event that following the Effective Date the Administrator determines that any Award may be subject to Section 409A, the Administrator may (but is not obligated to), without a Holder’s consent, adopt such amendments to the Plan and the applicable Program and Award Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Administrator determines are necessary or appropriate to (a) exempt the Award from Section 409A and/or preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided with respect to the Award, or (b) comply with the requirements of Section 409A and thereby avoid the application of any penalty taxes under Section 409A. The Company makes no representations or warranties as to the tax treatment of any Award under Section 409A or otherwise. The Company shall have no obligation under this Section 13.10 or otherwise to take any action (whether or not described herein) to avoid the imposition of taxes, penalties or interest under Section 409A with respect to any Award and shall have no liability to any Holder or any other person if any Award, compensation or other benefits under the Plan are determined to constitute non-compliant, “nonqualified deferred compensation” subject to the imposition of taxes, penalties and/or interest under Section 409A.

13.11 Unfunded Status of Awards. The Plan is intended to be an “unfunded” plan for incentive compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Holder pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Program or Award Agreement shall give the Holder any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company or any Subsidiary.

13.12 Indemnification. To the extent permitted under Applicable Law and the Organizational Documents, each member of the Administrator shall be indemnified and held

 

31


harmless by the Company from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such member in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action or failure to act pursuant to the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him or her in satisfaction of judgment in such action, suit, or proceeding against him or her; provided he or she gives the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled pursuant to the Organizational Documents, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.

13.13 Relationship to other Benefits. No payment pursuant to the Plan shall be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare or other benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary except to the extent otherwise expressly provided in writing in such other plan or an agreement thereunder.

13.14 Expenses. The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company and its Subsidiaries.

* * * * *

 

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EX-5.1

Exhibit 5.1

 

  

99 Bishopsgate

 

London EC2M 3XF

 

United Kingdom

 

Tel: +44(0)20.7710.1000 Fax: +44(0)20.7374.4460

 

www.lw.com

LOGO    FIRM / AFFILIATE OFFICES
  

 

16 October 2015

 

LivaNova PLC

c/o Legalinx Limited

1 Fetter Lane

London EC4A 1BR

United Kingdom

  

 

Abu Dhabi

 

Barcelona

 

Beijing

 

Boston

 

Brussels

 

Century City

 

Chicago

 

Dubai

 

Düsseldorf

 

Frankfurt

 

Hamburg

 

Hong Kong

 

Houston

 

London

 

Los Angeles

 

Madrid

 

 

Milan

 

Moscow

 

Munich

 

New Jersey

 

New York

 

Orange County

 

Paris

 

Riyadh

 

Rome

 

San Diego

 

San Francisco

 

Shanghai

 

Silicon Valley

 

Singapore

 

Tokyo

 

Washington, D.C.

    
    
    
    
    
    
    

 

Re: LivaNova PLC – Registration Statement on Form S-8 Exhibit 5.1

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as English legal advisers to LivaNova PLC, a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales (the “Company”) in connection with:

 

  (a) (i) the proposed merger of Sorin S.p.A., a joint stock company organised under the laws of Italy (“Sorin”), with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the survivor (the “Sorin Merger”), and (ii) immediately following the Sorin Merger, the proposed merger of Cypher Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub”), with and into Cyberonics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Cyberonics”), with Cyberonics continuing as the survivor and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Cyberonics Merger” and, together with the Sorin Merger, the “Mergers”), in each case, pursuant to a definitive transaction agreement dated 23 March 2015 between Cyberonics, Sorin, the Company and Merger Sub (the “Transaction Agreement”); and

 

  (b) the preparation and filing of the registration statement on Form S-8 (such registration statement, including the documents incorporated by reference therein, 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”).

As set out in the Registration Statement, it is proposed that up to 11,913,623 ordinary shares of the Company each having a nominal value of £1.00 (the “Shares”) will be issued upon the exercise or settlement of equity awards granted under:

 

  (a) the Company’s 2015 Incentive Award Plan.

Latham & Watkins is the business name of Latham & Watkins (London) LLP, a registered limited liability partnership organised under the laws of New York and authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA No. 203820). A list of the names of the partners of Latham & Watkins (London) LLP is open to inspection at its principal place of business, 99 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 3XF, and such persons are either solicitors, registered foreign lawyers or European lawyers. We are affiliated with the firm Latham & Watkins LLP, a limited liability partnership organised under the laws of Delaware.


