CEDAR REALTY TRUST, INC.
2012 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
4.
|
Shares Subject to the Plan.
|
7
|
5.
|
Awards Under the Plan.
|
8
|
7.
|
Stock Appreciation Rights.
|
10
|
9.
|
Restricted Share Units.
|
12
|
10.
|
Performance Awards.
|
12
|
11.
|
Dividend Equivalent Rights
|
15
|
12.
|
Other Stock Based Awards
|
15
|
13.
|
Modification or Substitution
|
15
|
14.
|
Effect of a Termination of Employment or Service
|
16
|
15.
|
Adjustment Upon Changes in Capitalization; Effect of Certain Transactions.
|
16
|
16.
|
Effect of Change in Control
|
17
|
17.
|
Restrictions on Transferability of Awards
|
17
|
18.
|
Withholding of Taxes
|
18
|
20.
|
Termination and Amendment of the Plan
|
19
|
21.
|
Limitation of Liability
|
19
|
22.
|
Regulations and Other Approvals; Governing Law.
|
19
|
CEDAR REALTY TRUST, INC.
2012 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
1.
Purpose
.
The purpose of this Plan is to strengthen the Company and its Subsidiaries by providing an incentive to its officers, directors, employees and consultants and prospective officers, directors, employees and consultants thereby encouraging them to devote their abilities and industry to the success of the Company’s business enterprise by acquiring a proprietary interest in the success of the Company, to enhance long term performance of the Company and to remain in, or enter into, the service of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
2.
Definitions
. For purposes of the Plan, unless the context otherwise requires:
2.1 “
Award Agreement
” shall mean a written agreement or such other documentation established by the Committee entered into between the Company and the Grantee evidencing the grant of an Award, setting forth the terms and conditions with respect to an Award as determined by the Committee, consistent with the Plan.
2.2 “
Award
” shall mean an award under the Plan as described in Section 5 hereof.
2.3 “
Board
” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
2.4 “
Cause
” shall mean, with respect to any Grantee, the following (i) if the Grantee has an employment agreement in effect with the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries which contains a definition of “Cause”, then the term “Cause” for purposes of the Plan shall be as defined in such employment agreement unless otherwise defined in the applicable Award Agreement, or (ii) if the Grantee does not have an employment agreement in effect with the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries which contains a definition of “Cause”, “Cause” shall, unless otherwise defined in the Award Agreement evidencing a particular Award, mean the Grantee’s (A) willful misconduct in connection with the performance of any of his or her duties as an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary, including, without limitation, misappropriation of funds or property of the Company or an affiliate or securing or attempting to secure personally (whether directly or indirectly) any profit in connection with any transaction entered into on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary; (B) willful failure, neglect or refusal to perform the individual’s duties which is not cured within ten (10) days after written notice thereof and/or (C) conviction (or
nolo
contendere
plea) in connection with a felony.
2.5 “
Change in Capitalization
” shall mean any exchange of Shares for a different number or kind of shares or other securities of the Company, by reason of a reclassification, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, reorganization, spin-off, split-up, issuance of warrants or rights or debentures to all shareholders of the Company, share dividend, share split or reverse share split, combination or exchange of shares, repurchase of shares, or change in corporate structure which the Committee determines affects the capitalization of the Company. For avoidance of doubt, in no event shall any regularly scheduled distribution or dividend paid pursuant to a distribution or dividend policy established by the Board constitute a Change in Capitalization.
2.6 “
Change in Control
” shall mean the occurrence of:
(a) An acquisition (other than directly from the Company) of any voting securities of the Company (the “
Voting Securities
”) by any “Person” (as the term person is used for purposes of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act) immediately after which such Person has “beneficial ownership” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding Voting Securities;
provided
,
however
, in determining whether a Change in Control has occurred, Voting Securities which are acquired in a “Non-Control Transaction” (as hereinafter defined) shall not constitute an acquisition which would cause a Change in Control; or
(b) The individuals who, as of the adoption of the Plan by the Board, are members of the Board (the “
Incumbent Board
”), cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the members of the Board;
provided
,
however
, that if the election, or nomination for election by the Company’s common shareholders, of any new director was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Board, such new director shall, for purposes of this Plan, be considered as a member of the Incumbent Board;
provided
further
, however, that no individual shall be considered a member of the Incumbent Board if such individual initially assumed office as a result of either an actual or threatened “Election Contest” (as described in Rule 14a-11 promulgated under the Exchange Act) or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board (a “
Proxy Contest
”) including by reason of any agreement intended to avoid or settle any Election Contest or Proxy Contest; or
(c) The consummation of:
(i)
A merger, consolidation or reorganization involving the Company, unless such merger, consolidation or reorganization is a Non-Control Transaction. A “
Non-Control Transaction
” shall mean a merger, consolidation or reorganization of the Company where:
(A)
the shareholders of the Company, immediately before such merger, consolidation or reorganization, own, directly or indirectly immediately following such merger, consolidation or reorganization, at least fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the corporation resulting from such merger, consolidation or reorganization (the “
Surviving Corporation
”) in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Voting Securities immediately before such merger, consolidation or reorganization,
(B)
the individuals who were members of the Incumbent Board immediately prior to the execution of the agreement providing for such merger, consolidation or reorganization constitute at least two-thirds of the members of the board of directors of the Surviving Corporation, or a corporation beneficially directly or indirectly owning a majority of the Voting Securities of the Surviving Corporation, and
(C)
no Person other than (i) the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary, (iii) any employee benefit plan (or any trust forming a part thereof) maintained by the Company, the Surviving Corporation, or any Subsidiary, or (iv) any Person who, immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or reorganization had beneficial ownership of fifty percent (50%) or more of the then outstanding Voting Securities has beneficial ownership of fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the Surviving Corporation’s then outstanding voting securities.
(ii)
A complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or
(iii)
The sale or other disposition in one transaction or a series of transactions of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to any Person (other than a transfer to a Subsidiary).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur solely because any Person (the “
Subject Person
”) acquired beneficial ownership of more than the permitted amount of the then outstanding Voting Securities as a result of the acquisition of Voting Securities by the Company which, by reducing the number of Voting Securities outstanding, increases the proportional number of shares beneficially owned by the Subject Persons. If a Change in Control would occur (but for the operation of this sentence) as a result of the acquisition of Voting Securities by the Company, the Board shall take action to either (i) affirm the permitted amount of then outstanding Voting Securities or (ii) adjust such number, before a Change in Control shall occur.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, for any Award that is deferred compensation under Section 409A and where Change in Control is a payment, delivery, or issuance event or changes the time and form of payment, delivery or issuance, an event shall not constitute a Change in Control unless it would also be a change in control within the meaning of Section 409A.
2.7 “
Code
” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
2.8 “
Committee
” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board, consisting of at least two (2) members of the Board, each of whom shall be non-employee directors within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act as described in Section 3 hereof.
2.9 “
Company
” shall mean Cedar Realty Trust, Inc.
2.10 “
Disability
” shall mean a physical or mental infirmity which impairs the Grantee's ability to perform substantially his or her duties for a period of one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Award is deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A and Disability is a payment, delivery or issuance event, the definition of Disability shall conform to the requirements of Treasury Regulation 1.409A-3(i)(4)(i).
2.11 “
Dividend Equivalent Right
” shall mean a right to receive all or some portion of the dividends that are or would be payable with respect to Shares granted to an Eligible Individual in accordance with Section 11 hereof and subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement.
2.12 “
Eligible Individual
” shall mean any officer, director, employee, consultant or prospective officer, director, employee or consultant of the Company or a Subsidiary designated by the Committee as eligible to receive Awards subject to the conditions set forth herein.
