KRC 8-K
Kilroy Realty Corp (KRC)
8-K
2026-05-19
For: 2026-05-19
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Added on
May 19, 2026
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 19, 2026
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (Commission File No.) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |||||||||
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(310 ) 481-8400
| (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) | ||||||||
| N/A | ||||||||
| (Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report) | ||||||||
| Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: | |||||||||||
| Registrant | Title of each class | Name of each exchange on which registered | Ticker Symbol | ||||||||
| Kilroy Realty Corporation | |||||||||||
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instructions A.2.):
| Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) | |||||
| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) | |||||
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) | |||||
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) | |||||
| Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: | ||||||||
| Title of each class | Ticker Symbol | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||
| Common Stock, $.01 par value | KRC | New York Stock Exchange | ||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
Kilroy Realty Corporation (the “Company”) held its 2026 annual meeting of stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) on May 19, 2026. At the Annual Meeting, the stockholders of the Company approved an amended and restated Kilroy Realty 2006 Incentive Award Plan (the “Plan”). The amended and restated Plan reflects an increase in the limit on the aggregate number of shares of the Company’s common stock that may be delivered pursuant to all awards granted under the Plan by an additional 1,700,000 shares so that the new aggregate share limit under the Plan is 14,320,000 shares.
The preceding summary of the Plan amendment is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the amended and restated Plan, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
Set forth below are the voting results for the proposals considered and voted upon at the Company’s Annual Meeting held on May 19, 2026.
Proposal 1: Each director nominee named below was elected to serve until the Company’s 2027 annual meeting of stockholders and until his or her respective successor has been duly elected and qualified.
| Nominee | For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Votes | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Angela M. Aman | 106,302,950 | 385,786 | 33,428 | 3,523,265 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Edward F. Brennan, PhD | 103,522,797 | 2,541,041 | 658,326 | 3,523,265 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cia Buckley Marakovits | 106,458,174 | 229,239 | 34,751 | 3,523,265 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Daryl J. Carter | 106,462,254 | 234,880 | 25,030 | 3,523,265 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jolie A. Hunt | 104,949,622 | 1,735,855 | 36,687 | 3,523,265 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| David A. Kieske | 106,537,367 | 128,935 | 55,862 | 3,523,265 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Louisa G. Ritter | 106,176,461 | 504,466 | 41,237 | 3,523,265 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gary R. Stevenson | 105,267,000 | 1,418,297 | 36,867 | 3,523,265 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Proposal 2: Stockholders approved the Amended and Restated 2006 Equity Incentive Award Plan.
| For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Votes | |||||||||||||||||
| 104,871,720 | 1,780,430 | 70,014 | 3,523,265 | |||||||||||||||||
Proposal 3: Stockholders approved, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company's named executive officers.
| For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Votes | |||||||||||||||||
| 98,447,087 | 8,235,369 | 39,708 | 3,523,265 | |||||||||||||||||
Proposal 4: Stockholders ratified the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent auditor for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026.
| For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Votes | |||||||||||||||||
| 102,174,848 | 7,972,490 | 98,091 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
| (d) | Exhibits. | |||||||
| 10.1†* | |||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) | ||||
_______________
* Filed herewith.
† Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| Kilroy Realty Corporation | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Date: May 19, 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| By: | /s/ Lauren N. Stadler | |||||||||||||||||||
| Lauren N. Stadler Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary | ||||||||||||||||||||
Exhibit 10.1
KILROY REALTY
2006 INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN
2006 INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN
(Amended and Restated as of May 19, 2026)
ARTICLE 1.
PURPOSE
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Kilroy Realty 2006 Incentive Award Plan (the “Plan”) is to promote the success and enhance the value of Kilroy Realty Corporation (the “Company”), Kilroy Realty, L.P. (the “Partnership”), and Kilroy Realty TRS, Inc. (the “TRS”) by linking the personal interests of the members of the Board, Employees, and Consultants to those of Company stockholders and by providing such individuals with an incentive for outstanding performance to generate superior returns to Company stockholders. The Plan is further intended to provide flexibility to the Company, the TRS, the Partnership and their subsidiaries in their ability to motivate, attract, and retain the services of members of the Board, Employees, and Consultants upon whose judgment, interest, and special effort the successful conduct of the Company’s, the TRS’s and the Partnership’s operation is largely dependent.
ARTICLE 2.
DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION
DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION
Wherever the following terms are used in the Plan they shall have the meanings specified below, unless otherwise defined herein and unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The singular pronoun shall include the plural where the context so indicates.
2.1 “Award” means an Option, a Restricted Stock award, a Stock Appreciation Right award, a Performance Share award, a Performance Stock Unit award, a Dividend Equivalents award, a Stock Payment award, a Deferred Stock award, a Restricted Stock Unit award, a Profits Interest Unit award, an Other Incentive Award, or a Performance Bonus Award granted to a Participant pursuant to the Plan (subject, in each case, to the no repricing provisions of Section 14.1).
2.2 “Award Agreement” means any written agreement, contract, or other instrument or document evidencing an Award, including through electronic medium.
2.3 “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
2.4 “Change in Control” means and includes each of the following:
(a) A transaction or series of transactions (other than an offering of Stock to the general public through a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) whereby any “person” or related “group” of “persons” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (other than the Company, any of its subsidiaries, an employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or a “person” that, prior to such transaction, directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company) directly or indirectly acquires beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities of the Company and immediately after such acquisition possesses more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the Company’s securities outstanding immediately after such acquisition; or
(b) During any period of two consecutive years, individuals who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Board together with any new director(s) (other than a director designated by a person who shall have entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Section 2.4(a) hereof or Section 2.4(c) hereof) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the
Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the two-year period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof; or
(c) The consummation by the Company (whether directly involving the Company or indirectly involving the Company through one or more intermediaries) of (x) a merger, consolidation, reorganization, or business combination or (y) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets in any single transaction or series of related transactions or (z) the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity, in each case other than a transaction:
(i) Which results in the Company’s voting securities outstanding immediately before the transaction continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the Company or the person that, as a result of the transaction, controls, directly or indirectly, the Company or owns, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or otherwise succeeds to the business of the Company (the Company or such person, the “Successor Entity”)) directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity’s outstanding voting securities immediately after the transaction; and
(ii) After which no person or group beneficially owns voting securities representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity; provided, however, that no person or group shall be treated for purposes of this Section 2.4(c)(ii) as beneficially owning 50% or more of combined voting power of the Successor Entity solely as a result of the voting power held in the Company prior to the consummation of the transaction; or
(d) The Company’s stockholders approve a liquidation or dissolution of the Company and all material contingencies to such liquidation or dissolution have been satisfied or waived.
2.5 “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
2.6 “Committee” means the committee of the Board described in Article 12 hereof.
2.7 “Company” has the meaning set forth in Article 1 hereof.
2.8 “Company Consultant” means any consultant or adviser if:
(a) The consultant or adviser renders bona fide services to the Company or Company Subsidiary;
(b) The services rendered by the consultant or adviser are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction and do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities; and
(c) The consultant or adviser is a natural person who has contracted directly with the Company or Company Subsidiary to render such services.
2.9 “Company Employee” means any officer or other employee (as defined in accordance with Section 3401(c) of the Code) of the Company or of any Company Subsidiary.
2.10 “Company Subsidiary” means (i) a corporation, association or other business entity of which 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of capital stock is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more Company Subsidiaries or by the Company and one or more Company Subsidiaries, (ii) any partnership or limited liability company of which 50% or more of the capital and profits interests is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more Company Subsidiaries or by the Company and one or more
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Company Subsidiaries, and (iii) any other entity not described in clauses (i) or (ii) above of which 50% or more of the ownership and the power, pursuant to a written contract or agreement, to direct the policies and management or the financial and the other affairs thereof, are owned or controlled by the Company or by one or more other Company Subsidiaries or by the Company and one or more Company Subsidiaries; provided, however, that “Company Subsidiary” shall not include the TRS, any TRS Subsidiary, the Partnership or any Partnership Subsidiary.
