UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549
 
FORM 8-K
 
CURRENT REPORT
 
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):  March 24, 2015
 

CBL & ASSOCIATES PROPERTIES, INC.
CBL & ASSOCIATES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
 
Delaware
 
1-12494
 
62-1545718
Delaware
 
333-182515-01
 
62-1542285
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
 
(Commission File Number)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
 
 
 
 
2030 Hamilton Place Blvd., Suite 500, Chattanooga, TN 37421
(Address of principal executive office, including zip code)
 
 
 
 
 
423.855.0001
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
 
 
 
 
N/A
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

¨
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))






Item 5.02
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

(e)    Effective March 24, 2015, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. (the “ Company ”) approved, and the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors have implemented beginning with fiscal 2015, the changes described below to the Company’s incentive compensation programs for those individuals who currently qualify as “named executive officers” of the Company pursuant to Item 402(a)(3) of Securities and Exchange Commission (“ SEC ”) Regulation S-K.

New Annual Incentive Program for Named Executive Officers

Beginning with the Company’s 2015 fiscal year, the Compensation Committee adopted an Annual Incentive Compensation Plan (“ AIP ”) that it believes will incentivize the named executive officers to produce a high level of operational performance by explicitly linking the majority of their annual bonuses to two quantitative performance metrics, Funds From Operations (“ FFO ”) and Same-center Net Operating Income (“ NOI ”) growth, that the Compensation Committee believes are important drivers in the creation of shareholder value, while also rewarding more subjective and qualitative elements of each executive’s performance through a reduced discretionary component.

The material terms of the AIP are summarized in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis that appears on pages 27 through 42 of the definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A for the Company’s 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which is being filed with the SEC simultaneously with this report (the “ Proxy Statement ”) and which description is incorporated by reference herein. Such description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the AIP, which is filed as an exhibit to this report.

New Long Term Incentive Program for Named Executive Officers

Beginning with the 2015 fiscal year, the Compensation Committee also is replacing purely time-vested restricted stock awards with a new Long Term Incentive Program for the named executive officers under the Company’s 2012 Stock Incentive Plan, which consists of the following two components:

Performance Stock Unit Awards ” - 60% of the value of each named executive officer’s annual Long Term Incentive Award (65% for the CEO) will consist of a performance stock unit award authorized by the Compensation Committee under the Company’s 2012 Stock Incentive Plan. The number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock that each named executive officer may receive upon the conclusion of the three-year performance period applicable to each such award is determined by Company’s achievement of specified levels of long-term relative Total Stockholder Return (“ TSR ”) performance versus the NAREIT Retail Index, provided that at least a “Threshold” level must be attained for any shares to be received.

Annual Restricted Stock Awards ” - 40% of the value of each named executive officer’s Long Term Incentive Awards (35% for the CEO) will consist of a grant of shares of time-vesting restricted stock awarded based on the Compensation Committee’s subjective evaluation of the performance of the Company and the officer during each fiscal year, having similar terms to the current time-vesting restricted stock awards under the Company’s 2012 Stock Incentive Plan, other than all such awards will now vest in five annual installments (20% at the date the shares are awarded and an additional 20% on each of the four subsequent anniversaries of such date), regardless of the named executive officer’s age and years of service.

In conjunction with the establishment of this Long Term Incentive Program for 2015, the Compensation Committee also approved, effective March 24, 2015, the following target values and initial awards for

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each of the named executive officers an initial grant of Performance Stock Unit Awards to each of the Company’s named executive officers covering the 2015 – 2017 performance period, as follows:

Named Executive Officer
Target
Value of
Initial
Long
Term
Incentive
Award
Target Value
of
Performance
Based Award
Number of
Performance
Stock Units
Issued (1)
Target
Value of
Initial
Time-
Vested
Award
Number
of Shares
Issued for
Time-
Vested
Award
Stephen D. Lebovitz, President and
Chief Executive Officer
$1,750,000
$1,137,500
56,592
$612,500
(2)
Charles B. Lebovitz,
Chairman of the Board
$1,250,000
$750,000
37,313
$500,000
(2)
Farzana K. Mitchell, Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
$500,000
$300,000
14,925
$200,000
(2)
Augustus N. Stephas, Executive Vice President
and Chief Operating Officer
$500,000
$300,000
14,925
$200,000
(2)
Michael I. Lebovitz, Executive Vice President –
Development and Administration
$500,000
$300,000
14,925
$200,000
(2)

(1)
The number of Performance Stock Units granted for the initial 2015 – 2017 performance period in relation to the target value of the performance based award was determined by dividing such value by $20.10, the average of the high and low prices reported for the Company’s Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange (“ NYSE ”) on the initial date of grant.

(2)
The number of shares of Common Stock issued in relation to each time-vested stock award will be determined by dividing the amount of the targeted value of each such award that the Compensation Committee ultimately determines that each named Executive officer has earned, based on the Compensation Committee’s subjective evaluation of the Company’s performance during 2015, by the average of the high and low prices reported for the Company’s Common Stock on the NYSE on the date in early 2016 that the Compensation Committee makes such determination.

For a full description of the material terms and conditions applicable to both Performance Stock Unit Awards and Annual Restricted Stock Awards, and the potential compensation that may be realized by the named executive officers under each such award, please refer to the Compensation Discussion and Analysis that appears on pages 27 through 42 of the Proxy Statement, which description is incorporated by reference herein. Such description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Company’s 2012 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended, and the respective Form of Performance Stock Unit Award Agreement and Form of Named Executive Officer Stock Restriction Agreement under such plan, each of which is filed or incorporated by reference as an exhibit to this report.