2.13 “
Exchange Act
” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
2.14 “
Fair Market Value
” on any date, shall mean the average of the high and low sales prices of the Shares on such date on the principal national securities exchange on which such Shares are listed or admitted to trading, or, if such Shares are not so listed or admitted to trading, the arithmetic mean of the per Share closing bid price and per Share closing asked price on such date as quoted on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System or such other market in which such prices are regularly quoted, or, if there have been no published bid or asked quotations with respect to Shares on such date, the Fair Market Value shall be the value established by the Board in good faith and, in the case of an Incentive Share Option, in accordance with Section 422 of the Code;
provided
,
however
, such valuation method shall be in accordance with Section 409A, to the extent applicable.
2.15 “
Grantee
” shall mean a person to whom an Award has been granted under the Plan.
2.16 “
Incentive Stock Option
” shall mean an Option intended to qualify for special federal income tax treatment pursuant to Sections 421 and 422 of the Code and so designated by the Committee as an Incentive Stock Option in the applicable Award Agreement.
2.17 “
Non-employee Director
” shall mean a director of the Company who is not an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary.
2.18 “
Nonqualified Stock Option
” shall mean an Option which is not an Incentive Stock Option.
2.19 “
Option
” shall mean the right to purchase Shares at a specified exercise price, granted to an Eligible Individual in accordance with Section 6 hereof and subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement. Such Option may either be an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option.
2.20 “
Parent
” shall mean a corporation, if any, which is a parent corporation (within the meaning of Section 424(e) of the Code) with respect to the Company.
2.21 “
Performance Awards
” shall mean Performance Units, Performance Shares or either or both of them.
2.22 “
Performance Cycle
” shall mean the time period specified by the Committee at the time a Performance Award is granted during which the performance of the Company or a Subsidiary will be measured.
2.23 “
Performance Shares
” shall mean Shares granted or transferred to an Eligible Individual in accordance with Section 10 hereof and subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement.
2.24 “
Performance Unit
” shall mean an unfunded, unsecured promise on the part of the Company to deliver Shares or the Fair Market Value of such Shares, as determined by the Committee, granted to an Eligible Individual in accordance with Section 10 hereof and subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement.
2.25 “
Plan
” shall mean the Cedar Realty Trust, Inc. 2012 Stock Incentive Plan, as adopted by the Board on March 21, 2012, as such Plan may be amended from time to time.
2.26 “
Restricted Shares
” shall mean a grant of Shares or of the right to purchase Shares that are restricted or subject to forfeiture provisions, granted to an Eligible Individual in accordance with Section 8 hereof and subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement.
2.27 “
Restricted Share Units
” shall mean an unfunded, unsecured promise on the part of the Company to deliver Shares or the Fair Market Value of such Shares, as determined by the Committee, to an Eligible Individual in accordance with Section 9 hereof and subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement.
2.28 “
Section 409A
” shall mean Section 409A of the Code and all applicable regulations, procedures, revenue rulings and other administrative guidance in connection therewith.
2.29 “
Securities Act
” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
2.30 “
Shares
” shall mean the shares of common stock of the Company.
2.31 “
Stock Appreciation Right
” shall mean a right to receive all or some portion of the increase in the value of the Shares when the right is exercised granted to an Eligible Individual in accordance with Section 7 hereof and subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement.
2.32 “
Subsidiary
” shall mean any corporation which is a subsidiary corporation (within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code) with respect to the Company and in connection with any Awards granted hereunder, or, except in the case of any Incentive Stock Option, any other subsidiary corporation or entities designated by the Committee.
2.33 “
Successor Corporation
” shall mean a corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof within the meaning of Section 424(a) of the Code, which issues or assumes a stock option in a transaction to which Section 424(a) of the Code applies.
2.34 “
Ten-Percent Shareholder
” shall mean an Eligible Individual who, at the time an Award is to be granted to him or her, owns (within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code) more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares of the Company, or of a Parent or a Subsidiary.
3.
Administration
.
3.1
General
. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee which shall hold meetings at such times as may be necessary for the proper administration of the Plan. The Committee shall keep minutes of its meetings. A quorum shall consist of not less than two members of the Committee and a majority of a quorum may authorize any action. Any decision or determination reduced to writing and signed by a majority of all of the members shall be as fully effective as if made by a majority vote at a meeting duly called and held. Each member of the Committee shall be a non-employee director within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act. To the extent compliance with Section 162(m) of the Code is desired, such Committee members shall also qualify as “outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code and the regulations thereunder. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, all determinations with respect to any Award granted to any director of the Company or a Subsidiary who is not also an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary shall be made by the Board, and for such purposes all references in the Plan to the Committee shall be deemed to refer to the Board. No member of the Committee shall be liable for any action, failure to act, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to this Plan or any transaction hereunder, except for liability arising from his or her own willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties. The Company hereby agrees to indemnify each member of the Committee for all costs and expenses and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any liability incurred in connection with defending against, responding to, negotiating for the settlement of or otherwise dealing with any claim, cause of action or dispute of any kind arising in connection with any actions in administering this Plan or in authorizing or denying authorization to any transaction hereunder.
3.2
Authority of the Committee
. Subject to the express terms and conditions set forth herein, the Committee shall have the full power and authority to: (i) exercise all of the powers granted to it under the Plan; (ii) determine those Eligible Individuals to whom Awards shall be granted under the Plan and the number of Awards to be granted to each Eligible Individual; (iii) prescribe the terms, conditions and restrictions (which need not be identical) of each Award; (iv) make any amendment or modification to any Award Agreement consistent with the terms of the Plan; (v) waive or accelerate the vesting, exercisability, delivery or lapse of restrictions with respect to any Awards; (vi) construe, implement and interpret the Plan and any Award Agreement; (vii) establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations for the administration of the Plan and any Award Agreement, including, but not limited to, correcting any defect or supplying any omission, or reconciling any inconsistency in the Plan or in any Award Agreement, in the manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary or advisable to make the Plan and any Award Agreement fully effective and comply with applicable law including Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and the Code to the extent applicable; (viii) make all determinations necessary or advisable in administering the Plan, Awards and any Award Agreements; (ix) determine at any time whether, to what extent and under what circumstances and method or methods (a) Awards may be settled in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property (in which event, the Committee may specify what other effects such settlement will have on the Grantee’s Award, including the effect on any repayment provisions under the Plan or Award Agreement), (b) Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property and other amounts payable with respect to an Award may be deferred either automatically or at the election of the Grantee thereof or of the Committee, or (c) to the extent permitted under applicable law, loans (whether or not secured by Shares) may be extended by the Company; and (x) delegate such powers and authority to such persons as it deems appropriate; provided that any such delegation is consistent with applicable law and any guidelines as may be established by the Board from time to time. All decisions and determinations by the Committee in the exercise of this power shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the Company, its Subsidiaries, the Grantees, and all other persons having any interest therein. The Committee may employ counsel, consultants, accountants, appraisers, brokers or other persons at the expense of the Company and the Committee shall be entitled to rely upon the advice, opinions and valuations of such persons.
4.
Shares Subject to the Plan
.
4.1
Aggregate Limit
. Subject to adjustment under Section 4.3 below, the maximum number of Shares that may be issued pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan shall be 4,500,000 Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, but subject to adjustment as provided in Section 15, no more than 500,000 Shares that can be delivered under the Plan shall be deliverable pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options.
4.2
Individual Limit
. Subject to adjustment under Section 4.3 below, the maximum number of Shares that may be (i) made the subject of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, granted to any Eligible Individual with respect to any calendar year may not exceed 500,000 Shares and (ii) made the subject of Awards other than Options and Stock Appreciation Rights granted to any Eligible Individual with respect to any calendar year may not exceed 500,000; provided, however, that pursuant to obligations of the Company contained in the employment agreement with Bruce. J. Schanzer, a maximum of 2,000,000 Restricted Shares may be granted to Mr. Schanzer in 2012.