LOGO

 

 

  (b) the Sub-Plan to the Company’s 2015 Incentive Award Plan;

 

  (c) the Cyberonics 2009 Stock Plan;

 

  (d) the Cyberonics 2005 Stock Plan;

 

  (e) the Cyberonics Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Plan;

 

  (f) the Cyberonics Amended and Restated 1996 Stock Plan; and

 

  (g) the Cyberonics New Employee Equity Inducement Plan,

(together, the “Equity Plans”), and each of which has been assumed or adopted by the Company pursuant to the Transaction Agreement and/or a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company on 14 September 2015 and/or 16 October 2015.

 

1. INTRODUCTION

 

1.1 Purpose

In connection with the Registration Statement, we have been asked to provide an opinion on certain matters, as set out below. We have taken instruction in this regard solely from the Company.

 

1.2 Defined terms and headings

In this letter:

 

  (a) capitalised terms used without definition in this letter or the schedules hereto have the meanings assigned to them in the Registration Statement unless a contrary indication appears; and

 

  (b) headings are for ease of reference only and shall not affect interpretation.

 

1.3 Legal review

For the purpose of issuing this letter, we have reviewed only the following documents and conducted only the following enquiries and searches:

 

  (a) an online search at Companies House in respect of information available for inspection about the Company conducted on 16 October 2015;

 

  (b) an enquiry by telephone at the Central Index of Winding Up Petitions, London on 16 October 2015 at 10:30 a.m. (London time) ((a) and (b) together, the “Searches”);

 

  (c) copies of the minutes of the meetings of the board of directors of the Company held on 20 February 2015, 17 April 2015, 20 April 2015 and 29 April 2015, 23 June 2015, 17 July 2015, 20 July 2015, 11 September 2015 and 14 September 2015;

 

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  (d) written resolutions of the board of directors of the Company dated 12 October 2015 and 16 October 2015;

 

  (e) written resolutions of the shareholders of the Company passed on 17 April 2015 and 23 June 2015;

 

  (f) a copy of the minutes of the shareholders’ meetings of the Company held on 17 July 2015 and 16 October 2015;

 

  (g) copies of the certificate of incorporation of the Company dated 20 February 2015, the certificate of incorporation on re-registration as a public limited company dated 17 April 2015 and the certificate on change of the Company’s name dated 23 June 2015;

 

  (h) a copy of the current articles of association of the Company and a copy of the articles of association of the Company proposed to be adopted upon completion of the Mergers; and

 

  (i) a draft copy of the Registration Statement, as at 15 October 2015, to be dated 19 October 2015, and to be filed with the SEC on 16 October 2015.

 

1.4 Applicable law

This letter, the opinions given in it, and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with this letter and/or the opinions given in it, are governed by, and to be construed in accordance with, English law and relate only to English law as applied by the English courts as at today’s date. In particular:

 

  (a) we have not investigated the laws of any country other than England and we assume that no foreign law affects any of the opinions stated below; and

 

  (b) we express no opinion in this letter on the laws of any jurisdiction other than England.

 

1.5 Assumptions and reservations

The opinions given in this letter are given on the basis of each of the assumptions set out in Schedule 1 (Assumptions) and are subject to each of the reservations set out in Schedule 2 (Reservations) to this letter. The opinions given in this letter are strictly limited to the matters stated in paragraph 2 (Opinions) below and do not extend, and should not be read as extending, by implication or otherwise, to any other matters.

 

2. OPINION

Subject to paragraph 1 (Introduction) and the other matters set out in this letter and its Schedules, and subject further to the following:

 

  (a) the Registration Statement, as finally amended, having become effective under the Securities Act;

 

  (b) all actions, consents or orders necessary to implement the Sorin Merger pursuant to the Directive on Cross-Border Mergers of Limited Liability Companies (2005/56/EC) of the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union and, in the case of the Company, the Companies (Cross-Border Mergers) Regulations 2007, as amended, and, in the case of Sorin, Articles 2501ff of the Italian Civil Code and the Italian Legislative Decree 30 May 2008, No. 108 having been taken, received or made, as applicable, and the Sorin Merger having become effective;

 

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  (c) all actions, consents or orders necessary to implement the Cyberonics Merger in accordance with the General Companies Law of the State of Delaware having been taken, received or made, as applicable, and the Cyberonics Merger having become effective;

 

  (d) the Company in general meeting, or within the Company’s articles of association, duly and validly having resolved (i) as an ordinary resolution, or within the Company’s articles of association, to authorise the board of directors of the Company pursuant to section 551 of the Companies Act 2006 (the “Companies Act”) to allot Shares, or to grant rights to subscribe for Shares, pursuant to the Equity Plans, and (ii) as may be required, as a special resolution, or within the Company’s articles of association, to empower the directors of the Company pursuant to section 570 of the Companies Act to allot such Shares, and grant such rights (as applicable), free of the restrictions in section 561 of the Companies Act, and such resolutions and authorities remaining in full force and effect and not having expired, been rescinded or amended;

 

  (e) the directors of the Company having validly resolved to allot the Shares, or grant rights to subscribe for Shares, at a duly convened and quorate meeting of the board of directors of the Company and such board resolutions being in full force and effect and not having been rescinded or amended;

 

  (f) the receipt in full of payment for such Shares in an amount of “cash consideration” (as defined in section 583(3) of the Companies Act) of not less than the aggregate nominal value for such Shares, assuming in each case that the individual grants or awards under the relevant Equity Plan are duly authorised by all necessary corporate action and duly granted or awarded and exercised in accordance with the requirements of law, the Company’s articles of association and the relevant Equity Plan (and the agreements and awards duly adopted thereunder and in accordance therewith); and

 

  (g) valid entries having been made in relation to the allotment and issue of the Shares in the books and registers of the Company,

it is our opinion that the Shares, if and when issued, registered in the name of the recipient in the register of members of the Company and delivered in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Agreement and the terms and conditions referred to above and/or the Equity Plans, and as described in the Registration Statement, will be duly and validly authorised and issued, fully paid or credited as fully paid (subject to the receipt of valid consideration by the Company for the issue thereof) and will not be subject to any call for payment of further capital.

 

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3. EXTENT OF OPINIONS

We express no opinion as to any agreement, instrument or other document other than as specified in this letter or as to any liability to tax which may arise or be suffered as a result of or in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreement or the Equity Plans.

This letter only applies to those facts and circumstances which exist as at today’s date and we assume no obligation or responsibility to update or supplement this letter to reflect any facts or circumstances which may subsequently come to our attention, any changes in laws which may occur after today, or to inform the addressee of any change in circumstances happening after the date of this letter which would alter our opinion.

 

4. DISCLOSURE AND RELIANCE

This letter is addressed to you solely for your benefit in connection with the Registration Statement. We consent to the filing of this letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.

This letter may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose, and, other than as set out above, may not be furnished to, or assigned to or relied upon by any other person, firm or entity for any purpose, without our prior written consent, which may be granted or withheld in our discretion.

 

Yours faithfully
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LATHAM & WATKINS

 

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SCHEDULE 1

ASSUMPTIONS

The opinions in this letter have been given on the basis of the following assumptions:

 

  (a) The genuineness of all signatures, stamps and seals on all documents, the authenticity and completeness of all documents submitted to us as originals, and the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies;

 

  (b) that, where a document has been examined by us in draft or specimen form, it will be or has been duly executed in the form of that draft or specimen;

 

  (c) that the proposed articles of association of the Company examined by us are adopted without amendment prior to the first date of allotment and issue of any of the Shares, or the grant of rights to subscribe for any of the Shares (each such date on which Shares are allotted or issued, or rights are granted to subscribe for Shares, being an “Allotment Date”) and no alteration has been made or will be made to such articles of association prior to any Allotment Date;

 

  (d) that all documents, forms and notices which should have been delivered to the Companies Registration Office in respect of the Company have been so delivered, that the results of the Searches are complete and accurate, that the position has not changed since the times at which the Searches were made and that the results of the Searches will remain complete and accurate as at each Allotment Date;

 

  (e) that the proceedings and resolutions described in the minutes of the meetings of the board of directors of the Company provided to us in connection with the giving of this opinion and of the meetings of the board of the directors referred to at paragraph 2(e) of this letter were and/or will be duly conducted as so described, and that each of the meetings referred to therein was and/or will be duly constituted, convened and conducted and all constitutional, statutory and other formalities were and/or will be duly observed (including, if applicable, those relating to the declaration of directors’ interests or the power of interested directors to vote), a quorum was and/or will be present throughout, the requisite majority of directors voted and/or will vote in favour of approving the resolutions and the resolutions passed thereat were and/or will be duly adopted, have not been and will not be revoked or varied and remain in full force and effect and will remain so as at each Allotment Date;

 

  (f) that the resolutions of the shareholders of the Company provided to us in connection with the giving of this opinion and of the shareholders of the Company as referred to at paragraph 2(d) of this letter were and/or will be duly passed as written resolutions of the Company, all constitutional, statutory and other formalities were and/or will be observed and such resolutions have not been and/or will not be revoked or varied and will not be revoked or varied prior to each Allotment Date and remain in full force and effect and will remain in full force and effect as at each Allotment Date;

 

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  (g) that at the time of each allotment and issue of any Shares the Company shall have received in full “cash consideration” (as such term is defined in section 583(3) of the Companies Act) equal to the subscription price payable for such Shares and shall have entered the holder or holders thereof in the register of members of the Company showing that all such Shares shall have been fully paid up as to their nominal value and any premium thereon as at each Allotment Date;

 

  (h) in relation to any allotment and issue of any Shares by the Company pursuant to the Equity Plans, that the recipient will have become entitled to such Shares under the terms of the relevant Equity Plan such Shares will, where applicable, be fully vested each in accordance with the terms of the relevant Equity Plan and such recipient has or will have complied with all other requirements of the relevant Equity Plan in connection with the allotment and issue of such Shares;

 

  (i) that all awards have been made under the terms of the relevant Equity Plan, that the terms of all awards have not material deviated from the terms set out in the relevant Equity Plan and that any Shares will be allotted and issued in accordance with the terms set out in the relevant Equity Plan and in accordance with the Company’s articles of association;

 

  (j) that the Equity Plans have been validly adopted and no alteration has been or shall be made to the Equity Plans since the date of adoption;

that immediately prior to each Allotment Date, the directors of the Company had or shall have sufficient authority and powers conferred upon them to allot and issue such Shares and grant such rights (as applicable) under section 551 of the Companies Act and under section 570 of the Companies Act as if section 561 of the Companies Act did not apply to such allotment and issue or grant, and the directors of the Company shall not allot or issue (or purport to allot or issue) Shares and shall not grant rights (or purport to grant rights) to acquire Shares in excess of such powers or in breach of any other limitation on their power to allot and issue Shares or grant rights to acquire Shares;

 

  (k) that in relation to the allotment and issuance of Shares pursuant to the Sub-Plan to the Company’s 2015 Incentive Award Plan or otherwise to an employee benefit trust, that such Shares will be allotted and issued in accordance with the terms of the relevant Equity Plan, the Company’s articles of association and the requirements of all applicable laws;

 

  (l) that no Shares shall be allotted or issued, or are or shall be committed to be allotted or issued, at a discount to their nominal value (whether in pounds sterling or equivalent in any other currency);

 

  (m) that no Shares or rights to subscribe for Shares have been or shall be offered to the public in the United Kingdom in breach of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (“FSMA”) or of any other United Kingdom laws or regulations concerning offers of securities to the public, and no communication has been or shall be made in relation to the Shares in breach of section 21 of the FSMA or any other United Kingdom laws or regulations relating to offers or invitations to subscribe for, or to acquire rights to subscribe for or otherwise acquire, shares or other securities;

 

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  (n) that any Shares that are allotted and/or issued will be admitted to listing on the Official List of the UK Financial Authority pursuant to and in accordance with the listing rules of the UK Financial Conduct Authority (the “Listing Rules”) and to trading on the main market of London Stock Exchange plc (together, “Admission”) and such allotment and/or issue will comply in all respects with the requirements of the Listing Rules. Any such Admission will not require the publication of a prospectus pursuant to the FSMA and the UK Financial Conduct Authority’s prospectus rules;

 

  (o) that in issuing and allotting and granting rights to acquire Shares and administering the Equity Plans, the Company is not carrying on a regulated activity for the purposes of section 19 of FSMA;

 

  (p) that the Company has complied and will comply with all applicable anti-terrorism, anti-money laundering, sanctions and human rights laws and regulations and that each allotment and issue of Shares and grant of rights to acquire Shares pursuant to the Equity Plans will be consistent with all such laws and regulations;

 

  (q) that the Equity Plans have the same meaning and effect as if they were governed by English law;

 

  (r) that the Transaction Agreement, the Equity Plans and all obligations thereunder have been entered into and the Shares will be allotted and issued in good faith and on bona fide commercial terms and on arms’ length terms and for the purpose of carrying on the business of the Company and that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the entry into of the Transaction Agreement and the Equity Plans and the allotment and issue of the Shares will promote the success of the Company for the benefit of its members as a whole; and

 

  (s) that the Company has not taken any corporate or other action nor have any steps been taken or legal proceedings been started against the Company for the liquidation, winding up, dissolution, reorganisation or bankruptcy of, or for the appointment of a liquidator, receiver, trustee, administrator, administrative receiver or similar officer of, the Company or all or any of its assets (or any analogous proceedings in any jurisdiction) and the Company is not unable to pay its debts as they fall due within the meaning of section 123 of the Insolvency Act 1986 and will not become unable to pay its debts within the meaning of that section as a result of any of the transactions contemplated herein, is not insolvent and has not been dissolved or declared bankrupt (although the Searches gave no indication that any winding-up, dissolution or administration order or appointment of a receiver, administrator, administrative receiver or similar officer has been made with respect to the Company).

 

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SCHEDULE 2

RESERVATIONS

The opinions in this letter are subject to the following reservations:

 

  (a) The Searches are not capable of revealing conclusively whether or not a winding-up or administration petition or order has been presented or made, a receiver appointed, a company voluntary arrangement proposed or approved or any other insolvency proceeding commenced. We have not made enquiries of any District Registry or County Court;

 

  (b) the opinions set out in this letter are subject to (i) any limitations arising from applicable laws relating to insolvency, bankruptcy, administration, reorganisation, liquidation, moratoria, schemes or analogous circumstances; and (ii) an English court exercising its discretion under section 426 of the Insolvency Act 1986 (co-operation between courts exercising jurisdiction in relation to insolvency) to assist the courts having the corresponding jurisdiction in any part of the United Kingdom or any relevant country or territory;

 

  (c) we express no opinion as to matters of fact;

 

  (d) we express no opinion on the compliance of the Equity Plans, or the compliance of any award made under the Equity Plans, with the rules or regulations of the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC, the London Stock Exchange plc, the Listing Rules or the rules or regulations of any other securities exchange that are applicable to the Company;

 

  (e) we express no opinion in relation to the legality, enforceability or validity of the Equity Plans or any award agreement entered into pursuant to such Equity Plans. In particular, but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, we have assumed that the Shares to be allotted under the Equity Plans or any such award agreement will be paid up in full (as to their nominal value and any premium) in cash (within the meaning of section 583(1) of the Companies Act) and we express no opinion as to whether any consideration other than “cash consideration” (as such term is defined in section 583(3) of the Companies Act) which might be paid, or purport to be paid, for the Shares would result in such Shares being validly issued, fully paid and not subject to any call for payment of further capital;

 

  (f) if any award of Restricted Stock Units under the Company’s 2015 Incentive Award Plan or the Sub-Plan to the Company’s 2015 Incentive Award Plan does not constitute the award of a cash bonus, so as to create a liability for a liquidated sum, any Shares purported to be allotted and issued pursuant to any such award will not have been validly allotted and issued for cash in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act and may not therefore be fully paid and not subject to any call for payment of further capital; and

 

  (g) it should be understood that we have not been responsible for investigating or verifying the accuracy of the facts, including statements of foreign law, or the reasonableness of any statements of opinion, contained in the Registration Statement, or that no material facts have been omitted from it.

 

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EX-23.1

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of LivaNova PLC of our report dated April 16, 2015 relating to the consolidated financial statements of Sorin SpA and its subsidiaries, which appears in LivaNova PLC’s prospectus dated August 21, 2015, filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act, relating to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (No. 333-203510).

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers SpA

Milan, Italy

October 16, 2015

EX-23.2

Exhibit 23.2

Consent of Independent Auditors

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement of LivaNova PLC on Form S-8 to be dated October 19, 2015 pertaining to the Livanova plc 2015 incentive award plan, Livanova plc employee benefit trust, Cyberonics, inc. 2009 stock plan, Cyberonics, inc. 2005 stock plan, Cyberonics, inc. amended and restated 1997 stock plan, Cyberonics, inc. amended and restated 1996 stock plan Cyberonics, inc. new employee equity inducement plan of our report dated April 16, 2015, with respect to the consolidated statements of Sorin S.p.A. and subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2012, included in the Registration Statement Form S-4 (No. 333-203510) of LivaNova PLC.

/s/ Reconta Ernst & Young S.p.A.

Milan, Italy

October 16, 2015

EX-23.3

Exhibit 23.3

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors

Cyberonics, Inc.:

We consent to the use of our reports dated June 15, 2015, with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of Cyberonics, Inc. as of April 24, 2015 and April 25, 2014, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, stockholders’ equity, cash flows, and comprehensive income for each of the 52 weeks ended April 24, 2015, April 25, 2014, and April 26, 2013, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of April 24, 2015, incorporated herein by reference.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Houston, Texas

October 16, 2015

EX-99.1

EXHIBIT 99.1

October 16, 2015

Board of Directors

Sorin S.p.A.

Via Benigno Crespi, 17

20159 Milan

Italy

Members of the Board:

Reference is made to our opinion letter, dated February 25, 2015, to the board of directors of Sorin S.p.A. (“Sorin”) as Annex B to Exhibit 2.1 to Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement of LivaNova PLC (f/k/a Sand Holdco PLC) on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”) relating to the business combination transaction (the “Transaction”) involving Sorin and Cyberonics Inc. We understand that the Registration Statement, which includes our opinion, will be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Form S-8”) of LivaNova.

The foregoing opinion letter was provided for the information and assistance of the board of directors of Sorin in connection with its consideration of the Transaction and is not to be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise referred to for any other purpose, nor is it to be filed with, included in or referred to in whole or in part in any registration statement, proxy statement or any other document, except in accordance with our prior written consent. In this regard, we hereby consent to the use of our opinion included as Annex B to Exhibit 2.1 to the proxy statement/prospectus included in the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm name under the captions “Summary — Opinion of Rothschild as Financial Advisor to Sorin”, “Risk Factors — The opinion of Sorin’s and Cyberonics’ financial advisors will not reflect changes in circumstances between the signing of the letter of intent and the completion of the mergers”, “The Mergers — Background of the Mergers”, “The Mergers — Sorin Reasons for the Mergers” and “The Mergers — Opinion of Rothschild as Financial Advisor to Sorin” in such proxy statement/prospectus, and which will be incorporated by reference into the Form S-8. In giving our consent, we do not admit and we disclaim that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder, nor do we admit that we are experts with respect to any part of such Form S-8 or Registration Statement within the meaning of the term “experts” as used in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is understood that our consent is being delivered solely in connection with the incorporation by reference of the Registration Statement into the Form S-8 and that our opinion is not to be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise referred to for any other purpose, nor is it to be filed with, included in or referred to in whole or in part in any registration statement (including any subsequent amendments to the above-mentioned Registration Statement or Form S-8), proxy statement or any other document, except in accordance with our prior written consent.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Rothschild S.p.A.

EX-99.2

Exhibit 99.2

CONSENT OF PIPER JAFFRAY & CO.

LivaNova PLC

5 Merchant Square

London W2 1AY

United Kingdom

The Board of Directors:

We understand that LivaNova PLC (the “Company”) has determined to incorporate by reference into the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Form S-8”) all parts of the Company’s Amendment No. 3 to its Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the “Form S-4”), which includes our opinion letter (the “Opinion”), dated February 25, 2015, to the Board of Directors of Cyberonics, Inc. (“Cyberonics”), solely because such Opinion is included in the proxy statement/prospectus that forms a part of the Form S-4 that was delivered to Cyberonics’ stockholders in connection with the proposed merger involving Cyberonics and Sorin S.p.A.

In connection therewith, we hereby consent to the inclusion of our Opinion to, and references thereto under the headings “Summary—Opinion of Piper Jaffray as Financial Advisor to Cyberonics”; “Risk Factors—Risk Factors Relating to the Mergers” and “—Risk Factors Relating to the Combined Company Following Completion of the Mergers”; and “The Mergers—Background of the Mergers”, “—Cyberonics Reasons for the Mergers and Recommendation of the Cyberonics Board” and “—Opinion of Piper Jaffray as Financial Advisor to Cyberonics” in the proxy statement/prospectus that forms a part of, the Form S-4, and which will be incorporated by reference into the Form S-8. By giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are experts with respect to any part of such Form S-4 or Form S-8 within the meaning of the term “expert” as used in, or that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under, Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ PIPER JAFFRAY & CO.
PIPER JAFFRAY & CO.

October 16, 2015