UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

October 27, 2010

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

 

General Growth Properties, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

1-11656

 

42-1283895

(State or other jurisdiction

 

(Commission

 

(IRS Employer

of incorporation)

 

File Number)

 

Identification No.)

 

110 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois

 

60606

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

(312) 960-5000

 

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

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):

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 



 

ITEM 3.02                           UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.

 

(a) Item 5.02 below is hereby incorporated by reference.

 

The securities issued pursuant to the Option Agreement (as defined below) are exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 because the issuance did not involve any public offering.

 

ITEM 5.02                           DEPARTURE OF DIRECTORS OR CERTAIN OFFICERS; ELECTION OF DIRECTORS; APPOINTMENT OF CERTAIN OFFICERS; COMPENSATORY ARRANGEMENTS OF CERTAIN OFFICERS.

 

(c) Sandeep Mathrani Employment Agreement

 

On October 27, 2010, New GGP, Inc. (“ New GGP ”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Growth Properties, Inc. (the “ Company ”), entered into an Employment Agreement (the “ Employment Agreement ”) with Sandeep Mathrani, pursuant to which Mr. Mathrani has agreed to serve, commencing on January 17, 2011 (the “ Commencement Date ”), as Chief Executive Officer of New GGP (which will become the successor registrant, and indirect parent, of the Company following the Company’s emergence from bankruptcy) and of GGP Limited Partnership (“ GGPLP ”), which will become a party to the Employment Agreement by joinder upon the Company’s emergence from bankruptcy.  New GGP has agreed to nominate Mr. Mathrani to New GGP’s board of directors for so long as Mr. Mathrani serves as Chief Executive Officer of New GGP.  Prior to the Commencement Date, Mr. Mathrani will serve as a consultant to New GGP and GGPLP.

 

The Employment Agreement provides for a five-year initial term commencing on the Commencement Date (the “ Initial Term ”) that automatically renews for one-year terms thereafter.  The Employment Agreement further provides for a $1,000,000 signing bonus, reimbursement of reasonable relocation expenses up to $350,000, an annual base salary of $1,200,000 and a target annual bonus of $1,500,000, including a guaranteed minimum annual bonus of $1,000,000 for the 2011 and 2012 calendar years.

 

In accordance with the terms and conditions of the Employment Agreement, (i) New GGP will grant to Mr. Mathrani, at the Company’s emergence from bankruptcy, 1,500,000 shares of New GGP common stock (the “ Restricted Stock ”), which will vest in three equal installments on each of the first three anniversaries of the grant date and (ii) pursuant to a Nonqualified Stock Option Award Agreement (the “ Option Agreement ”), on October 27, 2010, New GGP granted to Mr. Mathrani options to acquire 2,000,000 shares of New GGP’s common stock (the “ Options ”), which will vest in four equal installments on each of the first four anniversaries of the grant date.  The Options have an exercise price of $10.25 per share. The Restricted Stock and Options were awarded pursuant to, and subject to the terms and conditions of, the Equity Plan (as defined below). Commencing in 2012, Mr. Mathrani will be entitled to receive, on an annual basis, at his election, either options to purchase an additional number of shares of New GGP’s common stock equal to five times his previous year’s annual base salary divided by the then current trading price of New GGP common stock, or shares of restricted stock of equivalent value (based on the Black-Scholes pricing model).

 

If New GGP terminates Mr. Mathrani’s employment without “cause” or does not renew the Employment Agreement following the Initial Term, or if Mr. Mathrani terminates his employment for “good reason,” then Mr. Mathrani is eligible to receive two years of salary continuation, two times his annual bonus for the previous year, pro rata annual bonus for the year of termination (based on his annual bonus for the previous year), full vesting of the Restricted Stock and Options, vesting of the portion of the annual

 

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equity awards that would otherwise vest during the two year period following termination and two years of welfare benefit continuation.

 

If Mr. Mathrani’s employment is terminated due to death or disability, then Mr. Mathrani is eligible to receive pro rata annual bonus for the year of termination (based on his annual bonus for the previous year) and full vesting of the Restricted Stock, the Options and the annual equity awards.

 

The above descriptions of the Employment Agreement and the Option Agreement are qualified in their entirety by references to the Employment Agreement and the Option Agreement, respectively.  The Employment Agreement and the Option Agreement are attached as Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2 hereto, and are hereby incorporated by reference.

 

The Press Release (as defined below) is hereby incorporated by reference.

 

(e) Equity Plan

 

On October 27, 2010, New GGP adopted the General Growth Properties, Inc. 2010 Equity Incentive Plan (the “ Equity Plan ”).

 

Equity Plan

 

The number of shares of New GGP common stock reserved for issuance under the Equity Plan is equal to 4% of New GGP’s outstanding shares on a fully diluted basis as of the Company’s emergence from bankruptcy. The Equity Plan provides for grants of nonqualified stock options, incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, other stock-based awards and performance-based compensation (collectively, “ the Awards ”). Directors, officers and other employees of New GGP and its subsidiaries and affiliates are eligible for Awards. The Equity Plan is not subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

The purpose of the Equity Plan is to provide incentives that will attract, retain and motivate New GGP’s directors, officers and employees by providing them with either a proprietary interest in New GGP’s long-term success or compensation based on their performance. The following is a summary of the material terms of the Equity Plan, but does not include all of the provisions of the Equity Plan.

 

Administration

 

The Equity Plan is administered by the compensation committee of New GGP’s board of directors or any committee designated by New GGP’s board of directors to administer the Equity Plan. The administrator is empowered to determine the form, amount and other terms and conditions of Awards, clarify, construe or resolve any ambiguity in any provision of the Equity Plan or any Award agreement and adopt such rules and guidelines for administering the Equity Plan as it deems necessary or proper. All actions, interpretations and determinations by the administrator are final and binding.

 

Shares Available

 

The Equity Plan reserves for issuance the number of shares of New GGP’s common stock described above, subject to adjustments. In the event that any outstanding Award expires or terminates without the issuance of shares or is otherwise settled for cash, the shares allocable to such Award, to the extent of such expiration, termination or settlement for cash, will again be available for issuance. No participant may be granted more than 4,000,000 shares, or the equivalent dollar value of such shares, in any year.

 

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Eligibility for Participation

 

Members of New GGP’s board of directors, as well as officers and employees (including prospective employees) of New GGP and its subsidiaries and affiliates, are eligible to participate in the Equity Plan. The selection of participants is within the sole discretion of the administrator.

 

Types of Awards

 

The Equity Plan provides for the grant of nonqualified stock options, incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, other stock-based awards and performance-based compensation. The administrator will determine the terms and conditions of each Award, including the number of shares subject to each Award, the vesting terms, and the purchase price. Awards may be made in assumption of or in substitution for outstanding Awards previously granted by New GGP or its affiliates, or a company acquired by New GGP or with which it combines.

 

Award Agreement

 

Awards granted under the Equity Plan will be evidenced by Award agreements that provide additional terms and conditions associated with the Awards, as determined by the administrator in its discretion. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of the Equity Plan and any such Award agreement, the provisions of the Equity Plan will control.

 

Options

 

An option granted under the Equity Plan permits a participant to purchase from New GGP a stated number of shares at an exercise price established by the administrator. Subject to the terms of the Equity Plan, the terms and conditions of any option will be determined by the administrator. Options will be designated as either nonqualified stock options or incentive stock options. An option granted as an incentive stock option will, to the extent it fails to qualify as an incentive stock option, be treated as a nonqualified option. The exercise price of an option may not be less than the fair market value of a share of New GGP’s common stock on the date of grant. The term of each option will be determined prior to the date of grant, but may not exceed ten years.

 

Stock Appreciation Rights

 

A stock appreciation right granted under the Equity Plan entitles the holder to receive, upon its exercise, the excess of the fair market value of a specified number of shares of New GGP’s common stock on the date of exercise over the grant price of the stock appreciation right. Payment may be in the form of cash, shares of New GGP’s common stock, other property or any combination thereof. Subject to the terms of the Equity Plan, the terms and conditions of any stock appreciation right will be determined by the administrator.

 

Restricted Stock

 

An Award of restricted stock granted under the Equity Plan is a grant of a specified number of shares of New GGP’s common stock, which are subject to forfeiture upon the occurrence of specified events. Each Award agreement evidencing a restricted stock grant will specify the period of restriction, the conditions under which the restricted stock may be forfeited to us and such other provisions as the administrator may determine, subject to the terms of the Equity Plan.

 

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Other Stock-Based Awards

 

The administrator may grant Awards of shares of New GGP’s common stock and Awards that are valued, in whole or in part, by reference to New GGP’s common stock. Such Awards will be in such form and subject to such terms and conditions as the administrator may determine, including, the right to receive one or more shares of New GGP’s common stock (or the equivalent cash value of such stock) upon the completion of a specified period of service, the occurrence of an event and/or the attainment of performance objectives. Subject to the provisions of the Equity Plan, the administrator will determine whether such other stock-based awards will be settled in cash, shares of New GGP’s common stock or a combination of cash and such shares, and all other terms and conditions of such Awards.

 

Performance-Based Compensation

 

To the extent permitted by Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, the administrator may design any Award so that the amounts or shares payable thereunder are treated as ‘‘qualified performance-based compensation’’ within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. The grant, vesting, crediting and/or payment of performance-based compensation will be based or conditioned on the achievement of objective performance goals established in writing by the compensation committee of New GGP’s Board of Directors. Performance goals may be based on one or more of the following measures:

 

· consolidated earnings before or after taxes (including earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization);

· net income;

· operating income;

· earnings per share;

· book value per share;

· return on shareholders’ equity;

· expense management;

· return on investment;

· improvements in capital structure;

· profitability of an identifiable business unit or product;

· maintenance or improvement of profit margins;

· stock price;

· market share;

· revenues or sales;

· costs;

· cash flow;

· working capital;

· return on assets;

· store openings or refurbishment plans;

· staff training; and

· corporate social responsibility policy implementation.

 

Transferability

 

Unless otherwise determined by the administrator, Awards may not be transferred by a participant except in the event of death. Any permitted transfer of the Awards to heirs or legatees of a participant will not be effective unless the administrator has been furnished with written notice thereof and a copy of such evidence as the administrator may deem necessary to establish the validity of the transfer.

 

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The administrator may impose such transfer restrictions on any shares received in connection with an Award as it may deem advisable or desirable. These restrictions may include a requirement that the participant hold the shares received for a specified period of time or a requirement that a participant represent and warrant in writing that the participant is acquiring the shares for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such shares.

 

Stockholder Rights

 

Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award agreement or with respect to Awards of restricted stock, a participant will have no rights as a stockholder with respect to shares of New GGP’s common stock covered by any Award until the participant becomes the record holder of such shares. Participants holding Awards or restricted stock will have the right to vote and receive dividends with respect to the restricted stock, unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

Adjustment of Awards

 

In the event of a corporate event or transaction such as a recapitalization, in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of participants’ rights under the Equity Plan, the administrator will make certain adjustments to Awards, including, in its sole discretion, substitution or adjustment of the number and kind of shares that may be issued under the Equity Plan or under particular Awards, the exercise price or purchase price applicable to outstanding Awards, and other value determinations applicable to the Equity Plan or outstanding Awards.

 

In the event New GGP experiences a change in control, the administrator may make adjustments to the terms and conditions of outstanding Awards, including, acceleration of vesting and exercisability of Awards, substitution of Awards with substantially similar Awards and cancellation of Awards for fair value.

 

Amendment and Termination

 

The administrator may amend or terminate the Equity Plan or any Award agreement at any time. However, no amendment or termination is permitted without shareholder approval if such approval is necessary to comply with any tax or regulatory requirement and no amendment or termination is permitted without the consent of the participants if such amendment or termination would materially diminish the participants’ rights under the Equity Plan or any Award.

 

No Awards will be granted after October 27, 2020.

 

The above description of the Equity Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Equity Plan, which is attached as Exhibit 4.1 hereto, and is hereby incorporated by reference.

 

ITEM 8.01                           OTHER EVENTS.

 

On October 28, 2010, the Company issued a press release (the “ Press Release ”) announcing the Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 99.1 of this report.

 

ITEM 9.01                           FINANCIAL STATEMENT AND EXHIBITS.

 

(d) Exhibits

 

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Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

 

4.1

 

General Growth Properties, Inc. 2010 Equity Incentive Plan

 

 

 

10.1

 

Employment Agreement, dated October 27, 2010, by and between New GGP, Inc. and Sandeep Mathrani

 

 

 

10.2

 

Nonqualified Stock Option Award Agreement, dated October 27, 2010, by and between New GGP, Inc. and Sandeep Mathrani

 

 

 

99.1

 

Press release, dated October 28, 2010, titled “General Growth Properties Names Sandeep Mathrani as Chief Executive Officer”

 

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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.

 

 

 

GENERAL GROWTH PROPERTIES, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Edmund Hoyt

 

 

Name:

Edmund Hoyt

 

 

Title:

Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer

 

Date: October 29, 2010

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

 

4.1

 

General Growth Properties, Inc. 2010 Equity Incentive Plan

 

 

 

10.1

 

Employment Agreement, dated October 27, 2010, by and between New GGP, Inc. and Sandeep Mathrani

 

 

 

10.2

 

Nonqualified Stock Option Award Agreement, dated October 27, 2010, by and between New GGP, Inc. and Sandeep Mathrani

 

 

 

99.1

 

Press release, dated October 28, 2010, titled “General Growth Properties Names Sandeep Mathrani as Chief Executive Officer”

 

9


Exhibit 4.1

 

General Growth Properties, Inc.

