UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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The | ||||
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
Item 5.02 | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
Approval of the 2024 Stock Incentive Plan and Forms of RSU and Option Awards
On June 13, 2024, the stockholders of XBP Europe Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) approved and adopted the Company’s 2024 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2024 Equity Plan”) at the Company’s 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”). Previously, on February 12, 2024, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Company approved the 2024 Equity Plan, subject to stockholder approval. Additional information regarding the results of the Annual Meeting is set forth below under Item 5.07.
Under the 2024 Equity Plan, subject to adjustment for certain changes in capitalization or other corporate events, the Company is authorized to issue up to 5,520,270 shares of common stock pursuant to equity-based awards, which may be granted to eligible participants in furtherance of the Company’s broader compensation strategy and philosophy. Awards granted under the 2024 Equity Plan will be granted upon terms approved by the Company’s Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) and set forth in an award agreement or other evidence of an award. The 2024 Equity Plan is described in greater detail in the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on April 29, 2024 (the “Proxy Statement”), under the caption “Approval of the XBP Europe Holdings, Inc. 2024 Stock Incentive Plan,” which disclosure is incorporated herein by reference.
On June 14, 2024, the Committee approved a Form of Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice and Agreement (the “RSU Award Agreement”) and Form of Option Grant Notice and Agreement (the “Option Award Agreement”) to be used in connection with the grant of awards under the 2024 Equity Plan.
In addition, on June 14, 2024, the Board approved non-material amendments to the 2024 Equity Plan to clarify that certain awards made after the Board adoption date but prior to the approval by stockholders to non-Section 16 employees would have a grant date under the plan as of the date of the award and to provide an exception to the minimum vesting period for equity awards made prior to stockholder approval date. None of the amendments to the 2024 Equity Plan affect any awards made to directors or executive officers under the 2024 Equity Plan.
The descriptions of the 2024 Equity Plan, as amended, contained in the Proxy Statement and this report are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the 2024 Equity Plan. Copies of the 2024 Equity Plan, as amended, and the RSU Award Agreement and Option Award Agreement are attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1, Exhibit 10.2 and Exhibit 10.3, respectively, and are incorporated by reference herein.
Approval of Executive Officer Compensation and Executive Officer Annual Bonus Plan
On June 14, 2024, the Board, upon the recommendation of the Committee, ratified and approved the following compensation for the Company’s executive officers for 2024:
Compensation | ||||||||||||||
Executive Officer |
| Title |
| Base Salary |
| Annual |
| Long-Term |
| Total Direct | ||||
Par Chadha | Executive Chairman | — | — | $ | 1,388,636 | $ | 1,388,636 | |||||||
Andrej Jonovic | Chief Executive Officer | $ | 552,000 | $ | 552,000 | $ | 1,079,411 | $ | 2,183,411 | |||||
Vitalie Robu | President | $ | 452,588 | $ | 452,588 | $ | 721,332 | $ | 1,626,508 | |||||
Dejan Avramovic | Chief Financial Officer | $ | 399,000 | $ | 399,000 | $ | 376,472 | $ | 1,174,472 |
(1) Represents value of long-term incentive award received by each executive officer, in the form of Restricted Stock Units, based on the Company’s closing price of $1.23 on June 14, 2024 (the “Closing Price”), the grant date of each executive officer’s award. However, the actual number of Restricted Stock Units received by each executive officer were computed by dividing (x) the dollar value of the long-term incentive compensation award granted to each executive officer under the 2024 Equity Plan by the Company’s Compensation Committee by (y) a $2.14 per share valuation (instead of the Closing Price), resulting in a lower number of Restricted Stock Units being granted to each executive officer under the 2024 Equity Plan when compared to if such long-term incentive award was made using the Closing Price.
The annual incentive awards are tied to the Company’s financial performance for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, and each executive officer will be eligible to earn a discretionary annual bonus based on the Company’s achievement in 2024 of performance goals, weighted 50% for revenue and 50% for adjusted EBITDA, as well as a Committee discretionary element.
The annual incentive awards will be granted under the Company’s Executive Officer Annual Bonus Plan (the “Bonus Plan”), which was ratified, approved and adopted by the Board upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee. The purpose of the Bonus Plan is to motivate and reward senior officers through incentive compensation, attract and retain talent, and align individual performance with company goals. Pursuant to the Bonus Plan, executive officers of the Company selected by the Committee each year will be eligible to receive awards in amounts up to 100% of their annual base salary, based upon individual performance measures, company performance measures, or both, as determined by the Committee for each participant and year, following a recommendation from management. The awards typically will be paid in cash in the year following the plan year, and are subject to the participant’s continued employment through the payment date, with exceptions made for death, disability, or termination without cause. The foregoing summary of the Bonus Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Bonus Plan, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.4 hereto and incorporated into this 8-K by reference.
