EX-10.17
Published on February 22, 2024
Exhibit 10.17
MFA FINANCIAL, INC.
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN
FORM OF PHANTOM SHARE AWARD AGREEMENT
(PERFORMANCE BASED VESTING)
AGREEMENT, dated as of the __ day of ________, 202_ (the “Grant Date”), by and between MFA Financial, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and ____________ (the “Grantee”).
WHEREAS, the Company maintains the MFA Financial, Inc. Equity Compensation Plan, as it may be amended from time to time (the “Plan”) (capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto by the Plan);
WHEREAS, the Grantee, as an employee of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company, is an Eligible Person;
[WHEREAS, the Company and the Grantee entered into that certain Employment Agreement, entered into as of November 26, 2019, as amended and restated as of February 22, 2021, and as further amended as of May 3, 2022 (as may be further amended and restated from time to time, the “Employment Agreement”);]1 and
WHEREAS, the Committee has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to grant Phantom Shares to the Grantee subject to the terms and conditions set forth below.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
1. Grant of Phantom Shares.
(a) The Phantom Shares are subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and are also subject to the provisions of the Plan. The Plan is hereby incorporated by reference as though set forth herein in its entirety.
(b) The target amount of Phantom Shares granted pursuant to this Agreement is [ ] Phantom Shares (the “Target Amount”); provided that the Grantee has the opportunity to earn up to [ ] Phantom Shares (the “Maximum Amount”), subject to the Maximum Cap described in Section 4(e), based upon achievement of performance goals and the terms and conditions described herein.
(i) With respect to the Target Amount, [ ] Phantom Shares (the “Absolute TSR Target Shares”), and with respect to the Maximum Amount, [ ] Phantom Shares will vest based on the Company’s total shareholder return for a three-year period subject to the Grantee’s continued service with the Company through December 31, 202_ (the “Vesting Date”), except as provided in Section 2 below.
(ii) With respect to the Target Amount, [ ] Phantom Shares (the “Relative TSR Target Shares”), and with respect to the Maximum Amount, [ ] Phantom Shares will vest based on the Company’s total shareholder return compared to the total shareholder return of the peer group companies listed on Appendix 1 to Exhibit A attached hereto (the “Peer Group
1 To be included for CEO and Co-CIOs only.
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Companies”) for a three-year period subject to the Grantee’s continued service with the Company through the Vesting Date except as provided in Section 2 below.
2. Vesting.
(a) Subject to Section 2(b) and Section 2(c) and the Maximum Cap described below, and except as otherwise provided in Section 2(c)(iv), the number of Phantom Shares that shall vest on the Vesting Date, if any, shall be calculated in accordance with Exhibit A attached hereto based upon the achievement of the performance goals set forth on Exhibit A (the “Performance Goals”) during the period (the “TSR Performance Period”) beginning on January 1, 202_ and ending on the Vesting Date (December 31, 202_); provided that, to the extent that any fractional Shares result, the number of Phantom Shares eligible for settlement (as set forth in Section 4) shall be rounded up to the nearest whole share. Any Phantom Shares granted hereunder that do not vest on the Vesting Date shall be forfeited.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 2, if the Grantee experiences a Termination of Service for any reason prior to the Vesting Date, the Phantom Shares shall, with no further action, be forfeited and cease to be outstanding as of the Grantee’s Termination of Service.