2010 Equity Incentive Plan

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

ARTICLE 1.

ESTABLISHMENT & PURPOSE

1

1.1

Establishment

1

1.2

Purpose of the Plan

1

ARTICLE 2.

DEFINITIONS

1

ARTICLE 3.

ADMINISTRATION

4

3.1

Authority of the Committee

4

3.2

Delegation

4

ARTICLE 4.

ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

4

4.1

Eligibility

4

4.2

Type of Awards

5

ARTICLE 5.

SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN AND MAXIMUM AWARDS

5

5.1

General

5

5.2

Annual Award Limits

5

5.3

Additional Shares

5

ARTICLE 6.

STOCK OPTIONS

5

6.1

Grant of Options

5

6.2

Terms of Option Grant

6

6.3

Option Term

6

6.4

Method of Exercise

6

6.5

Limitations on Incentive Stock Options

6

6.6

Performance Goals

6

ARTICLE 7.

STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

7

7.1

Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights

7

7.2

Terms of Stock Appreciation Right

7

7.3

Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights and Options

7

ARTICLE 8.

RESTRICTED STOCK

7

8.1

Grant of Restricted Stock

7

8.2

Terms of Restricted Stock Awards

7

8.3

Voting and Dividend Rights

7

8.4

Performance Goals

8

8.5

Section 83(b) Election

8

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

ARTICLE 9.

OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS

8

ARTICLE 10.

PERFORMANCE-BASED COMPENSATION

8

10.1

Grant of Performance-Based Compensation

8

10.2

Performance Measures

8

10.3

Establishment of Performance Goals for Covered Employees

9

10.4

Adjustment of Performance-Based Compensation

9

10.5

Certification of Performance

9

10.6

Interpretation

9

ARTICLE 11.

COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 409A OF THE CODE AND SECTION 457A OF THE CODE

9

11.1

General

9

11.2

Payments to Specified Employees

9

11.3

Separation from Service

10

11.4

Section 457A

10

ARTICLE 12.

ADJUSTMENTS

10

12.1

Adjustments in Authorized Shares

10

12.2

Change of Control

10

ARTICLE 13.

DURATION, AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, SUSPENSION AND TERMINATION

11

13.1

Duration of the Plan

11

13.2

Amendment, Modification, Suspension and Termination of Plan

11

ARTICLE 14.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

11

14.1

No Right to Service

11

14.2

Settlement of Awards; Fractional Shares

11

14.3

Tax Withholding

12

14.4

No Guarantees Regarding Tax Treatment

12

14.5

Non-Transferability of Awards

12

14.6

Conditions and Restrictions on Shares

12

14.7

Compliance with Law

12

14.8

Rights as a Shareholder

13

14.9

Severability

13

14.10

Unfunded Plan

13

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

14.11

No Constraint on Corporate Action

13

14.12

Successors

13

14.13

Governing Law

13

14.14

Data Protection

13

14.15

Effective Date

14

 

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General Growth Properties, Inc.

 

2010 Equity Incentive Plan

 

Article 1.                Establishment & Purpose

 

1.1           Establishment .  New GGP, Inc., a Delaware corporation hereby establishes the General Growth Properties, Inc. 2010 Equity Incentive Plan (hereinafter referred to as the “ Plan ”) as set forth in this document.

 

1.2           Purpose of the Plan .  The purpose of this Plan is to attract, retain and motivate officers, employees, and non-employee directors providing services to the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or Affiliates and to promote the success of the Company’s business by providing the participants of the Plan with appropriate incentives.

 

Article 2.                Definitions

 

Whenever capitalized in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below.

 

2.1           Affiliate means any entity that the Company, either directly or indirectly, is in common control with, is controlled by or controls, or any entity in which the Company has a substantial equity interest, direct or indirect; provided, however, to the extent that Awards must cover “service recipient stock” in order to comply with Section 409A of the Code, “Affiliate” shall be limited to those entities which could qualify as an “eligible issuer” under Section 409A of the Code.

 

2.2           Annual Award Limit shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.2.

 

2.3           Award means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Other Stock-Based Award, or Performance-Based Compensation Award that is granted under the Plan.

 

2.4           Award Agreement means a written agreement entered into by the Company and a Participant setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to an Award granted under this Plan.

 

2.5           Beneficial Owner or Beneficial Ownership shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.

 

2.6           Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

2.7           Change of Control unless otherwise specified in the Award Agreement, means the occurrence of any of the following events:

 

(a)            any consolidation, amalgamation, or merger of the Company with or into any other Person, or any other corporate reorganization, business combination, transaction or transfer of securities of the Company by its stockholders, or a series of transactions (including the acquisition of capital stock of the Company), whether or not the Company is a party thereto, in which the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such consolidation, merger, reorganization, business combination or transaction, collectively have Beneficial Ownership, directly or indirectly, of capital stock representing directly, or indirectly through one or more entities, less than fifty percent (50%) of the equity (measured by economic value or voting power (by contract, share ownership or otherwise) of

 

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the Company or other surviving entity immediately after such consolidation, merger, reorganization, business combination or transaction;

 

(b)            the sale or disposition, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to any Person;

 

(c)            during any period of twelve consecutive months commencing on or after the Effective Date (as defined in the Joint Plan of Reorganization), individuals who as of the beginning of such period constituted the entire Board (together with any new directors whose election by such Board or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors of the Company, then still in office, who were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved) cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof; or

 

(d)            approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

2.8           Code means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

2.9           Committee means the Compensation Committee of the Board or any other committee designated by the Board to administer this Plan.  To the extent applicable, the Committee shall have at least two members, each of whom shall be (i) a Non-Employee Director, (ii) an Outside Director, and (iii) an “independent director” within the meaning of the listing requirements of any exchange on which the Company is listed.

 

2.10         Company means New GGP, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor thereto.

 

2.11         Covered Employee means for any Plan Year, a Participant designated by the Company as a potential “covered employee” as such term is defined in Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

2.12         Director means a member of the Board who is not an Employee.

 

2.13         Effective Date means the date set forth in Section 14.15.

 

2.14         Employee means an officer or other employee of the Company, a Subsidiary or Affiliate, including (i) a member of the Board who is an employee of the Company, a Subsidiary or Affiliate and (ii) individuals who have entered into employment agreements or have accepted a written offer of employment with the Company, a Subsidiary or Affiliate.

 

2.15         Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

2.16         Fair Market Value means, as of any date, the per Share value determined as follows, in accordance with applicable provisions of Section 409A of the Code:

 

(a)            The closing price of a Share on a recognized national exchange or any established over-the-counter trading system on which dealings take place, or if no trades were made on any such day, the immediately preceding day on which trades were made; or

 

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(b)            In the absence of an established market for the Shares of the type described in (a) above, the per Share Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined by the Committee in good faith and in accordance with applicable provisions of Section 409A of the Code.

 

2.17         Incentive Stock Option means an Option intended to meet the requirements of an incentive stock option as defined in Section 422 of the Code and designated as an Incentive Stock Option.

 

2.18         Joint Plan of Reorganization means the Third Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization of General Growth Properties, Inc. and other debtors under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, as Modified [Docket No. 6232], and as may be further modified.

 

2.19         Non-Employee Director means a person defined in Rule 16b-3(b)(3) promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act, or any successor definition adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

2.20         Nonqualified Stock Option means an Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

 

2.21         Other Stock-Based Award means any right granted under Article 9 of the Plan.

 

2.22         Option means any stock option granted under Article 6 of the Plan.

 

2.23         Option Price means the purchase price per Share subject to an Option, as determined pursuant to Section 6.2 of the Plan.

 

2.24         Outside Director means a member of the Board who is an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

2.25         Participant means any eligible person as set forth in Section 4.1 to whom an Award is granted.

 

2.26         Performance-Based Compensation means compensation under an Award that is intended to constitute “qualified performance-based compensation” within the meaning of the regulations promulgated under Section 162(m) of Code or any successor provision.

 

2.27         Performance Measures means measures as described in Section 10.2 on which the performance goals are based in order to qualify Awards as Performance-Based Compensation.

 

2.28         Performance Period means the period of time during which the performance goals must be met in order to determine the degree of payout and/or vesting with respect to an Award.

 

2.29         Person shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, including a “ group ” as defined in Section 13(d) thereof.

 

2.30         Plan means the General Growth Properties, Inc. 2010 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

2.31         Plan Year means the applicable fiscal year of the Company.

 

2.32         Restricted Stock ” means any Award granted under Article 8 of the Plan.

 

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2.33         Restriction Period means the period during which Restricted Stock awarded under Article 8 of the Plan is subject to forfeiture.

 

2.34         Service means service as an Employee or Director.

 

2.35         Share means a share of common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share, or such other class or kind of shares or other securities resulting from the application of Article 12 hereof.

 

2.36         Stock Appreciation Right means any right granted under Article 7 of the Plan.

 

2.37         Subsidiary means any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other legal entity of which the Company, directly or indirectly, owns stock or other equity interests possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock or other equity interests (as determined in a manner consistent with Section 409A of the Code).

 

2.38         Ten Percent Shareholder means a person who on any given date owns, either directly or indirectly (taking into account the attribution rules contained in Section 424(d) of the Code), stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate.

 

Article 3.                Administration

 

3.1           Authority of the Committee.   The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, which shall have full power to interpret and administer the Plan and Award Agreements and full authority to select the Employees and Directors to whom Awards will be granted, and to determine the type and amount of Awards to be granted to each such Employee or Director, and the terms and conditions of Awards and Award Agreements.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee may, in its sole discretion but subject to the limitations in Article 13, clarify, construe or resolve any ambiguity in any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement, extend the term or period of exercisability of any Awards, or waive any terms or conditions applicable to any Award.  Awards may, in the discretion of the Committee, be made under the Plan in assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or a company acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines.  The Committee shall have full and exclusive discretionary power to adopt rules, forms, instruments, and guidelines for administering the Plan as the Committee deems necessary or proper.  All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Committee or by the Board (or any other committee or sub-committee thereof), as applicable, shall be final and binding upon the Participants, the Company, and all other interested individuals.

 

3.2           Delegation.   The Committee may delegate to one or more of its members or one or more executive officers of the Company such administrative duties or powers as it may deem advisable; provided that no delegation shall be permitted under the Plan that is prohibited by applicable law.

 

Article 4.                Eligibility and Participation

 

4.1           Eligibility.   Participants will consist of such Employees and Directors as the Committee in its sole discretion determines and whom the Committee may designate from time to time to receive Awards.  Designation of a Participant in any year shall not require the Committee to designate such person to receive an Award in any other year or, once designated, to receive the same type or amount of Award as granted to the Participant in any other year.

 

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4.2           Type of Awards.   Awards under the Plan may be granted in any one or a combination of:  (a) Options, (b) Stock Appreciation Rights, (c) Restricted Stock, (d) Other Stock-Based Awards, and (e) Performance-Based Compensation Awards.  The Plan sets forth the types of performance goals and sets forth procedural requirements to permit the Company to design Awards that qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, as described in Article 10 hereof.  Awards granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by Award Agreements (which need not be identical) that provide additional terms and conditions associated with such Awards, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion; provided , however , that in the event of any conflict between the provisions of the Plan and any such Award Agreement, the provisions of the Plan shall prevail.

 

Article 5.                Shares Subject to the Plan and Maximum Awards

 

5.1           General.   Subject to adjustment as provided in Article 12 hereof, the maximum number of Shares available for issuance to Participants pursuant to Awards under the Plan shall be equal to four percent (4%) of the outstanding fully diluted Shares of the Company as of the effective date (as defined in the Joint Plan of Reorganization) (including shares issuable under the Joint Plan of Reorganization).   The number of Shares available for granting Incentive Stock Options under the Plan shall not exceed four percent (4%) of the outstanding fully diluted Shares of the Company as of the effective date (as defined in the Joint Plan of Reorganization) (including shares issuable under the Joint Plan of Reorganization), subject to Article 12 hereof and the provisions of Sections 422 or 424 of the Code and any successor provisions.  The Shares available for issuance under the Plan may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Shares or treasury Shares.

 

5.2           Annual Award Limits.   The maximum number of Shares with respect to Awards denominated in Shares that may be granted to any Participant in any Plan Year shall be 4,000,000 Shares (or the equivalent dollar value), subject to adjustments made in accordance with Article 12 hereof (the “ Annual Award Limit ”).

 

5.3           Additional Shares.   In the event that any outstanding Award expires, is forfeited, cancelled or otherwise terminated without the issuance of Shares or is otherwise settled for cash, the Shares subject to such Award, to the extent of any such forfeiture, cancellation, expiration, termination or settlement for cash, shall again be available for Awards.  If the Committee authorizes the assumption under this Plan, in connection with any merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, or reorganization, of awards granted under another plan, such assumption shall not (i) reduce the maximum number of Shares available for issuance under this Plan or (ii) be subject to or counted against a Participant’s Annual Award Limit.

