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sts

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark one)

Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2023.

or

Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the transition period from                                       to                                       .

Commission file number:
001-32324 (CubeSmart)
000-54462 (CubeSmart, L.P.)

CUBESMART

CUBESMART, L.P.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Maryland (CubeSmart)
Delaware (CubeSmart, L.P.)

20-1024732
34-1837021

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

5 Old Lancaster Rd. Malvern, Pennsylvania

19355

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(Zip Code)

(610) 535-5000

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Each Class

Trading Symbol(s)

Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered

Common Shares, $0.01 par value per share, of CubeSmart

CUBE

New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

CubeSmart

Yes No

CubeSmart, L.P.

Yes No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).

CubeSmart

Yes No

CubeSmart, L.P.

Yes No

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

CubeSmart:

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer

Smaller reporting company

Emerging growth company

CubeSmart, L.P.:

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer

Smaller reporting company

Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

CubeSmart

CubeSmart, L.P.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

CubeSmart

Yes No

CubeSmart, L.P.

Yes No

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:

Class

Outstanding at August 2, 2023

Common shares, $0.01 par value per share, of CubeSmart

224,808,576

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EXPLANATORY NOTE

This report combines the quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2023 of CubeSmart (the “Parent Company” or “CubeSmart”) and CubeSmart, L.P. (the “Operating Partnership”). The Parent Company is a Maryland real estate investment trust (“REIT”) that owns its assets and conducts its operations through the Operating Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership, and subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership. The Parent Company, the Operating Partnership and their consolidated subsidiaries are collectively referred to in this report as the “Company”. In addition, terms such as “we”, “us” or “our” used in this report may refer to the Company, the Parent Company or the Operating Partnership.

The Parent Company is the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership and, as of June 30, 2023, owned a 99.4% interest in the Operating Partnership. The remaining 0.6% interest consists of common units of limited partnership interest issued by the Operating Partnership to third parties in exchange for contributions of properties to the Operating Partnership. As the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership, the Parent Company has full and complete authority over the Operating Partnership’s day-to-day operations and management.

Management operates the Parent Company and the Operating Partnership as one enterprise. The management teams of the Parent Company and the Operating Partnership are identical, and their constituents are officers of both the Parent Company and of the Operating Partnership.

There are a few differences between the Parent Company and the Operating Partnership, which are reflected in the note disclosures in this report. The Company believes it is important to understand the differences between the Parent Company and the Operating Partnership in the context of how these entities operate as a consolidated enterprise. The Parent Company is a REIT, whose only material asset is its ownership of the partnership interests of the Operating Partnership. As a result, the Parent Company does not conduct business itself, other than acting as the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership, issuing public equity from time to time and guaranteeing the debt obligations of the Operating Partnership. The Operating Partnership holds substantially all of the assets of the Company and, directly or indirectly, holds the ownership interests in the Company’s real estate ventures. The Operating Partnership conducts the operations of the Company’s business and is structured as a partnership with no publicly traded equity. Except for net proceeds from equity issuances by the Parent Company, which are contributed to the Operating Partnership in exchange for partnership units, the Operating Partnership generates the capital required by the Company’s business through the Operating Partnership’s operations, by the Operating Partnership’s direct or indirect incurrence of indebtedness or through the issuance of partnership units of the Operating Partnership or equity interests in subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership.

The substantive difference between the Parent Company’s and the Operating Partnership’s filings is the fact that the Parent Company is a REIT with public equity, while the Operating Partnership is a partnership with no publicly traded equity. In the financial statements, this difference is primarily reflected in the equity (or capital for the Operating Partnership) section of the consolidated balance sheets and in the consolidated statements of equity (or capital). Apart from the different equity treatment, the unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Parent Company and the Operating Partnership are nearly identical.

The Company believes that combining the quarterly reports on Form 10-Q of the Parent Company and the Operating Partnership into a single report will:

facilitate a better understanding by the investors of the Parent Company and the Operating Partnership by enabling them to view the business as a whole in the same manner as management views and operates the business;
remove duplicative disclosures and provide a more straightforward presentation in light of the fact that a substantial portion of the disclosure applies to both the Parent Company and the Operating Partnership; and
create time and cost efficiencies through the preparation of one combined report instead of two separate reports.

2

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In order to highlight the differences between the Parent Company and the Operating Partnership, the separate sections in this report for the Parent Company and the Operating Partnership specifically refer to the Parent Company and the Operating Partnership. In the sections that combine disclosures of the Parent Company and the Operating Partnership, this report refers to such disclosures as those of the Company. Although the Operating Partnership is generally the entity that directly or indirectly enters into contracts and real estate ventures and holds assets and debt, reference to the Company is appropriate because the business is one enterprise and the Parent Company operates the business through the Operating Partnership.

As general partner with control of the Operating Partnership, the Parent Company consolidates the Operating Partnership for financial reporting purposes, and the Parent Company does not have significant assets other than its investment in the Operating Partnership. Therefore, the assets and liabilities of the Parent Company and the Operating Partnership are the same on their respective financial statements. The separate discussions of the Parent Company and the Operating Partnership in this report should be read in conjunction with each other to understand the results of the Company’s operations on a consolidated basis and how management operates the Company.

This report also includes separate Item 4 - Controls and Procedures sections, signature pages and Exhibits 31 and 32, certifications for each of the Parent Company and the Operating Partnership, in order to establish that the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Parent Company and the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Operating Partnership have made the requisite certifications and that the Parent Company and the Operating Partnership are compliant with Rule 13a-15 or Rule 15d-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and 18 U.S.C. §1350.

3

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

7

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

29

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

41

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

41

Part II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

42

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

43

Item 5. Other Information

43

Item 6. Exhibits

45

Filing Format

This combined Form 10-Q is being filed separately by CubeSmart and CubeSmart, L.P.

4

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Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, or “this Report”, together with other statements and information publicly disseminated by the Parent Company and the Operating Partnership, contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the “Exchange Act.” Forward-looking statements include statements concerning the Company’s plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events, future revenues or performance, capital expenditures, financing needs, plans or intentions relating to acquisitions and other information that is not historical information. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “believes”, “expects”, “estimates”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “anticipates”, or “intends” or the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy.  Such statements are based on assumptions and expectations that may not be realized and are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which cannot be predicted with accuracy and some of which might not even be anticipated. Although we believe the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, future events and actual results, performance, transactions or achievements, financial and otherwise, may differ materially from the results, performance, transactions or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. As a result, you should not rely on or construe any forward-looking statements in this Report, or which management or persons acting on their behalf may make orally or in writing from time to time, as predictions of future events or as guarantees of future performance. We caution you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Report or as of the dates otherwise indicated in such forward-looking statements.  All of our forward-looking statements, including those in this Report, are qualified in their entirety by this statement.

There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in or contemplated by this Report. Any forward-looking statements should be considered in light of the risks and uncertainties referred to in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in the Parent Company’s and the Operating Partnership’s combined Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). These risks include, but are not limited to, the following:

adverse changes in economic conditions in the real estate industry and in the markets in which we own and operate self-storage properties;

the effect of competition from existing and new self-storage properties and operators on our ability to maintain or raise occupancy and rental rates;

the failure to execute our business plan;

adverse impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, other pandemics, quarantines and stay at home orders, including the impact on our ability to operate our self-storage properties, the demand for self-storage, rental rates and fees and rent collection levels;

reduced availability and increased costs of external sources of capital;

increases in interest rates and operating costs;

financing risks, including the risk of over-leverage and the corresponding risk of default on our mortgage and other debt and potential inability to refinance existing or future debt;

counterparty non-performance related to the use of derivative financial instruments;

risks related to our ability to maintain our Parent Company’s qualification as a REIT for federal income tax purposes;

the failure of acquisitions and developments to close on expected terms, or at all, or to perform as expected;

increases in taxes, fees and assessments from state and local jurisdictions;

the failure of our joint venture partners to fulfill their obligations to us or their pursuit of actions that are inconsistent with our objectives;

reductions in asset valuations and related impairment charges;

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cyber security breaches, cyber or ransomware attacks or a failure of our networks, systems or technology, which could adversely impact our business, customer and employee relationships or result in fraudulent payments;

changes in real estate, zoning, use and occupancy laws or regulations;

risks related to or a consequence of natural disasters or acts of violence, pandemics, active shooters, terrorism, insurrection or war that affect the markets in which we operate;

potential environmental and other liabilities;

governmental, administrative and executive orders and laws, which could adversely impact our business operations and customer and employee relationships;

uninsured or uninsurable losses and the ability to obtain insurance coverage or recovery from insurance against risks and losses;

the ability to attract and retain talent in the current labor market;

other factors affecting the real estate industry generally or the self-storage industry in particular; and

other risks identified in the Parent Company’s and the Operating Partnership’s combined Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and, from time to time, in other reports that we file with the SEC or in other documents that we publicly disseminate.

Given these uncertainties and the other risks identified elsewhere in this Report, we caution readers not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as may be required by securities laws. Because of the factors referred to above, the future events discussed in or incorporated by reference in this Report may not occur and actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from that anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements.

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CUBESMART AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share data)

June 30, 

December 31,

    

2023

    

2022

(unaudited)

ASSETS

Storage properties

$

7,323,638

$

7,295,778

Less: Accumulated depreciation

 

(1,333,907)

 

(1,247,775)

Storage properties, net (including VIE assets of $142,326 and $167,180, respectively)

 

5,989,731

 

6,048,003

Cash and cash equivalents

 

9,220

 

6,064

Restricted cash

 

1,925

 

2,861

Loan procurement costs, net of amortization

 

4,591

 

5,182

Investment in real estate ventures, at equity

 

101,482

 

105,993

Assets held for sale

2,063

3,745

Other assets, net

 

172,137

 

153,982

Total assets

$

6,281,149

$

6,325,830

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

Unsecured senior notes, net

$

2,774,420

$

2,772,350

Revolving credit facility

 

63,200

 

60,900

Mortgage loans and notes payable, net

 

130,070

 

162,918

Lease liabilities - finance leases

65,727

65,758

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities

 

214,733

 

213,297

Distributions payable

 

111,280

 

111,190

Deferred revenue

 

40,245

 

38,757

Security deposits

 

1,086

 

1,087

Liabilities held for sale

1,402

1,773

Total liabilities

 

3,402,163

 

3,428,030

Noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership

 

63,352

 

57,419

Commitments and contingencies

Equity

Common shares $.01 par value, 400,000,000 shares authorized, 224,797,239 and

224,603,462 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022,

respectively

 

2,248

 

2,246

Additional paid-in capital

 

4,132,621

 

4,125,478

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(451)

 

(491)

Accumulated deficit

 

(1,333,148)

 

(1,301,030)

Total CubeSmart shareholders’ equity

 

2,801,270

 

2,826,203

Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries

 

14,364

 

14,178

Total equity

 

2,815,634

 

2,840,381

Total liabilities and equity

$

6,281,149

$

6,325,830

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

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CUBESMART AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per share data)

(unaudited)

Three Months Ended June 30, 

Six Months Ended June 30, 

    

2023

    

2022

    

2023

    

2022

REVENUES

Rental income

$

225,910

$

216,133

$

449,494

$

424,504

Other property related income

 

25,760

 

23,861

 

50,144

 

46,141

Property management fee income

 

9,135

 

8,670

 

17,695

 

16,584

Total revenues

 

260,805

 

248,664

 

517,333

 

