UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
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☐ 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. |
On May 19, 2021, at the 2021 annual meeting of shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”), the shareholders of Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (the “Company”), upon recommendation of the Board of Directors, approved (i) amendments to the Company’s Flexible Stock Plan (the “Flexible Stock Plan”), (ii) amendments to the Company’s Flexible Stock Plan for Directors (the “Director Plan”) and (iii) the amendment and restatement of the Company’s Phantom Stock Plan for Directors (the “Phantom Plan” and together with the Flexible Stock Plan and the Director Plan, collectively, the “Equity Plans”)). Among other things, the amendments increase the number of shares authorized for issuance as follows:
Plan | Share increase | Total shares available | ||||||
Flexible Stock Plan |
1,500,000 | 16,460,077 | ||||||
Director Plan |
25,000 | 307,500 | ||||||
Phantom Plan |
25,000 | 155,000 |
The Phantom Plan now also allows directors to receive dividend equivalent payments or dividend credit rights on the performance units held and accumulated in such director’s Phantom Plan account.
The amendments to the Equity Plans will not affect any award previously made to the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer or any other named executive officer of the Company under the Equity Plans, nor under any other compensatory plan, contract or arrangement covering any such person.
The Equity Plans, as proposed to be amended, are described in greater detail in proposals four, five and six on pages 91 through 101 in the Company’s Proxy Statement, dated April 8, 2021, for the Annual Meeting (“Proxy Statement”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on that date. The descriptions of the amendments to the Equity Plans contained herein and in the Proxy Statement are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Flexible Stock Plan amendments, the Director Plan amendments and the Phantom Plan (as amended and restated), copies of which are filed as Exhibits 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3, respectively, hereto.
Item 5.07 | Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders. |
The Company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders was held on May 19, 2021. The number of shares of common stock of the Company represented at the Annual Meeting, in person or proxy, was 62,144,531 shares, or approximately 91% of the outstanding voting shares of the Company.
At the Annual Meeting, the Company’s shareholders were asked to vote on the election of twelve directors and the five other proposals described below, and the votes were cast as follows:
1. Election of the following directors for terms expiring in 2022 or until their respective successors are elected and qualified:
For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Votes | |||||||||||||
Pina Albo |
59,296,025 | 660,652 | 98,206 | 2,089,648 | ||||||||||||
Christine R. Detrick |
59,312,685 | 649,748 | 92,450 | 2,089,648 | ||||||||||||
J. Cliff Eason |
59,120,094 | 840,327 | 94,462 | 2,089,648 | ||||||||||||
John J. Gauthier |
59,908,369 | 47,372 | 99,142 | 2,089,648 | ||||||||||||
Patricia Guinn |
59,910,643 | 51,827 | 92,413 | 2,089,648 | ||||||||||||
Anna Manning |
59,908,425 | 55,179 | 91,279 | 2,089,648 | ||||||||||||
Hazel M. McNeilage |
58,708,625 | 1,253,694 | 92,564 | 2,089,648 | ||||||||||||
Stephen O’Hearn |
59,912,121 | 48,348 | 94,414 | 2,089,648 | ||||||||||||
Frederick J. Sievert |
58,554,302 | 1,401,283 | 99,298 | 2,089,648 | ||||||||||||
Shundrawn Thomas |
59,906,054 | 49,060 | 99,769 | 2,089,648 | ||||||||||||
Stanley B. Tulin |
59,906,115 | 54,190 | 94,578 | 2,089,648 | ||||||||||||
Steven C. Van Wyk |
59,909,332 | 46,290 | 99,261 | 2,089,648 |
2. Advisory vote to approve the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers:
For |
Against |
Withheld |
Broker Non-Votes | |||
56,692,324 |
2,750,902 | 611,657 | 2,089,648 |
3. Proposal to approve the amendments to the Company’s Flexible Stock Plan:
For |
Against |
Withheld |
Broker Non-Votes | |||
55,361,277 |
4,568,610 | 124,996 | 2,089,648 |
4. Proposal to approve the amendments to the Company’s Flexible Stock Plan for Directors:
For |
Against |
Withheld |
Broker Non-Votes | |||
56,241,116 |
3,698,920 | 114,847 | 2,089,648 |
5. Proposal to approve the Company’s Amended & Restated Phantom Stock Plan for Directors:
For |
Against |
Withheld |
Broker Non-Votes | |||
59,347,147 |
590,806 | 116,930 | 2,089,648 |
6. Proposal to ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent auditor for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021:
For |
Against |
Withheld |
Broker Non-Votes | |||
59,568,006 |
2,483,745 | 92,780 | 0 |
Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits |
(d) Exhibits. The following documents are filed as exhibits to this report:
10.1 | Amendment to the Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated Flexible Stock Plan, effective May 19, 2021. | |
10.2 | Amendment to the Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated Flexible Stock Plan for Directors, effective May 19, 2021. | |
10.3 | Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated Phantom Stock Plan for Directors, as amended and restated effective May 19, 2021. | |
104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL) to the exhibit index |
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.
REINSURANCE GROUP OF AMERICA, INCORPORATED | ||||||
Date: May 20, 2021 | By: | /s/ Todd C. Larson | ||||
Todd C. Larson | ||||||
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit 10.1
AMENDMENTS TO THE
REINSURANCE GROUP OF AMERICA, INCORPORATED
FLEXIBLE STOCK PLAN
Effective May 19, 2021
WHEREAS, Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (the Company) established the Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated Flexible Stock Plan (the Plan) to enhance the ability of the Company to reward and provide stock based incentives to its employees, consultants, and independent contractors; and
WHEREAS, on March 31, 2021, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company approved amendments to the Plan, subject to shareholder approval, to increase the total number of shares authorized for issuance under the Plan by 1,500,000 for a total of 16,460,077 shares and extend the termination date of the Plan.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Company hereby amends the Plan as follows:
1. Effective upon the date of approval of this amendment by the Companys shareholders, Section 3.1 of the Plan is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
3.1 Number of Shares. The number of Shares which may be issued or sold or for which Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, RSUs, Performance Shares or other Stock Based Awards may be granted under the Plan shall be 16,460,077 Shares, determined as 1,500,000 Shares available on and after the Effective Date plus the 14,960,077 Shares that were available under the terms of the Plan prior to the Effective Date to the extent such Shares remain outstanding and available or become outstanding and available again hereunder. Such Shares may be authorized but unissued Shares (subject to payment of any required par value), Shares held in the treasury, or both.
2. Effective upon the date of approval of this amendment by the Companys shareholders, Section 7.2 of the Plan is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
7.2 Termination. The Plan will terminate automatically on May 19, 2026. In addition, the Plan may be terminated at any time by the Board. The Plan will remain in effect with respect to outstanding Benefits until no Benefits remain outstanding.
3. Capitalized terms used herein shall have the same meanings ascribed to them in the Plan.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated hereby adopts the foregoing amendments this 19th day of May, 2021.
REINSURANCE GROUP OF AMERICA, INCORPORATED | ||
By: | /s/ Anna Manning | |
Anna Manning, President and Chief Executive Officer |
REINSURANCE GROUP OF AMERICA, INCORPORATED
FLEXIBLE STOCK PLAN
As Amended and Restated Effective May 23, 2017
REINSURANCE GROUP OF AMERICA, INCORPORATED
FLEXIBLE STOCK PLAN
ARTICLE I
NAME AND PURPOSE
1.1 Name. The name of this Plan is the Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated Flexible Stock Plan.
1.2 Purpose. The Company has established this Plan to attract, retain, motivate and reward Employees and other individuals, to encourage ownership of the Companys Common Stock by Employees and other individuals, and to promote and further the best interests of the Company by granting cash and other awards. The Plan is hereby amended and restated as provided herein.
ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS OF TERMS AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION
2.1 General Definitions. The following words and phrases, when used in the Plan, unless otherwise specifically defined or unless the context clearly otherwise requires, shall have the following respective meanings:
(a) | Affiliate. Any corporation that is a Subsidiary of the Company or a Subsidiary of a Parent and, for purposes other than the grant of ISOs, any limited liability company, partnership, corporation, joint venture, or any other entity in which the Company or any such Subsidiary owns an equity interest. |
(b) | Agreement. A written contract entered into between the Company or an Affiliate and a Participant or, in the discretion of the Committee, a written certificate issued by the Company or an Affiliate to a Participant, in either case, containing or incorporating the terms and conditions of a Benefit in such form (not inconsistent with this Plan) as the Committee approves from time to time, together with all amendments thereof, which amendments may be made unilaterally by the Company (with the approval of the Committee) unless such amendments are deemed by the Committee to be materially adverse to the Participant and are not required as a matter of law, or such other relevant written contract entered into between the Company or an Affiliate and a Participant and approved by the Committee. |
(c) | Benefit. Any benefit granted to a Participant under the Plan. |
(d) | Board. The Board of Directors of the Company. |
(e) | Cash Award. A Benefit payable in the form of cash. |
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(f) | Change of Control. The acquisition, without the approval of the Board, by any person or entity, other than the Company or a Related Entity, of more than 20% of the outstanding Shares through a tender offer, exchange offer or otherwise; the liquidation or dissolution of the Company following a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of its assets; a merger or consolidation involving the Company which results in the Company not being the surviving parent corporation; or any time during any two-year period in which individuals who constituted the Board at the start of such period (or whose election was approved by at least two-thirds of the then members of the Board who were members at the start of the two-year period) do not constitute at least 50% of the Board for any reason. A Related Entity is the Parent, a Subsidiary or any employee benefit plan (including a trust forming a part of such a plan) maintained by the Parent, the Company or a Subsidiary. |
(g) | Code. The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time, or any successor statute. Any reference to the Code includes the regulations promulgated pursuant to the Code. |
(h) | Company. Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated, a Missouri corporation, or any successor to all or substantially all of its business by merger, consolidation, purchase of assets or otherwise. |
(i) | Committee. The Committee described in Section 5.1. |
(j) | Common Stock. Any class of the Companys common stock or any securities issued in respect thereof by the Company or any successor to the Company as a result of an event described in Section 3.3 or ARTICLE IX hereof. |
(k) | Effective Date. The date that the Plan, as amended and restated herein, is approved by the shareholders of the Company which must occur within one year before or after approval by the Board. |
(l) | Employee. Any person employed as either a regular full-time employee or part-time employee by the Employer. |
(m) | Employer. The Company and all Affiliates. |
(n) | Exchange Act. The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. |
(o) | Fair Market Value. The closing price of a Share on the New York Stock Exchange on a given date, or, in the absence of sales on a given date, the closing price on the New York Stock Exchange on the last day on which a sale occurred prior to such date. If the Shares are not listed on the New York Stock Exchange, Fair Market Value shall be what the Committee determines in good faith to be 100% of the fair market value of a Share on that date. In the case of an ISO, if such determination of Fair Market Value is not consistent with the then current regulations of the Secretary of the Treasury, Fair Market Value shall be determined in accordance with said regulations. The determination of Fair Market Value shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3.3 and ARTICLE IX hereof. |
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(p) | Fiscal Year. The taxable year of the Company which is the calendar year. |
(q) | ISO. An Incentive Stock Option as defined in Section 422 of the Code, or any successor to such section. |
(r) | NQSO. A Non-Qualified Stock Option, which is an Option that does not qualify as an ISO. |
(s) | Option. An option to purchase Shares granted under the Plan. |
(t) | Parent. Any corporation that is a parent corporation, as that term is defined in Section 424(e) of the Code, or any successor provision. |
(u) | Participant. An individual who is granted a Benefit under the Plan. Benefits may be granted to Employees, consultants and independent contractors of the Company or an Affiliate, in the sole discretion of the Committee. |
(v) | Performance Share. A Share awarded to a Participant under ARTICLE XVI of the Plan. |
(w) | Plan. The Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated Flexible Stock Plan, as amended and restated herein, and all further amendments and supplements to it. |
(x) | Restricted Stock. Shares issued under ARTICLE XV of the Plan. |
(y) | RSU. A restricted stock unit, which represents the Participants right to receive one Share for each RSU held on the scheduled vesting date or other specified payment date. |
(z) | Rule 16b-3. Rule 16b-3 promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act, as amended, or any successor rule in effect from time to time. |
(aa) | SEC. The Securities and Exchange Commission. |
(bb) | Share. A share of Common Stock. |
(cc) | SAR. A stock appreciation right, which is the right to receive an amount equal to the appreciation, if any, in the Fair Market Value of a Share from the date of the grant of the right to the date of its payment. |
(dd) | Stock Based Award. An award under ARTICLE XVIII that is valued in whole or in part by reference to, or is otherwise based on, Common Stock. |
(ee) | Subsidiary. Any corporation that is a subsidiary corporation, as that term is defined in Section 424(f) of the Code, or any successor provision. |
2.2 Other Definitions. In addition to the above definitions, certain words and phrases used in the Plan and any Agreement may be defined in other portions of the Plan or in such Agreement.