 

Article 6.                Stock Options

 

6.1           Grant of Options.   The Committee is hereby authorized to grant Options to Participants.  Each Option shall permit a Participant to purchase from the Company a stated number of Shares at an Option Price established by the Committee, subject to the terms and conditions described in this Article 6 and to such additional terms and conditions, as established by the Committee, in its sole discretion, that are consistent with the provisions of the Plan.  Options shall be designated as either Incentive Stock Options or Nonqualified Stock Options, provided that Options granted to Directors shall be Nonqualified Stock Options.  An Option granted as an Incentive Stock Option shall, to the extent it fails to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option.  Neither the Committee, the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, nor any of their employees and representatives shall be liable to any Participant or to any other Person if it is determined that an Option intended to be an Incentive Stock Option does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.  Each option shall be evidenced by Award Agreements which shall state the number of Shares covered by such Option.  Such agreements

 

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shall conform to the requirements of the Plan, and may contain such other provisions, as the Committee shall deem advisable.

 

6.2           Terms of Option Grant.   The Option Price shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant, but shall not be less than one-hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant.  In the case of any Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Shareholder, the Option Price shall not be less than one-hundred-ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant.

 

6.3           Option Term.   The term of each Option shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant and shall be stated in the Award Agreement, but in no event shall such term be greater than ten (10) years (or, in the case on an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Shareholder, five (5) years).

 

6.4           Method of Exercise.   Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or in an Award Agreement, an Option may be exercised for all, or from time to time any part, of the Shares for which it is then exercisable.  For purposes of this Article 6, the exercise date of an Option shall be the later of the date a notice of exercise is received by the Company and, if applicable, the date payment is received by the Company pursuant to clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) of the following sentence (including the applicable tax withholding pursuant to Section 14.3 of the Plan).  The aggregate Option Price for the Shares as to which an Option is exercised shall be paid to the Company in full at the time of exercise at the election of the Participant (i) in cash or its equivalent (e.g., by cashier’s check), (ii) to the extent permitted by the Committee, in Shares previously owned by the Participant having a Fair Market Value equal to the aggregate Option Price for the Shares being purchased and satisfying such other requirements as may be imposed by the Committee, (iii) partly in cash and, to the extent permitted by the Committee, partly in such Shares (as described in (ii) above) or (iv) if there is a public market for the Shares at such time, subject to such requirements as may be imposed by the Committee, through the delivery of irrevocable instructions to a broker to sell Shares obtained upon the exercise of the Option and to deliver promptly to the Company an amount out of the proceeds of such sale equal to the aggregate Option Price for the Shares being purchased.  The Committee may prescribe any other method of payment that it determines to be consistent with applicable law and the purpose of the Plan.

 

6.5           Limitations on Incentive Stock Options.   Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to employees of the Company or of a “parent corporation” or “subsidiary corporation” (as such terms are defined in Section 424 of the Code) at the date of grant.  The aggregate Fair Market Value (generally determined as of the time the Option is granted) of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year under all plans of the Company and of any “parent corporation” or “subsidiary corporation” shall not exceed one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), or the Option shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option.  For purposes of the preceding sentence, Incentive Stock Options will be taken into account generally in the order in which they are granted.  Each provision of the Plan and each Award Agreement relating to an Incentive Stock Option shall be construed so that each Incentive Stock Option shall be an incentive stock option as defined in Section 422 of the Code, and any provisions of the Award Agreement thereof that cannot be so construed shall be disregarded.

 

6.6           Performance Goals.   The Committee may condition the grant of Options or the vesting of Options upon the Participant’s achievement of one or more performance goal(s) (including the Participant’s provision of Services for a designated time period), as specified in the Award Agreement.  If the Participant fails to achieve the specified performance goal(s), the Committee shall not grant the Option to such Participant or the Option shall not vest, as applicable.

 

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Article 7.                Stock Appreciation Rights

 

7.1           Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights.   The Committee is hereby authorized to grant Stock Appreciation Rights to Participants, including a grant of Stock Appreciation Rights in tandem with any Option at the same time such Option is granted (a “ Tandem SAR ”).  Stock Appreciation Rights shall be evidenced by Award Agreements that shall conform to the requirements of the Plan and may contain such other provisions, as the Committee shall deem advisable.  Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, a Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan shall confer on the holder thereof a right to receive, upon exercise thereof, the excess of (a) the Fair Market Value of a specified number of Shares on the date of exercise over (b) the grant price of the right as specified by the Committee on the date of the grant.  Such payment may be in the form of cash, Shares, other property or any combination thereof, as the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion.

 

7.2           Terms of Stock Appreciation Right.   Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, the grant price (which shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant), term, methods of exercise, methods of settlement, and any other terms and conditions of any Stock Appreciation Right shall be as determined by the Committee.  The Committee may impose such other conditions or restrictions on the exercise of any Stock Appreciation Right as it may deem appropriate.  No Stock Appreciation Right shall have a term of more than ten (10) years from the date of grant.

 

7.3           Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights and Options.   A Tandem SAR shall be exercisable only to the extent that the related Option is exercisable and shall expire no later than the expiration of the related Option.  Upon the exercise of all or a portion of a Tandem SAR, a Participant shall be required to forfeit the right to purchase an equivalent portion of the related Option (and, when a Share is purchased under the related Option, the Participant shall be required to forfeit an equivalent portion of the Stock Appreciation Right).

 

Article 8.                Restricted Stock

 

8.1           Grant of Restricted Stock.   An Award of Restricted Stock is a grant by the Committee of a specified number of Shares to the Participant, which Shares are subject to forfeiture upon the occurrence of specified events.  Restricted Stock shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement, which shall conform to the requirements of the Plan and may contain such other provisions, as the Committee shall deem advisable.

 

8.2           Terms of Restricted Stock Awards.   Each Award Agreement evidencing a Restricted Stock grant shall specify the period(s) of restriction, the number of Shares of Restricted Stock subject to the Award, the performance, employment or other conditions (including the termination of a Participant’s Service whether due to death, disability or other reason) under which the Restricted Stock may be forfeited to the Company and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine.  At the end of the Restriction Period, the restrictions imposed hereunder and under the Award Agreement shall lapse with respect to the number of Shares of Restricted Stock as determined by the Committee, and the legend shall be removed and such number of Shares delivered to the Participant (or, where appropriate, the Participant’s legal representative).

 

8.3           Voting and Dividend Rights.   Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, Participants shall have none of the rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to Restricted Stock until the end of the Restricted Period; provided, that, Participants shall have the right to vote and receive dividends on Restricted Stock during the Restriction Period.  Dividends shall be paid to Participants at the same time that other shareholders of common stock of the Company receive such dividends.

 

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8.4           Performance Goals.   The Committee may condition the grant of Restricted Stock or the expiration of the Restriction Period upon the Participant’s achievement of one or more performance goal(s) (including the Participant’s provision of Services for a designated time period), as specified in the Award Agreement.  If the Participant fails to achieve the specified performance goal(s), the Committee shall not grant the Restricted Stock to such Participant or the Participant shall forfeit the Award of Restricted Stock to the Company, as applicable.

 

8.5           Section 83(b) Election.   If a Participant makes an election pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code concerning Restricted Stock, the Participant shall be required to file promptly a copy of such election with the Company.

 

Article 9.                Other Stock-Based Awards

 

The Committee, in its sole discretion, may grant Awards of Shares and Awards that are valued, in whole or in part, by reference to, or are otherwise based on the Fair Market Value of, Shares (the “ Other Stock-Based Awards ”), including without limitation, restricted stock units and other phantom awards.  Such Other Stock-Based Awards shall be in such form, and dependent on such conditions, as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, the right to receive one or more Shares (or the equivalent cash value of such Shares) upon the completion of a specified period of Service, the occurrence of an event and/or the attainment of performance objectives.  Other Stock-Based Awards may be granted alone or in addition to any other Awards granted under the Plan.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall determine to whom and when Other Stock-Based Awards will be made, the number of Shares to be awarded under (or otherwise related to) such Other Stock-Based Awards, whether such Other Stock-Based Awards shall be settled in cash, Shares or a combination of cash and Shares, and all other terms and conditions of such Awards (including, without limitation, the vesting provisions thereof and provisions ensuring that all Shares so awarded and issued shall be fully paid and non-assessable).

 

Article 10.             Performance-Based Compensation

 

10.1         Grant of Performance-Based Compensation.   To the extent permitted by Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee is authorized to design any Award so that the amounts or Shares payable or distributed pursuant to such Award are treated as “qualified performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and related regulations.

 

10.2         Performance Measures.   The vesting, crediting and/or payment of Performance-Based Compensation shall be based on the achievement of objective performance goals based on one or more of the following Performance Measures:  (i) consolidated earnings before or after taxes (including earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization); (ii) net income; (iii) operating income; (iv) earnings per Share; (v) book value per Share; (vi) return on shareholders’ equity; (vii) expense management; (viii) return on investment; (ix) improvements in capital structure; (x) profitability of an identifiable business unit or product; (xi) maintenance or improvement of profit margins; (xii) stock price; (xiii) market share; (xiv) revenues or sales; (xv) costs; (xvi) cash flow; (xvii) working capital; (xviii) return on assets; (xix) store openings or refurbishment plans; (xx) staff training; and (xxi) corporate social responsibility policy implementation.

 

Any Performance Measure may be (i) used to measure the performance of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates as a whole, any business unit thereof or any combination thereof against any goal including past performance or (ii) compared to the performance of a group of comparable companies, or a published or special index, in each case that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.  Subject to Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee may adjust the

 

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performance goals (including to prorate goals and payments for a partial Plan Year) in the event of the following occurrences:  (a) non-recurring events, including divestitures, spin-offs, or changes in accounting standards or policies; (b) mergers and acquisitions; and (c) financing transactions, including selling accounts receivable.

 

10.3         Establishment of Performance Goals for Covered Employees.   No later than ninety (90) days after the commencement of a Performance Period (but in no event after twenty-five percent (25%) of such Performance Period has elapsed), the Committee shall establish in writing:  (i) the performance goals applicable to the Performance Period; (ii) the Performance Measures to be used to measure the performance goals in terms of an objective formula or standard; (iii) the formula for computing the amount of compensation payable to the Participant if such performance goals are obtained; and (iv) the Participants or class of Participants to which such performance goals apply.  The outcome of such performance goals must be substantially uncertain when the Committee establishes the goals.

 

10.4         Adjustment of Performance-Based Compensation.   Awards that are designed to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation may not be adjusted upward.  The Committee shall retain the discretion to adjust such Awards downward, either on a formula or discretionary basis or any combination, as the Committee determines.

 

10.5         Certification of Performance.   Except for Awards that pay compensation attributable solely to an increase in the value of Shares, no Award designed to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation shall be vested, credited or paid, as applicable, with respect to any Participant until the Committee certifies in writing that the performance goals and any other material terms applicable to such Performance Period have been satisfied.

 

10.6         Interpretation .  Each provision of the Plan and each Award Agreement relating to Performance-Based Compensation shall be construed so that each such Award  shall be “qualified performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and related regulations, and any provisions of the Award Agreement thereof that cannot be so construed shall be disregarded.

 

Article 11.             Compliance with Section 409A of the Code and Section 457A of the Code

 

11.1         General.   The Company intends that any Awards be structured in compliance with, or to satisfy an exemption from, Section 409A of the Code and all regulations, guidance, compliance programs and other interpretative authority thereunder (“ Section 409A ”), such that there are no adverse tax consequences, interest, or penalties as a result of the Awards.  Notwithstanding the Company’s intention, in the event any Award is subject to Section 409A, the Committee may, in its sole discretion and without a Participant’s prior consent, amend the Plan and/or Awards, adopt policies and procedures, or take any other actions (including amendments, policies, procedures and actions with retroactive effect) as are necessary or appropriate to (i) exempt the Plan and/or any Award from the application of Section 409A, (ii) preserve the intended tax treatment of any such Award, or (iii) comply with the requirements of Section 409A, including without limitation any such regulations guidance, compliance programs and other interpretative authority that may be issued after the date of grant of an Award.

 

11.2         Payments to Specified Employees.   Notwithstanding any contrary provision in the Plan or Award Agreement, any payment(s) of nonqualified deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A) that are otherwise required to be made under the Plan to a “specified employee” (as defined under Section 409A) as a result of his or her separation from service (other than a payment that is not subject to Section 409A) shall be delayed for the first six (6) months following such separation from service (or, if earlier, the date of death of the specified employee) and shall instead be paid (in a manner

 

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set forth in the Award Agreement) on the payment date that immediately follows the end of such six-month period or as soon as administratively practicable within 90 days thereafter, but in no event later than the end of the applicable taxable year.

 

11.3         Separation from Service.   A termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement providing for the payment of any amounts or benefits that are considered nonqualified deferred compensation under Section 409A upon or following a termination of employment, unless such termination is also a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A and the payment thereof prior to a “separation from service” would violate Section 409A.  For purposes of any such provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement relating to any such payments or benefits, references to a “termination,” “termination of employment” or like terms shall mean “separation from service.”

 

11.4         Section 457A.   In the event any Award is subject to Section 457A of the Code (“ Section 457A ”), the Committee may, in its sole discretion and without a Participant’s prior consent, amend the Plan and/or Awards, adopt policies and procedures, or take any other actions (including amendments, policies, procedures and actions with retroactive effect) as are necessary or appropriate to (i) exempt the Plan and/or any Award from the application of Section 457A, (ii) preserve the intended tax treatment of any such Award, or (iii) comply with the requirements of Section 457A, including without limitation any such regulations, guidance, compliance programs and other interpretative authority that may be issued after the date of the grant.

