As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 27, 2009

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-8

 

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE

SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Chesapeake Lodging Trust

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Maryland   27-0372343

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification Number)

 

710 Route 46 East

Suite 206

Fairfield, NJ

  07004
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

 

 

Chesapeake Lodging Trust Equity Plan

(Full title of the Plan)

Douglas W. Vicari, Chief Financial Officer

710 Route 46 East

Suite 206

Fairfield, NJ 07004

(Name and address of agent for service)

(201) 970-2559

(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies to:

James E. Showen

Kevin L. Vold

Hogan & Hartson LLP

555 Thirteenth Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20004

(202) 637-5600

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   x   (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 
Title of securities to be registered   Amount to be
Registered (1)
 

Proposed

maximum

offering price

per share (2)

 

Proposed

maximum

aggregate

offering

price

 

Amount of
registration

fee (3)(4)

Common Shares of Beneficial Interest, par value $0.01 per share

  450,365   $18.78   $8,457,854   $603.05
 
 

 

(1) Represents the aggregate number of common shares of beneficial interest (the “Common Shares”) of Chesapeake Lodging Trust (the “Company”) reserved for issuance under the Chesapeake Lodging Trust Equity Plan (the “Plan”). Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this registration statement also covers an additional indeterminate amount of shares to be offered or sold pursuant to the Plan and shares that may become issuable under the Plan by reason of certain corporate transactions or events, including any share dividend, share split, recapitalization or any other similar adjustment of the Company’s outstanding Common Shares.
(2) Represents the average of the high and the low prices per Common Share of the Company as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on January 22, 2010.
(3) Computed in accordance with Rule 457(c) and (h) under the Securities Act.
(4) The Company previously paid a fee of $25,668 in connection with the initial filing of its Registration Statement on Form S-11 (File No. 333-162184) with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 28, 2009 to register the issuance and sale of Common Shares with a proposed maximum aggregate offering price of $460,000,000 in connection with the Company’s initial public offering (“IPO”). The Company priced the IPO on January 21, 2010 and sold 7,500,000 Common Shares, and may sell up to an additional 1,125,000 Common Shares that may be purchased by the underwriters upon the exercise of their overallotment option at $20.00 per share. Pursuant to Rule 457(p) under the Securities Act, the Company is offsetting the entire registration fee due under this Registration Statement against the amount of the registration fee paid but not used in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-11.

 

 

 


PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

The documents containing the information specified in this Part I will be sent or given to the persons participating in the Plan, as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act. In accordance with the instructions to Part I of Form S-8, such documents need not be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) either as part of this registration statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 promulgated under the Securities Act. These documents and the documents incorporated by reference in this registration statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this registration statement, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

The following documents, which the Company has previously filed with the Commission, are hereby incorporated by reference into this registration statement:

 

  (1) The Company’s final prospectus, dated January 21, 2010, filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, in connection with its Registration Statement on Form S-11 (File No. 333-162184); and

 

  (2) The description of the Company’s Common Shares contained in its Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed on December 4, 2009 pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and all amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

In addition, all documents and reports subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such documents or reports. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this registration statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this registration statement.

 

Item 4. Description of Securities.

Not applicable.

 

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

Not applicable.

 

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

The Maryland REIT law permits a Maryland REIT to indemnify and advance expenses to its trustees, officers, employees and agents to the same extent as permitted by the Maryland General Corporation Law, or the MGCL, for directors and officers of Maryland corporations. The MGCL permits a corporation to indemnify its

 

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present and former directors and officers against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses incurred in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made, or are threatened to be made, a party by reason of their service in those capacities or in the defense of any claim, issue or matter in any such proceeding. However, a Maryland corporation is not permitted to provide this type of indemnification if the following is established:

 

 

the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and was committed in bad faith or was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty;

 

 

the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or

 

 

in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful.

According to Maryland law, a court may also order indemnification if it determines that the director or officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification, even though the director or officer did not meet the prescribed standard of conduct or was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received. However, a Maryland corporation may not indemnify a director or officer for an adverse judgment in a suit by or in the right of that corporation or for a judgment of liability on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received, unless in either case a court orders indemnification and then only for expenses. The MGCL permits a corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon the corporation’s receipt of the following:

 

 

a written affirmation by the director or officer of his good faith belief that he has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation; and

 

 

a written undertaking by him or on his behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the corporation if it is ultimately determined that this standard of conduct was not met.

To the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, the Company’s declaration of trust and bylaws include provisions limiting the liability of its present and former trustees and officers or any individual who, at the Company’s request, serves or has served another real estate investment trust, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise as a trustee, director, officer or partner (each, an “Indemnified Party”), from and against any claim or liability to which that person may become subject or which that person may incur by reason of his or her status in any of the foregoing capacities and to pay and advance their reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding. In addition, the Company’s bylaws, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, require the Company to indemnify any of its present and former trustees and officers or any individual who, at the Company’s request, serves or has served another real estate investment trust, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise as a trustee, director, officer or partner from and against any claim or liability to which that person may become subject or which that person may incur by reason of his or her status in that capacity and to pay and advance their reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of the proceeding.

The Company also expects to enter into indemnification agreements with its trustees and officers providing for procedures for indemnification by the Company to the fullest extent permitted by law and advancements by the Company of certain expenses and costs relating to claims, suits or proceedings arising from their service to the Company.

The Company expects to obtain an insurance policy under which its trustees and executive officers will be insured, subject to the limits of the policy, against certain losses arising from claims made against such trustees and officers by reason of any acts or omissions covered under such policy in their respective capacities as trustees or officers, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act.

The Company has been advised that the Commission has expressed the opinion that indemnification of trustees, officers or persons otherwise controlling a company for liabilities arising under the Securities Act is against public policy and is therefore unenforceable.

 

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Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.

Not applicable.

 

Item 8. Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

  5.1

   Opinion of Hogan & Hartson LLP regarding the validity of the common shares registered hereby

10.1

   Chesapeake Lodging Trust Equity Plan

23.1

   Consent of Ernst & Young LLP

23.2

   Consent of Hogan & Hartson LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)

24.1

   Power of Attorney (included on signature page hereto)

 

Item 9. Undertakings.

 

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

  (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-8 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

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(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that, in the opinion of the Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than for the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Fairfield, State of New Jersey on January 27, 2010.

 

CHESAPEAKE LODGING TRUST
By:   / S /     J AMES L. F RANCIS        
  James L. Francis
  President and Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints James L. Francis and Douglas W. Vicari, and each of them, as his attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments or post-effective amendments to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with exhibits and other documents related thereto with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto such attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary in connection with such matters and hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorney-in-fact and agent or his substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

 

Signatures

        

Title

       

Date

/ S /     T HOMAS A. N ATELLI                Chairman of the Board of Trustees       January 27, 2010
Thomas A. Natelli         
/ S /     J AMES L. F RANCIS                President, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee       January 27, 2010
James L. Francis      (principal executive officer)    
/ S /     D OUGLAS W. V ICARI               

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial

Officer, Treasurer, Secretary and Trustee

      January 27, 2010
Douglas W. Vicari      (principal financial and accounting officer)    


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

  5.1    Opinion of Hogan & Hartson LLP regarding the validity of the common shares registered hereby
10.1    Chesapeake Lodging Trust Equity Plan
23.1    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
23.2    Consent of Hogan & Hartson LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1    Power of Attorney (included on signature page hereto)

Exhibit 5.1

January 27, 2010

Board of Trustees

Chesapeake Lodging Trust

710 Route 46 East

Suite 206

Fairfield, NJ 07004

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are acting as counsel to Chesapeake Lodging Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “ Company ”), in connection with its registration statement on Form S-8 (the “ Registration Statement ”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the proposed offering of up to 450,365 newly issued common shares of beneficial interest, par value $.01 per share (the “ Common Shares ”) of the Company (the “ Shares ”), all of which may be issued by the Company pursuant to the Chesapeake Lodging Trust Equity Plan (the “ Plan ”). This opinion letter is furnished to you at your request to enable you to fulfill the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K, 17 C.F.R. § 229.601(b)(5), in connection with the Registration Statement.

For purposes of this opinion letter, we have examined copies of such agreements, instruments and documents as we have deemed an appropriate basis on which to render the opinions hereinafter expressed. In our examination of the aforesaid documents, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the accuracy and completeness of all documents submitted to us, the authenticity of all original documents, and the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies (including telecopies). We also have assumed that the Shares will not be issued in violation of the ownership limit contained in the Company’s Articles of Amendment and Restatement of Declaration of Trust. As to all matters of fact, we have relied on the representations and statements of fact made in the documents so reviewed, and we have not independently established the facts so relied on. This opinion letter is given, and all statements herein are made, in the context of the foregoing.