The long-term incentive awards will be granted in the form of restricted stock units (RSUs) under the 2024 Equity Plan and will vest over three years, subject to the executive officer continued employment through the applicable vesting dates.
Item 5.07 | Regulation FD Disclosure. |
The Annual Meeting of the Company was held virtually on Thursday, June 13, 2024 at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/XBP2024. As of the close of business on April 17, 2024, the record date for the Annual Meeting, 30,166,102 shares of common stock of the Company were issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. At the Annual Meeting, the stockholders voted on three proposals, each of which is described in more detail in the Proxy Statement.
The final results of the votes regarding the proposals described in the Proxy Statement are as follows:
Proposal 1. The election of two Class I directors to hold office until the 2027 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified or until such director resigns or is removed from the Board of Directors.
Nominee |
| Votes For |
| Votes Withheld |
| Broker Non-Votes |
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Martin P. Akins | 28,844,829 | 19,138 | 917,742 | ||||
J. Coley Clark | 28,845,031 | 18,936 | 917,742 |
Proposal 2. The ratification of UHY LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024.
Votes For |
| Votes Against |
| Abstentions |
|
29,778,072 | 3,546 | 91 |
Proposal 3. The approval of the XBP Europe Holdings, Inc. 2024 Stock Incentive Plan.
Votes For |
| Votes Against |
| Abstentions |
| Broker Non-Votes |
|
23,090,084 | 28,872 | 5,745,011 | 917,742 |
Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits.
Exhibit No. |
| Description |
10.1* | XBP Europe Holdings, Inc. 2024 Stock Incentive Plan (as amended). | |
10.2* | ||
10.3* | ||
10.4* | XBP Europe Holdings, Inc. Executive Officer Annual Bonus Plan. | |
104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
* Filed herewith.
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 hereunto duly authorized.
Dated: June 20, 2024
XBP EUROPE HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Dejan Avramovic | |
Dejan Avramovic | ||
Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit 10.1
XBP EUROPE HOLDINGS, INC.
2024 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
(Restated with all amendments through June 14, 2024)
The purpose of the Plan is to assist the Company in attracting, retaining, motivating, and rewarding certain employees, officers, directors, and consultants of the Company and its Affiliates and promoting the creation of long-term value for stockholders of the Company by closely aligning the interests of such individuals with those of such stockholders. The Plan authorizes the award of Stock-based and cash-based incentives to Eligible Persons to encourage such Eligible Persons to expend maximum effort in the creation of stockholder value.
For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below:
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur solely because any person acquires beneficial ownership of fifty percent (50%) or more of the Company Voting Securities as a result of an acquisition of Company Voting Securities by the Company that reduces the number of Company Voting Securities outstanding; provided that if after such acquisition by the Company such person becomes the beneficial owner of additional Company Voting Securities that increases the percentage of outstanding Company Voting Securities beneficially owned by such person, a Change in Control shall then be deemed to occur, and (y) with respect to the payment of any amount that constitutes a deferral of compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code payable upon a Change in Control, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to have occurred, unless the Change in Control constitutes a change in the ownership or effective control of the Company or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company under Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(v) of the Code.
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The Committee is authorized, subject to limitations under applicable law, to grant to Participants such other Awards that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based upon or related to Stock, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan. The Committee may also grant Stock as a bonus (whether or not subject to any vesting requirements or other restrictions on transfer), and may grant other Awards in lieu of obligations of the Company or an Affiliate to pay cash or deliver other property under the Plan or under other plans or compensatory arrangements, subject to such terms as shall be determined by the Committee. The terms and conditions applicable to such Awards shall be determined by the Committee and evidenced by Award Agreements, which agreements need not be identical.
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Payments to holders pursuant to paragraph (3) above shall be made in cash or, in the sole discretion of the Committee, and to the extent applicable, in the form of such other consideration necessary for a Participant to receive property, cash, or securities (or a combination thereof) as such Participant would have been entitled to receive upon the occurrence of the transaction if the Participant had been, immediately prior to such transaction, the holder of the number of shares of Stock covered by the Award at such time (less any applicable exercise or base price). In addition, in connection with any Corporate Event, prior to any payment or adjustment contemplated under this subsection (b), the Committee may require a Participant to (A) represent and warrant as to the unencumbered title to his or her Awards, (B) bear such Participant’s pro-rata share of any post-closing indemnity obligations, and be subject to the same post-closing purchase price adjustments, escrow terms, offset rights, holdback terms, and similar conditions as the other holders of Stock, and (C) deliver customary transfer documentation as reasonably determined by the Committee. The Committee need not take the same action or actions with respect to all Awards or portions thereof or with respect to all Participants. The Committee may take different actions with respect to the vested and unvested portions of an Award.