(c) The following terms shall apply in the event of a Termination of Service:
(i) Subject to Section 2(c)(iv), in the event that, prior to the Vesting Date, the Grantee experiences a Termination of Service by the Company without Cause (as defined in the Employment Agreement) or a Termination of Service by the Grantee for Good Reason (as defined in the Employment Agreement), then, subject to Section 5(k) of the Employment Agreement relating to execution of a release, the Grantee shall vest in a pro-rata portion of the Phantom Shares as of the Vesting Date. The pro-rata portion shall be calculated as the number of Phantom Shares that would have vested on the Vesting Date based upon achievement of the Performance Goals if the Grantee remained employed through the Vesting Date, multiplied by a fraction, (x) the numerator of which is the number of days in the TSR Performance Period that elapse through the anniversary of the Grant Date that immediately follows the Grantee’s Termination of Service (but not beyond the Vesting Date) and (y) the denominator of which is 1,095. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that in connection with the Grantee’s Termination of Service the Company, the Company is managed by an external manager pursuant to a management and advisory contract and such external manager has provided the Grantee with an offer of employment (A) on economic terms that are at least substantially equivalent in form and economic substance (and not in the aggregate) to those provided to the Grantee immediately prior to such Termination of Service and (B) on terms that would not be deemed to trigger Good Reason (an offer of employment that meets the requirements of (A) and (B), a “Qualifying Offer”), then, regardless of whether the Grantee accepts such offer of employment, this Section 2(c)(i) shall have no effect and the Grantee shall not be entitled to receive the vesting described in this Section 2(c)(i) or Section 2(c)(iv).
(ii) Subject to Section 2(c)(iv), in the event that, prior to the Vesting Date, the Grantee experiences a Termination of Service on account of the Grantee’s death or Disability (as defined in the Employment Agreement), then the number of Phantom Shares that shall vest, if any, on the Vesting Date shall be the number of Phantom Shares that would have vested on the Vesting Date based upon achievement of the Performance Goals if the Grantee remained employed through the Vesting Date; provided that, such vesting shall be subject to Section 5(k) of the Employment Agreement relating to execution of a release, if the Grantee experiences a Termination of Service on account of the Grantee’s Disability.
(iii) [Subject to Section 2(c)(iv), in the event that, prior to the Vesting Date, the Grantee experiences a Termination of Service on account of the Grantee’s voluntary resignation at a time when circumstances constituting Cause do not exist, and such Termination of Service is an Eligible Retirement (as defined below) then, subject to Section 5(k) of the Employment
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Agreement relating to execution of a release, the number of Phantom Shares that shall vest, if any, on the Vesting Date shall be the number of Phantom Shares that would have vested on the Vesting Date based upon achievement of the Performance Goals if the Grantee remained employed through the Vesting Date. For purposes of this Agreement, an “Eligible Retirement” means the Grantee’s Termination of Service without Good Reason and other than on account of death or Disability either (A) on or after age 65 or (B) on account of an Eligible Early Retirement. For purposes of this Agreement, “Eligible Early Retirement” means the Grantee’s Termination of Service prior to age 65 pursuant to a succession plan approved by the Board, which may include (but, for clarity would not necessarily require) the Grantee and the Company entering into a consulting or advisory agreement and the Grantee’s reasonable cooperation in providing transition services for a period of time following termination of employment; provided that, the Executive provides the Company with at least nine months prior written notice (or such shorter notice period as determined by the Board in its discretion) of the Grantee’s termination of employment (and continues in active employment during such notice period) and the Board approves such Termination of Service as an Eligible Early Retirement.]2
(iv) Notwithstanding the foregoing:
(A) In the event that, prior to the Vesting Date, the Grantee experiences a Termination of Service by the Company without Cause, a Termination of Service by the Grantee for Good Reason, [a Termination of Service satisfying the conditions in Section 2(c)(iii)]3, or a Termination of Service on account of the Grantee’s death or Disability, in each case within 12 months following a Change of Control, then, subject to Section 5(k) of the Employment Agreement relating to execution of a release (other than in the case of the Grantee’s death), the Target Amount of Phantom Shares shall become fully vested as of the Grantee’s Termination of Service and all other Phantom Shares shall be forfeited by the Grantee and cease to be outstanding.
(B) In the event that, prior to the Vesting Date, the Grantee experiences a Termination of Service by the Company without Cause, such Termination of Service occurs within three months prior to a Change of Control, such termination is initiated by, at the request or suggestion of, or with the agreement of, the counterparty to the Change of Control and the Change of Control occurs prior to the Vesting Date, then, subject to Section 5(k) of the Employment Agreement relating to execution of a release, the total number of Phantom Shares that shall become fully vested pursuant to this Agreement shall be the Target Amount of Phantom Shares and all other Phantom Shares shall be forfeited by the Grantee and cease to be outstanding.
