EXHIBIT 4.1
THOMSON REUTERS
STOCK INCENTIVE
PLAN
(As of September 10,
2009)
This Stock Incentive Plan has been adopted by
the Corporation in order to advance the interests of Thomson
Reuters by enabling grants of Options and other equity-based Awards
to be made to selected Participants so as to provide an additional
incentive to such Participants, encourage stock ownership by them
and thereby increase their proprietary interest in Thomson Reuters
success and their desire to remain with Thomson Reuters. The Plan
will also assist Thomson Reuters in attracting and retaining key
Employees. Awards granted prior to September 10, 2009 shall be
administered in accordance with Plan provisions in effect prior to
that date to the extent appropriate. Awards granted on or after
September 10, 2009 shall be administered in accordance with these
Plan provisions.
The following capitalized terms used in the Plan
have the respective meanings set forth in this Section
1.2:
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“
Administrator ” means any person or group of persons
to whom the Committee delegates any or all of its powers pursuant
to Section 1.3(c)(v).
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“
Associate ” means “associate” as defined
by the Toronto Stock Exchange from time to time in its rules and
regulations governing stock option plans, stock purchase plans and
other related matters.
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“
Award ” means an Option, SAR, RSU or other award
granted pursuant to this Plan.
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“
Award Agreement ” means any written or electronic
agreement or other document(s) specifying the terms and conditions
applicable to an Award, which may be accepted or acknowledged by a
Participant through electronic or other non-paper means.
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“
Blackout Period ” means any period imposed by Thomson
Reuters during which specified individuals, including Insiders of
the Corporation, may not trade in the Corporation’s
securities (including for greater certainty when specific
individuals are restricted from trading because they are in
possession of material nonpublic information).
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“
Board ” means the board of directors of the
Corporation.
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“
Business Day ” means a day on which the New York Stock
Exchange (or, if appropriate, any other exchange that is used to
determine Fair Market Value) is open for trading.
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“
Code ” means the United States Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended, including all regulations
thereunder.
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“
Committee ” means the Human Resources Committee of the
Board, any successor committee of the Board, or any subcommittee
established by the Committee to administer the Plan or person or
group of persons to whom the Committee has delegated any or all of
its powers to administer the Plan and to perform the functions set
forth herein.
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“
Common Shares ” means common shares in the capital of
Thomson Reuters Corporation, provided that “Common
Shares” shall include all shares or other securities issued
in substitution for the Common Shares as provided for in Section
1.6.
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“
Corporation ” means Thomson Reuters Corporation and
its successors.
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“
Employee ” means any employee or officer of Thomson
Reuters or such other person as may be determined from time to time
by the Committee.
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“
Employer ” means the entity within Thomson Reuters
which employs a Participant and, if more than one, such entity as
determined for this purpose by the Committee.
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“ Fair
Market Value ” on any day means the closing price in U.S.
dollars of a Common Share on the New York Stock Exchange on the
immediately preceding Business Day, or if not so traded on such
date, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such
exchange for that date; provided, however, that (i) if the Common
Shares are not traded on the New York Stock Exchange or (ii) if in
the discretion of the Committee, such exchange does not reflect the
fair market value of the Common Shares, then “Fair Market
Value” shall mean the closing price in the applicable trading
currency of a Common Share on the other primary trading market for
the Common Shares, which as of the date of this Plan is the Toronto
Stock Exchange, such closing price to be converted into U.S.
dollars or other applicable currency (based on the mid-market noon
spot rate for exchange on the immediately preceding Business Day),
in each case using such closing price reported in such source as
the Committee deems to be reliable. If the Common Shares
are not traded on the New York Stock Exchange or on any other
trading market, the Committee shall determine in its sole
discretion in good faith a method for determining “Fair
Market Value” as of a particular date.
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“
Insider ” means an “insider” as defined by
the Toronto Stock Exchange from time to time in its rules and
regulations governing Security Based Compensation Arrangements and
other related matters.
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“
ISO ” means an Option that qualifies as an incentive
stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and is
designated as such by the Committee at the date of its
grant.
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“
Non-U.S. Participant ” means a Participant who is not
a “United States person” within the meaning of Section
7701(a)(30) of the Code, as either a citizen or
resident.