 

Article 12.             Adjustments

 

12.1         Adjustments in Authorized Shares .  In the event of any corporate event or transaction involving the Company, a Subsidiary and/or an Affiliate (including, but not limited to, a change in the Shares of the Company or the capitalization of the Company) such as a merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, separation, extraordinary stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, split up, spin-off, combination of Shares, exchange of Shares, dividend in kind, amalgamation, or other like change in capital structure (other than regular cash or stock dividends to shareholders of the Company), or any similar corporate event or transaction, the Committee, to prevent dilution or enlargement of Participants’ rights under the Plan, shall substitute or adjust, in its sole discretion, the number and kind of Shares or other property that may be issued under the Plan or under particular forms of Awards, the number and kind of Shares or other property subject to outstanding Awards, the Option Price, grant price or purchase price applicable to outstanding Awards, the Annual Award Limits, and/or other value determinations applicable to the Plan or outstanding Awards.

 

12.2         Change of Control.   Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control after the Effective Date (as defined in the Joint Plan of Reorganization), unless otherwise specifically prohibited under applicable laws or by the rules and regulations of any governing governmental agencies or national securities exchanges, or unless the Committee shall determine otherwise in the Award Agreement, the Committee shall make one or more of the following adjustments to the terms and conditions of outstanding Awards:  (i) continuation or assumption of such outstanding Awards under the Plan by the Company (if it is the surviving company or corporation) or by the surviving company or corporation or its parent; (ii) substitution by the surviving company or corporation or its parent of awards with substantially the same terms for such outstanding Awards; (iii) accelerated exercisability, vesting and/or lapse of restrictions under outstanding Awards immediately prior to the occurrence of such event; (iv) upon written notice, provide that any outstanding Awards must be exercised, to the extent then exercisable, during a reasonable period of time immediately prior to the scheduled consummation of the event, or such other period as determined by the Committee (contingent upon the consummation of the event), and at the end of such period, such Awards shall terminate to the extent not so exercised within the relevant period;

 

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and (v) cancellation of all or any portion of outstanding Awards for fair value (as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee and which may be zero) which, in the case of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights or similar Awards, if the Committee so determines, may equal the excess, if any, of the value of the consideration to be paid in the Change of Control transaction to holders of the same number of Shares subject to such Awards (or, if no such consideration is paid, Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to such outstanding Awards or portion thereof being canceled) over the aggregate Option Price or grant price, as applicable, with respect to such Awards or portion thereof being canceled (which may be zero).

 

Article 13.             Duration, Amendment, Modification, Suspension and Termination

 

13.1         Duration of the Plan.   Unless sooner terminated as provided in Section 13.2, the Plan shall terminate on the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Effective Date.

 

13.2         Amendment, Modification, Suspension and Termination of Plan .  The Committee may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate (for purposes of this Section 13.2, an “ Action ”) the Plan or any portion thereof or any Award (or Award Agreement) thereunder at any time; provided that no such Action shall be made, other than as permitted under Article 11 or 12, (i) without shareholder approval (A) if such approval is necessary to comply with any tax or regulatory requirement applicable to the Plan, (B) if such Action increases the number of Shares available under the Plan (other than an increase permitted under Article 5 absent shareholder approval), (C) if such Action results in a material increase in benefits permitted under the Plan (but excluding increases that are immaterial or that are minor and to benefit the administration of the Plan, to take account of any changes in applicable law, or to obtain or maintain favorable tax, exchange, or regulatory treatment for the Company, a Subsidiary, and/or an Affiliate) or a change in eligibility requirements under the Plan, or (D) for any Action that results in a reduction of the Option Price or grant price per Share, as applicable, of any outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights or cancellation of any outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights in exchange for cash, or for other Awards, such as other Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, with an Option Price or grant price per Share, as applicable, that is less than such price of the original Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, and (ii) without the written consent of the affected Participant, if such Action would materially diminish the rights of any Participant under any Award theretofore granted to such Participant under the Plan; provided , further, that the Committee may amend the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement without such consent of the Participant in such manner as it deems necessary to comply with applicable laws, including without limitation, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

 

Article 14.             General Provisions

 

14.1         No Right to Service.   The granting of an Award under the Plan shall impose no obligation on the Company, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate to continue the Service of a Participant and shall not lessen or affect any right that the Company, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate may have to terminate the Service of such Participant.  No Participant or other Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants, or holders or beneficiaries of Awards.  The terms and conditions of Awards and the Committee’s determinations and interpretations with respect thereto need not be the same with respect to each Participant (whether or not such Participants are similarly situated).

 

14.2         Settlement of Awards; Fractional Shares.   Each Award Agreement shall establish the form in which the Award shall be settled.  The Committee shall determine whether cash, Awards, other securities or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be rounded, forfeited or otherwise eliminated.

 

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14.3         Tax Withholding.   The Company shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold automatically from any amount deliverable under the Award or otherwise, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, the minimum statutory amount to satisfy federal, state, and local taxes, domestic or foreign, required by law or regulation to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising as a result of the Plan.  With respect to required withholding, Participants may elect (subject to the Company’s automatic withholding right set out above), subject to the approval of the Committee, to satisfy the withholding requirement, in whole or in part, by having the Company withhold Shares having a Fair Market Value on the date the tax is to be determined equal to the minimum statutory total tax that could be imposed on the transaction.

 

14.4         No Guarantees Regarding Tax Treatment.   Participants (or their beneficiaries) shall be responsible for all taxes with respect to any Awards under the Plan.  The Committee and the Company make no guarantees to any Person regarding the tax treatment of Awards or payments made under the Plan.  Neither the Committee nor the Company has any obligation to take any action to prevent the assessment of any tax on any Person with respect to any Award under Section 409A of the Code or Section 457A of the Code or otherwise and none of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, or any of their employees or representatives shall have any liability to a Participant with respect thereto.

 

14.5         Non-Transferability of Awards.   Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, an Award shall not be transferable or assignable by the Participant except in the event of his death (subject to the applicable laws of descent and distribution) and any such purported assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against the Company or any Affiliate.  No transfer shall be permitted for value or consideration.  An award exercisable after the death of a Participant may be exercised by the heirs, legatees, personal representatives or distributees of the Participant.  Any permitted transfer of the Awards to heirs, legatees, personal representatives or distributees of the Participant shall not be effective to bind the Company unless the Committee shall have been furnished with written notice thereof and a copy of such evidence as the Committee may deem necessary to establish the validity of the transfer and the acceptance by the transferee or transferees of the terms and conditions hereof.

 

14.6         Conditions and Restrictions on Shares.   The Committee may impose such other conditions or restrictions on any Shares received in connection with an Award as it may deem advisable or desirable.  These restrictions may include, but shall not be limited to, a requirement that the Participant hold the Shares received for a specified period of time or a requirement that a Participant represent and warrant in writing that the Participant is acquiring the Shares for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares.  The certificates for Shares may include any legend which the Committee deems appropriate to reflect any conditions and restrictions applicable to such Shares.

 

14.7         Compliance with Law.   The granting of Awards and the issuance of Shares under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies, or any stock exchanges on which the Shares are admitted to trading or listed, as may be required.  The Company shall have no obligation to issue or deliver evidence of title for Shares issued under the Plan prior to:

 

(a)                                  Obtaining any approvals from governmental agencies that the Company determines are necessary or advisable; and

 

(b)                                  Completion of any registration or other qualification of the Shares under any applicable national, state or foreign law or ruling of any governmental body that the Company determines to be necessary or advisable.

 

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The restrictions contained in this Section 14.7 shall be in addition to any conditions or restrictions that the Committee may impose pursuant to Section 14.6.  The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company, its Subsidiaries and Affiliates, and all of their employees and representatives of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.

 

14.8         Rights as a Shareholder.   Except as otherwise provided herein or in the applicable Award Agreement, a Participant shall have none of the rights of a shareholder with respect to Shares covered by any Award until the Participant becomes the record holder of such Shares.

 

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

 

14.10       Unfunded Plan.   Participants shall have no right, title, or interest whatsoever in or to any investments that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates may make to aid it in meeting its obligations under the Plan.  Nothing contained in the Plan, and no action taken pursuant to its provisions, shall create or be construed to create a trust of any kind, or a fiduciary relationship between the Company and any Participant, beneficiary, legal representative, or any other Person.  To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company under the Plan, such right shall be no greater than the right of an unsecured general creditor of the Company.  All payments to be made hereunder shall be paid from the general funds of the Company and no special or separate fund shall be established and no segregation of assets shall be made to assure payment of such amounts.  The Plan is not subject to the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.

 

14.11       No Constraint on Corporate Action.   Nothing in the Plan shall be construed to (i) limit, impair, or otherwise affect the Company’s right or power to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations, or changes of its capital or business structure, or to merge or consolidate, or dissolve, liquidate, sell, or transfer all or any part of its business or assets, or (ii) limit the right or power of the Company to take any action which such entity deems to be necessary or appropriate.

 

14.12       Successors.   All obligations of the Company under the Plan with respect to Awards granted hereunder shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company.

 

14.13       Governing Law.   The Plan and each Award Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, excluding any conflicts or choice of law rule or principle that might otherwise refer construction or interpretation of the Plan to the substantive law of another jurisdiction.

 

14.14       Data Protection.   By participating in the Plan, the Participant consents to the collection, processing, transmission and storage by the Company in any form whatsoever, of any data of a professional or personal nature which is necessary for the purposes of introducing and administering the Plan.  The Company may share such information with any Subsidiary or Affiliate, the trustee of any employee benefit trust, its registrars, trustees, brokers, other third party administrator or any Person who

 

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obtains control of the Company or acquires the Company, undertaking or part-undertaking which employs the Participant, wherever situated.

 

14.15       Effective Date.   The Plan shall be effective as of October 27, 2010 (the “ Effective Date ”).

 

*        *        *

 

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Exhibit 10.1

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

This Employment Agreement (the “ Agreement ”), dated as of October 27, 2010 (the “ Effective Date ”) is entered into by and between New GGP, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”) and Sandeep Mathrani (the “ Executive ”).  The Company shall cause GGP Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ” and together with the Company, the “ Companies ”) to become a party to this Agreement as of the effective date of the Third Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization of General Growth Properties, Inc. and other debtors under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, as Modified [Docket No. 6232], and as may be further modified (the “ Joint Plan of Reorganization ”).

 

RECITALS

 

The Companies desires to employ the Executive upon and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and to enter into an agreement embodying the terms of such employment.

 

The Executive desires to accept such employment upon and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

The parties desire to enter into this Agreement;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

 

1.                                        Employment Period .  The Companies hereby agree to employ the Executive, and the Executive hereby agrees to work in the employ of the Companies, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for the period commencing on the January 17, 2011(the “ Commencement Date ”) and ending, unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 3 hereof, on the fifth anniversary of the Commencement Date (the “ Employment Period ”).  The Employment Period shall automatically be extended for an additional one year period on the fifth anniversary of the Commencement Date and each subsequent anniversary of the Commencement Date, unless either party provides written notice in accordance with Section 11(b)  hereof of such party’s intention not to extend the Employment Period at least ninety days prior to the applicable anniversary.

 

2.                                        Terms of Employment .

 

(a)                                   Position and Duties .

 

(i)                                      During the Employment Period, the Executive shall serve as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and of the Partnership, with the appropriate authority, duties and responsibilities attendant to such position and any other duties commensurate with the position of Chief Executive Officer of the Company and of the Partnership that may be reasonably assigned by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “ Board ”).  The Executive shall report solely to the Board.  The Company shall cause the Executive to be nominated for election to the Board during the Employment Period.

 

(ii)                                   During the Employment Period, and excluding any periods of vacation and sick leave to which the Executive is entitled, the Executive agrees to devote all of his business attention and time to the business and affairs of the Companies, and to use the Executive’s reasonable best efforts to perform such responsibilities.  During the Employment Period it shall not be a violation of this Agreement for the Executive to (A) serve on corporate boards or committees of businesses that are not competitors of the Company, with prior written

 



 

approval of the Board, (B) serve on civic or charitable boards or committees, and (C) manage personal investments, so long as such activities do not, individually or in the aggregate, interfere with the performance of the Executive’s responsibilities as an employee of the Companies in accordance with this Agreement; provided, however, for greater clarity, during the Employment Period, the Executive shall not hold any other management positions at other companies.

 

(iii)                                The Executive represents and warrants to the Companies that (A) neither the execution nor delivery of this Agreement nor the performance of the Executive’s duties hereunder violates or will violate the provisions of any other agreement to which the Executive is a party or by which the Executive is bound and (B) the Executive will not use or disclose, in connection with his employment by the Companies, any confidential and/or trade secret information of any of his prior employers or any other party.

 

(iv)                               Place of Performance . The principal place of employment of Executive will be at the Company’s principal executive offices in Chicago, Illinois.  The Executive understands that he shall regularly be required to travel in connection with the performance of his duties hereunder.

 

(vii)                            As of the Effective Date and continuing until the Commencement Date the Executive agrees to provide consulting services to the Companies, as may be mutually agreed by the parties.

