Form: F-1/A

Registration statement for securities of certain foreign private issuers

April 15, 2024

Exhibit 10.2

VIKING HOLDINGS LTD

2024 EMPLOYEE SHARE PURCHASE PLAN

ARTICLE 1

PURPOSE OF THE PLAN

 

  1.

General; Purpose.

(a)  Purpose. The Plan provides a means by which Eligible Employees or Eligible Service Providers of either the Company or a Designated Company may be given an opportunity to purchase Shares. The Plan permits the Company to grant a series of Purchase Rights to Eligible Employees or Eligible Service Providers. The Company, by means of the Plan, seeks to retain and assist its Related Corporations or Affiliates in retaining the services of such Eligible Employees and Eligible Service Providers, to secure and retain the services of new Eligible Employees and Eligible Service Providers and to provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the success of the Company and its Related Corporations and Affiliates.

(b)  Qualified and Non-Qualified Offerings Permitted. The Plan includes two components: a 423 Component and a Non-423 Component. The Company intends (but makes no undertaking or representation to maintain) the 423 Component to qualify as a Section 423 ESPP. The provisions of the 423 Component, accordingly, will be construed in a manner that is consistent with the requirements of Section 423 of the Code, including without limitation, to extend and limit Plan participation in a uniform and non-discriminating basis. In addition, this Plan authorizes grants of Purchase Rights under the Non-423 Component that do not meet the requirements of a Section 423 ESPP. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or determined by the Plan Administrator, the Non-423 Component will operate and be administered in the same manner as the 423 Component. In addition, the Company may make separate Offerings which vary in terms (provided that such terms are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, and with respect to the 423 Component, the requirements of a Section 423 ESPP), and the Company will designate which Designated Company is participating in each separate Offering and if any Eligible Service Providers will be eligible to participate in a separate Offering. Eligible Employees will be able to participate in the 423 Component or Non-423 Component of the Plan. Eligible Service Providers will only be able to participate in the Non-423 Component of the Plan.

ARTICLE 2

ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

 

  2.

Administration.

(a)  The Board will administer the Plan unless and until the Board delegates administration of the Plan to a Committee or Committees, as provided in Section 2(c).

(b)  The Plan Administrator will have the power, subject to, and within the limitations of, the express provisions of the Plan:

(i)   To determine how and when Purchase Rights will be granted and the provisions of each Offering (which need not be identical).


(ii)  To designate from time to time which Related Corporations will be eligible to participate in the Plan as Designated 423 Corporations or as Designated Non-423 Corporations, which Affiliates will be eligible to participate in the Plan as Designated Non-423 Corporations, and which Designated Companies will participate in each separate Offering (to the extent that the Company makes separate Offerings).

(iii)  To designate from time to time which persons will be eligible to participate in the Non-423 Component of the Plan as Eligible Service Providers and which Eligible Service Providers will participate in each separate Offering (to the extent that the Company makes separate Offerings).

(iv)  To construe and interpret the Plan and Purchase Rights, and to establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations for its administration. The Plan Administrator, in the exercise of this power, may correct any defect, omission or inconsistency in the Plan, in a manner and to the extent it deems necessary or expedient to make the Plan fully effective.

(v)   To settle all controversies regarding the Plan and Purchase Rights granted under the Plan.

(vi)   To suspend or terminate the Plan at any time as provided in Section 12.

(vii)  To amend the Plan at any time as provided in Section 12.

(viii) Generally, to exercise such powers and to perform such acts as it deems necessary or expedient to promote the best interests of the Company, its Related Corporations, and Affiliates and to carry out the intent that the 423 Component be treated as a Section 423 ESPP.

(ix)   To adopt such rules, procedures and sub-plans relating to the operation and administration of the Plan as are necessary or appropriate under Applicable Laws to permit or facilitate participation in the Plan by Employees or Eligible Service Providers who are foreign nationals or employed or providing services or located or otherwise subject to the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States. Without limiting the generality of, but consistent with, the foregoing, the Plan Administrator specifically is authorized to adopt rules, procedures, and sub-plans, which, for purposes of the Non-423 Component, may be beyond the scope of Section 423 of the Code, regarding, without limitation, eligibility to participate in the Plan, handling and making of Contributions, establishment of bank or trust accounts to hold Contributions, payment of interest, conversion of local currency, obligations to pay payroll tax, determination of beneficiary designation requirements, withholding procedures and handling of share issuances, any of which may vary according to Applicable Laws.

(c)  The Board may delegate some or all of the administration of the Plan to a Committee or Committees. If administration is delegated to a Committee, the Committee will have, in connection with the administration of the Plan, the powers theretofore possessed by the Board that have been delegated to the Committee, including the power to delegate to a subcommittee any of the administrative powers the Committee is authorized to exercise (and references in this Plan to the Plan Administrator will thereafter be to the subcommittee), subject,

 

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however, to such resolutions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan and Applicable Laws, as may be adopted from time to time by the Committee. The Board may retain the authority to concurrently administer the Plan with the Committee and may, at any time, revest in the Board some or all of the powers previously delegated. Whether or not the Board has delegated administration of the Plan to a Committee, the Board will have the final power to determine all questions of policy and expediency that may arise in the administration of the Plan.