Additional Changes to Compensation Related Policies

In conjunction with implementing the Annual Incentive Program and Long Term Incentive Program for the Company’s named executive officers described above, the Company’s Board of Directors and Compensation Committee also took the following actions intended to further enhance the alignment of such officers’ economic interests with those of the Company’s shareholders:

amended the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines to increase the minimum stock ownership requirement applicable to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer from shares having a value equal to 3x the prior calendar year’s annual base salary for the CEO to shares having a value equal to 10x the prior calendar year’s annual base salary for the CEO; and

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implemented a clawback policy applicable to the Company’s named executive officers, pursuant to which the Company shall require reimbursement of any incentive compensation paid to a named executive officer where: (i) the incentive compensation was predicated upon achieving certain financial results that were subsequently the subject of a substantial restatement of the Company’s financial statements filed with the SEC; (ii) the Board determines, after a thorough investigation involving, if necessary, independent legal counsel, and after considering the totality of the circumstances and the information gleaned from such investigation, that the named executive officer engaged in intentional misconduct that caused or substantially caused the need for the substantial restatement; and (iii) a lower amount of incentive compensation would have been paid to the named executive officer based upon the restated financial results. In each such instance, the Company will, to the extent practicable, seek to recover from the named executive officer the amount by which the named executive officer’s incentive compensation for the relevant period exceeded the lower amount of incentive compensation that would have been paid to such named executive officer based on the restated financial results.



Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d)    Exhibits

Exhibit Number
Description
10.5.4
CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. 2012 Stock Incentive Plan. Incorporated by reference from the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on May 10, 2012.*
10.5.7
Amendment No. 1 to CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. 2012 Stock Incentive Plan. Incorporated by reference from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.**
10.5.8
Form of Performance Stock Unit Award Agreement under CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. 2012 Stock Incentive Plan
10.5.9
Form of Named Executive Officer Stock Restriction Agreement under CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. 2012 Stock Incentive Plan
10.5.10
CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. Named Executive Officer Annual Incentive Compensation Plan (AIP) (Fiscal Year 2015)

*    SEC File No. 1-12494

**    SEC File No. 1-12494 and 333-182515-01


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SIGNATURES



Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

CBL & ASSOCIATES PROPERTIES, INC.
 
 
/s/ Farzana K. Mitchell
Farzana K. Mitchell
Executive Vice President – Chief
Financial Officer and Treasurer
 
 
 


CBL & ASSOCIATES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
 
By: CBL HOLDINGS I, INC., its general partner
 
/s/ Farzana K. Mitchell
Farzana K. Mitchell
Executive Vice President – Chief
Financial Officer and Treasurer
 
 
 




Date: March 27, 2015



4
EXHIBIT 10.5.8


20[ ] PERFORMANCE STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

This 20[__] Performance Stock Unit Award Agreement (the “ Agreement ”) is made as of the ___ day of [________], 20[__] (the “ Award Date ”), by and between CBL & ASSOCIATES PROPERTIES, INC. , a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and [____________] (the “ Employee ”).

WHEREAS , Employee is employed by CBL & Associates Management, Inc. (the “ CBL Management Company ”), an affiliate of the Company;

WHEREAS , pursuant to the Stock Incentive Plan (as hereinafter defined) and subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company desires to grant to the Employee performance stock units;

NOW, THEREFORE , in connection with the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.     Definitions; Conflicts . Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. 2012 Stock Incentive Plan (the “ Stock Incentive Plan ”) as may be hereafter amended. The terms and provisions of the Stock Incentive Plan are incorporated herein and in the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the terms and provisions of the Stock Incentive Plan and the terms and provisions of this Agreement, the terms and provisions of the Stock Incentive Plan shall govern and control.

2.     Grant of Performance Stock Units . Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company hereby grants to the Employee [___________] performance stock units (the “ Performance Stock Units ”). Such number of Performance Stock Units is referred to hereinafter as the “ Target Award ”. Each Performance Stock Unit represents one share of the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par value (“ Common Stock ”). The actual number of Performance Stock Units earned by the Employee shall be determined following the end of the three-year performance period coinciding with the Company’s fiscal years 20[__] through 20[__] (the “ Performance Period ”) based upon the satisfaction of the performance hurdles (the “ Performance Criteria ”) set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto. Following the completion of such Performance Period, and as soon as practicable following the date on which the Compensation Committee certifies the performance results for the Performance Period (the “ Certification Date ”), the Company shall issue to the Employee a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of Performance Stock Units earned by the Employee (the shares of Common Stock so issued to the Employee are herein referred to as the “ Issued Common Stock ”).

3.     Forfeiture/Acceleration of Performance Stock Units . As noted herein, Performance Stock Units are not shares of Common Stock. Shares of Common Stock may be issued for Performance Stock Units upon satisfaction of Performance Criteria as noted herein. Set forth in this Paragraph 3 are the provisions governing the forfeiture or acceleration of Performance Stock Units in the event the Employee’s employment with the CBL Management Company is terminated prior to the issuance of Common Stock for Performance Stock Units. As used herein, the term “acceleration” of Performance Stock Units refers to an acceleration of the issuance of Common Stock for Performance Stock Units prior to the conclusion of the Performance Period.

(a)      General . Except as set forth in Paragraphs 3(b) or 3(c) below, if the Employee’s employment with the CBL Management Company terminates for any reason prior to the end of the Performance Period, the Employee’s Performance Stock Units granted pursuant to this Agreement shall thereupon be forfeited and the Employee shall have no further right, title and/or interest in such Performance Stock Units.