(C) Notwithstanding the preceding clauses (A) and (B), in the event that a Change of Control occurs and immediately following such Change of Control, the Company is managed by an external manager pursuant to a management and advisory contract and such external manager has provided the Grantee with a Qualifying Offer, then, regardless of whether the Grantee accepts such offer of employment, the preceding clauses (A) and (B) shall have no effect and the Grantee shall not be entitled to receive the vesting described in Section 2(c)(i) or this Section 2(c)(iv).
(v) In the event the Grantee experiences a Termination of Service by the Company for Cause, then all Phantom Shares granted pursuant to this Agreement, whether or not vested, shall immediately be cancelled for no consideration, and the Grantee shall cease to have any rights under this Agreement.
(d) Any Phantom Shares that do not vest as of the Vesting Date shall, with no further action, be forfeited and cease to be outstanding as of the Vesting Date.
2 To be included for the CEO and other employees as may be and to the extent so applicable.
3 To be included for the CEO and other employees as may be and to the extent so applicable.
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3. Dividend Equivalents.
(a) With respect to each outstanding Phantom Share granted hereunder that vests in accordance with Section 2 and Exhibit A (such shares being the “Vested Phantom Shares”), the Grantee shall receive additional Phantom Shares (such additional Phantom Shares being the “Dividend Phantom Shares”), which Dividend Phantom Shares will reflect the cash dividend distributions declared in the ordinary course on a share (“Share”) of Common Stock of the Company (each, a “Dividend Payment”) during the period beginning on the Grant Date and ending on the last day of the TSR Performance Period (or if earlier, the date on which the Phantom Shares are settled pursuant to Section 4) (such period, the “Dividend Period”).
(b) Dividend Payments shall be deemed to have been payable only with respect to Vested Phantom Shares and shall be made in the form of Dividend Phantom Shares. The Dividend Phantom Shares shall settle in the form of additional Shares at the time the Phantom Shares granted hereunder are settled pursuant to Section 4.
(c) The number of Dividend Phantom Shares to be distributed as contemplated by subsections 3(a) and 3(b) shall be calculated as follows: with respect to each Vested Phantom Share, the Company will, as of the date of any Dividend Payment during the Dividend Period, credit to the Grantee an amount (per each Vested Phantom Share) equal to the amount of the cash dividend declared and paid in respect of one Share. Such credited amount will be credited in the form of hypothetical additional Phantom Shares (such hypothetical Phantom Shares, “DER Phantom Shares”), the number of which will be calculated (rounded up to the nearest whole share) based on the Fair Market Value (i.e., closing market price) of a Share as of the payment date of the applicable cash dividend. Any and all DER Phantom Shares credited to the Grantee in respect of the Dividend Period will be subject to compounding through the end of the Dividend Period (i.e., deemed reinvestment in Shares), such that they will be credited with additional hypothetical DER Phantom Shares to the extent of any additional dividends declared during the Dividend Period and the number of which additional hypothetical DER Phantom Shares will also be calculated (rounded up to the nearest whole share) based on the Fair Market Value of a Share as of the payment date of the applicable cash dividend. The number of Dividend Phantom Shares to be received by the Grantee in respect of Vested Phantom Shares shall be the sum of all DER Phantom Shares credited to the Grantee (inclusive of all additional DER Phantom Shares credited to the Grantee resulting from compounding as contemplated in the preceding sentence).
(d) In the event that dividends are declared with respect to the Common Stock of the Company during the period beginning on the Vesting Date and ending on the date on which the Vested Phantom Shares are settled pursuant to Section 4, then an amount equal to the dividends that the Grantee would have received if the Grantee had owned a number of Shares equal to the sum of the Vested Phantom Shares and any Dividend Phantom Shares credited to the Grantee (as contemplated in Section 3(c) above) as of the date the dividend is declared shall be paid to the Grantee in cash on the date such dividends are paid to holders of the Common Stock of the Company.