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The proceeds received from the sale of Stock pursuant to the Plan shall be used for general corporate purposes.
Except as otherwise specifically provided in the Plan, no Person shall be entitled to the rights and privileges of Stock ownership in respect of shares of Stock that are subject to Awards hereunder until such shares have been issued to that Person.
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Awards may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the applicable laws of descent and distribution, and to the extent subject to exercise, Awards may not be exercised during the lifetime of the grantee other than by the grantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except with respect to Incentive Stock Options, Awards and a Participant’s rights under the Plan shall be transferable for no value to the extent provided in an Award Agreement or otherwise determined at any time by the Committee.
No individual shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award under the Plan or, having been selected for the grant of an Award, to be selected for the grant of any other Award. Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any individual any right to be retained in the employ or service of the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.
The obligation of the Company to deliver Stock upon issuance, vesting, exercise, or settlement of any Award shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by governmental agencies as may be required. Notwithstanding any terms or conditions of any Award to the contrary, the Company shall be under no obligation to offer to sell or to sell, and shall be prohibited from offering to sell or selling, any shares of Stock pursuant to an Award unless such shares have been properly registered for sale with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act (or with a similar non‑U.S. regulatory agency pursuant to a similar law or regulation) or unless the Company has received an opinion of counsel, satisfactory to the Company, that such shares may be offered or sold without such registration pursuant to an available exemption therefrom and the terms and conditions of such exemption have been fully complied with. The Company shall be under no obligation to register for sale or resale under the Securities Act any of the shares of Stock to be offered or sold under the Plan or any shares of Stock to be issued upon exercise or settlement of Awards. If the shares of Stock offered for sale or sold under the Plan are offered or sold pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act, the Company may restrict the transfer of such shares and may legend the Stock certificates representing such shares in such manner as it deems advisable to ensure the availability of any such exemption.
As a condition to the issuance, vesting, exercise, or settlement of any Award (or upon the making of an election under Section 83(b) of the Code), the Committee may require that a Participant satisfy, through deduction or withholding from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the Participant, or through such other arrangements as are satisfactory to the Committee, the amount of all federal, state, and local income and other taxes of any kind required or permitted to be withheld in connection with such issuance, vesting, exercise, or settlement (or election). The Committee, in its discretion, may permit shares of Stock to be used to satisfy tax withholding requirements, and such shares shall be valued at their Fair Market Value as of the issuance, vesting, exercise, or settlement date of the Award, as applicable. Depending on the withholding method, the Company may withhold by considering the applicable maximum statutorily required withholding rates or other applicable withholding rates in the applicable Participant’s jurisdiction.
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The Board or the Committee may suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. Unless sooner terminated, the Plan shall terminate on the day before the tenth (10th) anniversary of the date the stockholders of the Company approve the Plan. No Awards may be granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is terminated; provided, however, that following any suspension or termination of the Plan, the Plan shall remain in effect for the purpose of governing all Awards then outstanding hereunder until such time as all Awards under the Plan have been terminated, forfeited, or otherwise canceled, or earned, exercised, settled, or otherwise paid out, in accordance with their terms.
The Plan was adopted by the Board on February 12, 2024 (the “Adoption Date”) and approved by the stockholders of the Company on June 13, 2024 (the “Effective Date”). It is confirmed that: (i) following the Adoption Date, the Committee had the authority to grant Awards pursuant to this Plan; (ii) all Awards so granted by the Committee to Eligible Participants who are not also subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act following the Adoption Date and prior to the Effective Date are hereby ratified and confirmed; (iii) the “date of grant” for any such Awards to such Eligible Participants shall the date the Committee approved such Awards; and (iv) the minimum vesting requirements for such grants will be computed from such date of grant notwithstanding that such date of grant preceded the Effective Date.
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Exhibit 10.2
RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT GRANT NOTICE AND AGREEMENT
XBP Europe Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”), pursuant to its 2024 Stock Incentive Plan (as may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Plan”), hereby grants to Holder the number of Restricted Stock Units, subject to adjustment as provided in the Plan (the “Restricted Stock Units”). The Restricted Stock Units are subject to all of the terms and conditions set forth in this Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice and Agreement (this “Award Agreement”), as well as all of the terms and conditions of the Plan, all of which are incorporated herein in their entirety. To the extent that any provisions herein (or portion thereof) conflicts with any provision of the Plan, the Plan shall prevail and control. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meaning as set forth in the Plan.