(d)  All determinations, interpretations and constructions made by the Plan Administrator in good faith will not be subject to review by any person and will be final, binding and conclusive on all persons.

ARTICLE 3

SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

 

  3.

Shares Subject to the Plan.

(a)  Number of Shares Available. Subject to Section 3(b) relating to evergreen shares and Section 11(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments, the maximum aggregate number of Shares that will be made available for sale under the Plan will not exceed [    ] Shares.

(b)  Evergreen Shares. In addition, the number of Shares available for sale under the Plan will automatically increase on the first day of each calendar year, for a period of ten years from the date the Plan is approved by the shareholders of the Company, commencing on January 1, 2025, and ending on (and including) January 1, 2034, in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) [ ]% of the total number of the Company’s ordinary shares and special shares outstanding on December 31 of the preceding year; (ii) [    ] Shares; or (iii) such lesser number of Shares as determined by the Board at any time prior to the first day of a given calendar year.

(c)  Share Recycling. If any Purchase Right granted under the Plan terminates without having been exercised in full, the Shares not purchased under such Purchase Right will again become available for issuance under the Plan.

(d)  Source of Shares. The Shares purchasable under the Plan will be authorized but unissued or reacquired Shares, including Shares repurchased by the Company on the open market.

ARTICLE 4

OFFERINGS

 

  4.

Grant of Purchase Rights; Offering.

(a)  Offerings. The Plan Administrator may from time to time grant or provide for the grant of Purchase Rights to Eligible Employees or Eligible Service Providers under an Offering (consisting of one or more Purchase Periods) on an Offering Date or Offering Dates selected by the Plan Administrator. Each Offering will be in such form and will contain such terms and conditions as the Plan Administrator will deem appropriate, and, with respect to the 423 Component, will comply with the requirement of Section 423(b)(5) of the Code that all Employees granted Purchase Rights will have the same rights and privileges. The terms and

 

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conditions of an Offering will be incorporated by reference into the Plan and treated as part of the Plan. The provisions of separate Offerings need not be identical, but each Offering will include (through incorporation of the provisions of this Plan by reference in the Offering Document or otherwise) the period during which the Offering will be effective, which period will not exceed 27 months beginning with the Offering Date, and the substance of the provisions contained in Sections 5 through 8, inclusive.

(b)  More than One Purchase Right. If a Participant has more than one Purchase Right outstanding under the Plan, unless he or she otherwise indicates in forms delivered to the Company: (i) each form will apply to all of his or her Purchase Rights under the Plan, and (ii) a Purchase Right with a lower exercise price (or an earlier-granted Purchase Right, if different Purchase Rights have identical exercise prices) will be exercised to the fullest possible extent before a Purchase Right with a higher exercise price (or a later-granted Purchase Right if different Purchase Rights have identical exercise prices) will be exercised.

(c)  Restart Provision Permitted. The Plan Administrator will have the discretion to structure an Offering so that if the Fair Market Value of a Share on the first Trading Day of a new Purchase Period within that Offering is less than or equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Offering Date for that Offering, then (i) that Offering will terminate immediately as of that first Trading Day, and (ii) the Participants in such terminated Offering will be automatically enrolled in a new Offering beginning on the first Trading Day of such new Offering Period and Purchase Period.

ARTICLE 5

ELIGIBILITY

 

  5.

Eligibility.

(a)  General. Purchase Rights may be granted only to Employees of the Company or, as the Plan Administrator may designate in accordance with Section 2(b), to Employees of a Related Corporation or, solely with respect to the Non-423 Component, Employees of an Affiliate or Eligible Service Providers.

(b)  Grant of Purchase Rights. The Plan Administrator may provide that Employees will not be eligible to be granted Purchase Rights under the Plan if, on the Offering Date, the Employee (i) has not completed at least two (2) years of service since the Employee’s last hire date (or such lesser period of time as may be determined by the Plan Administrator in its discretion), (ii) customarily works not more than twenty (20) hours per week (or such lesser period of time as may be determined by the Plan Administrator in its discretion), (iii) customarily works not more than five (5) months per calendar year (or such lesser period of time as may be determined by the Plan Administrator in its discretion), (iv) is a highly compensated employee within the meaning of Section 423(b)(4)(D) of the Code, or (v) has not satisfied such other criteria as the Plan Administrator may determine consistent with Section 423 of the Code.

 

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(c)  5% Shareholders. With respect to the 423 Component, no Employee will be eligible for the grant of any Purchase Rights if, immediately after any such Purchase Rights are granted, such Employee owns shares possessing five (5) percent or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of shares of the Company or of any Related Corporation. For purposes of this Section 5(c), the rules of Section 424(d) of the Code will apply in determining the share ownership of any Employee, and shares which such Employee may purchase under all outstanding Purchase Rights and options will be treated as shares owned by such Employee.