This opinion letter is based as to matters of law solely on Title 8 of the Corporations and Associations Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland and applicable provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law, as amended (collectively, the “ Maryland REIT Law ”). We express no opinion herein as to any other laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, or regulations. As used herein, the term “Maryland REIT Law” includes the statutory provisions contained therein, all applicable provisions of the Maryland Constitution and reported judicial decisions interpreting these laws.

Based upon, subject to and limited by the foregoing, we are of the opinion that following (i) effectiveness of the Registration Statement, (ii) issuance of the Shares pursuant to the terms of the


Board of Trustees

Chesapeake Lodging Trust

January 27, 2010

Page 2

Plan and the applicable award agreements, and (iii) receipt by the Company of the consideration for the Shares specified in the applicable resolutions of the Board of Trustees and in the Plan and the applicable award agreements, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

This opinion letter has been prepared for your use in connection with the Registration Statement. We assume no obligation to advise you of any changes in the foregoing subsequent to the effective date of the Registration Statement.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are an “expert” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Very truly yours,

/s/ HOGAN & HARTSON L.L.P.

Exhibit 10.1

 

 

CHESAPEAKE LODGING TRUST

EQUITY PLAN

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

             Page

1.

  PURPOSE    1

2.

  DEFINITIONS    1

3.

  ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN    5
  3.1.   Board    5
  3.2.   Committee    5
  3.3.   Terms of Awards    6
  3.4.   Deferral Arrangement    7
  3.5.   No Liability    7
  3.6.   Share Issuance/Book-Entry    7
  3.7.   No Repricing    7

4.

  SHARE SUBJECT TO THE PLAN    7
  4.1.   Number of Shares Available for Awards and Share Usage    7
  4.2.   Adjustments in Authorized Shares    8

5.

  DURATION AND AMENDMENTS    8
  5.1.   Effective Date    8
  5.2.   Term    8
  5.3.   Amendment and Termination of the Plan    8

6.

  AWARD ELIGIBILITY AND LIMITATIONS    9
  6.1.   Service Providers; Outside Trustees; Other Persons    9
  6.2.   Successive Awards    9
  6.3.   Limitation on Shares Subject to Awards and Cash Awards    9
  6.4.   Stand-Alone, Additional, Tandem, and Substitute Awards    9

7.

  AWARD AGREEMENT    10

8.

  TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS    10
  8.1.   Option Price    10
  8.2.   Vesting    10
  8.3.   Term    10
  8.4.   Termination of Service    10
  8.5.   Method of Exercise    10
  8.6.   Rights of Holders of Options    11
  8.7.   Delivery of Share Certificates    11
  8.8.   Limitations on Incentive Share Options    11
  8.9.   Notice of Disqualifying Disposition    11

9.

  TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS    11
  9.1.   Transferability of Options    11
  9.2.   Transfers    11

10.

  SHARE APPRECIATION RIGHTS    12
  10.1.   Right to Payment    12
  10.2.   Other Terms    12

11.

  RESTRICTED SHARES AND SHARE UNITS    13
  11.1.   Grant of Restricted Shares or Share Units    13

 

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  11.2.   Restrictions    13
  11.3.   Restricted Shares Certificates    13
  11.4.   Rights of Holders of Restricted Shares    13
  11.5.   Rights of Holders of Share Units    14
    11.5.1.   No Voting and Dividend Rights    14
    11.5.2.   Creditor’s Rights    14
  11.6.   Termination of Service    14
  11.7.   Purchase of Restricted Shares    14
  11.8.   Delivery of Shares    14

12.

  UNRESTRICTED SHARES AWARDS    15

13.

  FORM OF PAYMENT FOR OPTIONS AND RESTRICTED SHARES AND SHARE UNITS    15
  13.1.   General Rule    15
  13.2.   Surrender of Shares    15
  13.3.   Cashless Exercise    15
  13.4.   Other Forms of Payment    15
14. DIVIDEND EQUIVALENT RIGHTS    16
  14.1.   Dividend Equivalent Rights    16
  14.2.   Termination of Service    16
15. PERFORMANCE AND ANNUAL INCENTIVE AWARDS    16
  15.1.   Performance Conditions    16
  15.2.   Performance or Annual Incentive Awards Granted to Designated Covered Employees    17
    15.2.1.   Performance Goals Generally    17
    15.2.2.   Business Criteria    17
    15.2.3.   Timing For Establishing Performance Goals    17
    15.2.4.   Performance or Annual Incentive Award Pool    18
    15.2.5.   Settlement of Performance or Annual Incentive Awards; Other Terms    18
  15.3.   Written Determinations    18
  15.4.   Status of Section 15.2 Awards Under Code Section 162(m)    18

16.

  PARACHUTE LIMITATIONS    18

17.

  REQUIREMENTS OF LAW    19
  17.1.   General    19
  17.2.   Rule 16b-3    20
18. EFFECT OF CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION    20
  18.1.   Changes in Shares    20
  18.2.   Changes in Capitalization; Merger; Liquidation    21
  18.3.   Adjustments    21
  18.4.   No Limitations on Company    21

19.

  GENERAL PROVISIONS    21
  19.1.   Disclaimer of Rights    21
  19.2.   Nonexclusivity of the Plan    22
  19.3.   Withholding Taxes    22

 

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  19.4.   Captions    23
  19.5.   Other Provisions    23
  19.6.   Number And Gender    23
  19.7.   Severability    23
  19.8.   Governing Law    23
  19.9.   Code Section 409A    23

 

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CHESAPEAKE LODGING TRUST

EQUITY PLAN

Chesapeake Lodging Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Company”), sets forth herein the terms of its Equity Plan (as amended from time to time, the “Plan”), as follows:

 

1. PURPOSE

This Plan is intended to (a) provide incentive to eligible persons to stimulate their efforts toward the continued success of the Company and to operate and manage their businesses in a manner that will provide for the long-term growth and profitability of the Company; and (b) provide a means of obtaining, rewarding and retaining key personnel. To this end, the Plan provides for the grant of share options, share appreciation rights, restricted shares, share units, unrestricted shares, dividend equivalent rights and cash awards. Any of these awards may, but need not, be made as performance incentives to reward attainment of annual or long-term performance goals in accordance with the terms hereof. Share options granted under the Plan may be non-qualified share options or incentive share options, as provided herein.

 

2. DEFINITIONS

For purposes of interpreting the Plan and related documents (including Award Agreements), the following definitions shall apply:

2.1 “Affiliate” means, with respect to the Company, any company or other trade or business that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 of Regulation C under the Securities Act, including, without limitation, any Subsidiary. For purposes of granting Options or Share Appreciation Rights, an entity may not be considered an Affiliate unless the Company holds a “controlling interest” in such entity, where the term “controlling interest” has the same meaning as provided in Treasury Regulations section 1.414(c)-2(b)(2)(i), provided that the language “at least 50 percent” is used instead of “at least 80 percent” and, provided further, that where granting of Options or Share Appreciation Rights is based upon a legitimate business criteria, the language “at least 20 percent” is used instead of “at least 80 percent” each place it appears in Treasury Regulations section 1.414(c)-2(b)(2)(i).

2.2 “Annual Incentive Award” means an Award made subject to attainment of performance goals (as described in Section 15 ) over a performance period of up to and including one year (the fiscal year, unless otherwise specified by the Committee).

2.3 “Award” means a grant of an Option, Share Appreciation Right, Restricted Share, Unrestricted Share, Share Unit, Dividend Equivalent Right, or cash award under the Plan.

2.4 “Award Agreement” means the written or electronic agreement between the Company and a Grantee that evidences and sets out the terms and conditions of an Award.

2.5 “Benefit Arrangement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 16 hereof.

2.6 “Board” means the Board of Trustees of the Company.


2.7 “Cause” unless otherwise provided by the Board or the Committee in the Award Agreement, has the same meaning as provided in the employment agreement between the Service Provider and the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, on the date of Termination of Employment, or if no such definition or employment agreement exists, “Cause” means conduct amounting to (i) fraud or dishonesty against the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, (ii) Service Provider’s willful misconduct, repeated refusal to follow the reasonable directions of the Board, any executive officer or departmental head of the Company or any Affiliate, or knowing violation of law in the course of performance of the duties of Service Provider’s employment with the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, (iii) repeated absences from work without a reasonable excuse, (iv) intoxication with alcohol or drugs while on the Company’s or any Affiliate of the Company’s premises or while performing Services for the Company or any of its Affiliates, (v) a conviction or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or a crime involving dishonesty, or (vi) a material breach or violation of the terms of any employment or other agreement to which Service Provider and the Company, or, if applicable, any Affiliate of the Company are parties.

2.8 “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as now in effect or as hereafter amended.

2.9 “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board or other committee of the Board to which authority has been delegated pursuant to Section 3.2 .

2.10 “Company” means Chesapeake Lodging Trust, a Maryland real estate trust.