(b)     Termination for Death or Disability . If the Employee’s employment with the CBL Management Company terminates for reasons of the Employee’s death or disability (defined as the complete and permanent disability of the Employee as defined by the Company’s benefit insurance plans) prior to the end of the Performance Period, then the Performance Stock Units shall be accelerated, and the Performance Stock Units then deemed to be earned by the Employee will be a pro-rated portion of the Performance Stock Units granted under this Agreement, calculated based upon the achievement of the Performance Criteria through the date of such termination, and the Company shall issue to the Employee (or his or her beneficiary), within 60 days of the Employee’s separation from service, a number of fully vested shares of Common Stock equal to the number of Performance Stock Units earned by the Employee.

        
(c)     Termination following a Change of Control .     If the Employee’s employment with CBL Management Company is terminated (other than for Cause) prior to the end of the Performance Period but within 24 months after a Change of Control, then the Performance Stock Units shall be accelerated, and the Performance Stock Units then deemed to be earned by the Employee will be a pro-rated portion of the Performance Stock Units granted under this Agreement, calculated based upon the achievement of the Performance Criteria through the date of such termination, and the Company shall issue to the Employee (or his or her beneficiary), within 60 days of the Employee’s separation from service, a number of fully vested shares of Common Stock equal to the number of Performance Stock Units earned by the Employee.

        
Upon the conclusion of the Performance Period, the provisions of this Paragraph 3 shall have no further force and effect.


4.     Vesting of Common Stock . As noted herein, Shares of Common Stock may be issued for Performance Stock Units upon satisfaction of Performance Criteria as noted herein. Set forth in this Paragraph 4 are the provisions governing the vesting of Issued Common Stock and provisions governing the forfeiture or vesting of Issued Common Stock in the event of the Employee’s employment with the CBL Management Company is terminated prior to the full vesting of the Issued Common Stock. As used in this Agreement, the term “vest” or “vesting” shall mean the immediate, non-forfeitable, fixed right of present or future enjoyment of the Issued Common Stock. Such Issued Common Stock, subject to the terms, conditions and limitations contained herein (including but not limited to the provisions of Paragraph 4 below), shall vest as follows: sixty percent (60%) of such Issued Common Stock shall vest on the Certification Date; an additional twenty percent (20%) of such Issued Common Stock shall vest on the fourth (4 th ) anniversary of the Award Date, and the remaining Issued Common Stock shall vest on the fifth (5 th ) anniversary of the Award Date (each a “ Vesting Date ”); provided that the Employee has remained in continuous employment with the CBL Management Company from the Award Date through the applicable Vesting Date. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, on a “Change of Control”, the portion of the Issued Common Stock that is non-vested on the date of such event ( including any Issued Common Stock that is issued on such date pursuant to Paragraph 3(c) above) shall immediately, on the date of such event, thereupon vest in the Employee.

(a)      General . Except as set forth above or in Paragraph 4(b) below, if the Employee’s employment with the CBL Management Company terminates for any reason, any non-vested portion of the Issued Common Stock shall thereupon be forfeited and returned to the Company and the Employee shall have no further right, title and/or interest in the non-vested portion of the shares of Issued Common Stock.




(b)     Death or Disability . If the Employee’s employment with the CBL Management Company terminates for reasons of the Employee’s death or disability (as defined herein), the portion of the Issued Common Stock that is non-vested on the date of such termination ( including any Issued Common Stock that is issued on such date pursuant to Paragraph 3(b) above) shall immediately, on the date of such termination of employment, thereupon vest in the Employee or his/her estate.

(c)     Six-Month Delayed Payment of Shares . Notwithstanding Paragraphs 4(a) , and 4(b) above, the Company shall delay issuance of any shares of Common Stock to the Employee for a period of six months following the Employee’s termination of employment to the extent any payment pursuant to this Agreement is considered a “deferred compensation” payment for purposes of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), and such delayed payment is required pursuant to Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B) because the Employee is a “specified employee” as defined therein.

The provisions of this Paragraph 4 shall have no force and effect until shares of Common Stock are issued to the Employee as set forth in this Agreement.


5.     Rights as a Shareholder . The Employee shall have all of the rights of a shareholder with respect to the shares of Issued Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement, subject only to the transfer restrictions set forth in Paragraph 6 below and forfeiture provisions set forth above. The Employee’s rights as a shareholder shall include the rights to receive all dividends on the Issued Common Stock and to exercise any voting rights attributable to the Issued Common Stock for so long as the Employee shall own the Issued Common Stock. Prior to the issuance of such Common Stock to the Employee, the Employee shall have no rights of a shareholder.

6.     Non-Transferability of Performance Stock Units and Common Stock . (a) Except for any transfers that may be required by law, the Performance Stock Units may not be transferred by the Employee and any non-permitted attempted transfer by the Employee shall be null and void.

(b) With respect to any non-vested Issued Common Stock under this Agreement, except for any transfers that may be required by law, including pursuant to any domestic relations order or otherwise, such non-vested Issued Common Stock may not be transferred by the Employee until the termination of the vesting period (or immediate vesting pursuant to the provisions of Paragraph 4 above) and any non-permitted attempted transfer by the Employee of any such non-vested portion prior to the termination of the vesting period shall be null and void.  Any transferee who may receive a transfer of such non-vested Issued Common Stock pursuant to a transfer required by law as set forth above shall be subject to all the terms and provisions of this Agreement and any termination of the employment of the Employee prior to the termination of the vesting period (except for terminations of employment pursuant to Paragraph 4(b) above or on a Change of Control) shall cause the forfeiture of any non-vested shares even if such shares are in the hands of a transferee.

7.     Restricted Stock . To the extent any shares of shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to this Agreement are not vested, such Common Stock will be considered a grant of restricted property to the Employee that is subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture” as defined in Section 83 of the Code.

