JANUS HENDERSON GROUP PLC DEFERRED INCENTIVE AWARD US – DIP SHARE UNIT (RSU) AWARD AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.26
XXXXX XXXXXXXXX GROUP PLC DEFERRED INCENTIVE AWARD
US – DIP SHARE UNIT (RSU) AWARD AGREEMENT
The Company grants to <GRANTEE> (the “Grantee”), effective as of <DATE>, (the “Grant Date”), a deferred incentive award in the form of Share Units (the “DIP Share Unit Award”) as described below, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this DIP Award Agreement, the Company’s 2022 Deferred Incentive Plan, as may be amended or amended and restated from time to time (the “Company Plan”), the Executive Income Deferral Program (if applicable to the Grantee), the attached Appendices (if any), and any applicable laws (including any applicable securities laws), government regulations, stock exchange listing requirements or Company policies in effect from time to time applicable to the DIP Share Unit Award and the underlying Shares, including those regarding the deferral of the DIP Share Unit Award, the Personal Code of Ethics, the Share Trading Policy and the Market Conduct Policy. The Grantee must accept the DIP Share Unit Award, including all of the applicable terms and conditions, by <DATE> or such later date determined by the Committee, or it will lapse. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this DIP Award Agreement have the meaning specified in the Company Plan and/or in the attached Appendices (if any). The Company Plan and the method of accepting the DIP Share Unit Award may be accessed at the site on which the Grantee accesses information related to the Grantee’s participation in the Company Plan.
1. | Grant of Share Unit Award. |
Subject to the provisions of this DIP Award Agreement and the Company Plan, the Company hereby grants to the Grantee the number of Share Units identified in the table below (granted pursuant to Article 8 of the Company Plan), representing the same number of Shares.
Share Unit Award | |
Number of Share Units Granted: | <Quantity Granted> |
2. | Vesting. |
Except as otherwise provided herein, the DIP Share Unit Award will become vested on the vesting dates (each date, a “Vesting Date”) and in the amounts indicated below, provided that the Grantee has not experienced a Termination of Affiliation prior to the applicable Vesting Date.
Vesting Date | Percentage Vesting |
[__] | 33% |
[__] | 33% |
[__] | 34% |
3. | Termination of Affiliation. |
a. | Except as otherwise provided herein, in the event that the Grantee has a Termination of Affiliation, any unvested portion of the DIP Share Unit Award and the Grantee’s rights hereunder shall be terminated, cancelled and forfeited effective immediately upon such Termination of Affiliation. |
b. | Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 2 and 3(a) above, if the Grantee has a Termination of Affiliation due to death or Disability, then the DIP Share Unit |
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c. | Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 2 and 3(a) above, if the Grantee experiences a Termination of Affiliation due to a termination by the Company or a Subsidiary (as appropriate) without Cause, then any unvested portion of the Grantee’s DIP Share Unit Award shall remain outstanding and shall continue to vest in accordance with its terms and shall be settled in accordance with the schedule set forth in Section 2 above, notwithstanding the Grantee’s Termination of Affiliation. |
d. | Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 2 and 3(a) above, if the Grantee experiences a Termination of Affiliation due to Retirement (as defined in Appendix A), the DIP Share Unit Award shall continue to vest in accordance with, and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in, Appendix A. |
4. | Issuance of Shares. |
Subject to Section 7(b) of this DIP Award Agreement (pertaining to Section 409A of the Code) and Article 14.1 of the Company Plan (pertaining to the withholding of taxes) and the distribution provisions of Article VI of the Executive Income Deferral Program (if applicable to the Grantee), as soon as practicable after the date any Share Units become vested, but in no case later than 60 days following the date on which such Share Units become vested, the Company shall issue to the Grantee one or more share certificates or otherwise transfer Shares with respect to the Share Units vesting (or shall take other appropriate steps to reflect the Grantee’s ownership of all or a portion of the vested Share Units that are subject to this DIP Award Agreement).
5. | Rights as a Shareholder. |
The Grantee shall have no rights as a shareholder unless and until the Grantee has become the holder of record of Shares following payment in Common Stock upon the vesting of Share Units; provided, that, the Grantee shall be eligible to receive an amount in cash equal to any distributions or dividends, or equivalent or related payments (“Dividends”) (to the extent that such Dividends have a record date that is on or after the date the Share Units have been credited to the Grantee) that would have been paid to the Grantee with respect to any then-unvested Share Units if the Grantee had been the holder of record of Shares subject to such unvested Share Units as of the record date of such Dividends, which amount shall be paid on the date on which such Dividends are paid to holders of Shares. No interest or other earnings will be credited to the Grantee with respect to such Dividends.