4.3
Adjustment
. Upon a Change in Capitalization the maximum number of Shares authorized pursuant to Sections 4.1 and 4.2 hereof and which may be made the subject of Awards granted under the Plan, the number of Shares which may be granted to any Eligible Individual and the number of Shares which may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall be adjusted in number and kind pursuant to Section 15. The Company shall reserve for the purposes of the Plan, out of its authorized but unissued Shares or out of Shares held in the Company’s treasury, or partly out of each, such number of Shares as shall be determined by the Board, but no less than the number of Shares subject to outstanding Awards.
4.4
Share Counting
. Whenever any outstanding Award or portion thereof expires, is cancelled, forfeited or is otherwise terminated for any reason without having been exercised or payment, delivery or issuance having been made in respect of the entire Award, the Shares allocable to the expired, cancelled, forfeited or otherwise terminated portion of the Award or Shares withheld or surrendered from any Award to satisfy any obligation of the Grantee (including Federal, state and local taxes) may again be the subject of Awards granted hereunder, unless restricted by applicable law.
5.
Awards Under the Plan
.
5.1
Types
. Awards under the Plan may be made in the form of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Performance Shares, Performance Share Units, Dividend Equivalent Rights and such other similar stock-based Awards, as set forth in Section 12 hereof. Awards may be granted singly, in combination or in tandem. No Awards shall be granted under the Plan beyond ten (10) years after the Effective Date but the terms of Awards made on or before the expiration of the Plan may extend beyond such expiration date.
5.2
Award Agreement
. Each Award granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement which shall contain such provisions (e.g., restrictions, vesting, forfeiture, manner and method of exercise (to the extent applicable), delivery or issuance of Shares or other consideration) as the Committee in its discretion, determines may be necessary or desirable, consistent with the terms of the Plan, and need not be identical for each Grantee or for different forms of Awards.
5.3
Affect on Other Benefits
. Absent express provision to the contrary, any Award under the Plan shall not be deemed compensation for purposes of computing benefits or contributions under any retirement or severance plan of the Company and/or its Subsidiaries and shall not affect any benefits under any other benefit plan of any kind now or subsequently in effect under which the availability or amount of benefits is related to level of compensation.
6.
Options
.
6.1
General
. The Committee may, in its discretion, grant to Eligible Individuals Awards of Options, in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions (which conditions may be based on continuing employment or service, or achievement of pre-established performance objectives or a combination of such conditions) as the Committee may determine, in its discretion, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan and set forth in the Award Agreement.
6.2
Types of Options
. At the time of grant, the Committee shall designate whether the Option is an Incentive Stock Option. Awards of Incentive Stock Options shall only be made to Eligible Employees if they are employed by the Company or a Subsidiary corporation (within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code). If an Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option, and, if, for any reason such Option (or any portion thereof) shall not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, then, to the extent of such nonqualification, such Option (or portion thereof) shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option, provided that the Option otherwise complies with the requirements associated with Nonqualified Stock Options and as described herein and under any applicable Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the date of grant of an Incentive Stock Option) of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options granted under this Plan and all other option plans of the Company, any Parent and any Subsidiary become exercisable for the first time by a Grantee during any calendar year shall exceed the maximum limit (currently $100,000), if any, imposed from time to time under Section 422 of the Code, the Options granted in excess of the $100,000 limitation shall be deemed to be Nonqualified Stock Options.
6.3
Exercise Price
. The price per Share of the Shares to be purchased pursuant to the exercise of any Option shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement at the time of grant;
provided
,
however,
that the exercise price per Share under each Option (whether an Incentive Stock Option or Nonqualified Stock Option) shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the day on which the Option is granted;
provided
,
further
, the exercise price per Shares under each Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten-Percent Shareholder shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Option is granted.
6.4
Maximum Duration
. Options granted hereunder shall be for such term as the Committee shall determine, provided that an Option shall not be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date it is granted (five (5) years in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten-Percent Shareholder). The Committee may, subsequent to the granting of any Option, extend the term thereof but in no event shall the term as so extended exceed the maximum term provided for in the preceding sentence. It is the intention of the Committee that any such extension shall, to the extent applicable, be in accordance with Section 409A.
6.5
Method of Exercise
. The exercise of an Option shall be made only by a written notice delivered in person or by mail to the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal executive office, specifying the number of Shares to be purchased and accompanied by payment therefor and otherwise in accordance with the Award Agreement pursuant to which the Option was granted. The purchase price for any Shares purchased pursuant to the exercise of an Option shall be paid in full upon such exercise by any one or a combination of the following: cash, certified check, transferring Shares to the Company upon such terms and conditions as determined by the Committee (such as, for example, a requirement that such Shares have been held for six months if necessary to avoid adverse accounting consequences) or, if allowed by the Committee, cashless or net exercise method whereby the Company shall retain such number of Shares otherwise issuable in connection with the exercise of such Option(s) as shall have a Fair Market Value of the aggregate exercise price with respect to such exercised Options (and, if permitted by the Committee, to satisfy any withholding taxes as described in Section 18 hereof). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee shall have discretion to determine at the time of grant of each Option or at any later date (up to and including the date of exercise) the form of payment acceptable in respect of the exercise of such Option. The written notice pursuant to this Section 6.5 may also provide instructions from the Grantee to the Company that upon receipt of the purchase price in cash from the Grantee’s broker or dealer, designated as such on the written notice, in payment for any Shares purchased pursuant to the exercise of an Option, the Company shall issue such Shares directly to the designated broker or dealer. Any Shares transferred to the Company as payment of the purchase price under an Option shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the day preceding the date of exercise of such Option. If requested by the Committee, the Grantee shall deliver the Award Agreement evidencing the Option to the Secretary of the Company who shall endorse thereon a notation of such exercise and return such Award Agreement to the Grantee. No fractional Shares (or cash in lieu thereof) shall be issued upon exercise of an Option and the number of Shares that may be purchased upon exercise shall be rounded to the nearest number of whole Shares.
6.6
Dispositions of Incentive Stock Options
. If a Grantee makes a disposition, within the meaning of Section 424(c) of the Code and regulations promulgated thereunder, of any Share or Shares issued to such Grantee pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option within the two-year period commencing on the day after the date of the grant of such Incentive Stock Option or within the one-year period commencing on the day after the date of transfer of such Share or Shares to the Grantee pursuant to such exercise, the Grantee shall, within ten (10) days of such disposition, notify the Company thereof, by delivery of written notice to the Company at its principal executive office.
7.
Stock Appreciation Rights
.
7.1
General
. The Committee may, in its discretion, grant to Eligible Individuals Awards of Stock Appreciation Rights, in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions (which conditions may be based on continuing employment or service, or achievement of pre-established performance objectives or a combination of such conditions) as the Committee may determine, in its discretion, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan and as set forth in the Award Agreement.
7.2
Exercise Price
. The exercise price of any Stock Appreciation Rights shall be fixed by the Committee at the time of grant;
provided
,
howeve
r, that the exercise price of each Stock Appreciation Right shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on the date the Stock Appreciation Right is granted.
7.3
Maximum Duration
. Stock Appreciation Rights granted hereunder shall be for such term as the Committee shall determine, provided that a Stock Appreciation Right shall not be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date it is granted. The Committee may, subsequent to the granting of any Stock Appreciation Right, extend the term thereof but in no event shall the term as so extended exceed the maximum term provided for in the preceding sentence. It is the intention of the Committee that any such extension shall, to the extent applicable, be in accordance with Section 409A.