(d)  $25,000 Limit. With respect to the 423 Component, as specified by Section 423(b)(8) of the Code, an Eligible Employee may be granted Purchase Rights only if such Purchase Rights, together with any other rights granted under all Section 423 ESPPs of the Company and any Related Corporations, do not permit such Eligible Employee’s rights to purchase shares of the Company or any Related Corporation to accrue at a rate which, when aggregated, exceeds U.S. $25,000 of Fair Market Value of such shares (determined at the time such rights are granted, and which, with respect to the Plan, will be determined as of their respective Offering Dates) for each calendar year in which such rights are outstanding at any time.

(e)  Service Requirement. An Eligible Service Provider will not be eligible to be granted Purchase Rights unless the Eligible Service Provider is providing bona fide services to the Company or a Designated Company on the applicable Offering Date.

(f)  Non-423 Component Offerings. Notwithstanding anything set forth herein except for Section 5(e) above, the Plan Administrator may establish additional eligibility requirements, or fewer eligibility requirements, for Employees or Eligible Service Providers with respect to Offerings made under the Non-423 Component even if such requirements are not consistent with Section 423 of the Code.

ARTICLE 6

PURCHASES

 

  6.

Purchase Rights; Purchase Price.

(a)  Grant and Maximum Contribution Rate. On each Offering Date, each Eligible Employee or Eligible Service Provider, pursuant to an Offering made under the Plan, will be granted a Purchase Right to purchase up to that number of Shares (rounded down to the nearest whole share) purchasable either with a percentage or with a maximum dollar amount, as designated by the Plan Administrator; provided however, that in the case of Eligible Employees, such percentage or maximum dollar amount will in either case not exceed 15% of such Employee’s earnings (as defined by the Plan Administrator in each Offering) during the period that begins on the Offering Date (or such later date as the Plan Administrator determines for a particular Offering) and ends on the date stated in the Offering, which date will be no later than the end of the Offering, unless otherwise provided for in an Offering.

(b)  Purchase Dates. The Plan Administrator will establish one or more Purchase Dates during an Offering on which Purchase Rights granted for that Offering will be exercised and Shares will be purchased in accordance with such Offering.

(c)  Other Purchase Limitations. In connection with each Offering made under the Plan, the Plan Administrator may specify (i) a maximum number of Shares that may be purchased by any Participant on any Purchase Date during such Offering, (ii) a maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be purchased by all Participants pursuant to such Offering,

 

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and (iii) a maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be purchased by all Participants on any Purchase Date under the Offering. If the aggregate purchase of Shares issuable on exercise of Purchase Rights granted under the Offering would exceed any such maximum aggregate number, then, in the absence of any Board action otherwise, a pro rata (based on each Participant’s accumulated Contributions) allocation of the Shares (rounded down to the nearest whole share) available will be made in as nearly a uniform manner as will be practicable and equitable.

(d)  Purchase Price. The purchase price of Shares acquired pursuant to Purchase Rights will be not less than the lesser of:

(i)  an amount equal to 85% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the Offering Date; or

(ii) an amount equal to 85% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the applicable Purchase Date.

ARTICLE 7

PARTICIPATION

 

  7.

Participation; Withdrawal; Termination.

(a)  Enrollment. An Eligible Employee may elect to authorize payroll deductions as the means of making Contributions by completing and delivering to the Company, within the time specified by the Company, an enrollment form provided by the Company or any third party designated by the Company (each, a “Company Designee”). The enrollment form will specify the amount of Contributions not to exceed the maximum amount specified by the Plan Administrator. Each Participant’s Contributions will be credited to a bookkeeping account for such Participant under the Plan and will be deposited with the general funds of the Company except where Applicable Laws require that Contributions be deposited with a Company Designee or otherwise be segregated.

(b)  Contributions. If permitted in the Offering, a Participant may begin Contributions with the first payroll or payment date occurring on or after the Offering Date (or, in the case of a payroll date or payment date that occurs after the end of the prior Offering but before the Offering Date of the next new Offering, Contributions from such payroll or payment will be included in the new Offering) or on such other date as set forth in the Offering. If permitted in the Offering, a Participant may thereafter reduce (including to zero) or increase his or her Contributions. If required under Applicable Laws or if specifically provided in the Offering, in addition to or instead of making Contributions by payroll deductions, a Participant may make Contributions through a payment by cash, check, or wire transfer prior to a Purchase Date, in a manner directed by the Company or a Company Designee.

(c)  Withdrawals. During an Offering, a Participant may cease making Contributions and withdraw from the Offering by delivering to the Company or a Company Designee a withdrawal form provided by the Company. The Company may impose a deadline before a Purchase Date for withdrawing. On such withdrawal, such Participant’s Purchase Right in that Offering will immediately terminate and the Company will distribute as soon as practicable to such Participant all of his or her accumulated but unused Contributions without interest and

 

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such Participant’s Purchase Right in that Offering will then terminate. A Participant’s withdrawal from that Offering will have no effect on his or her eligibility to participate in any other Offerings under the Plan, but such Participant will be required to deliver a new enrollment form to participate in subsequent Offerings.

(d)  Termination of Eligibility. Purchase Rights granted pursuant to any Offering under the Plan will terminate immediately if the Participant either (i) is no longer an Eligible Employee or Eligible Service Provider for any reason or for no reason, or (ii) is otherwise no longer eligible to participate. The Company shall have the exclusive discretion to determine when Participant is no longer actively providing services and the date of the termination of employment or service for purposes of the Plan. As soon as practicable, the Company will distribute to such individual all of his or her accumulated but unused Contributions without interest.

(e)  Leave of Absence. For purposes of this Section 7, an Employee will not be deemed to have terminated employment or failed to remain in the continuous employ of the Company or of a Designated Company in the case of sick leave, military leave, or any other leave of absence approved by the Company; provided that such leave is for a period of not more than three (3) months or reemployment upon the expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or statute. The Company will have sole discretion to determine whether a Participant has terminated employment and the effective date on which the Participant terminated employment, regardless of any notice period or garden leave required under local law.

(f)  Employment Transfers. Unless otherwise determined by the Plan Administrator, a Participant whose employment transfers or whose employment terminates with an immediate rehire (with no break in service) by or between the Company and a Designated Company or between Designated Companies will not be treated as having terminated employment for purposes of participating in the Plan or an Offering; however, if a Participant transfers from an Offering under the 423 Component to an Offering under the Non-423 Component, the exercise of the Participant’s Purchase Right will be qualified under the 423 Component only to the extent such exercise complies with Section 423 of the Code. If a Participant transfers from an Offering under the Non-423 Component to an Offering under the 423 Component, the exercise of the Purchase Right will remain non-qualified under the Non-423 Component. In the event that a Participant’s Purchase Right is terminated under the Plan, the Company will distribute as soon as practicable to such individual all of his or her accumulated but unused Contributions.

(g)  No Transfers of Purchase Rights. During a Participant’s lifetime, Purchase Rights will be exercisable only by such Participant. Purchase Rights are not transferable by a Participant, except by will, by the laws of descent and distribution, or, if permitted by the Company, by a beneficiary designation as described in Section 10.

(h)  No Interest. Unless otherwise specified in the Offering or required by Applicable Laws, the Company will have no obligation to pay interest on Contributions.

 

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ARTICLE 8

EXERCISE OF PURCHASE RIGHTS

 

  8.

Exercise of Purchase Rights.

(a)  On each Purchase Date, each Participant’s accumulated Contributions will be applied to the purchase of Shares (rounded down to the nearest whole share), up to the maximum number of Shares permitted by the Plan and the applicable Offering, at the purchase price specified in the Offering. No fractional shares will be issued unless specifically provided for in the Offering.

(b)  Unless otherwise provided in the Offering, if any amount of accumulated Contributions remains in a Participant’s account after the purchase of Shares on the final Purchase Date in an Offering, then such remaining amount will not roll over to the next Offering and will instead be distributed in full to such Participant after the final Purchase Date of such Offering without interest (unless otherwise required by Applicable Laws).

(c)  No Purchase Rights may be exercised to any extent unless the issuance of Shares on such exercise under the Plan is covered by an effective registration statement pursuant to the Securities Act and the Plan is in material compliance with all Applicable Laws. If on a Purchase Date the issuance of Shares is not so registered or the Plan is not in such compliance, no Purchase Rights will be exercised on such Purchase Date, and the Purchase Date will be delayed until the issuance of Shares may be effected pursuant to such an effective registration statement and the Plan is in material compliance, except that the Purchase Date will in no event be more than three (3) months from the original Purchase Date. If, on the Purchase Date, as delayed to the maximum extent permissible, the issuance of Shares is not registered or the Plan is not in material compliance with all Applicable Laws, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion, no Purchase Rights will be exercised and all accumulated but unused Contributions will be distributed as soon as practicable to the Participants without interest.

ARTICLE 9

COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

9.   Covenants of the Company. The Company will seek to obtain from each U.S. federal or state, foreign or other regulatory commission or agency having jurisdiction over the Plan such authority as may be required to grant Purchase Rights and issue and sell Shares thereunder unless the Company determines, in its sole discretion, that doing so would cause the Company to incur costs that are unreasonable. If, after commercially reasonable efforts, the Company is unable to obtain the authority that counsel for the Company deems necessary for the grant of Purchase Rights or the lawful issuance and sale of Shares under the Plan, and at a commercially reasonable cost, the Company will be relieved from any liability for failure to grant Purchase Rights or to issue and sell Shares on exercise of such Purchase Rights.

ARTICLE 10

DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY

 

  10.

Designation of Beneficiary.

(a)  The Company may, but is not obligated to, permit a Participant to submit a form designating a beneficiary who will receive any Shares or Contributions from the Participant’s account under the Plan if the Participant dies before such shares or Contributions are delivered to the Participant. The Company may, but is not obligated to, permit the Participant to change such designation of beneficiary. Any such designation or change must be on a form approved by the Company or as approved by the Company for use by a Company Designee.

 

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(b)  If a Participant dies, in the absence of a valid beneficiary designation, the Company will deliver any Shares and Contributions to the executor or administrator of the estate of the Participant. If no executor or administrator has been appointed (to the knowledge of the Company), the Company, in its sole discretion, may deliver such Shares and Contributions, without interest, to the Participant’s spouse, dependents or relatives, or if no spouse, dependent or relative is known to the Company, then to such other person as the Company may designate.

ARTICLE 11

ADJUSTMENTS

 

  11.

Capitalization Adjustments; Dissolution or Liquidation; Change in Control.

(a)  Capitalization Adjustment. In the event of a Capitalization Adjustment, the Plan Administrator will appropriately and proportionately adjust: (i) the class(es) and maximum number of securities subject to the Plan pursuant to Section 3, (ii) the class(es) and number of securities subject to, and the purchase price applicable to outstanding Offerings and Purchase Rights, and (iii) the class(es) and number of securities that are the subject of the purchase limits under each ongoing Offering. The Plan Administrator will make these adjustments, and its determination will be final, binding, and conclusive.

(b)  Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Plan Administrator will shorten any Offering then in progress by setting a New Purchase Date prior to the consummation of such proposed dissolution or liquidation. The Plan Administrator will notify each Participant in writing, prior to the New Purchase Date that the Purchase Date for the Participant’s Purchase Rights has been changed to the New Purchase Date and that such Purchase Rights will be automatically exercised on the New Purchase Date, unless prior to such date the Participant has withdrawn from the Offering as provided in Section 7.

(c)  Change in Control. In the event of a Change in Control, then: (i) any surviving corporation or acquiring corporation (or the surviving or acquiring corporation’s parent company) may assume or continue outstanding Purchase Rights or may substitute similar rights (including a right to acquire the same consideration paid to the shareholders in the Change in Control) for outstanding Purchase Rights, or (ii) if any surviving or acquiring corporation (or its parent company) does not assume or continue such Purchase Rights or does not substitute similar rights for such Purchase Rights, then the Participants’ accumulated Contributions will be used to purchase Shares (rounded down to the nearest whole share) prior to the Change in Control under the outstanding Purchase Rights (with such actual date to be determined by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion), and the Purchase Rights will terminate immediately after such purchase. The Plan Administrator will notify each Participant in writing, prior to the New Purchase Date that the Purchase Date for the Participant’s Purchase Rights has been changed to the New Purchase Date and that such Purchase Rights will be automatically exercised on the New Purchase Date, unless prior to such date the Participant has withdrawn from the Offering as provided in Section 7.

 

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(d)  Spin-Off. In the event of a spin-off or similar transaction involving the Company, the Plan Administrator may take actions deemed necessary or appropriate in connection with an ongoing Offering and subject to compliance with Applicable Laws (including the assumption of Purchase Rights under an ongoing Offering by the spun-off company, or shortening an Offering and scheduling a new Purchase Date prior to the closing of such transaction). In the absence of any such action by the Plan Administrator, a Participant in an ongoing Offering whose employer ceases to qualify as a Related Corporation as of the closing of a spin-off or similar transaction will be treated in the same manner as if the Participant had terminated employment (as provided in Section 7(d)).

ARTICLE 12

AMENDMENT, TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF THE PLAN

 

  12.

Amendment, Termination or Suspension of the Plan.

(a)  Plan Amendment. The Plan Administrator may amend the Plan at any time in any respect the Plan Administrator deems necessary or advisable. However, except as provided in Section 11(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments, shareholder approval will be required for any amendment of the Plan for which shareholder approval is required by Applicable Laws, including any amendment that either (i) increases the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan, (ii) expands the class of individuals eligible to become Participants and receive Purchase Rights, (iii) materially increases the benefits accruing to Participants under the Plan or reduces the price at which Shares may be purchased under the Plan, (iv) extends the term of the Plan, or (v) expands the types of awards available for issuance under the Plan, but in each of (i) through (v) above only to the extent shareholder approval is required by Applicable Laws.

(b)  Suspension or Termination. The Plan Administrator may suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. No Purchase Rights may be granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is terminated.

(c)  No Impairment of Rights. Any benefits, privileges, entitlements, and obligations under any outstanding Purchase Rights granted before an amendment, suspension, or termination of the Plan will not be materially impaired by any such amendment, suspension, or termination except (i) with the consent of the person to whom such Purchase Rights were granted, (ii) as necessary to comply with any laws, listing requirements, or governmental regulations (including, without limitation, the provisions of Section 423 of the Code and the regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder relating to Section 423 ESPPs) including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued or amended after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board, or (iii) as necessary to obtain or maintain any special tax, listing, or regulatory treatment. For the avoidance of doubt, the Plan Administrator may amend outstanding Purchase Rights without a Participant’s consent if such amendment is necessary to ensure that the Purchase Right or the 423 Component complies with the requirements of Section 423 of the Code.

(d)  Corrections and Administrative Procedures. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or any Offering Document to the contrary, the Plan Administrator will be entitled to: (i) establish the exchange ratio applicable to amounts withheld in a currency other than U.S. dollars; (ii) permit Contributions in excess of the amount designated by a Participant in order to adjust for

 

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mistakes in the Company’s processing of properly completed Contribution elections; (iii) establish reasonable waiting and adjustment periods or accounting and crediting procedures to ensure that amounts applied toward the purchase of Shares for each Participant properly correspond with amounts withheld from the Participant’s Contributions; (iv) amend any outstanding Purchase Rights or clarify any ambiguities regarding the terms of any Offering to enable the Purchase Rights to qualify under or comply with Section 423 of the Code with respect to the 423 Component; and (v) establish other limitations or procedures as the Plan Administrator determines in its sole discretion advisable that are consistent with the Plan. The actions of the Plan Administrator pursuant to this paragraph will not be considered to alter or impair any Purchase Rights granted under an Offering as they are part of the initial terms of each Offering and the Purchase Rights granted under each Offering.

ARTICLE 13

TAX MATTERS

 

  13.

Tax Matters.

(a)  Section 409A of the Code. Purchase Rights granted under the 423 Component are intended to be exempt from the application of Section 409A of the Code under U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(ii). Purchase Rights granted under the Non-423 Component to U.S. taxpayers are intended to be exempt from the application of Section 409A of the Code under the short-term deferral exception and any ambiguities will be construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent. Subject to Section 13(b) below, Purchase Rights granted to U.S. taxpayers under the Non-423 Component will be subject to such terms and conditions that will permit such Purchase Rights to satisfy the requirements of the short-term deferral exception available under Section 409A of the Code, including the requirement that the shares subject to a Purchase Right be delivered within the short-term deferral period. Subject to Section 13(b) below, in the case of a Participant who would otherwise be subject to Section 409A of the Code, to the extent the Plan Administrator determines that a Purchase Right or the exercise, payment, settlement, or deferral thereof is subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Purchase Right will be granted, exercised, paid, settled, or deferred in a manner that will comply with Section 409A of the Code, including U.S. Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including, without limitation, any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the adoption of the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company will have no liability to a Participant or any other party if the Purchase Right that is intended to be exempt from or compliant with Section 409A of the Code is not so exempt or compliant or for any action taken by the Plan Administrator with respect thereto.

(b)  No Guarantee of Tax Treatment. Although the Company may endeavor to (i) qualify a Purchase Right for special tax treatment under the laws of the United States or jurisdictions outside of the United States, or (ii) avoid adverse tax treatment (e.g., under Section 409A of the Code), the Company makes no representation to that effect and expressly disavows any covenant to maintain special or to avoid unfavorable tax treatment, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan, including Section 13(a) above. The Company will be unconstrained in its corporate activities without regard to the potential negative tax impact on Participants under the Plan.

 

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(c)  Tax Withholding. The Participant will make adequate provision to satisfy the Tax-Related Items withholding obligations, if any, of the Company or the applicable Designated Company which arise with respect to Participant’s participation in the Plan or upon the disposition of the Shares. The Company or the Designated Company may, but will not be obligated to, withhold from the Participant’s compensation or any other payments due the Participant the amount necessary to meet such withholding obligations, withholding a sufficient whole number of Shares issued following exercise having an aggregate value sufficient to pay the Tax-Related Items or withhold from the proceeds of the sale of Shares, either through a voluntary sale or a mandatory sale arranged by the Company or any other method of withholding that the Company or the Designated Company deems appropriate. The Company shall also have the authority and right to initiate, or permit a Participant to initiate, a broker-assisted sell-to-cover transaction whereby shares are sold by such broker and the proceeds of such sale are remitted to the Company or a Designated Company to satisfy tax withholding obligations. The Company or the Designated Company will have the right to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company or a Designated Company to satisfy withholding or reporting obligations for such Tax-Related Items, and to report any information required by tax authorities in relation to an Offering. The Company shall not be required to issue any Shares under the Plan until such obligations are satisfied.

ARTICLE 14

EFFECTIVE DATE

14.  Effective Date of the Plan. The Plan will become effective on the Effective Date. No Purchase Rights will be exercised unless and until the Plan has been approved by the shareholders of the Company, which approval must be within 12 months before or after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board (or, if required under Section 12(a) above, amended by the Plan Administrator). The Plan will continue in effect until terminated under Section 12(b).

ARTICLE 15

MISCELLANEOUS

 

  15.

Miscellaneous Provisions.

(a)  Proceeds from the sale of Shares pursuant to Purchase Rights will constitute general funds of the Company.

(b)  A Participant will not be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of the rights of a holder with respect to, Shares subject to Purchase Rights unless and until the Participant’s Shares acquired on exercise of Purchase Rights are recorded in the books of the Company (or its transfer agent).

(c)  The Plan and Offering do not constitute an employment or service contract. Nothing in the Plan or in the Offering will in any way alter the at-will nature of a Participant’s employment, if applicable, or be deemed to create in any way whatsoever any obligation on the part of any Participant to continue his or her employment or service relationship with the Company, a Related Corporation, or an Affiliate, or on the part of the Company, a Related Corporation, or an Affiliate to continue the employment or service of a Participant.

 

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(d)  The Plan and all determinations made and actions taken pursuant hereto shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Delaware, without regard to its principles of conflicts of laws..

(e)  In the event a Participant believes that a decision by the Plan Administrator with respect to such person was arbitrary or capricious, the Participant may request arbitration with respect to such decision. The review by the arbitrator shall be limited to determining whether the Plan Administrator’s decision was arbitrary or capricious. This arbitration shall be the sole and exclusive review permitted of the Plan Administrator’s decision, and the Participant shall as a condition to participating in the Plan be deemed to explicitly waive any right to judicial review.

(f)  If any particular provision of the Plan is found to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable, such provision will not affect the other provisions of the Plan, but the Plan will be construed in all respects as if such invalid provision were omitted.

(g)  If any provision of the Plan does not comply with Applicable Laws, such provision will be construed in such a manner as to comply with Applicable Laws.

ARTICLE 16

DEFINITIONS

 

  16.

Definitions. As used in the Plan, the following definitions will apply to the capitalized terms indicated below:

(a)  “423 Component” means the part of the Plan, which excludes the Non-423 Component, pursuant to which Purchase Rights that satisfy the requirements for a Section 423 ESPP may be granted to Eligible Employees.

(b)  “Affiliate” means any entity, other than a Related Corporation, in which the Company has an equity or other ownership interest or that is directly or indirectly controlled by, controls, or is under common control with the Company, in all cases, as determined by the Plan Administrator, whether now or hereafter existing.

(c)  “Applicable Laws” means all applicable laws, rules, regulations and requirements, including, but not limited to, all applicable U.S. federal or state laws, rules and regulations, the rules and regulations of any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Shares are listed or quoted, and the applicable laws, rules and regulations of any other country or jurisdiction where Purchase Rights are, or will be, granted under the Plan or Participants reside or provide services to the Company or any Related Corporation or Affiliate, as such laws, rules, and regulations shall be in effect from time to time.

(d)  “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

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(e)  “Capitalization Adjustment” means any change that is made in, or other events that occur with respect to, the Shares subject to the Plan or subject to any Purchase Right after the Effective Date without the receipt of consideration by the Company through merger, amalgamation, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, reincorporation, share dividend, dividend in property other than cash, large nonrecurring cash dividend, share split, liquidating dividend, combination of shares, exchange of shares, change in corporate structure or other similar equity restructuring transaction, as that term is used in Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (or any successor thereto). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the conversion of any convertible securities of the Company will not be treated as a Capitalization Adjustment.

(f)  “Change in Control” shall mean a change in ownership or control of the Company effected through any of the following transactions (excluding the Initial Public Offering):

(i)   the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger, amalgamation or consolidation), the result of which is that any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (a “Person”) becomes the “Beneficial Owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that, for purposes of this clause (a), such Person shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all shares that any such Person has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time or the giving of notice), directly or indirectly, of fifty percent (50%) or more of the issued and outstanding voting shares of the Company measured by voting power rather than number of shares;

(ii)  any disposal by the Company of fifty percent (50%) or more in value of its assets to a Person, other than to the Company or any of its affiliates;

(iii) any issue by Viking Cruises Ltd, a Bermuda company, or its successors, of shares which would result in any Person, other than the Company (whether alone or together with any of its affiliates) acquiring fifty percent (50%) or more of the voting rights in Viking Cruises Ltd, a Bermuda company, or its successors; or

(iv)  the merger, amalgamation, consolidation, recapitalization, share purchase or other similar transaction involving the Company, as a result of which persons who were shareholders of the Company immediately prior to such transaction do not, immediately thereafter, own, directly or indirectly, fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Company (or any merged, amalgamated consolidated, or surviving company) on an as converted basis.

For purposes of this definition of Change in Control, the term “Person” shall not include (i) the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, (ii) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (iv) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares of the Company.

(g)  “Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including any applicable regulations and guidance thereunder.

 

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(h)  “Committee” means a committee of one or more members of the Board to whom authority has been delegated by the Board in accordance with Section 2(c).

(i)  “Company” means Viking Holdings Ltd, a Bermuda company.

(j)  “Company Designee” has the meaning given to such term in Section 7(a).

(k)  “Contributions” means the payroll deductions or other payments specifically provided for in the Offering that a Participant contributes to fund the exercise of a Purchase Right. A Participant may make additional payments into his or her account if specifically provided for in the Offering, and then only if the Participant has not already contributed the maximum permitted amount of payroll deductions and other payments during the Offering.

(l)  “Designated 423 Corporation” means any Related Corporation selected by the Plan Administrator as participating in the 423 Component.

(m)  “Designated Company” means any Designated Non-423 Corporation or Designated 423 Corporation, provided, however, that at any given time, a Related Corporation participating in the 423 Component will not be a Related Corporation participating in the Non-423 Component.

(n)  “Designated Non-423 Corporation” means any Related Corporation or Affiliate selected by the Plan Administrator as participating in the Non-423 Component.