Holder: | [__] | |
Date of Grant: | [__], 20[__] | |
Vesting Commencement Date: | [__], 20[__] | |
Number of | [__] | |
Vesting Schedule: | [__] |
Settlement: | Upon vesting of a Restricted Stock Unit, the Company shall settle each Restricted Stock Unit by delivering to Holder one share of Stock for each Restricted Stock Unit that vested as soon as practicable (but not more than thirty (30) days) following each vesting date (the “Original Issuance Date”). The shares of Stock issued in respect of the Restricted Stock Units may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall determine. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Original Issuance Date does not occur (i) during an “open window period” applicable to Holder, (ii) on a date when Holder is permitted to sell shares of Stock pursuant to a written plan that meets the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act, as determined by the Company in accordance with the Company’s then effective policy on trading in Company securities (the “Policy”), or (iii) on a date when Holder is otherwise permitted to sell shares of Stock on an established stock exchange or stock market, then such shares will not be delivered on such Original Issuance Date and will instead be delivered on the first business day of the next occurring “open window” period applicable to Holder pursuant to such Policy (regardless of whether Holder has experienced a Termination at such time) or the next business day when Holder is not prohibited from selling shares of Stock on the open market, but in no event later than the later of (x) December 31st of the calendar year in which the Original Issuance Date occurs (that is, the last day of Holder’s taxable year in which the Original Issuance Date occurs), or (y) to the extent permitted by Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) without penalty, the fifteenth (15th) day of the third calendar month of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Original Issuance Date occurs. | |
Termination: | Section 7(d) of the Plan regarding treatment of Restricted Stock Units is incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof. | |
Transfer Restrictions: | Holder shall not be permitted to sell, transfer, pledge, or otherwise encumber the Restricted Stock Units before they vest and are settled, and any attempt to sell, transfer, pledge, or otherwise encumber the Restricted Stock Units in violation of the foregoing shall be null and void. | |
General Unsecured Creditor: | Holder shall have only the rights of a general unsecured creditor of the Company until shares of Stock are issued in respect of the Restricted Stock Units. |
No Rights as a Stockholder: | Neither the Restricted Stock Units nor this Award Agreement shall entitle Holder to any voting rights or other rights as a stockholder of the Company unless and until the shares of Stock in respect of the Restricted Stock Units have been issued in settlement thereof. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no dividends (whether in cash or shares of Stock) or dividend equivalents shall accrue or be paid with respect to any Restricted Stock Units. | |
Additional Terms: | The Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to the following additional terms: | |
● Any certificates representing the shares of Stock delivered to Holder shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which such shares are listed, and any applicable federal or state laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions as the Committee deems appropriate. | ||
● Holder shall be the record owner of the shares of Stock issued in respect of the Restricted Stock Units until or unless such shares of Stock are repurchased or otherwise sold or transferred in accordance with the terms of the Plan, and as record owner shall generally be entitled to all rights of a stockholder with respect to the shares of Stock issued in respect of the Restricted Stock Units. | ||
● Upon issuance of shares of Stock in respect of the Restricted Stock Units, Holder shall be required to satisfy applicable withholding tax obligations, if any, as provided in the Plan. | ||
● This Award Agreement does not confer upon Holder any right to continue as an employee or service provider of the Service Recipient or any other member of the Company Group. |
● This Award Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. | ||
● Holder understands that the Restricted Stock Units are intended to be exempt from Section 409A of the Code as a “short term deferral” to the greatest extent possible and the Restricted Stock Units will be administered and interpreted in accordance with such intent. In no event whatsoever shall the Company or any of its affiliates be liable for any additional tax, interest or penalties that may be imposed on Holder as a result of Section 409A of the Code or any damages for failing to comply with Section 409A of the Code (other than for withholding obligations or other obligations applicable to employers, if any, under Section 409A of the Code). | ||
● Holder agrees that the Company may deliver by email all documents relating to the Plan or the Restricted Stock Units (including, without limitation, a copy of the Plan) and all other documents that the Company is required to deliver to its security holders (including, without limitation, disclosures that may be required by the Securities and Exchange Commission). Holder also agrees that the Company may deliver these documents by posting them on a website maintained by the Company or by a third party under contract with the Company. If the Company posts these documents on a website, it shall notify Holder by email or such other reasonable manner as then determined by the Company. |
● This Award Agreement and the Plan constitute the entire understanding and agreement of the parties hereto and supersede all prior negotiations, discussions, correspondence, communications, understandings, and agreements (whether oral or written and whether express or implied) between the Company and Holder relating to the subject matter of this Award Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, to the extent Holder has entered into an employment or similar agreement with the Company or any of its affiliates prior to the Date of Grant, and the terms noted in such employment or similar agreement are inconsistent with or conflict with this Award Agreement, then the terms of this Award Agreement will supersede and be deemed to amend and modify the inconsistent or conflicting terms set forth in such employment or similar agreement. | ||
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THE UNDERSIGNED HOLDER ACKNOWLEDGES RECEIPT OF THIS AWARD AGREEMENT AND THE PLAN, AND, AS AN EXPRESS CONDITION TO THE GRANT OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS UNDER THIS AWARD AGREEMENT, AGREES TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF BOTH THIS AWARD AGREEMENT AND THE PLAN.