2.11 “Corporate Transaction” means (i) the dissolution or liquidation of the Company or a merger, consolidation, or reorganization of the Company with one or more other entities in which the Company is not the surviving entity, (ii) a sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company to another person or entity, or (iii) any transaction (including without limitation a merger or reorganization in which the Company is the surviving entity) which results in any person or entity (other than persons who are shareholders or Affiliates of the Company or Affiliates of such shareholders immediately prior to the transaction) owning 50% or more of the combined voting power of all classes of shares of beneficial interest of the Company.

2.12 “Covered Employee” means a Grantee who is a Covered Employee within the meaning of Section 162(m)(3) of the Code.

2.13 “Disability” has the same meaning as provided in the long-term disability plan or policy maintained by the Company or, if applicable, any Affiliate of the Company for the Service Provider. If no long-term disability plan or policy was ever maintained on behalf of the Service Provider, Disability shall mean that condition described in Code Section 22(e)(3), as amended from time to time. In the event of a dispute, the determination of Disability shall be made by the Board and shall be supported by advice of a physician competent in the area to which such Disability relates.

2.14 “Dividend Equivalent” means a right, granted to a Grantee under Section 14 hereof, to receive cash, Shares, other Awards or other property equal in value to dividends paid with respect to a specified number of Shares, or other periodic payments.

 

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2.15 “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as now in effect or as hereafter amended.

2.16 “Fair Market Value” means the value of a Share, determined as follows: if on the Grant Date or other determination date the Shares are listed on an established national or regional stock exchange, or is publicly traded on an established securities market, the Fair Market Value of a Share shall be the closing price of the Shares on such exchange or in such market (if there is more than one such exchange or market, the principal exchange or market on which the Shares are listed) on the Grant Date or such other determination date or, if no sale of Shares is reported for such date, the Fair Market Value shall be the Fair Market Value on the next preceding day on which any sale shall have been reported. If the Shares are not listed on such an exchange, quoted on such system or traded on such a market, Fair Market Value shall be the value of the Shares as determined by the Board in good faith. For purposes of determining taxable income and the amount of the related tax withholding obligation under Section 19.3, notwithstanding this Section 2.16 or Section 19.3, for any Shares that are sold on the same day that such shares are first legally saleable pursuant to the terms of the applicable award agreement, Fair Market Value shall be determined based upon the sale price for such Shares so long as the grantee has provided the Company with advance written notice of such sale.

2.17 “Family Member” means a person who is a spouse, former spouse, child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother, sister, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, of the Grantee, any person sharing the Grantee’s household (other than a tenant or employee), a trust in which any one or more of these persons have more than fifty percent of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which any one or more of these persons (or the Grantee) control the management of assets, and any other entity in which one or more of these persons (or the Grantee) own more than fifty percent of the voting interests.

2.18 “Grant Date” means, as determined by the Board or the Committee, the latest to occur of (i) the date as of which the Board or such Committee approves an Award, (ii) the date on which the recipient of an Award first becomes eligible to receive an Award under Section 6 hereof, or (iii) such other date as may be specified by the Board or such Committee.

2.19 “Grantee” means a person who receives or holds an Award under the Plan.

2.20 “Incentive Share Option” means an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, or the corresponding provision of any subsequently enacted tax statute, as amended from time to time.

2.21 “Non-qualified Share Option” means an Option that is not an Incentive Share Option.

2.22 “Option” means an option to purchase one or more Shares pursuant to the Plan.

2.23 “Option Price” means the purchase price for each Share subject to an Option.

2.24 “Other Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 16 hereof.

2.25 “Outside Trustee” means a member of the Board who is not an officer or employee of the Company.

 

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2.26 “Performance Award” means an Award made subject to the attainment of performance goals (as described in Section 15 ) over a performance period of more than one year.

2.27 “Plan” means this Chesapeake Lodging Trust Equity Plan, as amended, modified or restated from time to time.

2.28 “Purchase Price” means the purchase price for each Share pursuant to a grant of Restricted Shares or Share Units.

2.29 “Reporting Person” means a person who is required to file reports under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act.

2.30 “Restricted Shares” means Shares, awarded to a Grantee pursuant to Section 11 hereof.

2.31 “SAR Exercise Price” means the per share exercise price of an SAR granted to a Grantee under Section 10 hereof.

2.32 “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as now in effect or as hereafter amended.

2.33 “Service” means service as an employee, officer, Outside Trustee or other Service Provider of the Company or an Affiliate. Unless otherwise stated in the applicable Award Agreement, a Grantee’s change in position or duties shall not result in interrupted or terminated Service, so long as such Grantee continues to be an employee, officer, Outside Trustee or other Service Provider of the Company or an Affiliate. Subject to the preceding sentence, whether a termination of Service shall have occurred for purposes of the Plan shall be determined by the Board, which determination shall be final, binding and conclusive.

2.34 “Service Provider” means an employee, officer or Outside Trustee of the Company or an Affiliate, or an individual who is a consultant or adviser providing services to the Company or an Affiliate.

2.35 “Shares” means the common shares of beneficial interest, par value $.01 per share, of the Company.

2.36 “Share Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means a right granted to a Grantee under Section 10 hereof.

2.37 “Share Unit” means a bookkeeping entry representing the equivalent of a Share, awarded to a Grantee pursuant to Section 11 hereof.

2.38 “Subsidiary” means any “subsidiary corporation” of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code.

2.39 “Substitute Award” means an Award granted upon assumption of, or in substitution for, an outstanding award previously granted by a company or other entity acquired by the Company or any Affiliate with which the Company or any Affiliate combines.

 

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2.40 “Termination Date” means the date upon which an Option or SAR shall terminate or expire, as set forth in Section 8.3 hereof.

2.41 “Ten Percent Shareholder” means an employee who owns more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of outstanding shares of beneficial interest in the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. In determining share ownership, the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code shall be applied.

2.42 “Unrestricted Share” means an Award pursuant to Section 12 hereof.

 

3. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

3.1. Board

The Board shall have such powers and authorities related to the administration of the Plan as are consistent with the Company’s declaration of trust and by-laws, in each case, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and applicable law. The Board shall have full power and authority to take all actions and to make all determinations required or provided for under the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement, and shall have full power and authority to take all such other actions and make all such other determinations not inconsistent with the specific terms and provisions of the Plan that the Board deems to be necessary or appropriate to the administration of the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement. All such actions and determinations shall be by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Board present at a meeting or by unanimous consent of the Board executed in writing in accordance with the Company’s declaration of trust and by-laws, in each case, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and applicable law. The interpretation and construction by the Board of any provision of the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement shall be final and conclusive.

3.2. Committee

The Board from time to time may delegate to the Committee such powers and authorities related to the administration and implementation of the Plan, as set forth in Section 3.1 above and other applicable provisions, as the Board shall determine, consistent with the declaration of trust and by-laws of the Company, in each case, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and applicable law. The Board may also appoint one or more separate committees of the Board, each composed of one or more trustees of the Company who need not be Outside Trustees, who may administer the Plan with respect to employees or other Service Providers who are not executive officers or trustees of the Company or its Affiliates, may grant Awards under the Plan to such employees or other Service Providers, and may determine all terms of such Awards. In addition, the Committee may delegate to one or more executive officers of the Company or its Affiliates the authority to grant Awards to employees or other Service Providers who are not executive officers or trustees of the Company. Such delegation shall specify the maximum number of Shares that may be granted by such officer(s), as well as the time period during which the delegation shall remain in effect. In the event that the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement entered into hereunder provides for any action to be taken by or determination to be made by the Board, such action may be taken or such determination may be made by the Committee if the power and authority to do so has been delegated to the Committee by the Board as provided for in this Section. Unless otherwise expressly determined by the Board, any such action or determination by the Committee shall be final, binding and conclusive. To the extent permitted by law, the Committee may delegate its authority under the Plan to a member of the Board.

 

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3.3. Terms of Awards

Subject to the other terms and conditions of the Plan, the Board shall have full and final authority to:

(i) designate Grantees,

(ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be made to a Grantee,

(iii) determine the number of Shares to be subject to an Award,

(iv) establish the terms and conditions of each Award (including, but not limited to, the exercise price of any Option, the nature and duration of any restriction or condition (or provision for lapse thereof) relating to the vesting, exercise, transfer, or forfeiture of an Award or the Shares subject thereto, the treatment of an Award in the event of a Corporate Transaction and any terms or conditions that may be necessary to qualify Options as Incentive Share Options),

(v) prescribe the form of each Award Agreement evidencing an Award, and

(vi) amend, modify, or supplement the terms of any outstanding Award, subject to Section 3.7. Such authority specifically includes the authority, in order to effectuate the purposes of the Plan but without amending the Plan, to make or modify Awards to eligible individuals who are foreign nationals or are individuals who are employed outside the United States to recognize differences in local law, tax policy, or custom.