4. Settlement.
(a) Subject to subsections (b), (c), (d) and (e) below, each vested and outstanding Phantom Share (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall equal the sum of Vested Phantom Shares and Dividend Phantom Shares) shall be settled in one Share on or about __________ ___, 202_ (the “Settlement Date”).
(b) The following terms shall apply in the event of a Termination of Service prior to the Settlement Date:
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(i) In the event that the Grantee’s Termination of Service occurs on or prior to the Vesting Date, each Phantom Share that becomes vested upon the Vesting Date (or if earlier, the Grantee’s Termination of Service) shall be settled in one Share in January 202_.
(ii) In the event that the Grantee’s Termination of Service occurs following the Vesting Date, then to the extent not previously settled pursuant to Section 4(c) below, each Phantom Share that became vested upon the Vesting Date shall be settled in one Share within 30 days following such Termination of Service.
(iii) Notwithstanding the preceding clauses (i) and (ii), in the event that the Grantee’s Termination of Service occurs on or prior to the Vesting Date and within 12 months following a Change of Control, then the Grantee shall receive one share for each Phantom Share that is vested as of such Termination of Service within 30 days following such Termination of Service, provided that, to the extent required by Section 409A of the Code, if such Change of Control does not constitute a “change in control event” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, then any such Vested Phantom Shares shall not be settled at the time described in this clause (iii) and shall instead be settled in accordance with the preceding clause (i).
(iv) Each Phantom Share that becomes vested under Section 2(b)(iv)(B) in connection with the Grantee’s Termination of Service by the Company without Cause within three months prior to a Change of Control shall be settled in one Share. If the Change of Control occurs on or prior to the Vesting Date, settlement shall occur in January 202_, and if the Change of Control occurs following the Vesting Date, settlement shall occur within 30 days following the date of the Change of Control; provided that, to the extent required by Section 409A of the Code, if such Change of Control does not constitute a “change in control event” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, then such Phantom Shares shall be settled in January 202_ or any earlier date permitted by Section 409A of the Code. The number of Phantom Shares that are settled pursuant to this Section 4(b)(iv) shall be the number of Phantom Shares equal to the excess (if any) of the Target Amount of Phantom Shares over the number of Phantom Shares which became vested pursuant to Section 2(c)(i) and settled pursuant to Section 4(b)(i).
(c) The following terms shall apply in the event a Change of Control that constitutes a “change in control event” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code occurs prior to the Settlement Date:
(i) In the event a Change of Control that constitutes a “change in control event” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code occurs on or prior to the Vesting Date, each Phantom Share that becomes vested on the Vesting Date shall be settled in one Share in January 202_; and
(ii) In the event a Change of Control that constitutes a “change in control event” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code occurs following the Vesting Date, each Phantom Share that became vested on the Vesting Date shall be settled in one Share within 30 days following the date of the Change of Control.
(d) To the extent any payment described in this Section 4 is required to be delayed six months pursuant to the rules of Section 409A of the Code related to “specified employees,” such payment shall not be made before the date which is six months after the date of Termination of Service. Any delayed payment shall be made to the Grantee on the first day of the seventh month following the Grantee’s Termination of Service (or within 30 days following the Grantee’s death, if earlier).
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Fair Market Value of the Shares delivered pursuant to this Agreement, measured as of the last day of the Performance Period (or, if earlier, the date on which the Phantom Shares are settled pursuant to this Section 4) shall not exceed 400% of the Fair Market Value of the Target Amount of Phantom Shares measured on the Grant Date (the “Maximum Cap”), and any and all amounts otherwise payable
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pursuant to this Agreement in excess of the Maximum Cap shall be forfeited, provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, payment with respect to the dividend equivalent rights described above for dividends declared and paid following the Vesting Date shall not count against the Maximum Cap.
5. Miscellaneous.
(a) The value of a Phantom Share may decrease depending upon the Fair Market Value of a Share from time to time. Neither the Company nor the Committee, nor any other party associated with the Plan, shall be held liable for any decrease in the value of the Phantom Shares. If the value of such Phantom Shares decrease, there will be a decrease in the underlying value of what is distributed to the Grantee under the Plan and this Agreement.