487,229

OPERATING EXPENSES

Property operating expenses

 

74,821

73,472

145,948

 

144,039

Depreciation and amortization

 

50,358

79,046

100,687

 

161,603

General and administrative

 

14,325

13,725

28,999

 

28,250

Total operating expenses

 

139,504

 

166,243

 

275,634

 

333,892

OTHER (EXPENSE) INCOME

Interest:

Interest expense on loans

 

(23,544)

 

(23,055)

 

(47,235)

 

(45,879)

Loan procurement amortization expense

 

(1,041)

 

(959)

 

(2,081)

 

(1,916)

Equity in earnings of real estate ventures

 

790

 

680

 

3,341

 

974

Other

 

777

 

(493)

 

501

 

(9,656)

Total other expense

 

(23,018)

 

(23,827)

 

(45,474)

 

(56,477)

NET INCOME

 

98,283

 

58,594

 

196,225

 

96,860

NET (INCOME) LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS

Noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership

 

(616)

(379)

(1,230)

 

(671)

Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries

 

212

143

450

 

324

NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE COMPANY’S COMMON SHAREHOLDERS

$

97,879

$

58,358

$

195,445

$

96,513

Basic earnings per share attributable to common shareholders

$

0.43

$

0.26

$

0.87

$

0.43

Diluted earnings per share attributable to common shareholders

$

0.43

$

0.26

$

0.86

$

0.43

Weighted average basic shares outstanding

225,388

224,960

225,342

224,812

Weighted average diluted shares outstanding

226,275

225,895

226,238

225,820

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

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CUBESMART AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

Three Months Ended June 30, 

Six Months Ended June 30, 

    

2023

    

2022

    

2023

    

2022

NET INCOME

$

98,283

$

58,594

$

196,225

$

96,860

Other comprehensive income:

Reclassification of realized losses on interest rate swaps

 

20

 

20

40

40

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:

 

20

 

20

 

40

 

40

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

98,303

 

58,614

 

196,265

 

96,900

Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling

interests in the Operating Partnership

 

(616)

 

(379)

 

(1,230)

 

(672)

Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

in subsidiaries

 

212

 

143

 

450

 

324

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE

COMPANY

$

97,899

$

58,378

$

195,485

$

96,552

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

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CUBESMART AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

Noncontrolling

 

Additional

Accumulated Other

Total

Noncontrolling

Interests in the

 

Common Shares

Paid-in

Comprehensive

Accumulated

Shareholders’

Interests in

Total

Operating

 

Number

Amount

Capital

(Loss) Income

Deficit

Equity

Subsidiaries

Equity

Partnership

 

Balance at December 31, 2022

 

224,603

$

2,246

$

4,125,478

$

(491)

$

(1,301,030)

$

2,826,203

$

14,178

$

2,840,381

$

57,419

Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries

(107)

(107)

Issuance of common shares, net

 

(91)

 

(91)

 

(91)

Issuance of restricted shares

 

22

 

 

Conversion from units to shares

 

8

361

 

361

 

361

 

(361)

Exercise of stock options

 

39

1

914

 

915

 

915

Amortization of restricted shares

1,171

 

1,171

 

1,171

Share compensation expense

730

 

730

 

730

Adjustment for noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership

(8,588)

 

(8,588)

 

(8,588)

 

8,588

Net income (loss)

97,566

 

97,566

 

(238)

 

97,328

 

614

Other comprehensive income

20

20

20

Common share distributions ($0.49 per share)

(110,524)

 

(110,524)

 

(110,524)

 

(695)

Balance at March 31, 2023

 

224,672

$

2,247

$

4,128,563

$

(471)

$

(1,322,576)

$

2,807,763

$

13,833

$

2,821,596

$

65,565

Contributions from noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries

797

797

Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries

(54)

(54)

Issuance of common shares, net

 

(55)

 

(55)

 

(55)

Issuance of restricted shares

 

20

 

 

Exercise of stock options

 

105

1

1,800

 

1,801

 

1,801

Amortization of restricted shares

1,621

 

1,621

 

1,621

Share compensation expense

692

 

692

 

692

Adjustment for noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership

2,134

 

2,134

 

2,134

 

(2,134)

Net income (loss)

97,879

 

97,879

 

(212)

 

97,667

 

616

Other comprehensive income

20

20

20

Common share distributions ($0.49 per share)

(110,585)

 

(110,585)

 

(110,585)

 

(695)

Balance at June 30, 2023

 

224,797

$

2,248

$

4,132,621

$

(451)

$

(1,333,148)

$

2,801,270

$

14,364

$

2,815,634

$

63,352

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

Noncontrolling

 

Additional

Accumulated Other

Total

Noncontrolling

Interests in the

 

Common Shares

Paid-in

Comprehensive

Accumulated

Shareholders’

Interests in

Total

Operating

 

Number

Amount

Capital

(Loss) Income

Deficit

Equity

Subsidiaries

Equity

Partnership

 

Balance at December 31, 2021

    

223,918

$

2,239

$

4,088,392

$

(570)

$

(1,218,498)

$

2,871,563

$

18,597

$

2,890,160

$

108,220

Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries

(2,033)

(2,033)

Issuance of common shares, net

 

(123)

 

(123)

 

(123)

Issuance of restricted shares

 

35

 

 

Conversion from units to shares

 

441

4

21,534

 

21,538

 

21,538

 

(21,538)

Exercise of stock options

 

40

1

1,225

 

1,226

 

1,226

Amortization of restricted shares

519

 

519

 

519

Share compensation expense

636

 

636

 

636

Adjustment for noncontrolling interest in the Operating Partnership

10,356

 

10,356

 

10,356

 

(10,356)

Net income (loss)

38,155

 

38,155

 

(181)

 

37,974

 

292

Other comprehensive income

19

19

19

1

Common share distributions ($0.43 per share)

(96,817)

 

(96,817)

 

(96,817)

 

(628)

Balance at March 31, 2022

 

224,434

$

2,244

$

4,112,183

$

(551)

$

(1,266,804)

$

2,847,072

$

16,383

$

2,863,455

$

75,991

Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries

(61)

(61)

Issuance of common shares, net

 

(42)

 

(42)

 

(42)

Issuance of restricted shares

 

19

1

 

1

 

Amortization of restricted shares

1,373

 

1,373

 

1,373

Share compensation expense

635

 

635

 

635

Adjustment for noncontrolling interest in the Operating Partnership

13,349

 

13,349

 

13,349

 

(13,349)

Net income (loss)

58,358

 

58,358

 

(143)

 

58,215

 

379

Other comprehensive income

20

20

20

Common share distributions ($0.43 per share)

(96,819)

 

(96,819)

 

(96,819)

 

(628)

Balance at June 30, 2022

 

224,453

$

2,245

$

4,114,149

$

(531)

$

(1,291,916)

$

2,823,947

$

16,179

$

2,840,125

$

62,393

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

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CUBESMART AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

Six Months Ended June 30, 

    

2023

    

2022

Operating Activities

Net income

$

196,225

$

96,860

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization

 

102,768

 

163,519

Non-cash portion of interest expense related to finance leases

(31)

(30)

Equity in earnings of real estate ventures

 

(3,341)

 

(974)

Equity compensation expense

 

4,985

 

4,505

Accretion of fair market value adjustment of debt

 

(531)

 

(551)

Changes in other operating accounts:

Other assets

 

(18,888)

 

(493)

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

14,097

 

18,602

Other liabilities

 

1,487

 

2,866

Net cash provided by operating activities

$

296,771

$

284,304

Investing Activities

Acquisitions of storage properties

(68,543)

Additions and improvements to storage properties

 

(25,274)

 

(17,612)

Development costs

 

(27,718)

 

(13,311)

Investment in real estate ventures

 

(10)

 

(10)

Cash distributed from real estate ventures

 

7,862

 

6,208

Proceeds from sale of real estate, net

 

 

43,193

Net cash used in investing activities

$

(45,140)

$

(50,075)

Financing Activities

Proceeds from:

Revolving credit facility

454,934

295,330

Principal payments on:

Revolving credit facility

 

(452,634)

 

(336,330)

Mortgage loans and notes payable

 

(31,698)

 

(1,204)

Loan procurement costs

 

(39)

 

Proceeds from issuance of common shares, net

 

(146)

 

(164)

Cash paid upon vesting of restricted shares

(771)

(1,342)

Exercise of stock options

 

2,716

 

1,226

Contributions from noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries

 

797

 

Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries

(161)

(2,094)

Distributions paid to common shareholders

 

(221,015)

 

(193,419)

Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests in Operating Partnership

 

(1,394)

 

(1,446)

Net cash used in financing activities

$

(249,411)

$

(239,443)

Change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

 

2,220

 

(5,214)

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period

 

8,925

13,318

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period

$

11,145

$

8,104

Supplemental Cash Flow and Noncash Information

Cash paid for interest, net of interest capitalized

$

48,357

$

40,686

Supplemental disclosure of noncash activities:

Acquisitions of storage properties

$

$

(700)

Accretion of put liability

$

$

1,833

Derivative valuation adjustment

$

40

$

40

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

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CUBESMART, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands)

June 30, 

December 31,

    

2023

    

2022

(unaudited)

ASSETS

Storage properties

$

7,323,638

$

7,295,778

Less: Accumulated depreciation

 

(1,333,907)

 

(1,247,775)

Storage properties, net (including VIE assets of $142,326 and $167,180, respectively)

 

5,989,731

 

6,048,003

Cash and cash equivalents

 

9,220

 

6,064

Restricted cash

 

1,925

 

2,861

Loan procurement costs, net of amortization

 

4,591

 

5,182

Investment in real estate ventures, at equity

 

101,482

 

105,993

Assets held for sale

2,063

 

3,745

Other assets, net

 

172,137

 

153,982

Total assets

$

6,281,149

$

6,325,830

LIABILITIES AND CAPITAL

Unsecured senior notes, net

$

2,774,420

$

2,772,350

Revolving credit facility

 

63,200

 

60,900

Mortgage loans and notes payable, net

 

130,070

 

162,918

Lease liabilities - finance leases

65,727

65,758

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities

 

214,733

 

213,297

Distributions payable

 

111,280

 

111,190

Deferred revenue

 

40,245

 

38,757

Security deposits

 

1,086

 

1,087

Liabilities held for sale

1,402

1,773

Total liabilities

 

3,402,163

 

3,428,030

Limited Partnership interests of third parties

 

63,352

 

57,419

Commitments and contingencies

Capital

Operating Partner

 

2,801,721

 

2,826,694

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(451)

 

(491)

Total CubeSmart, L.P. capital

 

2,801,270

 

2,826,203

Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries

 

14,364

 

14,178

Total capital

 

2,815,634

 

2,840,381

Total liabilities and capital

$

6,281,149

$

6,325,830

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

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CUBESMART, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per common unit data)

(unaudited)

Three Months Ended June 30, 

Six Months Ended June 30, 

2023

    

2022

    

2023

    

2022

REVENUES

Rental income

$

225,910

$

216,133

$

449,494

$

424,504

Other property related income

 

25,760

 

23,861

 

50,144

 

46,141

Property management fee income

 

9,135

 

8,670

 

17,695

 

16,584

Total revenues

 

260,805

 

248,664

 

517,333

 

487,229

OPERATING EXPENSES

Property operating expenses

 

74,821

 

73,472

 

145,948

 

144,039

Depreciation and amortization

 

50,358

 

79,046

 

100,687

 

161,603

General and administrative

 

14,325

 

13,725

 

28,999

 

28,250

Total operating expenses

 

139,504

 

166,243

 

275,634

 

333,892

OTHER (EXPENSE) INCOME

Interest:

Interest expense on loans

 

(23,544)

 

(23,055)

 

(47,235)

 

(45,879)

Loan procurement amortization expense

 

(1,041)

 

(959)

 

(2,081)

 

(1,916)

Equity in earnings of real estate ventures

 

790

 

680

 

3,341

 

974

Other

 

777

 

(493)

 

501

 

(9,656)

Total other expense

 

(23,018)

 

(23,827)

 

(45,474)

 

(56,477)

NET INCOME

 

98,283

 

58,594

 

196,225

 

96,860

NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING

INTERESTS

Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries

 

212

 

143

 

450

 

324

NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO CUBESMART L.P.