2.3 Conflicts in Plan. In the case of any conflict in the terms of the Plan relating to a Benefit, the provisions in the ARTICLE of the Plan which specifically provides for such Benefit shall control those in a different ARTICLE.
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ARTICLE III
COMMON STOCK
3.1 Number of Shares. The number of Shares which may be issued or sold or for which Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, RSUs, Performance Shares or other Stock Based Awards may be granted under the Plan shall be 14,960,077 Shares, determined as 1,600,000 Shares available on and after the Effective Date plus the 13,360,077 Shares that were available under the terms of the Plan prior to the Effective Date to the extent such Shares remain outstanding and available or become outstanding and available again hereunder. Such Shares may be authorized but unissued Shares (subject to payment of any required par value), Shares held in the treasury, or both.
3.2 Reusage. If an Option or SAR expires or is terminated, surrendered or cancelled without having been fully exercised, if Restricted Stock, RSUs or Performance Shares are forfeited, or if any other grant results in any Shares not being issued, the Shares covered by such Option or SAR, grant of Restricted Stock, RSUs, Performance Shares or other grant, as the case may be, shall again be available for use under the Plan. In addition, Shares tendered or withheld in payment of the exercise price for an Option or SAR or in satisfaction of withholding taxes for any Benefit shall be available again for use under the Plan.
3.3 Adjustments. If there is any change in the Common Stock of the Company by reason of any extraordinary dividend, stock dividend, spin-off, split-up, spin-out, recapitalization, warrant or rights issuance or combination, exchange or reclassification of shares, merger, consolidation, reorganization, sale of substantially all assets or, in the Committees sole discretion, other similar or relevant event, then the number, kind and class of shares available for grants of Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, RSUs, Performance Shares and Other Stock Based Awards and the number, kind and class of shares subject to outstanding Options, SARs, grants of Restricted Stock, RSUs and Performance Shares which are not vested, and Other Stock Based Awards, and the price thereof, as applicable, shall be appropriately adjusted by the Committee. The adjustment provisions of this Section 3.3 shall apply to individual limitations under the Plan (e.g., limitations on the number of shares covered by any type of Benefit in any one year period).
3.4 Exclusions from Share Limitation. The following will not be applied to the Share limitations of Section 3.1 above: (a) dividends or dividend equivalents paid in cash in connection with outstanding Benefits, (b) Benefits which by their terms may be settled only in cash, (c) any Shares subject to a Benefit under the Plan which Benefit is forfeited, cancelled, terminated, expires or lapses for any reason, and (d) Shares and any Benefits that are granted through the settlement, assumption, or substitution of outstanding awards previously granted, or through obligations to grant future awards, as the result of a merger, consolidation, or acquisition of the employing company with or by the Company.
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ARTICLE IV
ELIGIBILITY
4.1 Determined By Committee. The Participants and the Benefits they receive under the Plan shall be determined solely by the Committee. In making its determinations, the Committee shall consider past, present and expected future contributions of Participants and potential Participants to the Employer, including, without limitation, the performance of, or the refraining from the performance of, services.
ARTICLE V
ADMINISTRATION
5.1 Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board, its successor or such other committee as the Board may designate (the Committee). The members of the Committee shall be appointed by and shall serve at the pleasure of the Board, which may from time to time appoint members in substitution for members previously appointed and fill vacancies, however caused, in the Committee. The Committee may select one of its members as its Chairman and shall hold its meetings at such times and places as it may determine. A majority of the Committees members shall constitute a quorum. All determinations of the Committee shall be made by a majority of its members. Any decision or determination reduced to writing and signed by a majority of the members shall be fully as effective as if it had been made by a majority vote at a meeting duly called and held.
5.2 Authority. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee shall have discretionary authority to:
(a) | determine the individuals to whom Benefits are granted, the type and amounts of Benefits to be granted and the time of all such grants; |
(b) | determine the terms, conditions, provisions and restrictions that may apply to each Benefit granted, which determinations of the terms, conditions, provisions and restrictions need not be uniform among all Participants; |
(c) | interpret and construe the Plan and all Agreements; |
(d) | prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan; |
(e) | determine the content and form of all Agreements; |
(f) | determine all questions relating to Benefits under the Plan; |
(g) | make all determinations as to the right to Benefits under the Plan, including the authority to review and approve or deny Participant claims for benefits; |
(h) | maintain accounts, records and ledgers relating to Benefits; |
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(i) | maintain records concerning its decisions and proceedings; |
(j) | employ agents, attorneys, accountants or other persons for such purposes as the Committee considers necessary or desirable; |
(k) | take, at any time, any action permitted by Section 9.1 irrespective of whether any Change of Control has occurred or is imminent; |
(l) | do and perform all acts which it may deem necessary or appropriate for the administration of the Plan and carry out the purposes of the Plan; and |
(m) | correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in this Plan or in any Benefit in the manner and to the extent it shall deem desirable. |
All determinations of the Committee in the administration of this Plan, as described herein, shall be final, binding and conclusive, including, without limitation, as to any adjustments pursuant to Section 3.3.
5.3 Delegation. Except as required by Rule 16b-3 with respect to grants of Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, RSUs, Performance Shares, other Stock Based Awards, or other Benefits to individuals who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act or as otherwise required for compliance with Rule 16b-3, Code Section 162(m), or other applicable law, the Committee may delegate all or any part of its authority under the Plan to any Employee, Employees or committee and may authorize further delegation by such committees to senior managers of the Company, in each case to the extent permitted by Missouri law; provided that, determinations regarding the timing, pricing, amount and terms of any Benefit to a reporting person for purposes of Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall be made only by the Committee; and provided further that, no such delegation may be made that would cause Benefits or other transactions under this Plan to cease to be exempt from Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or cause a Benefit intended to qualify for favorable treatment under Section 162(m) of the Code not to qualify for, or to cease to qualify for, the favorable treatment under Section 162(m) of the Code. Any such delegation may be revoked by the Committee at any time.
5.4 Board Authority. Any authority granted to the Committee may also be exercised by the Board or another committee of the Board, except to the extent that the grant or exercise of such authority would cause any Benefit intended to qualify for favorable treatment under Section 162(m) of the Code to cease to qualify for the favorable treatment under Section 162(m) of the Code. To the extent that any permitted action taken by the Board conflicts with action taken by the Committee, the Board action shall control. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to the extent the Board has delegated any authority under this Plan to another committee of the Board, such authority shall not be exercised by the Committee unless expressly permitted by the Board in connection with such delegation.
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ARTICLE VI
AMENDMENT
6.1 Power of Board. Except as hereinafter provided, the Board shall have the sole right and power to amend the Plan at any time and from time to time. Except as provided in this ARTICLE VI, the Committee may at any time alter or amend any or all Agreements under this Plan to the extent permitted by law and subject to the requirements of Section 2.1(b), in which event, as provided in Section 2.1(b), the term Agreement shall mean the Agreement as so amended. No termination, suspension or modification of this Plan may materially and adversely affect any right acquired by any Participant (or a Participants legal representative) or any successor or permitted transferee under a Benefit granted before the date of termination, suspension or modification, unless otherwise provided in an Agreement or otherwise or required as a matter of law. It is conclusively presumed that any adjustment for changes in capitalization in accordance with Section 3.3 or Appendix A hereof does not adversely affect any right of a Participant or other person under a Benefit.
6.2 Limitation. The Board may not amend the Plan, without approval of the shareholders of the Company:
(a) | in a manner which would cause Options which are intended to qualify as ISOs to fail to qualify; |
(b) | in a manner which would cause the Plan to fail to meet the requirements of Rule 16b-3 or Code Section 162(m); or |
(c) | in a manner which would violate applicable law, regulation or stock exchange requirement. |
ARTICLE VII
TERM AND TERMINATION
7.1 Term. The original effective date of the Plan was January 1, 1997 and the Plan as Amended and Restated herein shall commence as of the Effective Date and, subject to the terms of the Plan, including those requiring approval by the shareholders of the Company and those limiting the period over which ISOs or any other Benefits may be granted, shall continue in full force and effect until terminated.
7.2 Termination. The Plan will terminate automatically on May 23, 2022. In addition, the Plan may be terminated at any time by the Board. The Plan will remain in effect with respect to outstanding Benefits until no Benefits remain outstanding.
ARTICLE VIII
MODIFICATION OR TERMINATION OF BENEFITS
8.1 General. Subject to the provisions of Section 8.2, the amendment or termination of the Plan shall not adversely affect a Participants right to any Benefit granted prior to such amendment or termination.
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8.2 Committees Right. Any Benefit granted may be converted, modified, forfeited or cancelled, in whole or in part, by the Committee if and to the extent permitted in the Plan or applicable Agreement or with the consent of the Participant to whom such Benefit was granted. The Committee may, for such consideration (if any) as it may deem adequate and with the prior consent of the Participant, modify the terms of an outstanding Option or SAR; provided, however, that except to the extent permitted by Section 8.3, no Option or SAR may be repriced, replaced or regranted through cancellation, or by lowering the exercise price of such Benefit, and no such Benefit with an exercise price that exceeds Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock shall be canceled, purchased or exchanged for a cash payment, without shareholder approval.