7.4
Method of Exercise
. Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercised by a Grantee at such times as may be fixed by the Committee at the time of grant and under such methods as may be permitted by the Committee, including, if permitted by the Committee, cashless or net exercises whereby the Company shall retain a number of Shares (or other consideration which may be paid or delivered as determined by the Committee in respect thereof) in connection with the exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right as shall have the Fair Market Value to satisfy any withholding of taxes as described in Section 18 hereof. Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercised, in whole or part, by a written notice delivered in person or by mail to the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal executive office, specifying the number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is being exercised. If requested by the Committee, the Grantee shall deliver the Award Agreement evidencing the Stock Appreciation Right being exercised and the Award Agreement evidencing any related Option to the Secretary of the Company who shall endorse thereon a notation of such exercise and return such Award Agreement to the Grantee.
8.
Restricted Shares
.
8.1
General
. The Committee may grant or offer for purchase at such price or prices to be determined by the Committee at the time of grant to Eligible Individuals Awards of Restricted Shares, and may issue Restricted Shares in payment in respect of vested Performance Units (as hereinafter provided in Section 10), and subject to such terms and conditions (which conditions may be based on continuing employment or service, or achievement of pre-established performance objectives or a combination of such conditions) as the Committee may determine, in its discretion, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan and set forth in the Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all Restricted Shares shall require a minimum vesting of three (3) years if time-based and one (1) year if performance-based, subject, in each case and if determined by the Committee, to acceleration for death, Disability, retirement, Change in Control or other similar events. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement, the Grantee shall have all the rights of a shareholder with respect to the Restricted Shares, including the right to vote the Shares and to receive all dividends or other distributions paid or made with respect to the Shares.
8.2
Stock Certificate
. Restricted Shares granted hereunder shall be issued in the name of the Grantee as soon as reasonably practicable after the Award is granted provided that the Grantee has executed an Award Agreement and, if requested, the appropriate blank share powers. At the discretion of the Committee, until the satisfaction, expiration or lapse of all restrictions and conditions imposed on the Restricted Shares, the stock certificate or certificates representing such Restricted Shares may be registered in the Grantee’s name but retained by the Company for the Grantee’s account or be deposited with an agent (which may be the Company or its transfer agent). The Committee may make such deposit, share power or any other documents a condition to the issuance of such Shares.
8.3
Treatment of Dividends
. At the time the Award of Restricted Shares is granted, the Committee may, in its discretion, determine that the payment to the Grantee of dividends, or a specified portion thereof, declared or paid on such Shares by the Company shall be deferred until the lapsing of the restrictions imposed upon such Shares and held by the Company for the account of the Grantee until such time and subject to the satisfaction of such restrictions. In the event that dividends are to be deferred, the Committee shall determine whether such dividends are to be reinvested in Shares (which shall be held as additional Restricted Shares) or held in cash. If deferred dividends are to be held in cash, there may be credited at the end of each year (or portion thereof) interest on the amount of the account at the beginning of the year at a rate per annum as the Committee, in its discretion, may determine. Payment of deferred dividends in respect of Restricted Shares (whether held in cash or as additional Restricted Shares), together with interest accrued thereon, if any, shall be made upon the lapsing of restrictions imposed on the Shares in respect of which the deferred dividends were paid, and any dividends deferred (together with any interest accrued thereon) in respect of any Restricted Shares shall be forfeited upon the forfeiture of such Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, dividends shall not be deferred to the extent that such deferral would cause the Company not to be treated as a “real estate investment trust” as defined in Section 856 of the Code.
8.4
Delivery of Shares
. Upon the lapse of the restrictions on Restricted Shares, the Committee shall cause a share certificate to be delivered to the Grantee with respect to such Shares, free of all restrictions hereunder.
8.5
Legend
. Each certificate representing Restricted Shares issued pursuant to an Award under this Plan shall conspicuously bear such legends as the Committee, in its discretion, determines are necessary or advisable, including a legend making appropriate reference to the restrictions imposed.
9.
Restricted Share Units
.
9.1
General
. The Committee may, in its discretion, grant to Eligible Individuals Awards of Restricted Share Units, and subject to such terms and conditions (which conditions may be based on continuing employment or service, or achievement of pre-established performance objectives or a combination of such conditions) as the Committee may determine, in its discretion, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan and set forth in the Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all Restricted Share Units shall require a minimum vesting of three (3) years if time-based and one (1) year if performance-based, subject, in each case and if determined by the Committee, to acceleration for death, Disability, retirement, Change in Control or other similar events.
9.2
Settlement
. Upon the vesting of and/or lapse of all other restrictions with respect to each Restricted Share Unit, the Grantee shall be entitled to receive from the Company one Share (or, if so provided in the applicable Award Agreement, an amount of cash equal to the Fair Market Value of one Share). The Committee may, in its discretion, provide that settlement of Restricted Share Units shall be deferred, on a mandatory basis or at the election of the Grantee, in a manner that complies with Section 409A.
10.
Performance Awards
.
10.1
Forms of Performance Awards
. The Committee may grant Awards of Performance Shares and/or Performance Units to such Eligible Individuals, in such amounts and subject to the performance objectives (as provided in Section 10.2 hereof) and such other terms and conditions, as the Committee may, in its discretion determine at the time the Award is granted, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan and set forth in an Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all Performance Units and Performance Shares shall require a minimum vesting of one (1) year, subject, in each case and if determined by the Committee, to acceleration for death, Disability, retirement, Change in Control or other similar events.
10.2
Performance Objectives
. Performance objectives for Performance Awards may be based upon one or more of the following criteria: (i) consolidated income before or after taxes; (ii) EBITDA; (iii) adjusted EBITDA; (iv) net operating income; (v) net income; (vi) net income per Share; (vii) book value per Share; (viii) total shareholder return; (ix) expense management; (x) return on investment; (xi) improvements in capital structure; (xii) profitability of an identifiable business unit; (xiii) maintenance or improvement of debt to equity ratio or other ratios; (xiv) stock price; (xv) funds from operations, as the same may or may not be adjusted; (xvi) cash flow; (xvii) working capital; and (xviii) such other standards as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. Performance objectives may be in respect of the performance of the Company and its Subsidiaries (which may be on a consolidated basis), or a Subsidiary, and may be applied on an absolute basis and/or be relative to one or more peer group companies or indices, or any combination thereof, all as the Committee shall determine. In addition, to the degree consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code (or any successor section thereto), the performance objectives may be calculated without regard to extraordinary items. Prior to the end of a Performance Cycle, the Committee, in its discretion, may adjust the performance objectives to reflect a Change in Capitalization or any other event which may materially affect the performance of the Company or a Subsidiary, including, but not limited to, market conditions or a significant acquisition or disposition of assets or other property by the Company or a Subsidiary.
10.3
Performance Units
.
(a)
General
. Performance Units are denominated in Shares and, contingent upon the attainment of specified performance objectives (as provided in Section 10.2 hereof) within the Performance Cycle, represent the right to receive payment, delivery or issuance of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Performance Unit was granted, the date the Performance Unit became vested or any other date specified by the Committee, or a percentage of such Fair Market Value;
provided
,
however,
that the Committee may at the time a Performance Unit is granted, specify a maximum amount payable in respect of a vested Performance Unit. Each Award Agreement shall specify the number of the Performance Units to which it relates, the performance objectives which must be satisfied in order for the Performance Units to vest and the Performance Cycle within which such objectives must be satisfied. A Grantee shall become vested with respect to some or all of the Performance Units to the extent that the performance objectives set forth in the Award Agreement are satisfied for the Performance Cycle and as provided in the Award Agreement.