The Board shall have the right, in its discretion, to make Awards in substitution or exchange for any other award under another plan of the Company, any Affiliate, or any business entity to be acquired by the Company or an Affiliate. The Committee may retain the right in an Award Agreement to cause a forfeiture of the gain realized by a Grantee on account of actions taken by the Grantee in violation or breach of or in conflict with any non-competition agreement, any agreement prohibiting solicitation of employees or clients of the Company or any Affiliate thereof or any confidentiality obligation with respect to the Company or any Affiliate thereof, to the extent specified in such Award Agreement applicable to the Grantee. Furthermore, the Company may annul an Award if the Grantee is an employee of the Company or an Affiliate thereof and is terminated for Cause as defined in the applicable Award Agreement or the Plan or any other agreement with the Grantee, as applicable.

Furthermore, if the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the Company as a result of misconduct, with regard to any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, the individuals subject to automatic forfeiture under Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and any Grantee who knowingly engaged in the misconduct, was grossly negligent in engaging in the misconduct, knowingly failed to prevent the misconduct or was grossly negligent in failing to prevent the misconduct, shall reimburse the Company the amount of any payment in settlement of an Award earned or accrued during the 12-month period following the first public issuance or filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (whichever first occurred) of the financial document that contained such material noncompliance.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan or any provision of any Award Agreement, if the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement, then Grantees shall forfeit any cash or Shares received in connection with an Award (or an amount equal to the fair market value of such Shares on the date of delivery if the Grantee no longer holds the Shares) if pursuant to the terms of the Award

 

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Agreement for such Award, the amount of the Award earned or the vesting in the Award was explicitly based on the achievement of pre-established performance goals set forth in the Award Agreement (including earnings, gains, or other criteria) that are later determined, as a result of the accounting restatement, not to have been achieved.

3.4. Deferral Arrangement

The Board may permit or require the deferral of any award payment into a deferred compensation arrangement, subject to such rules and procedures as it may establish, which may include provisions for the payment or crediting of interest or dividend equivalents, including converting such credits into deferred Share equivalents and restricting deferrals to comply with hardship distribution rules affecting 401(k) plans. Any such deferrals shall be made in a manner that complies with Code Section 409A.

3.5. No Liability

No member of the Board or of the Committee shall be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award or Award Agreement.

3.6. Share Issuance/Book-Entry.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, the issuance of the Shares under the Plan may be evidenced in such a manner as the Board, in its discretion, deems appropriate, including, without limitation, book-entry registration or issuance of one or more share certificates.

3.7. No Repricing.

Other than pursuant to Section 18 and except in connection with a Corporate Transaction involving the Company and/or any share dividend, share split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, or exchange of shares, notwithstanding any other provision in the Plan to the contrary, the terms of outstanding Options or SARs may not be amended without shareholder approval to (i) reduce their Option Price or SAR Exercise Price, as applicable or (ii) cancel, exchange, substitute, buyout or surrender such outstanding Options or SARs in exchange for cash, other Awards or Options or SARs with an Option Price or SAR Exercise Price, as applicable, that is less than the Option Price or SAR Exercise Price, as applicable, of the original Options or SARs.

 

4. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

4.1. Number of Shares Available for Awards and Share Usage

Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 18 hereof, the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be 450,365 which amount shall, if the underwriters for the initial registered public offering of the Shares exercise their over-allotment option to purchase additional Shares pursuant to their underwriting agreement, be increased 45 days following the consummation of the initial registered public offering of the Shares by five percent (5%) of the number of Shares issued by the Company pursuant to the exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option with respect to such public offering. All Shares available for issuance under the Plan may be awarded as Incentive Share Options. Any Shares that are subject to Awards shall be counted against this limit as one (1) Share for every one (1) Share issued.

 

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Shares issued or to be issued under the Plan shall be authorized but unissued Shares. If any Shares covered by an Award granted under the Plan are not purchased or are forfeited or expire, or if an award in either case otherwise terminates without delivery of any Shares subject thereto or is settled in cash in lieu of Shares, then the number of Shares counted against the aggregate number of Shares available under the Plan with respect to such Award shall, to the extent of any such forfeiture, termination or expiration, again be available for making Awards under the Plan as set forth in this Section 4.1. Any Shares that again become available for grant pursuant to this Section 4.1 shall be added back as one (1) Share. Shares issued pursuant to Awards granted in substitution for awards held by employees of a business entity acquired by the Company or an Affiliate shall not count against the Shares available for issuance under the Plan.

4.2. Adjustments in Authorized Shares.

The Board shall have the right to substitute or assume Awards in connection with mergers, reorganizations, separations, or other transactions to which Section 424(a) of the Code applies. The number of Shares reserved pursuant to Section 4.1 shall be increased by the corresponding number of awards assumed and, in the case of a substitution, by the net increase in the number of Shares subject to awards before and after the substitution. Available shares under a shareholder approved plan of an acquired company (as appropriately adjusted to reflect the transaction) may be used for Awards under the Plan and do not reduce the number of Shares available under the Plan, subject to applicable stock exchange requirements.

 

5. DURATION AND AMENDMENTS

5.1. Effective Date

The Plan shall be effective as of the Effective Date, subject to approval of the Plan by the Company’s shareholders within one year of the Effective Date. Upon approval of the Plan by the shareholders of the Company as set forth above, all Awards made under the Plan on or after the Effective Date shall be fully effective as if the shareholders of the Company had approved the Plan on the Effective Date. If the shareholders fail to approve the Plan within one year of the Effective Date, any Awards made hereunder shall be null and void and of no effect.

5.2. Term

The Plan shall terminate automatically on January 18, 2020 and may be terminated on any earlier date as provided in Section 5.3 .

5.3. Amendment and Termination of the Plan

The Board may, at any time and from time to time, amend, suspend, or terminate the Plan as to any Shares as to which Awards have not been made. An amendment shall be contingent on approval of the Company’s shareholders only (i) to the extent stated by the Board or required by applicable law or (ii) if the amendment would (A) materially increase the benefits accruing to participants under the Plan, (B) materially increase the aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan, or (C) materially modify the requirements as to eligibility for participation in the Plan. No amendment will be made to the no repricing provisions of Section 8 of the Plan without the approval of the Company’s shareholders. No amendment, suspension, or termination of the Plan shall, without the consent of the Grantee, impair rights or obligations under any Award theretofore awarded under the Plan.

 

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6. AWARD ELIGIBILITY AND LIMITATIONS

6.1. Service Providers; Outside Trustees; Other Persons

Subject to this Section 6 , Awards may be made under the Plan to: (i) any Service Provider to the Company or of any Affiliate, including any such Service Provider who is an officer or trustee of the Company, or of any Affiliate, as the Board shall determine and designate from time to time and (ii) any other individual whose participation in the Plan is determined to be in the best interests of the Company by the Board.

6.2. Successive Awards

An eligible person may receive more than one Award, subject to such restrictions as are provided herein.

6.3. Limitation on Shares Subject to Awards and Cash Awards

(i) the maximum number of Shares subject to Options or SARs that can be issued under the Plan to any person eligible for an Award under Section 6 hereof is 350,000 (three hundred fifty thousand) in any calendar year;

(ii) the maximum number of Shares that can be issued under the Plan, other than pursuant to an Option, SAR, or Restricted Shares or Share Unit grant that is not performance based, to any person eligible for an Award under Section 6 hereof is 350,000 (three hundred fifty thousand) in any calendar year;

(iii) the maximum amount that may be earned as an Annual Incentive Award or other cash Award in any fiscal year by any one Grantee shall be $5,000,000 and the maximum amount that may be earned as a Performance Award or other cash Award in respect of a performance period by any one Grantee shall be $15,000,000.

The preceding limitations in this Section 6.3 are subject to adjustment as provided in Section 18 hereof.

6.4. Stand-Alone, Additional, Tandem, and Substitute Awards

Subject to Section 3.7, Awards granted under the Plan may, in the discretion of the Board, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution or exchange for, any other Award or any award granted under another plan of the Company, any Affiliate, or any business entity to be acquired by the Company or an Affiliate, or any other right of a Grantee to receive payment from the Company or any Affiliate. Such additional, tandem, and substitute or exchange Awards may be granted at any time. If an Award is granted in substitution or exchange for another Award, the Board shall require the surrender of such other Award in consideration for the grant of the new Award. In addition, Awards may be granted in lieu of cash compensation, including in lieu of cash amounts payable under other plans of the Company or any Affiliate. Notwithstanding Sections 8.1 and 10.1 but subject to Section 3.7 , the Option Price of an Option or the grant price of an SAR that is a Substitute Award may be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the original date of grant; provided, that, the Option Price or grant price is determined in accordance with the principles of Code Section 424 and the regulations thereunder for any Incentive Share Option and consistent with Code Section 409A for any other Option or SAR.

 

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7. AWARD AGREEMENT

Each Award granted pursuant to the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement, in such form or forms as the Board shall from time to time determine. Award Agreements granted from time to time or at the same time need not contain similar provisions but shall be consistent with the terms of the Plan. Each Award Agreement evidencing an Award of Options shall specify whether such Options are intended to be Non-qualified Share Options or Incentive Share Options, and in the absence of such specification such options shall be deemed Non-qualified Share Options.