 

(b)                                  Compensation .

 

(i)                                      Annual Base Salary .  During the Employment Period, the Executive shall receive an annual base salary (“ Annual Base Salary ”) of $1,200,000 payable in equal installments in accordance with the Partnership’s normal payroll practice for its senior executives, subject to the Executive’s continued active employment with the Company and the Partnership.

 

(ii)                                   Bonus .  Commencing with the 2011 fiscal year, the Executive shall be eligible under the Company’s annual bonus plan in effect from time to time for a target annual bonus opportunity of $1,500,000 (the “ Target Annual Bonus ”), which during the first two years of the Employment Period shall consist of a guaranteed minimum bonus of $1,000,000 and a discretionary bonus in the amount of $500,000 per annum and thereafter shall consist of a discretionary bonus in the amount of $1,500,000.  The guaranteed portion of the Target Annual Bonus shall not be subject to any performance measures and objectives.  The discretionary portion of the Target Annual Bonus shall be subject to such performance measures and objectives as may be established by the Compensation Committee of the Board (“ Compensation Committee ”) from time to time in consultation with the Executive under the Company’s annual bonus plan, including variations in amount based on the level of performance achieved.  The amount of the annual bonus that is payable is referred to as the “ Annual Bonus .”  The Annual Bonus for each year shall be paid to the Executive as soon as reasonably practicable following the end of such year and at the same time that other senior executives of the Company receive bonus payments, but in no event later than March 15th following the end of the fiscal year to which such Annual Bonus relates.  The Executive shall not be paid any Annual Bonus with respect to a fiscal year unless the Executive is employed on the date such Annual Bonus is paid, subject to Section 4 hereof.

 

(iii)                                Options .  On the Effective Date the Company shall grant the Executive an option (the “ Option ”) covering two million shares of the Company’s common stock (“ Common Stock ”), with an exercise price per share equal to $10.25.  The Option shall vest in four equal

 

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annual installments each of the first four anniversaries of the Commencement Date and shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Company’s 2010 Equity Incentive Plan and an option agreement entered into thereunder, which shall not be inconsistent herewith.  The Option shall immediately vest in full upon the Executive’s termination of employment due to death or Disability, by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason.  After taking into account any vesting that occurs in connection with the two preceding sentences, upon the Executive’s termination of employment, the unvested portion of the Option shall be immediately forfeited.  The Option may be exercised, to the extent then vested, at any time prior to the earliest to occur of (i) the tenth (10th) anniversary of the date of grant, (ii) the date of the Executive’s termination of employment by the Company for Cause, (iii) one year following the date of the Executive’s termination of employment due to death or disability, and (iv) sixty days following the date of the Executive’s termination of employment for any other reason.

 

(iv)                               Restricted Stock .  As of the effective date of the Joint Plan of Reorganization, the Company shall grant the Executive 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock (the “ Restricted Stock” ).  The Restricted Stock shall vest in three equal annual installments each of the first three anniversaries of the Commencement Date and shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Company’s 2010 Equity Incentive Plan and a restricted stock agreement entered into thereunder, which shall not be inconsistent herewith.  The Restricted Stock Grant shall immediately vest in full upon the Executive’s death or termination for Disability, by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason.

 

(v)                                  Annual Equity Awards .  Each fiscal year during the Employment Period, commencing with the 2012 fiscal year, the Executive shall be entitled to receive an annual equity award at the same time that other senior executives of the Company are generally granted equity awards.  Each such annual equity award may be an award of stock options or an award of restricted stock, at the election of the Executive.  If the Executive elects to receive a stock option (“ Annual Option Award ”), such option shall provide the Executive with the right and option to purchase a number of Common Shares equal to five times the Executive’s Annual Base Salary for the previous year divided by the price per share of Common Stock on the date the Compensation Committee approves or determines annual option grants for senior executives of the Company generally.  All Annual Option Awards shall have an exercise price per share equal to the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant (as determined by the Board, consistent with Section 409A).  If the Executive elects to receive restricted stock (“ Annual Restricted Stock Award ”), such award shall consist of a number of Common Shares equal in value on the date of grant to the value of the Annual Option Award the Executive could have elected to receive on such date using the Black-Scholes pricing model, as determined by the Board in good faith.  Each Annual Option Award or Annual Restricted Stock Award shall vest in four equal annual installments each of the first four anniversaries of the date of grant and shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Company’s 2010 Equity Incentive Plan and an award agreement entered into thereunder, which shall not be inconsistent herewith.  Each outstanding Annual Option Award and Annual Restricted Stock Award shall immediately vest in full upon the Executive’s termination of employment due to death or Disability.  The portion of each outstanding Annual Option Award and Annual Restricted Stock Award that would have otherwise vested had the Executive remained employed through the second anniversary of the Date of Termination shall immediately vest upon the Executive’s termination of employment by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason, and the remainder of each outstanding Annual Option Award and Annual Restricted Stock Award shall be immediately forfeited.  After taking into account any vesting that occurs in connection with the two preceding sentences, upon the Executive’s termination of employment, the unvested portion of each Annual Option Award and Annual Restricted Stock Award shall be immediately forfeited.  The Annual

 

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Option Awards may be exercised, to the extent then vested, at any time prior to the earliest to occur of (i) the tenth (10th) anniversary of the date of grant, (ii) the date of the Executive’s termination of employment by the Company for Cause, (iii) one year following the date of the Executive’s termination of employment due to death or disability, and (iv) sixty days following the date of the Executive’s termination of employment for any other reason.  For the avoidance of doubt, in no event may the Executive receive both an Annual Option Award and an Annual Restricted Stock Award in a single year.

 

(vi)                               Signing Bonus .  On the Partnership’s first payroll date following the Commencement Date the Companies shall pay to the Executive a cash signing bonus in the amount of $1,000,000.

 

(vii)                            Relocation Allowance .  The Company shall promptly reimburse the Executive for reasonable and properly documented expenses relating to the Executive’s relocation from New York, New York to the Chicago, Illinois area, which shall include the costs of moving the Executive, his family and possessions to the Chicago, Illinois area.  In addition, for so long as the Executive’s residence remains in New York, New York (but for no longer than the first anniversary of the Commencement Date), the Company shall reimburse the Executive for reasonable expenses incurred for temporary living accommodations for the Executive in the Chicago, Illinois area, and reasonable air travel expenses between New York, New York and Chicago, Illinois.  In no event may the aggregate amount reimbursed pursuant to this Section 2(b)(vii)  exceed $350,000.

 

(viii)                         Indemnification .  The Companies agrees that if Executive is made a party to or threatened to be made a party to any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “ Proceeding ”), by reason of the fact that Executive is or was a trustee, director or officer of the Companies or is or was serving at the request of the Companies, or any subsidiary or either thereof as a trustee, director, officer, member, employee or agent of another corporation or a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including, without limitation, service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether or not the basis of such Proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a trustee, director, officer, member, employee or agent while serving as a trustee, director, officer, member, employee or agent, Executive shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Companies to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, against all costs and expenses incurred or suffered by Executive in connection therewith, and such indemnification shall continue as to Executive even if Executive has ceased to be an officer, director, trustee or agent, or is no longer employed by the Companies and shall inure to the benefit of his heirs, executors and administrators.  The indemnification provided therein shall continue for a period of 6 years following the time the Executive’s employment is terminated, or for such longer period as may be provided in the Companies’ bylaws or permitted under applicable law.

 

(c)                                   Benefits .  During the Employment Period, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in all employee benefit and other plans, practices, policies and programs and fringe benefits to the extent applicable generally and on a basis no less favorable than that provided to other senior officers of the Company, including, without limitation, health, medical, dental, long-term disability and life insurance plans.  The Executive shall be entitled to paid annual vacation totaling four weeks per year in accordance with the Company’s vacation policy in effect from time to time.  During the Employment Period, the Companies shall reimburse the Executive in the amount of the premiums paid by the

 

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Executive on $10,000,000 worth of term life insurance coverage which shall be owned by the Executive and be for the benefit of the beneficiaries designated by the Executive.

 

(d)                                  Expenses .  The Company shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable and necessary expenses actually incurred by Executive in connection with the business affairs of the Company and the Partnership and the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder, in accordance with Company policy, as in effect from time to time.

 

(e)                                   Car Allowance/Automobile .  During the Employment Period, the Company shall provide Executive with an automobile and shall reimburse the Executive for the expenses of operating such automobile, including gas, oil, repairs and insurance.  During the Employment Period the Executive will receive a new car every three years or allowance depending upon Company’s policy at the time.

 

3.                                        Termination of Employment .

 

(a)                                   Death or Disability .  The Executive’s employment shall terminate automatically upon the Executive’s death during the Employment Period.  If the Company determines in good faith that the Disability of the Executive has occurred during the Employment Period (pursuant to the definition of Disability set forth below), the Company may give to the Executive written notice, in accordance with Section 11(b) , of its intention to terminate the Executive’s employment.  In such event, the Executive’s employment with the Company shall terminate effective on the 30th day after the Executive’s receipt of such notice by the Company (the “ Disability Effective Date ”), provided, that within the 30 days after such receipt, the Executive shall not have returned to full-time performance of the Executive’s duties.  For purposes of this Agreement, “ Disability ” shall mean a determination by independent competent medical authority (selected by the Board) that the Executive is unable to perform his duties under this Agreement and in all reasonable medical likelihood such inability will continue for a period in excess of 180 days in any 365 day period.  The Executive shall fully cooperate in connection with the determination of whether Disability exists.

 

(b)                                  Cause .  The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment during the Employment Period with or without Cause.  For purposes of this Agreement, “ Cause ” shall mean the Executive’s:

 

(i)                                      conviction, plea of guilty or no contest to any felony or crime of dishonesty or moral turpitude;

 

(ii)                                   gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of the Executive’s duties;

 

(iii)                                drug addiction or habitual intoxication that adversely effects the Executive’s job performance or the reputation or best interests of the Companies;

 

(iv)                               commission of fraud, embezzlement, misappropriation of funds, breach of fiduciary duty or a material act of dishonesty against the Companies;

 

(v)                                  material breach of this Agreement;

 

(vi)                               noncompliance with Company policy or code of conduct; or

 

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(vii)                            willful and continued failure to substantially perform his duties hereunder (other than such failure resulting from Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness) after demand for substantial performance is delivered by the Company in writing that specifically identifies the manner in which the Company believes Executive has not substantially performing his duties;

 

unless, in the case of clauses (ii), (v) and (vi), the event constituting Cause is curable and has been cured by the Executive within 30 business days of his receipt of notice from the Company that an event constituting Cause has occurred and specifying the details of such event.

 

For purposes of this provision, no act or omission on the part of the Executive shall be considered “willful” unless it is done or omitted not in good faith or without reasonable belief that the act or omission was in the best interests of the Company.  Any act or omission based upon a resolution duly adopted by the Board or advice of counsel for the Company shall be conclusively presumed to have been done or omitted in good faith and in the best interests of the Company.  “Cause” shall not include bad judgment or failure of the Company or Partnership to meet financial performance objectives.  This Section 3(b)  shall not prevent Executive from challenging in any court of competent jurisdiction the Board’s determination that Cause exists or that Executive has failed to cure any act (or failure to act) that purportedly formed the basis for the Board’s determination.

 

(c)                                   Resignation .  The Executive may terminate the Executive’s employment during the Employment Period for Good Reason.  For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events without Executive’s written consent:  (i) a material adverse change in the Executive’s duties or responsibilities, (ii) a reduction of the Executive’s salary, (iii) the relocation of the Executive’s principal place of employment to anywhere other than the Company’s principal office, (iv) a material breach of this Agreement by the Companies, or (v) the failure by the Companies to obtain written assumption of this Agreement by a purchaser or successor of the Company; provided, that, the Executive must provide a Notice of Termination to the Company within 60 days of the occurrence of the event constituting Good Reason, and in the event the Executive provides notice of Good Reason pursuant to clause (i), (ii), (iv) or (v) above, the Company shall have the opportunity to cure such event constituting Good Reason within 30 days of receiving such notice.

 

(d)                                  Without Cause .  The Company will have the right to terminate Executive’s employment hereunder without Cause by providing Executive with a Notice of Termination, and such termination shall not in and of itself be, nor shall it be deemed to be, a breach of this Agreement.  This means that, notwithstanding this Agreement, Executive’s employment with the Company will be “at will.”

 

(e)                               Without Good Reason .  Executive will have the right to terminate his employment hereunder without Good Reason by providing the Company with a Notice of Termination, and such termination shall not in and of itself be, nor shall it be deemed to be, a breach of this Agreement.

 

(f)                                     Notice of Termination .  Any termination by the Company or by the Executive shall be communicated by Notice of Termination to the other party hereto given in accordance with Section 11(b) .  For purposes of this Agreement, a “ Notice of Termination ” means a written notice which (i) indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) to the extent applicable, sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated

 

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and (iii) if the Date of Termination (as defined below) is other than the date of receipt of such notice, specifies the Date of Termination.  The failure by the Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Cause shall not waive any right of the Company, hereunder, or preclude the Company, from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Company’s rights hereunder.