 

98,495

 

58,737

 

196,675

 

97,184

Operating Partnership interests of third parties

 

(616)

 

(379)

 

(1,230)

 

(671)

NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON

UNITHOLDERS

$

97,879

$

58,358

$

195,445

$

96,513

    

 

    

 

    

 

    

 

    

Basic earnings per unit attributable to common unitholders

$

0.43

$

0.26

$

0.87

$

0.43

Diluted earnings per unit attributable to common unitholders

$

0.43

$

0.26

$

0.86

$

0.43

Weighted average basic units outstanding

 

225,388

224,960

225,342

224,812

Weighted average diluted units outstanding

 

226,275

225,895

226,238

225,820

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

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CUBESMART, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

Three Months Ended June 30, 

Six Months Ended June 30, 

    

2023

    

2022

    

2023

    

2022

NET INCOME

$

98,283

$

58,594

$

196,225

$

96,860

Other comprehensive income:

Reclassification of realized losses on interest rate swaps

 

20

 

20

 

40

 

40

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:

 

20

 

20

 

40

 

40

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

98,303

 

58,614

 

196,265

 

96,900

Comprehensive income attributable to Operating

Partnership interests of third parties

 

(616)

 

(379)

 

(1,230)

 

(672)

Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

in subsidiaries

 

212

 

143

 

450

 

324

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO

OPERATING PARTNER

$

97,899

$

58,378

$

195,485

$

96,552

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

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CUBESMART, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CAPITAL

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

Number of

Total

Operating

 

Common

Accumulated Other

CubeSmart

Noncontrolling

Partnership

 

OP Units

Operating

Comprehensive

L.P.

Interests in

Total

Interest

 

Outstanding

Partner

(Loss) Income

Capital

Subsidiaries

Capital

of Third Parties

 

Balance at December 31, 2022

    

224,603

    

$

2,826,694

    

$

(491)

    

$

2,826,203

    

$

14,178

    

$

2,840,381

    

$

57,419

Distributions to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries

(107)

(107)

Issuance of common OP units, net

 

(91)

(91)

(91)

Issuance of restricted OP units

 

22

Conversion from OP units to shares

 

8

361

361

361

(361)

Exercise of OP unit options

 

39

915

915

915

Amortization of restricted OP units

1,171

1,171

1,171

OP unit compensation expense

730

730

730

Adjustment for Limited Partnership interests of third parties

(8,588)

(8,588)

(8,588)

8,588

Net income (loss)

97,566

97,566

(238)

97,328

614

Other comprehensive income

20

20

20

Common OP unit distributions ($0.49 per unit)

(110,524)

(110,524)

(110,524)

(695)

Balance at March 31, 2023

 

224,672

 

$

2,808,234

$

(471)

$

2,807,763

$

13,833

$

2,821,596

$

65,565

Contributions from noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries

797

797

Distributions to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries

(54)

(54)

Issuance of common OP units, net

 

(55)

(55)

(55)

Issuance of restricted OP units

 

20

Exercise of OP unit options

 

105

1,801

1,801

1,801

Amortization of restricted OP units

1,621

1,621

1,621

OP unit compensation expense

692

692

692

Adjustment for Limited Partnership interests of third parties

2,134

2,134

2,134

(2,134)

Net income (loss)

97,879

97,879

(212)

97,667

616

Other comprehensive income

20

20

20

Common OP unit distributions ($0.49 per unit)

(110,585)

(110,585)

(110,585)

(695)

Balance at June 30, 2023

 

224,797

 

$

2,801,721

$

(451)

$

2,801,270

$

14,364

$

2,815,634

$

63,352

Number of

Total

Operating

 

Common

Accumulated Other

CubeSmart

Noncontrolling

Partnership

 

OP Units

Operating

Comprehensive

L.P.

Interests in

Total

Interest

 

Outstanding

Partner

(Loss) Income

Capital

Subsidiaries

Capital

of Third Parties

 

Balance at December 31, 2021

    

223,918

    

$

2,872,133

    

$

(570)

    

$

2,871,563

    

$

18,597

    

$

2,890,160

    

$

108,220

Distributions to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries

(2,033)

(2,033)

Issuance of common OP units, net

 

 

(123)

 

(123)

 

(123)

Issuance of restricted OP units

 

35

 

 

Conversion from OP units to shares

 

441

 

21,538

 

21,538

 

21,538

 

(21,538)

Exercise of OP unit options

 

40

 

1,226

 

1,226

 

1,226

Amortization of restricted OP units

 

519

 

519

 

519

OP unit compensation expense

 

636

 

636

 

636

Adjustment for Limited Partnership interests of third parties

 

10,356

 

10,356

 

10,356

 

(10,356)

Net income (loss)

 

38,155

 

38,155

 

(181)

 

37,974

 

292

Other comprehensive income

19

19

19

1

Common OP unit distributions ($0.43 per unit)

 

(96,817)

 

(96,817)

 

(96,817)

 

(628)

Balance at March 31, 2022

 

224,434

 

$

2,847,623

$

(551)

$

2,847,072

$

16,383

$

2,863,455

$

75,991

Distributions to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries

(61)

(61)

Issuance of common OP units, net

 

(42)

(42)

(42)

Issuance of restricted OP units

 

19

1

1

1

Amortization of restricted OP units

1,373

1,373

1,373

OP unit compensation expense

635

635

635

Adjustment for Limited Partnership interests of third parties

13,349

13,349

13,349

(13,349)

Net income (loss)

58,358

58,358

(143)

58,215

379

Other comprehensive income

20

20

20

Common OP unit distributions ($0.43 per unit)

(96,819)

(96,819)

(96,819)

(628)

Balance at June 30, 2022

 

224,453

 

$

2,824,478

$

(531)

$

2,823,947

$

16,179

$

2,840,126

$

62,393

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

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CUBESMART, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

Six Months Ended June 30, 

    

2023

    

2022

Operating Activities

Net income

$

196,225

$

96,860

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization

 

102,768

 

163,519

Non-cash portion of interest expense related to finance leases

(31)

(30)

Equity in earnings of real estate ventures

 

(3,341)

 

(974)

Equity compensation expense

 

4,985

 

4,505

Accretion of fair market value adjustment of debt

 

(531)

 

(551)

Changes in other operating accounts:

Other assets

 

(18,888)

 

(493)

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

14,097

 

18,602

Other liabilities

 

1,487

 

2,866

Net cash provided by operating activities

$

296,771

$

284,304

Investing Activities

Acquisitions of storage properties

 

 

(68,543)

Additions and improvements to storage properties

 

(25,274)

 

(17,612)

Development costs

 

(27,718)

 

(13,311)

Investment in real estate ventures

(10)

(10)

Cash distributed from real estate ventures

7,862

 

6,208

Proceeds from sale of real estate, net

43,193

Net cash used in investing activities

$

(45,140)

$

(50,075)

Financing Activities

Proceeds from:

Revolving credit facility

454,934

295,330

Principal payments on:

 

Revolving credit facility

(452,634)

(336,330)

Mortgage loans and notes payable

(31,698)

(1,204)

Loan procurement costs

(39)

Proceeds from issuance of common OP units

(146)

(164)

Cash paid upon vesting of restricted OP units

(771)

(1,342)

Exercise of OP unit options

2,716

1,226

Contributions from noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries

 

797

Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries

 

(161)

(2,094)

Distributions paid to common OP unitholders

(222,409)

(194,865)

Net cash used in financing activities

$

(249,411)

$

(239,443)

Change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

 

2,220

 

(5,214)

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period

 

8,925

 

13,318

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period

$

11,145

$

8,104

Supplemental Cash Flow and Noncash Information

Cash paid for interest, net of interest capitalized

$

48,357

$

40,686

Supplemental disclosure of noncash activities:

Acquisitions of storage properties

$

$

(700)

Accretion of put liability

$

$

1,833

Derivative valuation adjustment

$

40

$

40

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

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CUBESMART AND CUBESMART, L.P.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. ORGANIZATION AND NATURE OF OPERATIONS

CubeSmart (the “Parent Company”) operates as a self-managed and self-administered real estate investment trust (“REIT”) with its operations conducted solely through CubeSmart, L.P. and its subsidiaries. CubeSmart, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), operates through an umbrella partnership structure, with the Parent Company, a Maryland REIT, as its sole general partner. In the notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements, we use the terms “the Company”, “we” or “our” to refer to the Parent Company and the Operating Partnership together, unless the context indicates otherwise. As of June 30, 2023, the Company owned (or partially owned and consolidated) self-storage properties located in 24 states throughout the United States and the District of Columbia that are presented under one reportable segment: the Company owns, operates, develops, manages and acquires self-storage properties.

As of June 30, 2023, the Parent Company owned approximately 99.4% of the partnership interests (“OP Units”) of the Operating Partnership. The remaining OP Units, consisting exclusively of limited partner interests, are held by persons who contributed their interests in properties to the Operating Partnership in exchange for OP Units. Under the partnership agreement, these persons have the right to tender their OP Units for redemption to the Operating Partnership at any time following a specified restricted period for cash equal to the fair value of an equivalent number of common shares of the Parent Company. In lieu of delivering cash, however, the Parent Company, as the Operating Partnership’s general partner, may, at its option, choose to acquire any OP Units so tendered by issuing common shares in exchange for the tendered OP Units. If the Parent Company so chooses, its common shares will be exchanged for OP Units on a one-for-one basis. This one-for-one exchange ratio is subject to adjustment to prevent dilution. With each such exchange or redemption, the Parent Company’s percentage ownership in the Operating Partnership will increase. In addition, whenever the Parent Company issues common or other classes of its shares, it contributes the net proceeds it receives from the issuance to the Operating Partnership and the Operating Partnership issues to the Parent Company an equal number of OP Units or other partnership interests having preferences and rights that mirror the preferences and rights of the shares issued. This structure is commonly referred to as an umbrella partnership REIT or “UPREIT”.

The Company typically experiences seasonal fluctuations in the occupancy levels of its stores, which are generally slightly higher during the summer months due to increased moving activity.

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) regarding interim financial reporting and, in the opinion of each of the Parent Company’s and Operating Partnership’s respective management, include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation of financial position, results of operations and cash flows for each respective company for the interim periods presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). Accordingly, readers of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should refer to the Parent Company’s and the Operating Partnership’s combined audited financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP, and the related notes thereto, for the year ended December 31, 2022, which are included in the Parent Company’s and the Operating Partnership’s combined Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. The results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 or 2022 are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected for any future period or the full year.