2.11 “Consultant” means any Company Consultant, TRS Consultant or Partnership Consultant.
2.12 “Deferred Stock” means a right to receive a specified number of shares of Stock during specified time periods pursuant to Section 8.5 hereof.
2.13 “Disability” means that the Participant qualifies to receive long-term disability payments under the Company’s or the Partnership’s long-term disability insurance program, as it may be amended from time to time.
2.14 “Dividend Equivalents” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 8.3 hereof to receive the equivalent value (in cash or Stock) of dividends paid on Stock.
2.15 “Effective Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13.1 hereof.
2.16 “Eligible Individual” means any person who is an Employee, a Consultant, a member of the Board or a TRS Director, as determined by the Committee.
2.17 “Employee” means any Company Employee, TRS Employee or Partnership Employee.
2.18 “Equity Restructuring” shall mean a non-reciprocal transaction between the Company and its stockholders, such as a stock dividend, stock split, spin-off, rights offering or recapitalization through a large, nonrecurring cash dividend, that affects the shares of Stock (or other securities of the Company) or the share price of Stock (or other securities of the Company) and causes a change in the per share value of the Stock (or other securities of the Company) underlying outstanding Awards.
2.19 “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
2.20 “Fair Market Value” means, as of any given date, (a) unless otherwise determined or provided by the Committee in the circumstances, the closing price (in regular trading) for a share of Stock on the principal securities exchange on which the Stock is listed or admitted to trade (the “Exchange”) for the date in question or, if no sales of Stock were reported on the Exchange on that date, the closing price (in regular trading) for a share of Stock on the Exchange on the last day preceding the date in question on which sales of Stock were reported on the Exchange; or (b) if the Stock is not publicly traded, or with respect to any non-Stock based Award or the settlement of an Award, the fair market value established by the Committee acting in good faith.
2.21 “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision thereto.
2.22 “Independent Director” means a member of the Board who is not a Company Employee.
2.23 “Non-Employee Director” means a member of the Board who qualifies as a “Non-Employee Director” as defined in Rule 16b-3(b)(3) under the Exchange Act, or any successor rule.
2.24 “Non-Qualified Stock Option” means an Option that is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.
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2.25 “Option” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Article 5 hereof to purchase a specified number of shares of Stock at a specified price during specified time periods. An Option may be either an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
2.26 “Other Incentive Award” means an Award granted pursuant to Section 8.8 of the Plan.
2.27 “Participant” means any Eligible Individual who, as a member of the Board, Consultant, Employee, or TRS Director, has been granted an Award pursuant to the Plan.
2.28 “Partnership” has the meaning set forth in Article 1.
2.29 “Partnership Agreement” means the Fifth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Kilroy Realty, L.P., as the same may be amended, modified or restated from time to time.
2.30 “Partnership Consultant” means any consultant or advisor if:
(a) The consultant or adviser renders bona fide services to the Partnership or Partnership Subsidiary;
(b) The services rendered by the consultant or adviser are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction and do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Partnership’s securities; and
(c) The consultant or adviser is a natural person who has contracted directly with the Partnership or Partnership Subsidiary to render such services.
2.31 “Partnership Employee” means any employee (as defined in accordance with Section 3401(c) of the Code) of the Partnership or any entity which is then a Partnership Subsidiary.
2.32 “Partnership Participant Purchased Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4 hereof.
2.33 “Partnership Purchase Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4 hereof.
2.34 “Partnership Purchased Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4 hereof.
2.35 “Partnership Subsidiary” means (i) a corporation, association or other business entity of which 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of capital stock is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Partnership or by one or more Partnership Subsidiaries or by the Partnership and one or more Partnership Subsidiaries, (ii) any partnership or limited liability company of which 50% or more of the capital and profits interests is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Partnership or by one or more Partnership Subsidiaries or by the Partnership and one or more Partnership Subsidiaries, and (iii) any other entity not described in clauses (i) or (ii) above of which 50% or more of the ownership and the power, pursuant to a written contract or agreement, to direct the policies and management or the financial and the other affairs thereof, are owned or controlled by the Partnership or by one or more other Partnership Subsidiaries or by the Partnership and one or more Partnership Subsidiaries; provided, however, that “Partnership Subsidiary” shall not include the TRS or any TRS Subsidiary.
2.36 “Performance Bonus Award” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.9 hereof.
2.37 “Performance Criteria” means the criteria that the Committee selects for purposes of establishing the Performance Goal or Performance Goals for a Participant for a Performance Period. The Performance Criteria that will be used to establish Performance Goals may include (but are not limited to) the following: net earnings (either before or after interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization), economic value-added, sales or revenue, net income (either before or after taxes), operating earnings, cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow and free cash flow), funds from operations, funds available for distribution, cash flow return
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on capital, return on net assets, return on stockholders’ equity, return on assets, return on capital, stockholder returns, return on sales, gross or net profit margin, productivity, expense, margins, operating efficiency, tenant satisfaction, working capital, earnings per share, price per share of Stock, market share, debt, and ratio of debt to equity, any of which may be measured either in absolute terms (including on a per share basis), by comparison to comparable performance in an earlier period or periods, or as compared to results of a peer group, industry index, or other company or companies. The Committee may use other performance criteria as a basis for exercising negative discretion or in connection with an Award.
2.38 “Performance Goals” means, for a particular performance period established by the Committee with respect to an Award, the goals established in writing by the Committee for the performance period based upon the Performance Criteria. Depending on the Performance Criteria used to establish such Performance Goals, the Performance Goals may be expressed in terms of overall performance of the Company, the TRS, the Partnership, any Subsidiary, or the performance of a division, business unit, or an individual, or other basis established by the Committee. The Committee, in its discretion, may, provide for the calculation of Performance Goals for such Performance Period to be adjusted for such items as the Committee may specify.
2.39 “Performance Share” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 8.1 hereof, to receive Stock, the payment of which is contingent upon achieving certain Performance Goals or other performance-based targets established by the Committee.
2.40 “Performance Stock Unit” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 8.2 hereof, to receive Stock, the payment of which is contingent upon achieving certain Performance Goals or other performance-based targets established by the Committee.
2.41 “Plan” has the meaning set forth in Article 1.
2.42 “Profits Interest Unit” means to the extent authorized by the Partnership Agreement, a unit of the Partnership that is intended to constitute a “profits interest” within the meaning of the Code, Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, and any published guidance by the Internal Revenue Service with respect thereto.
2.43 “REIT” means a real estate investment trust within the meaning of Sections 856 through 860 of the Code.
2.44 “Restricted Stock” means Stock awarded to a Participant pursuant to Article 6 hereof that is subject to certain restrictions and may be subject to risk of forfeiture.
2.45 “Restricted Stock Unit” means an Award granted pursuant to Section 8.6 hereof.
2.46 “Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
2.47 “Stock” means the common stock of the Company, par value $.01 per share, and such other securities of the Company that may be substituted for Stock pursuant to Article 11 hereof.
2.48 “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means a right granted pursuant to Article 7 hereof to receive a payment equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a specified number of shares of Stock on the date the SAR is exercised over the Fair Market Value on the date the SAR was granted as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.
2.49 “Stock Payment” means (a) a payment in the form of shares of Stock, or (b) an option or other right to purchase shares of Stock, as part of any bonus, deferred compensation or other arrangement, made in lieu of all or any portion of the compensation, granted pursuant to Section 8.4 hereof.
2.50 “Subsidiary” means any Company Subsidiary, TRS Subsidiary or Partnership Subsidiary.
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2.51 “TRS” has the meaning set forth in Article 1 hereof.
2.52 “TRS Consultant” means any consultant or advisor if:
(a) The consultant or adviser renders bona fide services to the TRS or TRS Subsidiary;
(b) The services rendered by the consultant or adviser are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction and do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities; and
(c) The consultant or adviser is a natural person who has contracted directly with the TRS or TRS Subsidiary to render such services.
2.53 “TRS Director” means a member of the Board of Directors of the TRS.
2.54 “TRS Employee” means any officer or other employee (as defined in accordance with Section 3401(c) of the Code) of the TRS or of any corporation, partnership or limited liability company which is then a TRS Subsidiary.
