form-s8.htm
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 5, 2011
Registration No. 333-_______
 


 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549 

Form S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Under
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

DHT HOLDINGS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Republic of the Marshall Islands
 (State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
N/A
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
   
26 New Street
St. Helier, Jersey JE23RA
Channel Islands
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

2011 Incentive Compensation Plan
 (Full Title of the plan)

CT Corporation
111 Eighth Avenue
New York, NY 10011
(212) 590-9070
(Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copies to:
Erik R. Tavzel, Esq.
Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
Worldwide Plaza
 825 Eighth Avenue
New York, NY 10019
(212) 474-1000
 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a small reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Large accelerated filer ¨
Non-accelerated filer ¨
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Accelerated filer þ
Smaller reporting company ¨

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of
securities
to be registered
 
Amount
to be
registered(1)
   
Proposed maximum
offering price per
share(2)
   
Proposed maximum
aggregate offering
price(2)
   
Amount of
registration fee
 
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
    2,000,000     $ 3.90     $ 7,800,000     $ 905.58  
 (1) Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement shall include any additional shares of common stock that become issuable as a result of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization or other similar transaction that results in an increase in the number of the outstanding shares of the common stock of DHT Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”).
(2) Pursuant to Rule 457(h)(1) and Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act, the offering price is estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee. The proposed maximum offering price per share is estimated to be $3.90, based on the average of the high and low sales prices per share of the Company’s common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange composite transaction tape on July 1, 2011.
 


 
 
 

 
 
 
Part I
 
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS
 
Item 1. Plan Information.
 
All information required by Part I to be contained in the Section 10(a) prospectus is omitted from this Registration Statement in accordance with Rule 428 under the Securities Act and the Note to Part I of Form S-8.
 
Item 2. Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.
 
All information required by Part I to be contained in the Section 10(a) prospectus is omitted from this Registration Statement in accordance with Rule 428 under the Securities Act and the Note to Part I of Form S-8.
 
Part II
 
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
 
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
 
The following documents previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) by the Company are incorporated by reference herein and shall be deemed a part hereof: (1) the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, filed with the Commission on March 31, 2011, which contains audited consolidated financial statements for the most recent fiscal year for which such statements have been filed; (2) all other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) since December 31, 2010, including the Company’s reports on Form 6-K furnished to the Commission on January 14, 2011, February 3, 2011, February 4, 2011, February 10, 2011, March 7, 2011, March 18, 2011, March 24, 2011, April 18, 2011, May 31, 2011 and June 17, 2011; and (3) the description of the Company’s common stock contained in the Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed with the Commission on October 7, 2005, including any amendment or report filed to update such description.
 
In addition, all documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, after the date hereof and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.
 
Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
 
Item 4. Description of Securities.
 
Not applicable.
 
Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
 
The validity of DHT Holdings, Inc. common stock, par value $0.01 per share, offered hereby has been passed upon by Reeder & Simpson PC, Marshall Islands counsel to the Company.
 
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
 
Marshall Islands law provides that with respect to legal actions against a person because that person is or was a director or officer of a corporation, that corporation (i) must indemnify that person for expenses of litigation when that person is successful on the merits, (ii) may indemnify that person for expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement of litigation (other than in an action by or in right of the corporation), even if that person is not successful on the merits, if that person acted in good faith and in a manner that that person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation (and, in the case of criminal proceedings, had no reason to believe that conduct was unlawful) and (iii) may indemnify such person for the expenses of a suit by or in the interest of the corporation, even if such person is not successful on the merits, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner which that person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, provided that no indemnification may be made if such person has been found to be liable of negligence or misconduct in the performance of his duties to the corporation unless the court in which the action was brought determines that, despite the finding of liability, that person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses. The advancement of litigation expenses to a director or officer is also authorized upon receipt by the board of directors of an undertaking to repay such amounts if it is ultimately determined that that person is not entitled to indemnification. The Company’s articles of incorporation and bylaws limit personal liability of directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Marshall Islands law. In addition, the Company has entered into an agreement with its chief financial officer whereby it has agreed to indemnify him substantially in accordance with the indemnification provisions related to its officers and directors in its bylaws. In addition, the Company maintains directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies.
 
 
 
2

 
 
 
Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.
 
Not applicable.
 
Item 8. Exhibits.
 
See attached Exhibit Index.
 
Item 9. Undertakings.
 
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
 
(1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
 
(A) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
 
(B) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment hereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this Registration Statement; and
 
(C) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this Registration Statement;
 
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(A) and (a)(1)(B) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.
 
(2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
(3)  To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
 
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
 
 
3

 
 
 
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
 
 
 
4

 
 
 
SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Oslo, Country of Norway, on July 5, 2011.
 
 
 
DHT Holdings, Inc.
 
       
 
By:
/s/ Eirik Ubøe  
    Name: Eirik Ubøe  
    Title: Chief Financial Officer  
       
 
 
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Eirik Ubøe his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
 
 
 
5

 

 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.
 
Signature
 
 
/s/ Svein Moxnes Harfjeld
Title
 
Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
Date
 
 
July 5, 2011
Svein Moxnes Harfjeld
 
 
/s/ Eirik Ubøe
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer and
Principal Accounting Officer)
July 5, 2011
Eirik Ubøe
 
 
/s/ Erik Lind
Chairman and Director
July 5, 2011
Erik Lind
 
 
/s/ Robert N. Cowen
Director
July 5, 2011
Robert N. Cowen
 
 
/s/ Randee Day
Director
July 5, 2011
Randee Day
 
 
/s/ Rolf Wikborg
Director
July 5, 2011
Rolf Wikborg
 
 
/s/ Einar Michael Steimler
Director
July 5, 2011
Einar Michael Steimler
 
 
/s/ Deborah Diaz
Authorized Representative in the
United States
July 5, 2011
Deborah Diaz
CT Corporation
   
 
 
 
6

 
 
 
EXHIBIT INDEX
 
Exhibit Number
 
Description
4.1
 
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of DHT Holdings, Inc.
4.2*
 
Amended and Restated Bylaws of DHT Holdings, Inc.
4.3
 
2011 Incentive Compensation Plan.
5.1
 
Opinion of Reeder & Simpson PC, regarding the legality of the securities being offered.
23.1
 
Consent of Ernst & Young AS.
23.2
 
Consent of Reeder & Simpson PC (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1
 
Powers of Attorney (included on signature page to this Registration Statement).

*
Incorporated herein by reference from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on March 31, 2011.
 