 

(g)                                  Date of Termination .  “ Date of Termination ” means (i) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company other than for Disability, the date of receipt of the Notice of Termination or any later date specified therein within 90 days of such notice, (ii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Executive, 30 days after receipt of the Notice of Termination (provided, that the Company may accelerate the Date of Termination to an earlier date by providing the Executive with notice of such action) (iii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by reason of death or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the date of the Executive’s death or the Disability Effective Date, as the case may be, and (iv) if Executive’s employment is terminated by expiration of this Agreement, the date of expiration of this Agreement.

 

4.                                        Obligations of the Company upon Termination .

 

(a)                                   Other Than For Cause .  If, during the Employment Period, the Company shall terminate the Executive’s employment other than for Cause or Disability, or if Executive shall terminate his employment for Good Reason, or if the Executive’s employment shall terminate because of the Company’s delivery of a notice of non-extension pursuant to Section 1 hereof, the Company shall have no further obligations to the Executive except as follows:

 

(i)                                      the Company shall pay or provide the Executive, to the extent not theretofore paid, (A) a lump sum in cash as soon as practicable after the Date of Termination in an amount equal to the sum of (1) the Annual Base Salary (which shall be the Annual Base Salary prior to reduction if the termination is for Good Reason because of a reduction in Annual Base Salary) through the Date of Termination, (2) and accrued vacation pay through the Date of Termination, and (B) any other amounts or benefits required to be paid or provided pursuant to applicable law, (the total of (A) and (B), the “ Accrued Benefits ”);

 

(ii)                                   the Company shall pay the Executive a pro rata portion of the Annual Bonus for the year in which the Date of Termination occurs, in an amount determined by multiplying the Annual Bonus most recently paid to the Executive prior to the Date of Termination (or if the Date of Termination occurs prior to the payment of any Annual Bonus, $1,000,000) by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days the Executive was employed during the year in which the Date of Termination occurs and the denominator of which is 365 (the “ Pro-Rata Bonus ”).  The amount described in this Section 4(a)(ii)  shall be paid at the same time as the Annual Bonus for such year is paid to other executives of the Company; provided it shall be paid no later than March 15 of the year following the year in which the Date of Termination occurs;

 

(iii)                                the Company shall pay the Executive an amount equal to 200% of the sum of the Annual Base Salary plus the Annual Bonus most recently paid to the Executive prior to the Date of Termination (or if the Date of Termination occurs prior to the payment of any Annual Bonus, $1,000,000), payable in equal monthly installments over the two year period following the Date of Termination, in accordance with the Partnership’s normal payroll practices;

 

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(iv)                               the outstanding equity awards contemplated by Section 2(b)  shall vest in accordance with Section 2(b)  hereof;

 

(v)                                  the Company shall pay any unpaid Annual Bonus for a fiscal year ending prior to the Date of Termination, which shall be paid at the same time as set forth in Section 2(b)(ii)  hereof;

 

(vi)                               the Company shall provide coverage or pay an amount equal to the applicable COBRA premium rate, if any, for the Executive, his spouse and his eligible dependents (the “ COBRA Benefits ”) through the second anniversary of the Date of Termination with respect to any welfare benefits for which the Executive elects COBRA coverage; and

 

(vii)                            the Company shall transfer title to Executive, and Executive shall be entitled to keep the Company-owned BlackBerry, i-pad, laptop computer and cell phone used by the Executive during the Employment Period, subject to the removal of all confidential and proprietary information of the Company.

 

(b)                                  Death; Disability .  If, during the Employment Period, the Executive’s employment shall terminate on account of death (other than via death after delivery of a valid Notice of Termination with or without Cause) or Disability, the Company shall have no further obligations to the Executive other than to provide the Executive (or his estate) (i) the Accrued Benefits;  (ii) the Pro-Rata Bonus, paid in a lump sum in cash as soon as practicable after the Date of Termination; (iii) any unpaid Annual Bonus for a fiscal year ending prior to the Date of Termination, and (iv) the Restricted Stock, Option and any outstanding Annual Option Awards and Annual Restricted Stock Awards shall become 100% vested in accordance with Section 2(b)  hereof.

 

(c)                                   For Cause; Resignation Without Good Reason .  If, during the Employment Period, the Company shall terminate the Executive’s employment for Cause or the Executive terminates his employment other than for Good Reason, the Company shall have no further obligations to the Executive other than the obligation to pay to the Executive the Accrued Benefits.

 

(d)                                  Condition .  The Company shall not be required to make the payments and provide the benefits specified in Section 4(a)(ii)  through (vi)  unless, prior to payment, the parties hereto have entered into a release substantially in the form attached hereto as Attachment A (for which the applicable 7-day revocation period has expired) within 60 days following the Date of Termination, under which the Executive releases the Company, its affiliates and its officers, directors and employees from all liability (other than the payments and benefits under this Agreement).  Any payments or benefits specified in Section 4(a)(ii)  through (vi)  shall be withheld pending the Executive’s execution and delivery of the release and shall be paid to the Executive on the sixtieth day following the Executive’s termination of employment.  In the event the release is not executed and delivered to the Company in accordance with this Section 4(d) , the payments and benefits specified in Section 4(a)(ii)  through (vi)  shall be forfeited.

 

(e)                                   Resignation from Certain Directorships .  Following the Employment Period or the termination of the Executive’s employment for any reason, if and to the extent requested by the Board, the Executive agrees to resign from the Board, all fiduciary positions (including as trustee) and from all other offices and positions he holds with the Company and any of its affiliates; provided, however, that if the Executive refuses to tender his resignation after the

 

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Board has made such request, then the Board shall be empowered to tender the Executive’s resignation from such offices and positions.

 

5.                                        Full Settlement .  In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment, or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement, and such amounts shall not be reduced whether or not the Executive obtains other employment.  The Company may offset any amounts that it owes to the Executive by any amounts relating to employment matters that the Executive owes to the Company or its affiliates; provided that in no event shall any payment under this Agreement that constitutes “nonqualified deferred compensation” for purposes of Section 409A be subject to offset by any other amount unless otherwise permitted by Section 409A.

 

6.                                        Section 4999 of the Code .

 

(a)                                   General Rules .  Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event it shall be determined that any payment, award, benefit or distribution (or any acceleration of any payment, award, benefit or distribution) by the Company (or any of its affiliated entities) or any entity which effectuates a change in control (or any of its affiliated entities) to or for the benefit of Executive (whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, but determined without regard to any additional payments required under this Section 6) (the “ Payments ”) would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), or any interest or penalties are incurred by Executive with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any such interest and penalties, are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “ Excise Tax ”), then the Company shall pay to Executive an additional payment (a “ Gross-Up Payment ”) in an amount such that after payment by Executive of all taxes (including any Excise Tax) imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, Executive retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the sum of (x) the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payments and (y) the product of any deductions disallowed because of the inclusion of the Gross-Up Payment in Executive’s adjusted gross income and the highest applicable marginal rate of federal income taxation for the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made.  For purposes of determining the amount of the Gross-Up Payment, the Executive shall be deemed to (i) pay federal income taxes at the Executive’s actual marginal rates of federal income taxation for the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made, (ii) pay applicable state and local income taxes at the Executive’s actual marginal rate of taxation for the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made, net of the actual reduction in federal income taxes which could be obtained from deduction of such state and local taxes and (iii) have otherwise allowable deductions for federal income tax purposes at least equal to those which could be disallowed because of the inclusion of the Gross-Up Payment in the Executive’s adjusted gross income.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 6(a), if it shall be determined that Executive is entitled to a Gross-Up Payment, but that the Payments would not be subject to the Excise Tax if the Payments were reduced by an amount that is less than 10% of the portion of the Payments that would be treated as “parachute payments” under Section 280G of the Code, then the amounts payable to Executive under this Agreement shall be reduced (but not below zero) to the maximum amount that could be paid to Executive without giving rise to the Excise Tax (the “ Safe Harbor Cap ”), and no Gross-Up Payment shall be made to Executive.  In the event that the Payments would be reduced as provided in this Section 6(a), then such reduction shall be determined in a manner which has the least economic cost to Executive and, to the extent the economic cost is equivalent, the Payments will be reduced in the inverse order of when the Payments would have been made to Executive until the reduction specified is achieved.  If the reduction of the amounts payable hereunder would not result in a reduction of the Payments to the

 

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Safe Harbor Cap, Payments (including acceleration of any award) pursuant to option and restricted stock award agreements shall be reduced.

 

(b)                                  Determinations .  Subject to the provisions of Section 6(a), all determinations required to be made under this Section 6, including whether and when a Gross-Up Payment is required, the amount of such Gross-Up Payment, the amount of any Option Redetermination (as defined below), the reduction of the Payments to the Safe Harbor Cap and the assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such determinations, shall be made by the public accounting firm that is retained by the Company as of the date immediately prior to the Change in Control (the “ Accounting Firm ”) which shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and Executive within 15 business days of the receipt of notice from the Company or the Executive that there has been a Payment, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company (collectively, the “ Determination ”).  For the avoidance of doubt, the Accounting Firm may use the Option Redetermination amount in determining the reduction of the Payments to the Safe Harbor Cap.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event (i) the Board shall determine prior to the change in control that the Accounting Firm is precluded from performing such services under applicable auditor independence rules or (ii) the Audit Committee of the Board determines that it does not want the Accounting Firm to perform such services because of auditor independence concerns or (iii) the Accounting Firm is serving as accountant or auditor for the individual, entity or group effecting the change in control, the Board shall appoint a nationally recognized public accounting firm to make the determinations required hereunder (which accounting firm shall then be referred to as the Accounting Firm hereunder).  All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Company and the Company shall enter into any agreement requested by the Accounting Firm in connection with the performance of the services hereunder.  The Gross-Up Payment under this Section 6 with respect to any Payments shall be made no later than 30 days following such Payment.  If the Accounting Firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable by Executive, it shall furnish Executive with a written opinion to such effect, and to the effect that failure to report the Excise Tax, if any, on Executive’s applicable federal income tax return will not result in the imposition of a negligence or similar penalty.  In the event the Accounting Firm determines that the Payments shall be reduced to the Safe Harbor Cap, it shall furnish Executive with a written opinion to such effect.  The Determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and Executive.  As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of the Code at the time of the Determination, it is possible that Gross-Up Payments which will not have been made by the Company should have been made (“ Underpayment ”) or Gross-Up Payments are made by the Company which should not have been made (“ Overpayment ”), consistent with the calculations required to be made hereunder.  In the event that the Executive thereafter is required to make payment of any Excise Tax or additional Excise Tax, the Accounting Firm shall determine the amount of the Underpayment that has occurred and any such Underpayment (together with interest at the rate provided in Section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code) shall be promptly paid by the Company to or for the benefit of Executive.  In the event the amount of the Gross-Up Payment exceeds the amount necessary to reimburse the Executive for his or her Excise Tax, the Accounting Firm shall determine the amount of the Overpayment that has been made and any such Overpayment (together with interest at the rate provided in Section 1274(b)(2) of the Code) shall be promptly paid by Executive (to the extent he or she has received a refund if the applicable Excise Tax has been paid to the Internal Revenue Service) to or for the benefit of the Company.  Executive shall cooperate, to the extent his or her expenses are reimbursed by the Company, with any reasonable requests by the Company in connection with any contests or disputes with the Internal Revenue Service in connection with the Excise Tax.  In the event that the Company makes a Gross-Up Payment to the Executive and subsequently the Company determines that the value of any accelerated vesting of stock options held by Executive shall be redetermined within the context of Treasury Regulation §1.280G-1 Q/A 33 (the “ Option

 

10



 

Redetermination ”), Executive shall (i) file with the Internal Revenue Service an amended federal income tax return that claims a refund of the overpayment of the Excise Tax attributable to such Option Redetermination and (ii) promptly pay the refunded Excise Tax to the Company; provided that the Company shall pay all reasonable professional fees incurred in the preparation of Executive’s amended federal income tax return.  In the event that amounts payable to Executive under this Agreement were reduced pursuant to the third sentence of Section 6(a) and subsequently Executive determines there has been an Option Redetermination that reduces the value of the Payments attributable to such options, the Company shall promptly pay to Executive any amounts payable under this Agreement that were not previously paid solely as a result of the third sentence of Section 6(a) up to the Safe Harbor Cap.

 

7.                                        Covenants Not to Solicit Company Employees; Confidential Information.

 

(a)                                   Non-Solicit .  During the Employment Period, and for a twelve month period after the Executive’s employment is terminated for any reason, the Executive shall not (except in connection with the performance of his duties for the Companies) in any manner, directly or indirectly (without the prior written consent of the Company) Solicit anyone who is then an employee of the Company or its affiliates (or who was an employee of the Company or its affiliates within the prior 12 months) to resign from the Company or its affiliates or to apply for or accept employment with any other business or enterprise.  For purposes of this Agreement, “ Solicit ” means any direct or indirect communication of any kind, regardless of who initiates it, that in any way invites, advises, encourages or requests any person to take or refrain from taking any action.