(b)
Payment of Awards
. Payment to Grantees in respect of vested Performance Units shall be made after the year-end financial statements have been finalized with respect to the Performance Cycle to which such Award relates, unless the Award Agreement provides for the deferral of payment, delivery or issuance, in which event the terms and conditions of the deferral shall be set forth in the Award Agreement. Such payment, delivery or issuance may be made entirely in Shares valued at their Fair Market Value as of the last day of the applicable Performance Cycle or such other date specified by the Committee, entirely in cash, or in such combination of Shares and cash as the Committee in its discretion shall determine at any time prior to such payment, delivery or issuance;
provided
,
however
, that if the Committee in its discretion determines to make such payment, delivery or issuance entirely or partially in Restricted Shares, the Committee must determine the extent to which such payment, delivery or issuance will be in Restricted Shares and the terms of such Restricted Shares at the time the Award is granted.
10.4
Performance Shares
.
(a)
General
. The Committee may grant to Eligible Individuals Awards of Performance Shares contingent upon the attainment of specified performance objectives (as provided in Section 10.2) within the Performance Cycle. Each Award Agreement shall specify the number of the Performance Shares to which it relates, the performance objectives which must be satisfied in order for the lapse of restrictions on such Performance Shares and the Performance Cycle within which such objectives must be satisfied. A Grantee shall become vested with respect to some or all of the Performance Shares to the extent that the performance objectives set forth in the Award Agreement are satisfied for the Performance Cycle and as provided in the Award Agreement. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement, the Grantee shall have all the rights of a shareholder with respect to the Performance Shares, including the right to vote the Shares and to receive all dividends or other distributions paid or made with respect to the Shares.
(b)
Stock Certificate
. Performance Shares granted hereunder shall be issued in the name of the Grantee as soon as reasonably practicable after the Award is granted provided that the Grantee has executed an Award Agreement and, if requested, the appropriate blank share powers. At the discretion of the Committee, until the satisfaction, expiration or lapse of all restrictions and conditions imposed on the Performance Shares, the stock certificate or certificates representing such Performance Shares may be registered in the Grantee’s name but retained by the Company for the Grantee’s account or be deposited with an agent (which may be the Company or its transfer agent). The Committee may make such deposit, share power or any other documents a condition to the issuance of such Shares.
(c)
Treatment of Dividends
. At the time the Award of Performance Shares is granted, the Committee may, in its discretion, determine that the payment to the Grantee of dividends, or a specified portion thereof, declared or paid on actual Shares represented by such Award which have been issued by the Company to the Grantee shall be deferred until the lapsing of the restrictions imposed upon such Performance Shares and held by the Company for the account of the Grantee until such time and subject to the satisfaction of such conditions. In the event that dividends are to be deferred, the Committee shall determine whether such dividends are to be reinvested in Shares (which shall be held as additional Performance Shares) or held in cash. If deferred dividends are to be held in cash, there may be credited at the end of each year (or portion thereof) interest on the amount of the account at the beginning of the year at a rate per annum as the Committee, in its discretion, may determine. Payment of deferred dividends in respect of Performance Shares (whether held in cash or in additional Performance Shares), together with interest accrued thereon, if any, shall be made upon and solely to the extent of the lapsing of restrictions imposed on the Performance Shares in respect of which the deferred dividends were paid, and any dividends deferred (together with any interest accrued thereon) in respect of any Performance Shares shall be forfeited upon the forfeiture of such Performance Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, dividends shall not be deferred to the extent that such deferral would cause the Company not to be treated as a “real estate investment trust” as defined in Section 856 of the Code.
(d)
Delivery of Shares
. Upon the lapse of the restrictions on Performance Shares awarded hereunder, the Committee shall cause a share certificate to be delivered to the Grantee with respect to such Shares, free of all restrictions hereunder.
(e)
Legends
. Each certificate representing one or more Performance Shares issued pursuant to an Award under the Plan shall conspicuously bear such legends as the Committee, in its discretion, determines are necessary or advisable, including a legend making appropriate reference to the restrictions imposed.
11.
Dividend Equivalent Rights
. The Committee shall have the authority to grant to any Eligible Individual, either alone or in connection with any other Award, dividend equivalent rights, in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may determine in its discretion, including, but not limited to, such risk of forfeiture as the Committee may determine at the time the Award is granted, until such specific conditions as may be established by the Committee are met (which conditions may be based on continuing employment or service, or the achievement of pre-established performance objectives, or a combination of such conditions), not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Dividend Equivalent Right shall be conditioned on the exercise of any Option or Stock Appreciation Right if, and to the extent, such Dividend Equivalent Right would cause the compensation payable to a “covered employee” as a result of the related Option or Stock Appreciation Right not to constitute performance-based compensation under Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code or cause any Option or Stock Appreciation Right to be subject to Section 409A, unless otherwise permitted by the Committee.
12.
Other Stock Based Awards
. The Committee may grant or award other types of stock-based Awards to such Eligible Individuals, in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may, in its discretion, determine, including, but not limited to, such risk of forfeiture as the Committee may determine at the time the Award is granted, until all specific conditions as may be established by the Committee are met (which conditions may be based on continuing employment or service or achievement of pre-established performance objectives, or a combination of such conditions), not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all other stock based awards shall require a minimum vesting of three (3) years if time-based and one (1) year if performance-based, subject, in each case and if determined by the Committee, to acceleration for death, Disability, retirement, Change in Control or other similar events.
13.
Modification or Substitution
. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any Award Agreement, the Committee may modify outstanding Awards or accept the surrender of outstanding Awards and grant new Awards in substitution for them;
provided
,
however
, Options and Stock Appreciation Rights may not be exchanged for Awards of a different type or cash;
provided
,
further
, the Committee will not modify or substitute outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights to effect any repricing or replacement of any such Options or Stock Appreciation Rights which have an exercise price or base value that is above the then Fair Market Value of such outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights without shareholder approval. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no modification of an Award shall adversely alter or impair any rights or obligations under the Award Agreement without the Grantee’s consent and, to the extent applicable, it is the intention of the Company that any such modification or substitution shall be made in a manner that the Committee believes would not subject the Grantee to any additional taxes or interest and penalties under Section 409A, and to the extent such Award is intended to constitute “qualified performance-based compensation” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder, no such amendment or modification or substitution shall be permitted with respect to any affected Eligible Individual, except as determined by the Compensation Committee. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, in no event will the Committee, the Board, the Company, any Subsidiary or any employee be liable directly or indirectly if, by reason of any such amendment or modification, a Grantee is subject to any additional taxes, penalties and/or interest by reason of the application of Section 409A.
14.
Effect of a Termination of Employment or Service
. Each Award Agreement shall set forth the terms and conditions applicable to such Award upon a termination or change in the status of the employment or service of the Grantee by the Company or a Subsidiary (including a termination or change by reason of the sale of a Subsidiary or a change in status from employee or director to consultant), as the Committee may, in its discretion, determine at the time an Award is granted or thereafter. Notwithstanding the foregoing and unless specifically set forth in an Award Agreement to the contrary, in the event a Grantee’s employment or service with the Company is terminated for Cause, the Award granted to the Grantee hereunder shall immediately terminate in full and in the case of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, no rights thereunder may be exercised, and in all other cases, no payment, delivery or issuance, lapse of any restriction will be made or due with respect thereto.
15.
Adjustment Upon Changes in Capitalization; Effect of Certain Transactions
.
15.1
In the event of a Change in Capitalization, the Committee shall conclusively determine the appropriate adjustments, if any, to the maximum number and class of Shares or other shares or securities with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan, and the number and class of Shares or other shares or securities which are subject to outstanding Awards granted under the Plan, and the purchase price therefor, if applicable. Any such adjustment in the Shares or other shares or securities subject to outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (including any adjustments in the purchase price) shall be made in such manner as not to constitute a modification as defined by Section 409A and, to the extent applicable, by Section 424(h)(3) of the Code and only to the extent otherwise permitted by Sections 409A, 422 and 424 of the Code, to the extent applicable.
