Schedule 4
France
The purpose of this Schedule 4 is to make certain variations to the terms of the Plan, in order to satisfy French legal requirements, especially provisions of Article 80 quaterdecies of the French Tax Code ("Code général des impôts"), Articles L. 225-197-1 to L. 225-197-5 and Articles L. 22-10-59 to L. 22-10-60 of the French Commercial Code ("Code de commerce"), to grant qualified Awards under the Plan and this Schedule that will benefit from the specific income tax and social regime in France.
The rules of the Plan, as amended by this Schedule, are based on the above-mentioned provisions of the French Commercial Code (in force on the date when the Plan was adopted), subject to any subsequent change or provision required by legislation, regulations or interpretations thereof. Consequently, the rules of the Plan, as amended by this Schedule will be applied and may be amended in accordance with such legislation, regulations and interpretations.
In case of contradiction between (i) the Plan and/or the Award letter and (ii) the French Commercial Code, the French Tax Code and/or the French tax authorities' guidelines, the French Commercial Code, the French Tax Code and the French tax authorities' guidelines shall prevail.
However, nothing in this Plan, as amended by this Schedule, shall be construed as a guarantee or an undertaking by any Member of the Group that such a specific tax and social security treatment will effectively apply. Should the Plan, as amended by this Schedule come to no longer qualify for the specific tax and social security treatment for any reason, no claim against the Company or any Member of the Group could be made by a Participant.
The rules included in this Schedule are based on the assumption that the Shares are listed on a regulated stock exchange and that the Company is incorporated as a PLC (Public Limited Company).
The rules of the Plan shall apply subject to the modifications contained in this Schedule 4 whenever the Committee decides to grant a qualifying Award to a French tax resident Participant under this Schedule 4. The Committee may still decide to grant, to a French tax resident, Awards which terms and conditions may vary from this Schedule 4. Should that be the case, the Awards shall clearly indicate that they may not comply with this Schedule 4 and that they may not be qualifying for the specific treatment under French tax and social security law.
1.Rule 1: Meaning of words used
| 1.1 | The definitions of “Award”, “Conditional Award”, “Grantor”, “Member of the Group” and “Participant” stated in Rule 1 of the Plan shall be deleted and replaced by the following definitions: |
“Award” means a non-transferable, unfunded and conditional right to acquire Shares for free following Vesting.
“Conditional Award” means a conditional right to acquire Shares for free granted under the Plan and the Schedule 4.
“Grantor” means the Company.