(o)  “Director” means a director of the Company serving on the Board.

(p)  “Effective Date” means the IPO Date, subject to the approval of the shareholders of the Company as provided in Section 14 of the Plan

(q)  “Eligible Employee” means an Employee who meets the requirements set forth in the document(s) governing the Offering for eligibility to participate in the Offering, provided that such Employee also meets the requirements for eligibility to participate set forth in the Plan. For purposes of the Plan, the employment relationship will be treated as continuing intact while the Employee is on sick leave or other leave of absence approved by the Company or a Related Corporation or Affiliate that directly employs the Employee. Where the period of leave exceeds three (3) months and the Employee’s right to reemployment is not guaranteed either by statute or by contract, the employment relationship will be deemed to have terminated three (3) months and one (1) day following the commencement of such leave.

(r)  “Eligible Service Provider” means a natural person other than an Employee or Director who (i) is designated by the Plan Administrator to be an “Eligible Service Provider,” (ii) provides bona fide services to the Company or a Related Corporation, (iii) is not a U.S. taxpayer or provides bona fide services to a Designated Non-423 Corporation, and (iv) meets the requirements set forth in the document(s) governing the Offering for eligibility to participate in the Offering, provided that such person also meets the requirements for eligibility to participate set forth in the Plan.

 

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(s)  “Employee” means any person, including an Officer or Director, who is treated as an employee in the records of the Company or a Related Corporation or Affiliate. However, service solely as a Director, or payment of a fee for such services, will not cause a Director to be considered an “Employee” for purposes of the Plan.

(t)  “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(u)  “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of the Shares determined as follows:

(i)   If the Shares are listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, its Fair Market Value will be the closing sales price for such Shares (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or system on the date of determination, as reported in such source as the Plan Administrator deems reliable;

(ii)  If the Shares are regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, its Fair Market Value will be the mean of the closing bid and asked prices for the Shares on the date of determination, as reported in such source as the Plan Administrator deems reliable; or

(iii) In the absence of an established market for the Shares, the Fair Market Value will be determined in good faith by the Plan Administrator in compliance with Applicable Laws and in a manner that complies with Sections 409A of the Code.

(v)  “Initial Public Offering” shall mean the Company’s initial listing or admission to trading of the Shares on a stock exchange or automated quotation system.

(w)  “IPO Date” shall mean the date on which the Company’s registration statement on Form 8-A in connection with the Initial Public Offering becomes effective.

(x)  “New Purchase Date” means a new Purchase Date set by shortening any Offering then in progress.

(y)  “Non-423 Component” means the part of the Plan, which excludes the 423 Component, pursuant to which Purchase Rights that are not intended to satisfy the requirements for a Section 423 ESPP may be granted to Eligible Employees and Eligible Service Providers.

(z)  “Offering” means the grant to Eligible Employees or Eligible Service Providers of Purchase Rights, with the exercise of those Purchase Rights automatically occurring at the end of one or more Purchase Periods.

(aa) “Offering Date” means a date selected by the Plan Administrator for an Offering to commence.

(bb) “Offering Document” means the document setting forth the terms and conditions of an Offering, as approved by the Plan Administrator for that Offering.

 

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(cc) “Offering Period” means a period with respect to which the right to purchase Shares may be granted under the Plan, as determined by the Plan Administrator pursuant to the Plan.

(dd) “Officer” means a person who is an officer of the Company or a Related Corporation or Affiliate within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

(ee) “Participant” means an Eligible Employee or Eligible Service Provider who holds an outstanding Purchase Right.

(ff) “Plan” means this Viking Holdings Ltd Employee Share Purchase Plan, including both the 423 Component and the Non-423 Component, as amended from time to time.

(gg) “Plan Administrator” shall mean either the Board or the Committee acting in its capacity as administrator of the Plan.

(hh) “Purchase Date” means one or more dates during an Offering selected by the Plan Administrator on which Purchase Rights will be exercised and on which purchases of Shares will be carried out in accordance with such Offering.

(ii) “Purchase Period” means a period of time specified within an Offering, generally beginning on the Offering Date or on the first Trading Day following a Purchase Date, and ending on a Purchase Date. An Offering may consist of one or more Purchase Periods.

(jj) “Purchase Right” means an option to purchase Shares granted pursuant to the Plan.

(kk) “Related Corporation” means any “parent corporation” or “subsidiary corporation” of the Company whether now or subsequently established or acquired, as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and (f), respectively, of the Code.

(ll) “Section 423 ESPP” means a plan that grants Purchase Rights intended to be options issued under an “employee stock purchase plan,” as that term is defined in Section 423(b) of the Code.

(mm) “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(nn) “Share” means an ordinary share of the Company.

(oo) “Tax-Related Items” means any income tax, social insurance, payroll tax, fringe benefit tax, payment on account or other tax-related items arising in relation to a Participant’s participation in the Plan and legally applicable to a Participant.

(pp) “Trading Day” means any day on which the exchange or market on which Shares are listed is open for trading.

 

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