XBP EUROPE HOLDINGS, INC. |
| HOLDER | ||
By: | ||||
Signature | Signature | |||
Title: | Print Name: | |||
Date: | Date: |
Exhibit 10.3
OPTION GRANT NOTICE AND AGREEMENT
XBP Europe Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”), pursuant to its 2024 Stock Incentive Plan (as may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Plan”), hereby grants to Holder the number of Options (the “Options”) set forth below, each Option representing the right to purchase one share of Stock at the applicable Exercise Price (set forth below). The Options are subject to all of the terms and conditions set forth in this Option Grant Notice and Agreement (this “Award Agreement”), as well as all of the terms and conditions of the Plan, all of which are incorporated herein in their entirety. To the extent that any provisions herein (or portion thereof) conflicts with any provision of the Plan, the Plan shall prevail and control. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meaning as set forth in the Plan.
Holder: | [__] | |
Date of Grant: | [__], 20[__] | |
Vesting Commencement Date: | [__], 20[__] | |
Number of Options: | [__] | |
Exercise Price: | $[__] | |
Expiration Date: | The tenth (10th) anniversary of the Date of Grant | |
Type of Option: | Stock Option | |
Vesting Schedule: | [__] | |
Exercise of Options: | To exercise vested Options, Holder (or his, her or its authorized representative) must give written notice to the Company, using the form of Option Exercise Notice as proscribed by the Committee, stating the number of Options which he, she or it intends to exercise. The Company will issue the shares of Stock with respect to which the Options are exercised upon payment of the shares of Stock acquired in accordance with Section 5(d) of the Plan, which Section 5(d) is incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof. | |
Upon exercise of Options, Holder will be required to satisfy applicable withholding tax obligations as provided in Section 17 of the Plan. | ||
Termination: | Section 5(f) of the Plan regarding treatment of Options upon Termination is incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof. |
Transfer Restrictions: | Holder shall not be permitted to sell, transfer, pledge, or otherwise encumber the Options before they vest and are settled, and any attempt to sell, transfer, pledge, or otherwise encumber the Options in violation of the foregoing shall be null and void. | |
No Rights as a Stockholder: | Neither the Options nor this Award Agreement shall entitle Holder to any voting rights or other rights as a stockholder of the Company unless and until the shares of Stock in respect of any exercised Options have been issued in settlement thereof. | |
Additional Terms: | Options shall be subject to the following additional terms: | |
● Options shall be exercisable in whole shares of Stock only. | ||
● Each Option shall cease to be exercisable as to any share of Stock when Holder purchases the share of Stock or when the Option otherwise expires or is forfeited. | ||
● Any certificates representing the shares of Stock delivered to Holder shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which such shares are listed, and any applicable federal or state laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions as the Committee deems appropriate. | ||
● Holder shall be the record owner of the shares of Stock issued in respect of the Options, and as record owner shall generally be entitled to all rights of a stockholder with respect to the shares of Stock issued in respect of the Options. | ||
● This Award Agreement does not confer upon Holder any right to continue as an employee or service provider of the Service Recipient or any other member of the Company Group. | ||
● This Award Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. |
● Holder agrees that the Company may deliver by email all documents relating to the Plan or the Options (including, without limitation, a copy of the Plan) and all other documents that the Company is required to deliver to its security holders (including, without limitation, disclosures that may be required by the Securities and Exchange Commission). Holder also agrees that the Company may deliver these documents by posting them on a website maintained by the Company or by a third party under contract with the Company. If the Company posts these documents on a website, it shall notify Holder by email or such other reasonable manner as then determined by the Company. | ||
| | ● This Award Agreement and the Plan constitute the entire understanding and agreement of the parties hereto and supersede all prior negotiations, discussions, correspondence, communications, understandings, and agreements (whether oral or written and whether express or implied) between the Company and Holder relating to the subject matter of this Award Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, to the extent Holder has entered into an employment or similar agreement with the Company or any of its affiliates prior to the Date of Grant, and the terms noted in such employment or similar agreement are inconsistent with or conflict with this Award Agreement, then the terms of this Award Agreement will supersede and be deemed to amend and modify the inconsistent or conflicting terms set forth in such employment or similar agreement. |
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THE UNDERSIGNED HOLDER ACKNOWLEDGES RECEIPT OF THIS AWARD AGREEMENT AND THE PLAN, AND, AS AN EXPRESS CONDITION TO THE GRANT OF OPTIONS UNDER THIS AWARD AGREEMENT, AGREES TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF BOTH THIS AWARD AGREEMENT AND THE PLAN.