 

8. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS

8.1. Option Price

The Option Price of each Option shall be fixed by the Board and stated in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option. The Option Price of each Option shall be at least the Fair Market Value on the Grant Date of a Share; provided , however , that in the event that a Grantee is a Ten Percent Shareholder, the Option Price of an Option granted to such Grantee that is intended to be an Incentive Share Option shall be not less than 110 percent of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Grant Date. In no case shall the Option Price of any Option be less than the par value of a Share.

8.2. Vesting

Subject to Sections 8.3 and 18 hereof, each Option granted under the Plan shall become exercisable at such times and under such conditions as shall be determined by the Board and stated in the Award Agreement.

8.3. Term

Each Option granted under the Plan shall terminate, and all rights to purchase Shares thereunder shall cease, upon the expiration of ten years from the date such Option is granted, or under such circumstances and on such date prior thereto as is set forth in the Plan or as may be fixed by the Board and stated in the Award Agreement relating to such Option (the “Termination Date”); provided , however , that in the event that the Grantee is a Ten Percent Shareholder, an Option granted to such Grantee that is intended to be an Incentive Share Option shall not be exercisable after the expiration of five years from its Grant Date.

8.4. Termination of Service

Each Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Grantee shall have the right to exercise the Option following termination of the Grantee’s Service. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Board, need not be uniform among all Options issued pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination of Service. An Option that is intended to be an Incentive Share Option shall no longer be exercisable as an Incentive Share Option ninety (90) days after the termination of the Grantee’s Service.

8.5. Method of Exercise

An Option that is exercisable may be exercised by the Grantee’s delivery to the Company of written or electronic notice of exercise on any business day, on the form specified by the Company. Such notice shall specify the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised and shall be

 

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accompanied by payment in full of the Option Price of the Shares for which the Option is being exercised plus the amount (if any) of federal and/or other taxes which the Company many, in its sole and absolute judgment, determine to be required to withhold with respect to an Award pursuant to Section 19.3 .

8.6. Rights of Holders of Options

Unless otherwise stated in the applicable Award Agreement, an individual holding or exercising an Option shall have none of the rights of a shareholder (for example, the right to receive cash or dividend payments or distributions attributable to the subject Shares or to direct the voting of the subject Shares) until the Shares covered thereby are fully paid and issued to him. Except as provided in Section 18 hereof, no adjustment shall be made for dividends, distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date of such issuance.

8.7. Delivery of Share Certificates

Promptly after the exercise of an Option by a Grantee and the payment in full of the Option Price, such Grantee shall be entitled to the issuance of a share certificate or certificates evidencing his or her ownership of the Shares subject to the Option. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, the Company may elect to satisfy any requirement under this Plan for the delivery of share certificates through the use of book-entry.

8.8. Limitations on Incentive Share Options

An Option shall constitute an Incentive Share Option only (i) if the Grantee of such Option is an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company; (ii) to the extent specifically provided in the related Award Agreement; and (iii) to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time the Option is granted) of the Shares with respect to which all Incentive Share Options held by such Grantee become exercisable for the first time during any calendar year (under the Plan and all other plans of the Grantee’s employer and its Affiliates) does not exceed $100,000. This limitation shall be applied by taking Options into account in the order in which they were granted.

8.9. Notice of Disqualifying Disposition.

If any Grantee shall make any disposition of Shares issued pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Share Option under the circumstances described in Code Section 421(b) (relating to certain disqualifying dispositions), such Grantee shall notify the Company of such disposition within ten (10) days thereof.

 

9. TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS

9.1. Transferability of Options

Except as provided in Section 9.2 , during the lifetime of a Grantee, only the Grantee (or, in the event of legal incapacity or incompetency, the Grantee’s guardian or legal representative) may exercise an Option. Except as provided in Section 9.2 , no Option shall be assignable or transferable by the Grantee to whom it is granted, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

9.2. Transfers

If authorized in the applicable Award Agreement, a Grantee may transfer, not for value, all or part of an Option which is not an Incentive Share Option to any Family Member or to any entity that is

 

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exempt from income tax pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Code, or any successor provision. For the purpose of this Section 9.2 , a “not for value” transfer is a transfer which is (i) a gift, (ii) a transfer under a domestic relations order in settlement of marital property rights; or (iii) a transfer to an entity in which more than fifty percent of the voting interests are owned by Family Members (or the Grantee) in exchange for an interest in that entity. Following a transfer under this Section 9.2 , any such Option shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable immediately prior to transfer. Subsequent transfers of transferred Options are prohibited except to Family Members of the original Grantee in accordance with this Section 9.2 or by will or the laws of descent and distribution. The events of termination of Service of Section 8.4 hereof shall continue to be applied with respect to the original Grantee, following which the Option shall be exercisable by the transferee only to the extent, and for the periods specified, in Section 8.4 .

 

10. SHARE APPRECIATION RIGHTS

The Board is authorized to grant Share Appreciation Rights (“SARs”) to Grantees on the following terms and conditions:

10.1. Right to Payment

A SAR shall confer on the Grantee to whom it is granted a right to receive, upon exercise thereof, an amount not greater than the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of exercise over (B) the grant price of the SAR, as determined by the Board. The Award Agreement for an SAR shall specify the SAR Exercise Price of the SAR, which shall be at least the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Grant Date. The Award Agreement for a SAR shall specify the SAR Exercise Price, which shall be at least the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Grant Date. SARs may be granted in conjunction with all or part of an Option granted under the Plan or at any subsequent time during the term of such Option, in conjunction with all or part of any other Award or without regard to any Option or other Award; provided that a SAR that is granted subsequent to the Grant Date of a related Option must have a SAR Exercise Price that is no less than the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Option Grant Date.

10.2. Other Terms

Each SAR granted under the Plan shall terminate upon the expiration of ten years from the Grant Date of such SAR or under such circumstances and on such date prior thereto as is set forth in the Plan or as may be fixed by the Board and stated in the Award Agreement relating to such SAR. The Board shall determine at the Grant Date or thereafter, the time or times at which and the circumstances under which a SAR may be exercised in whole or in part (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), the time or times at which SARs shall cease to be or become exercisable following termination of Service or upon other conditions, the method of exercise, method of settlement, form of consideration payable in settlement which may be cash or Shares, method by or forms in which Shares will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Grantees, whether or not a SAR shall be in tandem or in combination with any other Award, and any other terms and conditions of any SAR, provided, however, that each SAR granted under the Plan shall terminate under such circumstances and on such date prior thereto as is set forth in the Plan or as may be fixed by the Board and stated in the Award Agreement relating to such SAR.

 

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11. RESTRICTED SHARES AND SHARE UNITS

11.1. Grant of Restricted Shares or Share Units

The Board may from time to time grant Restricted Shares or Share Units to persons eligible to receive Awards under Section 6 hereof, subject to such restrictions, conditions and other terms, if any, as the Board may determine.

11.2. Restrictions

At the time a grant of Restricted Shares or Share Units is made, the Board may, in its sole discretion, establish a period of time (a “restricted period”) applicable to such Restricted Shares or Share Units. Each Award of Restricted Shares or Share Units may be subject to a different restricted period. The Board may, in its sole discretion, at the time a grant of Restricted Shares or Share Units is made, prescribe restrictions in addition to or other than the expiration of the restricted period, including the satisfaction of corporate or individual performance objectives, which may be applicable to all or any portion of the Restricted Shares or Share Units in accordance with Section 15.1 and 15.2 . Neither Restricted Shares nor Share Units may be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of during the restricted period or prior to the satisfaction of any other restrictions prescribed by the Board with respect to such Restricted Shares or Share Units.

11.3. Restricted Shares Certificates

The Company shall issue, in the name of each Grantee to whom Restricted Shares has been granted, share certificates representing the total number of Restricted Shares granted to the Grantee, as soon as reasonably practicable after the Grant Date. The Board may provide in an Award Agreement that either (i) the Secretary of the Company, or his delegate, shall hold such certificates for the Grantee’s benefit until such time as the Restricted Shares are forfeited to the Company or the restrictions lapse, or (ii) such certificates shall be delivered to the Grantee, provided , however , that all such certificates, regardless of whether held by the Secretary, his delegate or delivered to the Grantee, shall bear a legend or legends that comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and makes appropriate reference to the restrictions imposed under the Plan and the Award Agreement. If the Company utilizes book-entry form with appropriate restrictions noted in the Company records, and the Grantee so requests, the Company will furnish without charge the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional, or other special rights of the Share and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights. Such requests shall be made in writing to the Company’s Secretary.

11.4. Rights of Holders of Restricted Shares

Unless the Board otherwise provides in an Award Agreement, holders of Restricted Shares shall have the right to vote such Shares and the right to receive any dividends declared or paid with respect to such Shares. The Board may provide that any dividends paid on Restricted Shares must be reinvested in Shares, which may or may not be subject to the same vesting conditions and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Shares. All distributions, if any, received by a Grantee with respect to Restricted Shares as a result of any share split, share dividend, combination of shares, or other similar transaction shall be subject to the restrictions applicable to the original Grant. Holders of Restricted Shares may not make an election under Code Section 83(b) with regard to the grant of Restricted Shares, and any holder who attempts to make such an election shall forfeit the Restricted Shares.