8.     Restricted Stock Account; Uncertificated Shares . The Employee understands and acknowledges that any non-vested Issued Common Stock will be held in an uncertificated form in a restricted stock account maintained by the Company’s stock transfer agent for the Employee until such time as such shares of Issued Common Stock are no longer subject to the restrictions set forth in this Agreement. The



Employee understands and acknowledges that as the shares of Issued Common Stock shall vest during the vesting period and upon such vesting, the Company shall cause such vested shares to be issued out of the above-stated restricted stock account and issued to an unrestricted stock account maintained by the Company’s stock transfer agent for the Employee (with reduction in the number of shares necessary to cover any applicable employment taxes unless the Employee shall elect to pay such amounts in cash pursuant to notices and procedures that the Company has instituted or shall institute) and such vested shares shall no longer be subject to the terms and provisions of this Agreement. The Employee understands and acknowledges that in the event the Employee’s employment with the Company, its Subsidiaries or Affiliates including the CBL Management Company, is terminated at any time during the vesting period, any non-vested shares of Issued Common Stock shall then be cancelled and/or returned to the Company and that the Company shall be entitled to take such action on behalf of the Employee in the form of executing such documents or instruments to authorize the cancellation of such shares and/or return of same to the Company.

9.     No Enlargement of Employee Rights . Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to confer upon the Employee any right to continued employment or to restrict in any way the right of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate including the CBL Management Company to terminate the Employee’s employment at any time.

10.     Income Tax Withholding . The Company, in its sole discretion, shall make such provisions and take such steps as it may deem necessary or appropriate for the withholding of all Federal, state, local and other taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to the shares of Issued Common Stock (as such shares vest or if certain tax elections are made by the Employee, i.e., a Section 83(b) election under applicable provisions of the Code and any dividends paid on any portion of non-vested shares of Issued Common Stock, including, but not limited to, the following: (i) deducting the amount of any such withholding taxes therefrom or from any other amounts then or thereafter payable to the Employee by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates including the CBL Management Company; (ii) requiring the Employee, or the beneficiary or legal representative of the Employee, to pay to the Company the amount required to be withheld or to execute such documents as the Company deems necessary or desirable to enable the Company to satisfy its withholding obligations; and/or (iii) withholding from the shares of Issued Common Stock otherwise payable and/or deliverable one or more of such shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value, determined as of the date the withholding tax obligation arises, less than or equal to the amount of the total withholding tax obligation.

11.     Binding Effect . This Agreement shall be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators and successors of the parties hereto.

12.     Governing Law . This Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without reference to the principles of conflicts of laws thereof.

13.     Headings . Headings are for the convenience of the parties and are not deemed to be part of this Agreement.

14.     Power of Attorney . The Employee, by execution of this Agreement, does hereby appoint the Company as the Employee’s attorney-in-fact for the limited purposes of executing any documents or instruments necessary in conjunction with the shares of Issued Common Stock while such shares are subject to the restrictions provided by this Agreement. The employee understands and acknowledges that the shares of Issued Common Stock may be subject to adjustment or substitution, as determined by the Company or the Company’s Compensation Committee, as to the number, price or kind of a share of stock or other consideration subject to such awards or as otherwise determined by the Company or the Company’s Compensation Committee to be equitable in the event of changes in the outstanding stock or in the capital structure of the Company by reason of stock dividends, stock splits, reverse stock splits, recapitalizations,



reorganizations, mergers, consolidations, combinations, exchanges, or other relevant changes in capitalization occurring after the date of grant of any such award.

15.     Section 83(b) Election . By execution of this Agreement, the Employee is acknowledging that he/she understands that he/she may make a Section 83(b) Election pursuant to applicable provisions of the Code with respect to any non-vested Issued Common Stock but that such election must be made on or before the date that is thirty (30) days from the original issuance of such shares following the Certification Date as set forth above.

16.     Compliance with Section 409A . To the extent applicable and notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, this Agreement shall be interpreted and administered in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and regulations and other guidance issued thereunder. For purposes of determining whether any payment made pursuant to this Agreement under the Stock Incentive Plan results in a "deferral of compensation" within the meaning of Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(b), the Company shall maximize the exemptions described in such section, as applicable. Any reference to a “termination of employment” or similar term or phrase shall be interpreted as a “separation from service” within the meaning of Code Section 409A and the regulations issued thereunder.

17.     Reference to Company .     The grant of Performance Stock Units hereunder is being made to the Employee by virtue of the Employee’s status as an employee of the CBL Management Company. As stated above, the CBL Management Company is an affiliate of the Company. The use of the term “Company” in this Agreement shall, unless the context specifically states otherwise, be deemed to include both CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. and the CBL Management Company.




IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the Award Date first written above.

CBL & ASSOCIATES PROPERTIES, INC.
By:
 
 
Stephen D. Lebovitz,
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
EMPLOYEE:
 
 
 
[Name]
 
 
 
                    



EXHIBIT A
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA FOR PERFORMANCE STOCK UNIT AWARD

The actual number of Performance Stock Units earned by the Employee shall be determined following the end of the Performance Period based upon the level of Total Shareholder Return or “TSR” (stock price appreciation plus aggregate dividends) realized by holders of the Common Stock as compared to the TSR for the Retail Sector Component of the FTSE NAREIT All Equity REIT Index (the “ NAREIT Retail Index ”) over the same time period, using the basis point approach for such comparison, in accordance with the following table:


Performance
Benchmark Achieved at end of 20[__]-[__]
Performance Period
Number of Performance Stock Units Earned by the Employee

Below “Threshold” Level
No Performance Stock Units earned

“Threshold”
No less than 400 basis points
below NAREIT Retail Index TSR

0.5 x Target Award
“Target”
At least 100 basis points above
NAREIT Retail Index TSR


1.0 x Target Award
“High”
At least 600 basis points above
NAREIT Retail Index TSR


1.5 x Target Award
“Maximum”
At least 1,000 basis points above
NAREIT Retail Index TSR

2.0 x Target Award

If the calculated basis point comparison is between Threshold and Maximum for any performance period, then the number of Performance Stock Units earned will be prorated.