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6. | Unfair Interference. |
b. | In this Section 6: |
c. | The Grantee acknowledges that: |
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7. | Miscellaneous. |
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impose in its sole discretion. The Grantee will comply with any such restrictions, including that the Grantee will not offer, sell, advertise or otherwise market the Shares (or cause any of these to occur) in circumstances which constitute any type of public offering of securities, unless an exemption applies. |
d. | Binding Effect. Except as otherwise provided hereunder, this DIP Award Agreement shall be binding upon the heirs, executors or successors of the parties to this DIP Award Agreement, including all rights and obligations. |
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f. | Adequate Information. By accepting the DIP Share Unit Award, the Grantee acknowledges that they have been given all relevant information and materials required with respect to the terms and conditions of the DIP Share Unit Award. |
g. | No Advice. The information and materials provided in connection with the DIP Share Unit Award does not take into account the Grantee’s objectives, financial situation or needs. If the Grantee does not understand the terms and conditions of the DIP Share Unit Award, or is in any doubt, the Grantee should consult an independent authorized financial adviser. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary, nor any entity or person acting on their behalf has provided the Grantee with any legal, investment, tax or financial advice with respect to the Grantee’s participation in the Company Plan, the DIP Share Unit Award or any Shares received upon the settlement of the DIP Share Unit Award. |
h. | Language. The documents relating to the DIP Share Unit Award are in the English language only. By accepting the DIP Share Unit Award, the Grantee acknowledges that they fully understand the contents of the English language versions of these documents and that they do not need a translation. |
i. | Employment. The grant of the DIP Share Unit Award does not form part of and does not affect or change the Grantee’s employment relationship with the Grantee’s employer. The Grantee is not automatically entitled to the exercise of any discretion under the DIP Share Unit Award in their favor and the Grantee does not have any claim or right of action in respect of any decision, omission, or discretion which may operate to their disadvantage. The Grantee also waives all rights which might arise in connection with the DIP Share Unit Award, other than the right to acquire Shares (subject to and in accordance with the terms of the DIP Award Agreement), in consideration for and as a condition of the DIP Share Unit Award. The Grantee does not have any right to compensation or damages for any loss (actual or potential) in relation to the DIP Share Unit Award. |
j. | Mobile Employees. If the Grantee is a mobile employee, meaning that they are based in different tax jurisdictions during the course of their employment or that they are or may be subject to tax in more than one country, state or territory, the Grantee is strongly encouraged to inform the Company and to speak with their own personal tax adviser regarding the tax treatment of their participation in the DIP Share Unit Award. |
k. | Exchange Controls & Reporting Requirements. The Grantee is solely responsible for complying with any exchange control regulations or foreign |
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asset reporting requirements which apply to them with respect to their DIP Share Unit Award and neither the Company nor the Grantee’s employer will be responsible for obtaining exchange control approval or making such reports on the Grantee’s behalf. If the Grantee fails to obtain any required exchange control approval or make such reports, neither the Company nor the employer will be liable in any way for any resulting fines or penalties. The Grantee should seek independent professional advice if they are unsure about their obligations as a result of their participation in the DIP Share Unit Award. |
l. | Currency Risk. If the DIP Share Unit Award is related to any Shares and those Shares are traded in a currency which is not the currency in the Grantee’s jurisdiction, the value of the Shares may also be affected by movements in the exchange rate. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary, nor any entity or person acting on their behalf is liable for any depreciation (or other impact) on any Shares due to movements in the exchange rate or any charges imposed in relation to the conversion or transfer of money. |
m. | No Guarantee. Neither the Company nor any employer guarantees a specified level of return on the DIP Share Unit Award or, if applicable, any Shares. There is a risk that any Shares subject to the DIP Share Unit Award may fall as well as rise in value. Market forces will impact the price of any such Shares and, in the worst case, the market value of the Shares may become zero. More information in relation to the Company, including the share price performance, can be found at xxx.xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx. |
n. | Electronic Communications. By accepting the DIP Share Unit Award, the Grantee consents to receiving all communications in relation to the DIP Share Unit Award electronically, including by email, and also consents to contracting electronically with the Company and/or other relevant parties in relation to the DIP Share Unit Award. |
o. | Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this DIP Award Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this DIP Award Agreement. |