The Operating Partnership meets the criteria as a variable interest entity (“VIE”). The Parent Company’s sole significant asset is its investment in the Operating Partnership. As a result, substantially all of the Parent Company’s assets and liabilities represent those assets and liabilities of the Operating Partnership. All of the Parent Company’s debt is an obligation of the Operating Partnership, and the Parent Company guarantees the unsecured debt obligations of the Operating Partnership.

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3. STORAGE PROPERTIES

The book value of the Company’s real estate assets is summarized as follows:

June 30, 

December 31,

    

2023

    

2022

(in thousands)

Land

$

1,588,138

$

1,588,138

Buildings and improvements

 

5,493,954

 

5,483,506

Equipment

 

146,904

 

144,605

Construction in progress

 

52,697

 

37,584

Right-of-use assets - finance leases

41,945

41,945

Storage properties

 

7,323,638

 

7,295,778

Less: Accumulated depreciation

 

(1,333,907)

 

(1,247,775)

Storage properties, net

$

5,989,731

$

6,048,003

The following table summarizes the Company’s acquisition activity since January 1, 2022.

    

    

    

Number of

    

Transaction Price

 

Asset/Portfolio

Metropolitan Statistical Area

Transaction Date

Stores

(in thousands)

2022 Acquisitions:

Maryland Asset

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

February 2022

1

$

32,000

Texas Asset

San Antonio, TX

June 2022

1

23,000

Georgia Asset

Atlanta, GA

July 2022

1

20,700

3

$

75,700

4. INVESTMENT ACTIVITY

The Company did not acquire or dispose of any wholly-owned stores during the six months ended June 30, 2023.

2022 Acquisitions

During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company acquired three stores located in Georgia (1), Maryland (1) and Texas (1) for an aggregate purchase price of $75.7 million. In connection with these transactions, which were accounted for as asset acquisitions, the Company allocated the purchase price and acquisition-related costs to the tangible and intangible assets acquired based on fair value. Intangible assets consisted of in-place leases, which aggregated to $3.4 million at the time of the acquisition and prior to amortization of such amounts. The estimated life of these in-place leases is 12 months and the amortization expense that was recognized during the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 was approximately $0.5 million and $1.2 million, respectively. The amortization expense that was recognized during the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 was $0.3 million and $0.5 million, respectively.

Additionally, on February 2, 2022, the Company acquired land underlying a wholly-owned store located in Bronx, New York for $7.5 million. The land was previously subject to a ground lease in which the Company served as lessee. As a result of the transaction, which was accounted for as an asset acquisition, the Company was released from its obligations under the ground lease, and the right-of-use asset and lease liability totaling $4.1 million and $5.0 million, respectively, were removed from the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

Also, on April 28, 2022, the Company acquired land underlying a store owned by 191 IV CUBE LLC, an unconsolidated joint venture in which the Company holds a 20% ownership interest (see note 5). The purchase price for the land was $6.1 million, and the Company now serves as the lessor in a ground lease to 191 IV CUBE LLC.

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Table of Contents

2022 Dispositions

During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company sold the Los Angeles Athletic Club, which it purchased in December 2021 as part of its acquisition of LAACO, Ltd. (“LAACO”), for $44.0 million. No gain or loss was recognized in conjunction with the sale.

Assets Held for Sale

As of June 30, 2023, the Company determined that the California Yacht Club (the "CYC"), which it purchased in December 2021 as part of its acquisition of LAACO, met the criteria to be classified as held for sale. Accordingly, the assets and liabilities associated with the CYC have been categorized as held for sale within the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. As of June 30, 2023, the estimated fair value less selling costs of the CYC was greater than the carrying value of the CYC, and therefore no loss has been recorded in the current period.

Development Activity

As of June 30, 2023, the Company had invested in consolidated joint ventures to develop three self-storage properties located in New Jersey (1) and New York (2). Construction for these projects is expected to be completed at various times between the first and fourth quarters of 2024. As of June 30, 2023, development costs incurred to date for these projects totaled $42.9 million. Total construction costs for these projects are expected to be $82.5 million. These costs are capitalized to construction in progress while the project is under development and are reflected in Storage properties on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

The Company completed the construction and opened for operation the following stores during the year ended December 31, 2022. The costs associated with the construction of these stores are capitalized to land, building and improvements, as well as equipment and are reflected in Storage properties on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. No stores were completed and opened for operation during the six months ended June 30, 2023.

CubeSmart

Number of

Ownership

Total

Store Location

    

Stores

    

Date Opened

Interest

Construction Costs

(in thousands)

Valley Stream, NY (1)

1

Q3 2022

100%

$

37,200

Vienna, VA (2)

1

Q2 2022

80%

21,800

2

$

59,000

(1)This store was previously owned by a consolidated joint venture, in which the Company held a 51% ownership interest. On January 18, 2023, the noncontrolling member put its 49% interest in the venture to the Company for $15.3 million. The cash payment related to this transaction is included in Development costs in the consolidated statements of cash flows.

(2)This store is located adjacent to an existing store. Given this proximity, this store has been combined with the adjacent existing store in our store count upon opening, as well as for operational and reporting purposes.

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5. INVESTMENT IN UNCONSOLIDATED REAL ESTATE VENTURES

The Company’s investments in unconsolidated real estate ventures are summarized as follows (dollars in thousands):

CubeSmart

Number of Stores as of

Carrying Value of Investment as of

Ownership

June 30, 

December 31,

June 30, 

December 31,

Unconsolidated Real Estate Ventures

    

Interest

2023

2022

    

2023

2022

Fontana Self Storage, LLC ("Fontana") (1)

50%

1

1

$

13,692

$

13,789

Rancho Cucamonga Self Storage, LLC ("RCSS") (1)

50%

1

1

20,863

20,994

191 V CUBE LLC ("HVP V")

20%

6

6

13,508

14,318

191 IV CUBE LLC ("HVP IV")

20%

28

28

18,210

19,853

CUBE HHF Northeast Venture LLC ("HHFNE")

10%

13

13

1,045

1,101

CUBE HHF Limited Partnership ("HHF")

50%

28

28

34,164

35,938

77

77

$

101,482

$

105,993

(1)On December 9, 2021, the Company completed the acquisition of LAACO, which included a 50% interest in Fontana and RCSS, each of which owns one self-storage property in California. As of the date of acquisition, the Company recognized differences between the Company’s equity investment in Fontana and RCSS and the underlying equity reflected at the venture level. As of June 30, 2023, this difference was $12.9 million and $19.3 million for Fontana and RCSS, respectively. These differences are being amortized over the expected useful life of the self-storage properties owned by the ventures.

As of June 30, 2023, the Company also held a 10% interest in 191 IV CUBE Southeast LLC ("HVPSE"). On August 30, 2022, HVPSE sold all 14 of its stores to an unaffiliated third-party buyer for an aggregate sales price of $235.0 million. During the six months ended June 30, 2023, the Company received distributions of $1.7 million in excess of its investment in HVPSE from proceeds that were held back at the time of the sale. These distributions are included in Equity in earnings of real estate ventures within the consolidated statements of operations. As of June 30, 2023, HVPSE had no significant assets or liabilities and was winding down its operations.

The Company determined that Fontana, RCSS, HVP V, HVPSE, HVP IV, HHFNE and HHF (the “Ventures”) are not VIEs in accordance with the accounting standard for the consolidation of VIEs. As a result, the Company used the voting interest model under the accounting standard for consolidation in order to determine whether to consolidate the Ventures. Based upon each member's substantive participating rights over the activities of each entity as stipulated in the operating agreements, the Ventures are not consolidated by the Company and are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. The Company’s investments in the Ventures are included in Investment in real estate ventures, at equity on the consolidated balance sheets and the Company’s earnings from its investments in the Ventures are presented in Equity in earnings of real estate ventures within the consolidated statements of operations.

The following is a summary of the financial position of the Ventures as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

    

June 30, 

December 31,

2023

 

2022

Assets

(in thousands)

Storage properties, net

$

728,291

$

741,563

Other assets

 

11,598

 

11,708

Total assets

$

739,889

$

753,271

Liabilities and equity

Debt

$

469,678

$

468,783

Other liabilities

21,864

16,626

Equity

CubeSmart

 

69,209

73,289

Joint venture partners

 

179,138

194,573

Total liabilities and equity

$

739,889

$

753,271

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Table of Contents

The following is a summary of results of operations of the Ventures for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022.

Three Months Ended June 30, 

Six Months Ended June 30, 

    

2023

    

2022

    

2023

2022

(in thousands)

Total revenues

$

24,555

$

26,632

$

48,619

$

51,596

Operating expenses

 

(10,545)

(11,238)

 

(21,064)

 

(21,981)

Other expenses

(180)

(124)

(248)

(238)

Interest expense, net

 

(4,425)

(3,601)

 

(8,508)

 

(7,453)

Depreciation and amortization

 

(7,676)

 

(9,540)

 

(15,447)

 

(19,928)

Net income

$

1,729

$

2,129

$

3,352

$

1,996

Company’s share of net income

$

790

$

680

$

3,341

$

974

6. OTHER ASSETS

Other assets are comprised of the following as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022:

June 30, 

December 31,

    

2023

    

2022

(in thousands)

Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $2,263 at December 31, 2022

$

$

1,181

Accounts receivable, net

 

7,673

 

7,932

Prepaid property taxes

 

6,335

 

8,033

Prepaid property and casualty insurance

 

9,495

 

2,129

Amounts due from affiliates (see note 15)

22,698

15,947

Assets related to deferred compensation arrangements

58,668

55,572

Right-of-use assets - operating leases

50,389

49,491

Ground lease receivable

6,164

6,138

Other

 

10,715

 

7,559

Total other assets, net

$

172,137

$

153,982

7. UNSECURED SENIOR NOTES

The Company’s unsecured senior notes are summarized as follows (collectively referred to as the “Senior Notes”):

    

June 30, 

December 31,

    

Effective

Issuance

Maturity

Unsecured Senior Notes

    

2023

    

2022

    

Interest Rate

Date

Date

(in thousands)

$300M 4.000% Guaranteed Notes due 2025 (1)

$

300,000

$

300,000

 

3.99

%  

Various (1)

Nov-25

$300M 3.125% Guaranteed Notes due 2026

300,000

300,000

3.18

%  

Aug-16

Sep-26

$550M 2.250% Guaranteed Notes due 2028

550,000

550,000

2.33

%  

Nov-21

Dec-28

$350M 4.375% Guaranteed Notes due 2029

350,000

350,000

4.46

%  

Jan-19

Feb-29

$350M 3.000% Guaranteed Notes due 2030

350,000

350,000

3.04

%  

Oct-19

Feb-30

$450M 2.000% Guaranteed Notes due 2031

450,000

450,000

2.10

%  

Oct-20

Feb-31

$500M 2.500% Guaranteed Notes due 2032

500,000

500,000

2.59

%  

Nov-21

Feb-32

Principal balance outstanding

2,800,000

2,800,000

Less: Discount on issuance of unsecured senior

notes, net

(10,975)

(11,801)

Less: Loan procurement costs, net

(14,605)

(15,849)

Total unsecured senior notes, net

$

2,774,420

$

2,772,350

(1)On April 4, 2017, the Operating Partnership issued $50.0 million of its 4.000% senior notes due 2025, which are part of the same series as the $250.0 million principal amount of the Operating Partnership’s 4.000% senior

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Table of Contents

notes due November 15, 2025 issued on October 26, 2015. The $50.0 million and $250.0 million tranches were priced at 101.343% and 99.735%, respectively, of the principal amount to yield 3.811% and 4.032%, respectively, to maturity. The combined weighted average effective interest rate of the 2025 notes is 3.994%.