(b) With respect to this Agreement, (i) the Phantom Shares are bookkeeping entries and the Grantee shall not have any rights of a shareholder with respect to Common Stock unless and until the Phantom Shares vest and are settled by the issuance of such Shares of Common Stock, (ii) the obligations of the Company under the Plan are unsecured and constitute a commitment by the Company to make benefit payments in the future, (iii) to the extent that any person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company under the Plan, such right shall be no greater than the right of any general unsecured creditor of the Company, (iv) all payments under the Plan (including distributions of Shares) shall be paid from the general funds of the Company and (v) no special or separate fund shall be established or other segregation of assets made to assure such payments (except that the Company may in its discretion establish a bookkeeping reserve to meet its obligations under the Plan). The award of Phantom Shares is intended to be an arrangement that is unfunded for tax purposes and for purposes of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
(c) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT OF LAWS. The captions of this Agreement are not part of the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect. This Agreement may not be amended or modified except by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement.
(d) The Committee may construe and interpret this Agreement and establish, amend and revoke such rules, regulations and procedures for the administration of this Agreement as it deems appropriate. In this connection, the Committee may correct any defect or supply any omission, or reconcile any inconsistency in this Agreement or in any related agreements, in the manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary or expedient to make the Plan fully effective. All decisions and determinations by the Committee in the exercise of this power shall be final and binding upon the Company and the Grantee.
(e) All notices hereunder shall be in writing and, if to the Company, shall be delivered to the Board or mailed to its principal office, addressed to the attention of the Committee and, if to the Grantee, shall be delivered personally or mailed to the Grantee at the address appearing in the records of the Company. Such addresses may be changed at any time by written notice to the other party given in accordance with this Section 5(e).
(f) The failure of the Grantee or the Company to insist upon strict compliance with any provision of this Agreement or the Plan, or to assert any right the Grantee or the Company, respectively, may have under this Agreement or the Plan, shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or any other provision or right of this Agreement or the Plan.
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(g) Nothing in this Agreement shall (i) confer on the Grantee any right to continue in the service of the Company or its Subsidiaries or otherwise confer any additional rights or benefits upon the Grantee with respect to the Grantee’s employment with the Company or (ii) interfere in any way with the right of the Company or its Subsidiaries and its stockholders to terminate the Grantee’s service at any time.
(h) If any change is made to the outstanding Common Stock or the capital structure of the Company, the Phantom Shares shall be adjusted in accordance with the Plan.
(i) The Phantom Shares and the rights relating thereto shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, attachment, garnishment, levy, execution, or other legal or equitable process, either voluntary or involuntary; and any attempt to anticipate, alienate, sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber, attach or garnish, or levy or execute on the Phantom Shares and the rights relating thereto shall be void.
(j) The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein, this Agreement will be binding upon the Grantee and the Grantee’s beneficiaries, executors, administrators and the person(s) to whom the Phantom Shares may be transferred by will or the laws of descent or distribution.
(k) The Plan is discretionary and may be amended, suspended or discontinued by the Company at any time, in its discretion. The grant of the Phantom Shares in this Agreement does not create any contractual right or other right to receive any Phantom Shares or other Grants in the future. Future Grants, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Company. Any amendment, suspension or discontinuation of the Plan shall not constitute a change or impairment of the terms and conditions of the Grantee’s employment with the Company.
(l) The issuance and transfer of Shares shall be subject to compliance by the Company and the Grantee with all applicable requirements of federal and state securities laws and with all applicable requirements of any stock exchange on which the Shares may be listed. No shares of Common Stock shall be issued or transferred unless and until any then applicable requirements of state and federal laws and regulatory agencies have been fully complied with to the satisfaction of the Company and its counsel.