15.2
If, by reason of a Change in Capitalization, a Grantee of an Award shall be entitled to, or entitled to exercise an Option or Stock Appreciation Right with respect to, new, additional or different Shares or other shares or securities, such new, additional or different Shares or other shares or securities shall thereupon be subject to all of the conditions, restrictions and performance criteria which were applicable to the Shares subject to the Award, as the case may be, prior to such Change in Capitalization.
15.3
In addition, in the event of a liquidation, dissolution, merger or consolidation, including, without limitation a Change in Control or Change in Capitalization, in which the Company is not the surviving company or a merger or consolidation in which the Company becomes a subsidiary of another company, the Committee shall, in its sole discretion, either (alone or in combination) (i) provide for the assumption of such Awards theretofore granted, or the substitution for such Awards of new awards of the successor company or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kinds of shares and the per share exercise price, to the extent applicable, consistent with Section 15.1 hereof; (ii) provide, prior to the transaction, for the acceleration of the vesting, lapse of restrictions, payment, delivery or issuance and/or exercisability of the Award; (iii) for awards that are convertible, exchangeable or exercisable, provide written notice to any holder of such Award that the Award shall be terminated to the extent that it is not converted, exchanged or exercised prior to a date certain specified in such notice; and/or (iv) provide that the holder of any such Award, to the extent then vested, shall be entitled to receive from the Company an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of such Awards as of the date of such event which, in the case of any Option, shall be an amount equal to the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value (determined on the basis of the amount received by shareholders of the Company in connection with such transaction and, if determined by the Committee, at such times as received by the shareholders of the Company, all to the extent consistent with Section 409A, to the extent applicable) to any Award over (B) the aggregate purchase price which would be payable for such Shares upon the conversion, exchange or exercise of such Award (for avoidance of doubt, if such exercise price is less than such Fair Market Value, the Option may be cancelled for no consideration or for such consideration that the Committee shall determine or as provided by the agreement effectuating the event).
15.4
Any actions under this Section 15 shall, to the extent applicable, be in accordance with Sections 409A and 424 of the Code, and the rules and regulations thereunder as determined by the Committee, so as not to cause a modification or deemed new grant of the Award and any shares, securities, cash, property, or other consideration received upon conversion, exchange or exercise, shall remain subject to all of the conditions, restrictions and performance criteria which were applicable to the Awards prior to such Transaction.
16.
Effect of Change in Control
. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and provided in an Award Agreement, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control which occurs while the Grantee is still employed by, or for directors in the service of, the Company or its Subsidiaries, (i) all of the Grantee’s outstanding and unvested Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall immediately become vested and/or exercisable; (ii) all of the Grantee’s Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units that are vested based on the performance of services or time shall become immediately vested; (iii) the percentage of the Grantee’s Performance Units and/or Performance Shares that shall become vested shall be determined by the Committee at the time the Award is granted and as set forth in the Award Agreement; and (iv) for all other Awards the treatment shall be as determined in the applicable Award Agreement.
17.
Restrictions on Transferability of Awards
. Until vested, Awards may not be transferred, sold, pledged, assigned, rehypothecated, fractionalized or otherwise disposed of in any manner other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution unless specifically authorized by the Committee and transferred in a manner permitted by the Committee. Further, unless otherwise permitted by the Committee, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, Options and Stock Appreciation Rights may not be transferred in any manner any time prior to exercise, whether or not vested, and Performance Share Units and Restricted Share Units may not be transferred, sold, pledged, assigned, rehypothecated, fractionalized or otherwise disposed of in any manner any time prior to settlement, payment, delivery or issuance, as applicable, and Restricted Shares or Performance Shares may not be transferred sold, pledged, assigned, rehypothecated, fractionalized or otherwise disposed of in any manner prior to the date on which all applicable restrictions have lapsed with respect to Restricted Shares and/or Performance Shares, as applicable, in all such cases whether or not vested. Any purported transfer, sale, pledge, assignment, rehypothecation, fractionalization or other disposition of any Awards in violation of the foregoing, will not be valid and the Company will not issue any Shares upon the attempted exercise of such transferred Option or Stock Appreciation Right or in settlement of any Performance Share Unit or Restricted Share Unit or release any restrictions in respect of any such transferred Restricted Share or Performance Share. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Incentive Stock Options may only be transferred by will or the laws of descent and distribution.
18.
Withholding of Taxes
. The Company may make such provisions and take such steps as it may deem necessary or appropriate for the withholding of any taxes which the Company is required by any law or regulation of any governmental authority, whether federal, state or local, domestic or foreign, to withhold in connection with any Award or the exercise thereof, including, but not limited to, permitting or requiring the Grantee (or any beneficiary or other person authorized to act on behalf of the Grantee) to pay all or a portion of the amounts required to be withheld or the withholding of cash or Shares which would be paid or delivered pursuant to such grant or exercise of Award. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event may Shares with a Fair Market Value in excess of the legally required withholding amount based on the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal and state tax purposes that are applicable to such supplemental taxable income be withheld for the payment of such tax obligations (in whole or part).
19.
Interpretation
.
19.1
The Plan and any Award Agreements thereunder are intended to comply with Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act and the Committee shall interpret and administer the provisions of the Plan or any Award Agreement in a manner consistent therewith. Any provisions inconsistent with such rule shall be inoperative and shall not affect the validity of the Plan or any Award Agreement.
19.2
Unless otherwise expressly stated in the relevant Award Agreement, each Award (other than Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units) granted under the Plan is intended to be performance-based compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code. Except in the case of death, disability, retirement or a Change in Control, the Committee shall not be entitled to exercise any discretion otherwise authorized hereunder with respect to such Awards if the ability to exercise such discretion or the exercise of such discretion itself would cause the compensation attributable to such Awards to fail to qualify as performance-based compensation.
19.3
It is intended that all Awards under the Plan and any Award Agreement, either be exempt from or otherwise avoid taxation under Section 409A. Any ambiguity in the Plan and any Award Agreement shall be interpreted to comply with the foregoing. To the extent applicable, (i) each amount or benefit payable pursuant to the Plan and any Award shall be deemed a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A and (ii) in the event a Grantee is a “specified employee” at the time of the Grantee’s termination of employment, to the extent required under Section 409A, any payments under the Plan or any Award that are deemed to be deferred compensation subject to Section 409A shall not be paid or begin payment until the earlier of the Grantee’s death and the first day following the six (6) month anniversary of the Grantee’s date of termination of employment. The Committee shall use reasonable efforts to implement the provisions of this Section 19; provided that in no event shall the Company, the Board, the Committee or any of the Company’s officers, directors, employees or representatives have any liability to Grantees with respect to this Section 19.
20.
Termination and Amendment of the Plan
. The Plan shall terminate on the day preceding the tenth anniversary of the date of its adoption by the Board and no Awards may be granted thereafter. The Board may sooner terminate the Plan and the Board may at any time and from time to time amend, modify or suspend the Plan;
provided
,
however
, that: (i) no such amendment, modification, suspension or termination shall, except to the extent such action is required by, or is necessary to comply with, law, adversely alter any Awards theretofore granted under the Plan in any material respect (without regard to any effect resulting from the individual circumstances of such Grantee), except with the consent of the Grantee, nor shall any amendment, modification, suspension or termination deprive any Grantee of any Shares which he or she may have acquired through or as a result of the Plan; (ii) no amendment that would increase benefits to Grantees or Eligible Individuals, increase the number of Shares subject to the Plan or modify the eligibility requirements shall be effective unless approved by the shareholders of the Company and (iii) to the extent necessary under Section 422 of the Code, Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or applicable law or securities exchange rule, no amendment shall be effective unless approved by the shareholders of the Company in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
21.