 
 
 

 
7
ex4-1.htm
Exhibit 4.1

 
AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
 
OF
 
DHT HOLDINGS, INC.
 
PURSUANT TO
 
THE MARSHALL ISLANDS BUSINESS CORPORATIONS ACT
 
Corporate existence commenced on February 12, 2010 and shall continue upon filing these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation with the Registrar of Corporations.
 
The undersigned, for the purpose of amending and restating the original Articles of Incorporation of DHT Holdings, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, as amended and restated to date, pursuant to Section 93 of the Marshall Islands Business Corporations Act, does hereby make, subscribe, acknowledge and file with the Registrar of Corporations this instrument for that purpose, as follows:

ARTICLE I.
 
Name
 
The name of the Corporation shall be “DHT Holdings, Inc.”
 
ARTICLE II.
 
Purpose
 
The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may now or hereafter be organized under the Marshall Islands Business Corporations Act (the “BCA”) and without in any way limiting the foregoing, the Corporation shall have the power:
 
(a) To purchase or otherwise acquire, own, use, operate, pledge, hypothecate, mortgage, lease, charter, sub-charter, sell, build, and repair steamships, motorships, tankers, vessels, sailing vessels, tugs, lighters, barges, and all other vessels and craft of any and all motive power whatsoever, including aircraft, landcraft, and any and all means of conveyance and transportation by land, water or air, together with engines, boilers, machinery equipment and appurtenances of all kinds, including masts, sails, boats, anchors, cables, tackle, furniture and all other necessities thereunto appertaining and belonging, together with all materials, articles, tools, equipment and appliances necessary, suitable or convenient for the construction, equipment, use and operation thereof; and to equip, furnish, and outfit such vessels and ships.
 
(b) To engage in ocean, coastwise and inland commerce, and generally in the carriage of freight, goods, cargo in bulk, passengers, mail and personal effects by water between the various ports of the world and to engage generally in waterborne commerce.
 
(c) To purchase or otherwise acquire, own, use, operate, lease, build, repair, sell or in any manner dispose of docks, piers, quays, wharves, dry docks, warehouses and storage facilities of all kinds, and any property, real, personal and mixed, in connection therewith.
 
(d) To act as ship’s husband, ship brokers, custom house brokers, ship’s agents, manager of shipping property, freight contractors, forwarding agents, warehousemen, wharfingers, ship chandlers, and general traders.
 
 
 
1

 
 
 
ARTICLE III.
 
Address; Registered Agent
 
The registered address of the Corporation in the Republic of the Marshall Islands is Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands MH96960. The name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address is The Trust Company of the Marshall Islands, Inc.
 
ARTICLE IV.
 
Capital Stock
 
Section 4.01. Authorized Capital Stock. The total number of shares of capital stock that the Corporation shall have authority to issue is One Hundred Twenty Six Million (126,000,000) registered shares, consisting of One Hundred Twenty Five Million (125,000,000) registered shares of common stock, par value of US$0.01 per share (“Common Stock”) and One Million (1,000,000) registered shares of preferred stock, par value of $0.01 per share (“Preferred Stock”).
 
Section 4.02. Preferred Stock. The Board is hereby expressly authorized, by resolution or resolutions, to provide, out of the unissued shares of Preferred Stock, for series of Preferred Stock and, with respect to each such series, to fix the number of shares constituting such series and the designation of such series, the voting powers (if any) of the shares of such series, and the preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series. The powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of each series of Preferred Stock, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding.
 
Section 4.03. No preemptive rights. Shareholders of the Corporation shall have no conversion, redemption or preemptive rights to subscribe to any of the Corporation’s securities.
 
ARTICLE V.
 
Directors
 
Section 5.01. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board, the exact number of directors comprising the entire Board to be not less than three nor more than twelve (subject to any rights of the holders of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances) as determined from time to time by resolution adopted by affirmative vote of a majority of the Board. As used in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, the term “entire Board” means the total number of directors that the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies or unfilled newly created directorships.
 
Section 5.02. Number, election and terms. The Board shall be divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as the then total number of directors constituting the entire Board permits, with the term of office of one of the three classes expiring each year. As soon as practicable after the effectiveness of the Articles of Incorporation pursuant to the BCA (the “Effective Time”), the incorporator of the Corporation shall hold an organization meeting to divide the Board into three classes, with the term of office of the first class to expire at the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the term of office of the second class to expire at the 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and the term of office of the third class to expire at the 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Commencing with the 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the directors elected at an annual meeting of shareholders to succeed those whose terms then expire shall be identified as being directors of the same class as the directors whom they succeed, and each of them shall hold office until the third succeeding annual meeting of shareholders and until such director’s successor is duly elected and has qualified. Cumulative voting, as defined in Division 7, Section 71(2) of the BCA, shall not be used to elect directors.
 
 
 
2

 
 
 
Section 5.03. Shareholder nomination of Director candidates; shareholder proposal of business. Advance notice of shareholder nominations for the election of Directors and of the proposal of business by stockholders shall be given in the manner provided in the bylaws, as amended and in effect from time to time.
 
Section 5.04. Newly created directorships and vacancies. Any vacancies in the Board for any reason, other than those specified in Section 5.05, and any created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors, may be filled by the vote of not less than a majority of the members of the Board then in office, although less than a quorum, and any directors so chosen shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such directors shall have been chosen and until their successors shall be elected and qualified. Any Director elected in accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the class of Directors in which the new directorship was created or the vacancy occurred and until such Director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified. No decrease in the number of Directors constituting the Board shall shorten the term of any incumbent Director. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and except as otherwise required by law, whenever the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately as a class, to elect one or more directors of the Corporation, the then authorized number of directors shall be increased by the number of directors so to be elected, and the terms of the director or directors elected by such holders shall expire at the next succeeding annual meeting of shareholders.
 
Section 5.05. Removal.  (a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation or the bylaws of the Corporation (and notwithstanding the fact that some lesser percentage may be specified by law, these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation or the bylaws of the Corporation), any Director or the entire Board may be removed at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors cast at a meeting of the shareholders called for that purpose. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and except as otherwise required by law, whenever the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately as a class, to elect one or more directors of the Corporation, the provisions of this Section 5.05 of this Article V shall not apply with respect to the director or directors elected by such holders of Preferred Stock.
 
(b) In order to remove a Director, a special general meeting shall be convened and held in accordance with these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and the bylaws. Notice of such a meeting convened for the purpose of removing a Director shall contain a statement of the intention so to do and be served on such Director not less than fourteen days before the meeting and at such meeting the Director shall be entitled to be heard on the motion for such Director’s removal.
 