XBP EUROPE HOLDINGS, INC. |
| HOLDER | ||
By: | ||||
Signature | Signature | |||
Title: | Print Name: | |||
Date: | Date: |
Exhibit 10.4
XBP EUROPE HOLDINGS, INC.
EXECUTIVE OFFICER ANNUAL BONUS PLAN
SECTION 1: ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE
1.1Purpose. XBP Europe Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby establishes the XBP Europe Holdings, Inc. Executive Officer Annual Bonus Plan (the “Plan”). The Plan is intended to (i) motivate and reward a greater degree of excellence and teamwork among the senior officers of the Company by providing incentive compensation award opportunities; (ii) provide attractive and competitive total cash compensation opportunities for exceptional corporate, business unit and personal performance; (iii) reinforce the communication and achievement of the mission, objectives and goals of the Company; and (iv) enhance the Company’s ability to attract, retain and motivate the highest caliber senior officers.
1.2Effective Date. This Plan shall become effective June 14, 2024 (the “Effective Date”) and shall continue in effect until terminated by the Board in accordance with Section 7.4.
SECTION 2: DEFINITIONS
The following words and phrases shall have the following meanings unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context:
2.1“Award” means any cash bonus granted under the terms of the Plan. An Award may be expressed as a percentage of an Executive Officer’s Base Salary or a specific dollar amount, as determined by the Committee for each Participant for any Plan Year.
2.2“Base Salary” means as to any Plan Year, 100% of the Participant’s annualized salary rate on the last day of the Plan Year. Such Base Salary shall be before both (a) deductions for taxes or benefits, and (b) deferrals of compensation pursuant to Company-sponsored plans.
2.3“Board” means the Company’s Board of Directors.
2.4“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Reference to a specific Section of the Code shall include such Section, any valid regulation promulgated thereunder, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such Section or regulation.
2.5“Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board, or any successor committee the Board may designate to administer the Plan. Each member of the Committee shall be an “independent” director, as defined under the listing standards of Nasdaq.
2.6“Company” means XBP Europe Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
2.7“Executive Officer” means any individual with the title of Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or President of the Company, and any other individual designated as an Executive Officer of the Company by the Board.
2.8“Stock Plan” means the XBP Europe Holdings, Inc. 2024 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.
2.9“Maximum Award” means the maximum amount which may be paid to a Participant as a single Award for any Plan Year. The size of the Maximum Award is one hundred percent (100%) of a Participant’s salary for such Plan Year.
2.10“Participant” means as to any Plan Year, an Executive Officer who has been selected by the Committee for participation in the Plan for that Plan Year.
2.11“Payment Date” means, for any Award, the date selected by the Company for payment of the Award which date shall be in the calendar year immediately following the Plan Year to which the Award relates.
2.12“Performance Goals” means performance goals approved by the Committee with respect to any Potential Award.
2.13“Plan Year” means the fiscal year of the Company beginning January 1, 2024, and each succeeding fiscal year of the Company.
2.14“Potential Award” means an Award which is potentially payable to a Participant, the terms of which are approved by the Committee for a Plan Year. The terms of a Potential Award shall relate to that Plan Year and can be exclusively performance-based, with Performance Goals, or can involve a combination of performance-based criteria and individual performance assessments, as the Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine.
SECTION 3: SELECTION OF PARTICIPANTS AND DETERMINATION OF AWARDS
3.1Selection of Participants. The Committee, in its sole discretion, taking into consideration the recommendation of Company management, shall select the Executive Officers who shall be Participants for the Plan Year. In selecting Participants, the Committee shall choose officers who are likely to have a significant impact on the performance of the Company. Participation in the Plan is in the sole discretion of the Committee, and on a Plan Year by Plan Year basis. Accordingly, an Executive Officer who is a Participant for a given Plan Year in no way is guaranteed or assured of being selected for participation in any subsequent Plan Year or Years.