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“
Option ” means an option granted under the Plan to
purchase Common Shares.
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“
Participant ” means any Employee selected by the
Committee to participate in the Plan, or as the context requires,
any beneficiary thereof.
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“
Plan ” means this Stock Incentive Plan of Thomson
Reuters, as amended, including any supplements, schedules,
guidelines, rules and regulations adopted by the Committee, from
time to time.
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“
RSU ” means a restricted share unit granted under the
Plan.
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“
SAR ” means a stock appreciation right, and includes a
Tandem SAR or a Stand Alone SAR granted under the Plan.
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“
Security Based Compensation Arrangement ” means a
“security based compensation arrangement” as defined by
the Toronto Stock Exchange from time to time in its rules and
regulations governing stock option plans, stock purchase plans,
stock appreciation rights and other related matters.
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“
Stand Alone SAR ” means a SAR not granted in tandem
with an Option.
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“
Subsidiary ” means any corporation of which not less
than 50% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock
is held directly or indirectly by the Corporation, whether or not
such corporation now exists or is hereafter organized or acquired
directly or indirectly by the Corporation. “Subsidiary”
also means an unincorporated business entity, such as a limited
liability company or partnership, in which the Corporation holds
directly or indirectly not less than 50% of the total combined
voting power with respect to all classes of equity ownership of
such entity, whether or not such unincorporated business entity now
exists or is hereafter organized or acquired directly or indirectly
by the Corporation.
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“
Tandem SAR ” means a SAR granted in connection with an
Option.
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“
Thomson Reuters ” means Thomson Reuters Corporation
and its Subsidiaries or any one of them, as the context
requires.
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“ U.S.
Participant ” means a Participant who is a “United
States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of
the Code, as either a citizen or resident.
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The Plan shall
be administered by the Committee.
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Subject to the
limitations of the Plan, the Committee shall have the
responsibility and authority to:
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select those
Employees who may participate in the Plan; and
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grant Awards
under the Plan to Participants and determine the timing of such
Awards.
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Subject to the
limitations of the Plan, the Committee shall be empowered
to:
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establish any
limitations, restrictions, terms and conditions upon any Awards
under the Plan;
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adopt, amend
and rescind such administrative guidelines and other rules and
regulations relating to the Plan as it shall from time to time deem
advisable, including, without limitation, special guidelines and
provisions for persons who are residing in, or are subject to, the
taxes and currencies of, countries other than the United States,
Canada and the United Kingdom;
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make any other
determination and take any other action in connection with the
implementation and administration of the Plan as it may deem
necessary or advisable or as the Board may direct, including,
without limitation, correcting any defect or omission or
reconciling any inconsistency in the Plan or an Award;
and
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delegate to any
person or committee of persons any or all of its powers and
authorities under the Plan, including, without limitation,
authorizing any person to execute on behalf of the Corporation any
instrument required to effectuate the grant of an Award previously
approved by the Committee and maintaining records relating to
Awards, vesting, exercises, forfeitures and expiration of
Awards.
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All decisions,
determinations and interpretations of the Committee on matters with
respect to the Plan within its authority shall be final, conclusive
and binding upon the Corporation and all Participants, except as
otherwise determined by the Board.
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Each of the
Corporation, the Board, the Committee and any Administrator may
consult with professional advisors, including, without limitation,
legal counsel, who may be counsel for the Corporation, the Board,
the Committee, the Administrator or other counsel, with respect to
its obligations or duties hereunder or with respect to any action
or proceeding or any question of law and neither the Corporation
nor any member of the Board or the Committee or any Administrator
shall be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted by it
pursuant to the advice of such counsel or any other action taken or
omitted by it in good faith.
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To the fullest
extent permitted by law, the Corporation shall indemnify and hold
harmless each person who is a member of the Board, the Committee,
or an Administrator with respect to any action, proceeding or claim
of any kind made against such person resulting from any action
taken or omitted by him or her in connection with the
administration of the Plan unless, in each case, such action was
taken or made by such person in bad faith and without reasonable
belief that it was in the best interests of Thomson Reuters. The
Corporation shall not be liable to a Participant for any loss
resulting from a decline in the market value of any Common Shares.
There is no assurance of any particular value as a result of an
Award.