(c) For the purpose of this Section 5.05, “cause” means (a) conviction of a felony, indictable offence or similar criminal offence or (b) willful misconduct that results in material injury (monetary or otherwise) to the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries.
 
(d) If a Director is removed from the Board under the provisions of this Section 5.05, the shareholders may fill the vacancy at the meeting at which such Director is removed. In the absence of such election or appointment, the Board may fill the vacancy.
 
Section 5.06. Amendment, repeal, etc. Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation or the bylaws of the Corporation (and notwithstanding the fact that some lesser percentage may be specified by law, these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation or the bylaws of the Corporation), the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (considered for this purpose as one class) shall be required to amend, alter, change or repeal this Article V.
 
 
 
3

 
 
 
ARTICLE VI.
 
Bylaws
 
In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred upon it by law, the Board shall have the authority to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation by a vote of not less than a majority of the entire Board, but any bylaw adopted by the Board may be amended or repealed by shareholders entitled to vote thereon.
 
ARTICLE VII.
 
Shareholder Action
 
Section 7.01. Shareholder Meetings. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the shareholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of the shareholders or by the unanimous written consent of the shareholders. Except as otherwise required by law and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, special meetings of the shareholders for any purpose or purposes may be called only by (i) the Chairman of the Board or the chief executive officer, at the direction of the Board as set forth in a resolution stating the purpose or purposes thereof approved by a majority of the entire Board or (ii) holders of not less than one-fifth of all outstanding shares of Common Stock, who shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed special meeting. If there is a failure to hold the annual meeting within a period of ninety (90) days after the date designated therefor, or if no date has been designated for a period of thirteen (13) months after the Effective Time or after the Corporation’s last annual meeting, holders of not less than one-fifth of the shares entitled to vote in an election of directors may, in writing, demand the calling of a special meeting in lieu of the annual meeting specifying the time thereof, which shall not be less than two (2) nor more than three (3) months from the date of such call. The Chairman of the Board or chief executive officer of the Corporation upon receiving the written demand shall promptly give notice of such meeting, or if the Chairman of the Board or chief executive officer fails to do so within five (5) business days thereafter, any shareholder signing such demand may give such notice. Such notice shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed special meeting. The business transacted at any special meeting shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice of such meeting.
 
Section 7.02. Action by Unanimous Written Consent. Any action required to be taken or which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of shareholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing setting forth the action so taken, is signed by all of the shareholders entitled to vote with respect to the subject matter thereof.
 
ARTICLE VIII.
 
Limitation of Director Liability
 
A Director shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a Director, except, if required by the BCA, as amended from time to time, for (i) liability for any breach of the Director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its shareholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, or (iii) for any transaction from which the Director derived an improper personal benefit. Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article VIII shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article VIII in respect of any matter occurring, or any cause of action, suit or claim that, but for this Article VIII would accrue or arise, prior to such amendment or repeal.
 
 
4

ex4-3.htm
Exhibit 4.3
 
 
DHT HOLDINGS, INC.
 2011 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
 

SECTION 1.  Purpose.  The purpose of this DHT Holdings, Inc. 2011 Incentive Compensation Plan is to promote the interests of DHT Holdings, Inc. and its stockholders by (a) attracting and retaining exceptional directors, officers, employees, consultants and independent contractors (including prospective directors, officers, employees, consultants and independent contractors) and (b) enabling such individuals to participate in the long-term growth and financial success of DHT Holdings, Inc.

 

SECTION 2.  Definitions.  As used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

 

“Affiliate” means (a) any entity that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by, controls or is under common control with the Company and (b) any entity in which the Company has a significant equity interest, in either case as determined by the Committee.
 
“Award” means any award that is permitted under Section 6 and granted under the Plan.
 
“Award Agreement” means any written agreement, contract or other instrument or document evidencing any Award, which may, but need not, require execution or acknowledgment by a Participant.
 
“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
 
“Cash Incentive Award” shall have the meaning specified in Section 6(d).
 
“Change of Control” shall, for purposes of any Award, (a) have the meaning set forth in the applicable Award Agreement or (b) if there is no definition set forth in such Award Agreement, mean the occurrence of any of the following events, not including any events occurring prior to or in connection with an initial public offering of Shares (including the occurrence of such initial public offering):
 

(i)  the consummation of (A) a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving (x) the Company or (y) any of its Subsidiaries, but in the case of this clause (y) only if Company Voting Securities (as defined below) are issued or issuable in connection with such transaction (each of the transactions referred to in this clause (A) being hereinafter referred to as a “Reorganization”) or (B) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all the assets of the Company to an entity that is not an Affiliate (a “Sale”) if such Reorganization or Sale requires the approval of the Company’s stockholders under the law of the Company’s jurisdiction of organization (whether such approval is required for such Reorganization or Sale or for the issuance of securities of the Company in such Reorganization or Sale), unless, immediately following such Reorganization or Sale, (1) all or substantially all the individuals and entities who were the “beneficial owners” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act (or a successor rule thereto)) of the Shares or other securities eligible to vote for the election of the Board (collectively, the “Company Voting Securities”) outstanding immediately prior to the consummation of such Reorganization or Sale beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the entity resulting from such Reorganization or Sale (including, without limitation, an entity that as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) (the “Continuing Entity”) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to the consummation of such Reorganization or Sale, of the outstanding Company Voting Securities (excluding any outstanding voting securities of the Continuing Entity that such beneficial owners hold immediately following the consummation of the Reorganization or Sale as a result of their ownership prior to such consummation of voting securities of any entity involved in or forming part of such Reorganization or Sale other than the Company and its Affiliates) and (2) no Person beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 30% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Continuing Entity immediately following the consummation of such Reorganization or Sale;
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
(ii)  the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or

 

(iii)  any Person or “group” (as used in Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (other than the Company or an Affiliate) becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding Company Voting Securities;  provided ,  however , that for purposes of this subparagraph (iv), any acquisition directly from or to the Company shall not constitute a Change of Control.

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
 
“Committee” means the compensation committee of the Board, or such other committee of the Board as may be designated by the Board to administer the Plan.
 
“Company” means DHT Holdings, Inc., a corporation incorporated under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, together with any successor thereto.
 
“Disability” means the inability of the Participant, due to illness, accident or any other physical or mental incapacity, to perform the Participant’s duties in a normal manner for a period of 120 days (whether or not consecutive) in any twelve-month period during the Participant’s employment or service with the Company or any of its Affiliates.
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor statute thereto.
 
“Exercise Price” means, with respect to an Option, the price specified in the applicable Award Agreement as the price-per-Share at which Shares may be purchased pursuant to such Option.
 
“Fair Market Value” means (a) with respect to any property other than Shares, the fair market value of such property determined by such methods or procedures as shall be established from time to time by the Committee and (b) with respect to Shares, as of any date, (i) the mean between the high and low sales prices of Shares (A) as reported by the NYSE for such date or (B) if Shares are listed on a national stock exchange and not reported on the NYSE, as reported on the stock exchange composite tape for securities traded on such stock exchange for such date or, with respect to each of clauses (A) and (B), if there were no sales on such date, on the closest preceding date on which there were sales of Shares or (ii) in the event there shall be no public market for Shares on such date, the fair market value of Shares as determined in good faith by the Committee.
 
“Incentive Stock Option” means an option to purchase Shares from the Company that (a) is granted under Section 6 of the Plan and (b) is intended to qualify for special Federal income tax treatment pursuant to Sections 421 and 422 of the Code and which is so designated in the applicable Award Agreement.
 
“Independent Director” means a member of the Board who is not an employee of the Company or any Affiliate.
 
“IRS” means the Internal Revenue Service or any successor thereto and includes the staff thereof.
 
“Nonqualified Stock Option” means an option to purchase Shares from the Company that (a) is granted under Section 6 of the Plan and (b) is not an Incentive Stock Option.
 
“NYSE” means the New York Stock Exchange, or any successor thereto.
 
“Option” means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option or both, as the context requires.
 
“Participant” means any director, officer, employee, consultant or independent contractor (including any prospective director, officer, employee, consultant or independent contractor) of the Company or its Affiliates who is eligible for an Award under Section 5 and who is selected by the Committee to receive an Award under the Plan or who receives a Substitute Award pursuant to Section 4(c).
 
“Plan” means this DHT Holdings, Inc. 2011 Incentive Compensation Plan, as in effect from time to time.
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 “Restricted Share” means a Share delivered under the Plan that is subject to transfer restrictions, forfeiture provisions or other terms and conditions specified herein and in the applicable Award Agreement.
 
“RSU” means a restricted stock unit Award that is designated as such in the applicable Award Agreement and that represents an unfunded and unsecured promise to deliver Shares, cash, other securities, other Awards or other property in accordance with the terms of the applicable Award Agreement.
 
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto and shall include the staff thereof.
 
“Shares” means shares of Common Stock of the Company, $0.01 par value, or such other securities of the Company (a) into which such shares shall be changed by reason of a recapitalization, merger, consolidation, split-up, combination, exchange of shares or other similar transaction or (b) as may be determined by the Committee pursuant to Section 4(b).
 
“Subsidiary” means any entity in which the Company, directly or indirectly, possesses fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of its stock.
 
“Substitute Awards” shall have the meaning specified in Section 4(c).
 

SECTION 3.  Administration.  (a)  Composition of Committee.  The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, which shall be composed of two or more directors, all of whom shall be Independent Directors and all of whom shall meet the independence requirements of the NYSE.

 

(b)  Authority of Committee.  Subject to the terms of the Plan and applicable law, and in addition to the other express powers and authorizations conferred on the Committee by the Plan, the Committee shall have sole and plenary authority to administer the Plan, including, but not limited to, the authority to (i) designate Participants, (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to a Participant, (iii) determine the number of Shares to be covered by, or with respect to which payments, rights or other matters are to be calculated in connection with, Awards, (iv) determine the terms and conditions of Awards, (v) determine the vesting schedules of Awards and, if performance criteria must be attained in order for an Award to vest or be settled or paid, establish such performance criteria and certify whether, and to what extent, such performance criteria have been attained, (vi) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances Awards may be settled or exercised in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, or canceled, forfeited or suspended and the method or methods by which Awards may be settled, exercised, canceled, forfeited or suspended, (vii) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards, other property and other amounts payable with respect to an Award shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the holder thereof or of the Committee, (viii) interpret, administer, reconcile any inconsistency in, correct any default in and supply any omission in the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award made under, the Plan, (ix) establish, amend, suspend or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan, (x) accelerate the vesting or exercisability of, payment for or lapse of restrictions on, Awards, (xi) amend an outstanding Award or grant a replacement Award for an Award previously granted under the Plan if, in its sole discretion, the Committee determines that (A) the tax consequences of such Award to the Company or the Participant differ from those consequences that were expected to occur on the date the Award was granted  or (B) clarifications or interpretations of, or changes to, tax law or regulations permit Awards to be granted that have more favorable tax consequences than initially anticipated and (xii) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan.

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
(c)  Committee Decisions.  Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any Award shall be within the sole and plenary discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all Persons, including the Company, any Affiliate, any Participant, any holder or beneficiary of any Award and any stockholder.

 

(d)  Indemnification.  No member of the Board, the Committee or any employee or agent of the Company (each such person, a “Covered Person”) shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken or any determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award hereunder.  Each Covered Person shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from (i) any loss, cost, liability or expense (including attorneys’ fees) that may be imposed upon or incurred by such Covered Person in connection with or resulting from any action, suit or proceeding to which such Covered Person may be a party or in which such Covered Person may be involved by reason of any action taken or omitted to be taken under the Plan or any Award Agreement and (ii) any and all amounts paid by such Covered Person, with the Company’s approval, in settlement thereof, or paid by such Covered Person in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding against such Covered Person;  provided  that the Company shall have the right, at its own expense, to assume and defend any such action, suit or proceeding, and, once the Company gives notice of its intent to assume the defense, the Company shall have sole control over such defense with counsel of the Company’s choice.  The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be available to a Covered Person to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment or other final adjudication, in either case not subject to further appeal, determines that the acts or omissions of such Covered Person giving rise to the indemnification claim resulted from such Covered Person’s bad faith, fraud or willful criminal act or omission or that such right of indemnification is otherwise prohibited by law or by the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws.  The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which Covered Persons may be entitled under the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any other power that the Company may have to indemnify such persons or hold them harmless.

 
 
 
 

 
 
 

(e)  Delegation of Authority to Senior Officers.  The Committee may delegate, on such terms and conditions as it determines in its sole and plenary discretion, to one or more senior officers of the Company the authority to make grants of Awards to officers (other than executive officers), employees, consultants and independent contractors of the Company and its Affiliates (including any prospective officer, employee, consultant or independent contractor).

 

(f)  Awards to Independent Directors.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Board may, in its sole and plenary discretion, at any time and from time to time, grant Awards to Independent Directors and administer the Plan with respect to such Awards.  In any such case, the Board shall have all the authority and responsibility granted to the Committee herein.

 

SECTION 4.  Shares Available for Awards.  (a)  Shares Available.  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(b), (i) the aggregate number of Shares that may be delivered pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan shall be 2,000,000.  If, after the effective date of the Plan, any Award granted under the Plan is forfeited, or otherwise expires, terminates or is canceled without the delivery of Shares, then the Shares covered by such forfeited, expired, terminated or canceled Award shall again become available to be delivered pursuant to Awards under the Plan. If Shares issued upon exercise, vesting or settlement of an Award, or Shares owned by a Participant (which are not subject to any pledge or other security interest and which have been owned by the Participant for at least six months), are surrendered or tendered to the Company in payment of the Exercise Price of an Option or any taxes required to be withheld in respect of an Award, in each case, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, such surrendered or tendered Shares shall again become available to be delivered pursuant to Awards under the Plan;  provided ,  however , that in no event shall such Shares increase the number of Shares that may be delivered pursuant to Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan.

 

(b)  Adjustments for Changes in Capitalization and Similar Events.  In the event that the Committee determines that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, statutory share exchange, repurchase or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Shares or other securities of the Company, or other similar corporate transaction or event affects the Shares such that an adjustment is determined by the Committee in its discretion to be appropriate or desirable, then the Committee shall, (i) in such manner as it may deem appropriate or desirable, adjust any or all of (A) the number of Shares or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or property) with respect to which Awards may be granted, including (1) the aggregate number of Shares that may be delivered pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan as provided in Section 4(a) and (2) the maximum number of Shares or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or property) with respect to which Awards may be granted to any Participant in any fiscal year of the Company and (B) the terms of any outstanding Award, including (1) the number of Shares or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards or to which outstanding Awards relate and (2) the Exercise Price with respect to any Option or (ii) if deemed appropriate or desirable, make provision for a cash payment to the holder of any outstanding Award in consideration for the cancelation of such Award, including, in the case of an outstanding Option, a cash payment to the holder of such Option in consideration for the cancelation of such Option in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value (as of a date specified by the Committee) of the Shares subject to such Option over the aggregate Exercise Price of such Option (it being understood that, in such event, any Option having a per Share Exercise Price equal to, or in excess of, the Fair Market Value of a Share subject to such Option may be canceled and terminated without any payment or consideration therefor).

 
 
 
 

 
 
 

(c)  Substitute Awards.  Awards may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted under the Plan in assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by the Company or any of its Affiliates or a company acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines (“Substitute Awards”).  The number of Shares underlying any Substitute Awards shall be counted against the aggregate number of Shares available for Awards under the Plan;  provided ,  however , that Substitute Awards issued in connection with the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by an entity that is acquired by the Company or any of its Affiliates through a merger, acquisition, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction shall not be counted against the aggregate number of Shares available for Awards under the Plan;  provided further ,  however , that Substitute Awards issued in connection with the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding stock options intended to qualify for special tax treatment under Sections 421 and 422 of the Code that were previously granted by an entity that is acquired by the Company or any of its Affiliates through a merger or acquisition shall be counted against the aggregate number of Shares available for Incentive Stock Options under the Plan.

 

(d)  Sources of Shares Deliverable Under Awards.  Any Shares delivered pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Shares or of treasury Shares.

 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
SECTION 5.  Eligibility.  Any director, officer, employee, consultant or independent contractor (including any prospective director, officer, employee, consultant or independent contractor) of the Company or any of its Affiliates shall be eligible to be designated a Participant.

 

SECTION 6.  Awards.  (a)  Types of Awards.  Awards may be made under the Plan in the form of (i) Options, (ii) Restricted Shares, (iii) RSUs, (iv) Cash Incentive Awards and (v) other equity-based or equity-related Awards that the Committee determines are consistent with the purposes of the Plan and the interests of the Company.  No Incentive Stock Option (other than an Incentive Stock Option that may be assumed or issued by the Company in connection with a transaction to which Section 424(a) of the Code applies) may be granted to a person who is ineligible to receive an Incentive Stock Option under the Code.

 

(b)  Options.  (i)  Grant.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have sole and plenary authority to determine the Participants to whom Options shall be granted, the number of Shares to be covered by each Option, whether the Option will be an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option and the conditions and limitations applicable to the vesting and exercise of the Option.  In the case of Incentive Stock Options, the terms and conditions of such grants shall be subject to and comply with such rules as may be prescribed by Section 422 of the Code and any regulations related thereto, as may be amended from time to time.  All Options granted under the Plan shall be Nonqualified Stock Options unless the applicable Award Agreement expressly states that the Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.  If an Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option, and if for any reason such Option (or any portion thereof) shall not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, then, to the extent of such nonqualification, such Option (or portion thereof) shall be regarded as a Nonqualified Stock Option appropriately granted under the Plan.

 

(ii)  Exercise Price.  Except as otherwise established by the Committee at the time an Option is granted and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, the Exercise Price of each Share covered by an Option shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of such Share (determined as of the date the Option is granted);  provided ,  however , that in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to an employee who, at the time of the grant of such Option, owns stock representing more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Affiliate, the Exercise Price of each Share covered by such Incentive Stock Option shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of such Share on the date of the grant.

 

(iii)  Vesting and Exercise.  Each Option shall be vested and exercisable at such times, in such manner and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may, in its sole and plenary discretion, specify in the applicable Award Agreement or thereafter.  Except as otherwise specified by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement, an Option may only be exercised to the extent that it has already vested at the time of exercise.  Except as otherwise specified by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement, each Option shall become vested and exercisable with respect to one-third of the Shares subject to such Option on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of grant.  An Option shall be deemed to be exercised when written or electronic notice of such exercise has been given to the Company in accordance with the terms of the applicable Award Agreement by the person entitled to exercise the Option and full payment pursuant to Section 6(b)(iv) for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised has been received by the Company.  Exercise of an Option in any manner shall result in a decrease in the number of Shares that thereafter may be available for purchase under the Option and, except as expressly set forth in Section 4(c), in the number of Shares that may be available for purposes of the Plan, by the number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised.  The Committee may impose such conditions with respect to the exercise of Options, including, without limitation, any relating to the application of applicable securities laws, as it may deem necessary or advisable.

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
(iv)  Payment and Tax Withholding.  (A)  No Shares shall be delivered pursuant to any exercise of an Option until payment in full of the aggregate Exercise Price therefor is received by the Company, and the Participant has paid to the Company an amount equal to any applicable income, employment or other taxes required to be withheld.  Such payments may be made in cash (or its equivalent) or, in the Committee’s sole and plenary discretion, (1) by delivering Shares owned by the Participant (which are not the subject of any pledge or other security interest and which have been owned by such Participant for at least six months) or (2) if there shall be a public market for the Shares at such time, subject to such rules as may be established by the Committee, through delivery of irrevocable instructions to a broker to sell all or a portion of the Shares otherwise deliverable upon the exercise of the Option and to deliver promptly the cash proceeds of such sale to the Company, or by a combination of the foregoing;  provided  that the combined value of all cash and cash equivalents and the Fair Market Value of any such Shares so delivered to the Company as of the date of such delivery is at least equal to such aggregate Exercise Price and the amount of any such taxes.

 

(B)  Wherever in the Plan or any Award Agreement a Participant is permitted to pay the Exercise Price of an Option or taxes relating to the exercise of an Option by delivering Shares, the Participant may, subject to procedures satisfactory to the Committee, satisfy such delivery requirement by presenting proof of beneficial ownership of such Shares, in which case the Company shall treat the Option as exercised without further payment and shall withhold such number of Shares from the Shares acquired by the exercise of the Option.
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

(v)  Termination of Employment.  Except as otherwise set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, (A) if the Participant’s employment or service as a director, officer, employee, consultant or independent contractor of the Company or one of its Affiliates terminates for any reason other than by reason of death or Disability, (1) any Option that has not become vested prior to the date of such termination shall immediately be forfeited and the Participant will be entitled to no further payment or benefits with respect thereto and (2) the vested portion of any Option held by the Participant shall remain exercisable for a period of 90 days following such termination, but in no event later than the tenth anniversary of the date such Option is granted, (B) if the Participant’s employment or service as a director, officer, employee, consultant or independent contractor of the Company or one of its Affiliates terminates by reason of death or Disability, (1) any Option that has not become vested prior to the date of such termination shall become immediately vested and exercisable and shall remain exercisable for a period of one year following such termination, but in no event later than the tenth anniversary of the date such Option is granted, and (2) the vested portion of any Option held by the Participant shall remain exercisable for a period of one year following such termination, but in no event later than the tenth anniversary of the date such Option is granted.  In no event may an Option be exercisable after the tenth anniversary of the date the Option is granted.

 

(c)  Restricted Shares and RSUs.  (i)  Grant.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have sole and plenary authority to determine the Participants to whom Restricted Shares and RSUs shall be granted, the number of Restricted Shares and RSUs to be granted to each Participant, the duration of the period during which, and the conditions, if any, under which, the Restricted Shares and RSUs may vest or may be forfeited to the Company and the other terms and conditions of such Awards.

 

(ii)  Transfer Restrictions.  Restricted Shares and RSUs may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered except as provided in the Plan or as may be provided in the applicable Award Agreement;  provided ,  however , that the Committee may in its discretion determine that Restricted Shares and RSUs may be transferred by the Participant.  Certificates representing Restricted Shares shall bear a restrictive legend to the effect that ownership of Restricted Shares, and the enjoyment of all rights appurtenant thereto, are subject to the restrictions, terms and conditions provided in the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.  Certificates issued in respect of Restricted Shares shall be registered in the name of the Participant and deposited by such Participant, together with a stock power endorsed in blank, with the Company or such other custodian as may be designated by the Committee or the Company, and shall be held by the Company or other custodian, as applicable, until such time as the restrictions applicable to such Restricted Shares lapse.  Upon the lapse of the restrictions applicable to such Restricted Shares, all legends shall be removed from said certificates, except as otherwise required by applicable law or other limitations imposed by the Committee, and the Company or other custodian, as applicable, shall deliver such certificates to the Participant or the Participant’s legal representative.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, actual certificates shall not be issued to the extent that book entry record keeping is used.

 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
(iii)  Payment/Lapse of Restrictions.  RSUs shall be paid in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, as determined in the sole and plenary discretion of the Committee, upon the lapse of restrictions applicable thereto, or otherwise in accordance with the applicable Award Agreement.  Except as otherwise specified by the Committee in the Award Agreement, restrictions applicable to awards of Restricted Shares shall lapse and such Restricted Shares shall become vested with respect to one-fourth of such Restricted Shares on each of the first four anniversaries of the date of grant.

 

(iv)  Tax Withholding.  Upon the vesting of an award of Restricted Shares (or, to the extent applicable, upon the vesting of an award of RSUs), or upon making an election under Section 83(b) of the Code as provided in Section 9(h), the Company may require Participants to pay the amount (in cash or its equivalent) of any applicable income, employment or other taxes required to be withheld.  In the Committee’s sole and plenary discretion, such payment may be made by delivering Shares owned by the Participant (which are not the subject of any pledge or other security interest and which have been owned by such Participant for at least six months);  provided  that the combined value of all cash and cash equivalents and the Fair Market Value of any such Shares so delivered to the Company as of the date of such delivery is at least equal to the amount of any such taxes required.

 

(v)  Termination of Employment.  Except as otherwise set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, (A) if the Participant’s employment or service as a director, officer, employee, consultant or independent contractor of the Company or one of its Affiliates terminates for any reason other than by reason of death or Disability, any Restricted Shares and RSUs that have not become vested prior to the date of such termination shall immediately be forfeited and the Participant will be entitled to no further payment or benefits with respect thereto and (B) if the Participant’s employment or service as a director, officer, employee, consultant or independent contractor of the Company or one of its Affiliates terminates by reason of death or Disability, all restrictions applicable to awards of Restricted Shares and RSUs that have not become vested prior to the date of such termination shall lapse and such Restricted Shares and RSUs shall become immediately vested.

 

(d)  Cash Incentive Awards.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have the sole and plenary authority to grant Awards that will entitle Participants to receive an amount in cash upon the attainment of one or more individual, business or other performance goals or other similar criteria (“Cash Incentive Awards”).  The Committee shall establish Cash Incentive Award levels to determine the amount of a Cash Incentive Award payable upon the attainment of such goals or criteria as determined by the Committee.

 
 
 
 

 
 
 

(e)  Other Stock-Based Awards.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have the sole and plenary authority to grant to Participants other equity-based or equity-related Awards (including, but not limited to, fully-vested Shares) in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine, provided that any such Awards must comply, to the extent deemed desirable by the Committee, with applicable law.

 

(f)  Dividend Equivalents.  In the sole and plenary discretion of the Committee, an Award, other than an Option or a Cash Incentive Award, may provide the Participant with dividends or dividend equivalents, payable in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, on a current or deferred basis, on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Committee in its sole and plenary discretion, including, without limitation, payment directly to the Participant, withholding of such amounts by the Company subject to vesting of the Award or reinvestment in additional Shares, Restricted Shares or other Awards.

 

SECTION 7.  Amendment and Termination.  (a)  Amendments to the Plan.  Subject to any applicable law or regulation and the rules of the NYSE, the Plan may be amended, modified or terminated by the Board without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, except that stockholder approval shall be required for any amendment that would (i) increase the maximum number of Shares for which Awards may be granted under the Plan or increase the maximum number of Shares that may be delivered pursuant to Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan; provided ,  however , that any adjustment under Section 4(b) shall not be treated as an increase for purposes of this Section 7(a) or (ii) change the class of individuals eligible to participate in the Plan.  Except as otherwise provided herein, no amendment, modification or termination of the Plan may, without the consent of the Participant to whom any Award shall theretofore have been granted, materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant (or his or her transferee) under such Award, unless otherwise provided by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

(b)  Amendments to Awards.  The Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or alter, suspend, discontinue, cancel or terminate any Award theretofore granted, prospectively or retroactively;  provided ,  however , that, unless otherwise provided in the Plan or by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement, any such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancelation or termination that would materially and adversely impair the rights of any Participant or any holder or beneficiary of any Award theretofore granted shall not to that extent be effective without the consent of such Participant, holder or beneficiary.

(c)  Adjustment of Awards Upon the Occurrence of Certain Unusual or Nonrecurring Events.  The Committee shall be entitled to make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, the events described in Section 4(b) hereof or the occurrence of a Change of Control) affecting the Company, any Affiliate, or the financial statements of the Company or any Affiliate, or of changes in applicable rules, rulings, regulations or other requirements of any governmental body or securities exchange, accounting principles or law (i) whenever the Committee, in its sole and plenary discretion, determines that such adjustments are appropriate or desirable, including, without limitation, providing for a substitution or assumption of Awards, accelerating the exercisability of, lapse of restrictions on, or termination of, Awards or providing for a period of time for exercise prior to the occurrence of such event and (ii) if deemed appropriate or desirable by the Committee, in its sole and plenary discretion, by providing for a cash payment to the holder of an Award in consideration for the cancelation of such Award, including, in the case of an outstanding Option, a cash payment to the holder of such Option in consideration for the cancelation of such Option in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value (as of a date specified by the Committee) of the Shares subject to such Option over the aggregate Exercise Price of such Option (it being understood that, in such event, any Option having a per Share Exercise Price equal to, or in excess of, the Fair Market Value of a Share subject to such Option may be canceled and terminated without any payment or consideration therefor).
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
SECTION 8.  Change of Control.  Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, in the event of a Change of Control after the date of the adoption of the Plan, unless provision is made in connection with the Change of Control for (a) assumption of Awards previously granted or (b) substitution for such Awards of new awards covering stock of a successor corporation or its “parent corporation” (as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code) or “subsidiary corporation” (as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code) with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kinds of property subject to such Awards and the Exercise Price and other terms and conditions of such Awards, as applicable, (i) any outstanding Options that are unexercisable or otherwise unvested shall automatically be deemed exercisable or otherwise vested, as the case may be, as of immediately prior to such Change of Control and the holders thereof shall be provided reasonable opportunity to exercise such Options prior to the Change of Control, (ii) any outstanding Restricted Shares that are still subject to restrictions or forfeiture shall automatically be deemed vested and all restrictions and forfeiture provisions related thereto shall lapse as of immediately prior to such Change of Control, (iii) all Cash Incentive Awards shall be paid out as if the date of the Change of Control were the last day of the applicable performance or similar measurement period and “target” performance levels or similar criterion had been attained and (iv) all outstanding Awards other than Options, Restricted Shares and Cash Incentive Awards that are unexercisable, unvested or still subject to restrictions or forfeiture, shall automatically be deemed exercisable or vested and all restrictions and forfeiture provisions related thereto shall lapse as of immediately prior to such Change of Control and the holders thereof shall be provided reasonable opportunity to exercise such Awards prior to the Change of Control, as applicable.

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
SECTION 9.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nontransferability.  Except as otherwise specified in the applicable Award Agreement, during each Participant’s lifetime each Award (and any rights and obligations thereunder) shall be exercisable only by the Participant, or, if permissible under applicable law, by the Participant’s legal guardian or representative, and no Award (or any rights and obligations thereunder) may be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and any such purported assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against the Company or any Affiliate;  provided  that (i) the designation of a beneficiary shall not constitute an assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance and (ii) the Board or the Committee may permit further transferability, on a general or specific basis, and may impose conditions and limitations on any permitted transferability;  provided ,  however , that Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan shall not be transferable in any way that would violate Section 1.422-2(a)(2) of the Treasury Regulations.  All terms and conditions of the Plan and all Award Agreements shall be binding upon any permitted successors and assigns.

 

(b)  No Rights to Awards.  No Participant or other Person shall have any right or claim to be granted any Award, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants or holders or beneficiaries of Awards.  The terms and conditions of Awards and the Committee’s determinations and interpretations with respect thereto need not be the same with respect to each Participant and may be made selectively among Participants, whether or not such Participants are similarly situated.

 

(c)  Share Certificates.  All certificates for Shares or other securities of the Company or any Affiliate delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award or the exercise thereof shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan, the applicable Award Agreement or the rules, regulations and other requirements of the SEC, the NYSE or any other stock exchange or quotation system upon which such Shares or other securities are then listed or reported and any applicable Federal or state laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

 

(d)  Tax Withholding.  A Participant may be required to pay to the Company or any Affiliate, and the Company or any Affiliate shall have the right and is hereby authorized to withhold from any Award, from any payment due or transfer made under any Award or under the Plan or from any compensation or other amount owing to a Participant, the amount (in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property) of any applicable withholding or deduction for income, employment or other taxes in respect of an Award, its exercise or any payment or transfer under an Award or under the Plan and to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Committee or the Company to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such taxes.

 
 
 
 

 
 

 

(e)  Award Agreements.  Each Award hereunder shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement, which shall be delivered to the Participant and shall specify the terms and conditions of the Award and any rules applicable thereto, including, but not limited to, the effect on such Award of the death, disability or termination of employment or service of a Participant and the effect, if any, of such other events as may be determined by the Committee.