EXHIBIT 10.5.9

20[ ] NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER STOCK RESTRICTION AGREEMENT


This 20[ ] Stock Restriction Agreement (the “ Agreement ”) is made as of the ___ day of ________, 20[ ] (the “ Agreement Date ”), by and between CBL & ASSOCIATES PROPERTIES, INC. , a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and [___________________] (the “ Employee ”).

WHEREAS , Employee is employed by CBL & Associates Management, Inc. (the “ CBL Management Company ”, an affiliate of the Company;

WHEREAS , pursuant to the Stock Incentive Plan (as hereinafter defined) and subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company desires to grant to the Employee [____________] shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the “ Common Stock ”), of the Company.

NOW, THEREFORE , in connection with the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

The Employee’s date of receipt of the Stock Award set forth in this Agreement shall be and is _______ __, 20[ ] (the “ Receipt Date ”).

1.     Definitions; Conflicts . Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. 2012 Stock Incentive Plan (the “ Stock Incentive Plan ”) as may be hereafter amended. The terms and provisions of the Stock Incentive Plan are incorporated herein and in the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the terms and provisions of the Stock Incentive Plan and the terms and provisions of this Agreement, the terms and provisions of the Stock Incentive Plan shall govern and control.

2.     Grant of Common Stock . Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company hereby grants to the Employee all right, title and interest in [__________] shares of Common Stock (the “ Stock Award ”).

3.     Vesting . As used in this Agreement, the term “vest” or “vesting” shall mean the immediate, non-forfeitable, fixed right of present or future enjoyment of the Common Stock pursuant to the Stock Award. Twenty percent (20%) of the Stock Award shall be vested immediately on issuance. The balance of the Stock Award, subject to the terms, conditions and limitations contained herein (including but not limited to the provisions of Paragraph 4 below), shall vest in accordance with the following installments: twenty-five percent (25%) of the balance on the first anniversary of the Agreement Date hereof, and an additional twenty-five percent (25%) of the balance on each of the succeeding three (3) anniversaries of the Date hereof (the “ Vesting Period ”); provided that, with respect to each such installment, the Employee has remained in continuous employment with the CBL Management Company from the Agreement Date through the date such installment is designated to vest. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, on a “Change of Control”, the portion of the Stock Award that is non-vested on the date of such event shall immediately, on the date of such event, thereupon vest in the Employee.

4.     Termination of Employment .     (a) General . Except as set forth in Paragraphs 4(b) below, if the Employee’s employment with the CBL Management Company terminates for any reason, any non-vested portion of the Stock Award shall thereupon be forfeited and returned to the Company and the Employee shall have no further right, title and/or interest in the non-vested portion of the shares of Common Stock subject to the Stock Award.




(b)     Death or Disability . If the Employee’s employment with the CBL Management Company terminates for reasons of the Employee’s death or disability (as defined herein), the portion of the Stock Award that is non-vested on the date of such termination shall immediately, on the date of such termination of employment, thereupon vest in the Employee or his/her estate. For purposes hereof, the term “disability” refers to the complete and permanent disability of the Employee as defined by the Company’s health insurance plans or as otherwise defined by the Company from time to time. The Employee acknowledges and agrees that the determination of disability shall be within the sole, absolute and exclusive discretion of the Company.

5.     Rights as a Shareholder . The Employee shall have all of the rights as a shareholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the Stock Award subject only to the transfer restrictions set forth in Paragraph 6 below and forfeiture provisions set forth above. The Employee’s rights as a shareholder shall include the rights to receive all dividends on the Common Stock and to exercise any voting rights attributable to the Common Stock for so long as the Employee shall own the Common Stock but such rights shall cease as to any non-vested portion of the shares of Common Stock subject to the Stock Award that are forfeited pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

6.     Non-Transferability of Stock Award . Except for any transfers that may be required by law, including pursuant to any domestic relations order or otherwise, no non-vested portion of the Common Stock making up the Stock Award may be transferred by the Employee until the termination of the Vesting Period (or immediate vesting pursuant to the provisions of Paragraphs 4(b) above on terminations of employment with the CBL Management Company for death or disability) and any non-permitted attempted transfer by the Employee of any such non-vested portion prior to the termination of the Vesting Period shall be null and void. Any transferee who may receive any of such non-vested portion of the Common Stock making up the Stock Award pursuant to a transfer required by law as set forth above shall be subject to all the terms and provisions of this Agreement and any termination of the employment of the Employee prior to the termination of the Vesting Period (except for terminations of employment pursuant to Paragraphs 4(b) above on death or disability) shall cause the forfeiture of any non-vested shares of the Common Stock making up the Stock Award even if such shares are in the hands of a transferee.