The indenture under which the Senior Notes were issued restricts the ability of the Operating Partnership and its subsidiaries to incur debt unless the Operating Partnership and its consolidated subsidiaries comply with a leverage ratio not to exceed 60% and an interest coverage ratio of more than 1.5:1.0 after giving effect to the incurrence of the debt. The indenture also restricts the ability of the Operating Partnership and its subsidiaries to incur secured debt unless the Operating Partnership and its consolidated subsidiaries comply with a secured debt leverage ratio not to exceed 40% after giving effect to the incurrence of the debt. The indenture also contains other financial and customary covenants, including a covenant not to own unencumbered assets with a value less than 150% of the unsecured indebtedness of the Operating Partnership and its consolidated subsidiaries. As of June 30, 2023, the Operating Partnership was in compliance with all of the financial covenants under the Senior Notes.

8. REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY

On December 9, 2011, the Company entered into a credit agreement (the “Credit Facility”), which was subsequently amended and restated. On October 26, 2022, the Company again amended and restated, in its entirety, the Credit Facility (the “Second Amended and Restated Credit Facility”) which, subsequent to the amendment and restatement, is comprised of an $850.0 million unsecured revolving facility (the “Revolver”) maturing on February 15, 2027. Under the Second Amended and Restated Credit Facility, pricing on the Revolver is dependent upon the Company’s unsecured debt credit ratings and leverage levels. At the Company’s current unsecured debt credit ratings and leverage levels, amounts drawn under the Revolver are priced using a margin of 0.775% plus a facility fee of 0.15% over the Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR") plus a 0.10% SOFR adjustment.

As of June 30, 2023, borrowings under the Revolver had an interest rate of 6.12%. Additionally, as of June 30, 2023, $786.2 million was available for borrowing under the Revolver. The available balance under the Revolver is reduced by an outstanding letter of credit of $0.6 million.

Under the Second Amended and Restated Credit Facility, the Company’s ability to borrow under the Revolver is subject to ongoing compliance with certain financial covenants which include, among other things, (1) a maximum total indebtedness to total asset value of 60.0%, and (2) a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.5:1.0. As of June 30, 2023, the Company was in compliance with all of its financial covenants related to the Second Amended and Restated Credit Facility.

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9. MORTGAGE LOANS AND NOTES PAYABLE

The Company’s mortgage loans and notes payable are summarized as follows:

Carrying Value as of

    

June 30, 

December 31,

    

Effective

Maturity

Mortgage Loans and Notes Payable

    

2023

    

2022

    

Interest Rate

Date

(in thousands)

Nashville V, TN (1)

$

$

2,148

3.85

%  

Jun-23

New York, NY (1)

28,669

3.51

%  

Jun-23

Annapolis I, MD

4,806

4,906

3.78

%  

May-24

Brooklyn XV, NY

14,920

15,093

2.15

%  

May-24

Long Island City IV, NY

12,109

12,270

2.15

%  

May-24

Long Island City II, NY

18,060

18,283

2.25

%  

Jul-26

Long Island City III, NY

18,066

18,290

2.25

%  

Aug-26

Flushing II, NY

54,300

54,300

2.15

%  

Jul-29

Principal balance outstanding

122,261

153,959

Plus: Unamortized fair value adjustment

8,871

 

10,228

Less: Loan procurement costs, net

(1,062)

(1,269)

Total mortgage loans and notes payable, net

$

130,070

$

162,918

(1)These mortgage loans were repaid in full in June 2023.

As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company’s mortgage loans payable were secured by certain of its self-storage properties with net book values of approximately $359.6 million and $442.9 million, respectively. The following table represents the future principal payment requirements on the outstanding mortgage loans and notes payable as of June 30, 2023 (in thousands):

2023

    

$

893

2024

 

32,329

2025

 

979

2026

 

33,760

2027

 

2028 and thereafter

 

54,300

Total mortgage payments

 

122,261

Plus: Unamortized fair value adjustment

 

8,871

Less: Loan procurement costs, net

(1,062)

Total mortgage loans and notes payable, net

$

130,070

10. ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

The following table summarizes the changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss for the six months ended June 30, 2023 (in thousands).

Beginning balance at December 31, 2022

$

(494)

Reclassification of realized losses on interest rate swaps (1)

40

Ending balance at June 30, 2023

(454)

Less: portion included in noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership

3

Total accumulated other comprehensive loss included in equity

$

(451)

(1)See note 11 for additional information about the effects of the amounts reclassified.

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11. RISK MANAGEMENT AND USE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The Company is exposed to credit risk with regard to its cash accounts. The Company holds deposits at certain financial institutions in excess of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation limits. The Company's cash accounts are held with major financial institutions and management believes that the risk of loss due to disruption at these financial institutions is low. 

The Company’s use of derivative instruments is limited to the utilization of interest rate swap agreements or other instruments to manage interest rate risk exposure and not for speculative purposes. The principal objective of such arrangements is to minimize the risks and/or costs associated with the Company’s operating and financial structure, as well as to hedge specific transactions. The counterparties to these arrangements are major financial institutions with which the Company and its subsidiaries may also have other financial relationships. The Company is potentially exposed to credit loss in the event of non-performance by these counterparties. However, because of the high credit ratings of the counterparties, the Company does not anticipate any of the counterparties will fail to meet these obligations as they come due. The Company does not hedge credit or property value market risks.

The Company formally assesses, both at inception of a hedge and on an on-going basis, whether each derivative is highly-effective in offsetting changes in cash flows of the hedged item. If management determines that the derivative is highly-effective as a hedge, then the Company accounts for the derivative using hedge accounting, pursuant to which gains or losses inherent in the derivative do not impact the Company’s results of operations. If management determines that the derivative is not highly-effective as a hedge or if a derivative ceases to be a highly-effective hedge, the Company discontinues hedge accounting prospectively and reflects in its statement of operations realized and unrealized gains and losses with respect to the derivative. As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, all derivative instruments entered into by the Company had been settled.

On December 24, 2018, the Company entered into interest rate swap agreements with notional amounts that aggregated to $150.0 million (the “Interest Rate Swaps”) to protect the Company against adverse fluctuations in interest rates by reducing exposure to variability in cash flows relating to interest payments on a forecasted issuance of long-term debt. The Interest Rate Swaps qualified and were designated as cash flow hedges. Accordingly, the Interest Rate Swaps were recorded on the consolidated balance sheet at fair value and the related gains or losses were deferred in shareholders’ equity as accumulated other comprehensive income or loss. These deferred gains and losses were amortized into interest expense during the period or periods in which the related interest payments affected earnings. On January 24, 2019, in conjunction with the issuance of its 4.375% senior notes due 2029 (the “2029 Notes”), the Company settled the Interest Rate Swaps for $0.8 million. The $0.8 million termination premium will be reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss as an increase to interest expense over the life of the 2029 Notes, which mature on February 15, 2029. The change in unrealized losses on interest rate swaps reflects a reclassification of twenty thousand dollars and forty thousand dollars of unrealized losses from accumulated other comprehensive loss as an increase to interest expense during the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively. The Company estimates that $0.1 million will be reclassified as an increase to interest expense in the next 12 months.

12. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The Company applies the methods of determining fair value as described in authoritative guidance, to value its financial assets and liabilities. As defined in the guidance, fair value is based on the price that would be received from the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In order to increase consistency and comparability in fair value measurements, the guidance establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes observable and unobservable inputs used to measure fair value into three broad levels, which are described below:

Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for assets or liabilities. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1 inputs.

Level 2: Observable prices that are based on inputs not quoted on active markets, but corroborated by market data.

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Level 3: Unobservable inputs are used when little or no market data is available. The fair value hierarchy gives the lowest priority to Level 3 inputs.

In determining fair value, the Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs, to the extent possible, as well as considering counterparty credit risk in its assessment of fair value.

The fair values of financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, other financial instruments included in other assets, accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities approximate their respective carrying values at June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

The following table summarizes the carrying value and estimated fair value of the Company’s debt as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022:

June 30, 2023

December 31, 2022

(in thousands)

Carrying value

$

2,967,690

$

2,996,168

Fair value

2,574,821

2,568,103

The fair value of debt estimates were based on a discounted cash flow analysis assuming market interest rates for comparable obligations at June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022. The Company estimates the fair value of its fixed-rate debt and the credit spreads over variable market rates on its variable-rate debt by discounting the future cash flows of each instrument at estimated market rates or credit spreads consistent with the maturity of the debt obligation with similar credit policies, which is classified within level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Rates and credit spreads take into consideration general market conditions and maturity.

13. NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS

Interests in Consolidated Joint Ventures

Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries represent the ownership interests of third parties in the Company’s consolidated real estate ventures. All consolidated joint ventures were formed to develop, own and operate new stores with the exception of Anoka, which was formed to acquire an existing store that had commenced operations. The following table summarizes the Company’s consolidated joint ventures, each of which are accounted for as VIEs:

CubeSmart

June 30, 2023

Number

Ownership

Total

Total

Related Party

Consolidated Joint Ventures

    

of Stores

    

Interest

Assets

Liabilities

Loans (1)

(in thousands)

1074 Raritan Road, LLC ("Clark")

1

90%

$

5,966

$

1,302

$

350 Main Street, LLC ("Port Chester")

1

90%

5,352

104

Astoria Investors, LLC ("Astoria")

1

70%

32,536

17,937

14,375

CS Lock Up Anoka, LLC ("Anoka")

1

50%

10,611

5,576

5,540

CS Valley Forge Village Storage, LLC ("VFV")

1

70%

20,372

15,336

15,257

CS Vienna, LLC ("Vienna")

1

80%

31,648

35,288

34,875

SH3, LLC ("SH3")

1

90%

37,481

307

7

$

143,966

$

75,850

$

70,047

(1)Related party loans represent amounts payable from the joint venture to the Company and are included in total liabilities within the table above. The loans and related party interest have been eliminated in consolidation.

Operating Partnership Ownership

The Company follows guidance regarding the classification and measurement of redeemable securities. Under this guidance, securities that are redeemable for cash or other assets, at the option of the holder and not solely within the

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control of the issuer, must be classified outside of permanent equity/capital. This classification results in certain outside ownership interests being included as redeemable noncontrolling interests outside of permanent equity/capital in the consolidated balance sheets. The Company makes this determination based on terms in applicable agreements, specifically in relation to redemption provisions.

Additionally, with respect to redeemable ownership interests in the Operating Partnership held by third parties for which CubeSmart has a choice to settle the redemption by delivery of its own shares, the Operating Partnership considered the guidance regarding accounting for derivative financial instruments indexed to, and potentially settled in, a company’s own shares, to evaluate whether CubeSmart controls the actions or events necessary to presume share settlement. The guidance also requires that noncontrolling interests classified outside of permanent capital be adjusted each period to the greater of the carrying value based on the accumulation of historical cost or the redemption value.