8.3 Special Modification in the Event of a Corporate Transaction. In the event of a corporate transaction (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.424-1(a)(3)), the Committee may provide for the assumption or substitution of outstanding Options or SARs, provided that the requirements of Treas. Reg. § 1.424- 1(a) are satisfied with respect to ISOs, and the requirements of Treas. Reg. § 1.409A- 1(b)(v)(D) are satisfied with respect to all other Options.
8.4 No Discounted Options or SARs; No Repricing. Options and SARs may not be granted with an exercise price lower than the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares on the grant date (except to the extent awards are assumed or substituted in connection with a corporate transaction as described in Section 8.3). The exercise price of an Option or SAR shall not be reduced after grant, including by reason of cancellation, cash buyout or exchange of an underwater Option or SAR, without shareholder approval.
ARTICLE IX
CHANGE OF CONTROL
9.1 Right of Committee. In order to maintain a Participants rights in the event of a Change in Control, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may, in any Agreement evidencing a Benefit, or at any time prior to, or simultaneously with or after a Change in Control, provide such protection as it may deem necessary. Without, in any way, limiting the generality of the foregoing provisions or requiring any specific protection, the Committee may:
(a) | provide for the acceleration of any time periods relating to the exercise or realization of such Benefit so that such Benefit may be exercised or realized in full on or before a date fixed by the Committee; |
(b) | provide for the purchase of such Benefit, upon the Participants request, for an amount of cash equal to the amount which could have been attained upon the exercise or realization of such Benefit had such Benefit been currently exercisable or payable; |
(c) | make such adjustment to the Benefits then outstanding as the Committee deems appropriate to reflect such transaction or change; and/or |
(d) | cause the Benefits then outstanding to be assumed, or new Benefits substituted therefor, by the surviving corporation in such change. |
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ARTICLE X
AGREEMENTS AND CERTAIN BENEFITS
10.1 Grant Evidenced by Agreement. The grant of any Benefit under the Plan may be evidenced by an Agreement which shall describe the specific Benefit granted and the terms and conditions of the Benefit. The granting of any Benefit may be subject to, and conditioned upon, the recipients execution of any Agreement to the extent required by the Committee. All capitalized terms used in an Agreement shall have the same meaning as in the Plan, except as otherwise provided in the Agreement. An Agreement shall be subject to all of the terms of the Plan.
10.2 Provisions of Agreement. Each Agreement shall contain such provisions that the Committee shall determine to be necessary, desirable and appropriate for the Benefit granted which may include, but not be limited to, the following with respect to any Benefit: description of the type of Benefit; the Benefits duration; its transferability; if an Option, the exercise price, the exercise period and the person or persons who may exercise the Option; the effect upon such Benefit of the Participants death or termination of employment; the Benefits conditions; when, if, and how any Benefit may be forfeited, converted into another Benefit, modified, exchanged for another Benefit, or replaced; and the restrictions on any Shares purchased or granted under the Plan.
10.3 Certain Benefits. Except as otherwise expressly provided in an Agreement, any Benefit granted to an individual who is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall not be transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during his lifetime only by him, his guardian or his legal representative.
10.4 Minimum Vesting. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, except with respect to an aggregate of up to 5% of the Shares available pursuant to Article III of the Plan for Benefits granted on or following May 23, 2017, no Benefit will become exercisable or otherwise nonforfeitable unless such Benefit has been outstanding for a minimum period of one year from its date of grant; provided, that all awards of Restricted Stock or Shares shall become nonforfeitable after a minimum period of one year from their dates of grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the vesting of a Benefit may be accelerated in the Committees sole discretion in the case of the Participants death, disability or retirement or upon a Change of Control.
ARTICLE XI
TANDEM AWARDS
11.1 Tandem Awards. Awards may be granted by the Committee in tandem. However, no Benefit may be granted in tandem with an ISO except SARs.
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ARTICLE XII
PAYMENT, DIVIDENDS, DEFERRAL AND WITHHOLDING
12.1 Payment. Upon the exercise of an Option or in the case of any other Benefit that requires a payment to the Company, the amount due the Company is to be paid:
(a) | in cash; |
(b) | by the tender to the Company of Shares owned by the Participant and registered in his name having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount due to the Company; |
(c) | in other property, rights and credits, including the Participants promissory note if permitted under applicable law; |
(d) | by net exercise; or |
(e) | by any combination of the payment methods specified in (a), (b), (c) and (d) above. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any method of payment other than cash may be used only with the consent of the Committee or if and to the extent so provided in an Agreement. The proceeds of the sale of Common Stock purchased pursuant to an Option and any payment to the Company for other Benefits shall be added to the general funds of the Company or to the Shares held in treasury, as the case may be, and used for the corporate purposes of the Company as the Board shall determine.
12.2 Dividend Equivalents. Grants of Benefits in Shares or Share equivalents may include dividend equivalent payments or dividend credit rights. The payment of dividend equivalents or dividend credits attributable to an unvested Benefit is not permitted during the period in which the Benefit is unvested. Dividend equivalents and dividend credits may be accumulated during the vesting period of the underlying Benefit and paid out only to the extent the Benefit has vested. Additionally, Participants holding Options or SARs shall not be granted dividend equivalents or dividend credits for any period prior to the exercise of such Option or SAR. While RSUs or other Benefits may be granted with dividend equivalent rights, any dividend equivalents with respect to RSUs or other Benefits that are earned based on the achievement of performance goals will be accumulated until the underlying stock units are earned, and such dividend equivalents will not be paid if the performance goals are not satisfied.
12.3 Deferral. The right to receive any Benefit under the Plan may, at the request of the Participant, be deferred for such period and upon such terms as the Committee shall determine, which may include crediting of interest on deferrals of cash and crediting of dividends on deferrals denominated in Shares.
12.4 Withholding. The Company, at the time any distribution is made under the Plan, whether in cash or in Shares, may withhold from such distribution any amount necessary to satisfy federal, state and local income tax withholding requirements with respect to such distribution. Such withholding may be in cash or in Shares.
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ARTICLE XIII
OPTIONS
13.1 Types of Options. It is intended that both ISOs and NQSOs may be granted by the Committee under the Plan, with terms not in excess of ten years. In no event may Options known as reload options or other automatic grants to Participants be granted under the Plan.
13.2 Shares for ISOs. The number of Shares for which ISOs may be granted on or after the Effective Date shall not exceed 150,000 Shares.
13.3 Grant of ISOs and Option Price. Each ISO must be granted to an Employee and granted within ten years from the Effective Date. The purchase price for Shares under any ISO shall be no less than the Fair Market Value of the Shares at the time the Option is granted.
13.4 Other Requirements for ISOs. The terms of each Option which is intended to qualify as an ISO shall meet all requirements of Section 422 of the Code.
13.5 NQSOs. The terms of each NQSO shall provide that such Option will not be treated as an ISO. The purchase price for Shares under any NQSO shall be equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value of the Shares at the time the Option is granted.
13.6 Determination by Committee. Except as otherwise provided in Section 13.2 through Section 13.5, the terms of all Options shall be determined by the Committee.
13.7 Limitation on Shares Covered by Options. The maximum number of Shares with respect to which Options may be granted to any Participant in any one year period shall not exceed 200,000 shares. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the Shares covered by an Option that is cancelled shall count against the maximum number of Shares.
ARTICLE XIV
SARS
14.1 Grant and Payment. The Committee may grant SARs. Upon electing to receive payment of a SAR, a Participant shall receive payment in cash, in Common Stock or in any combination of cash and Common Stock, as the Committee shall determine.
14.2 Grant of Tandem Award. The Committee may grant SARs in tandem with an Option, in which case: the exercise of the Option shall cause a correlative reduction in SARs standing to a Participants credit which were granted in tandem with the Option; and the payment of SARs shall cause a correlative reduction of the Shares under such Option.
14.3 ISO Tandem Award. When SARs are granted in tandem with an ISO, the SARs shall have such terms and conditions as shall be required for the ISO to qualify as an ISO.
14.4 Payment of Award. SARs shall be paid, to the extent payment is elected by the Participant (and is otherwise due and payable), as soon as practicable after the date on which such election is made.
14.5 Limitation on SARs. The maximum number of SARs which may be granted to any Participant in any one year period shall not exceed 200,000 SARs. For purposes of the preceding sentence, any SARs that are cancelled shall count against the maximum number of SARs.
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ARTICLE XV
RESTRICTED STOCK
15.1 Description. The Committee may grant Benefits in Shares available under ARTICLE III of the Plan as Restricted Stock. Shares of Restricted Stock shall be issued and delivered at the time of the grant but shall be subject to forfeiture until provided otherwise in the applicable Agreement or the Plan. Each certificate representing Shares of Restricted Stock shall bear a legend referring to the Plan and the risk of forfeiture of the Shares and stating that such Shares are nontransferable until all restrictions have been satisfied and the legend has been removed. The recipient shall be entitled to full voting and dividend rights with respect to all shares of Restricted Stock from the date of grant; provided, however, that dividend payment amounts may be accumulated during the vesting period and paid out only to the extent the Restricted Stock has vested.
15.2 Non-Transferability. Shares of Restricted Stock shall not be transferable until after the removal of the legend with respect to such Shares.
15.3 Limitation on Restricted Stock. The maximum number of Shares with respect to which Restricted Stock may be granted to any Participant in any one year period shall not exceed 200,000 Shares.
ARTICLE XVI
RSUs
16.1 Description. An RSU represents the right to receive one Share of Common Stock on the scheduled vesting date or other specified payment date as provided for in the applicable award Agreement. A Participant receiving RSUs will have no rights of a shareholder as to such RSU until such time as Shares are issued to the Participant.
16.2 Grant. The Committee may grant an award of RSUs. The maximum number of Shares with respect to which RSUs may be granted to any Participant in any one year period shall not exceed 200,000 Shares.
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ARTICLE XVII
PERFORMANCE SHARES
17.1 Description. Performance Shares are the right of an individual to whom a grant of such Shares is made to receive Shares or cash equal to the Fair Market Value of such Shares at a future date in accordance with the terms of such grant. Generally, such right shall be based upon the attainment of targeted profit and/or performance objectives.
17.2 Grant. The Committee may grant an award of Performance Shares. The number of Performance Shares and the terms and conditions of the grant shall be set forth in the applicable Agreement. The maximum number of Shares with respect to which Performance Shares may be granted to any Participant in any one year period shall not exceed 200,000 Shares.
ARTICLE XVIII
CASH AWARDS
18.1 Grant. The Committee may grant Cash Awards at such times and (subject to Section 18.2) in such amounts as it deems appropriate.
18.2 Limitation on Amount. The maximum amount of all Cash Awards that may be granted to any Participant in any one year period shall not exceed $2,000,000.
18.3 Restrictions. Cash Awards may be subject or not subject to conditions (such as an investment requirement), restricted or nonrestricted, vested or subject to forfeiture and may be payable currently or in the future or both.
ARTICLE XIX
STOCK BASED AWARDS AND OTHER BENEFITS
19.1 Stock Based Awards. The Committee shall have the right to grant other Stock Based Awards which may include, without limitation, the grant of Shares based on certain conditions, the payment of cash based on the performance of the Common Stock, and the grant of securities convertible into Shares.
19.2 Limitation on Other Stock Based Awards. The maximum number of Shares with respect to which any Other Stock Based Award may be granted to any Participant in any one year period is 200,000 Shares in the aggregate.