q. | Amendment. Except as otherwise provided for in this DIP Award Agreement, this DIP Award Agreement may not be modified, amended or waived except by an instrument in writing approved by both parties hereto or approved by the |
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Committee; provided that the consent of the Grantee shall not be required for any amendment which (i) does not adversely affect the rights of the Grantee, or (ii) is necessary or advisable (as determined by the Committee) to carry out the purpose of the DIP Share Unit Award as a result of any new or change in existing applicable law. The waiver by either party of compliance with any provision of this DIP Award Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other provision of this DIP Award Agreement, or of any subsequent breach by such party of a provision of this DIP Award Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Company Plan or in this DIP Award Agreement, to the extent that the Company determines that the Share Units are subject to Section 409A of the Code and fail to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, the Company reserves the right to amend, restructure, terminate or replace the Share Units in order to cause the Share Units to either not be subject to Section 409A of the Code or to comply with the applicable provisions of such section. |
r. | Headings. The headings of sections herein are included solely for convenience of reference and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the provisions of this DIP Award Agreement. |
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APPENDIX A
ADDITIONAL TERMS OF DIP SHARE UNIT AWARD APPLICABLE UPON RETIREMENT
1. | Retirement Criteria. |
“Termination of Affiliation due to Retirement” shall mean a Grantee’s Termination of Affiliation that meets the criteria set forth in clauses (a) and (b) below (collectively, the “Retirement Criteria”):
b. | either: |
i. | the Grantee has (A) both attained age fifty-five (55) and completed at least ten (10) years of service with the Company or a Subsidiary or (B) attained age sixty (60); or |
ii. | the Management Committee determines in good faith that the Grantee has satisfactorily fulfilled qualitative criteria, determined in the discretion of the Management Committee, with respect to (A) the needs of the business of the Company and/or succession planning, (B) significant contributions to the Company (which may include, among other things, length of service to the Company), and (C) achievement of appropriate work transition. |
2. | Additional Retirement Vesting Conditions. |
The vesting in connection with a Termination of Affiliation due to Retirement as described in Section 3 below shall also be subject to the Grantee (a) executing a legal release of the Grantee’s claims against the Company, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company, within 21 days (except when associated with a group layoff of more than one person, in which case it is 45 days) following the effective date of the Termination of Affiliation (and not revoking the release within the time period for revocation set forth in the release) and (b) certifying to the Company the Grantee's continued permanent withdrawal from the workforce within 30 days prior to the applicable Vesting Date, unless otherwise determined by the Management Committee (the “Additional Retirement Vesting Conditions”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, any determinations to be made by the Management Committee pursuant to this Appendix A shall instead be made by the Committee if the Grantee is a member of the Company’s Executive Committee.
3. | Retirement Vesting Schedule. |
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the DIP Award Agreement, if the Grantee has experienced a Termination of Affiliation due to Retirement and satisfies the Additional Retirement Vesting Conditions, then any unvested portion of the Grantee’s DIP Share Unit Award shall remain outstanding and shall continue to vest in accordance with its terms and
Appendix A - 9
shall be settled in accordance with the schedule set forth in Section 2, notwithstanding the Grantee’s Termination of Affiliation.
Appendix A - 10
FORFEITURE (MALUS) AND CLAW-BACK
The DIP Share Unit Award shall be subject to the forfeiture and claw-back provisions set forth in this Appendix. Notwithstanding any provision of the Company Plan or the DIP Award Agreement (including this Appendix or any other Appendix thereto, if any) to the contrary, the DIP Share Unit Award shall be subject to such additional forfeiture, claw-back, deduction or recovery provisions as may be required pursuant to any applicable laws (including US securities laws), government regulations, stock exchange listing requirements or Company policies in effect from time to time (including additional laws, regulations and requirements implemented following the date hereof).
1. | Forfeiture (Malus) |
Appendix B - 1
2. | Claw-Back Of Award |
Appendix B - 2
(A) | the date of grant of the DIP Share Unit Award; |
(B) | the total number of Shares subject to the DIP Share Unit Award which were delivered on the applicable issuance date; |
(D) | the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Claw-Back Shares, as at the date the Claw-Back Shares were issued or transferred in satisfaction of the DIP Share Unit Award (“Claw-Back Amount”); |
(B) | withholding any cash amount otherwise due to the Grantee under any bonus scheme, notional share or notional fund scheme or other cash based incentive scheme of the Company or any member of the Group (on a pre- or post-tax basis, as determined by the Board); or |
(C) | a deduction from any other sum owed to the Grantee (which may include unpaid salary and/or pension contributions) on a pre- or post-tax basis, as determined by the Board, up to the Claw-Back Amount; and |
Appendix B - 3
Appendix B - 4