Approximately 0.6% of the outstanding OP Units, as of both June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, were not owned by CubeSmart, the sole general partner. The interests in the Operating Partnership represented by these OP Units were a component of the consideration that the Operating Partnership paid to acquire certain self-storage properties. The holders of the OP Units are limited partners in the Operating Partnership and have the right to require CubeSmart to redeem all or part of their OP Units for, at the general partner’s option, an equivalent number of common shares of CubeSmart or cash based upon the fair value of an equivalent number of common shares of CubeSmart. However, the partnership agreement contains certain provisions that could result in a settlement outside the control of CubeSmart and the Operating Partnership, as CubeSmart does not have the ability to settle in unregistered shares. Accordingly, consistent with the guidance, the Operating Partnership will record the OP Units owned by third parties outside of permanent capital in the consolidated balance sheets. Net income or loss related to the OP Units owned by third parties is excluded from net income or loss attributable to Operating Partner within the consolidated statements of operations.

As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, 1,418,549 and 1,426,549 OP units, respectively, were held by third parties. The per unit cash redemption amount of the outstanding OP units was calculated based upon the closing price of the common shares of CubeSmart on the New York Stock Exchange on the final trading day of the quarter. Based on the Company’s evaluation of the redemption value of the redeemable noncontrolling interest, the Company has reflected these interests at the greater of the carrying value based on the accumulation of historical cost or the redemption value as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

14. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Litigation

The Company is involved in claims from time to time, which arise in the ordinary course of business. In accordance with applicable accounting guidance, management establishes an accrued liability for claim expenses, insurance retention and litigation costs when those matters present loss contingencies that are both probable and reasonably estimable. In such cases, there may be exposure to loss in excess of those amounts accrued. The estimated loss, if any, is based upon currently available information and is subject to significant judgment, a variety of assumptions, and known and unknown uncertainties. In the opinion of management, the Company has made adequate provisions for potential liabilities, arising from any such matters, which are included in Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. 

15. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The Company provides management services to certain joint ventures and other related parties. Management agreements provide for fee income to the Company based on a percentage of revenues at the managed stores. Total management fees for unconsolidated real estate ventures or other entities in which the Company held an ownership interest during the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 totaled $1.2 million and $2.3 million, respectively compared to $1.4 million and $2.6 million, respectively, during the same periods in 2022.

The management agreements for certain joint ventures, other related parties and third-party stores provide for the reimbursement to the Company for certain expenses incurred to manage the stores. These amounts consist of amounts

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due for management fees, payroll, and other store expenses. The amounts due to the Company were $22.7 million and $15.9 million as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, and are reflected in Other assets, net on the consolidated balance sheets. Additionally, the Company had outstanding mortgage loans receivable from consolidated joint ventures of $70.0 million and $64.4 million as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, which are eliminated in consolidation. The Company believes that all of these related-party receivables are fully collectible.

The HVP V, HVPSE, HVP IV and HHFNE operating agreements provide for acquisition, disposition and other fees payable from HVP V, HVPSE, HVP IV and HHFNE to the Company upon the closing of a property transaction by HVP V, HVPSE, HVP IV and HHFNE or any of their subsidiaries and completion of certain measures as defined in the operating agreements. During both the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company recognized fees associated with property transactions of $0.2 million. There were no such fees recognized during the three or six months ended June 30, 2023. Property transaction fees are included in the component of other (expense) income designated as Other within the consolidated statements of operations.

In April 2022, the Company began serving as lessor in a ground lease related to land underlying an HVP IV property located in Texas (see note 4). During the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, the Company recognized income associated with this ground lease of $0.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively, compared to $0.1 million for both the three and six months ended June 30, 2022. This income is included in the component of other (expense) income designated as Other within the consolidated statements of operations.

16. EARNINGS PER SHARE AND UNIT AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND CAPITAL

Earnings per common share and shareholders’ equity

The following is a summary of the elements used in calculating basic and diluted earnings per common share:

Three Months Ended June 30, 

Six Months Ended June 30, 

2023

2022

2023

2022

(dollars and units in thousands, except per share amounts)

Net income

    

$

98,283

    

$

58,594

$

196,225

$

96,860

Noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership

 

(616)

 

(379)

 

(1,230)

 

(671)

Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries

 

212

 

143

 

450

 

324

Net income attributable to the Company’s common

shareholders

$

97,879

$

58,358

$

195,445

$

96,513

Weighted average basic shares outstanding

 

225,388

 

224,960

 

225,342

 

224,812

Share options and restricted share units

 

887

 

935

 

896

 

1,008

Weighted average diluted shares outstanding (1)

 

226,275

 

225,895

 

226,238

 

225,820

Basic earnings per share attributable to common

shareholders

$

0.43

$

0.26

$

0.87

$

0.43

Diluted earnings per share attributable to common

shareholders (2)

$

0.43

$

0.26

$

0.86

$

0.43

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Earnings per common unit and capital

The following is a summary of the elements used in calculating basic and diluted earnings per common unit:

Three Months Ended June 30, 

Six Months Ended June 30, 

2023

2022

2023

2022

(dollars and units in thousands, except per unit amounts)

Net income

    

$

98,283

    

$

58,594

$

196,225

$

96,860

Operating Partnership interests of third parties

 

(616)

 

(379)

 

(1,230)

 

(671)

Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries

 

212

 

143

 

450

 

324

Net income attributable to common unitholders

$

97,879

$

58,358

$

195,445

$

96,513

Weighted average basic units outstanding

 

225,388

 

224,960

 

225,342

 

224,812

Unit options and restricted share units

 

887

 

935

 

896

 

1,008

Weighted average diluted units outstanding (1)

 

226,275

 

225,895

 

226,238

 

225,820

Basic earnings per unit attributable to common unitholders

$

0.43

$

0.26

$

0.87

$

0.43

Diluted earnings per unit attributable to common

unitholders (2)

$

0.43

$

0.26

$

0.86

$

0.43

(1)For the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, the Company declared cash dividends per common share/unit of $0.49 and $0.98, respectively. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company declared cash dividends per common share/unit of $0.43 and $0.86, respectively.

(2)The amount of anti-dilutive options that were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share/unit was 0.7 million for both the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 0.3 million for both the three and six months ended June 30, 2022.

Income allocated to noncontrolling interests of the Operating Partnership has been excluded from the numerator and OP units have been omitted from the denominator for the purpose of computing diluted earnings per share since the effect of including these amounts in the numerator and denominator would be anti-dilutive. Weighted average OP units outstanding for both the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 were 1.4 million. Weighted average OP units outstanding for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 were 1.5 million and 1.6 million, respectively.

The OP units and common units have essentially the same economic characteristics as they share equally in the total net income or loss and distributions of the Operating Partnership. An OP unit may be redeemed for cash, or, at the Company’s option, common units on a one-for-one basis. The following is a summary of OP and common units outstanding:

As of June 30,

2023

2022

Outstanding OP units

    

1,418,549

1,460,520

Outstanding common units

224,797,239

224,452,547

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ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this Report. Some of the statements we make in this section are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. For a discussion of forward-looking statements, see the section in this Report entitled “Forward-Looking Statements.” Certain risk factors may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the following discussion. For a complete discussion of such risk factors, see the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the Parent Company’s and Operating Partnership’s combined Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Overview

We are an integrated self-storage real estate company, and as such we have in-house capabilities in the operation, design, development, leasing, management and acquisition of self-storage properties. The Parent Company’s operations are conducted solely through the Operating Partnership and its subsidiaries. The Parent Company has elected to be taxed as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As of both June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, we owned (or partially owned and consolidated) 611 self-storage properties totaling approximately 44.1 million rentable square feet. As of June 30, 2023, we owned stores in the District of Columbia and the following 24 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia. In addition, as of June 30, 2023, we managed 727 stores for third parties (including 77 stores containing an aggregate of approximately 5.6 million rentable square feet as part of six separate unconsolidated real estate ventures) bringing the total number of stores which we owned and/or managed to 1,338. As of June 30, 2023, we managed stores for third parties in the District of Columbia and the following 40 states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

We derive revenues principally from rents received from customers who rent cubes at our self-storage properties under month-to-month leases. Therefore, our operating results depend materially on our ability to retain our existing customers and lease our available self-storage cubes to new customers while maintaining and, where possible, increasing our pricing levels. In addition, our operating results depend on the ability of our customers to make required rental payments to us. Our approach to the management and operation of our stores combines centralized marketing, revenue management and other operational support with local operations teams that provide market-level oversight and management. We believe this approach allows us to respond quickly and effectively to changes in local market conditions, and to maximize revenues by managing rental rates and occupancy levels.

We typically experience seasonal fluctuations in the occupancy levels of our stores, which are generally slightly higher during the summer months due to increased moving activity.

Our results of operations may be sensitive to changes in overall economic conditions that impact consumer spending, including discretionary spending, as well as to increased bad debts due to recessionary pressures. Adverse economic conditions affecting disposable consumer income, such as employment levels, business conditions, interest rates, tax rates, fuel and energy costs, inflation and other matters could reduce consumer spending or cause consumers to shift their spending to other products and services. A general reduction in the level of discretionary spending or shifts in consumer discretionary spending could adversely affect our growth and profitability.

We continue our focus on maximizing internal growth opportunities and selectively pursuing targeted acquisitions and developments of self-storage properties.

We have one reportable segment: we own, operate, develop, manage and acquire self-storage properties.

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Our self-storage properties are located in major metropolitan and suburban areas and have numerous customers per store. No single customer represents a significant concentration of our revenues. Our stores in New York, Florida, California and Texas provided approximately 17%, 15%, 11% and 9%, respectively, of total revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2023.

Summary of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Set forth below is a summary of the accounting policies and estimates that management believes are critical to the preparation of the unaudited consolidated financial statements included in this Report. Certain of the accounting policies used in the preparation of these unaudited consolidated financial statements are particularly important for an understanding of the financial position and results of operations presented in this Report. For additional discussion of the Company’s significant accounting policies, see note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Parent Company’s and Operating Partnership’s combined Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. These policies require the application of judgment and assumptions by management and, as a result, are subject to a degree of uncertainty. Due to this uncertainty, actual results could differ materially from estimates calculated and utilized by management.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include all of the accounts of the Company, and its majority-owned and/or controlled subsidiaries. The portion of these entities not owned by the Company is presented as noncontrolling interests as of and during the periods presented. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

When the Company obtains an economic interest in an entity, the Company evaluates the entity to determine if the entity is deemed a variable interest entity (“VIE”), and if the Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary, in accordance with authoritative guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) on the consolidation of VIEs. To the extent that the Company (i) has the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE and (ii) has the obligation or rights to absorb the VIE's losses or receive its benefits, then the Company is considered the primary beneficiary. The Company may also consider additional factors included in the authoritative guidance, such as whether or not it is the partner in the VIE that is most closely associated with the VIE. When an entity is not deemed to be a VIE, the Company considers the provisions of additional FASB guidance to determine whether a general partner, or the general partners as a group, controls a limited partnership or similar entity when the limited partners have certain rights. The Company consolidates (i) entities that are VIEs and of which the Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary and (ii) entities that are non-VIEs which the Company controls and in which the limited partners do not have substantive participating rights, or the ability to dissolve the entity or remove the Company without cause nor substantive participating rights.

Self-Storage Properties

The Company records self-storage properties at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation on buildings and equipment is recorded on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, which range from five to 39 years. Expenditures for significant renovations or improvements that extend the useful life of assets are capitalized. Repairs and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred.