 

(b)                                  Confidential Information .  The Executive hereby acknowledges that, as an employee of the Company, he will be making use of, acquiring and adding to confidential information of a special and unique nature and value relating to the Company and its affiliates and their strategic plan and financial operations.  The Executive further recognizes and acknowledges that all confidential information is the exclusive property of the Company and its affiliates, is material and confidential, and is critical to the successful conduct of the business of the Company and its affiliates.  Accordingly, the Executive hereby covenants and agrees that he will use confidential information for the benefit of the Company and its affiliates only and shall not at any time, directly or indirectly, during the term of this Agreement and thereafter divulge, reveal or communicate any confidential information to any person, firm, corporation or entity whatsoever, or use any confidential information for his own benefit or for the benefit of others.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive shall be authorized to disclose confidential information (i) as may be required by law or legal process after providing the Company with prior written notice and an opportunity to respond to such disclosure (unless such notice is prohibited by law), or (ii) with the prior written consent of the Company.

 

(c)                                   Non-Competition .  During the Employment Period the Executive shall not directly or indirectly (whether for compensation or otherwise) own or hold any interest in, manage, operate, control, consult with, render services for, or in any manner participate in any business that is competitive with the business of the Companies, either as a general or limited partner, proprietor, shareholder, officer, director, agent, employee, consultant, trustee, affiliate or otherwise.  Nothing herein shall prohibit the Executive from being a passive owner of (i) not more than two percent (2%) of the outstanding securities of any publicly traded company engaged in the business of the Companies and (ii) the limited partner interests listed on Attachment B.

 

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(d)                                  Survival .  Any termination of the Executive’s employment or of this Agreement (or breach of this Agreement by the Executive or the Company) shall have no effect on the continuing operation of this Section 7 .

 

(e)                                   Non-disparagement .  During the Employment Period and thereafter, the Executive shall not, in any manner, directly or indirectly make any false or any disparaging or derogatory statements about the Company, any of its affiliates or any of their employees, officers or directors.  The Company, in turn, agrees that it will not make, in any authorized corporate communications to third parties, and it will direct the members of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer, not to in any manner, directly or indirectly make any false or any disparaging or derogatory statements about the Executive; provided, however, that nothing herein shall prevent either party from giving truthful testimony or from otherwise making good faith statements in connection with legal investigations or other proceedings.

 

(f)                                     Enforcement .  If, at the time of enforcement of this Section 7 , a court holds that the restrictions stated herein are unreasonable under circumstances then existing, the parties hereto agree that the maximum period, scope or geographical area reasonable under such circumstances shall be substituted for the stated period, scope or area.  Because Executive’s services are unique and because Executive has access to confidential information, the parties hereto agree that money damages would be an inadequate remedy for any breach of this Section 5 .  Therefore, in the event of a breach or threatened breach of this Agreement, the Company or its successors or assigns may in addition to other rights and remedies existing in their favor, apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for specific performance and/or injunctive or other relief in order to enforce, or prevent any violations of, the provisions hereof.

 

8.                                        Successors .

 

(a)                                   This Agreement is personal to the Executive and without the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by the Executive otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s legal representatives.

 

(b)                                  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Companies and their respective successors and assigns.

 

(c)                                   The Companies will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Companies would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place.  As used in this Agreement, “ Company ” shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid.

 

9.                                        Disputes .

 

(a)                                   Jurisdiction and Choice of Forum .  All disputes arising under or related to the employment of the Executive or the provisions of this Agreement shall be settled by arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect, such arbitration to be held in Chicago, Illinois, as the sole and exclusive remedy of either party. The arbitration shall be heard by one arbitrator mutually agreed upon by the parties, who must be a former judge.  In the event that the parties cannot agree upon the selection of the arbitrator within 10 days, each party shall select one arbitrator and those arbitrators shall select a third arbitrator who will serve as the

 

12



 

sole arbitrator.  The arbitrator shall have the authority to order expedited discovery, hearing and decision, including the ability to set outside time limits for such discovery, hearing and decision.  The parties shall direct the arbitrator to render a decision not later than 90 days following the arbitration hearing.  Judgment on any arbitration award may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction.

 

(b)                                  Governing Law .  This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of Illinois applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within that State.

 

(c)                                   Costs .  The Company shall reimburse all reasonable legal fees and expenses in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement, up to a maximum of $20,000.

 

10.                                  Section 409A of the Code .

 

(a)                                   Compliance .  The intent of the parties is that payments and benefits under this Agreement are either exempt from or comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code (“ Section 409A ”) and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, the Agreement shall be interpreted to that end.  The Parties acknowledge and agree that the interpretation of Section 409A and its application to the terms of this Agreement is uncertain and may be subject to change as additional guidance and interpretations become available.  In no event whatsoever shall the Company be liable for any tax, interest or penalties that may be imposed on the Executive by Section 409A or any damages for failing to comply with Section 409A.

 

(b)                                  Six Month Delay for Specified Employees .  If any payment, compensation or other benefit provided to the Executive in connection with his employment termination is determined, in whole or in part, to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A and the Executive is a “specified employee” as defined in Section 409A, no part of such payments shall be paid before the day that is six (6) months plus one (1) day after the Executive’s date of termination or, if earlier, the Executive’s death (the “ New Payment Date ”).  The aggregate of any payments that otherwise would have been paid to the Executive during the period between the date of termination and the New Payment Date shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum on such New Payment Date.  Thereafter, any payments that remain outstanding as of the day immediately following the New Payment Date shall be paid without delay over the time period originally scheduled, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

(c)                                   Termination as a Separation from Service .  A termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of this Agreement providing for the payment of any amounts or benefits subject to Section 409A upon or following a termination of employment until such termination is also a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A and for purposes of any such provision of this Agreement, references to a “resignation,” “termination,” “terminate,” “termination of employment” or like terms shall mean separation from service.

 

(d)                                  Payments for Reimbursements and In-Kind Benefits .  All reimbursements for costs and expenses under this Agreement shall be paid in no event later than the end of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Executive incurs such expense.  With regard to any provision herein that provides for reimbursement of costs and expenses or in-kind benefits, except as permitted by Section 409A, (i) the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit, and (ii) the amount of expenses

 

13



 

eligible for reimbursements or in-kind benefits provided during any taxable year shall not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement or in-kind benefits to be provided in any other taxable year.

 

(e)                                   Payments within Specified Number of Days .  Whenever a payment under this Agreement specifies a payment period with reference to a number of days (e.g., “payment shall be made within thirty (30) days following the date of termination”), the actual date of payment within the specified period shall be within the sole discretion of the Company.

 

(f)                                     Installments as Separate Payment .  If under this Agreement, an amount is paid in two or more installments, for purposes of Section 409A, each installment shall be treated as a separate payment.

 

11.                                  Miscellaneous .

 

(a)                                   Amendment .  This Agreement may not be amended or modified otherwise than by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives.

 

(b)                                  Notices .  All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

 

If to the Executive:

 

at the Executive’s primary residential address

as shown on the records of the Company

 

If to the Company:

 

General Growth Properties, Inc.

110 North Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL  60606

Telecopy Number:  312-960-5485

Attention:  Office of the General Counsel

 

or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith.  Notice and communications shall be effective when actually received by the addressee.

 

(c)                                   Severability .  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement.

 

(d)                                  Tax Withholding .  The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such federal, state, local or foreign taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

 

(e)                                   Compliance with Dodd-Frank .  All payments under this Agreement, if and to the extent subject to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, shall be subject to any incentive compensation policy established from time to time by the Company to comply with such Act.

 

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(f)                                     No Waiver .  The Executive’s or the Company’s failure to insist upon strict compliance with any provision of this Agreement or the failure to assert any right the Executive or the Company may have hereunder, including, without limitation, the Company’s right to terminate the Executive for Cause pursuant to Section 3(b) (subject to the limitation in the last sentence of Section 3(b)), shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or any other provision or right of this Agreement.

 

(g)                                  No Strict Construction .  It is the parties’ intention that this Agreement not be construed more strictly with regard to the Executive or the Company.

 

(h)                                  Entire Agreement .  From and after the Effective Date, this Agreement shall supersede any other employment or severance agreement or similar arrangements between the parties, and shall supersede any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties, written or oral, whether in term sheets, presentations or otherwise, relating to the subject matter hereof.

 

(i)                                      Counterparts .  This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

 

(j)                                      Section References; Captions .  Any reference to a Section herein is a reference to a section of this Agreement unless otherwise stated.  The captions of this Agreement are not part of the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect.

 

15



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the Executive has hereunto set the Executive’s hand and, pursuant to the authorization from their respective Boards of Directors or other duly authorized governing body, the Companies have caused these presents to be executed in its name on their behalf, all as of the Effective Date.

 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 

 

 

/s/ Sandeep Mathrani

 

Sandeep Mathrani

 

 

 

NEW GGP, INC.

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ Ronald L. Gern

 

 

Name:

Ronald L. Gern

 

 

Title:

General Counsel

 

 

 

 

GGP LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

 

By:General Growth Properties, Inc., its general partner

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

General Counsel

 

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ATTACHMENT A

 

WAIVER AND RELEASE AGREEMENT

 

This Waiver and Release Agreement (hereinafter “Release”) is entered into among Sandeep Mathrani (hereinafter “Executive”), General Growth Properties, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and GGP Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership” and collectively, the “Companies”).

 

The parties previously entered into an employment agreement dated October 27, 2010 pursuant to which Executive is entitled to certain payments and benefits upon termination of employment subject to the execution and non-revocation of this Release.  Executive has had a termination of employment pursuant to such employment agreement.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of certain payments and benefits under his employment agreement, Executive and the Companies agree as follows:

 

1.                                        Executive expressly waives and releases the Companies, their respective affiliates and related entities, parent corporations and subsidiaries, and all current and former directors, administrators, supervisors, managers, agents, officers, partners, stockholders, attorneys, insurers and employees of the Companies and their affiliates, related entities, parent corporations and subsidiaries, and their successors and assigns, from any and all claims, actions and causes of action, at law or in equity, known or unknown, including those directly or indirectly relating to or connected with Executive’s employment with the Companies or termination of such employment, including but not limited to any and all claims under the Illinois Human Rights Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”), the Americans with Disabilities Act, as such Acts have been amended, and all other forms of employment discrimination whether under federal, state or local statute or ordinance, wrongful termination, retaliatory discharge, breach of express, implied, or oral contract, interference with contractual relations, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress and any other tort or contract claim under common law of any state or for attorneys’ fees, based on any act, transaction, circumstance or event arising up to and including the date of Executive’s execution of this Release; provided, however, nothing herein shall limit or impede Executive’s right to file or pursue an administrative charge with, or participate in, any investigation before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”), or any similar local, state or federal agency, or, to file a claim for unemployment compensation benefits, and/or any causes of action which by law Executive may not legally waive.  Executive agrees, however, that if Executive or anyone acting on Executive’s behalf, brings any action concerning or related to any cause of action or liability released in this Agreement, Executive waives any right to, and will not accept, any payments, monies, damages, or other relief, awarded in connection therewith.

 

2.                                        Executive acknowledges:  (a) that Executive has been advised in writing hereby to consult with an attorney before signing this Release, and (b) that Executive has had at least twenty-one (21) days after receipt of this information and Release to consider whether to accept or reject this Release.  Executive understands that Executive may sign this Release prior to the end of such twenty-one (21) day period, but is not required to do so.  In addition, Executive has seven (7) days after Executive signs this Release to revoke it.  Such revocation must be in writing and delivered either by hand or mailed and postmarked within the seven (7) day revocation period. If sent by mail, it is requested that it be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested to the Company, in care of the office of the General Counsel.  If Executive revokes this Release as provided herein, it shall be null and void.  If Executive does not revoke

 

17



 

this Release within seven (7) days after signing it, this Release shall become enforceable and effective on the eighth (8th) day after the Executive signs this Release (“Effective Date”).

 

3.                                        Executive and the Companies agree that neither this Release nor the performance hereunder constitutes an admission by either the Company or the Partnership of any violation of any federal, state or local law, regulation, or common law, or any breach of any contract or any other wrongdoing of any type.

 

4.                                        This Release shall be construed and enforced pursuant to the laws of the State of Illinois as to substance and procedure, including all questions of conflicts of laws.

 

5.                                        This Release constitutes the entire agreement between the parties concerning the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, if any, between the parties relating to the subject matter thereof; provided that this Release does not apply to: (a) any claims under employee benefit plans subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) in accordance with the terms of the applicable employee benefit plan, or any option agreement or other agreement pursuant to which Executive may exercise rights after termination of employment to acquire stock or other equity of the Company or the Partnership, (b) any claim under or based on a breach of this Release or Sections 4, 5, 8, or 9 of the Employment Agreement after the date that Executive signs this release; (c) rights or claims that may arise under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act or otherwise after the date that Executive signs this Release; or (d) any right to indemnification or directors and officers liability insurance coverage to with the Executive is otherwise entitled in accordance with Executive’s Employment Agreement.

 

6.                                        EXECUTIVE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT EXECUTIVE HAS FULLY READ AND FULLY UNDERSTANDS THIS RELEASE; AND THAT EXECUTIVE ENTERED INTO IT FREELY AND VOLUNTARILY AND WITHOUT COERCION OR PROMISES NOT CONTAINED IN THIS RELEASE.

 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 

 

Sandeep Mathrani

 

 

 

NEW GGP, INC.

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

General Counsel

 

 

 

GGP LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

 

By: General Growth Properties, Inc., its general partner

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

General Counsel

 

 

18



 

ATTACHMENT B

 

TREECO/25 East Limited Partnership

TREECO/Hylan Limited Partnership

Wappingers Associates, L.P.

Portsmouth Associates, L.P.