19.3 Other Benefits. The Committee shall have the right to provide types of Benefits under the Plan in addition to those specifically listed, if the Committee believes that such Benefits would further the purposes for which the Plan was established.
ARTICLE XX
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
20.1 Underscored References. The underscored references contained in the Plan are included only for convenience, and they shall not be construed as a part of the Plan or in any respect affecting or modifying its provisions.
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20.2 Number and Gender. The masculine and neuter, wherever used in the Plan, shall refer to either the masculine, neuter or feminine; and, unless the context otherwise requires, the singular shall include the plural and the plural the singular.
20.3 Governing Law/Venue. This Plan shall be construed and administered in accordance with the laws of the State of Missouri, without giving regard to the conflict of laws provisions thereof. Any legal action against the Plan, the Company, an Affiliate, the Board, or the Committee may only be brought in the Circuit Court in St. Louis County and/or the United States District Court in St. Louis, Missouri.
20.4 Purchase for Investment. The Committee may require each person purchasing Shares pursuant to an Option or other award under the Plan to represent to and agree with the Company in writing that such person is acquiring the Shares for investment and without a view to distribution or resale. The certificates for such Shares may include any legend which the Committee deems appropriate to reflect any restrictions on transfer. All certificates for Shares delivered under the Plan shall be subject to such stock-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under all applicable laws, rules and regulations, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate references to such restrictions.
20.5 No Employment Contract. The adoption of the Plan shall not confer upon any Employee any right to continued employment nor shall it interfere in any way with the right of the Employer to terminate the employment of any of its Employees at any time.
20.6 No Effect on Other Benefits. Payments and other benefits received by a Participant under a Benefit shall not be deemed a part of a Participants regular, recurring compensation for purposes of any termination, indemnity or severance pay laws and shall not be included in, nor have any effect on, the determination of benefits under any other employee benefit plan, contract or similar arrangement provided by the Company or an Affiliate, unless expressly so provided by such other plan, contract or arrangement or the Committee determines that a Benefit or portion of a Benefit should be included to reflect competitive compensation practices or to recognize that a Benefit has been made in lieu of a portion of competitive cash compensation. The receipt by a Participant of one type of grant shall not entitle the Participant to receipt of any other type of grant.
20.7 Performance Benefits. The Committee, in its discretion, may condition any of the Benefits upon achievement of one or more performance goals, as further described in Appendix A hereto.
20.8 Clawback. If a Participant is or subsequently becomes subject to the Companys Executive Incentive Recoupment Policy, or a similar clawback policy that may be adopted in the future including, without limitation, any changes required to comply with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the Policy), all or a portion of each Benefit granted to such Participant will be subject to potential recoupment upon the occurrence of certain recoupment events and the Committee shall have discretion regarding application of the Policy to Benefits granted under this Plan.
20.9 Rights as Shareholders. A Participant shall have no right as a shareholder with respect to any Shares covered by a Benefit until the date the Participant becomes the holder of record of such Shares.
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20.10 Date of Grant. The date and time of approval by the Committee of the granting of a Benefit shall be considered the date and time at which such Benefit is made or granted, or such later effective date as determined by the Committee, notwithstanding the date of any Agreement with respect to such Benefit; provided, however, that the Committee may grant Benefits other than ISOs to Employees or to persons who are about to become Employees, to be effective and deemed to be granted on the occurrence of certain specified contingencies, provided that if the Benefit is granted to a non-Employee who is about to become an Employee, such specified contingencies shall include, without limitation, that such person becomes an Employee.
20.11 Beneficiary Upon Participants Death. To the extent that the transfer of a Participants Benefit at death is permitted by this Plan or under an Agreement, (a) a Participants Benefit shall be transferable to the beneficiary, if any, designated on forms prescribed by and filed with the Committee and (b) upon the death of the Participant, such beneficiary shall succeed to the rights of the Participant to the extent permitted by law and this Plan. If no such designation of a beneficiary has been made, the Participants legal representative shall succeed to the Benefits, which shall be transferable by will or pursuant to laws of descent and distribution to the extent permitted by this Plan or under an Agreement.
20.12 Unfunded Plan. This Plan shall be unfunded and the Company shall not be required to segregate any assets that may at any time be represented by Benefits under this Plan. Neither the Company, its Affiliates, the Committee, nor the Board shall be deemed to be a trustee of any amounts to be paid under this Plan nor shall anything contained in this Plan or any action taken pursuant to its provisions create or be construed to create a fiduciary relationship between the Company and/or its Affiliates and a Participant or successor. To the extent any person acquires a right to receive a Benefit under this Plan, such right shall be no greater than the right of an unsecured general creditor of the Company.
20.13 Severability. In the event any provision of this Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of this Plan, and this Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.
20.14 Deferrals and Settlements. The Committee may require or permit Participants to elect to defer the issuance of Shares or the settlement of Benefits in cash under such rules and procedures as it may establish under this Plan. It may also provide that deferred settlements include the payment or crediting of interest on the deferral amounts.
20.15 Limits of Liability. Under the Plan: (a) any liability of the Company to any Participant with respect to a Benefit shall be based solely upon contractual obligations created by this Plan and the Agreement; (b) except as may be required by law, neither the Company nor any member or former member of the Board or the Committee, nor any other person participating (including participation pursuant to a delegation of authority under Section 5.3 hereof) in any determination of any question under this Plan, or in the interpretation, administration or application of this Plan, shall have any liability to any party for any action taken, or not taken, in good faith under this Plan; and (c) to the full extent permitted by law, each member and former member of the Committee and each person to whom the Committee delegates or has delegated authority under this Plan shall be entitled to indemnification by the Company against any loss, liability, judgment, damage, cost and reasonable expense incurred by such member, former member or other person by reason of any action taken, failure to act or determination made in good faith under or with respect to this Plan.
20.16 Employees Employed in Foreign Jurisdictions; Sub-Plans. In order to enable participants who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States, or both, to receive Benefits under the Plan, the Committee may adopt such amendments, administrative policies, sub-plans and the like as are necessary or advisable, in the opinion of the Committee, to effectuate the purposes of the Plan and achieve favorable tax treatment or facilitate compliance
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under the laws of the applicable foreign jurisdiction without otherwise violating the terms of the Plan. Therefore, to the extent the Committee determines that the restrictions imposed by this Plan preclude the achievement of material purposes of the Benefits in jurisdictions outside of the United States, the Committee has the authority and discretion to modify those restrictions as the Committee determines to be necessary or appropriate to conform to applicable requirements or practices of jurisdictions outside of the United States. The Committee may from time to time establish sub-plans under the Plan for purposes of satisfying blue sky, securities, tax or other laws of various jurisdictions in which the Company intends to grant Awards. Any sub-plans shall contain such limitations and other terms and conditions as the Committee determines are necessary or desirable. All sub-plans shall be deemed a part of the Plan, but each sub-plan shall apply only to the Participants in the jurisdiction for which the sub-plan was designed.
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Appendix A
All Performance Shares granted pursuant to Article XVI of this Plan, and any other compensation granted pursuant to this Plan that is intended to constitute performance based compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code, shall be subject to attainment of one or more of the performance objectives as described in this Appendix A. This Appendix A sets forth all applicable performance objectives upon which a grant of Performance Shares under Sections 16.1 and 16.2 of the Plan or any other Benefit may be conditioned.
The performance objectives for a particular Benefit shall be established in writing in the applicable Agreement. The performance objectives may be expressed in terms of overall Company performance or the performance of a Subsidiary, division, business unit, or an individual. The performance objectives may be stated in terms of absolute levels or relative to another company or companies or to an index or indices or industry benchmarks, or relative to levels attained in prior years.
The performance objectives shall be based upon any one or more of the performance criteria set forth below and shall not be based on any other formal or informal performance criteria:
| operating earnings or income; operating earnings or income per share; net income; total or net revenues; operating revenue, gross or net premiums; shareholder return and/or value; retained earnings; book value or book value per share; gross or net margin; profit returns and margins; operating or net cash flow; financial return ratios; return on equity or operating return on equity; return on average adjusted equity; relative return on equity; cumulative operating revenue growth rate; return on assets; return on invested capital; earnings per share growth; change in embedded value; embedded value of new business; |
| budget achievement; expenses; expense control; market capitalization; stock price; market share; working capital; cash available to Company from a subsidiary or subsidiaries; dividends; ratings; business trends; economic value added; and |
| product development; client development; leadership; project progress; project completion; quality; customer satisfaction; diversity and corporate governance. |
Any Benefits that the Committee determines, in its sole discretion, to grant subject to performance objectives under this Appendix A shall be granted in accordance with the following procedures: No later than the 90th day of each performance year, the Committee will establish an objective performance goal for that performance year and while the outcome of whether or not those goals will be achieved is substantially uncertain. However, in no event will such goals be established after 25% of the period of service to which the goals relate has elapsed. The Committee must certify the attainment of the applicable performance goal, to the extent achieved, before an award is made. The Committee may decrease the actual award amount paid to a Participant for any performance year based on such secondary goals and considerations as may be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. The Committee will not change the material terms of the performance goals or the maximum amount payable with respect to any award to an individual covered by Section 162(m) of the Code, without first obtaining shareholder approval.
The Committee may determine, prior to the date the performance criteria are established in writing, to provide for adjustment of the performance criteria to the extent permitted under Code Section 162(m), to account for the effects of: (i) acquisitions; divestitures; extraordinary dividends; stock split-ups; stock dividends or distributions; recapitalizations; warrants or rights issuances or combinations; exchanges or reclassifications with respect to any outstanding class or series of the Companys common stock; (ii) a corporate transaction, such as any merger of the Company with another corporation; any consolidation of the Company and another corporation into another corporation; any separation of the Company or its business units (including a spin-off, split-off or other distribution of stock or property by the Company); any reorganization of the Company (whether or not such reorganization comes within the definition of such term in
Code Section 368); (iii) any partial or complete liquidation by the Company; sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; (iv) the impact of changes in tax rates or currency fluctuations; unusual or non-recurring accounting impacts or changes in accounting standards or treatment; (v) expenditures outside of annual business plans; events such as sales or closing of facilities or operations; business restructurings; and (vi) unusual or extraordinary items. The performance criteria may be applicable to the Company and/or any of its subsidiaries or individual business units and may differ from participant to participant.
Exhibit 10.2
AMENDMENT TO THE
REINSURANCE GROUP OF AMERICA, INCORPORATED
FLEXIBLE STOCK PLAN FOR DIRECTORS
Effective May 19, 2021
WHEREAS, Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (the Company) established the Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated Flexible Stock Plan for Directors (the Plan) to enhance the ability of the Company to reward and provide stock based incentives to its non-employee directors; and
WHEREAS, on March 31, 2021, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company approved an amendment to the Plan, subject to shareholder approval, to increase the total number of shares authorized for issuance under the Plan by 25,000 shares.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Company hereby amends the Plan as follows:
1. Effective upon the date of approval of this amendment by the Companys shareholders, Section 3.1 of the Plan is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
3.1 Number of Shares. The number of Shares which may be issued or sold or for which other Stock Based Awards may be granted under the Plan shall be 307,500 Shares. Such Shares may be authorized but unissued Shares (subject to payment of any required par value), Shares held in the treasury, or both. The maximum dollar amount with respect to which Benefits may be granted to any Participant under the Plan in any one year period shall not exceed $900,000. Pursuant to Section 9.3 of the Plan, any Shares subject to a Participants election pursuant to Section 9.3 of this Plan generally shall not be counted against the Share reserve of this Plan and shall, instead, count against Shares granted pursuant to the Phantom Stock Plan for Directors of Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated as amended from time to time (Phantom Plan).