7.     Restricted Stock Account; Uncertificated Shares . The Employee understands and acknowledges that the shares of Common Stock issued to the Employee pursuant to the Stock Award will be held in an uncertificated form in a restricted stock account maintained by the Company’s stock transfer agent for the Employee until such time as such shares of Common Stock are no longer subject to the restrictions set forth in this Agreement. The Employee understands and acknowledges that as the shares of Common Stock issued to the Employee pursuant to the Stock Award shall vest during the Vesting Period and upon such vesting, the Company shall cause such vested shares to be issued out of the above-stated restricted stock account and delivered to an unrestricted stock account maintained by the Company’s stock transfer agent for the Employee (with reduction in the number of shares necessary to cover any applicable employment taxes unless the Employee shall elect to pay such amounts in cash pursuant to notices and procedures that the Company has instituted or shall institute) and such vested shares shall no longer be subject to the terms and provisions of this Agreement. The Employee understands and acknowledges that in the event the Employee’s employment with the Company, its Subsidiaries or Affiliates including the CBL Management Company, is terminated at any time during the Vesting Period, any non-vested shares of Common Stock making up the Stock Award shall then be cancelled and/or returned to the Company and that the Company shall be entitled to take such action on behalf of the Employee in the form of executing such documents or instruments to authorize the cancellation of such shares and/or return of same to the Company

8.     No Enlargement of Employee Rights . Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to confer upon the Employee any right to continued employment or to restrict in any way the right of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate including the CBL Management Company to terminate the Employee’s employment at any time.

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9.     Income Tax Withholding . The Company, in its sole discretion, shall make such provisions and take such steps as it may deem necessary or appropriate for the withholding of all Federal, state, local and other taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to the shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the Stock Award (as such shares vest or if certain tax elections are made by the Employee, i.e., a Section 83(b) election under applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”)) and any dividends paid on any portion of non-vested shares of Common Stock, including, but not limited to, the following: (i) deducting the amount of any such withholding taxes therefrom or from any other amounts then or thereafter payable to the Employee by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates including the CBL Management Company; (ii) requiring the Employee, or the beneficiary or legal representative of the Employee, to pay to the Company the amount required to be withheld or to execute such documents as the Company deems necessary or desirable to enable the Company to satisfy its withholding obligations; and/or (iii) withholding from the shares of Common Stock otherwise payable and/or deliverable one or more of such shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value, determined as of the date the withholding tax obligation arises, less than or equal to the amount of the total withholding tax obligation.

10.     Restricted Stock . The Stock Award granted hereunder is intended to be a grant of restricted property to the Employee that is subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture” as defined in Section 83 of the Code.

11.     Binding Effect . This Agreement shall be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators and successors of the parties hereto.

12.     Governing Law . This Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without reference to the principles of conflicts of laws thereof.

13.     Headings . Headings are for the convenience of the parties and are not deemed to be part of this Agreement.

14.     Power of Attorney . The Employee, by execution of this Agreement, does hereby appoint the Company as the Employee’s attorney-in-fact for the limited purposes of executing any documents or instruments necessary in conjunction with the shares of Common Stock issued to the Employee pursuant to the Stock Award while such shares are subject to the restrictions provided by this Agreement. The employee understands and acknowledges that the shares of Common Stock issued to the Employee pursuant to the Stock Award may be subject to adjustment or substitution, as determined by the Company or the Company’s Compensation Committee, as to the number, price or kind of a share of stock or other consideration subject to such awards or as otherwise determined by the Company or the Company’s Compensation Committee to be equitable in the event of changes in the outstanding stock or in the capital structure of the Company by reason of stock dividends, stock splits, reverse stock splits, recapitalizations, reorganizations, mergers, consolidations, combinations, exchanges, or other relevant changes in capitalization occurring after the date of grant of any such award.

15.     Section 83(b) Election . By execution of this Agreement, the Employee is acknowledging that he/she understands that he/she may make a Section 83(b) Election with respect to the Stock Award pursuant to applicable provisions of the Code but that such election must be made on or before the date that is thirty (30) days from the Receipt Date set forth above.

16.     Reference to Company .     The Stock Award granted hereunder is being made to the Employee by virtue of the Employee’s status as an employee of the CBL Management Company. As stated above, the CBL Management Company is an affiliate of the Company. The use of the term “Company” in this Agreement shall, unless the context specifically states otherwise, be deemed to include both CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. and the CBL Management Company.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the Agreement Date first written above.

CBL & ASSOCIATES PROPERTIES, INC.
By:
 
 
Stephen D. Lebovitz,
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
EMPLOYEE:
 
 
 
[Name]
 
 
 


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EXHIBIT 10.5.10



CBL & ASSOCIATES PROPERTIES, INC.
NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER
ANNUAL INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN (AIP)
(Fiscal Year 2015)

OVERVIEW

This Annual Incentive Compensation Plan (“ AIP ”) is a cash incentive compensation plan adopted and established by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. (the “ Company ”). This plan is designed and authorized for execution on an annual basis. The policies, objectives, purposes and guidelines of this plan are as defined by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, as designated by the Board from time to time (the “ Compensation Committee ”). All awards and bonus payments described herein are entirely variable and at the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee may be evaluated, modified or revoked at any time.

All awards and bonus payments hereunder are not considered standard payment for services and are not guaranteed. All compensation payable under this AIP will be paid to plan participants in their capacity as employees of CBL & Associates Management, Inc. (the “ Management Company ”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.

ADMINISTRATION AND ELIGIBILITY

This AIP shall be effective as of the date of its approval by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “ Effective Date ”). The AIP shall be administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board as such is presently constituted on the Effective Date and as it shall be constituted after the Effective Date throughout the term of this AIP. The Compensation Committee shall have sole authority, subject to the terms hereof, to set the terms pursuant to which any discretionary cash incentive compensation is to be paid to any participant under this AIP and to otherwise supervise the administration of this AIP, to interpret the terms and provisions hereof and to otherwise adopt, alter and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines and practices governing the AIP as the Compensation Committee shall, from time to time, deem advisable.