2.55 “TRS Participant Purchased Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.5 hereof.
2.56 “TRS Purchase Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.5 hereof.
2.57 “TRS Purchased Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.5 hereof.
2.58 “TRS Subsidiary” means (i) a corporation, association or other business entity of which 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of capital stock is owned, directly or indirectly, by the TRS or by one or more TRS Subsidiaries or by the TRS and one or more TRS Subsidiaries, (ii) any partnership or limited liability company of which 50% or more of the capital and profits interests is owned, directly or indirectly, by the TRS or by one or more TRS Subsidiaries or by the TRS and one or more TRS Subsidiaries, and (iii) any other entity not described in clauses (i) or (ii) above of which 50% or more of the ownership and the power, pursuant to a written contract or agreement, to direct the policies and management or the financial and the other affairs thereof, are owned or controlled by the TRS or by one or more other TRS Subsidiaries or by the TRS and one or more TRS Subsidiaries.
ARTICLE 3.
SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
3.1 Number of Shares.
(a) Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3.1(b) and Section 11 hereof, a total of 14,320,000 shares of Stock shall be authorized for grants of Awards under the Plan, subject to the limitations contained in this Section 3.1(a) (the “Share Limit”). Shares of Stock subject to Awards granted on or after May 22, 2014 shall be counted against the Share Limit on a one-for-one basis.
(b) To the extent that an Award terminates, is cancelled, is forfeited, expires, fails to vest, lapses or for any other reason are not paid or delivered under the Plan, any shares of Stock subject to the Award shall again be available for the grant of subsequent Awards pursuant to the Plan. Except as provided below with respect to Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, any shares of Stock that are exchanged by a Participant or withheld by the Company as full or partial payment in connection with any Award under the Plan, as well as any shares of Stock tendered or withheld to satisfy the grant or exercise price or tax withholding obligation with respect to any Award, shall not be counted as issued and transferred to the Participant under the Plan and shall again become available for the grant of an Award pursuant to the Plan.
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To the extent that an Award granted under the Plan is settled in cash or a form other than shares of Stock, the shares that would have been delivered had there been no such cash or other settlement shall not be counted against the shares available for issuance under the Plan. To the extent permitted by applicable law or any exchange rule, shares of Stock issued in assumption of, or in substitution for, any outstanding awards of any entity acquired in any form of combination by the Company or any Subsidiary shall not be counted against shares of Stock available for grant pursuant to the Plan. Each Profits Interest Unit issued pursuant to an Award shall count as one (1) share of Stock against the Share Limit (in accordance with Section 3.1(a)) and for purposes of applying the individual Award limitation set forth in Section 3.3. To the extent that shares of Stock are delivered pursuant to the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right or Option granted under the Plan, the number of underlying shares as to which the exercise related shall be counted against the applicable Share Limit under Section 3.1(a), as opposed to only counting the shares issued. (For purposes of clarity, if a Stock Appreciation Right relates to 100,000 shares and is exercised at a time when the payment due to the Participant is 15,000 shares, 100,000 shares shall be charged against the applicable share limits under Sections 3.1 and 3.3 of the Plan with respect to such exercise.) The payment of Dividend Equivalents in cash in conjunction with any outstanding Awards shall not be counted against the shares available for issuance or transfer under the Plan. In the event that shares of Stock are delivered in respect of Dividend Equivalents granted under the Plan, the number of shares delivered with respect to the Award shall be counted against the share limits of the Plan (including, for purposes of clarity, the limits of Sections 3.1 and 3.3 of the Plan). (For purposes of clarity, if 1,000 Dividend Equivalents are granted and outstanding when the Company pays a dividend, and 100 shares are delivered in payment of those rights with respect to that dividend, 100 shares shall be counted against the share limits of the Plan). Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 3.1(b), no shares of Stock may again be optioned, granted or awarded if such action would cause an Incentive Stock Option to fail to qualify as an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Code. The Company may not increase the Share Limit by repurchasing shares of Stock on the market (by using cash received through the exercise of Options granted under the Plan or otherwise).
(c) Any shares subject to an Award that, on or after May 22, 2014, again become available for grant pursuant to Section 3.1(b) hereof shall be added back to the Share Limit on a one-for-one basis.
3.2 Stock Distributed. Any Stock distributed pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Stock, treasury Stock or Stock purchased on the open market.
3.3 Limitation on Number of Shares Subject to Awards. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, and subject to Article 11 hereof, the following limits also apply with respect to Awards granted under the Plan:
(a) The maximum number of shares of Stock that may be delivered pursuant to Options qualified as Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan is 8,320,000 shares.
(b) The maximum number of shares of Stock subject to those Options and Stock Appreciation Rights that are granted during any calendar year to any one Participant under the Plan is 1,500,000 shares.
(c) The maximum number of shares of Stock with respect to one or more Awards that may be granted to any one Participant during any calendar year (whether such Awards are payable in Stock or denominated in Stock and payable in cash) shall be 1,500,000 shares. With respect to one or more Awards to any one Participant which are not denominated in Stock, the maximum amount that may be paid in cash during any calendar year shall be $30,000,000.
(d) Awards that are granted under the Plan during any one calendar year to any person who, on the grant date of the Award, is an Independent Director are subject to the limits of this Section 3.3(d). The maximum number of shares of Stock subject to those Awards that are granted under the Plan during any one calendar year to an individual who, on the grant date of the Award, is an Independent Director is the number of shares that produce a grant date fair value for the Award that, when combined with the grant
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date fair value of any other Awards granted under the Plan during that same calendar year to that individual in his or her capacity as an Independent Director, is $300,000; provided that this limit is $500,000 as to (1) an Independent Director who is serving as the independent Chair of the Board or as the Company’s lead independent director at the time the applicable grant is made or (2) any new Independent Director for the calendar year in which the Independent Director is first elected or appointed to the Board. For purposes of this Section 3.3(d), “grant date fair value” means the value of the Award as of the date of grant of the Award and as determined using the equity award valuation principles applied in the Company’s financial reporting. The limits of this Section 3.3(d) do not apply to, and shall be determined without taking into account, any Award granted to an individual who, on the grant date of the Award, is a Company Employee. The limits of this Section 3.3(d) apply on an individual basis and not on an aggregate basis to all Independent Directors as a group.
ARTICLE 4.
ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION
ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION
4.1 Eligibility. Each Eligible Individual shall be eligible to be granted one or more Awards pursuant to the Plan.
4.2 Participation. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee may, from time to time, select from among all Eligible Individuals, those to whom Awards shall be granted and shall determine the nature and amount of each Award. No Eligible Individual shall have any right to be granted an Award pursuant to the Plan.
4.3 Foreign Participants. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in order to comply with the laws in other countries in which the Company, the Partnership, the TRS, or any Subsidiary operates or has Eligible Individuals, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to: (i) determine which Subsidiaries shall be covered by the Plan; (ii) determine which Eligible Individuals outside the United States are eligible to participate in the Plan; (iii) modify the terms and conditions of any Award granted to Eligible Individuals outside the United States to comply with applicable foreign laws and customs and meet the objectives of the Plan; (iv) establish subplans and modify exercise procedures and other terms and procedures, to the extent such actions may be necessary or advisable (any such subplans and/or modifications shall be attached to the Plan as appendices); provided, however, that no such subplans and/or modifications shall increase the share limitations contained in Sections 3.1 and 3.3 hereof; and (v) take any action, before or after an Award is made, that it deems advisable to obtain approval or comply with any necessary local governmental regulatory exemptions or approvals or local customs.
ARTICLE 5.
STOCK OPTIONS
STOCK OPTIONS
5.1 General. The Committee is authorized to grant Options to Participants on the following terms and conditions:
(a) Exercise Price. The exercise price per share of Stock subject to an Option shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement; provided, that, subject to Section 5.2(b) hereof, the per share exercise price for any Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of grant.
(b) Time and Conditions of Exercise. The Committee shall determine the time or times at which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part; provided that the term of any Option granted under the Plan shall not exceed ten years. The Committee shall also determine the performance or other conditions, if any, that must be satisfied before all or part of an Option may be exercised.
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(c) Payment. The Committee shall determine the methods by which the exercise price of an Option may be paid, the form of payment, including, without limitation: (i) cash, (ii) shares of Stock having a fair market value on the date of delivery equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Option or exercised portion thereof, including shares that would be issuable or transferable upon exercise of the Option, or (iii) other property acceptable to the Committee (including through the delivery of a notice that the Participant has placed a market sell order with a broker with respect to shares of Stock then issuable upon exercise of the Option, and that the broker has been directed to pay a sufficient portion of the net proceeds of the sale to the Company in satisfaction of the Option exercise price; provided that payment of such proceeds is then made to the Company at such time as may be required by the Company not later than settlement of such sale), and the methods by which shares of Stock shall be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, no Participant who is a member of the Board or an “executive officer” of the Company within the meaning of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act shall be permitted to pay the exercise price of an Option, or continue any extension of credit with respect to the exercise price of an Option with a loan from the Company, the Partnership, the TRS or any Subsidiary or a loan arranged by the Company, the Partnership, the TRS or any Subsidiary in violation of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act.
(d) Evidence of Grant. All Options shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement between the Company and the Participant. The Award Agreement shall include such additional provisions as may be specified by the Committee.
5.2 Incentive Stock Options. Incentive Stock Options shall be granted only to Company Employees or to Employees of a corporation which constitutes a “subsidiary corporation” of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code, and the terms of any Incentive Stock Options granted pursuant to the Plan, in addition to the requirements of Section 5.1 hereof, must comply with the provisions of this Section 5.2.
(a) Dollar Limitation. The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time the Option is granted) of all shares of Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are first exercisable by a Participant in any calendar year may not exceed $100,000 or such other limitation as imposed by Section 422(d) of the Code, or any successor provision. To the extent that Incentive Stock Options are first exercisable by a Participant in excess of such limitation, the excess shall be considered Non-Qualified Stock Options.
(b) Ten Percent Owners. An Incentive Stock Option may not be granted to any individual who, at the date of grant, owns stock possessing more than ten percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of Stock of the Company or any “parent corporation” or “subsidiary corporation” of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(e) and 424(f), respectively, of the Code, unless such Option is granted at a price that is not less than 110% of Fair Market Value on the date of grant and the Option is exercisable for no more than five years from the date of grant.
(c) Notice of Disposition. The Participant shall give the Company prompt notice of any disposition of shares of Stock acquired by exercise of an Incentive Stock Option within (i) two years from the date of grant of such Incentive Stock Option or (ii) one year after the transfer of such shares of Stock to the Participant.
(d) Right to Exercise. During a Participant’s lifetime, an Incentive Stock Option may be exercised only by the Participant.
(e) Failure to Meet Requirements. Any Option (or portion thereof) purported to be an Incentive Stock Option, which, for any reason, fails to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code shall be considered a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
5.3 Transfer of Shares to a Company Employee, Consultant or Independent Director. As soon as practicable after receipt by the Company of payment for the shares with respect to which an Option (which in the
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case of a Company Employee, Company Consultant or Independent Director was issued to and is held by such Participant in such capacity), or portion thereof, is exercised by a Participant who is a Company Employee, Company Consultant or Independent Director, then, with respect to each such exercise, the Company shall transfer to the Participant the number of shares equal to:
(a) The amount of the payment made by the Participant to the Company pursuant to Section 5.1(c), divided by
(b) The price per share of the shares subject to the Option as determined pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or 5.2(c), as applicable.
5.4 Transfer of Shares to a Partnership Employee or Consultant. As soon as practicable after receipt by the Company, pursuant to Section 5.1(c), of payment for the shares with respect to which an Option (which was issued to and is held by a Partnership Employee or Partnership Consultant in such capacity), or portion thereof, is exercised by a Participant who is a Partnership Employee or Partnership Consultant, then, with respect to each such exercise:
(a) The Company shall transfer to the Participant the number of shares equal to (A) the amount of the payment made by the Participant to the Company pursuant to Section 5.1(c) divided by (B) the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock at the time of exercise (the “Partnership Participant Purchased Shares”);
(b) The Company shall sell to the Partnership the number of shares (the “Partnership Purchased Shares”) equal to the excess of (i) the amount obtained by dividing (A) the amount of the payment made by the Participant to the Company pursuant to Section 5.1(c) by (B) the price per share of the shares subject to the Option as determined pursuant to Section 5.1(a), over (ii) the Partnership Participant Purchased Shares. The price to be paid by the Partnership to the Company for the Partnership Purchased Shares (the “Partnership Purchase Price”) shall be an amount equal to the product of (x) the number of Partnership Purchased Shares multiplied by (y) the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock at the time of the exercise; and
(c) As soon as practicable after receipt of the Partnership Purchased Shares by the Partnership, the Partnership shall transfer such shares to the Participant at no additional cost, as additional compensation.
5.5 Transfer of Shares to a TRS Employee, Consultant or Director. As soon as practicable after receipt by the Company, pursuant to Section 5.1(c), of payment for the shares with respect to which an Option (which was issued to and is held by a TRS Employee, TRS Director or TRS Consultant in such capacity), or portion thereof, is exercised by a Participant who is a TRS Employee, TRS Director or TRS Consultant, then, with respect to each such exercise:
(a) The Company shall transfer to the Participant the number of shares equal to (A) the amount of the payment made by the Participant to the Company pursuant to Section 5.1(c) divided by (B) the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock at the time of exercise (the “TRS Participant Purchased Shares”);
(b) The Company shall sell to the TRS the number of shares (the “TRS Purchased Shares”) equal to the excess of (i) the amount obtained by dividing (A) the amount of the payment made by the Participant to the Company pursuant to Section 5.1(c) by (B) the price per share of the shares subject to the Option as determined pursuant to Section 5.1(a), over (ii) the TRS Participant Purchased Shares. The price to be paid by the TRS to the Company for the TRS Purchased Shares (the “TRS Purchase Price”) shall be an amount equal to the product of (x) the number of TRS Purchased Shares multiplied by (y) the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock at the time of the exercise; and
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As soon as practicable after receipt of the TRS Purchased Shares by the TRS, the TRS shall transfer such shares to the Participant at no additional cost, as additional compensation.
5.6 Transfer of Payment to the Partnership. As soon as practicable after receipt by the Company of the amounts described in Sections 5.1(c), 5.4(b), and 5.5(b), the Company shall contribute to the Partnership an amount of cash equal to such payments and the Partnership shall issue an additional interest in the Partnership on the terms set forth in the Partnership Agreement.
5.7 Allocation of Payment upon Option Exercise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that a Participant provides services to more than one of the Company, the Partnership, the TRS or any Subsidiary, the Company may, in its discretion, allocate the payment or issuance of shares with respect to any Options exercised by such Participant (and the services performed by the Participant ) among such entities for purposes of the provisions of Sections 5.3, 5.4, 5.5 and 5.6 in order to ensure that the relationship between the Company and the TRS, the Partnership or such Subsidiary remains at arms-length.
ARTICLE 6.
RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS
RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS
6.1 Grant of Restricted Stock. The Committee is authorized to make Awards of Restricted Stock to any Participant selected by the Committee in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Committee. All Awards of Restricted Stock shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement.
6.2 Issuance and Restrictions. Restricted Stock shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability and other restrictions as the Committee may impose (including, without limitation, limitations on the right to vote Restricted Stock or the right to receive dividends on the Restricted Stock). These restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times, pursuant to such circumstances, in such installments, or otherwise, as the Committee determines at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter.
6.3 Forfeiture. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter, upon termination of employment or service during the applicable restriction period, Restricted Stock that is at that time subject to restrictions shall be forfeited; provided, however, that, the Committee may (a) provide in any Restricted Stock Award Agreement that restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Restricted Stock will lapse in whole or in part in the event of terminations resulting from specified causes, and (b) provide in other cases for the lapse in whole or in part of restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Restricted Stock.