2. Capitalized terms used herein shall have the same meanings ascribed to them in the Plan.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated hereby adopts the foregoing amendment this 19th day of May, 2021.
REINSURANCE GROUP OF AMERICA, INCORPORATED | ||
By: | /s/ Anna Manning | |
Anna Manning, President and Chief Executive Officer |
REINSURANCE GROUP OF AMERICA, INCORPORATED
FLEXIBLE STOCK PLAN FOR DIRECTORS
As Amended and Restated Effective May 23, 2017
REINSURANCE GROUP OF AMERICA, INCORPORATED
FLEXIBLE STOCK PLAN FOR DIRECTORS
ARTICLE I
NAME AND PURPOSE
1.1 Name. The name of this plan shall be the Flexible Stock Plan for Directors of Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (the Plan).
1.2 Purpose. The purpose of the Plan is to encourage the highest level of director performance by members of the Board of Directors of Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated by providing certain outside directors with compensation based in part on the value of the Companys Common Stock. The Plan is hereby amended and restated as provided herein.
ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS OF TERMS AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION
2.1 General Definitions. The following words and phrases, when used in the Plan, unless otherwise specifically defined or unless the context clearly otherwise requires, shall have the following respective meanings:
(a) | Affiliate. A Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, a Subsidiary of a Parent and any limited liability company, partnership, corporation, joint venture, or any other entity in which the Company or any such Subsidiary owns an equity interest. |
(b) | Agreement. A written contract entered into between the Company or an Affiliate and a Participant or, in the discretion of the Board, a written certificate issued by the Company or an Affiliate to a Participant, in either case, containing or incorporating the terms and conditions of a Benefit in such form (not inconsistent with this Plan) as the Board approves from time to time, together with all amendments thereof, which amendments may be made unilaterally by the Company (with the approval of the Board) unless such amendments are deemed by the Board to be materially adverse to the Participant and are not required as a matter of law, or such other relevant written contract entered into between the Company or an Affiliate and a Participant and approved by the Board. |
(c) | Benefit. Any benefit granted to a Participant under the Plan. |
(d) | Board. The Board of Directors of the Company. |
(e) | Change of Control. The acquisition, without the approval of the Board, by any person or entity, other than the Company or a Related Entity, of more than 20% of the outstanding Shares through a tender offer, exchange offer or otherwise; the liquidation or dissolution of the Company following a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of its assets; a merger or consolidation involving the Company which results in the Company not being the surviving parent corporation; or any time during any two-year period in which individuals who constituted the Board at the start of such period (or whose election was approved by at least two-thirds of the then members of the Board who were members at the start of the two-year period) do not constitute at least 50% of the Board for any reason. A Related Entity is the Parent, a Subsidiary or any employee benefit plan (including a trust forming a part of such a plan) maintained by the Parent, the Company or a Subsidiary. |
(f) | Code. The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time, or any successor statute. Any reference to the Code includes the regulations promulgated pursuant to the Code. |
(g) | Company. Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated, a Missouri corporation, or any successor to all or substantially all of its business by merger, consolidation, purchase of assets or otherwise. |
(h) | Common Stock. The Companys common stock, par value $.01 per share, or any securities issued in respect thereof by the Company or any successor to the Company as a result of an event described in Section 3.3 or ARTICLE VII hereof. |
(i) | Date of Grant. The date on which a Benefit is granted under the Plan, which shall be no later than the date on which the Board approves such Benefit. If the Board approves the award of any Benefit that is to be granted on a future date or upon the occurrence of a future event (such as a Board meeting), the Date of Grant of such Benefit shall be such future date or the date on which such event occurs. |
(j) | Disability. A physical or mental condition arising on or after the effective date of the Plan which, in the opinion of a qualified doctor of medicine chosen by the Company, permanently prevents a Participant from carrying out his or her duties as a member of the Board. |
(k) | Effective Date. The date that the Plan, as amended and restated herein, is approved by the shareholders of the Company, which must occur within one year before or after approval by the Board. |
(l) | Exchange Act. The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. |
(m) | Fair Market Value. The closing price of a Share on the New York Stock Exchange on a given date, or, in the absence of sales on such date, the closing price on the New York Stock Exchange on the last day on which a sale occurred prior to such date. If the Shares are not listed on the New York Stock Exchange, Fair Market Value shall be what the Board determines in good faith to be 100% of the fair market value of a Share on that date. The determination of Fair Market Value shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3.3 and ARTICLE VII hereof. |
(n) | Malfeasance. (1) Conduct, act or omissions which are contrary to a Participants duties as a member of the Board or contrary to the best interests of the Company or any of its Affiliates, or which permit removal of a Participant from the Board for cause as provided in the Companys bylaws or (2) employment of a Participant by or association of a Participant with an organization which competes with the business of the Company or any of its Affiliates. |
(o) | Non-Employee Director. A member of the Board who is not an officer or employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates. |
(p) | Option. An option to purchase Shares granted under the Plan. |
(q) | Parent. Any corporation that is a parent corporation, as that term is defined in Section 424(e) of the Code, or any successor provision. |
(r) | Participant. An individual who is granted a Benefit under the Plan. Benefits may be granted only to persons who are Non-Employee Directors at the time of grant in the sole discretion of the Board. |
(s) | Performance Unit. A hypothetical Share of Common Stock allocated to a Participant on the Companys records based on the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock as of the Date of Grant. One Performance Unit entitles the individual to whom it is granted to receive one Share or cash equal to the Fair Market Value of one Share at a future date in accordance with the terms of such grant. |
(t) | Plan Year. The taxable year of the Company, which is currently the calendar year. |
(u) | Restricted Stock. Shares of Common Stock that are subject to forfeiture until provided otherwise in the applicable Agreement or the Plan or as legended on the certificate representing such Shares. |
(v) | Retirement. Retirement of a Participant as a member of the Board, other than for failure to be renominated or reelected due to Malfeasance. |
(w) | Rule 16b-3. Rule 16b-3 promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act, as amended, or any successor rule in effect from time to time. |
(x) | SEC. The Securities and Exchange Commission. |
(y) | Share. A share of Common Stock. |
(z) | Stock Based Award. An award of Common Stock (including Restricted Stock), Options, Performance Units, or other Benefit granted under ARTICLE XlIl that is valued in whole or in part by reference to, or is otherwise based on, Common Stock. |
(aa) | Subsidiary. Any corporation that is a subsidiary corporation, as that term is defined in Section 424(f) of the Code, or any successor provision. |
2.2 Other Definitions. In addition to the above definitions, certain words and phrases used in the Plan and any Agreement may be defined in other portions of the Plan or in such Agreement.
2.3 Conflicts in Plan. In the case of any conflict in the terms of the Plan relating to a Benefit, the provisions in the ARTICLE of the Plan which specifically provides for such Benefit shall control those in a different ARTICLE.
ARTICLE lIl
COMMON STOCK
3.1 Number of Shares. The number of Shares which may be issued or sold or for which other Stock Based Awards may be granted under the Plan shall be 282,500 Shares. Such Shares may be authorized but unissued Shares (subject to payment of any required par value), Shares held in the treasury, or both. The maximum dollar amount with respect to which Benefits may be granted to any Participant under the Plan in any one year period shall not exceed $900,000. Pursuant to Section 9.3 of the Plan, any Shares subject to a Participants election pursuant to Section 9.3 of this Plan generally shall not be counted against the Share reserve of this Plan and shall, instead, count against Shares granted pursuant to the Phantom Stock Plan for Directors of Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated as amended from time to time (Phantom Plan).
3.2 Reusage. If an Option expires or is terminated, surrendered or canceled without having been fully exercised, if Restricted Stock or Performance Units are forfeited, or if any other grant results in any Shares not being issued, the Shares covered by such Option, grant of Restricted Stock, Performance Units or other grant, as the case may be, shall again be available for use under the Plan. In addition, Shares tendered or withheld in payment of the exercise price for Options or in satisfaction of withholding taxes for any Benefit shall be available again for use under the Plan.
3.3 Adjustments. If there is any change in the Common Stock of the Company by reason of any extraordinary dividend, stock dividend, spin-off, split-up, spin-out, recapitalization, warrant or rights issuance or combination, exchange or reclassification of shares, merger, consolidation, reorganization, sale of substantially all assets or in the Boards sole discretion, other similar or relevant event, then the number, kind and class of shares available for Stock Based Awards and the number, kind and class of shares subject to outstanding Stock Based Awards, and the price thereof, as applicable, shall be appropriately adjusted by the Board. The adjustment provisions of this Section 3.3 shall apply to individual limitations under the Plan (e.g., limitations on the number of shares covered by any type of Benefit in any one year period).
3.4 Exclusions from Share Limitation. The following will not be applied to the Share limitations of Section 3.1 above: (i) dividends or dividend equivalents paid in cash in connection with outstanding Benefits; (ii) Benefits which by their terms may be settled only in cash; (iii) any Shares subject to a Benefit under the Plan which Benefit is forfeited, cancelled, terminated, expires or lapses for any reason; and (iv) Shares and any Benefits that are granted through the settlement, assumption, or substitution of outstanding awards previously granted, or through obligations to grant future awards, as the result of a merger, consolidation, or acquisition of the employing company with or by the Company.
ARTICLE IV
ADMINISTRATION
4.1 Board. The Plan shall be administered by the Board. All determinations of the Board, in its sole discretion, shall be conclusive.
4.2 Authority. Subject to the terms of the Plan, and in particular Section 4.3, the Board shall have the sole discretionary authority to:
(a) | determine the individuals to whom Benefits are granted, the type and amounts of Benefits to be granted and the time of all such grants; |
(b) | determine the terms, conditions, provisions and restrictions that may apply to each Benefit granted, which determinations of the terms, conditions, provisions and restrictions need not be uniform among all Participants; |
(c) | interpret and construe the Plan and all Agreements; |
(d) | prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan; |
(e) | determine the content and form of all Agreements; |
(f) | determine all questions relating to Benefits under the Plan; |
(g) | make all determinations as to the right to Benefits under the Plan, including the authority to review and approve or deny Participant claims for benefits; |
(h) | maintain accounts, records and ledgers relating to Benefits; |
(i) | maintain records concerning its decisions and proceedings; |
(j) | employ agents, attorneys, accountants or other persons for such purposes as the Board considers necessary or desirable; |
(k) | take, at any time, any action permitted by Section 7.1 irrespective of whether any Change of Control has occurred or is imminent; |
(l) | do and perform all acts which it may deem necessary or appropriate for the administration of the Plan and to carry out the purposes of the Plan; and |
(m) | correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in this Plan or in any Benefit in the manner and to the extent it shall deem desirable. |
All determinations of the Board in the administration of this Plan, as described herein, shall be final, binding and conclusive, including, without limitation, as to any adjustments pursuant to Section 3.3. In exercising such authority, the Board may obtain such advice or assistance as it deems appropriate from persons not serving on the Board.