Masipe Limited Partnership

The New Master Limited Partnership

 


Exhibit 10.2

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

General Growth Properties, Inc.
2010 Equity Incentive Plan

 

NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT

 

THIS NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT (this “ Award Agreement ”) is made effective as of the 27th day of October, 2010 (the “ Date of Grant ”), between New GGP, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), Sandeep Mathrani (the “ Participant ”).

 

R E C I T A L S :

 

WHEREAS, the Company has adopted the General Growth Properties, Inc. 2010 Equity Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”), which is incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Award Agreement.  Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meanings as in the Plan; and

 

WHEREAS, the Committee has determined that it would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to grant the option provided for herein to the Participant pursuant to the Plan and the terms set forth herein.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth, the parties agree as follows:

 

1.                                        Grant of the Option .  The Company hereby grants to the Participant the right and option (the “ Option ”) to purchase, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, all or any part of an aggregate of 2,000,000 Shares.  The Option is intended to be a Nonqualified Stock Option.

 

2.                                        Option Price .  The purchase price of the Shares subject to the Option shall be $10.25 per Share (the “ Option Price ”).

 

3.                                        Option Term .  The term of the Option shall be ten (10) years, commencing on the Date of Grant (the “ Option Term ”).  The Option shall automatically terminate upon the expiration of the Option Term, or at such earlier time specified herein or in the Plan.

 

4.                                        Vesting of the Option .  Subject to the Participant’s continued service to the Company through the applicable vesting date, the Option shall vest in equal installments on each of the first four (4) anniversaries of the Date of Grant, such that twenty-five percent (25%) of the Option vests on each such anniversary (each, a “ Vesting Date ”).  At any time, the portion of the Option which has become vested in accordance with the terms hereof shall be called the “ Vested Portion ”.

 

5.                                        Termination of Service .

 

(a)                                   Termination of Service for Cause .  Upon a termination of the Participant’s Service by the Company for Cause the Option, including the Vested Portion, shall immediately terminate and be forfeited without consideration.  “ Cause ,” shall have the meaning

 



 

set forth in the Employment Agreement between the Participant and the Company, dated as of the date hereof (the “ Employment Agreement ”).

 

(b)                                  Termination of Service due to death or Disability .  Upon a termination of the Participant’s Service by reason of death or Disability, the Option shall immediately vest in full and shall remain exercisable until the earlier of (i) one (1) year following such termination of Service and (ii) the expiration of the Option Term.  “ Disability ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Employment Agreement.

 

(c)                                   Termination of Service by the Company without Cause or by the Participant for Good Reason .  Upon a termination of the Participant’s Service by the Company without Cause or by the Participant for Good Reason, the Option shall immediately vest in full and shall remain exercisable until the earlier of (i) sixty (60) days following such termination of Service and (ii) the expiration of the Option Term.  “ Good Reason ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Employment Agreement.

 

(d)                                  Other Terminations of Service .  Upon a termination of the Participant’s Service for any reason, other than pursuant to Sections 5(a)-(c)  above, any unvested portion of the Option shall immediately terminate and be forfeited without consideration and the Vested Portion shall remain exercisable until the earlier of (i) sixty (60) days following such termination of service and (ii) the expiration of the Option Term.

 

6.                                        Exercise Procedures .

 

(a)                                   Notice of Exercise .  To the extent exercisable, the Participant or the Participant’s representative may exercise the Vested Portion or any part thereof prior to the expiration of the Option Term by giving written notice to the Company in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “ Notice of Exercise ”).  The Notice of Exercise shall be signed by the person exercising such Option.  In the event that such Option is being exercised by the Participant’s representative, the Notice of Exercise shall be accompanied by proof (satisfactory to the Company) of such representative’s right to exercise such Option.

 

(b)                                  Method of Exercise .  The Participant or the Participant’s representative shall deliver to the Company, at the time the Notice of Exercise is given, payment in a form permissible under Section 6.4 of the Plan for the full amount of the aggregate Option Price for the exercised Option.

 

(c)                                   Issuance of Shares .  Provided the Company receives a properly completed and executed Notice of Exercise and payment for the full amount of the aggregate Option Price, the Company shall promptly cause the Shares underlying the exercised Option to be issued in the name of the Person exercising the applicable Option.

 

7.                                        Adjustment of Shares .  In the event of any corporate event or transaction (as described in Article 12 of the Plan), the terms of this Award Agreement (including, without limitation, the number and kind of Shares subject to this Award Agreement and the Option Price) may be adjusted as set forth in Article 12 of the Plan.

 

8.                                        No Right to Continued Service .  The granting of the Option evidenced hereby and this Award Agreement shall impose no obligation on the Company or any Affiliate to

 

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continue the Service of the Participant and shall not lessen or affect any right that the Company or any Affiliate may have to terminate the service of such Participant.

 

9.                                        Securities Laws/Legend on Certificates .  The issuance and delivery of Shares shall comply with all applicable requirements of law, including (without limitation) the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, state securities laws and regulations, and the regulations of any stock exchange or other securities market on which the Company’s securities may then be traded.  If the Company deems it necessary to ensure that the issuance of securities under the Plan is not required to be registered under any applicable securities laws, each Participant to whom such security would be issued shall deliver to the Company an agreement or certificate containing such representations, warranties and covenants as the Company which satisfies such requirements.  The certificates representing the Shares shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem reasonably advisable, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

 

10.                                  Transferability .  Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, the Option may not be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by the Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and any such purported assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against the Company or any Affiliate; provided , that , the designation of a beneficiary shall not constitute an assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance.  No such permitted transfer of the Option to heirs or legatees of the Participant shall be effective to bind the Company unless the Committee shall have been furnished with written notice thereof and a copy of such evidence as the Committee may deem necessary to establish the validity of the transfer and the acceptance by the transferee or transferees of the terms and conditions hereof.  During the Participant’s lifetime, the Option is exercisable only by the Participant.

 

11.                                  Withholding .  The Participant may be required to pay to the Company or any Affiliate and the Company shall have the right and is hereby authorized to withhold any applicable withholding taxes in respect of the Option, its exercise or transfer and to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Committee to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such withholding taxes.

 

12.                                  Notices .  Any notification required by the terms of this Award Agreement shall be given in writing and shall be deemed effective upon personal delivery or within three (3) days of deposit with the United States Postal Service, by registered or certified mail, with postage and fees prepaid.  A notice shall be addressed to the Company, Attention: General Counsel, at its principal executive office and to the Participant at the address that he or she most recently provided to the Company.

 

13.                                  Entire Agreement .  This Award Agreement and the Plan constitute the entire contract between the parties hereto with regard to the subject matter hereof.  They supersede any other agreements, representations or understandings (whether oral or written and whether express or implied) which relate to the subject matter hereof.

 

14.                                  Waiver .  No waiver of any breach or condition of this Award Agreement shall be deemed to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach or condition whether of like or different nature.

 

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15.                                  Successors and Assigns .  The provisions of this Award Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the Company and its successors and assigns and upon the Participant, the Participant’s assigns and the legal representatives, heirs and legatees of the Participant’s estate, whether or not any such person shall have become a party to this Award Agreement and have agreed in writing to be joined herein and be bound by the terms hereof.

 

16.                                  Choice of Law .  This Award Agreement shall be governed by the law of the State of Delaware (regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable Delaware principles of conflicts of law) as to all matters, including but not limited to matters of validity, construction, effect, performance and remedies.

 

17.                                  Option Subject to Plan .  By entering into this Award Agreement the Participant agrees and acknowledges that the Participant has received and read a copy of the Plan.  The Option is subject to the Plan.  The terms and provisions of the Plan as it may be amended from time to time are hereby incorporated herein by reference.  In the event of a conflict between any term or provision contained herein and a term or provision of the Plan, the applicable terms and provisions of the Plan will govern and prevail.

 

18.                                  No Guarantees Regarding Tax Treatment .  The Participant (or their beneficiaries) shall be responsible for all taxes with respect to the Option.  The Committee and the Company make no guarantees regarding the tax treatment of the Option.

 

19.                                  Amendment .  The Committee may amend or alter this Award Agreement and the Option granted hereunder at any time, subject to the terms of the Plan.

 

20.                                  Severability .  The provisions of this Award Agreement are severable and if any one or more provisions are determined to be illegal or otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless be binding and enforceable.

 

21.                                  Signature in Counterparts .  This Award Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

 

*                                          *                                          *

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have entered into this Award Agreement.

 

 

 

NEW GGP, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Ronald L. Gern

 

 

Name: Ronald L. Gern

 

 

Title: General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acknowledged as of the

 

 

date first written above:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Sandeep Mathrani

 

 

PARTICIPANT

 

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO

AWARD AGREEMENT

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

NOTICE OF EXERCISE

 



 

General Growth Properties, Inc.

 

110 North Wacker Drive

 

Chicago, IL 60606

 

Attn:                                         

Date of Exercise: ______________________

 

Ladies & Gentlemen:

 

1.                                        Exercise of Option .  This constitutes notice to General Growth Properties, Inc. (the “ Company ”) that pursuant to my Nonqualified Stock Option Award Agreement (the “ Award Agreement ”) under the Company’s 2010 Equity Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) I elect to purchase the number of Shares of Company common stock set forth below and for the price set forth below.  By signing and delivering this notice to the Company, I hereby acknowledge that I am the holder of the stock option (the “ Option ”) exercised by this notice and have full power and authority to exercise the same.

 

Date of Grant:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised (“ Optioned Shares ”):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares to be issued in name of:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total exercise price:

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Exercise

 

 

 

Cash payment delivered herewith:

 

$

 

 

 

2.                                        Form of Payment .  Forms of payment other than cash or its equivalent (e.g. by cashier’s check) are limited by the Plan and are permissible only to the extent approved by the compensation committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Committee ”) or any committee designated thereby, in its sole discretion.

 

3.                                        Delivery of Payment .  With this notice, I hereby deliver to the Company the full purchase price of the Optioned Shares and any and all withholding taxes due in connection with the exercise of my Option.

 

4.                                        Rights as Stockholder .  While the Company will endeavor to process this notice in a timely manner, I acknowledge that until the issuance of the shares underlying the Optioned Shares (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder shall exist with respect to such shares, notwithstanding the exercise of my option(s).  No adjustment shall be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date of issuance of the optioned stock.

 

5.                                        Interpretation .  Any dispute regarding the interpretation of this notice shall be submitted promptly by me or by the Company to the Committee, which shall review such dispute

 



 

at its next regular meeting.  The resolution of such a dispute by such administrator of the Plan shall be final and binding on all parties.

 

6.                                        Governing Law; Severability .  This notice is governed by the internal substantive laws but not the choice of law rules, of Delaware.  In the event that any provision hereof becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, unenforceable or void, this notice will continue in full force and effect without said provision.

 

7.                                        Entire Agreement .  The Plan and the Award Agreement under which the Optioned Shares were granted are incorporated herein by reference, and together with this notice constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(social security number)

 

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Exhibit 99.1

 

General Growth Properties Names Sandeep Mathrani As Chief Executive Officer

 

CHICAGO, IL, October 28, 2010 – General Growth Properties (NYSE: GGP) today announced Sandeep Mathrani as the company’s chief executive officer.

 

Mr. Mathrani, 48, was previously president, Retail Division at Vornado Realty Trust, the general partner of Vornado Realty LP, a position he held since March 2002. Prior to joining Vornado, he served as an executive vice president of Forest City Ratner, an affiliate of Forest City Enterprises, from 1994 to February 2002 and was responsible for its retail development and related leasing in the New York City metropolitan area.

 

GGP chairman-elect Bruce Flatt said Mr. Mathrani is the ideal candidate to lead GGP as it enters a new era. “Sandeep is an exceptionally talented individual who has a proven track record as one of the best retail executives in America. Sandeep helped build two of the highest quality retail portfolios over the past 15 years and has been responsible for retail at both Vornado and Forest City. His knowledge and expertise of the shopping center industry will undoubtedly help GGP retain its reputation as a premier shopping center REIT,” said Flatt.

 

Sandeep Mathrani will officially assume the CEO position at the beginning of 2011. He will succeed Adam Metz, who served as CEO during GGP’s bankruptcy process.

 

Mr. Mathrani stated, “This is an exciting time to join GGP as we re-energize the organization to be the best-in-class retail company in the United States.”

 

Bruce Flatt further commented, “We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the former board of directors of GGP, in particular Adam Metz and Tom Nolan, for their hard work and dedication in seeing GGP through bankruptcy and positioning the company to successfully move forward.”

 

ABOUT GGP

GGP currently has ownership and management interest in more than 200 regional shopping malls in 43 states, as well as ownership in planned community developments and commercial office buildings. The Company’s portfolio totals approximately 200 million square feet of retail space and includes more than 24,000 retail stores nationwide. The Company’s common stock is traded on the NYSE under the symbol GGP.

 

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from the results suggested by these forward-looking statements, for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to, our ability to successfully complete our plan of reorganization and emerge from bankruptcy, our ability to refinance, extend, restructure or repay our near and intermediate term debt, our substantial level of indebtedness, our ability to raise capital through equity issuances, asset sales or the incurrence of new debt, retail and credit market conditions, impairments, our liquidity demands and retail and

 



 

economic conditions. Readers are referred to the documents filed by General Growth Properties, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which further identify the important risk factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this release. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

 

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