When stores are acquired, the purchase price is allocated to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on estimated fair values. Allocations to land, building and improvements and equipment are recorded based upon their respective fair values as estimated by management. If appropriate, the Company allocates a portion of the purchase price to an intangible asset attributed to the value of in-place leases. This intangible asset is generally amortized to expense over the expected remaining term of the respective leases. Substantially all of the storage leases in place at acquired stores are at market rates, as the majority of the leases are month-to-month contracts. Accordingly, to date, no portion of the purchase price has been allocated to above- or below-market lease intangibles associated with storage leases assumed at acquisition. Above- or below- market lease intangibles associated with assumed ground leases in which the Company serves as lessee are recorded as an adjustment to the right-of-use asset and reflect the difference between the contractual amounts to be paid pursuant to each in-place ground lease and management’s estimate of fair market lease rates. These amounts are amortized over the term of the lease. To date, no intangible asset has been

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recorded for the value of customer relationships, because the Company does not have any concentrations of significant customers and the average customer turnover is fairly frequent.

Long-lived assets classified as “held for use” are reviewed for impairment when events and circumstances such as declines in occupancy and operating results indicate that there may be an impairment. The carrying value of these long-lived assets is compared to the undiscounted future net operating cash flows, plus a terminal value, attributable to the assets to determine if the store’s basis is recoverable. If a store’s basis is not considered recoverable, an impairment loss is recorded to the extent the net carrying value of the asset exceeds the fair value. The impairment loss recognized equals the excess of net carrying value over the related fair value of the asset. There were no impairment losses recognized in accordance with these procedures during the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022.

The Company considers long-lived assets to be “held for sale” upon satisfaction of the following criteria: (a) management commits to a plan to sell a store (or group of stores), (b) the store is available for immediate sale in its present condition subject only to terms that are usual and customary for sales of such stores, (c) an active program to locate a buyer and other actions required to complete the plan to sell the store have been initiated, (d) the sale of the store is probable and transfer of the asset is expected to be completed within one year, (e) the store is being actively marketed for sale at a price that is reasonable in relation to its current fair value and (f) actions required to complete the plan indicate that it is unlikely that significant changes to the plan will be made or that the plan will be withdrawn.

Typically these criteria are all met when the relevant asset is under contract, significant non-refundable deposits have been made by the potential buyer, the assets are immediately available for transfer and there are no contingencies related to the sale that may prevent the transaction from closing. However, each potential transaction is evaluated based on its separate facts and circumstances. Stores classified as held for sale are reported at the lesser of carrying value or fair value less estimated costs to sell. The California Yacht Club, which we purchased in December 2021 as part of our acquisition of LAACO, Ltd., was classified as held for sale as of June 30, 2023. There were no self-storage properties classified as held for sale as of June 30, 2023.

Investments in Unconsolidated Real Estate Ventures

The Company accounts for its investments in unconsolidated real estate ventures under the equity method of accounting when it is determined that the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence over the venture. Under the equity method, investments in unconsolidated real estate ventures are recorded initially at cost, as investments in real estate entities, and subsequently adjusted for equity in earnings (losses), cash contributions, less distributions and impairments. On a periodic basis, management also assesses whether there are any indicators that the carrying value of the Company’s investments in unconsolidated real estate entities may be other than temporarily impaired. An investment is impaired only if the fair value of the investment, as estimated by management, is less than the carrying value of the investment and the decline is other than temporary. If an investment is impaired, the loss would be measured as the excess of the carrying amount of the investment over the fair value of the investment, as estimated by management. The determination as to whether an investment is impaired requires significant management judgment about the fair value of its ownership interest. Fair value is determined through various valuation techniques, including, but not limited to, discounted cash flow models, quoted market values and third-party appraisals. There were no impairment losses related to the Company’s investments in unconsolidated real estate ventures recognized during the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 or 2022.

Differences between the Company's net investment in unconsolidated real estate ventures and its underlying equity in the net assets of the ventures are primarily a result of the Company acquiring interests in existing unconsolidated real estate ventures. The Company’s net investment in unconsolidated real estate ventures was greater than its underlying equity in the net assets of the unconsolidated real estate ventures by an aggregate of $32.3 million and $32.7 million as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. These differences are amortized over the lives of the self-storage properties owned by the real estate ventures. This amortization is included in Equity in earnings of real estate ventures within our consolidated statements of operations.

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Table of Contents

Results of Operations

The following discussion of our results of operations should be read in conjunction with the unaudited consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes thereto. Historical results set forth in our consolidated statements of operations reflect only the existing stores and should not be taken as indicative of future operations. We consider our same-store portfolio to consist of only those stores owned and operated on a stabilized basis at the beginning and at the end of the applicable periods presented. We consider a store to be stabilized once it has achieved an occupancy rate that we believe, based on our assessment of market-specific data, is representative of similar self-storage assets in the applicable market for a full year measured as of the most recent January 1 and has not been significantly damaged by natural disaster or undergone significant renovation. We believe that same-store results are useful to investors in evaluating our performance because they provide information relating to changes in store-level operating performance without taking into account the effects of acquisitions, developments or dispositions. As of June 30, 2023, we owned 593 same-store properties and 18 non-same-store properties. For analytical presentation, all percentages are calculated using the numbers presented in the consolidated financial statements contained in this Report.

Acquisition and Development Activities

The comparability of our results of operations is affected by the timing of acquisition and disposition activities during the periods reported. The following table summarizes the change in the number of owned stores from January 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023:

    

2023

    

2022

Balance - January 1

 

611

 

607

Stores acquired

 

 

1

Balance - March 31

 

611

 

608

Stores acquired

 

 

1

Stores developed

1

Stores combined (1)

(1)

Balance - June 30

 

611

 

609

Stores acquired

 

 

1

Stores developed

1

Balance - September 30

 

 

611

Stores acquired

 

 

Balance - December 31

 

 

611

(1)On June 21, 2022, we completed development of a new store located in Vienna, VA for approximately $21.8 million. The developed store is located adjacent to an existing store. Given this proximity, the developed store has been combined with the adjacent existing store in our store count upon opening, as well as for operational and reporting purposes.

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Comparison of the three months ended June 30, 2023 to the three months ended June 30, 2022 (in thousands)

Non Same-Store

Other/

 

Same-Store Property Portfolio

Properties

Eliminations

Total Portfolio

 

    

    

    

    

    

%  

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

%  

 

2023

2022

Change

Change

2023

2022

2023

2022

2023

2022

Change

Change

 

REVENUES:

Rental income

$

219,122

$

210,423

$

8,699

 

4.1

%  

$

6,788

$

5,710

$

$

$

225,910

$

216,133

$

9,777

 

4.5

%  

Other property related income

 

9,969

 

8,634

 

1,335

 

15.5

%  

 

340

 

285

 

15,451

 

14,942

 

25,760

 

23,861

 

1,899

 

8.0

%  

Property management fee income

 

 

 

 

0.0

%  

 

 

 

9,135

 

8,670

 

9,135

 

8,670

 

465

 

5.4

%  

Total revenues

 

229,091

 

219,057

 

10,034

 

4.6

%  

 

7,128

 

5,995

 

24,586

 

23,612

 

260,805

 

248,664

 

12,141

 

4.9

%  

OPERATING EXPENSES:

Property operating expenses

 

63,336

 

61,132

 

2,204

 

3.6

%  

 

2,527

 

1,956

 

8,958

 

10,384

 

74,821

 

73,472

 

1,349

 

1.8

%  

NET OPERATING INCOME:

 

165,755

 

157,925

 

7,830

 

5.0

%  

 

4,601

 

4,039

 

15,628

 

13,228

 

185,984

 

175,192

 

10,792

 

6.2

%  

Store count

 

593

 

593

 

18

 

16

 

611

 

609

Total square footage

 

42,398

 

42,398

 

1,694

 

1,482

 

44,092

 

43,880

Period end occupancy

 

92.7

%  

 

94.4

%  

 

73.0

%  

 

70.4

%  

 

92.0

%  

 

93.6

%  

Period average occupancy

 

92.7

%  

 

94.2

%  

Realized annual rent per occupied

sq. ft. (1)

$

22.30

$

21.07

Depreciation and amortization

 

50,358

 

79,046

 

(28,688)

 

(36.3)

%  

General and administrative

 

14,325

 

13,725

 

600

 

4.4

%  

Subtotal

 

64,683

 

92,771

 

(28,088)

 

(30.3)

%  

OTHER (EXPENSE) INCOME

Interest:

Interest expense on loans

 

(23,544)

 

(23,055)

 

(489)

 

(2.1)

%  

Loan procurement amortization expense

 

(1,041)

 

(959)

 

(82)

 

(8.6)

%  

Equity in earnings of real estate ventures

 

790

 

680

 

110

 

16.2

%  

Other

 

777

 

(493)

 

1,270

 

257.6

%  

Total other income

 

(23,018)

 

(23,827)

 

809

 

3.4

%  

NET INCOME

 

98,283

 

58,594

 

39,689

 

67.7

%  

NET (INCOME) LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS

Noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership

 

(616)

 

(379)

 

(237)

 

(62.5)

%  

Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries

 

212

 

143

 

69

 

48.3

%  

NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE COMPANY’S COMMON SHAREHOLDERS

$

97,879

$

58,358

$

39,521

 

67.7

%  

(1)Realized annual rent per occupied square foot is computed by dividing rental income by the weighted average occupied square feet for the period.

Revenues

Rental income increased from $216.1 million during the three months ended June 30, 2022 to $225.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023, an increase of $9.8 million, or 4.5%. The $8.7 million increase in same-store rental income was primarily due to higher rental rates. Realized annual rent per occupied square foot in our same-store portfolio increased 5.8% as a result of higher rental rates for new and existing customers for the three months ended June 30, 2023 as compared to the three months ended June 30, 2022. The remaining increase in rental income was due to stores acquired or opened in 2021 or 2022 included in our non-same-store portfolio.

Other property related income increased from $23.9 million during the three months ended June 30, 2022 to $25.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023, an increase of $1.9 million, or 8.0%. The increase was primarily due to a $1.0 million increase in fee revenue as well as a $0.5 million increase in revenue related to customer storage protection plan participation at our owned and managed stores.

Operating Expenses

Depreciation and amortization decreased from $79.0 million during the three months ended June 30, 2022 to $50.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023, a decrease of $28.7 million, or 36.3%. This decrease was primarily attributable to decreased amortization of in-place lease intangibles related to stores acquired in 2021.

Other (Expense) Income

Interest expense on loans increased from $23.1 million during the three months ended June 30, 2022 to $23.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023, an increase of $0.5 million, or 2.1%. The increase was attributable to higher interest rates during the 2023 period compared to the 2022 period, partially offset by a decrease in the average outstanding debt balance. The weighted average effective interest rate on our outstanding debt increased to 3.05% for the three months ended June 30, 2023 compared to 2.91% during the three months ended June 30, 2022. The average

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outstanding debt balance decreased to $3.04 billion during the three months ended June 30, 2023 as compared to $3.16 billion during the three months ended June 30, 2022.

For the three months ended June 30, 2022, the component of other (expense) income designated as Other includes $1.1 million of transaction-related expenses comprised of severance costs associated with the acquisition of LAACO, Ltd. in December 2021. There were no such expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2023.