ARTICLE V
AMENDMENT
5.1 Power of Board. Except as hereinafter provided and subject to Section 5.2, the Board shall have the sole right and power to amend the Plan at any time and from time to time. Except as provided in this ARTICLE V, the Board may at any time alter or amend any or all Agreements under this Plan to the extent permitted by law and subject to the requirements of Section 2.1(b), in which event, as provided in Section 2.1(b), the term Agreement shall mean the Agreement as so amended. No termination, suspension or modification of this Plan may materially and adversely affect any right acquired by any Participant (or a Participants legal representative) or any successor or permitted transferee under a Benefit granted before the date of termination, suspension or modification, unless otherwise provided in an Agreement or otherwise or required as a matter of law. It is conclusively presumed that any adjustment for changes in capitalization provided for in Sections 3.3 hereof does not adversely affect any right of a Participant or other person under a Benefit.
5.2 Limitation. The Board may not amend the Plan (i) without approval of the shareholders of the Company if shareholder approval would be required for such an amendment under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange or (ii) in a manner that would violate applicable law.
ARTICLE Vl
TERM. TERMINATION. MODIFICATION AND REPLACEMENT
6.1 Term. The original effective date of the Plan was January 1, 1997 and the Plan as Amended and Restated herein shall commence on the Effective Date, subject to the terms of the Plan, including those requiring approval by the shareholders of the Company and those limiting the period over which any Benefits may be granted, shall continue in full force and effect until terminated.
6.2 Termination. The Plan will terminate automatically on May 23, 2027. In addition, the Plan may be terminated at any time by the Board. The Plan will remain in effect with respect to outstanding Benefits until no Benefits remain outstanding.
6.3 Affect on Benefits. Subject to the provisions of Section 6.4, the amendment or termination of the Plan shall not adversely affect a Participants right to any Benefit granted prior to such amendment or termination.
6.4 General Modification Rules. Any Benefit granted may be converted, modified, forfeited or canceled, in whole or in part, by the Board if and to the extent permitted in the Plan or applicable Agreement or with the consent of the Participant to whom such Benefit was granted. The Board, in its sole discretion, may accelerate the vesting of a Benefit at any time. The Board may, for such consideration (if any) as it may deem adequate and with the prior consent of the Participant, modify the terms of any outstanding Option or stock appreciation rights; provided, however, that except to the extent permitted by Section 6.5, no Option or stock appreciation right may be repriced, replaced or regranted through cancellation, or by lowering the exercise price of such Option or stock appreciation right, and no Option or stock appreciation right with an exercise price that exceeds Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock shall be canceled, purchased or exchanged for a cash payment, without shareholder approval.
6.5 Special Modification in the Event of a Corporate Transaction. In the event of a corporate transaction (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.424-1(a)(3)), the Board may provide for the assumption or substitution of outstanding Options or stock appreciation rights, provided that the requirements of Treas. Reg. § 1.409A- 1(b)(v)(D) are satisfied.
6.6 Replacement of Benefits. The Board may permit a Participant to elect to surrender a Benefit in exchange for a new Benefit. Options known as reload stock options and other automatic grants to Participants are prohibited under the Plan.
6.7 No Discounted Options; No Repricing. Options may not be granted with an exercise price lower than the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares on the grant date (except to the extent awards are assumed or substituted in connection with a corporate transaction as described in Section 6.5). The exercise price of an Option shall not be reduced after grant, including by reason of cancellation, cash buyout or exchange of an underwater Option, without shareholder approval.
ARTICLE Vll
CHANGE OF CONTROL
7.1 Right of Board. In order to maintain a Participants rights in the event of a Change in Control, the Board, in its sole discretion, may, in any Agreement evidencing a Benefit, or at any time prior to, simultaneously with or after a Change in Control, provide such protection as it may deem necessary. Without, in any way, limiting the generality of the foregoing provisions or requiring any specific protection, the Board may:
(a) provide for the acceleration of any time periods relating to the exercise or realization of such Benefit so that such Benefit may be exercised or realized in full on or before a date fixed by the Board;
(b) provide for the purchase of such Benefit, upon the Participants request, for an amount of cash equal to the amount which could have been attained upon the exercise or realization of such Benefit had such Benefit been currently exercisable or payable;
(c) make such adjustment to the Benefits then outstanding as the Board deems appropriate to reflect such transaction or change; and/or
(d) cause the Benefits then outstanding to be assumed, or new Benefits substituted therefor, by the surviving corporation in such change.
ARTICLE Vlll
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF BENEFITS
8.1 Grant Evidenced by Agreement. The grant of any Benefit under the Plan may be evidenced by an Agreement that describes the specific Benefit granted and the terms and conditions of the Benefit. The granting of any Benefit may be subject to, and conditioned upon, the recipients execution of any Agreement to the extent required by the Board. All capitalized terms used in an Agreement shall have the same meaning as in the Plan, except as otherwise provided in the Agreement. An Agreement shall be subject to all of the terms of the Plan.
8.2 Provisions of Agreement. Each Agreement shall contain such provisions that the Board shall determine to be necessary, desirable and appropriate for the Benefit granted which may include, but not be limited to, the following with respect to any Benefit: description of the type of Benefit; the Benefits duration; its transferability; if an Option, the exercise price, the exercise period and the person or persons who may exercise the Option; the effect upon such Benefit of the Participants death or termination of employment; the Benefits conditions; when, if and how any Benefit may be forfeited, converted into another Benefit, modified, exchanged for another Benefit, replaced or transferred; and the restrictions on any Shares purchased or granted under the Plan.
8.3 Non-Transferability. Except as otherwise expressly provided in an Agreement, any Benefit granted to an individual who is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall be not transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during his lifetime only by him, his guardian or his legal representative.
8.4 Fair Market Value. If the number of any Stock Based Awards to be granted is determined based on the value of the Common Stock, such number shall be determined using a value not less than the Fair Market Value of a Share as of the Date of Grant, and the per share exercise price of any Option awarded under the Plan shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a Share as of the Date of Grant (except to the extent awards are assumed or substituted in connection with a corporate transaction as described in Section 6.5 above).
8.5 Tandem Awards. Awards may be granted by the Board in tandem.
ARTICLE IX
PAYMENT, DIVIDENDS, DEFERRAL AND WITHHOLDING
9.1 Payment by Participant. Upon the exercise of an Option or in the case of any other Benefit that requires a payment to the Company, the amount due the Company is to be paid:
(a) | in cash; |
(b) | by the tender to the Company of Shares owned by the Participant and registered in his name having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount due to the Company; |
(c) | in other property, rights and credits, including the Participants promissory note if permitted under applicable law; |
(d) | by net exercise; or |
(e) | by any combination of the payment methods specified in (a), (b), (c) and (d) above. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any method of payment other than cash may be used only with the consent of the Board or if and to the extent so provided in an Agreement or the terms of an award. The proceeds of the sale of Common Stock purchased pursuant to an Option and any payment to the Company for other Benefits shall be added to the general funds of the Company or to the Shares held in treasury, as the case may be, and used for the corporate purposes of the Company as the Board shall determine.
9.2 Dividend Equivalents. Grants of Stock Based Awards may include dividend equivalent payments or dividend credit rights. The payment of dividend equivalents or dividend credits attributable to an unvested Benefit is not permitted during the period in which the Benefit is unvested. Dividend equivalents and dividend credits may be accumulated during the vesting period of the underlying Benefit and paid out only to the extent the Benefit has vested. Additionally, Participants holding Options or stock appreciation rights shall not be granted dividend equivalent or dividend credits for any period prior to the exercise of such Option or stock appreciation right.
9.3 Deferral. Unless otherwise specified by the Board, a Participant may elect, with respect to any Plan Year, to receive a grant of Performance Units in lieu of another Stock Based Award by making and filing with the Board a written irrevocable election prior to the beginning of such Plan Year (or, in the case of a person who becomes a Participant after the beginning of a Plan Year, within 30 calendar days after becoming a Participant). Unless otherwise specified by the Board, shares subject to a Participants deferral election under this Section 9.3 shall count against Shares granted pursuant to the Phantom Plan and shall not be counted against the Share reserve of this Plan. Shares deferred pursuant to this Section 9.3 that are counted under the Phantom Plan shall be governed by the terms and conditions of the Phantom Plan.
9.4 Withholding. The Company, at the time any distribution is made under the Plan, whether in cash or in Shares, may withhold from such distribution any amount necessary to satisfy any federal, state and local income tax withholding requirements with respect to such distribution. Such withholding may be in cash or in Shares.
ARTICLE X
OPTIONS
10.1 Authorization. The Board may grant Options upon such terms and conditions as the Board may determine. Each Option shall be evidenced by an Agreement. In no event may Options known as reload options or other automatic grants to Participants be granted under the Plan.
10.2 Exercise Price. The per share exercise price of any Option awarded under the Plan shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a Share of Common Stock as of the Date of Grant.
10.3 Payment of Exercise Price. The payment of the exercise price for Shares under an Option shall be made in accordance with Section 9.1.
ARTICLE Xl
RESTRICTED STOCK
11.1 Authorization. The Board may grant Benefits as Restricted Stock. Shares of Restricted Stock shall be issued and delivered at the time of the grant. Each certificate representing Shares of Restricted Stock shall bear a legend referring to the Plan and the risk of forfeiture of the Shares and stating that such Shares are nontransferable until all restrictions have been satisfied and the legend has been removed. The grantee shall be entitled to full voting and dividend rights with respect to all shares of Restricted Stock from the Date of Grant; provided, however, that dividend payments may be accumulated during the vesting period and paid out only to the extent the Restricted Stock has vested.
11.2 Non-Transferability. Shares of Restricted Stock shall not be transferable until after the removal of the legend with respect to such Shares.
ARTICLE Xll
PERFORMANCE UNITS
12.1 Authorization. The Board may grant Performance Units.
12.2 Number. Unless otherwise approved by the Board or as set forth in an Agreement, the number of Performance Units granted in lieu of the payment of a directors meeting fee or retainer shall equal the number of Shares of Common Stock determined by dividing the amount of the applicable meeting fee or retainer by the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Date of Grant, rounding up to the nearest whole Share.
12.3 Administration. Any Performance Units granted to a Participant shall be credited to a Performance Unit Account (the Account) established and maintained for such Participant. A Participants Account shall be the record of Performance Units granted to the Participant under the Plan, is solely for accounting and recordkeeping purposes and shall not require a segregation of any Company assets or the setting aside for registering in the name of a Participant any Common Stock. The Performance Units shall be allocated to a Participants Account by the
Board on the business day following the Date of Grant of such Performance Units. Each allocation of Performance Units under the Plan to a participant under the Plan and the number and value of such Performance Units as of the date of allocation shall be communicated by the Board in writing to the participant within thirty (30) days after the date of allocation.