Limitation of Liability
. As illustrative of the limitations of liability of the Company, but not intended to be exhaustive thereof, nothing in the Plan shall be construed to: (i) give any person any right to be granted an Award other than at the sole discretion of the Committee; or (ii) give any person any rights whatsoever with respect to Shares except as specifically provided in the Plan.
22.
Regulations and Other Approvals; Governing Law
.
22.1
Except as to matters of federal law, the Plan, any Award Agreement and the rights of all persons claiming hereunder shall be construed and determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland without giving effect to conflicts of law principles thereof.
22.2
The obligation of the Company to sell or deliver Shares with respect to Awards granted under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including all applicable federal and state securities laws, and the obtaining of all such approvals by governmental agencies as may be deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee.
22.3
The Board may make such changes as may be necessary or appropriate to comply with the rules and regulations of any government authority, or to obtain for Eligible Individuals granted Incentive Stock Options the tax benefits under the applicable provisions of the Code and regulations promulgated thereunder.
22.4
Each Award is subject to the requirement that, if at any time the Committee determines, in its discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of Shares issuable pursuant to the Plan is required by any securities exchange or under any state or federal law, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the grant of an Award or the issuance of Shares, no Awards shall be granted or payment, delivery or issuance made or Shares issued, in whole or in part, unless listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval has been effected or obtained free of any conditions as acceptable to the Committee.
22.5
Notwithstanding anything contained in the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the disposition of Shares acquired pursuant to the Plan is not covered by a then current registration statement under the Securities Act and is not otherwise exempt from such registration, such Shares shall be restricted against transfer to the extent required by the Securities Act and Rule 144 or other regulations thereunder. The Committee may require any individual receiving Shares pursuant to an Award granted or exercised under the Plan, as a condition precedent to receipt of such Shares or Awards, to represent and warrant to the Company in writing that the Shares acquired by such individual are acquired without a view to any distribution thereof and will not be sold or transferred other than pursuant to an effective registration thereof under said Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption applicable under the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The certificates evidencing any of such Shares or Awards shall be appropriately legended to reflect their status as restricted securities as aforesaid.
22.6
No election under Section 83(b) of the Code (to include gross income in the year of transfer of the amounts specified in Code Section 83(b)) or under a similar provision of the law of a jurisdiction outside the United States may be made unless expressly permitted by the terms of the Award Agreement or by action of the Committee in writing prior to the making of such election. If a Grantee of an Award, in connection with the acquisition of Shares under the Plan or otherwise, is expressly permitted under the terms of the Award Agreement or by such Committee action to make any such election and the Grantee makes the election, the Grantee shall notify the Committee of such election within ten (10) days of filing notice of the election with the Internal Revenue Service or other governmental authority, in addition to any filing and notification required pursuant to regulations issued under Section 83(b) or other applicable provisions.
22.7
Notwithstanding any other provision hereunder, prior to a Change in Control, if and to the extent that the Committee determines the Company’s federal tax deduction in respect of a particular Grantee’s Award may be limited as a result of Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee may determine to delay delivery or payment under the Award in such manner as it deems appropriate, including the following actions:
(a)
With respect to such Grantee’s Options, Stock Appreciation Rights and Dividend Equivalent Rights, the Committee may delay the payment in respect of such Options, Stock Appreciation Rights and Dividend Equivalent Rights until a date that is within thirty (30) business days after the earlier to occur of (i) the date that compensation paid to the Grantee is no longer subject to the deduction limitation under Section 162(m) of the Code and (ii) the occurrence of a Change in Control. In the event that a Grantee exercises an Option or Stock Appreciation Right or would receive a payment in respect of a Dividend Equivalent Right at a time when the Grantee is a “covered employee” and the Committee determines to delay the payment in respect of any such Award, the Committee shall credit cash, or, in the case of an amount payable in Shares, the Fair Market Value of the Shares, payable to the Grantee to a book account. The Grantee shall have no rights in respect of such book account, and the amount credited thereto shall be subject to applicable transfer restrictions established by the Committee. The Committee may credit additional amounts to such book account as it may determine in its sole discretion. Any book account created hereunder shall represent only an unfunded unsecured promise to pay the amount credited thereto to the Grantee in the future; or
(b)
With respect to such Grantee’s Restricted Shares and or Performance Shares, the Committee may require the Grantee to surrender to the Committee any certificates and agreements with respect to such Restricted Shares and/or Performance Shares in order to cancel the Awards of Restricted Shares or Performance Shares, as applicable. In exchange for such cancellation, the Committee shall credit the Fair Market Value of the Restricted Shares or Performance Shares subject to such Awards to a book account. The amount credited to the book account shall be paid to the Grantee within thirty (30) business days after the earlier to occur of (i) the date that compensation paid to the Grantee is no longer subject to the deduction limitation under Section 162(m) of the Code and (ii) the occurrence of a Change in Control. The Grantee shall have no rights in respect of such book account, and the amount credited thereto shall be subject to the transfer restrictions which shall be established by the Committee. The Committee may credit additional amounts to such book account as it may determine in its sole discretion. Any book account created hereunder shall represent only an unfunded unsecured promise to pay the amount credited thereto to the Grantee in the future; or
(c)
With respect to such Grantee’s Restricted Share Units or Performance Units, the Committee may elect to delay delivery of such Shares or consideration in respect of Restricted Share Units or Performance Units until a date that is within thirty (30) business days after the earlier to occur of (i) the date that compensation paid to the Grantee is no longer subject to the deduction limitation under Section 162(m) of the Code and (ii) the occurrence of a Change in Control.
23.
Miscellaneous
.
23.1
No Right of Employment or Service
. Nothing contained herein, in any Award Agreement or in any Award shall confer on any person any right to be continued in the employ or service of the Company and/or any Subsidiaries, constitute any contract or agreement of employment or other service or affect an employee’s status as an at-will employee, nor shall anything contained herein, in any Award Agreement or an Award affect any rights which the Company and/or any Subsidiaries may have to change a person’s compensation or other benefits or terminate such person’s employment or association with the Company and/or its Subsidiaries for any reason (with or without cause, with or without compensation) at any time.
23.2
No Rights as a Shareholder
. No Grantee shall be deemed for any purpose to be the owner of any Shares subject to any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Share Unit, Performance Share Unit, Dividend Equivalent Right or such other phantom equity award, unless and until, the Company shall have issued and delivered the Shares to the Grantee and the Grantee’s name shall have been entered as a shareholder of record on the books of the Company. Thereupon, the Grantee shall have full voting, dividend and other ownership rights with respect to such Shares, subject to such terms and conditions as may be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.
23.3
Non-Uniform Determinations
. The Committee’s determinations under the Plan need not be uniform and may be made by it selectively among persons who receive or are eligible to receive Awards (whether or not such persons are similarly situated). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee shall be entitled, among other things, to make non-uniform and selective determinations, and to enter into non-uniform and selective Award Agreements (at the same time or at some other time), as to persons to receive Awards under the Plan and the terms and provisions of Awards under the Plan. The grant of an Award to any person at any time shall neither entitle such person to receive, nor preclude such person from receiving, a subsequent grant of an Award.
23.4
Non-Exclusivity of the Plan
. The adoption of the Plan by the Board shall not be construed as amending, modifying or rescinding any previously approved incentive arrangement or as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable.
23.5
Freedom of Action
. Nothing contained in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall be construed to prevent the Company, its Subsidiaries, its affiliates, or any of the holders of Shares from taking any corporate action, including, but not limited to, any recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, dissolution or sale, which is deemed by the Company, its Subsidiaries, its affiliates or such holders to be appropriate or in its or their best interest, whether or not such action would have an adverse effect on the Plan or any Awards thereunder.