Participation in this AIP is limited to those individuals who are or have been included in the group of “named executive officers” of the Company for the applicable annual performance period, as determined pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“ SEC ”) pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), or any applicable successor provision. Each such individual is hereinafter sometimes referred to as a “ Participant ” and sometimes as a “ Named Executive Officer ”.



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OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSE

The objective of this AIP is to incentivize the Company’s Named Executive Officers to produce a high level of operational performance that results in the creation of increased value for the Company’s shareholders.

The purposes of this AIP are to reward the Company’s Named Executive Officers:

for achieving and exceeding specified levels of Company performance with respect to quantitative metrics selected by the Compensation Committee that it believes are important drivers in the creation of shareholder value; and

for individual performance in relation to qualitative criteria established by the Compensation Committee for each such Named Executive Officer.

AWARD CRITERIA

Awards under this AIP are dependent upon accomplishment of the Company’s goals and objectives and the individual goals and objectives specified by the Compensation Committee. Payments will be based on performance criteria established for each fiscal year beginning January 1 and ending December 31.

Management may develop recommendations for consideration by the Compensation Committee as to the criteria to be utilized in determining awards to each Participant, but the Compensation Committee shall have the sole and final authority to decide all such matters.

Overall AIP payments (aggregate) made under this plan require approval of the Compensation Committee.

All compensation paid or payable pursuant to awards made under this AIP for any annual performance period shall be subject to the terms of the executive compensation Clawback Policy established by the Company’s Board of Directors by resolution dated March 24, 2015, as such policy may be hereafter modified or amended.

PLAN DESIGN

Specific AIP award criteria will be established each year for each Participant based on goals relating to overall Company performance and individual performance, as follows:

The Compensation Committee will set forth annually a target cash bonus award level (the “ Target Cash Bonus Award ”) for each Participant under the AIP.
 
Target Cash Bonus Awards shall consist of two parts as set forth below: Quantitative Bonus Awards and Qualitative Bonus Awards.


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Quantitative Bonus Awards ” - the Quantitative Bonus Award component of any Target Cash Bonus Award that may be earned by each Participant will be determined based on 60% of the Target Cash Bonus Award for each Participant other than the Chief Executive Officer (“ CEO ”) (70% in the case of the CEO), to be determined by the Company’s performance relative to specified objective criteria established by the Compensation Committee as set forth herein. The actual Quantitative Bonus Award earned by a Participant may range from 0% to 150% of target based on actual performance.

Qualitative Bonus Awards ” - the Qualitative Bonus Award component of any Target Cash Bonus Award to be earned by each Participant will be determined based on 40% of the Target Cash Bonus Award for each Participant other than the CEO (30% in the case of the CEO), to be determined based on the Compensation Committee’s subjective evaluation of such Participant’s performance relative to specified individual criteria established by the Compensation Committee for each such Participant as set forth herein.

2015 Target Cash Bonus Award Levels

The Target Cash Bonus Awards set by the Compensation Committee for each of the Company’s Named Executive Officers based on performance during calendar year 2015 are as follows:



 
Named Executive Officer
Total
2015 Target Cash
Bonus Award

2015 Quantitative Bonus Target

2015 Qualitative Bonus Target
Stephen D. Lebovitz, President and
Chief Executive Officer
$875,000
$612,500
$262,500
Charles B. Lebovitz, Executive
Chairman of the Board
$750,000
$450,000
$300,000
Augustus N. Stephas, Executive Vice President
and Chief Operating Officer
$350,000
$210,000
$140,000
Farzana K. Mitchell – Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
$300,000
$180,000
$120,000
Michael I. Lebovitz, Executive Vice President –
Development and Administration
$300,000
$180,000
$120,000

Determination of 2015 Quantitative Bonus Award Pursuant to Objective Performance Criteria

The following two objective performance metrics will be utilized in determining any payout with respect to the Quantitative Bonus Award portion of the Target Cash Bonus Award for each Participant, weighted equally such that each will determine 50% of the Quantitative Bonus Award portion of the Participant’s Target Cash Bonus Award based on these performance measurements:


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Funds From Operations (“ FFO ”), as adjusted, per diluted share, as reported in the Company’s periodic reports (Forms 10-K and 10-Q) filed with the SEC pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act (the “ Periodic Reports ”); and

Growth in Same-Center Net Operating Income (“ SC NOI Growth ”), as reported in the Company’s Periodic Reports.

The Compensation Committee shall have the option, pursuant to its administrative authority over the AIP as set forth herein, to adjust each metric as appropriate to take into account significant unbudgeted transactions and unforeseen events such as acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, equity or debt issuances and other capital markets activities, for purposes of determining the portion of any Quantitative Bonus Award payment based on these metrics.

In conjunction with the establishment of the Quantitative Bonus Award criteria for 2015 under this AIP, the Compensation Committee will establish, and communicate in writing to each Participant, specific, quantitative targets designated as the “Threshold,” “Target” and “Maximum” levels with respect to each of FFO and SC NOI Growth for purposes of determining the Participants’ Quantitative Bonus Award payments, as described below.