 

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11.5. Rights of Holders of Share Units

11.5.1. No Voting and Dividend Rights

Unless the Board otherwise provides in an Award Agreement, holders of Share Units shall have no rights as shareholders of the Company. The Board may provide in an Award Agreement evidencing a grant of Share Units that the holder of such Share Units shall be entitled to receive, upon the Company’s payment of a cash dividend on its outstanding Shares, a cash payment for each Share Unit held equal to the per-share dividend paid on the Shares. Such Award Agreement may also provide that such cash payment will be deemed reinvested in additional Share Units at a price per unit equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date that such dividend is paid, subject to the same vesting conditions and restrictions applicable to such Share Units.

11.5.2. Creditor’s Rights

A holder of Share Units shall have no rights other than those of a general creditor of the Company. Share Units represent an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable Award Agreement.

11.6. Termination of Service

Unless the Board otherwise provides in an Award Agreement or in writing after the Award Agreement is issued, upon the termination of a Grantee’s Service, any Restricted Shares or Share Units held by such Grantee that have not vested, or with respect to which all applicable restrictions and conditions have not lapsed, shall immediately be deemed forfeited. Upon forfeiture of Restricted Shares or Share Units, the Grantee shall have no further rights with respect to such Award, including but not limited to any right to vote Restricted Shares or any right to receive dividends with respect to Restricted Shares or Share Units.

11.7. Purchase of Restricted Shares

The Grantee shall be required, to the extent required by applicable law, to purchase the Restricted Shares from the Company at a Purchase Price equal to the greater of (i) the aggregate par value of the Shares represented by such Restricted Shares or (ii) the Purchase Price, if any, specified in the Award Agreement relating to such Restricted Shares. The Purchase Price shall be payable in a form described in Section 13 or, in the discretion of the Board, in consideration for past Services rendered to the Company or an Affiliate.

11.8. Delivery of Shares

Upon the expiration or termination of any restricted period and the satisfaction of any other conditions or restrictions prescribed by the Board as set forth in the Award agreement, the restrictions applicable to Restricted Shares or Share Units settled in Shares shall lapse, and, unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, a share certificate for such Shares shall be delivered, free of all such restrictions, to the Grantee or the Grantee’s beneficiary or estate, as the case may be. In the alternative, a book-entry no longer reflecting any restrictions may be made. Neither the Grantee, nor the Grantee’s beneficiary or estate, shall have any further rights with respect to a Share Unit once the Shares represented by the Share Unit have been delivered. Share Units may also be settled in cash upon the determination of the Board or as specified in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

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12. UNRESTRICTED SHARES AWARDS

The Board may, in its sole discretion, grant to any Grantee under the Plan (or sell at par value or such other higher purchase price determined by the Board) Unrestricted Share Awards pursuant to which Grantees may receive Shares free of any restrictions (“Unrestricted Shares”). Unrestricted Share Awards may be granted or sold in respect of past services, performance and other valid consideration, or in lieu of, or in addition to, any cash compensation due to such Grantee. A share certificate for such Shares shall be delivered, free of all restrictions, to the Grantee or the Grantee’s beneficiary or estate, as the case may be. In the alternative, a book-entry may be made.

 

13. FORM OF PAYMENT FOR OPTIONS AND RESTRICTED SHARES AND SHARE UNITS

13.1. General Rule

Payment of the Option Price for the Shares purchased pursuant to the exercise of an Option or the Purchase Price for Restricted Shares and Share Units shall be made in cash or in cash equivalents acceptable to the Company.

13.2. Surrender of Shares

To the extent the Award Agreement so provides, payment of the Option Price for Shares purchased pursuant to the exercise of an Option or the Purchase Price for Restricted Shares may be made all or in part through the tender or attestation to the Company of Shares, which shall be valued, for purposes of determining the extent to which the Option Price or Purchase Price has been paid thereby, at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise or surrender. In addition, and also only to the extent the Award Agreement so provides, payment of the Option Price may be made by requesting that the Company withhold Shares that would otherwise be deliverable pursuant to the exercise of the Option, which Shares shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise.

13.3. Cashless Exercise

With respect to an Option only (and not with respect to Restricted Shares), to the extent the Award Agreement so provides and subject to compliance with applicable law, payment of the Option Price for Shares purchased pursuant to the exercise of an Option may be made all or in part by delivery (on a form acceptable to the Board) of an irrevocable direction to a licensed securities broker acceptable to the Company to sell Shares and to deliver all or part of the sales proceeds to the Company in payment of the Option Price and any withholding taxes described in Section 19.3 or, with the consent of the Company, by issuing the number of Shares equal in value to the difference between the Option Price and the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the portion of the Option being exercised.

13.4. Other Forms of Payment

To the extent the Award Agreement so provides, payment of the Option Price for Shares purchased pursuant to exercise of an Option or the Purchase Price for Restricted Shares may be made in any other form that is consistent with applicable laws, regulations and rules.

 

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14. DIVIDEND EQUIVALENT RIGHTS

14.1. Dividend Equivalent Rights

A Dividend Equivalent Right is an Award entitling the recipient to receive credits based on cash distributions that would have been paid on the Shares specified in the Dividend Equivalent Right (or other Award to which it relates) if such Shares had been issued to and held by the recipient. A Dividend Equivalent Right may be granted hereunder to any Grantee as a component of another Award other than an Option or SAR or as a freestanding award. The terms and conditions of Dividend Equivalent Rights shall be specified in the grant. Dividend Equivalents credited to the holder of a Dividend Equivalent Right may be paid currently or may be deemed to be reinvested in additional Shares, which may thereafter accrue additional equivalents. Any such reinvestment shall be at Fair Market Value on the date of reinvestment. Dividend Equivalent Rights may be settled in cash or Shares or a combination thereof, in a single installment or installments, all determined in the sole discretion of the Board. Subject to Code Section 409A, a Dividend Equivalent Right granted as a component of another Award may provide that such Dividend Equivalent Right shall be settled upon exercise, settlement, or payment of, or lapse of restrictions on, such other Award, and that such Dividend Equivalent Right shall expire or be forfeited or annulled under the same conditions as such other Award. A Dividend Equivalent Right granted as a component of another Award may also contain terms and conditions different from such other Award; provided, however, that Dividend Equivalents credited pursuant to a Dividend Equivalents Right granted as a component of another Award which vests or is earned based upon achievement of performance goals shall not vest or be paid unless the performance goals for such underlying Award are achieved.

14.2. Termination of Service

Except as may otherwise be provided by the Board either in the Award Agreement or in writing after the Award Agreement is issued, a Grantee’s rights in all Dividend Equivalent Rights or interest equivalents shall automatically terminate upon the Grantee’s termination of Service for any reason.

 

15. PERFORMANCE AND ANNUAL INCENTIVE AWARDS

15.1. Performance Conditions

The right of a Grantee to exercise or receive a grant or settlement of any Award, and the timing thereof, may be subject to such performance conditions as may be specified by the Board. The Board may use such business criteria and other measures of performance as it may deem appropriate in establishing any performance conditions, and may exercise its discretion to reduce the amounts payable under any Award subject to performance conditions, except as limited under Sections 15.2 hereof in the case of a Performance Award or Annual Incentive Award intended to qualify under Code Section 162(m). If and to the extent required under Code Section 162(m), any power or authority relating to a Performance Award or Annual Incentive Award intended to qualify under Code Section 162(m), shall be exercised by the Committee and not the Board.

 

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15.2. Performance or Annual Incentive Awards Granted to Designated Covered Employees

If and to the extent that the Committee determines that a Performance or Annual Incentive Award to be granted to a Grantee who is designated by the Committee as likely to be a Covered Employee should qualify as “performance-based compensation” for purposes of Code Section 162(m), the grant, exercise and/or settlement of such Performance or Annual Incentive Award shall be contingent upon achievement of pre-established performance goals and other terms set forth in this Section 15.2 .

15.2.1. Performance Goals Generally

The performance goals for such Performance or Annual Incentive Awards shall consist of one or more business criteria and a targeted level or levels of performance with respect to each of such criteria, as specified by the Committee consistent with this Section 15.2 . Performance goals shall be objective and shall otherwise meet the requirements of Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder including the requirement that the level or levels of performance targeted by the Committee result in the achievement of performance goals being “substantially uncertain.” The Committee may determine that such Performance or Annual Incentive Awards shall be granted, exercised and/or settled upon achievement of any one or more performance goals. Performance goals may differ for Performance or Annual Incentive Awards granted to any one Grantee or to different Grantees.

15.2.2. Business Criteria

One or more of the following business criteria for the Company, on a consolidated basis, and/or specified subsidiaries or business units of the Company (except with respect to the total shareholder return and earnings per Share criteria), shall be used exclusively by the Committee in establishing performance goals for such Performance or Annual Incentive Awards: (1) total shareholder return; (2) such total shareholder return as compared to total return (on a comparable basis) of a publicly available index such as, but not limited to, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index or the SNL U.S. REIT Hotel Index prepared by SNL Financial LC; (3) net income; (4) pretax earnings; (5) earnings before interest expense and taxes (EBIT), (6) earnings before interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA); (7) pretax operating earnings after interest expense and before bonuses, service fees, and extraordinary or special items; (8) operating margin; (9) earnings per Share; (10) return on equity, including risk-adjusted return on equity; (11) return on assets, (12) return on capital; (13) return on investment; (14) operating earnings; (15) working capital; (16) ratio of debt to shareholders’ equity, (17) revenue; (18) book value; (19) funds from operations (FFO) or FFO per Share; (20) funds (or cash) available for distribution (FAD), per Share, (22) cash flow; (22) economic value-added models or equivalent metrics; and (23) reduction in costs.

15.2.3. Timing For Establishing Performance Goals

Performance goals shall be established not later than the earlier of (i) 90 days after the beginning of any performance period applicable to such Performance or Annual Incentive Awards, (ii) the day on which 25% of any performance period applicable to such Awards has expired, and (iii) at such other date as may be required or permitted for “performance-based compensation” under Code Section 162(m).

 

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15.2.4. Performance or Annual Incentive Award Pool

The Committee may establish a Performance or Annual Incentive Award pool, which shall be an unfunded pool, for purposes of measuring performance in connection with Performance or Annual Incentive Awards.

15.2.5. Settlement of Performance or Annual Incentive Awards; Other Terms

Settlement of such Performance or Annual Incentive Awards shall be in cash, Shares, Restricted Shares, Share Units, other Awards or other property, in the discretion of the Committee. The Committee may, in its discretion, reduce the amount of a settlement otherwise to be made in connection with such Performance or Annual Incentive Awards. The Committee shall specify the circumstances in which such Performance or Annual Incentive Awards shall be paid or forfeited in the event of termination of Service by the Grantee prior to the end of a performance period or settlement of Performance Awards.

15.3. Written Determinations

All determinations by the Committee as to the establishment of performance goals, the amount of any Performance Award pool or potential individual Performance Awards and as to the achievement of performance goals relating to Performance Awards, and the amount of any Annual Incentive Award pool or potential individual Annual Incentive Awards and the amount of final Annual Incentive Awards, shall be made in writing in the case of any Award intended to qualify under Code Section 162(m). To the extent required to comply with, or not prohibited by, Code Section 162(m), the Committee may delegate any responsibility relating to such Performance Awards or Annual Incentive Awards.

15.4. Status of Section 15.2 Awards Under Code Section 162(m)

It is the intent of the Company that Performance Awards and Annual Incentive Awards under Section 15.2 hereof granted to persons who are designated by the Committee as likely to be Covered Employees within the meaning of Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder shall, if so designated by the Committee, constitute “qualified performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder. Accordingly, the terms of Section 15.2 , including the definitions of Covered Employee and other terms used therein, shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder. The foregoing notwithstanding, because the Committee cannot determine with certainty whether a given Grantee will be a Covered Employee with respect to a fiscal year that has not yet been completed, the term Covered Employee as used herein shall mean only a person designated by the Committee, at the time of grant of Performance Awards or an Annual Incentive Award, as likely to be a Covered Employee with respect to that fiscal year. If any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement relating to such Performance Awards or Annual Incentive Awards does not comply or is inconsistent with the requirements of Code Section 162(m) or regulations thereunder, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such requirements.

 

16. PARACHUTE LIMITATIONS

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan or of any Award Agreement or agreement, contract, or understanding heretofore or hereafter entered into by a Grantee with the Company or any

 

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Affiliate, except an agreement, contract or understanding between the Grantee and the Company or any Affiliate that expressly addresses Section 280G of the Code (an “Other Agreement”), and notwithstanding any formal or informal plan or other arrangement for the direct or indirect provision of compensation to the Grantee (including groups or classes of Grantees or beneficiaries of which the Grantee is a member), whether or not such compensation is deferred, is in cash, or is in the form of a benefit to or for the Grantee (a “Benefit Arrangement”), if the Grantee is a “disqualified individual,” as defined in Section 280G(c) of the Code, any Option, Restricted Share or Share Unit held by that Grantee and any right to receive any payment or other benefit under this Plan shall not become exercisable or vested (i) to the extent that such right to exercise, vesting, payment, or benefit, taking into account all other rights, payments, or benefits to or for the Grantee under this Plan, all Other Agreements, and all Benefit Arrangements, would cause any payment or benefit to the Grantee under this Plan to be considered a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code as then in effect (a “Parachute Payment”) and (ii) if, as a result of receiving a Parachute Payment, the aggregate after-tax amounts received by the Grantee from the Company under this Plan, all Other Agreements, and all Benefit Arrangements would be less than the maximum after-tax amount that could be received by the Grantee without causing any such payment or benefit to be considered a Parachute Payment. In the event that the receipt of any such right to exercise, vesting, payment, or benefit under this Plan, in conjunction with all other rights, payments, or benefits to or for the Grantee under any Other Agreement or any Benefit Arrangement would cause the Grantee to be considered to have received a Parachute Payment under this Plan that would have the effect of decreasing the after-tax amount received by the Grantee as described in clause (ii) of the preceding sentence, then the Grantee shall have the right, in the Grantee’s sole discretion, to designate those rights, payments, or benefits under this Plan, any Other Agreements, and any Benefit Arrangements that should be reduced or eliminated so as to avoid having the payment or benefit to the Grantee under this Plan be deemed to be a Parachute Payment; provided, however, that to comply with Code Section 409A, the reduction or elimination will be performed in the order in which each dollar of value subject to an Award reduces the Parachute Payment to the greatest extent.

 

17. REQUIREMENTS OF LAW

17.1. General

The Company shall not be required to sell or issue any Shares under any Award if the sale or issuance of such Shares would constitute a violation by the Grantee, any other individual exercising an Option, or the Company or any Affiliate of any provision of any law or regulation of any governmental authority, including without limitation any federal or state securities laws or regulations. If at any time the Company shall determine, in its discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of any Shares subject to an Award upon any securities exchange or under any governmental regulatory body is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the issuance or purchase of Shares hereunder, no Shares may be issued or sold to the Grantee or any other individual pursuant to such Award unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Company, and any delay caused thereby shall in no way affect the date of termination of the Award or otherwise result in any claim or damages. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, specifically, in connection with the Securities Act, upon the exercise of any Option or any SAR that may be settled in Shares or the delivery of any Shares underlying an Award, unless a registration statement under such Act is in effect with respect to the Shares covered by such Award, the Company shall not be required to sell or issue such Shares unless the Board has received evidence satisfactory to it that the Grantee or any other individual may acquire such Shares pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act. Any determination in this connection by the Board shall be final, binding, and

 

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conclusive. The Company may, but shall in no event be obligated to, register any securities covered hereby pursuant to the Securities Act. The Company shall not be obligated to take any affirmative action in order to cause the exercise of an Option or SAR or the issuance of Shares pursuant to the Plan to comply with any law or regulation of any governmental authority. As to any jurisdiction that expressly imposes the requirement that an Option or any SAR that may be settled in Shares shall not be exercisable until the Shares covered by such Option or SAR are registered or are exempt from registration, the exercise of such Option or SAR (under circumstances in which the laws of such jurisdiction apply) shall be deemed conditioned upon the effectiveness of such registration or the availability of such an exemption.

17.2. Rule 16b-3

During any time when the Company has a class of equity security registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, it is the intent of the Company that Awards pursuant to the Plan and the exercise of Options or SARs granted hereunder will qualify for the exemption provided by Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. To the extent that any provision of the Plan or action by the Board does not comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3, it shall be deemed inoperative to the extent permitted by law and deemed advisable by the Board, and shall not affect the validity of the Plan. In the event that Rule 16b-3 is revised or replaced, the Board may exercise its discretion to modify this Plan, Awards and Award Agreements in any respect necessary to satisfy the requirements of, or to take advantage of any features of, the revised exemption or its replacement.