12.4 Terms and Conditions. The grant of Performance Units shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the applicable Agreement. If a Participant shall be determined, in the sole judgment of the Board, to be guilty of Malfeasance, such Participant shall forfeit all rights to the Performance Units.
12.5 Payment. At the end of any imposed restricted or deferral period, if applicable, the Participant shall be entitled to receive from the Company, with respect to each Performance Unit, either (i) cash equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share at that time, or (ii) one Share; provided that unless otherwise approved by the Board, a Performance Unit representing a partial Share shall be paid only in cash. A Participant will not be entitled to receive any earnings on the value of his or her Performance Units with respect to the period between the end of the applicable restricted or deferral period and the receipt of payment under the Plan.
ARTICLE Xlll
OTHER BENEFITS
13.1 Other Stock Based Awards. The Board shall have the right to grant other Stock Based Awards which may include, without limitation, the grant of Shares based on certain conditions, the payment of cash based on the performance of the Common Stock, and the grant of securities convertible into Shares.
13.2 Other Benefits. The Board shall have the right to provide types of Benefits under the Plan in addition to those specifically listed, if the Board believes that such Benefits would further the purposes for which the Plan was established.
ARTICLE XIV
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
14.1 Underscored References. The underscored references contained in the Plan are included only for convenience, and they shall not be construed as a part of the Plan or in any respect affecting or modifying its provisions.
14.2 Number and Gender. The masculine and neuter, wherever used in the Plan, shall refer to either the masculine, neuter or feminine; and, unless the context otherwise requires, the singular shall include the plural and the plural the singular.
14.3 Governing Law/Venue. This Plan shall be construed and administered in accordance with the laws of the State of Missouri, without giving regard to the conflict of laws provisions thereof. Any legal action against the Plan, the Company, an Affiliate, or the Board may only be brought in the Circuit Court in St. Louis County and/or the United States District Court in St. Louis, Missouri.
14.4 Purchase for Investment. The Board may require each person purchasing Shares pursuant to an Option or other award under the Plan to represent to and agree with the Company in writing that such person is acquiring the Shares for investment and without a view to
distribution or resale. The certificates for such Shares may include any legend which the Board deems appropriate to reflect any restrictions on transfer. All certificates for Shares delivered under the Plan shall be subject to such stock-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Board may deem advisable under all applicable laws, rules and regulations, and the Board may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate references to such restrictions.
14.5 No Effect on Other Benefits. Payments and other benefits received by a Participant under a Benefit pursuant to this Plan shall not have any effect on the determination of benefits under any other employee benefit plan (including any benefits awarded under the Companys Phantom Plan), contract or similar arrangement provided by the Company or an Affiliate, unless expressly so provided by such other plan, contract or arrangement.
14.6 Rights as Shareholders. A Participant shall have no right as a shareholder with respect to any securities covered by a Benefit until the date the Participant becomes the holder of record.
14.7 Date of Grant. The date and time of approval by the Board of the granting of a Benefit shall be considered the date and time at which such Benefit is made or granted, or such later effective date as determined by the Board, notwithstanding the date of any Agreement with respect to such Benefit.
14.8 Beneficiary Upon Participants Death. To the extent that the transfer of a Participants Benefit at death is permitted by this Plan or under an Agreement, (i) a Participants Benefit shall be transferable to the beneficiary, if any, designated on forms prescribed by and filed with the Board and (ii) upon the death of the Participant, such beneficiary shall succeed to the rights of the Participant to the extent permitted by law and this Plan. If no such designation of a beneficiary has been made, the Participants legal representative shall succeed to the Benefits, which shall be transferable by will or pursuant to laws of descent and distribution to the extent permitted by this Plan or under an Agreement.
14.9 Unfunded Plan. This Plan shall be unfunded and the Company shall not be required to segregate any assets that may at any time be represented by Benefits under this Plan. Neither the Company, its Affiliates, nor the Board shall be deemed to be a trustee of any amounts to be paid under this Plan nor shall anything contained in this Plan or any action taken pursuant to its provisions create or be construed to create a fiduciary relationship between the Company and/or its Affiliates, and a Participant or successor. To the extent any person acquires a right to receive a Benefit under this Plan, such right shall be no greater than the right of an unsecured general creditor of the Company.
14.10 Severability. In the event any provision of this Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of this Plan, and this Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.
Exhibit 10.3
REINSURANCE GROUP OF AMERICA, INCORPORATED
PHANTOM STOCK PLAN FOR DIRECTORS
As Amended and Restated Effective May 19, 2021
REINSURANCE GROUP OF AMERICA, INCORPORATED
PHANTOM STOCK PLAN FOR DIRECTORS
ARTICLE I
NAME AND PURPOSE
1.1 Name. The name of this Plan is the Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated Phantom Stock Plan for Directors.
1.2 Purpose. The Company has established this Plan to encourage the highest level of director performance by members of the Board of Directors of the Company, by providing certain outside directors with deferred compensation based on the Companys success and progress. The Plan is hereby amended and restated as provided herein and shall be effective with respect to amounts deferred on or after May 19, 2021, except with respect to Section 7.4, which apply to outstanding Performance Units granted at any time under the Plan.
ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS OF TERMS AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION
2.1 General Definitions. The following words and phrases, when used in the Plan, unless otherwise specifically defined or unless the context clearly otherwise requires, shall have the following respective meanings:
(a) | Account. Account shall have the meaning given such term in ARTICLE VI. |
(b) | Affiliate. A Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, a Subsidiary of a Parent and any limited liability company, partnership, corporation, joint venture, or any other entity in which the Company or any such Subsidiary owns an equity interest. |
(c) | Board. The Board of Directors of the Company. |
(d) | Code. The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time, or any successor statute. Any reference to the Code includes the regulations promulgated pursuant to the Code. |
(e) | Common Stock. Any class of the Companys common stock or any securities issued in respect thereof by the Company or any successor to the Company as a result of an event described in ARTICLE X and Section 11.10 hereof. |
(f) | Company. Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated, a Missouri corporation, or any successor to all or substantially all of its business by merger, consolidation, purchase of assets or otherwise. |
(g) | Deferral Period. Deferral Period shall have the meaning given such term in Section 5.3. |
(h) | Director. A duly elected and acting member of the Board who receives Directors Fees from the Company for his or her services as a member of the Board and who is not an officer or employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates. |
(i) | Directors Fees. Any and all of the following, whether payable in cash or Common Stock: |
(i) | Annual retainer fees for services as a Director (including retainers paid to Board and Committee chairs); |
(ii) | Board and Committee meeting attendance fees; and |
(iii) | Any other form of compensation (including cash, equity grants or performance units) paid to a Director for service as a member of the Board, a Committee or a Board sub-group. |
(j) | Disability. A physical or mental condition which, in the opinion of a qualified doctor of medicine chosen by the Company, permanently prevents a Director from carrying out his or her duties as a member of the Board. |
(k) | Dividend Equivalents. Dividend Equivalents shall have the meaning given such term in Section 7.4. |
(l) | Effective Date. The date that the Plan, as amended and restated herein, is approved by the shareholders of the Company which must occur within one year before or after approval by the Board. |
(m) | Fair Market Value. The closing price of a share of Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on a given date, or in the absence of market transactions on such date, the closing price of a share of Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the last day on which a sale occurred prior to such date. If the shares are not listed on the New York Stock Exchange, Fair Market Value shall be what the Board determines in good faith to be 100% of the fair market value of a share on that date. The determination of Fair Market Value shall be subject to adjustment as provided in ARTICLE X. |
(n) | Parent. Any corporation that is a parent corporation, as that term is defined in Section 424(e) of the Code, or any successor provision. |
(o) | Participant. A Director who has satisfied the eligibility requirements of Section 4 and who has Performance Units credited to his or her Account. |
(p) | Performance Unit. A hypothetical share of Common Stock allocated to a Participant on the Companys records based on the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock at the time of the grant. |
(q) | Plan. Plan shall have the meaning given such term in ARTICLE I. |
(r) | Plan Year. The calendar year. |
(s) | Retirement. Retirement of a Participant as a Director. |
(t) | Subsidiary. Any corporation that is a subsidiary corporation, as that term is defined in Section 424(f) of the Code, or any successor provision. |
2.2 Other Definitions. In addition to the above definitions, certain words and phrases used in the Plan may be defined in other portions of the Plan.
ARTICLE III
ADMINISTRATION
3.1 Board. The Board shall administer the Plan. Questions involving eligibility, benefits or the interpretation or operation of the Plan shall be referred to the Board. All determinations of the Board, in its sole discretion, shall be conclusive. The Board may obtain such advice or assistance as it deems appropriate from persons not serving on the Board.
3.2 Expenses. All costs and expenses incurred in the operation and administration of this Plan will be borne by the Company.
ARTICLE IV
ELIGIBILITY
4.1 Participants. Each Director who is a Participant on May 23, 2017 shall continue to be a Participant as of such date. Each individual who becomes a Director on or after May 23, 2017 shall be eligible to participate as of the beginning of the next Plan Year.
ARTICLE V
PERFORMANCE UNITS
5.1 Number of Performance Units. The total number of Performance Units that may be granted under this Plan shall not exceed 155,000.
5.2 Election to Receive and Defer Performance Units. With respect to each Plan Year, a Participant shall be eligible to receive a grant of Performance Units in lieu of all or any portion of his or her Directors Fees by making and filing with the Board a written election by the date specified by the Company, which shall be no later than the December 31 prior to the first day of the Plan Year in which such Directors Fees would otherwise be earned.
5.3 Deferral Period. A Participant who elects to receive a grant of Performance Units in lieu of his or her Directors Fees for any Plan Year under Section 5.2 shall also be eligible at such time to elect to defer payment of such Performance Units (i) for a period of five (5) or seven (7) years from the last day of the calendar year in which a Performance Unit is granted or (ii) to Retirement (Deferral Period). The Participant shall designate to receive payment of such
Performance Units in a single payment or up to five substantially equal annual installment payments. With respect to each grant of Performance Units, a Participant may elect a different Deferral Period and manner of payment hereunder. A Participant who does not affirmatively elect a Deferral Period shall be deemed to have elected a Deferral Period until Retirement with distribution to be made in a single payment.
5.4 Irrevocability. Any election (or deemed election) under ARTICLE V with respect to a Performance Unit shall become irrevocable as of the December 31 prior to the first day of the calendar year in which such Performance Unit is granted.
5.5 Changes. In accordance with the provisions of this Section 5.5, a Participant may change the Deferral Period and/or the form of payment for Performance Units which relate to a particular year by making a re-deferral election and/or an election to have such Performance Units paid in a different form. Any election under this Section 5.5 must comply with all of the following requirements: (i) no prior election to change the Deferral Period or form of payment may have been made with respect to the same years deferrals, (ii) the election is made at least one year prior to the date the distribution would otherwise have begun, (iii) the first payment with respect to which such election is made shall be deferred for a period of not less than five years from the date such payment would otherwise have been made, and (iv) any election related to a payment that was otherwise to be made at a specified time may not be made less than twelve months prior to the date of the first scheduled payment. For purposes of applying the provisions of this Section 5.5, installment payments shall be considered a single payment for purposes of applying these subsequent deferral election rules.