3.2Determination of Performance Goals and Potential Awards. Company management shall prepare and recommend to the Committee the terms of the Potential Award and Performance Goals for each Participant for each Plan Year. For the avoidance of doubt, a member of Company management who is also eligible to participate in this Plan shall not make any recommendations regarding a Potential Award to himself or herself. Following submission of the recommendation by Company management, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall consider and approve the terms of the Potential Award for each Participant for the Plan Year, commencing on the first day of such Plan Year, and the Performance Goals applicable to all, or a portion of, the Potential Award. To the extent that all, or a portion, of the Participant’s Potential Award is performance-based, such Potential Award shall be contingent upon the attainment of the Participant’s Performance Goals. Each Participant’s Performance Goals and Potential Award may be set forth in writing and presented to the Participant. The outcome of any Performance Goal must be substantially uncertain at the time it is established by the Committee.
3.3Determination of Awards. After the end of each Plan Year, the Committee shall certify the extent to which the Performance Goals applicable to each Participant for that Plan Year were achieved or exceeded. For this purpose, approved minutes of a meeting of the Committee may be treated as certification. The Committee shall also determine if the criteria for any non-performance-based Potential Awards have been attained. If applicable Performance Goals and other criteria were attained, the Committee shall determine Awards payable to each Participant in accordance with the terms of their Potential Awards, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of the Plan or the terms of the Potential Award, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may adjust the Award payable to any Participant to an amount other than that which otherwise would be payable under the terms of the Potential Award.
SECTION 4: EARNING AND PAYMENT OF AWARDS
4.1Right to Award. In order to earn an Award under the Plan, a Participant must remain continuously employed by the Company through the Payment Date for such Award. Except as otherwise provided herein, if a Participant ceases to be employed by the Company for any reason prior to the Payment Date for the Award, then the Participant shall not earn or be paid the Award.
4.2Death or Disability. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a Participant’s death or termination by the Company due to Disability prior to the Payment Date for an Award, the Participant shall be paid the approximate Award the Participant would have been paid had the Participant remained employed, provided that in no event shall the Award be paid later the March 15th of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the termination occurred. “Disability” for purposes of this Plan means Disability as defined in the Stock Plan.
4.3Termination without Cause. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a Participant’s termination by the Company without Cause prior to the Payment Date for an Award, subject to the Participant’s execution and non-revocation of a general release agreement in the form determined by the Company, the Participant shall be paid the approximate Award the Participant would have been paid had the Participant remained employed, pro-rated based on the number of days the Participant was employed by the Company during the Plan Year to which the Award relates as compared to the full number of days in such Plan Year, provided that in no event shall the Award be paid later the March 15th of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the termination occurred. “Cause” for purposes of this Plan means Cause as defined in the Stock Plan.
4.4Timing of Payment. Except as otherwise provided in Sections 4.2 and 4.3, payment of an Award, if earned, shall be made on the Payment Date for the Award.
4.5Form of Payment. Each Award shall be paid in cash (or its equivalent) in a single lump sum or in a series of related payments.
SECTION 5: ADMINISTRATION
5.1Grant of Awards. The Committee shall determine (i) those Executive Officers eligible to be Participants, and (ii) the amount of each Award, subject to the provisions of the Plan. Awards granted under the Plan shall be evidenced to the extent, and in the manner, if any, prescribed by the Committee from time to time in accordance with the terms of the Plan. In making any determinations under the Plan,
including certifications as to attainment of Performance Goals, the Committee shall be entitled to rely on reports, opinions or statements of officers or employees of the Company, as well as those of counsel, public accountants and other professional or expert persons. All determinations, interpretations and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any Award by the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all parties, including without limitation, the Company, any Executive Officer, and any other person with rights to any Award under the Plan, and no member of the Committee shall be subject to individual liability with respect to the Plan or any Awards thereunder.
5.2Committee Authority. The Committee shall have sole authority to administer the Plan and, in connection therewith, it shall have full power to (i) construe and interpret the Plan, (ii) establish rules and regulations in connection with the administration of the Plan, and (iii) perform all other acts it believes reasonable and proper, including the power to delegate responsibility to others to assist it in administering the Plan.