The Quantitative Bonus Award payment to be made to a Participant with respect to each applicable metric will depend on the Company’s achievement of at least the Threshold level of performance established by the Compensation Committee with respect to that metric. There will be no Quantitative Bonus Award payable to such Participant for that metric in the event the Company achieves less than the Threshold level for the applicable annual performance period. The Company’s achievement of the Threshold level for a designated metric will result in a payout of 50% of the proportion of the Quantitative Bonus Award allocated to that metric; the achievement of the Target level for a designated metric will result in a payout of 100% of the proportion of the Quantitative Bonus Award allocated to that metric; and the achievement of the Maximum level for a designated metric will result in a payout of 150% of the proportion of the Quantitative Bonus Award allocated to that metric. If the calculated percentage is between Threshold and Maximum for an annual performance period, then the earned percentage will be prorated. The achievement of these levels and allocated payments are illustrated by the following table:


Quantitative Metric
Weighting
Range
Resulting Cash Payout
FFO per diluted share, as
adjusted
50%
Threshold
50%
Target
100%
Maximum
150%
SC NOI Growth
50%
Threshold
50%
Target
100%
Maximum
150%


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Determination of 2015 Qualitative Bonus Award Pursuant to Subjective Performance Criteria

The Qualitative Bonus Award portion of each Participant’s Target Cash Bonus will be based on the Compensation Committee’s subjective evaluation of the Participant’s performance relative to following individual criteria established for 2015 for each Participant, which the Compensation Committee has determined are also important elements of each Participant’s contribution to the creation of overall shareholder value:

Named
Executive Officer
2015 Individual Performance Objectives
Stephen D. Lebovitz
(1) refining, enhancing and executing the company’s strategic and business plans
(2) effective communications and interactions with the investment community
(3) maintain and enhance key retailer, financial and other relationships
(4) effective corporate and executive team motivation and management
Charles B. Lebovitz
(1) effective board management
(2) maintain and enhance key retailer and other relationships
(3) broad involvement and stewardship of the company’s strategic objectives and business performance
Augustus N. Stephas
(1) improvement in overall portfolio operations
(2) effective management of leasing and management functions
(3) successful preparation of Board materials
(4) oversight of billings, collections, legal and other internal operations
(5) expense containment and oversight of general and administrative costs
Farzana K. Mitchell
(1) successful execution of the company’s balance sheet strategy including maintaining/improving key credit metrics
(2) effective management and oversight of the company’s accounting function
(3) maintain and improve key financial and joint venture partner relationships
(4) improve interactions with the investors/analysts through earnings calls, presentations and investor conferences/meetings
(5) maintain and improve morale of the financial services division and retain/attract new and higher level talent to the team
Michael I. Lebovitz
(1) successful completion of development and redevelopment projects at approved pro forma returns and on schedule
(2) develop a pipeline of new development and redevelopment projects
(3) effective oversight of the implementation of technology initiatives (shared services, information technology strategy, data governance)
(4) manage and enhance joint venture development relationships and pursue additional joint venture relationships to expand our pipeline of new projects
(5) effective management and team building for the Development, Human Resources and Information Technology divisions within the company


AIP BONUS PAYMENTS

The amount of a Participant’s Target Cash Bonus Award (consisting of the Quantitative Bonus Awards portion and Qualitative Bonus Awards portion and after the determination

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of the amount of each such portion) that is to be paid to a Participant hereunder is referred to as the “ AIP Bonus Payment ”.

All AIP Bonus Payments will be made in the year following the completion of the annual performance period to which the AIP Bonus Payment relates. The actual payment to each Participant will be made as soon as practical after final certification of the underlying performance results and approval of such payment by the Compensation Committee; provided, however, that in no event will any such payment be made later than March 15 of such year.

To be eligible to receive an AIP Bonus Payment, a Participant must have been actively employed by the Management Company during the annual performance period with respect to which the payment relates.

Any Participant whose employment is terminated prior to the conclusion of the annual performance period with respect to which an applicable AIP Bonus Payment relates will not receive an AIP Bonus Payment, except as stipulated below:

In the event of such Participant’s death or disability (defined as to the complete and permanent disability of the Participant as defined by the Company’s health insurance plans or as otherwise defined by the Company from time to time) prior to the end of the annual performance period, an otherwise eligible Participant shall receive an AIP Bonus Payment in the amount of such Participant’s full Target Cash Bonus Award, as determined by the Compensation Committee, provided a Target Cash Bonus Award was approved for such Participant for the applicable annual performance period.

In the event of the termination of such Participant’s employment, other than voluntarily or for Cause (as defined in the Company’s 2012 Stock Incentive Plan), following a Change of Control (as defined in the Company’s 2012 Stock Incentive Plan) prior to end of the annual performance period, an otherwise eligible Participant shall receive an AIP Bonus Payment in the amount of such Participant’s full Target Cash Bonus Award, as determined by the Compensation Committee, provided a Target Cash Bonus Award was approved for such Participant for the applicable annual performance period.

A Named Executive Officer, who becomes such pursuant to applicable SEC rules after the beginning of an applicable annual incentive period, may be considered for a pro-rated participation in this plan in the discretion of the Compensation Committee.

AIP Bonus Payments will be paid-out on a one-time basis as a lump-sum, in cash, as such are considered compensation and reportable income for all tax reporting purposes.

AIP Bonus Payments are included in total annual earnings and will be taken into account under the Company’s other benefit programs in accordance with their terms.


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This AIP can be modified or terminated at any time by the Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors; provided, however, that the Compensation Committee may not modify or terminate the AIP or any award under the AIP in such manner so as to impair the rights of any Participant under an award that has been granted without the Participant's consent, except for an amendment made to cause the award to qualify for the exemption provided by Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act. Neither participation in the AIP at any time nor the grant of an award under the AIP at any time shall be deemed to guarantee or infer the right to participate in the AIP (whether at the same level or at any other level) or to receive the grant of an award under the AIP at any future time. Furthermore, neither the AIP nor participation hereunder shall be deemed to establish any contract of employment or to guarantee continued employment with the Company for any amount of time.



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