(m) The Grantee shall be required to pay to the Company or make arrangements satisfactory to the Company regarding payment of any federal, state or local taxes of any kind that are required by law to be withheld with respect to the Phantom Shares. Except as may be otherwise permitted by the Committee, to satisfy such obligation, the Company shall withhold a number of Shares to be issued pursuant to this Agreement with an aggregate Fair Market Value as of the date withholding is effected that would satisfy the withholding amount due; provided, however, that no Shares shall be withheld with an aggregate value exceeding the minimum amount of tax required to be withheld by law or such higher amount that does not result in adverse accounting treatment for the Company, as approved in advance by the Committee. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Plan or this Agreement to the contrary, the Grantee’s satisfaction of any tax withholding requirements imposed by the Committee shall be a condition precedent to the Company’s obligation as may otherwise be provided hereunder to provide Shares to the Grantee, and the failure of the Grantee to satisfy such requirements with respect to this Grant shall cause this Grant to be forfeited.
(n) The Phantom Shares shall be subject to any applicable clawback policy implemented by the Board from time to time.
(o) The Phantom Shares are intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code or an exemption thereunder and shall be construed and interpreted in a manner that is consistent with the requirements for avoiding additional taxes or penalties under Section 409A of the Code and
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administered in accordance with Section 27 of the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company makes no representations that the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement comply with Section 409A of the Code and in no event shall the Company be liable for all or any portion of any taxes, penalties, interest or other expenses that may be incurred by the Grantee on account of non-compliance with Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, in no event shall the timing of the Grantee’s execution of a release, directly or indirectly, result in the Grantee designating the calendar year of payment of any amounts of deferred compensation subject to section 409A of the Code, and if a payment that is subject to execution of a release could be made in more than one taxable year, payment shall be made in the later taxable year.
(p) This Agreement, including Exhibit A and Appendix 1 to Exhibit A, contains the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral, with respect thereto[; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, Section 7(f) of the Employment Agreement, which provides for forfeiture of equity awards and repayment of any shares or other amounts received pursuant to equity awards in the event that the Grantee breaches his obligations under Section 7 of the Employment Agreement, shall apply to the Phantom Shares and any amounts paid to the Grantee pursuant to this Agreement, and is hereby incorporated by reference. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms of this Agreement and the Employment Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall govern]4.
4 To be included for CEO and Co-CIOs and other employees to the extent applicable.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Grantee have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
MFA FINANCIAL, INC.
By: _____________________________
Name:
Title:
The Grantee hereby agrees and acknowledges that (a) the Grantee will be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Plan and (b) all determinations by the Committee will be final and binding on all persons.
_________________________________
Name:
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Exhibit A
This Exhibit A sets forth the Performance Goals applicable to the Phantom Shares granted pursuant to the Agreement to which this Exhibit A is attached. Unless otherwise specified in this Exhibit A, all defined terms shall have the meanings set forth in the Agreement.
The Phantom Shares will vest based on the Company’s total shareholder return for the TSR Performance Period and based on the Grantee’s continued service as set forth in the Agreement. As further described below, the Absolute TSR Shares will be eligible to vest based on the Company’s average total shareholder return for the Performance Period, and the Relative TSR Shares will be eligible to vest based on the Company’s total shareholder return compared to the total shareholder return of the Peer Group Companies for the TSR Performance Period.
For purposes of this Exhibit A, TSR for the TSR Performance Period shall be calculated as follows:
•“TSR” is equal to (x) the Average Final Price minus the Average Initial Price, plus Dividends Paid on a share of common stock in respect of the TSR Performance Period, divided by (y) the Average Initial Price.
•The “Average Initial Price” is equal to the average closing daily price of a share of common stock during the last 20 trading days immediately prior to the first day of the TSR Performance Period.
•The “Average Final Price” is equal to the average closing daily price of a share of common stock during the last 20 trading days in the TSR Performance Period.
•The “Dividends Paid” shall equal the cumulative dividends (including any stock dividends) paid per share of common stock in respect of the TSR Performance Period. For this purpose, dividends declared, but not yet paid, on a share within the 45-day period preceding the Vesting Date will be counted as Dividends Paid. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any dividends were included in Dividends Paid for purposes of calculating TSR for the year prior to the year in which the TSR Performance Period commences, then such dividends will not be included in Dividends Paid for purposes of calculating TSR for the TSR Performance Period.