SECTION 6: BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION
6.1Designation of Beneficiary. A Participant may file with the Committee a written designation of a beneficiary or beneficiaries (subject to such limitations as to the classes and number of beneficiaries and contingent beneficiaries as the Committee may from time to time prescribe) to receive, in the event of the death of the Participant, an Award. The Committee reserves the right to review and approve beneficiary designations. A Participant may from time to time revoke or change any such designation or beneficiary and any designation of beneficiary under the Plan shall be controlling over any other disposition, testamentary or otherwise. However, if the Committee shall be in doubt as to the right of any such beneficiary to receive any Award, the Committee may determine to recognize only a right to receipt by the legal representative of the Participant, in which case the Company, the Committee and the members thereof shall not be under any further liability to anyone.
SECTION 7: OTHER GOVERNING PROVISIONS
7.1Transferability. Except as otherwise provided herein, no Award shall be transferable other than by beneficiary designation, will or the laws of descent and distribution, and any right with respect to an Award may be exercised during the lifetime of the Participant receiving such Award only by such Participant or by his/her guardian or legal representative.
7.2Reservation of Rights of Company. Neither the establishment of the Plan or any Potential Award, nor the granting of an Award, shall confer upon any Executive Officer any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any affiliate or interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any affiliate to terminate such employment at any time. The Company expressly reserves the right, which may be exercised at any time, to terminate any individual’s employment with or without Cause and without regard to the effect such termination might have upon the Participant’s receipt of an Award under the Plan.
7.3Withholding of Taxes. The Company shall deduct from any payment, or otherwise collect from the recipient, any taxes required to be withheld by federal, state or local governments in connection with any Award.
7.4Amendment and Termination of Plan. The Board may amend or terminate the Plan at any time and for any reason.
7.5Construction of Plan. The place of administration of the Plan shall be in the State of Delaware and the validity, construction, interpretation, administration and effect of the Plan and of its rules and regulations, and rights relating to the Plan, shall be determined solely in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving regard to the conflict of laws provisions thereof.
7.6Unfunded Nature of Plan. The Plan shall be unfunded, and the Company shall not be required to segregate any assets which may at any time be awarded under the Plan. Each Award that may become payable under the Plan shall be paid solely from the general assets of the Company. Nothing in this Plan shall be construed to create a trust or to establish or evidence any Participant’s claim of any right other than as an unsecured general creditor with respect to any payment to which he or she may be entitled.
7.7Successors. All obligations of the Company under the Plan with respect to any Awards granted hereunder shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company.
7.8Severability. In the event any provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality of invalidity will not affect the remaining parts of the Plan and the Plan will be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.
7.9Expenses of Plan. The expenses of administering the Plan will be borne by the Company.
7.10Section 409A of the Code. Although the Company does not guarantee the tax treatment of any payments under this Plan, the intent of the Company is that the payments and benefits under this Plan be exempt from Section 409A of the Code and all Treasury Regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder (“Code Section 409A”) and to the maximum extent permitted the Plan shall be limited, construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent. References to a Participant’s termination of employment will mean the Participant’s “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. If the Company makes a good faith determination that a payment of an award (i) constitutes a deferral of compensation for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, (ii) is made to a Participant by reason of his or her separation from service and (iii) at the time such payment would otherwise be made to Participant is a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, using the identification methodology selected by the Company from time to time), the payment will be delayed until the first day of the seventh month following the date of such separation from service.
7.11 Clawback Provisions. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, all Awards granted under the Plan shall be and remain subject to any incentive compensation clawback or recoupment policy currently in effect or as may be adopted by the Board (or a committee or subcommittee of the Board), including the XBP Europe Holdings, Inc. Clawback Policy for the Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation and, in each case, as may be amended from time to time. No such policy adoption or amendment shall in any event require the prior consent of any Participant. No recovery of compensation under such a clawback policy will be an event giving rise to a right to resign for “good reason” or “constructive termination” (or similar term) under any agreement with the Company
or any of its Affiliates. In the event that an Award is subject to more than one such policy, the policy with the most restrictive clawback or recoupment provisions shall govern such Award, subject to applicable law
7.12 Adjustments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in the Plan, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may increase, reduce or eliminate an Award payable to any Participant above or below that which otherwise would be payable under the terms of the Participant’s Potential Award. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, the Committee may make equitable adjustments to the terms of the Plan to prevent any unintended impact from special or unusual events that might result in a windfall or material adverse change in any Potential Award payment under the Plan. Special or unusual events may include, without limitation, change of control, reorganization, combination with other entities, merger, consolidation, or other restructuring of the Company, other financial policy, changes in accounting principles, policies and practices, changes in tax rates or rules, natural disasters and changes in other applicable laws, rules or regulations. Such adjustment(s) may result in an increase or decrease in Potential Award value and will be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee.