6-K
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington D.C. 20549
Form 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 UNDER THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of August 2010
Commission File Number: 001-33107
CANADIAN SOLAR INC.
No. 199 Lushan Road
Suzhou New District
Suzhou, Jiangsu 215129
Peoples Republic of China
(Address of principal executive office)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F þ Form 40-F o
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by
Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): o
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by
Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form
is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes o No þ
If Yes is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):
82- N/A
CANADIAN SOLAR INC.
Form 6-K
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly
caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
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CANADIAN SOLAR INC.
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By: |
/s/ Shawn (Xiaohua) Qu
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Name: |
Shawn (Xiaohua) Qu |
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Title: |
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer |
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Date: August 30, 2010
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit 20.1 Notice of Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders
Exhibit 20.2 Management Information Circular
Exhibit 20.1
Exhibit 20.1
CANADIAN SOLAR INC.
130 King Street West, Suite 1600, The Exchange Tower
Toronto, Canada M5X 1J5
NOTICE OF ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an annual and special meeting (the Meeting) of shareholders of
Canadian Solar Inc. (the Corporation) will be held at Latham & Watkins LLP, 49th Floor, Jin Mao
Tower, 88 Century Boulevard, Pudong, Shanghai 200121, Peoples Republic of China, on Monday,
September 20th, 2010 at 10:00a.m. (local time) for the following purposes:
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to receive the audited consolidated financial statements of the
Corporation for the financial year ended December 31, 2009, together with the
auditors report thereon and the notes thereto; |
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(b) |
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to elect directors of the Corporation; |
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(c) |
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to reappoint Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu CPA, Ltd. as the auditors of
the Corporation and to authorize the directors of the Corporation to fix
their remuneration; |
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(d) |
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to consider and, if thought fit, to approve an ordinary resolution
approving an amended and restated share incentive plan of the Corporation
(the Amended Plan); and |
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(e) |
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to transact such other business as properly may be brought before
the Meeting or any adjournment thereof. |
The matters to be dealt with at the Meeting are described in the management information
circular of the Corporation accompanying this Notice (the Circular).
Shareholders are entitled to appoint a proxy to attend and act for and on behalf of them at
the Meeting. Shareholders who are unable to attend the Meeting in person and who wish to ensure
that their common shares are voted at the Meeting are requested to complete, sign and return the
accompanying form of proxy in accordance with the instructions set out therein and in the Circular.
DATED: August 30, 2010.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
/s/ Shawn (Xiaohua) Qu
Shawn (Xiaohua) Qu
Chairman of the Board, President and
Chief Executive Officer
Exhibit 20.2
Exhibit 20.2
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR
INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Certain information contained in this management information circular (the Circular) has
been incorporated by reference from the annual report on Form 20-F (the Form 20-F) of Canadian
Solar Inc. (the Corporation) for the year ended December 31, 2009, which has been filed with the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission and is attached hereto.
VOTING INFORMATION
Solicitation of Proxies
This Circular is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by management of the
Corporation for use at the annual and special meeting of shareholders of the Corporation (the
Meeting) to be held at the time and place and for the purposes set forth in the notice of meeting
accompanying this Circular (the Notice).
The solicitation of proxies will be primarily by mail, but proxies may also be solicited by
telephone, in writing or in person by the directors, officers and regular employees of the
Corporation. The Corporation may also use the services of a proxy solicitation firm. The cost of
the solicitation of proxies will be borne by the Corporation.
Appointment of Proxies
The individuals named in the accompanying form of proxy are directors and/or officers of the
Corporation.
A shareholder has the right to appoint a person (who need not be a shareholder) other than the
persons named in the accompanying form of proxy to be the proxy of the shareholder at the Meeting
and may exercise this right either by inserting that persons name in the blank space provided in
the accompanying form of proxy or by completing another proper form of proxy. To be effective, completed proxies must be received by BNY Mellon Shareowner Services by mail, in the
enclosed return envelope, at least 48 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) before
the time of the Meeting or any adjournment thereof or be deposited with the chairman of the Meeting
before the commencement of the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
Revocation of Proxies
Proxies given by shareholders for use at the Meeting may be revoked at any time before their
use. In addition to revocation in any manner permitted by law, a proxy may be revoked by
depositing an instrument in writing signed by the shareholder or by the shareholders attorney duly
authorized in writing with BNY Mellon Shareowner Services by mail or hand delivery to the Proxy
Department, 480 Washington Boulevard, Jersey City, New Jersey, 07310-1900 United States of America
at least 48 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) before the time of the Meeting or any
adjournment thereof or be deposited with the chairman of the Meeting before the commencement of the
Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
Voting and Discretion of Proxies
The common shares represented by the proxies solicited by management pursuant to this Circular
will be voted in accordance with the directions contained therein.
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If no directions are given, the common shares will be voted FOR:
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the election of the five proposed nominees for election as directors
named in the Circular; |
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(b) |
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the appointment of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu CPA, Ltd. as the auditors
of the Corporation and the authorization of the directors of the Corporation to
fix their remuneration; and |
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(c) |
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an ordinary resolution (the Amended Plan Resolution) approving an
amended and restated share incentive plan of the Corporation (the Amended
Plan). |
The accompanying form of proxy confers discretionary authority on the persons named therein in
respect of amendments or variations to the matters referred to in this Circular and in respect of
other matters that may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof. Management of
the Corporation knows of no such amendments or variations or other matters that may properly come
before the Meeting but, if any such amendments or variations or other matters properly come before
the Meeting, the persons named in the accompanying form of proxy will vote thereon in accordance
with their best judgement.
Voting Shares
Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 26, 2010 are entitled to receive notice of and vote
at the Meeting.
The authorized capital of the Corporation consists of an unlimited number of common shares.
As of July 31, 2010, there are 43,456,558 common shares outstanding. All of the outstanding common
shares may be voted at the Meeting. Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each common share
held by them.
Principal Shareholders
To the knowledge of the directors and executive officers of the Corporation, the only persons
who beneficially own, directly or indirectly, or exercise control or direction over voting
securities of the Corporation carrying 5% or more of the voting rights attached to any class of
voting securities of the Corporation are set out in Item 6E Share Ownership of Form 20-F.
Required Approval
All matters to be dealt with at the Meeting require the approval of a majority of the votes
cast on the matter.
BUSINESS OF MEETING
Consolidated Financial Statements
The audited consolidated financial statements of the Corporation for the financial year ended
December 31, 2009, together with the auditors report thereon and the notes thereto, accompany this
Circular and will be submitted to the Meeting. Receipt of the audited consolidated financial
statements will not constitute approval or disapproval of any matters referred to therein.
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Election of Directors
The articles of the Corporation require that the Corporation have a minimum of three directors
and a maximum of ten directors. The articles also provide that the actual number of directors
within the specified minimum and maximum may be determined from time to time by resolution of the
directors. The board of directors of the Corporation (the Board) has by resolution fixed the
number of directors of the Corporation to be elected at the Meeting, within the specified minimum
and maximum, at five. The term of office of each of the current directors expires on the election
of directors at the Meeting.
Management of the Corporation intends to nominate the individuals named below for election as
directors of the Corporation. The Corporation has not received notice, and management of the
Corporation is not aware, of any other nominees for election as directors of the Corporation.
The following table sets out the name and province or state and country of residence of each
individual proposed to be nominated for election as a director of the Corporation at the Meeting
and his current position with the Corporation. See Item 6A Directors and Senior Management, Item
6C Board Practices Committees of the Board of Directors and Item 6E Share Ownership of Form
20-F for the following additional information with respect to each individual proposed to be
nominated for election as director of the Corporation at the Meeting: the period during which he
has served as a director, the Board committees of which he is a member, his principal occupation
and the number of common shares beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, or controlled or
directed by him.
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Name and Municipality of Residence |
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Current Position(s) with the Corporation |
Shawn (Xiaohua) Qu
Suzhou, Peoples Republic of China
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Chairman of the Board, President and
Chief Executive Officer |
Arthur Chien
Beijing, Peoples Republic of China
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Director and Chief Financial Officer |
Robert McDermott
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Lead Independent Director |
Lars-Eric Johansson
London, The United Kingdom
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Director |
Michael G. Potter
Portland, Oregon, United States of America
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Director |
Appointment of Auditors
Management of the Corporation proposes that Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu CPA, Ltd. be re-appointed
auditors of the Corporation and that the directors of the Corporation be authorized to fix their
remuneration. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu CPA, Ltd. have been auditors of the Corporation since
December 2005.
The Amended Plan
In March 2006, the Corporation adopted a share incentive plan (the Plan). The purpose of
the Plan is to promote the success and enhance the value of the Corporation by linking the personal
interests of the directors, officers and employees to those of the shareholders and providing the
directors, officers and employees with an incentive for outstanding performance to generate superior returns to
the shareholders. The Plan is also intended to motive, attract and retain the services of the
directors, officers and employees upon whose judgment, interest and effort the successful conduct
of the Corporations operations is largely dependent. Under the Plan, the Corporation may grant
options to purchase common
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shares and restricted shares (which are non-transferable common shares
without voting or dividend rights). The Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the
Board.
On August 10, 2010, the Board approved the Amended Plan subject to the approval of the Amended
Plan Resolution by the shareholders. Pursuant to the rules of the Nasdaq Global Market, in order
to be effective, the Amended Plan Resolution requires the approval of a simple majority of the
shareholders of the Corporation.
A copy of the full text of the Amended Plan is attached to this Circular as Schedule 1 and a
copy of the text of the Amended Plan Resolution is attached to this Circular as Schedule 2.
The following are the principal changes to the Plan made by the Amended Plan.
Increase in Maximum Number of Shares that may be Issued
The Amended Plan changes the maximum number of common shares that may be issued pursuant to
all awards granted under the Plan from 2,330,000 plus 1% of the number of outstanding common shares
on the first day of each year beginning 2007 (the Current Maximum) to 2,330,000 plus the sum of
(a) 1% of the number of outstanding common shares on the first day of each 2007, 2008 and 2009 and
(b) 2.5% of the number of outstanding common shares on the first day of each year after 2009 (the
Proposed Maximum).
As at July 31, 2010, the maximum number of common shares which may be issued pursuant to all
awards of options and restricted shares under the Plan is 3,658,700 shares, of which 2,471,011
options and 566,190 restricted shares (in both cases net of forfeitures) have been awarded, leaving
621,499 shares available to be issued.
The number of full-time employees of the Corporation has grown significantly since the
Corporation went public in 2006 (from 284 as at December 31, 2006 to 7,106 as at December 31,
2009). Management of the Corporation believes that increasing the maximum number of common shares
which may be issued pursuant to all awards of options and restricted shares under the Plan from the
Current Maximum to the Proposed Maximum is necessary to permit the Corporation to continue to
attract, retain and motivate officers and key employees of the Corporation and its subsidiaries.
The Current Maximum does not permit the Corporation to make adequate awards to existing and new
employees.
Elimination of Add-back of Certain Issued Shares
The Amended Plan eliminates the provision which does not count those common shares used to pay
the exercise price of, or the withholding tax payable on the exercise of, a participants options
as having been issued under the Plan thereby, in effect, increasing the maximum number of common
shares which may be issued pursuant to all awards of options and restricted shares under the Plan.
Management believes that this change makes the Amended Plan fairer to shareholders.
Clerical Amendments
The Amended Plan makes a number of clerical amendments to the Plan which are intended to
improve the clarity and administration of the Amended Plan.
Other Business
Management of the Corporation knows of no other matters that may properly come before the
Meeting.
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STATEMENT OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
General
See Item 6B Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers Cash Compensation and
Share-based Compensation and Item 6C Board Practices Director Agreements and Indemnification of
Directors and Officers of Form 20-F.
Employment and Management Contracts
See Item 6C Board Practices Employment Agreements of Form 20-F.
Compensation of Directors
See Item 6B Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers Cash Compensation and Item 6C
Board Practices Director Agreements and Indemnification of Directors and Officers of Form 20-F.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
See Item 7 Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions of Form 20-F.
INTEREST OF INSIDERS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS
See Item 6C Board Practices Interested Transactions and Item 7B Major Shareholders and
Related Party Transactions Related Party Transactions of Form 20-F.
MATERIAL CONTRACTS
See Item 10C Material Contracts of Form 20-F.
OTHER MATTERS
Shareholder Proposals
Shareholders must submit any shareholder proposal that they wish to be considered at the
annual meeting of shareholders of the Corporation in respect of the year ending December 31, 2010
to be held in 2011 no later than February 28, 2011. All shareholder proposals must comply with
Section 137 of the Canada Business Corporations Act.