 

18. EFFECT OF CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION

18.1. Changes in Shares

If the number of outstanding Shares is increased or decreased or the Shares are changed into or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or other securities of the Company on account of any recapitalization, reclassification, share split, reverse split, combination of shares, exchange of shares, share dividend or other distribution payable in capital share, or other increase or decrease in such shares effected without receipt of consideration by the Company occurring after the Effective Date, the number and kinds of shares for which grants of Awards may be made under the Plan shall be adjusted proportionately and accordingly by the Board. In addition, the number and kind of shares for which Awards are outstanding shall be adjusted proportionately and accordingly so that the proportionate interest of the Grantee immediately following such event shall, to the extent practicable, be the same as immediately before such event. Any such adjustment in outstanding Options, SARs, Restricted Shares or Share Units shall not change the aggregate Option Price, SAR Exercise Price or Purchase Price payable with respect to Shares that are subject to the unexercised portion of an outstanding Option or SAR, or an unvested portion of Restricted Shares or Share Units, as applicable, but shall include a corresponding proportionate adjustment in the Option Price, SAR Exercise Price or Purchase Price per Share; provided, however, that options that are not Incentive Share Options and SARs may be adjusted pursuant to Code Section 409A so that the difference between the aggregate exercise price over the aggregate fair market value remains the same before and after the adjustment. The conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be treated as an increase in Shares effected without receipt of consideration. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of any distribution to the Company’s shareholders of securities of any other entity or other assets (including an extraordinary dividend but excluding a non-extraordinary dividend) without receipt of consideration by the Company, the Company shall in such manner as the Company deems appropriate, adjust (i) the number and kind of shares subject to outstanding Awards and/or (ii) the exercise price or purchase price of outstanding Options, SARs, Restricted Shares and Share Units to reflect such distribution

 

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18.2. Changes in Capitalization; Merger; Liquidation

(a) In the event of a merger, consolidation, reorganization or other Corporate Transaction of the Company, the Board may make such adjustments with respect to Awards and take such other action as it deems necessary or appropriate to reflect such merger, consolidation, reorganization or other Corporate Transaction, including, without limitation, the substitution of new Awards, the termination or the adjustment of outstanding Awards, the acceleration of Awards or the removal of restrictions on outstanding Awards, all as may be provided in the applicable Award Agreement or, if not expressly addressed therein, as the Board subsequently may determine in the event of any such transaction.

(b) In addition to or instead of any adjustments authorized in Section 18.1(a) above, in the event of a merger, consolidation, reorganization or other Corporate Transaction of the Company, the Board may elect, in its sole discretion, to cancel or repurchase any outstanding Awards issued under the Plan and pay or deliver, or cause to be paid or delivered, to the holder thereof an amount in cash or securities having a value (as determined by the Board acting in good faith), in the case of an Award consisting of Restricted Shares or Share Units, equal to the formula or fixed price per Share paid to holders of the Shares in connection with such transaction and, in the case of Options or SARs, equal to the product of the number of Shares subject to the Option or SAR multiplied by the amount, if any, by which (I) the formula or fixed price per Share paid to holders of Shares pursuant to such transaction exceeds (II) the Option Price or SAR Exercise Price applicable to such Option or SAR. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Share Units subject to Code Section 409A shall be cancelled on a Corporate Transaction only to the extent such Corporate Transaction constitutes a “change in control event” within the meaning of Code Section 409A.

18.3. Adjustments

Adjustments under this Section 18 related to Shares or securities of the Company shall be made by the Board, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive. No fractional Shares or other securities shall be issued pursuant to any such adjustment, and any fractions resulting from any such adjustment shall be eliminated in each case by rounding downward to the nearest whole Share. The Board may provide in the Award Agreements at the time of grant, or any time thereafter with the consent of the Grantee, for different provisions to apply to an Award in place of those described in Section 18 .

18.4. No Limitations on Company

The existence of this Plan and the Awards granted pursuant to this Plan shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Company to make or authorize any adjustment, reclassification, reorganization or other change in its capital or business structure, any merger or consolidation of the Company, any issue of debt or equity securities having preferences or priorities as to the Shares or the rights thereof, the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, any sale or transfer of all or any part of its business or assets, or any other act or proceeding.

 

19. GENERAL PROVISIONS

19.1. Disclaimer of Rights

No provision in the Plan or in any Award or Award Agreement shall be construed to confer upon any individual the right to remain in the employ or service of the Company or any Affiliate, or to interfere in any way with any contractual or other right or authority of the Company or any Affiliate either to increase or decrease the compensation or other payments to any individual at any time, or to terminate any employment or other relationship between any individual and the Company or any Affiliate. In addition, notwithstanding

 

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anything contained in the Plan to the contrary, unless otherwise stated in the applicable Award Agreement, no Award granted under the Plan shall be affected by any change of duties or position of the Grantee, so long as such Grantee continues to provide service. The obligation of the Company to pay any benefits pursuant to this Plan shall be interpreted as a contractual obligation to pay only those amounts described herein, in the manner and under the conditions prescribed herein. The Plan shall in no way be interpreted to require the Company to transfer any amounts to a third party trustee or otherwise hold any amounts in trust or escrow for payment to any Grantee or beneficiary under the terms of the Plan and Awards.

19.2. Nonexclusivity of the Plan

Neither the adoption of the Plan nor the submission of the Plan to the shareholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations upon the right and authority of the Board, the Company or its Affiliates to adopt such other incentive compensation arrangements (which arrangements may be applicable either generally to a class or classes of individuals or specifically to a particular individual or particular individuals) as the Board, the Company or its Affiliates in their discretion determines desirable, including, without limitation, the granting of Share options otherwise than under the Plan.

19.3. Withholding Taxes

The Company or an Affiliate, as the case may be, shall have the right to deduct or withhold from payments of any kind otherwise due to a Grantee (including by withholding Shares otherwise deliverable under an Award) any Federal, state, or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to the vesting of or other lapse of restrictions applicable to an Award or upon the issuance of any Shares upon the exercise of an Option or pursuant to an Award. At the time of such vesting, lapse, or exercise, the Grantee shall pay to the Company or the Affiliate, as the case may be, any amount that the Company or the Affiliate may reasonably determine to be necessary to satisfy such withholding obligation. Subject to the prior approval of the Company or the Affiliate, which may be withheld by the Company or the Affiliate, as the case may be, in its sole discretion, the Grantee may elect to satisfy such obligations, in whole or in part, (i) by causing the Company or the Affiliate to withhold Shares otherwise issuable to the Grantee or (ii) by delivering to the Company or the Affiliate Shares already owned by the Grantee. The Shares so delivered or withheld shall have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to such withholding obligations. The Fair Market Value of the Shares used to satisfy such withholding obligation shall be determined by the Company or the Affiliate as of the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined. A Grantee who has made an election pursuant to this Section 19.3 may satisfy his or her withholding obligation only with Shares that are not subject to any repurchase, forfeiture, unfulfilled vesting, or other similar requirements. The maximum number of Shares that may be withheld from any Award to satisfy any federal, state or local tax withholding requirements upon the exercise, vesting, lapse of restrictions applicable to such Award or payment of Shares pursuant to such Award, as applicable, cannot exceed such number of Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum statutory amount required by the Applicable Entity to be withheld and paid to any such federal, state or local taxing authority with respect to which such exercise, vesting, lapse of restrictions or payment of Shares. For purposes of determining taxable income and the amount of the related tax withholding obligation under this Section 19.3, notwithstanding Section 2.16 or this Section 19.3, for any Shares that are sold on the same day that such Shares are first legally saleable pursuant to the terms of the applicable award agreement; Fair Market Value shall be determined based upon the sale price for such Shares so long as the grantee has provided the Company with advance written notice of such sale.

 

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19.4. Captions

The use of captions in this Plan or any Award Agreement is for the convenience of reference only and shall not affect the meaning of any provision of the Plan or such Award Agreement.

19.5. Other Provisions

Each Award granted under the Plan may contain such other terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be determined by the Board, in its sole discretion.

19.6. Number And Gender

With respect to words used in this Plan, the singular form shall include the plural form, the masculine gender shall include the feminine gender, etc., as the context requires.

19.7. Severability

If any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement shall be determined to be illegal or unenforceable by any court of law in any jurisdiction, the remaining provisions hereof and thereof shall be severable and enforceable in accordance with their terms, and all provisions shall remain enforceable in any other jurisdiction.

19.8. Governing Law

The validity and construction of this Plan and the instruments evidencing the Award hereunder shall be governed by the laws of the State of Maryland, other than any conflicts or choice of law rule or principle that might otherwise refer construction or interpretation of this Plan and the Award Agreements to the substantive laws of any other jurisdiction.

19.9. Code Section 409A

The Board or the Committee, as applicable, intends to comply with Section 409A of the Code, or an exemption to Section 409A, with regard to Awards hereunder that constitute nonqualified deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A. To the extent that the Board or the Committee, as applicable, determines that a Grantee would otherwise be subject to the additional 20% tax imposed on certain nonqualified deferred compensation plans pursuant to Section 409A as a result of any provision of any Award granted under this Plan, such provision shall be deemed amended to the minimum extent necessary to avoid application of such additional tax. The nature of any such amendment shall be determined by the Board or the Committee, as applicable.

 

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Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8) pertaining to the Chesapeake Lodging Trust Equity Plan of our report dated January 19, 2010, with respect to the balance sheet of Chesapeake Lodging Trust as of December 31, 2009, included in its Registration Statement on Form S-11 (File No. 333-162184), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

New York, New York

January 26, 2010