Absolute TSR Shares
For purposes of the Absolute TSR Shares, the “Average TSR” for the Performance Period is the TSR, divided by 3, and the “Target TSR” is an 8% per annum simple cumulative return over the TSR Performance Period.
The portion of the Absolute TSR Target Shares that will be eligible to vest on the Vesting Date shall be determined by comparing the Average TSR of the Company to the Target TSR and may range from zero up to a maximum vesting of ___% of the Absolute TSR Target Shares.
The number of Absolute TSR Shares that will be eligible to vest on the Vesting Date shall equal the product of (i) the Absolute TSR Target Shares and (ii) the sum of (A) one (1) plus (B) a fraction (which fraction can be a negative number), the numerator of which is the Company’s Average TSR less Target TSR and the denominator of which is eight (8). For purposes of the preceding sentence, in the event that the Company’s Average TSR is (x) less than zero, then the Company’s Average TSR shall be deemed to be zero, and (y) greater 16%, then the Company’s Average TSR shall be deemed to be 16%.
Any Absolute TSR Shares that do not vest on the Vesting Date shall be forfeited.
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Vested Absolute TSR Shares and related Dividend Payments, if any, will be settled as described in the Agreement.
Relative TSR Shares
At the end of each TSR Performance Period, the Company’s TSR and the TSR of each of the Peer Group Companies will be ranked from highest to lowest. The “Relative TSR Vesting Percentage” will be determined based on the Company’s TSR as compared to the TSR of the Peer Group Companies for the TSR Performance Period as follows:
| Company TSR Rank | Relative TSR Vesting Percentage | ||||
| [ ]th percentile or above | [ ]% | ||||
| [ ]th percentile | 100% | ||||
| At or below [ ]th percentile | 0% | ||||
If the Company’s TSR Rank is between the [ ]th percentile and the [ ]th percentile or between the [ ]th percentile and the [ ]th percentile, the Relative TSR Vesting Percentage will be interpolated.
Notwithstanding the provisions set forth above, in the event that the Company’s TSR is a negative number, the Relative TSR Vesting Percentage shall not exceed 100%.
The number of Relative TSR Shares that will be eligible to vest for the TSR Performance Period will be determined by multiplying the Relative TSR Target Shares by the Relative TSR Vesting Percentage.
For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall any Relative TSR Shares vest if the Company’s Average TSR Rank is at or below the [ ]th percentile.
Not more than [ ]% of the Relative TSR Target Shares may vest based on the Company’s TSR Rank.
Any Relative TSR Shares that do not vest on the Vesting Date shall be forfeited.
Vested Relative TSR Shares and related Dividend Payments, if any, will be settled as described in the Agreement.
Appendix 1 to Exhibit A5
Relative TSR Peer Group Companies
5 Note: Peer Group Companies to be determined by Compensation Committee at the time of grant.
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In the event of a merger, acquisition or business combination transaction of a Peer Group Company during the TSR Performance Period in which such Peer Group Company is the surviving entity and remains publicly traded, the surviving entity shall remain a Peer Group Company. Any entity involved in the transaction during the TSR Performance Period that is not the surviving company shall no longer be a Peer Group Company.
In the event of a merger, acquisition or business combination transaction of a Peer Group Company, a “going private” transaction or other event involving a Peer Group Company or the liquidation of a Peer Group Company (other than a bankruptcy as described below), in each case during the TSR Performance Period and where the Peer Group Company is not the surviving entity or is no longer publicly traded, such Peer Group Company shall no longer be a Peer Group Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a bankruptcy of a Peer Group Company during the TSR Performance Period where the Peer Group Company is not publicly traded at the end of the Performance Period, such Peer Group Company shall remain a Peer Group Company but shall be deemed to be ranked last among all Peer Group Companies in the Peer Group.
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