Glossary
The term shareholder refers to a registered holder of common shares. The term common shares
refers to common shares in the capital stock of the Corporation, excluding any restricted shares,
which are subject to restrictions on voting, dividend rights and transferability.
Date of Information
Except where noted, all information in this Circular is as of August 30, 2010.
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APPROVAL OF CIRCULAR BY BOARD
The contents and the sending of this Circular have been approved by the Board.
DATED at Toronto, Canada this 30th day of August, 2010.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
/s/ Shawn (Xiaohua) Qu
Shawn (Xiaohua) Qu
Chairman of the Board, President and
Chief Executive Officer
SCHEDULE 1
AMENDED AND RESTATED SHARE INCENTIVE PLAN
ARTICLE 1.
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Plan is to permit the Company to attract, motivate and retain the services
of Directors, Employees and Consultants upon whose judgment, interest and special effort the
successful conduct of the Companys operations is largely dependent and to promote the success and
enhance the value of the Company by linking the personal interests of Holders with those of
Shareholders by providing Holders with an incentive for outstanding performance to generate
superior returns to Shareholders.
This Amended and Restated Plan is effective on the Restatement Effective Date.
ARTICLE 2.
DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION
The following terms used in the Plan shall have the meanings specified below, unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise. The singular pronoun includes the plural and vice versa.
2.1 Applicable Accounting Standards means the generally accepted accounting
principles or reporting standards applicable to the Companys consolidated financial statements.
2.2 Applicable Laws means the laws of any jurisdiction as they relate to the Plan
and Awards and the rules of any securities exchange, national market system or automated quotation
system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded.
2.3 Award means an Option or Restricted Share granted under the Plan.
2.4 Award Agreement means any written instrument or document evidencing and setting
out the terms and conditions of an Award, including through electronic medium.
2.5 Board means the board of directors of the Company.
2.6 Code means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time
to time.
2.7
Committee has the meaning set forth in Section 8.1.
2.8
Company means Canadian Solar Inc.
2.9
Consultant means any consultant or adviser:
(a) who is a natural person and renders bona fide services to a Service Recipient;
(b) who has contracted directly with the Service Recipient to render such services; and
(c) whose services are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities of the Company
in a capital-raising transaction and do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for
the Companys securities.
2.10 Corporate Transaction means any of the following transactions; provided
that the Committee shall determine under (f) and (g) whether multiple transactions are related,
and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive:
(a) an amalgamation, arrangement, consolidation or scheme of arrangement in which the Company
is not the surviving entity, except for a transaction the principal purpose of which is to change
the jurisdiction in which the Company is incorporated or a transaction where, following the
transaction, the holders of the Companys voting securities immediately prior to the transaction
own fifty percent (50%) or more of the surviving entity;
(b) the direct or indirect acquisition by any person or related group of persons (other than
an acquisition from or by the Company or by a Company-sponsored employee benefit plan or by a
person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the
Company) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of
securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the
Companys outstanding securities pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made directly to
Shareholders which a majority of the Incumbent Board (as defined in (c) below) who are not
affiliates or associates of the offeror (within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act)
do not recommend that Shareholders accept;
(c) the individuals who, as of the Effective Date, are members of the Board (the Incumbent
Board) cease for any reason to constitute at least fifty percent (50%) of the Board; provided
that, if the election or nomination for election by Shareholders of any new member of the Board
is approved by a vote of at least fifty percent (50%) of the Incumbent Board, such new member of
the Board shall be considered as a member of the Incumbent Board;
(d) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company (other than to a Parent, Subsidiary or Related Entity);
(e) the completion of a voluntary or insolvent liquidation or dissolution of the Company;
(f) any reverse takeover, scheme of arrangement, or series of related transactions culminating
in a reverse takeover or scheme of arrangement (including, but not limited to, a tender offer
followed by a reverse takeover) in which the Company survives but:
(i) the Shares of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such transaction are converted
or exchanged by virtue of the transaction into other property, whether in the form of securities,
cash or otherwise, or
(ii) securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of
the Companys outstanding securities are transferred to a person or related group of persons
different from those who held such securities immediately prior to such transaction culminating in
such takeover or scheme of arrangement,
but excluding any such transaction or series of related transactions that the Committee determines
shall not be a Corporate Transaction; or
(g) the acquisition in a single or series of related transactions by any person or related
group of persons (other than the Company or by a Company-sponsored employee benefit plan) of
beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities
possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Companys
outstanding securities but excluding any such transaction or series of related transactions that
the Committee determines shall not be a Corporate Transaction.
2.11 Director means a member of the Board, as constituted from time to time.
2.12 Disability of a Holder means:
(a) in the case where the Service Recipient to which the Holder provides services has a
long-term disability plan in place and the Holder is a member of that plan, that the Holder
qualifies to receive long-term disability payments under the plan; and
(b) in the case where the Service Recipient to which the Holder provides services does not
have a long-term disability plan in place or, if it does, the Holder is not a member of that plan,
that the Holder is unable to carry out the responsibilities and functions of the position held by
the Holder by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment for a period of
not less than ninety (90) consecutive days.
A Holder will not be considered to have a Disability unless he or she furnishes proof of such
impairment sufficient to satisfy the Committee in its discretion.
2.13 Effective Date has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1.
2.14 Eligible Individual means any person who is a Director, an Employee or a
Consultant, in each case as determined by the Committee; provided that Awards shall not be
granted to Directors or Consultants who are resident of any country the Applicable Laws of which do
not permit grants to non-employees.
2.15 Employee means any person who is employed by a Service Recipient. The payment
of a directors fee by a Service Recipient shall not constitute the recipient an employee of the
Service Recipient.