6.4 Certificates for Restricted Stock. Restricted Stock granted pursuant to the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall determine. If certificates representing shares of Restricted Stock are registered in the name of the Participant, certificates must bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock, and the Company, the TRS or the Partnership, as applicable, may, at its discretion, retain physical possession of the certificate until such time as all applicable restrictions lapse.
ARTICLE 7.
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
7.1 Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights.
(a) A Stock Appreciation Right may be granted to any Participant selected by the Committee. A Stock Appreciation Right shall be subject to such terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Committee shall impose and shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement, provided, that the term of any Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan shall not exceed ten years.
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(b) A Stock Appreciation Right shall entitle the Participant (or other person entitled to exercise the Stock Appreciation Right pursuant to the Plan) to exercise all or a specified portion of the Stock Appreciation Right (to the extent then exercisable pursuant to its terms) and to receive from the Company an amount equal to the product of (i) the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised over (B) the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date the Stock Appreciation Right was granted and (ii) the number of shares of Stock with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised, subject to any limitations the Committee may impose.
7.2 Payment and Limitations on Exercise.
(a) Subject to Section 7.2(b) below, payment of the amounts determined under Sections 7.1(b) above shall be in cash, in Stock (based on its Fair Market Value as of the date the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised) or a combination of both, as determined by the Committee in the Award Agreement.
(b) To the extent any payment under Section 7.1(b) hereof is effected in Stock, it shall be made subject to satisfaction of all provisions of Article 5 above pertaining to Options.
ARTICLE 8.
OTHER TYPES OF AWARDS
OTHER TYPES OF AWARDS
8.1 Performance Share Awards. Any Participant selected by the Committee may be granted one or more Performance Share awards which shall be denominated in a number of shares of Stock and which may be linked to any one or more of the Performance Criteria or other specific performance criteria determined appropriate by the Committee, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the Committee. In making such determinations, the Committee shall consider (among such other factors as it deems relevant in light of the specific type of award) the contributions, responsibilities and other compensation of the particular Participant.
8.2 Performance Stock Units. Any Participant selected by the Committee may be granted one or more Performance Stock Unit awards which shall be denominated in unit equivalent of shares of Stock and/or units of value including dollar value of shares of Stock and which may be linked to any one or more of the Performance Criteria or other specific performance criteria determined appropriate by the Committee, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the Committee. In making such determinations, the Committee shall consider (among such other factors as it deems relevant in light of the specific type of award) the contributions, responsibilities and other compensation of the particular Participant.
8.3 Dividend Equivalents. Any Participant selected by the Committee may be granted Dividend Equivalents based on the dividends declared on the shares of Stock that are subject to any Award (except as provided below), to be credited as of dividend payment dates, during the period between the date the Award is granted and the date the Award is exercised, vests or expires, as determined by the Committee. Such Dividend Equivalents shall be converted to cash or additional shares of Stock by such formula and at such time and subject to such limitations as may be determined by the Committee. Dividend Equivalents may be granted as a separate Award or in connection with another Award under the Plan; provided, however, that (a) Dividend Equivalents may not be granted in connection with an Option or SAR granted under the Plan or any other Award granted under the Plan the value of which is based solely on an increase in the value of the Stock after the date of grant of such Award; and (b) effective for dividends and Dividend Equivalents in connection with Awards (other than those referenced in clause (a) as to which Dividend Equivalents may not be granted) granted after April 4, 2017, any such dividends and/or Dividend Equivalents will be subject to the same vesting conditions (if any) as the Award to which they relate and will be subject to termination and forfeiture (to the same extent as the corresponding portion of the Award to which they relate) if such vesting conditions are not satisfied.
8.4 Stock Payments. Any Participant selected by the Committee may receive Stock Payments in the manner determined from time to time by the Committee; provided, that unless otherwise determined by the
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Committee such Stock Payments shall be made in lieu of base salary, bonus, or other cash compensation otherwise payable to such Participant. The number of shares shall be determined by the Committee and may be based upon the Performance Criteria or other specific performance criteria determined appropriate by the Committee, determined on the date such Stock Payment is made or on any date thereafter.
8.5 Deferred Stock. Any Participant selected by the Committee may be granted an award of Deferred Stock in the manner determined from time to time by the Committee. The number of shares of Deferred Stock shall be determined by the Committee and may be linked to the Performance Criteria or other specific performance criteria determined to be appropriate by the Committee, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the Committee. Stock underlying a Deferred Stock award will not be issued until the Deferred Stock award has vested, pursuant to a vesting schedule or performance criteria set by the Committee. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, a Participant awarded Deferred Stock shall have no rights as a Company stockholder with respect to such Deferred Stock until such time as the Deferred Stock Award has vested and the Stock underlying the Deferred Stock Award has been issued.
8.6 Restricted Stock Units. The Committee is authorized to make Awards of Restricted Stock Units to any Participant selected by the Committee in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Committee. At the time of grant, the Committee shall specify the date or dates on which the Restricted Stock Units shall become fully vested and nonforfeitable, and may specify such conditions to vesting as it deems appropriate. At the time of grant, the Committee shall specify the maturity date applicable to each grant of Restricted Stock Units which shall be no earlier than the vesting date or dates of the Award and may be determined at the election of the grantee. On the maturity date, the Company, the TRS or the Partnership, as applicable, shall, subject to Section 10.5(b) hereof, transfer to the Participant one unrestricted, fully transferable share of Stock for each Restricted Stock Unit scheduled to be paid out on such date and not previously forfeited.
8.7 Profits Interest Units. Any Participant selected by the Committee may be granted an award of Profits Interest Units in such amount and subject to such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Committee; provided, however, that Profits Interest Units may only be issued to a Participant for the performance of services to or for the benefit of the Partnership (a) in the Participant’s capacity as a partner of the Partnership, (b) in anticipation of the Participant becoming a partner of the Partnership, or (c) as otherwise determined by the Committee, provided that the Profits Interest Units would constitute “profits interests” within the meaning of the Code, Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder and any published guidance by the Internal Revenue Service with respect thereto. At the time of grant, the Committee shall specify the date or dates on which the Profits Interest Units shall vest and become nonforfeitable, and may specify such conditions to vesting as it deems appropriate. Profits Interest Units shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability and other restrictions as the Committee may impose. These restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times, pursuant to such circumstances, in such installments, or otherwise, as the Committee determines at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter. The Committee shall specify the purchase price, if any, to be paid by the grantee to the Partnership for the Profits Interest Units.
8.8 Other Incentive Awards. Any Participant selected by the Committee may be granted one or more Awards that provide Participants with shares of Stock or the right to purchase shares of Stock or that have a value derived from the value of, or an exercise or conversion privilege at a price related to, or that are otherwise payable in or based on, shares of Stock or stockholder value or stockholder return, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the Committee. Other Incentive Awards may be linked to any one or more of the Performance Criteria or other specific performance criteria determined appropriate by the Committee, or in the form of discretionary cash awards. Amounts payable under Other Incentive Awards may be in cash, Stock, units of the Partnership, or a combination of any of the foregoing, as determined by the Committee.
8.9 Performance Bonus Awards. Any Participant selected by the Committee may be granted a cash bonus (a “Performance Bonus Award”) payable upon the attainment of Performance Goals that are established by the Committee and relate to one or more of the Performance Criteria or other specific performance criteria determined to be appropriate by the Committee, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the Committee. For clarity, the Plan does not limit the authority of the Company, the
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Partnership, or the TRS to grant or award any other compensation or benefit under any other plan or authority, and cash bonuses and bonus opportunities need not be structured as awards under or subject to the Plan.
8.10 Term. Except as otherwise provided herein, the term of any Award of Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, Dividend Equivalents, Stock Payments, Deferred Stock, Restricted Stock Units or an Other Incentive Award shall be set by the Committee in its discretion.
8.11 Exercise or Purchase Price. The Committee may establish the exercise or purchase price, if any, of any Award of Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, Deferred Stock, Stock Payments, Restricted Stock Units or an Other Incentive Award; provided, however, that such price shall not be less than the par value of a share of Stock on the date of grant, unless otherwise permitted by applicable state law. The Committee shall determine the form of payment of any such exercise or purchase price, which may be in the form of any consideration permitted by applicable state law.