 

(f)  No Limit on Other Compensation Arrangements.  Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Company or any Affiliate from adopting or continuing in effect other compensation arrangements, which may, but need not, provide for the grant of options, restricted stock, shares and other types of equity-based awards, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

 

(g)  No Right to Employment.  The grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained as a director, officer, employee, consultant or independent contractor of or to the Company or any Affiliate, nor shall it be construed as giving a Participant any rights to continued service on the Board.  Further, the Company or an Affiliate may at any time dismiss a Participant from employment or discontinue any consulting relationship, free from any liability or any claim under the Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in any Award Agreement.

 

(h)  No Rights as Stockholder.  No Participant or holder or beneficiary of any Award shall have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any Shares to be distributed under the Plan until he or she has become the holder of such Shares.  In connection with each grant of Restricted Shares, except as provided in the applicable Award Agreement, the Participant shall not be entitled to the rights of a stockholder in respect of such Restricted Shares.  Except as otherwise provided in Section 4(b), Section 7(c) or the applicable Award Agreement, no adjustments shall be made for dividends or distributions on (whether ordinary or extraordinary, and whether in cash, Shares, other securities or other property), or other events relating to, Shares subject to an Award for which the record date is prior to the date such Shares are delivered.

 

(i)  Governing Law.  The validity, construction and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan and any Award Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the Islands of Jersey, without giving effect to the conflict of laws provisions thereof.

 

(j)  Severability.  If any provision of the Plan or any Award is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any Person or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to the applicable laws, or if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be construed or deemed stricken as to such jurisdiction, Person or Award and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.

 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
(k)  Other Laws.  The Committee may refuse to issue or transfer any Shares or other consideration under an Award if, acting in its sole and plenary discretion, it determines that the issuance or transfer of such Shares or such other consideration might violate any applicable law or regulation, and any payment tendered to the Company by a Participant, other holder or beneficiary in connection with the exercise of such Award shall be promptly refunded to the relevant Participant, holder or beneficiary.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no Award granted hereunder shall be construed as an offer to sell securities of the Company, and no such offer shall be outstanding, unless and until the Committee in its sole and plenary discretion has determined that any such offer, if made, would be in compliance with all applicable requirements of the U.S. Federal and any other applicable securities laws.

 

(l)  No Trust or Fund Created.  Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Affiliate, on one hand, and a Participant or any other Person, on the other.  To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company or any Affiliate.



(m)  No Fractional Shares.  No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine whether cash, other securities or other property shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated or otherwise eliminated.


(n)  Requirement of Consent and Notification of Election Under Section 83(b) of the Code or Similar Provision.  No election under Section 83(b) of the Code (to include in gross income in the year of transfer the amounts specified in Section 83(b) of the Code) or under a similar provision of law may be made unless expressly permitted by the terms of the applicable Award Agreement or by action of the Committee in writing prior to the making of such election.  If an Award recipient, in connection with the acquisition of Shares under the Plan or otherwise, is expressly permitted under the terms of the applicable Award Agreement or by such Committee action to make such an election and the Participant makes the election, the Participant shall notify the Committee of such election within ten days of filing notice of the election with the IRS or other governmental authority, in addition to any filing and notification required pursuant to regulations issued under Section 83(b) of the Code or other applicable provision.



(o)  Requirement of Notification Upon Disqualifying Disposition Under Section 421(b) of the Code.  If any Participant shall make any disposition of Shares delivered pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option under the circumstances described in Section 421(b) of the Code (relating to certain disqualifying dispositions) or any successor provision of the Code, such Participant shall notify the Company of such disposition within ten days of such disposition.

 
 
 
 

 
 
 

(p)  Headings. Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan or any provision thereof.

 

SECTION 10.  Term of the Plan.  (a)  Effective Date.  The Plan shall be effective as of the date of its adoption by the Board;  provided ,  however , that no Incentive Stock Options may be granted under the Plan unless it is approved by the Company’s stockholders within twelve (12) months before or after the date the Plan is adopted.

 

(b)  Expiration Date.  No Award shall be granted under the Plan after the third anniversary of the date the Plan is approved under Section 10(a).  Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in an applicable Award Agreement, any Award granted hereunder on or prior to such third anniversary may, and the authority of the Board or the Committee to amend, alter, adjust, suspend, discontinue or terminate any such Award or to waive any conditions or rights under any such Award shall, nevertheless continue thereafter pursuant to the terms of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.

ex5-1.htm
Exhibit 5.1
 
REEDER & SIMPSON PC
 

 
P.O. Box 601  Telephone: 011-692-625-3602
RRE Commercial Center   Email: dreeder@ntamar.net
Majuro, MH 96960  r.simpson@simpson.gr
 
July 5, 2011

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Re: DHT Holdings, Inc.  (the “Company”)

We are licensed to practice law in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (the “RMI”), and are members in good standing of the Bar of the RMI. We are acting as special RMI counsel for the Company in connection the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”), being filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”), which will be issued and issuable in respect of equity-based compensation awards granted under the 2011 Incentive Compensation Plan of the Company (the “Plan”).

In connection with this opinion, we have examined originals, facsimiles or electronic versions, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the Registration Statement and such other documents, corporate records and other instruments as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion, including, without limitation, a specimen certificate representing the Common Stock and minutes from the annual meeting of shareholders of the Company held on June 14, 2011.  We have also made such examinations of matters of law as we deemed necessary in connection with the opinions expressed herein.

We express no opinion as to matters governed by, or the effect or applicability of any laws of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the RMI which are in effect as of the date hereof.  This opinion speaks as of the date hereof, and it should be recognized that changes may occur after the date of this letter which may effect the opinions set forth herein. We assume no obligation to advise the parties, their counsel, or any other party seeking to rely upon this opinion, of any such changes, whether or not material, or of any other matter which may hereinafter be brought to our attention.

Based upon and subject to the assumptions, qualifications and limitations herein, we are of the opinion the shares of Common Stock covered by the Registration Statement when issued pursuant to the terms of the grants of equity-based compensation awards under the Plan will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
 
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement.  We also consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Interests of Named Experts and Counsel” in the Registration Statement.  In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are included in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission.

Sincerely,


/s/ Dennis J. Reeder
Reeder & Simpson PC.
ex23-1.htm
Exhibit 23.1
 
 
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-8 pertaining to the 2011 Incentive Compensation Plan of DHT Holdings, Inc. of our reports dated January 31, 2011, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of DHT Holdings, Inc. and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of DHT Holdings, Inc., included in its Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2010, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
/s/ Ernst & Young AS

Ernst & Young AS
Oslo, Norway
July 5, 2011