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A
Participant’s right to receive Common Shares hereunder is an
unfunded entitlement only against the general assets of the
Corporation. Each Participant has only the status of a general
unsecured creditor and an Award Agreement constitutes only a
promise by the Corporation to deliver Common Shares in accordance
with the terms and conditions of an Award Agreement.
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In selecting
Participants and in granting Awards, the Committee may give
consideration to:
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the functions
and responsibilities of the Participant;
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his or her
past, present and potential contributions to the profitability and
growth of Thomson Reuters;
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the value of
his or her services to Thomson Reuters; and
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other factors
deemed relevant by the Committee.
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Participation
in the Plan is entirely discretionary. Neither the Plan
nor any Award hereunder shall give any Participant any right with
respect to continuance of employment or appointment by Thomson
Reuters, nor shall the Plan or any Award hereunder impose a
limitation in any way on the right of Thomson Reuters to terminate
any Participant’s employment or appointment at any
time. Thomson Reuters does not assume responsibility for
the income and other tax consequences for the Participants and each
Participant is advised to consult with the Participant’s own
tax advisors.
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Shares
Available, Restrictions and Fractions
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The maximum
number of Common Shares which may be issued under the Plan is
50,000,000 (provided that not more than 5,000,000 Common Shares or
other awards based on Common Shares shall be granted under
Section 5.1), subject to adjustment as provided in
Section 1.6. Such Common Shares may consist, in whole or in
part, of authorized and unissued Common Shares held in treasury or
Common Shares purchased on the open market or a combination
thereof.
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The maximum
number of Common Shares which may be issued under Awards held by a
Participant may not at any time exceed 5% of the number of
outstanding Common Shares at such time determined on a non-diluted
basis.
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The maximum
number of Common Shares for which Awards may be granted and which
may be otherwise awarded under the Plan to a Participant during any
one year period is 5,000,000 Common Shares, subject to adjustment
as provided in Section 1.6.
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The maximum
number of Common Shares which may be issued under Awards held by a
Participant and which may be issued under any other Security Based
Compensation Arrangement of Thomson Reuters:
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to all Insiders
may not at any time exceed 10% of the number of outstanding Common
Shares at such time determined on a non-diluted basis;
and
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to an Insider
and such Insider’s Associates during any one year period may
not exceed 5% of the number of outstanding Common Shares at such
time determined on a non-diluted basis.
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The maximum
number of Common Shares which may be issued under the Plan through
ISOs is 5,000,000, subject to adjustment as provided for in
Section 1.6.
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Any Common
Share issuable pursuant to an outstanding Award that is, for any
reason, cancelled, expired, forfeited or terminated without having
been exercised in full shall again be available for Awards under
the Plan.
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No fractional
shares shall be issued under the Plan, and the Committee shall
determine, in its sole discretion, the manner in which fractional
share values shall be treated for any purpose.
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As soon as
practicable after receipt of a properly completed and signed
written notice of exercise of an Option or SAR and receipt of
payment in full for the Common Shares to be acquired upon exercise
of an Option or upon the vesting of an RSU or other Award, the
Corporation will cause to be mailed to the Participant by
registered or certified mail or will courier the certificates
representing the Common Shares purchased or
acquired. Alternatively, other evidence of ownership of
the Common Shares will be sent to the Participant if the Common
Shares are to be held in book-entry form.
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In the event of any change in the number of
outstanding Common Shares by reason of any stock dividend or split,
recapitalization, reorganization, merger, amalgamation,
consolidation, combination or exchange of Common Shares, or other
corporate change affecting the Common Shares, the Board or the
Committee shall make appropriate adjustment in or substitution
for:
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the number or
kind of shares or other securities reserved for issuance pursuant
to the Plan;
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the number or
kind of shares or other securities subject to outstanding Awards;
and
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the exercise
price of shares or other securities subject to outstanding
Awards;
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provided,
however, that no adjustment or substitution shall obligate the
Corporation to issue or sell fractional shares and that all such
adjustments or substitutions shall be subject to any required
shareholder or regulatory approval.
The Corporation has the right to deduct from all
amounts paid in cash, or to require, prior to the issuance or
delivery of any Common Shares, payment by the Participant of an
amount in cash equal to any taxes required by law to be
withheld.&nbs
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