8.12 Exercise upon Termination of Employment or Service. An Award of Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, Dividend Equivalents, Deferred Stock, Stock Payments, Restricted Stock Units, Profits Interest Units, and an Other Incentive Award shall only vest or be exercisable or payable while the Participant is an Employee, Consultant, a member of the Board, or a TRS Director, as applicable; provided, however, that the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion may provide that an Award of Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, Dividend Equivalents, Stock Payments, Deferred Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Profits Interest Units or an Other Incentive Award may vest or be exercised or paid on or subsequent to a termination of employment or service, as applicable, or on or following a Change in Control of the Company, or because of the Participant’s retirement, death or Disability, or otherwise.
8.13 Form of Payment. Payments with respect to any Awards granted under this Article 8, other than Profits Interest Units, shall be made in cash, in Stock or a combination of both, as determined by the Committee.
8.14 Award Agreement. All Awards under this Article 8 shall be subject to such additional terms and conditions as determined by the Committee and shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement.
ARTICLE 9.
[RESERVED]
[RESERVED]
ARTICLE 10.
PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS
PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS
10.1 Stand-Alone and Tandem Awards. Awards granted pursuant to the Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone, in addition to, or in tandem with, any other Award granted pursuant to the Plan. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards may be granted either at the same time as or at a different time from the grant of such other Awards.
10.2 Award Agreement. Awards under the Plan shall be evidenced by Award Agreements that set forth the terms, conditions and limitations for each Award which may include the term of an Award, the provisions applicable in the event the Participant’s employment or service terminates, and the Company’s authority to unilaterally or bilaterally amend, modify, suspend, cancel or rescind an Award.
10.3 Limits on Transfer. No right or interest of a Participant in any Award may be pledged, encumbered, or hypothecated to or in favor of any party other than the Company, the TRS, the Partnership or a Subsidiary, or shall be subject to any lien, obligation, or liability of such Participant to any other party other than the Company, the TRS, the Partnership or a Subsidiary. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, no Award shall be assigned, transferred, or otherwise disposed of by a Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and
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distribution. The Committee by express provision in the Award or an amendment thereto may permit an Award to be transferred to, exercised by and paid to certain persons or entities related to the Participant, including but not limited to members of the Participant’s family, charitable institutions, or trusts or other entities whose beneficiaries or beneficial owners are members of the Participant’s family and/or charitable institutions, or to such other persons or entities as may be expressly approved by the Committee, pursuant to such conditions and procedures as the Committee may establish; provided, however, that no such transfer of an Incentive Stock Option shall be permitted to the extent that such transfer would cause the Incentive Stock Option to fail to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code. Any permitted transfer shall be subject to the condition that the Committee receive evidence satisfactory to it that the transfer is being made for estate and/or tax planning purposes (or to a “blind trust” in connection with the Participant’s termination of employment or service with the Company, the TRS, the Partnership or a Subsidiary to assume a position with a governmental, charitable, educational or similar non-profit institution) and on a basis consistent with the Company’s lawful issue of securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall any Award be transferable by a Participant to a third party for consideration.
10.4 Beneficiaries. Notwithstanding Section 10.3 hereof, a Participant may, in the manner determined by the Committee, designate a beneficiary to exercise the rights of the Participant and to receive any distribution with respect to any Award upon the Participant’s death. A beneficiary, legal guardian, legal representative, or other person claiming any rights pursuant to the Plan is subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and any Award Agreement applicable to the Participant, except to the extent the Plan and Award Agreement otherwise provide, and to any additional restrictions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee. If the Participant is married and resides in a community property state, a designation of a person other than the Participant’s spouse as his or her beneficiary with respect to more than 50% of the Participant’s interest in the Award shall not be effective without the prior written consent of the Participant’s spouse. If no beneficiary has been designated or survives the Participant, payment shall be made to the person entitled thereto pursuant to the Participant’s will or the laws of descent and distribution. Subject to the foregoing, a beneficiary designation may be changed or revoked by a Participant at any time provided the change or revocation is filed with the Committee.
10.5 Stock Certificates; Book Entry Procedures.
(a) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company, the TRS, nor the Partnership shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates evidencing shares of Stock pursuant to the exercise of any Award, unless and until the Board has determined, with advice of counsel, that the issuance and delivery of such certificates is in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations of governmental authorities and, if applicable, the requirements of any exchange on which the shares of Stock are listed or traded. All Stock certificates delivered pursuant to the Plan are subject to any stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to comply with federal, state, or foreign jurisdiction, securities or other laws, rules and regulations and the rules of any national securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Stock is listed, quoted, or traded. The Committee may place legends on any Stock certificate to reference restrictions applicable to the Stock. In addition to the terms and conditions provided herein, the Board may require that a Participant make such reasonable covenants, agreements, and representations as the Board, in its discretion, deems advisable in order to comply with any such laws, regulations, or requirements. The Committee shall have the right to require any Participant to comply with any timing or other restrictions with respect to the settlement or exercise of any Award, including a window-period limitation, as may be imposed in the discretion of the Committee.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, unless otherwise determined by the Committee or required by any applicable law, rule or regulation, the Company shall not deliver to any Participant certificates evidencing shares of Stock issued in connection with any Award and instead such shares of Stock shall be recorded in the books of the Company (or, as applicable, its transfer agent or stock plan administrator).
10.6 Paperless Exercise. In the event that the Company establishes, for itself or using the services of a third party, an automated system for the exercise of Awards, such as a system using an internet website or
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interactive voice response, then the paperless exercise of Awards by a Participant may be permitted through the use of such an automated system.
10.7 Deferrals. The Committee may also require or permit Participants to elect to defer the issuance of shares or the settlement of Awards in cash under such rules and procedures as it may establish under the Plan. The Committee may also provide that deferred settlements include the payment or crediting of interest or other earnings on the deferral amounts, or the payment or crediting of dividend equivalents where the deferred amounts are denominated in shares.
ARTICLE 11.
CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE
CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE
11.1 Adjustments.
(a) Other than in the event of an Equity Restructuring, in the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation, spin-off, recapitalization or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Company assets to stockholders, or any other change affecting the shares of Stock or the share price of the Stock, the Committee shall make such proportionate adjustments, if any, as the Committee in its discretion may deem appropriate to reflect such change with respect to (a) the aggregate number and kind of shares that may be issued under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitations in Sections 3.1, 3.3, and 9.5(c) hereof); (b) the number and kind of shares that may be issued with respect to any outstanding Awards under the Plan; (c) the terms and conditions of any outstanding Awards (including, without limitation, any applicable performance targets or criteria with respect thereto); and (d) the grant or exercise price per share for any outstanding Awards under the Plan.
(b) Other than in the event of an Equity Restructuring, in the event of any transaction or event described in Section 11.1(a) hereof or any unusual or nonrecurring transactions or events affecting the Company, the Partnership, any affiliate of the Company or the Partnership, or the financial statements of the Company, the Partnership or any affiliate, or of changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting principles, the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion, and on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, either by the terms of the Award or by action taken prior to the occurrence of such transaction or event and either automatically or upon the Participant’s request, is hereby authorized to take any one or more of the following actions whenever the Committee determines that such action is appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan or with respect to any Award under the Plan, to facilitate such transactions or events or to give effect to such changes in laws, regulations or principles:
(i) To provide for either (A) termination of any such Award in exchange for an amount of cash, if any, equal to the amount that would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights (and, for the avoidance of doubt, if as of the date of the occurrence of the transaction or event described in this Section 11.1(b) the Committee determines in good faith that no amount would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights, then such Award may be terminated by the Company without payment) or (B) the replacement of such Award with other rights or property selected by the Committee in its sole discretion;
(ii) To provide that such Award be assumed by the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, or shall be substituted for by similar options, rights or awards covering the stock of the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and prices;
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(iii) To make adjustments in the number and type of shares of Stock (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards, and in the number and kind of outstanding Restricted Stock or Deferred Stock and/or in the terms and conditions of (including the grant or exercise price), and the criteria included in, outstanding options, rights and awards and options, rights and awards which may be granted in the future;
(iv) To provide that such Award shall be exercisable or payable or fully vested with respect to all shares covered thereby, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement; and
(v) To provide that the Award cannot vest, be exercised or become payable after such event.