ARTICLE VI
ACCOUNTS
6.1 Performance Unit Accounts. Performance Units shall be credited to a Performance Unit Account (the Account) established and maintained for a Participant. The Performance Units shall be allocated to a Participants Account annually on the same day the annual equity grant is made to Directors, unless the Board approves a different allocation date. The number of Performance Units shall equal the number of full shares of Common Stock that the amount of the deferred Directors Fees would have purchased at Fair Market Value on the allocation date. Partial Performance Units will not be allocated, and standard rounding will be applied to determine the number of full Performance Units. The Account of a Participant shall be the record of Performance Units granted to him or her under the Plan, is solely for accounting and record keeping purposes and shall not require a segregation of any Company assets or setting aside for or registering in the name of a Participant any Common Stock. In addition, the existence of such record and the Account shall not be deemed to create a trust of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company and a Participant or his or her beneficiary. Each allocation of Performance Units under the Plan to a Participant and the number and value of such Performance Units as of the date of allocation shall be communicated annually to the Participant.
ARTICLE VII
RESTRICTIONS AND PAYMENTS
7.1 Restrictions. The Participant shall have no rights and privileges of a shareholder as to the Performance Units credited to his or her Account. Accordingly, the Participant shall have no right to receive dividends actually paid or distributed at the time declared (other than Dividend Equivalents granted under Section 7.4) and no right to vote on account of any allocation of Performance Units to his or her Account. In addition, no interest in the Performance Units or any Account may be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of at any time.
7.2 Payment of Performance Units. Except as otherwise provided under this ARTICLE VII, distribution of the Performance Units shall occur (or commence in the case of annual installments) on the date immediately following the last day of the applicable Deferral Period. Distribution shall be made in a single payment, unless at the time of deferral the Participant had elected to receive payment in annual installments. The Board shall have the sole discretion to determine whether such distribution shall be made in cash or in stock.
(a) | Lump Sum Payments. If distribution shall be made in a single lump sum, the amount of the distribution shall equal (i) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock as of the last day of the Deferral Period multiplied by the number of Performance Units credited to his or her account on such date, or (ii) one share of Common Stock in lieu of cash for each Performance Unit credited to his or her account on the last day of the Deferral Period. |
(b) | Annual Installments. If distribution shall be made in annual installments, the amount of each installment shall equal (i) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock as of the last day of the Deferral Period (or the applicable annual anniversary thereof), multiplied by the number of Performance Units being distributed in such installment, or (ii) one share of Common Stock in lieu of cash for each Performance Unit being distributed in that installment. |
7.2 End of Directorship. If a Participant ceases to be a Director prior to the end of the Deferral Period, distribution of all Performance Units allocated to such Participants Account shall be made or commence at the time and in the form of payment elected or deemed to have been elected at the time of deferral. Payment shall be made to the Participant, the Participants beneficiary in the event of death, or the Participants estate in the case of Disability if there is no attorney-in-fact, as the case may be.
7.3 Tax. In all cases, for purposes of compliance with Section 409A of the Code, payment shall be deemed to be made upon the fixed date or payment event specified under Section 7.2(b) if the payment is made (a) thirty (30) days prior to the specified fixed payment date or event; (b) a later date within the same calendar year as the specified fixed payment date or event; or (c) if later, by the 15th day of the third calendar month following the specified fixed payment date or event. However, in no event shall a Participant be permitted, directly or indirectly, to designate the taxable year of the payment.
7.4 Dividend Equivalents. Grants of Performance Units may include, at the sole discretion of the Board, Dividend Equivalents on each Performance Unit credited to and accumulated under the Participants Account. Dividend Equivalents means a dollar amount equal to the cash dividend that the Participant would have been entitled to receive if the Participant had been the owner, on the record date for a dividend paid on the Common Stock, of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of Performance Units then properly credited to and accumulated under the Performance Unit Account of the Participant. The payment of Dividend Equivalents attributable to any unvested Performance Units is not permitted during the period in which the Performance Units are unvested. Dividend Equivalents will be deemed to be reinvested in additional Performance Units on the date a dividend is paid on the Common Stock, and the additional Performance Units will be accumulated and credited to a Participants Account on the annual allocation date described in Section 6.1. The number of Performance Units acquired with the Dividend Equivalents shall equal the number of full shares of Common Stock that the amount of the Dividend Equivalents would have purchased at Fair Market Value on the dividend payment date, and standard rounding will be applied to determine the number of full Performance Units. All Performance Units credited to a Participants Account under this Section 7.4 shall be paid at the same time, and in the same form, as elected by the Participant under Section 5.3 with respect to the underlying Performance Units in the Participants Account. All outstanding grants of Performance Units made prior to May 19, 2021 are deemed to include the right to receive Dividend Equivalents.
ARTICLE VIII
REGULATORY COMPLIANCE AND LISTING
8.1 Regulatory Compliance. If the Board decides to deliver Common Stock in lieu of cash under ARTICLE VII, the issuance or delivery of any Common Stock may be postponed by the Company for such period as may be required to comply with any applicable requirements under the federal securities laws, any applicable listing requirements of any national securities exchange and requirements under any other law or regulation applicable to the issuance or delivery of such shares, and the Company shall not be obligated to issue, purchase or deliver any Common Stock if the issuance, purchase or delivery of such shares shall constitute a violation of any provision of any law or of any regulation of any governmental authority or any national securities exchange. If the Company is unable to deliver Common Stock after a reasonable period of time, the Board shall direct the delivery of cash under ARTICLE VII to satisfy the distribution of Performance Units.
8.2 Other Agreements. As a condition to receipt of Common Stock, the Participant shall execute such agreements and other documents as the Company may reasonably request for securities law purposes.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENT, TERM AND TERMINATION
9.1 Amendment. Except as hereinafter provided, the Board shall have the sole right and power to amend the Plan at any time and from time to time. No termination, suspension or modification of this Plan may materially and adversely affect any right acquired by any Participant (or a Participants legal representative) or any successor or permitted transferee under a Performance Unit granted before the date of termination, suspension or modification, unless otherwise provided in a separate agreement or otherwise or required as a matter of law.
9.2 Limitation. The Board may not amend the Plan (i) without approval of the shareholders of the Company if shareholder approval would be required for such an amendment under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange or (ii) in a manner that would violate applicable law.
9.3 Term. The original effective date of the Plan was January 1, 1997 and the Plan as amended and restated herein shall commence as of the Effective Date and, subject to the terms of the Plan, including those requiring approval by the shareholders of the Company, shall continue in full force and effect until terminated.
9.4 Termination. The Plan will terminate automatically on May 23, 2027. In addition, the Board may at any time terminate the Plan unless otherwise required by law, the rights of a Participant with respect to Performance Units granted prior to such termination may not be impaired without the consent of such Participant.
ARTICLE X
ADJUSTMENTS
10.1 Adjustment. In the event of any change in the Common Stock of the Company by reason of any extraordinary dividend, stock dividend, spin-off, split-up, spin-out, recapitalization, warrant or rights issuance or combination, exchange or reclassification of shares, merger, consolidation, reorganization, sale of substantially all assets or, in the Boards sole discretion, other similar or relevant event, the Board shall proportionately adjust, in an equitable manner, the total number of Performance Units which may be granted under the Plan under ARTICLE V and the number of Performance Units held by a Participant under the Plan and, if appropriate to reflect such event and preserve the value of such Performance Units, the number, kind and class of shares underlying the Performance Units.
ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
11.1 Underscored References. The underscored references contained in the Plan are included only for convenience, and they shall not be construed as a part of the Plan or in any respect affecting or modifying its provisions.
11.2 Number and Gender. The masculine and neuter, wherever used in the Plan, shall refer to either the masculine, neuter or feminine; and, unless the context otherwise requires, the singular shall include the plural and the plural the singular.
11.3 Governing Law/Venue. This Plan shall be construed and administered in accordance with the laws of the State of Missouri, without giving regard to the conflict of laws provisions thereof. Any legal action against the Plan, the Company, an Affiliate, or the Board may only be brought in the Circuit Court in St. Louis County and/or the United States District Court in St. Louis, Missouri.
11.4 No Director Reelection. Nothing in the Plan shall be deemed to create any obligation on the part of the Board to nominate any Director for reelection by the Companys shareholders.
11.5 Limitations. Neither the adoption of this Plan by the Board nor the submission of the Plan to the Companys shareholders for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power or authority of the Board to adopt such other additional incentive or other compensation arrangements as the Board may deem necessary or desirable
11.6 Deductions. The Company shall have the right to (i) deduct from all amounts paid pursuant to the Plan any taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to such amounts, and (ii) require, within three months after issuance or delivery of any Common Stock, payment by the Participant of any taxes required by law with respect to the issuance or delivery of such shares.
11.7 Designation of Beneficiary. Each Participant may designate one or more beneficiaries to receive all payments due to such Participant hereunder upon his or her death. Such beneficiary designation may be revoked or amended by such Participant, from time to time, by appropriate notice in writing delivered to the General Counsel of the Company. In the absence of any beneficiary designation or in the event that the designated beneficiaries shall not be living at the time of death of the Participant, the Account value on the date of death of the Participant shall be payable and delivered to the estate of such deceased Participant.
11.8 Common Stock. The shares of any Common Stock delivered under the Plan may be either authorized but unissued shares (subject to payment of any required par value) or treasury shares, as determined from time to time by the Board. In either case, the shares shall be fully registered and transferable without restriction.
11.9 Assignment. No rights, interests or benefits under this Plan may be assigned, transferred, pledged or hypothecated in any way. Such rights, interests or benefits shall not be subject to execution, attachment or similar process. Any attempted assignment, transfer, pledge or hypothecation, or other disposition of such rights, interests or benefits contrary to the preceding provisions, or the levy of any attachment or similar process thereupon, shall be null and void and without effect.
11.10 Successors and Assigns. This Plan shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company, whether by way of merger, consolidation, operation of law, assignment, purchase or other acquisition of substantially all of the assets or business of the Company and any such successor or assign shall absolutely and unconditionally assume all of the Companys obligations hereunder.
11.11 No Equitable Rights. The payments to a Participant or his or her beneficiary hereunder shall be made from assets which shall continue, for all purposes, to be part of the general, unrestricted assets of the Company. No person shall have any interest in any such assets by virtue of the provisions of the Plan. The Companys obligation hereunder shall be an unfunded and unsecured promise to pay money in the future. To the extent that any person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company under the provisions hereof, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company. No such person shall have nor acquire any legal or equitable right, interest or claim in or to any property or assets of the Company.
11.12 Tax Compliance. Payments and benefits under this Plan are intended to comply with Code Section 409A to the extent subject thereto, and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Plan shall be interpreted and administered to be in compliance therewith. For purposes of Code Section 409A, a Participants entitlement to annual installment payments shall be treated as an entitlement to a single payment. For purposes of this Plan, a termination of directorship or Retirement shall only be deemed to occur if such termination constitutes a separation from service within the meaning of Code Section 409A.
11.13 Severability. In the event any provision of this Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of this Plan, and this Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.