2.16 Exchange Act means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended from time to time.
2.17 Fair Market Value of a Share means, as of any date:
(a) if the Shares are listed on an established and regulated securities exchange, national
market system or automated quotation system, the closing sales price for Shares (or the closing bid
price, if no sales were reported) as quoted on the principal exchange or system on which the Shares
are listed (as determined by the Committee) on the date of determination (or, if no closing sales
price or closing bid price was reported on that date, on the last trading date such closing sales
price or closing bid was reported), as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as
the Committee deems reliable;
(b) if the Shares are not listed on an established and regulated securities exchange, national
market system or automated quotation system, but are regularly quoted by a recognized securities
dealer, the closing sales price for Shares as quoted by such securities dealer on the date of
determination; provided that, if the closing sales price is not reported, the Fair Market
Value shall be the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for Shares on the date of
determination (or, if no such prices were reported on that date, on the last date such prices were
reported), as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Committee deems
reliable; or
(c) in the absence of (a) and (b), the Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Committee
in good faith and in its sole and absolute discretion by reference to:
(i) the placing price of the latest private placement of Shares and the development of the
Companys business operations and the general economic and market conditions since such latest
private placement,
(ii) other third party transactions involving the Shares and the development of the Companys
business operations and the general economic and market conditions since such sale,
(iii) an independent valuation of the Shares, or
(iv) such other methodologies or information as the Committee determines to be indicative of
Fair Market Value.
2.18 Holder means an Eligible Individual who has been granted an Award.
2.19 Incentive Option means an Option that is intended to meet the applicable
provisions of Section 422 of the Code. Incentive Options may only be granted to Employees.
2.20
Non-Employee Director means a Director who is not an Employee.
2.21 Non-Qualified Option means an Option that is not an Incentive Option.
2.22 Option means the right to purchase Shares at a specified exercise price.
2.23 Plan means this Canadian Solar Inc. Share Incentive Plan, as amended from time
to time.
2.24 Related Entity means any entity in which the Company or a Subsidiary holds,
directly or indirectly, a substantial economic interest, whether through ownership or contractual
arrangements, but which is not a Subsidiary and which the Board designates as a Related Entity for
purposes of the Plan.
2.25 Restatement Effective Date has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1.
2.26 Restricted Share means a Share awarded under Article 6 that is subject to
certain restrictions and may be subject to risk of forfeiture or repurchase.
2.27 Securities Act means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended from
time to time.
2.28 Service Recipient means the Company, a Subsidiary or a Related Entity.
2.29 Share means a common share in the capital of the Company.
2.30 Shareholder means a holder of Shares.
2.31 Subsidiary means any entity (other than the Company), whether domestic or
foreign, in an unbroken chain of entities beginning with the Company if each of the entities, other
than the last entity in the unbroken chain, beneficially owns, at the time of the determination,
securities or other interests representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined
voting power of all classes of securities or interests in one of the other entities in such chain.
2.32 Termination of Service of a Holder means
(a) in the case of a Holder who is a Consultant, the time when the engagement of the Holder as
a Consultant to a Service Recipient terminates for any reason; but excluding a case where the
Holder simultaneously commences employment with, enters into another engagement as a Consultant to,
or becomes a Director of, the same or another Service Recipient;
(b) in the case of a Holder who is Non-Employee Director, the time when the Holder ceases to
be a Director of a Service Recipient for any reason, but excluding a case where the Holder
simultaneously commences employment with, or enters into an engagement as a Consultant to, or
becomes a Director of, the same or another Service Recipient; and
(c) in the case of a holder who is an Employee, the time when the Holder ceases to be in the
employ of a Service Recipient for any reason, but excluding a case where the Holder simultaneously
commences employment with, enters into an engagement as a Consultant to, or becomes a Director of,
the same or another Service Recipient.
The Committee may, in its sole discretion, determine the effect of all matters and questions
relating to a Termination of Service, including, without limitation, whether a particular
leave of absence constitutes a Termination of Service; provided that, with respect to
Incentive Options, unless the Committee provides to the contrary in the Award Agreement or
otherwise, 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 regulations and revenue
rulings thereunder. For purposes of the Plan, a Holders employee-employer or consultancy
relationship shall be deemed to have been terminated if the Service Recipient employing or
contracting with the Holder ceases to be a Subsidiary or Related Entity.
2.33 Trading Date means the closing of the first sale of Shares to the general
public, pursuant to an effective registration statement under Applicable Laws, which results in the
Shares being publicly traded on an established securities exchange or national market system.
ARTICLE 3.
SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
3.1 Number of Shares.
(a) Subject to Article 8 and Section 3.1(b), the maximum number of Shares that may be issued
pursuant to all Awards (including Incentive Share Options) is 2,330,000 plus, for Awards other than
Incentive Option Shares, the sum of:
(i) one percent (1%) of the number of Shares outstanding on the first day of each of 2007,
2008 and 2009, and
(ii) two and one-half percent (2.5%) of the number of Shares outstanding on the first day of
each year after 2009.
(b) If an Award terminates, expires or lapses for any reason, or is settled in cash and not
Shares, the Shares subject to the Award shall again be available for the grant of an Award pursuant
to the Plan.
3.2 Shares Distributed. Any Shares distributed pursuant to an Award may consist, in
whole or in part, of treasury Shares or Shares purchased on the open market or, in the discretion
of the Committee, American Depository Shares in an amount equal to the number of Shares which
otherwise would be distributed. If the number of Shares represented by an American Depository
Share is other than on a one-to-one basis, the limitations of Section 3.1 shall be adjusted to
reflect the distribution of American Depository Shares in lieu of Shares.
ARTICLE 4.
GRANTING OF AWARDS
4.1 Participation. The Committee shall determine those Eligible Individuals to whom
Awards shall be granted and shall determine the nature and amount of each Award, which shall
not be inconsistent with the requirements of the Plan. No Eligible Individual shall have any
right to be granted an Award pursuant to the Plan.
4.2 Award Agreement. Each Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement. Award
Agreements evidencing Incentive Options shall contain such terms and conditions as are necessary to
satisfy the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code.
4.3 Jurisdictions. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in
order to comply with Applicable Laws, the Committee may:
(a) determine which Subsidiaries and Related Entities shall be covered by the Plan;
(b) determine which Eligible Individuals are eligible to participate in the Plan;
(c) modify the terms and conditions of any Award granted to Eligible Individuals;
(d) establish sub plans and modify exercise and other terms and procedures to the extent that
such actions may be necessary or advisable (any such sub plans and/or modifications shall be
attached to the Plan as appendices); provided that no such sub plans and/or modifications
shall increase the share limitations contained in Section 3.1; and
(e) take any action, before or after an Award is made, that it deems necessary or advisable to
obtain any required approvals under or to comply with any Applicable Laws, including, without
limitation, necessary governmental regulatory exemptions or approvals or listing requirements of
any securities exchange.
ARTICLE 5.
OPTIONS
5.1 General. The Committee may grant Options to Eligible Individuals on the following
terms and conditions:
(a) Exercise Price. The exercise price per Share subject to an Option shall be a
fixed or variable price related to the Fair Market Value of the Shares; provided that no
Option may be granted to an individual subject to taxation in the United States at less than the
Fair Market Value on the date of grant without compliance with Section 409A of the Code, or the
Holders consent. The exercise price per Share subject to an Option may be amended by the
Committee at any time and from time to time without the consent of the Shareholders.
(b) Vesting. The Committee shall specify the period before and during which an Option
vests in the Holder and may, at any time after the grant of an Option, accelerate the vesting
period on such terms and conditions as may determine. No portion of an Option which is
unexercisable on the Termination of Service of the Holder shall thereafter become exercisable,
except as may be otherwise provided by the Committee, either in the Award Agreement or otherwise.
(c) Time and Conditions of Exercise. The Committee shall specify the time or times at
which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part. The Committee shall also specify any
conditions that must be satisfied before all or part of an Option may be exercised.
(d) Partial Exercise. An exercisable Option may be exercised in whole or in part;
provided that an Option shall not be exercisable with respect to fractional shares and the
Committee may require that a partial exercise must be with respect to a minimum number of Shares.
(e) Manner of Exercise. All or a portion of an exercisable Option shall be deemed
exercised upon delivery of all of the following to the Secretary of the Company, or such other
person or entity designated by the Committee, or his, her or its office, as applicable:
(i) a written or electronic notice complying with the applicable rules established by the
Committee stating that the Option, or such portion thereof, is exercised. The notice shall be
signed by the Holder or other person then entitled to exercise the Option or such portion thereof;
(ii) such representations and documents as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to
effect compliance with all Applicable Laws. The Committee may also take whatever additional action
it deems necessary or advisable to effect such compliance including, without limitation, placing
legends on Share certificates and issuing stop-transfer notices to agents and registrars;
(iii) if the Option is exercised pursuant to Section 9.3 by any person or persons other than
the Holder, such proof of the right of such person or persons to exercise the Option as the
Committee may require; and
(iv) full payment of the exercise price and any withholding taxes applicable to the exercise
of the Option, or such portion thereof, in a manner permitted by Section 7.1 and 7.2.
(f) Term. The term of any Option granted under the Plan shall not exceed ten (10)
years. Except as limited by the requirements of Section 409A or Section 422 of the Code and the
regulations and rulings thereunder, the Committee may extend the term of outstanding Options and,
in connection with a Termination of Service of the Holder, may extend the time period during which
vested Options may be exercised and may amend any other term or condition of such Options.
(g) Evidence of Grant. All Options shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement between
the Company and the Holder. The Award Agreement shall include such additional provisions as may be
specified by the Committee.
5.2 Incentive Options. Incentive Options may be granted to Employees of the Company
or any Subsidiary which qualifies as a subsidiary corporation under Section 424(e) and (f) of the
Code respectively. Incentive Options may not be granted to Employees of a Related Entity or to
Directors or Consultants. In addition to the requirements of Section 5.1, the terms of any
Incentive Options must comply with the following additional provisions of this Section 5.2:
(a) Expiration of Option. An Incentive Option may not be exercised to any extent by
anyone after the first to occur of the following events:
(i) ten (10) years from the date it is granted, unless an earlier time is set in the Award
Agreement;
(ii) three (3) months after the Termination of Service of the Holder as an Employee (save in
the case of Disability or death); and
(iii) one (1) year after the date of the Termination of Service of the Holder on account of
Disability or death. Upon the Holders Disability or death, any Incentive Options exercisable at
the Holders Disability or death may be exercised by the Holders legal representative or
representatives, by the person or persons entitled to do so pursuant to the Holders last will and
testament or, if the Holder fails to make testamentary disposition of such Incentive Option or dies
intestate, by the person or persons entitled to receive the Incentive Option pursuant to the
applicable laws of descent and distribution as determined under Applicable Law.
(b) Individual Dollar Limitation. The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of
the time the Option is granted) of all Shares with respect to which Incentive Options are first
exercisable by a Holder in any calendar year may not exceed U.S.$100,000 or such other limitation
as may be imposed under Section 422(d) of the Code, or any successor provision. To the extent that
Incentive Options are first exercisable by a Holder in excess of such limitation, the excess shall
be considered Non-Qualified Options.
(c) Ten Percent Owners. An Incentive Option may not be granted to any individual who,
at the date of grant, owns Shares possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined
voting power of all classes of shares of the Company unless such Incentive Option is granted at a
price that is not less than one hundred and ten percent (110%) of Fair Market Value on the date of
grant and the Incentive Option is exercisable for no more than five years from the date of grant.
(d) Transfer Restriction. The Holder shall give the Company prompt notice of any
disposition of Shares acquired by exercise of an Incentive Option within:
(i) two (2) years from the date of grant of such Incentive Option, or
(ii) one (1) year after the transfer of such Shares to the Holder.
(e) Expiration of Incentive Options. No Award of an Incentive Option may be made
after the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Effective Date.
(f) Right to Exercise. During a Holders lifetime, an Incentive Option may be
exercised only by the Holder.
ARTICLE 6.
AWARD OF RESTRICTED SHARES
6.1 Award of Restricted Share.
(a) The Committee may grant Restricted Share to Eligible Individuals, and shall determine the
amount and the terms and conditions of, including without limitation the restrictions applicable
to, each award of Restricted Shares, which terms and conditions shall not be inconsistent with the
Plan, and may impose such conditions on the issuance of such Restricted Share as it deems
appropriate.
(b) The Committee shall specify the purchase price, if any, and form of payment for Restricted
Shares; provided that such purchase price shall be no less than the par value, if any, of
the Shares to be purchased, unless otherwise permitted by Applicable Laws. In all cases, legal
consideration shall be required for each issuance of Restricted Shares.
6.2 Rights as Shareholders. Subject to Section 6.4, upon issuance of Restricted
Shares, the Holder shall have, unless otherwise provided by the Committee, all the rights of a
Shareholder with respect to such Restricted Shares, subject to the restrictions in his or her Award
Agreement, including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions paid or made with
respect to Shares; provided that any extraordinary distributions with respect to such
Restricted Shares shall be subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 6.3.
6.3 Restrictions. All Restricted Shares (including any shares received by Holders
thereof with respect to Restricted Shares as a result of share dividends, share splits or any other
form of recapitalization) shall, in the terms of each individual Award Agreement, be subject to
such restrictions and vesting requirements as the Committee shall provide. Such restrictions may
include, without limitation, restrictions concerning voting rights and transferability and such
restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times and pursuant to such
circumstances or based on such criteria as selected by the Committee, including, without
limitation, criteria based on the Holders duration of employment, directorship or consultancy with
the Service Recipient, or other criteria selected by the Committee. By action taken after the
Restricted Shares are issued, the Committee may, on such terms and conditions as it may determine
to be appropriate, accelerate the vesting of such Restricted Shares by removing any or all of the
restrictions imposed by the terms of the Award Agreement. Restricted Shares may not be sold or
encumbered until all restrictions are terminated or expire.
6.4 Repurchase or Forfeiture of Restricted Shares. If no price was paid by the Holder
for the Restricted Shares, upon the Termination of Service of the Holder, the Holders rights in
unvested Restricted Shares then subject to restrictions shall lapse and such Restricted Shares
shall be surrendered to the Company and cancelled without consideration. If a purchase price was
paid by the Holder for the Restricted Shares, upon the Termination of Service of the Holder, the
Company shall have the right to repurchase from the Holder the unvested Restricted Shares then
subject to restrictions at a cash price per share equal to the price paid by the Holder for such
Restricted Shares or such other amount as may be specified in the Award Agreement The Committee in
its sole discretion may provide that, in the event of certain events, the Holders
rights in unvested Restricted Shares shall not lapse, such Restricted Shares shall vest and
shall be non-forfeitable and, if applicable, the Company shall not have a right of repurchase.
6.5 Certificates for Restricted Share. Restricted Shares granted pursuant to the Plan
may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee may determine. Certificates or book entries
evidencing Restricted Shares must include an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions
and restrictions applicable to the Restricted Shares and the Company may, in its sole discretion,
retain physical possession of any share certificate evidencing Restricted Shares until such time as
all applicable restrictions lapse.
ARTICLE 7.
ADDITIONAL TERMS OF AWARDS
7.1 Payment. The Committee shall determine the 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 period of time as may be
required by the Committee in order to avoid adverse accounting consequences under Applicable
Accounting Standards, in each case, having a Fair Market Value on the date of delivery equal to the
aggregate payments required;
(c) delivery of a notice that the Holder has placed a market sell order with a broker 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; or
(d) other form of legal consideration acceptable to the Committee.
The Committee shall also determine the methods by which Shares shall be delivered or deemed to be
delivered to Holders. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, no Holder
shall be permitted to make payment with respect to any Awards granted under the Plan to the extent
prohibited by Applicable Law.
7.2 Withholding Tax. No Shares shall be delivered under the Plan to any Holder until
such Holder has made arrangements acceptable to the Committee for the satisfaction of any income,
employment, social welfare or other tax withholding obligations under Applicable Laws. Each
Service Recipient shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Holder
to remit to the applicable Service Recipient, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, local
and foreign taxes (including the Holders employment, social welfare or other tax obligations)
required by Applicable Laws to be withheld with respect to any taxable event concerning a Holder
arising as a result of the Plan. The Committee may, in its sole discretion and in satisfaction of
the foregoing requirement, allow a Holder to elect to have the Company
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 equal to the aggregate
amount of such liabilities based on the minimum statutory withholding rates for tax purposes that
are applicable to such taxable income. The Committee shall determine the Fair Market Value of the
Shares, consistent with Applicable Laws, for tax withholding obligations due in connection with a
broker-assisted cashless Option exercise involving the sale of shares to pay the Option exercise
price or any tax withholding obligation.
7.3 Transferability of Awards.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.3(b):
(i) no Award under the Plan may be sold, pledged, assigned or transferred in any manner other
than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or, subject to the consent of the Committee,
as required under applicable domestic relations laws, 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 the debts, contracts or
engagements of the Holder or his 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),
and any attempted disposition thereof shall be null and void and of no effect, except to the extent
that such disposition is permitted by the preceding sentence; and
(iii) during the lifetime of the Holder, only the Holder may exercise an Award (or any portion
thereof) granted to him under the Plan, unless it has been disposed of pursuant to applicable
domestic relations law; 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 Award
Agreement, be exercised by his personal representative or by any person or persons empowered to do
so under the deceased Holders will or under the then Applicable Laws of descent and distribution.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 7.3(a), the Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine to
permit a Holder to transfer an Award other than an Incentive Option to certain persons or entities
related to the Holder, including but not limited to members of the Holders family, charitable
institutions, or trusts or other entities whose beneficiaries or beneficial owners are members of
the Holders family and/or charitable institutions, or to such other persons or entities as may be
expressly approved by the Committee, pursuant to such conditions and procedures as the Committee
may establish, including the following:
(i) an Award transferred shall not be assignable or transferable other than by will or the
laws of descent and distribution;
(ii) an Award transferred 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);
and
(iii) the Holder and the permitted transferee shall execute any and all documents requested by
the Committee, including without limitation documents to confirm the status of the transferee as a
permitted transferee, satisfy any requirements for an exemption for the transfer under Applicable
Laws and evidence the transfer.
(c) Notwithstanding Section 7.3(a), a Holder may, in the manner determined by the Committee,
designate a beneficiary to exercise the rights of the Holder and to receive any distribution with
respect to any Award upon the Holders 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 Award Agreement applicable to the Holder, except to the extent the Plan and Award
Agreement otherwise provide, and to any additional restrictions deemed necessary or appropriate by
the Committee. If the Holder is married and resides in a community property jurisdiction, a
designation of a person other than the Holders spouse as his or her beneficiary with respect to
more than 50% of the Holders interest in the Award shall not be effective without the prior
written or electronic consent of the Holders spouse. If no beneficiary has been designated or
survives the Holder, payment shall be made to the person entitled thereto pursuant to the Holders
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 the change or revocation is filed with
the Committee prior to the Holders death.
7.4 Conditions to Issuance of Shares.
(a) 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 Committee has determined, with advice of counsel, that
the issuance of such Shares is in compliance with all Applicable Laws, 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 Committee may require that a Holder make such
reasonable covenants, agreements, and representations as the Committee, in its discretion, deems
advisable in order to comply with any such laws, regulations, or requirements.
(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 the
Committee deems necessary or advisable to comply with all Applicable Laws, rules and regulations.
The Committee may place legends on any Shares certificate or book entry to reference restrictions
applicable to the Shares.
(c) The Committee 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.
(d) No fractional Shares shall be issued and the Committee shall determine, in its sole
discretion, whether cash shall be given in lieu of fractional shares or whether such fractional
shares shall be eliminated by rounding down.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, unless otherwise determined by the
Committee or required by any Applicable Law, rule or regulation, 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
share plan administrator).
7.5 Applicable Currency. The Committee shall designate in the Award Agreement the
currency applicable to an Award, which may be in U.S. dollars, Canadian dollars, Chinese Renminbi
or such other currency as the Committee shall determine required under Applicable Law. A Holder
may be required to provide evidence that any currency used to pay the exercise price of any Award
was acquired and taken out of the jurisdiction in which the Holder resides in accordance with
Applicable Laws, including foreign exchange control laws and regulations. If the exercise price
for an Award is paid in a foreign currency, other than that designated in the Award Agreement, as
permitted by the Committee, the amount payable will be determined by conversion at the exchange
rate as selected by the Committee on the date of exercise.
ARTICLE 8.
ADMINISTRATION
8.1 Committee. A committee of the Board (the Committee) shall administer
the Plan (except as otherwise permitted herein). The Committee shall comprise two or more
Non-Employee Directors appointed by and holding office at the pleasure of the Board, each of whom
shall comply with Applicable Laws. 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
(b) the Board or the Committee may delegate its authority hereunder to the extent permitted by
Section 8.6.
8.2 Duties and Powers of Committee. The Committee shall be responsible for the
general administration of the Plan in accordance with its provisions. The Committee shall have the
power to interpret the Plan and the Award Agreements and to adopt such rules for the
administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are not inconsistent therewith, to
interpret, amend or revoke any such rules and to amend any Award Agreement provided that the rights
or obligations of the Holder of the Award that is the subject of any such Award Agreement are not
affected adversely by such amendment, unless the consent of the Holder is obtained or such
amendment is otherwise permitted under Section 9.10. Any such grant or award under the
Plan need not be the same with respect to each Holder. Any such interpretations and rules
with respect to Incentive Options shall be consistent with the provisions of Section 422 of the
Code. 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 under the Plan except with respect to matters which under
Applicable Law are required to be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee.
8.3 Action by the Committee. Each member of the Committee 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 a Service Recipient, the Companys independent certified public accountants or
any executive compensation consultant or other professional retained by the Company to assist in
the administration of the Plan.
8.4 Authority of Committee. Subject to any specific designation in the Plan, the
Committee 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;
(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, or purchase price, 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 recapture of gain on an Award, based in
each case on such considerations as the Committee in its sole discretion determines;
(e) determine whether, to what extent, and pursuant to 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 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 or any Award
Agreement; and
(j) make all other decisions and determinations that may be required pursuant to the Plan or
as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to administer the Plan.
8.5 Decisions Binding. The Committees interpretation of the Plan, any Award granted
pursuant to the Plan and any Award Agreement and all decisions and determinations by the Committee
with respect to the Plan are final, binding, and conclusive on all parties.
8.6 Delegation of Authority. To the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, the Board or
the 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 carry out the day-to-day administration of the
Plan subject at all times to the control and direction of the Board or the Committee; provided
that, in no event, shall any delegatee be delegated the authority to grant or amend Awards.
Any delegation hereunder shall be subject to such restrictions and limits as the Board or the
Committee specifies at the time of such delegation, and the Board or the Committee may at any time
rescind the authority so delegated or appoint a new delegatee. At all times, the delegatee shall
serve at the pleasure of the Board or the Committee.
ARTICLE 9.
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
9.1 Effective Date. The Plan was originally effective on March 15, 2006 (the
Effective Date). This amendment and restatement of the Plan will be effective on the
date it is approved by the Shareholders (the Restatement Effective Date). The amendment
and restatement of the Plan will be deemed to be approved by the Shareholders if it receives the
affirmative vote of a majority (in excess of 50%) of the votes of the Shares entitled to vote and
present or represented at a meeting duly held in accordance with Applicable Laws.
9.2 Expiration Date. The Plan will expire on, and no Award may be granted pursuant to
the Plan after, the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Restatement Effective Date. Any
Awards that are outstanding on the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Restatement Effective
Date shall remain in force according to the terms of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.
9.3 Amendment or Termination of the Plan. Except as otherwise provided in this
Section 9.3, at any time and from time to time, the Committee may terminate, amend or modify the
Plan; provided that:
(a) to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with Applicable Laws, the Company shall
obtain Shareholder approval of any Plan amendment in such a manner and to such a degree as
required, and
(b) Shareholder approval is required for any amendment to the Plan that:
(i) increases the number of Shares available under the Plan (other than any adjustment as
provided by Article 10),
(ii) permits the Committee to extend the exercise period for an Option beyond ten (10) years
from the date of grant, or
(iii) results in a material increase in benefits or a change in eligibility requirements.
Except as provided in the Plan or any Award Agreement, no amendment, suspension or termination of
the Plan shall, without the consent of the Holder, impair any rights or obligations under any Award
theretofore granted or awarded.
9.4 No Shareholders Rights. Except as otherwise provided herein, a Holder shall have
none of the rights of a Shareholder with respect to Shares covered by any Award until the Holder
becomes the record owner of such Shares.
9.5 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.
9.6 Effect of Plan upon Other Compensation Plans. The adoption of the Plan shall not
affect any other compensation or incentive plans in effect for a Service Recipient. Nothing in the
Plan shall be construed to limit the right of a Service Recipient:
(a) to establish any other forms of incentives or compensation for Eligible Individuals, 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, securities or assets of any corporation, partnership, limited liability
company, firm or association.
9.7 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 under the Plan are subject to compliance with all Applicable Laws 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 applicable legal requirements. 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 laws, rules and regulations.
9.8 Titles and Headings, References to Sections of the Code or Exchange Act. 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 shall include any amendment or successor
thereto.
9.9 Governing Law. The Plan and any agreements hereunder shall be administered,
interpreted and enforced under the internal laws of Canada, without regard to conflicts
of laws thereof.
9.10 Section 409A. To the extent that the Committee determines that any Award granted
under the Plan is subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Award Agreement evidencing such Award
shall incorporate the terms and conditions required by Section 409A of the Code. To the extent
applicable, the Plan and Award Agreements shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A of
the Code and 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. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event that
following the Effective Date the Committee determines that any Award may be subject to Section 409A
of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance (including such Department of Treasury
guidance as may be issued after the Effective Date), the Committee may adopt such amendments to the
Plan and the applicable Award Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including
amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the
Committee determines are necessary or appropriate to:
(a) exempt the Award from Section 409A of the Code 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 of the Code and related Department of
Treasury guidance and thereby avoid the application of any penalty taxes under such Section.
9.11 No Rights to Awards. No Eligible Individual or other person shall have any claim
to be granted any Award pursuant to the Plan, and neither the Company nor the Committee is
obligated to treat Eligible Individuals, Holders or any other persons uniformly.
9.12 No Right to Employment or Services. Nothing in the Plan or any Award Agreement
shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Service Recipient to terminate any
Holders employment or services at any time, nor confer upon any Holder any right to continue in
the employ or service of any Service Recipient.
9.13 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 Award Agreement shall give the Holder any rights that
are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company, any Subsidiary or any Related Entity.
9.14 Indemnification. To the extent allowable pursuant to Applicable Laws, each
member of the Committee or of the Board shall be indemnified and held 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 that 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 Companys Articles, as a matter of law, or
otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.
9.15 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 any Service Recipient except to the extent
otherwise expressly provided in writing in such other plan or an agreement thereunder.
9.16 Expenses. The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Service
Recipients.
ARTICLE 10.
CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE
10.1 Adjustments. In the event of any distribution, share split, combination or
exchange of Shares, amalgamation, arrangement or consolidation, reorganization of the Company,
including the Company becoming a subsidiary in a transaction not involving a Corporate Transaction,
spin-off, recapitalization or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Company
assets to Shareholders, or any other change affecting the Shares or the share price of a Share, the
Committee shall make such proportionate and equitable adjustments, if any, to reflect such change
with respect to:
(a) the aggregate number and type of shares that may be issued under the Plan (including, but
not limited to, adjustments of the limitations in Section 3.1 and substitutions of shares in a
parent or surviving company);
(b) the terms and conditions of any outstanding Awards (including, without limitation, any
applicable performance targets or criteria with respect thereto); and
(c) the grant or exercise price per share for any outstanding Awards under the Plan. The form
and manner of any such adjustments shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.
10.2 Corporate Transactions. Except as may otherwise be provided in any Award
Agreement or any other written agreement entered into by and between the Company and a Holder, if a
Corporate Transaction occurs and a Holders Awards are not converted, assumed, or replaced by a
successor as provided in Section 10.3, such Awards shall become fully exercisable and all
forfeiture restrictions on such Awards shall lapse. Upon, or in anticipation of, a Corporate
Transaction, the Committee may in its sole discretion provide for:
(a) any and all Awards outstanding hereunder to terminate at a specific time in the future and
shall give each Holder the right to exercise such Awards during a period of time as the Committee
shall determine,
(b) either the purchase of any Award for an amount of cash equal to the amount that could have
been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the
Holders rights had such Award
been currently exercisable or payable or fully vested (and, for the avoidance of doubt, if as of
such date the Committee determines in good faith that no amount would have been attained upon the
exercise of such Award or realization of the Holders rights, then such Award may be terminated by
the Company without payment), or
(c) the replacement of such Award with other rights or property selected by the Committee in
its sole discretion or the assumption of or substitution of such Award by the successor or
surviving corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the
number and kind of Shares and prices.
10.3 Assumption of Awards Corporate Transactions. In the event of a Corporate
Transaction, each Award may be assumed by the successor entity in connection with the Corporate
Transaction. Except as provided otherwise in an Award Agreement, an Award will be considered
assumed if the Award either is:
(a) assumed by the successor entity or replaced with a comparable Award (as determined by the
Committee) with respect to capital shares (or equivalent) of the successor entity or Parent
thereof; or
(b) replaced with a cash incentive program of the successor entity which preserves the
compensation element of such Award existing at the time of the Corporate Transaction and provides
for subsequent payout in accordance with the same vesting schedule applicable to such Award.
If an Award is assumed in a Corporate Transaction, then such Award, the replacement Award or the
cash incentive program automatically shall become fully vested, exercisable and payable and be
released from any restrictions on transfer (other than transfer restrictions applicable to Options)
and repurchase or forfeiture rights, immediately upon termination of the Holders employment or
service with all Service Recipients within twelve (12) months of the Corporate Transaction without
cause.
10.4 Outstanding Awards Other Changes. In the event of any other change in the
capitalization of the Company or corporate change other than those specifically referred to in this
Article 12, the Committee may, in its absolute discretion, make such adjustments in the number and
class of shares subject to Awards outstanding on the date on which such change occurs and in the
per share grant or exercise price of each Award as the Committee may consider appropriate to
prevent dilution or enlargement of rights.
10.5 No Other Rights. Except as expressly provided in the Plan, no Holder shall have
any rights by reason of any subdivision or consolidation of shares of any class, the payment of any
dividend, any increase or decrease in the number of shares of any class or any dissolution,
liquidation, merger, or consolidation of the Company or any other corporation. Except as
expressly provided in the Plan or pursuant to action of the Committee under the Plan, no issuance
by the Company of shares of any class, or securities convertible into shares of any class, shall
affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of shares
subject to an Award or the grant or exercise price of any Award.
* * * * *
The foregoing Amended and Restated Plan was approved by the Board on August 10, 2010.
* * * * *
The foregoing Amended and Restated Plan was approved by the Shareholders on ____________ __, 2010.
* * * * *
Executed on ____________ __, 2010.
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President and Chief Executive Officer
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SCHEDULE 2
Resolution Approving the Amended and Restated Share Incentive Plan of Canadian Solar Inc.
RESOLVED THAT:
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The amended and restated share incentive plan of the Corporation attached as Schedule 1 to
the management information circular of the Corporation dated August 30, 2010 is approved. |
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Any director or officer of the Corporation is hereby authorized and directed to execute and
delivery all documents and instruments and to do all other acts and things as may be necessary
or desirable to give effect to this resolution. |