23.6
Section Headings; Construction
. The section headings contained herein are for the purpose of convenience only and are not intended to define or limit the contents of the sections. All words used in the Plan shall be construed to be of such gender or number, as the circumstances require. Unless otherwise expressly provided, the word “including” does not limit the preceding words or terms.
23.7
Severability; Entire Agreement
. In the event any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement shall be held illegal, invalid or unenforceable for any reason, the illegality, invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the remaining provisions of the Plan and such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision shall be deemed modified as if the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions had not been included. The Plan and any Award Agreement contain the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter thereof and supersede all prior agreements, promises, covenants, arrangements, communications, representations and warranties between them, whether written or oral, with respect to the subject matter thereof.
23.8
Survival of Terms; Conflicts
. The provisions of the Plan shall survive the termination of the Plan to the extent consistent with, or necessary to carry out, the purposes thereof. To the extent of any conflict between the Plan and any Award Agreement, the Plan shall control;
provided
,
however
, that the Award Agreement may impose greater restrictions or grant lesser rights than the Plan.
23.9
Plan Not Funded
. Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, Awards payable under the Plan shall be payable in Shares or from the general assets of the Company and no special or separate reserve, fund or deposit shall be made to assure payment, delivery or issuance of such Awards. No Grantee or other person shall have any right, title or interest in any fund or in any specific asset (including Shares, except as expressly otherwise provided) of the Company or any Subsidiary by reason of any Award hereunder. To the extent that a Grantee or other person acquires a right to receive payment, delivery or issuance pursuant to any Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company.
23.10
No Third Party Beneficiaries
. Except as expressly provided therein, neither the Plan nor any Award Agreement shall confer on any person other than the Company and the Grantee any rights or remedies thereunder.
23.11
Successors and Assigns
. The terms of the Plan shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company, its Subsidiaries and their successors and assigns.
24.
Effective Date
. The effective date of the Plan shall be the date of its adoption by the Board, and Awards may be granted following the date of adoption by the Board, subject, however, to the approval by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the votes cast at a meeting of shareholders duly held within twelve (12) months of such adoption.
CEDAR SHOPPING CENTERS, INC.
2012 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS - June 15, 2012
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned stockholder of Cedar Realty Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation, hereby appoints Bruce J. Schanzer, Philip R. Mays and Stuart H. Widowski and each of them the proxies of the undersigned with full power of substitution to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held at 10:00 AM on June 15, 2012, and at any adjournment or adjournments thereof (the “Meeting”), with all the power which the undersigned would have if personally present, hereby revoking any proxy heretofore given. The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the proxy statement for the Meeting and instructs the proxies to vote as directed on the reverse side.
(Continued and to be signed on the reverse side)
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF
CEDAR REALTY TRUST, INC.
June 15, 2012
NOTICE OF INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIAL
:
The Notice of Meeting, Proxy Statement and Proxy Card
are available at www.cedarrealtytrust.com
Please sign, date and mail
your proxy card in the
envelope provided as soon
as possible
¯
|
Please detach along perforated line and mail in the envelope provided.
|
¯
|
|
|
|
|
061512
|
|
|
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS AND “FOR” PROPOSALS 2, 3 AND 4.
|
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN HERE
x
|
|
1.
|
To elect 7 nominees for Directors
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FOR
|
AGAINST
|
ABSTAIN
|
|
|
James J. Burns
|
o
|
o
|
o
|
|
|
Raghunath Davloor
|
o
|
o
|
o
|
|
|
Pamela N. Hootkin
|
o
|
o
|
o
|
|
|
Paul G. Kirk, Jr.
|
o
|
o
|
o
|
|
|
Everett B. Miller, III
|
o
|
o
|
o
|
|
|
Bruce J. Schanzer
|
o
|
o
|
o
|
|
|
Roger M. Widmann
|
o
|
o
|
o
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.
|
To approve the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan.
|
o
|
o
|
o
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3.
|
The approval (non-binding) of the compensation
of the Company’s Named Executive Officers.
|
o
|
o
|
o
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4.
|
To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012
|
o
|
o
|
o
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.
|
With discretionary authority upon such other matters as may properly come before the Meeting.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY SIGNED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED. IF NO SPECIFICATION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES SET FORTH HEREIN, FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE 2012 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN, FOR THE APPROVAL OF COMPENSATION FOR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, FOR THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2012, AND IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXY HOLDERS AS TO ANY OTHER MATTERS WHICH MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING.
|
|
|
|
MARK HERE IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING.
o
|
To change the address on your account, please check the box at right and indicate your new address in the address space above. Please note that changes to the registered name(s) on the account may not be submitted via this method
|
o
|
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
|
|
|
Signature of Stockholder
|
|
Date
|
|
Signature of Stockholder
|
|
Date
|
|
■
|
Note
:Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this Proxy. When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.
|
■
|
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF
CEDAR SHOPPING CENTERS, INC.
June 15, 2012
|
PROXY VOTING INSTRUCTIONS
|
|
INTERNET
– Access “
www.voteproxy.com
” and follow the on-screen instructions. Have your proxy card available when you access the web page.
|
|
|
|
|
|
TELEPHONE
– Call toll-free
1-800-PROXIES
(1-800-776-9437) in the United States or
1-718-921-8500
from foreign countries from any touch-tone telephone and follow the instructions. Have your proxy card available when you call.
|
COMPANY NUMBER
|
|
|
ACCOUNT NUMBER
|
|
Vote online/phone until 11:59 PM EST the day before the meeting.
|
|
MAIL
– Sign, date and mail your proxy card in the envelope provided as soon as possible.
|
|
|
|
IN PERSON
– You may vote your shares in person by attending the Annual Meeting.
|
NOTICE OF INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIAL
: The Notice of meeting, proxy statement
and proxy card are available at www.cedarrealtytrust.com
|
¯
|
Please detach along perforated line and mail in the envelope provided
IF
you are not voting via telephone or the Internet.
|
¯
|
|
|
|
■
00033333333330403100 6
|
061512
|
|
|
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS AND “FOR” PROPOSALS 2, 3 AND 4.
|
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN HERE
x
|
|
1.
|
To elect 7 nominees for Directors
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FOR
|
AGAINST
|
ABSTAIN
|
|
|
James J. Burns
|
o
|
o
|
o
|
|
|
Raghunath Davloor
|
o
|
o
|
o
|
|
|
Pamela N. Hootkin
|
o
|
o
|
o
|
|
|
Paul G. Kirk, Jr.
|
o
|
o
|
o
|
|
|
Everett B. Miller, III
|
o
|
o
|
o
|
|
|
Bruce J. Schanzer
|
o
|
o
|
o
|
|
|
Roger M. Widmann
|
o
|
o
|
o
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.
|
To approve the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan.
|
o
|
o
|
o
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3.
|
The approval (non-binding) of the compensation
of the Company’s Named Executive Officers.
|
o
|
o
|
o
|
|
4.
|
To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young
LLP as independent registered public accounting
firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012.
|
o
|
o
|
o
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.
|
With discretionary authority upon such other matters as may properly come before the Meeting.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY SIGNED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED. IF NO SPECIFICATION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES SET FORTH HEREIN, FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE 2012 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN, FOR THE APPROVAL OF COMPENSATION FOR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, FOR THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2012, AND IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXY HOLDERS AS TO ANY OTHER MATTERS WHICH MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING.
|
|
|
|
MARK HERE IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING.
o
|
To change the address on your account, please check the box at right and indicate your new address in the address space above. Please note that changes to the registered name(s) on the account may not be submitted via this method
|
o
|
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
|
|
|
Signature of Stockholder
|
|
Date:
|
|
Signature of Stockholder
|
|
Date:
|
|
■
|
Note
:Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this Proxy. When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.
|
■
|