(c) In connection with the occurrence of any Equity Restructuring, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Sections 11.1(a) and 11.1(b):
(i) The number and type of securities subject to each outstanding Award and the exercise price or grant price thereof, if applicable, will be proportionately adjusted. The adjustments provided under this Section 11.1(c)(i) shall be nondiscretionary and shall be final and binding on the affected Participant and the Company.
(ii) The Committee shall make such proportionate adjustments, if any, as the Committee in its discretion may deem appropriate to reflect such Equity Restructuring with respect to the aggregate number and kind of shares that may be issued under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitations in Sections 3.1 and 3.3 hereof).
11.2 Acceleration Upon a Change in Control if Awards Are To Be Terminated. Upon, or in anticipation of, a Change in Control, the Committee may cause any and all Awards outstanding hereunder to terminate at a specific time in the future, including but not limited to the date of such Change in Control, and shall give each Participant the right to exercise such Awards during a period of time as the Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall determine. In the event that the terms of any agreement between the Company, the TRS, the Partnership or any Subsidiary or affiliate and a Participant contains provisions that conflict with and are more restrictive than the provisions of this Section 11.2, this Section 11.2 shall prevail and control and the more restrictive terms of such agreement (and only such terms) shall be of no force or effect. Notwithstanding Section 11.1 hereof, and except as may otherwise be provided in any applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement entered into between the Company and a Participant, if a Change in Control occurs and a Participant’s Awards are not converted, assumed, or replaced by a successor entity and the Awards are to be terminated in accordance with the preceding sentence, then immediately prior to the Change in Control such Awards shall vest and become fully exercisable, and all forfeiture restrictions on such Awards shall lapse.
For purposes of this Section 11.2, an award shall be deemed to have been “assumed” if (without limiting other circumstances in which an award is assumed) the award continues after the Change in Control, and/or is assumed and continued by the surviving entity following such event (including, without limitation, an entity that, as a result of such event, owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets directly or through one or more subsidiaries (a “Parent”)), and confers the right to purchase or receive, as applicable and subject to vesting and the other terms and conditions of the award, for each share of Stock subject to the award immediately prior to the event, the consideration (whether cash, shares, or other securities or property) received in the event by the stockholders of the Company for each share of Stock sold or exchanged in such event (or the consideration received by a majority of the stockholders participating in such event if the stockholders were offered a choice of consideration); provided, however, that if the consideration offered for a share of Stock in the event is not solely the ordinary common stock of a successor corporation or a Parent, the Committee may provide for the consideration to be received upon exercise or payment of the award, for each share subject to the award, to be solely ordinary common stock of the successor corporation or a Parent equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by the stockholders participating in the event.
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11.3 No Other Rights. Except as expressly provided in the Plan, no Participant shall have any rights by reason of any subdivision or consolidation of shares of stock of any class, the payment of any dividend, any increase or decrease in the number of shares of stock of any class or any dissolution, liquidation, merger, or consolidation of the Company or any other corporation. Except as expressly provided in the Plan or pursuant to action of the Committee under the Plan, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of shares of Stock subject to an Award or the grant or exercise price of any Award.
ARTICLE 12.
ADMINISTRATION
ADMINISTRATION
12.1 Committee. Unless and until the Board delegates administration of the Plan to a Committee as set forth below, the Plan shall be administered by the full Board, and for such purposes the term “Committee” as used in the Plan shall be deemed to refer to the Board. The Board, at its discretion (including to the extent it deems it advisable to comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or any other applicable rule or regulation), shall delegate administration of the Plan to a Committee. The Committee shall consist solely of two or more members of the Board each of whom, in the judgment of the Board, is an “independent director” under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (or other principal securities market on which shares of Stock are traded). The governance of such Committee shall be subject to the charter of the Committee as approved by the Board. Any action taken by the Committee shall be valid and effective, whether or not members of the Committee at the time of such action are later determined not to have satisfied the requirements for membership set forth in this Section 12.1 or otherwise provided in the charter of the Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing: (a) the full Board, acting by a majority of its members in office, shall conduct the general administration of the Plan with respect to all Awards granted to Independent Directors and for purposes of such Awards the term “Committee” as used in the Plan shall be deemed to refer to the Board and (b) the Committee may delegate its authority hereunder to the extent permitted by Section 12.5 hereof. In its sole discretion, the Board may at any time and from time to time exercise any and all rights and duties of the Committee under the Plan.
12.2 Support for the Committee. Each member of the Committee is entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to that member by any officer or other employee of the Company, the TRS, the Partnership or any Subsidiary, the independent certified public accountants of the Company, the TRS, or the Partnership, or any executive compensation consultant or other professional retained by the Company, the TRS, or the Partnership to assist in the administration of the Plan.
12.3 Authority of Committee. Subject to any specific designation in the Plan including, without limitation, the no repricing provision in Section 14.1, the Committee has the exclusive power, authority and discretion to:
(a) Designate Participants to receive Awards;
(b) Determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Participant;
(c) Determine the number of Awards to be granted and the number of shares of Stock or Profits Interest Units to which an Award will relate;
(d) Determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted pursuant to the Plan, including, but not limited to, the exercise price, grant price, or purchase price, any restrictions or limitations on the Award, any schedule for lapse of forfeiture restrictions or restrictions on the exercisability of an Award (or determine that an Award will be fully vested and/or exercisable, as the case may be, at grant), and accelerations or waivers thereof, any provisions related to non-competition and recapture of gain on an Award, based in each case on such considerations as the Committee in its sole discretion determines;
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(e) Determine whether, to what extent, and pursuant to what circumstances an Award may be settled in, or the exercise price of an Award may be paid in, cash, Stock, other Awards, or other property, or an Award may be canceled, forfeited, or surrendered;
(f) Prescribe the form of each Award Agreement, which need not be identical for each Participant;
(g) Decide all other matters that must be determined in connection with an Award, including (without limitation) the circumstances in which any performance-based goals (or the applicable measure of performance) will be adjusted and the nature and impact of any such adjustment, the extent (if any) to which any applicable exercise and vesting requirements have been satisfied, and the events (if any) of termination, expiration or reversion of Awards;
(h) Establish, adopt, or revise any rules and regulations as it may deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan;
(i) Interpret the terms of, and any matter arising pursuant to, the Plan or any Award Agreement;
(j) In the case of Awards to TRS Employees, TRS Consultants, Partnership Employees or Partnership Consultants, determine the mechanics for the transfer of rights under such Awards; and
(k) Make all other decisions and determinations that may be required pursuant to the Plan or as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to administer the Plan.
12.4 Decisions Binding. The Committee’s interpretation of the Plan, any Awards granted pursuant to the Plan, any Award Agreement and all decisions and determinations by the Committee with respect to the Plan are final, binding, and conclusive on all persons.
12.5 Delegation of Authority. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board or Committee may from time to time delegate to a committee of one or more members of the Board and/or one or more officers of the Company the authority to grant or amend Awards or to take other actions authorized pursuant to this Article 12; provided, however, that in no event shall an officer of the Company be delegated the authority to grant Awards to, or amend Awards held by, the following individuals: (a) individuals who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, or (b) officers of the Company (or members of the Board) to whom authority to grant or amend Awards has been delegated hereunder; provided, further, that any delegation of administrative authority shall only be permitted to the extent it is permissible under applicable law. Any delegation hereunder shall be subject to the restrictions and limits that the Board or Committee specifies at the time of such delegation, and the Board or the Committee may at any time rescind the authority so delegated or appoint a new delegatee. At all times, the delegatee(s) appointed under this Section 12.5 shall serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the Board and the Committee.
ARTICLE 13.
