UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)   August 4, 2014

 

Washington Prime Group Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Indiana

 

001-36252

 

46-4323686

(State or other jurisdiction

 

(Commission

 

(IRS Employer

of incorporation)

 

File Number)

 

Identification No.)

 

7315 Wisconsin Avenue

Bethesda, Maryland 20814

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code   (240) 630-0000

 

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

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

 

On August 4, 2014, the Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of both the Governance and Nominating Committee and Compensation Committee, approved annual compensation for the period of May 28, 2014 through May 28, 2015 for the independent members of the Board of Directors of the Company: Louis G. Conforti, Robert J. Laikin, Jacquelyn R. Soffer, and Marvin L. White.  Each independent director’s annual compensation shall total $200,000 based on a combination of cash and restricted stock units (the “RSUs”) granted under the 2014 Stock Incentive Plan of Washington Prime Group, L.P.  The annual compensation shall be allocated as follows: (i) 60% in RSUs, equal to $120,000, and (ii) 40% in cash compensation, equal to $80,000. These directors will receive the cash compensation in quarterly installments of $20,000 on or about the following dates: (1) August 15, 2014, (2) November 15, 2014, (3) February 16, 2015, and (4) May 15, 2015.

 

In connection with the RSU awards, on August 4, 2014, the Company and each referenced director entered into Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreements (the “ Director Agreements ”), pursuant to which each director was granted 6,380 RSUs, which number of RSUs was determined by dividing $120,000 by the closing price of the Company’s common stock on August 4, 2014. Each RSU represents a contingent right to receive one share of the common stock of the Company, and each respective director’s RSUs will vest on May 28, 2015, subject to such director’s continued membership on the Board of Directors.  In the event a director leaves the Board of Directors, he or she will receive one share of common stock of the Company for each vested RSU.

 

The above description is a summary and is qualified in its entirety by the terms of the form of the Director Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 to this report and is incorporated herein by this reference.

 

ITEM 9.01           FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

 

(d)  Exhibits

 

10.1                                                 Form of Director Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (filed herewith).

 

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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.

 

Dated:  August 8, 2014

 

 

WASHINGTON PRIME GROUP INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert P. Demchak

 

Name:

Robert P. Demchak

 

Title:

Secretary and General Counsel

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

10.1                                                 Form of Director Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (filed herewith).

 

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Exhibit 10.1

 

WASHINGTON PRIME GROUP

 

NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

 

This Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (“ Agreement ”) made as of                    , 2014 (the “ Award Date ”) among Washington Prime Group Inc., an Indiana corporation (the “ Company ”), its subsidiary, Washington Prime Group, L.P., an Indiana limited partnership and the entity through which the Company conducts substantially all of its operations (the “ Partnership ”), and                                  as the participant (the “ Participant ”).

 

Recitals

 

A.            The Participant is non-employee director on the Company’s Board.

 

B.            The Partnership has adopted the Partnership’s 2014 Stock Incentive Plan (as further amended, restated or supplemented from time to time hereafter, the “ Plan ”) to provide, among others, directors of the Partnership or an Affiliate (including the Company)  with equity-based incentives to maintain and enhance the performance and profitability of the Partnership and the Company.  Capitalized terms used herein without definitions shall have the meanings given to those terms in the Plan unless otherwise indicated

 

C.            This Agreement evidences an award (the “Award”) of the number of Restricted Stock Units specified in Section 2 of this Agreement, as approved by the Committee.

 

NOW, THEREFORE , the Company, the Partnership and the Participant agree as follows:

 

1.             Administration; Incorporation of the Plan .    This Award shall be administered by the Committee which has the powers and authority as set forth in the Plan.  The Committee will make the determinations and certifications required by this Award as promptly as reasonably practicable following the occurrence of the event or events necessitating such determinations or certifications.  The provisions of the Plan are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth herein.  Should there be any conflict between the terms of this Agreement on the one hand, and the Plan on the other hand, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail.

 

2.             Award .

 

(a)           Grant of RSUs . Pursuant to, and subject to, the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Plan, the Participant is hereby granted 6,380 Restricted Stock Units as of the Award Date.  Each Restricted Stock Unit represents a conditional right to receive one share of Common Stock.

 

(b)           Vesting . The Restricted Stock Units granted hereunder will vest and become nonforfeitable in full on May 28, 2015 (the “ Vesting Date ”), provided that the Participant does not incur a Termination of Employment (which, for purposes of this Agreement, shall mean cessation of membership on the Board for any reason) prior to the Vesting Date.  Unless otherwise determined by the Board or the Committee,, upon the Participant’s Termination of Employment for any reason prior to the Vesting Date the

 

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Award, and all of the Restricted Stock Units granted hereunder, shall be forfeited without any consideration, and the Participant shall have no further rights thereto.

 

(c)           Settlement . As soon as practicable following the date of the Participant’s Termination of Employment on or following the Vesting Date (but in no event later than the end of the calendar year in which such Termination of Employment occurs), the Company shall deliver to the Participant one share of Common Stock in respect of each of the Restricted Stock Units free of any restrictions; provided, that, such Termination of Employment constitutes a “separation from service” under Section 409A of the Code.

 

3.             Restrictions . Subject to any exceptions set forth in the Plan, no Restricted Stock Unit granted hereunder may be sold, exchanged, transferred, assigned, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of or hedged, in any manner (including through the use of any cash-settled instrument), whether voluntarily or involuntarily and whether by operation of law or otherwise, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Any sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, hypothecation, or other disposition in violation of the provisions of this Section 3 will be null and void and any Restricted Stock Unit which is hedged in any manner will immediately be forfeited.  All of the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement will be binding upon any permitted successors and assigns.  Except as provided in Section 5 of this Agreement, a Restricted Stock Unit shall not entitle the Participant to any incidents of ownership (including, without limitation, dividend and voting rights) in any Share until the Participant is issued the Share to which such Restricted Stock Unit relates pursuant to Section 2(c)  hereof.

 

4.             Taxes . The Participant shall be solely responsible for any applicable taxes (including, without limitation, income and excise taxes) and penalties, and any interest that accrues thereon, that the Participant incurs in connection with the receipt, vesting or settlement of any Restricted Stock Units granted hereunder.

 

5.             Dividend Equivalent Rights . So long as the Award is outstanding, the Participant shall be paid dividend equivalent payments equal to the regular cash dividends paid on the shares of Common Stock covered by this Award as if such Shares had been delivered pursuant to such Award, irrespective of whether the Award has vested. Such amounts will be paid in cash at the same time as the applicable dividends are paid on shares of Common Stock. The Participant will have only the rights of a general unsecured creditor of the Company in respect of such dividend equivalent payments until paid as specified herein.

 

6.             Amendment . No amendment of this Agreement shall materially adversely impair the rights of the Participant without the Participant’s consent, except such an amendment made to comply with applicable law (including Applicable Exchange listing standards or accounting rules) or avoid the incurrence of tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code.

 

7.             Successors and Assigns . This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company.  Subject to the restrictions on transfer set

 

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forth herein, this Agreement will be binding upon the Participant and the Participant’s beneficiary, if applicable.

 

8.             Captions . Captions provided herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the scope, meaning, intent or interpretation of the provisions of this Agreement.

 

9.             Severability; Entire Agreement . If any provision of the Plan or this Agreement is finally held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable (whether in whole or in part), such provision will be deemed modified to the extent, but only to the extent, of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability and the remaining provisions will not be affected thereby; provided that if any of such provision is finally held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable because it exceeds the maximum scope determined to be acceptable to permit such provision to be enforceable, such provision will be deemed to be modified to the minimum extent necessary to modify such scope in order to make such provision enforceable hereunder. The Plan and this Agreement contain the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter thereof and supersede all prior agreements, promises, covenants, arrangements, communications, representations and warranties between them, whether written or oral with respect to the subject matter thereof.

 

10.          Governing Law; Choice of Forum; Waiver of Jury Trial . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Indiana, without regard to the principles of conflict of laws.

 

11.          Acceptance . The Participant hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and this Agreement. The Participant has read and understands the terms and provisions thereof, and accepts the Restricted Stock Units subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement.

 

12.          Section 409A . The amounts payable under this Agreement are intended to avoid the incurrence of tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code.  This Agreement shall in all respects be administered in accordance with Section 409A of the Code.  Each payment under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A of the Code.  In no event may the Participant, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of any payment to be made under this Agreement.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event that the Participant is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code (as determined in accordance with the methodology established by the Company as in effect on the Date of Termination), amounts that constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code that would otherwise be payable and benefits that would otherwise be provided hereunder during the six-month period immediately following the Participant’s separation from service shall instead be paid, with interest in the case of cash payments (calculated at the applicable federal rate) determined as of the separation from service, or provided on the first business day after the date that is six months following the Participant’s separation from service; provided that, if the Participant dies following the Participant’s separation from service and prior to the payment of the any amounts delayed on account of Section 409A of the Code hereunder, such amounts shall be paid to the personal representative of the Participant’s estate within 30 days after the date of the Participant’s death.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the        day of                 , 2014.

 

 

WASHINGTON PRIME GROUP INC.,

 

 

an Indiana corporation

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WASHINGTON PRIME GROUP, L.P.,

 

 

an Indiana limited partnership

 

 

 

 

 

By:

Washington Prime Group Inc.,

 

 

an Indiana corporation, its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

PARTICIPANT

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name: [                        ]

 

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