EFFECTIVE AND EXPIRATION DATE
EFFECTIVE AND EXPIRATION DATE
13.1 Effective Date. The Plan is effective as of the date the Plan is approved by the Company’s stockholders (the “Effective Date”). The Plan will be deemed to be approved by the stockholders if it receives the affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast at a meeting duly held in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Company’s bylaws, provided that the total vote cast on the proposal represents over 50% in interest of all securities entitled to vote on the proposal.
13.2 Expiration Date. Unless earlier terminated by the Board, the Plan shall terminate at the close of business on February 15, 2033, subject to any extension approved by the Company’s stockholders. After the termination of the Plan either upon such stated expiration date or its earlier termination by the Board, no additional
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Awards may be granted pursuant to the Plan, but previously granted Awards (and the authority of the Committee with respect thereto, including the authority to amend such Awards) shall remain outstanding in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan and the terms and conditions of the applicable Award Agreement.
ARTICLE 14.
AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, AND TERMINATION
AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, AND TERMINATION
14.1 Amendment, Modification, and Termination. Subject to Section 15.17 hereof, with the approval of the Board, at any time and from time to time, the Committee may terminate, amend or modify the Plan; provided, however, that (a) to the extent the Company deems it necessary or desirable to comply with any applicable law, regulation, or stock exchange rule, the Company shall obtain stockholder approval of any Plan amendment in such a manner and to such a degree as required, and (b) stockholder approval shall be required for any amendment to the Plan that (i) increases the number of shares available under the Plan (other than any adjustment as provided by Article 11 hereof), (ii) permits the Committee to grant Options or SARs with an exercise price that is below Fair Market Value on the date of grant, or (iii) permits the Committee to extend the exercise period for an Option or SAR beyond ten years from the date of grant. Subject to Section 14.2, the Committee may also amend an Award or Awards previously granted. However, notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary and except for an adjustment pursuant to Article 11 or a repricing approved by the stockholders of the Company, in no case may the Committee (I) amend an outstanding Option or SAR to reduce the per share exercise or base price of the Award, (II) cancel, exchange or surrender an outstanding Option or SAR in exchange for an Option or SAR with an exercise or base price that is less than the exercise or base price of the original Award, or (III) cancel, exchange or surrender an outstanding Option or SAR in exchange for cash or other Awards for the purpose of repricing the Award.
14.2 Awards Previously Granted. Except with respect to amendments made pursuant to Section 15.17 hereof, no termination, amendment, or modification of the Plan or an Award shall adversely affect in any material way any Award previously granted pursuant to the Plan without the prior written consent of the Participant. Any amendment or other action that would constitute a repricing of an Award is subject to the limitations set forth in Section 14.1.
ARTICLE 15.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
GENERAL PROVISIONS
15.1 No Rights to Awards. No Eligible Individual or other person shall have any claim to be granted any Award pursuant to the Plan, and none of the Company, the TRS, the Partnership, any Subsidiary or the Committee is obligated to treat Eligible Individuals, Participants or any other persons uniformly.
15.2 No Stockholders Rights. Except as otherwise provided herein, a Participant shall have none of the rights of a stockholder with respect to shares of Stock covered by any Award until the Participant becomes the record owner of such shares of Stock.
15.3 Withholding. The Company, the TRS, the Partnership or any Subsidiary, as applicable, shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, the TRS, the Partnership or any Subsidiary, as applicable, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, local and foreign taxes (including the Participant’s employment tax obligations) required by law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event concerning a Participant arising as a result of the Plan. The Committee may in its discretion and in satisfaction of the foregoing requirement require or allow a Participant to elect to have the Company, the TRS, the Partnership or any Subsidiary, as applicable, withhold the appropriate number of shares of Stock otherwise issuable under an Award (or allow the return of shares of Stock) having a fair market value on the date of withholding equal to the sums required to be withheld to satisfy any applicable withholding obligations in connection with such taxable event.
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15.4 No Right to Employment or Services. Nothing in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company, the TRS, the Partnership or any Subsidiary to terminate any Participant’s employment or services at any time, nor confer upon any Participant any right to continue in the employ or service of the Company, the TRS, the Partnership or any Subsidiary.
15.5 Unfunded Status of Awards. The Plan is intended to be an “unfunded” plan for incentive compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall give the Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company, the TRS, the Partnership or any Subsidiary.
15.6 Indemnification. To the extent allowable pursuant to applicable law, each member of the Committee or of the Board shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company, the TRS, and/or the Partnership from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such member in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action or failure to act pursuant to the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him or her in satisfaction of judgment in such action, suit, or proceeding against him or her; provided he or she gives the Company, the TRS and the Partnership an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled pursuant to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company, the TRS, and/or the Partnership may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.
15.7 Relationship to Other Benefits. No payment pursuant to the Plan shall be taken into account in determining any benefits pursuant to any pension, retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare or other benefit plan of the Company, the TRS, the Partnership or any Subsidiary except to the extent otherwise expressly provided in writing in such other plan or an agreement thereunder.
15.8 Expenses. The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company, the TRS, the Partnership and their Subsidiaries.
15.9 Titles and Headings. The titles and headings of the Sections in the Plan are for convenience of reference only and, in the event of any conflict, the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings, shall control.
15.10 Fractional Shares. Unless otherwise expressly provided by the Committee, no fractional shares of Stock shall be issued and the Committee shall determine, in its discretion, whether cash shall be given in lieu of fractional shares or whether such fractional shares shall be eliminated by rounding up or down as appropriate.
15.11 Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Plan, and any Award granted or awarded to any Participant who is then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule if and to the extent necessary in order that the Participant not have actual short-swing profits liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Plan and such Awards shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.
15.12 Government and Other Regulations. The obligation of the Company, the TRS and the Partnership to make payment of awards in Stock, Profits Interest Units or otherwise shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by government agencies as may be required. The Company shall be under no obligation to register pursuant to the Securities Act, as amended, any of the shares of Stock or Profits Interest Units paid pursuant to the Plan. If the shares or Profits Interest Units paid pursuant to the Plan may in certain circumstances be exempt from registration pursuant to the Securities Act, as amended, the Company, the TRS and
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the Partnership may restrict the transfer of such shares or Profits Interest Units in such manner as it deems advisable to ensure the availability of any such exemption.
15.13 Section 83(b) Election Prohibited. No Participant may make an election under Section 83(b) of the Code with respect to any Award under the Plan without the consent of the Company or the Partnership, which the Company or the Partnership may grant or withhold in its sole discretion.
15.14 Grant of Awards to Certain Employees or Consultants. The Company, the TRS, the Partnership or any Subsidiary may provide through the establishment of a formal written policy or otherwise for the method by which shares of Stock or other securities and/or payment therefor may be exchanged or contributed between the Company and such other party, or may be returned to the Company upon any forfeiture of Stock or other securities by the Participant, for the purpose of ensuring that the relationship between the Company and the TRS, the Partnership or such Subsidiary remains at arms-length.
15.15 Restrictions on Awards. The Plan shall be interpreted and construed in a manner consistent with the Company’s status as a REIT. No Award shall be granted or awarded, and with respect to an Award already granted under the Plan, such Award shall not be exercisable or payable:
(a) To the extent that the grant, exercise or payment of such Award could cause the Participant to be in violation of the Ownership Limit (as defined in the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, as amended from time to time) or Subparagraph E(2) of Article IV (or any successor provision thereto) of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, as amended from time to time; or
(b) If, in the discretion of the Committee, the grant or exercise of such Award could impair the Company’s status as a REIT.
15.16 Governing Law. The Plan and all Award Agreements shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Maryland.
15.17 Section 409A. To the extent that the Committee determines that any Award granted under the Plan is subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Award Agreement evidencing such Award shall incorporate the terms and conditions required by Section 409A of the Code. To the extent applicable, the Plan and Award Agreements shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event that the Committee determines that any Award may be subject to Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance (including such Department of Treasury guidance as may be issued after the Effective Date), the Committee may adopt such amendments to the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Committee determines are necessary or appropriate to (a) exempt the Award from Section 409A of the Code and/or preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided with respect to the Award, or (b) comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance.
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