Comparison of the six months ended June 30, 2023 to the six months ended June 30, 2022 (in thousands)

Non Same-Store

Other/

Same-Store Property Portfolio

Properties

Eliminations

Total Portfolio

    

    

    

    

    

%  

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

%  

2023

2022

Change

Change

2023

2022

2023

2022

2023

2022

Change

Change

REVENUES:

Rental income

$

436,504

$

414,608

$

21,896

 

5.3

%  

$

12,990

$

9,896

$

$

$

449,494

$

424,504

$

24,990

 

5.9

%  

Other property related income

 

19,320

 

16,618

 

2,702

 

16.3

%  

 

607

 

440

 

30,217

 

29,083

 

50,144

 

46,141

 

4,003

 

8.7

%  

Property management fee income

 

 

 

 

0.0

%  

 

 

 

17,695

 

16,584

 

17,695

 

16,584

 

1,111

 

6.7

%  

Total revenues

 

455,824

 

431,226

 

24,598

 

5.7

%  

 

13,597

 

10,336

 

47,912

 

45,667

 

517,333

 

487,229

 

30,104

 

6.2

%  

OPERATING EXPENSES:

Property operating expenses

 

123,410

 

120,600

 

2,810

 

2.3

%  

 

4,387

 

3,786

 

18,151

 

19,653

 

145,948

 

144,039

 

1,909

 

1.3

%  

NET OPERATING INCOME:

 

332,414

 

310,626

 

21,788

 

7.0

%  

 

9,210

 

6,550

 

29,761

 

26,014

 

371,385

 

343,190

 

28,195

 

8.2

%  

Store count

 

593

 

593

 

18

 

16

 

611

 

609

Total square footage

 

42,398

 

42,398

 

1,694

 

1,482

 

44,092

 

43,880

Period end occupancy

 

92.7

%  

 

94.4

%  

 

73.0

%  

 

70.4

%  

 

92.0

%  

 

93.6

%  

Period average occupancy

 

92.1

%  

 

93.6

%  

Realized annual rent per occupied

sq. ft. (1)

$

22.35

$

20.89

Depreciation and amortization

 

100,687

 

161,603

 

(60,916)

 

(37.7)

%  

General and administrative

 

28,999

 

28,250

 

749

 

2.7

%  

Subtotal

 

129,686

 

189,853

 

(60,167)

 

(31.7)

%  

OTHER (EXPENSE) INCOME

Interest:

Interest expense on loans

 

(47,235)

 

(45,879)

 

(1,356)

 

(3.0)

%  

Loan procurement amortization expense

 

(2,081)

 

(1,916)

 

(165)

 

(8.6)

%  

Equity in earnings of real estate ventures

 

3,341

 

974

 

2,367

 

243.0

%  

Other

 

501

 

(9,656)

 

10,157

 

105.2

%  

Total other expense

 

(45,474)

 

(56,477)

 

11,003

 

19.5

%  

NET INCOME

 

196,225

 

96,860

 

99,365

 

102.6

%  

NET (INCOME) LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS

Noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership

 

(1,230)

 

(671)

 

(559)

 

(83.3)

%  

Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries

 

450

 

324

 

126

 

38.9

%  

NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE COMPANY’S COMMON SHAREHOLDERS

$

195,445

$

96,513

$

98,932

 

102.5

%  

(1)Realized annual rent per occupied square foot is computed by dividing rental income by the weighted average occupied square feet for the period.

Revenues

Rental income increased from $424.5 million during the six months ended June 30, 2022 to $449.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023, an increase of $25.0 million, or 5.9%. The $21.9 million increase in same-store rental income was primarily due to higher rental rates. Realized annual rent per occupied square foot in our same-store portfolio increased 7.0% as a result of higher rental rates for new and existing customers for the six months ended June 30, 2023 as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2022. The remaining increase in rental income was due to stores acquired or opened in 2021 or 2022 included in our non-same-store portfolio.

Other property related income increased from $46.1 million during the six months ended June 30, 2022 to $50.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023, an increase of $4.0 million, or 8.7%. The increase was primarily due to a $2.4 million increase in fee revenue as well as a $1.1 million increase in revenue related to customer storage protection plan participation at our owned and managed stores.

Operating Expenses

Depreciation and amortization decreased from $161.6 million during the six months ended June 30, 2022 to $100.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023, a decrease of $60.9 million, or 37.7%. This decrease was primarily attributable to decreased amortization of in-place lease intangibles related to stores acquired in 2021.

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Other (Expense) Income

Interest expense on loans increased from $45.9 million during the six months ended June 30, 2022 to $47.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023, an increase of $1.4 million, or 3.0%. The increase was attributable to higher interest rates during the 2023 period compared to the 2022 period, partially offset by a decrease in the average outstanding debt balance. The weighted average effective interest rate on our outstanding debt increased to 3.05% for the six months ended June 30, 2023 compared to 2.88% during the six months ended June 30, 2022. The average outstanding debt balance decreased to $3.05 billion during the six months ended June 30, 2023 as compared to $3.18 billion during the six months ended June 30, 2022.

Equity in earnings of real estate ventures increased from $1.0 million during the six months ended June 30, 2022 to $3.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023, an increase of $2.3 million. The increase was primarily due to distributions during the 2023 period in excess of our equity investment associated with the sale by 191 IV CUBE Southeast LLC (“HVPSE”) of all of its 14 stores on August 30, 2022 (see note 5 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements).

For the six months ended June 30, 2022, the component of other (expense) income designated as Other includes $10.5 million of transaction-related expenses comprised primarily of severance costs associated with the acquisition of LAACO, Ltd. in December 2021. There were no such expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2023.

Cash Flows

Comparison of the six months ended June 30, 2023 to the six months ended June 30, 2022

A comparison of cash flow from operating, investing and financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 is as follows:

Six Months Ended June 30, 

 

Net cash provided by (used in):

    

2023

    

2022

    

Change

 

(in thousands)

 

Operating activities

$

296,771

$

284,304

$

12,467

Investing activities

$

(45,140)

$

(50,075)

$

4,935

Financing activities

$

(249,411)

$

(239,443)

$

(9,968)

Cash provided by operating activities increased from $284.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 to $296.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023, reflecting an increase of $12.5 million. Our increased cash flow from operating activities was primarily attributable to increased net operating income levels in the same-store portfolio primarily due to higher rental rates in the 2023 period as compared to the corresponding 2022 period.

Cash used in investing activities decreased from $50.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 to $45.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023, reflecting a decrease of $4.9 million. The change was primarily driven by a decrease in acquisitions of storage properties of $68.5 million. We acquired two stores and land during the six months ended June 30, 2022, with no acquisitions during the corresponding 2023 period. This decrease was offset by $43.2 million in net proceeds received from the sale of real estate during the six months ended June 30, 2022, with no comparable cash inflows during the corresponding 2023 period. Additionally, development costs increased by $14.4 million, primarily due to the payment of a put liability associated with a previously consolidated joint venture.

Cash used in financing activities was $239.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to $249.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023, reflecting an increase of $10.0 million. This change was primarily the result of a $30.5 million increase in principal payments on mortgage loans due to the repayment of two secured loans during the 2023 period with no comparable repayments during the 2022 period. This change was also due to a $27.5 million increase in cash distributions paid to common shareholders and noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership due to an increase in the common divided per share/unit. These increases in cash used for financing activities

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were offset by $43.3 million of additional net proceeds from our revolving credit facility during the 2023 period as compared to the corresponding 2022 period.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Liquidity Overview

Our cash flow from operations has historically been one of our primary sources of liquidity used to fund debt service, distributions and capital expenditures. We derive substantially all of our revenue from customers who lease space at our stores and fees earned from managing stores. Therefore, our ability to generate cash from operations is dependent on the rents and management fees that we are able to charge and collect from our customers and clients. We believe that the properties in which we invest, self-storage properties, are less sensitive than other real estate product types to near-term economic downturns. However, prolonged economic downturns could adversely affect our cash flows from operations.

In order to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, the Parent Company is required to distribute at least 90% of its REIT taxable income, excluding capital gains, to its shareholders on an annual basis, and must pay federal income tax on undistributed income to the extent it distributes less than 100% of its REIT taxable income. The nature of our business, coupled with the requirement that we distribute a substantial portion of our income on an annual basis, will cause us to have substantial liquidity needs over both the short term and the long term.

Our short-term liquidity needs consist primarily of funds necessary to pay operating expenses associated with our stores, refinancing of certain mortgage indebtedness, interest expense and scheduled principal payments on debt, expected distributions to limited partners and dividends to shareholders, capital expenditures and the development of new stores. These funding requirements will vary from year to year, in some cases significantly. For the remainder of the 2023 fiscal year, we expect recurring capital expenditures to be approximately $6.0 million to $11.0 million, planned capital improvements and store upgrades to be approximately $4.5 million to $9.5 million and costs associated with the development of new stores to be approximately $16.0 to $26.0 million. Our currently scheduled principal payments on our outstanding debt are approximately $0.9 million for the remainder of 2023.

Our most restrictive financial covenants limit the amount of additional leverage we can add; however, we believe cash flows from operations, access to equity financing (including through our “at-the-market” equity program), and available borrowings under our Second Amended and Restated Credit Facility (defined below) provide adequate sources of liquidity to enable us to execute our current business plan and remain in compliance with our covenants.

Our liquidity needs beyond 2023 consist primarily of contractual obligations which include repayments of indebtedness at maturity, as well as potential discretionary expenditures such as (i) non-recurring capital expenditures; (ii) redevelopment of operating stores; (iii) acquisitions of additional stores; and (iv) development of new stores. We will have to satisfy the portion of our needs not covered by cash flow from operations through additional borrowings, including borrowings under our Second Amended and Restated Credit Facility, sales of common or preferred shares of the Parent Company and common or preferred units of the Operating Partnership and/or cash generated through store dispositions and joint venture transactions.

We believe that, as a publicly traded REIT, we will have access to multiple sources of capital to fund our long-term liquidity requirements, including the incurrence of additional debt and the issuance of additional equity. However, we cannot provide any assurance that this will be the case. Our ability to incur additional debt will be dependent on a number of factors, including our degree of leverage, the value of our unencumbered assets and borrowing restrictions that may be imposed by lenders. There can be no assurance that such capital will be readily available in the future. Our ability to access the equity capital markets will be dependent on a number of factors as well, including general market conditions for REITs and market perceptions of us.

As of June 30, 2023, we had approximately $9.2 million in available cash and cash equivalents. In addition, we had approximately $786.2 million of availability for borrowings under our Second Amended and Restated Credit Facility.

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Unsecured Senior Notes

Our unsecured senior notes, which are issued by the Operating Partnership and guaranteed by the Parent Company, are summarized as follows (collectively referred to as the “Senior Notes”):

    

June 30, 

December 31,

    

Effective

Issuance

Maturity

Unsecured Senior Notes

    

2023

    

2022

    

Interest Rate

Date

Date

(in thousands)

$300M 4.000% Guaranteed Notes due 2025 (1)

$

300,000

$

300,000

 

3.99

%  

Various (1)

Nov-25

$300M 3.125% Guaranteed Notes due 2026

300,000

300,000

3.18

%  

Aug-16

Sep-26

$550M 2.250% Guaranteed Notes due 2028

550,000

550,000

2.33

%  

Nov-21

Dec-28

$350M 4.375% Guaranteed Notes due 2029

350,000

350,000

4.46

%  

Jan-19

Feb-29

$350M 3.000% Guaranteed Notes due 2030

350,000

350,000

3.04

%  

Oct-19

Feb-30

$450M 2.000% Guaranteed Notes due 2031

450,000

450,000

2.10

%  

Oct-20

Feb-31

$500M 2.500% Guaranteed Notes due 2032

500,000

500,000

2.59

%  

Nov-21

Feb-32

Principal balance outstanding

2,800,000

2,800,000

Less: Discount on issuance of unsecured senior

notes, net

(10,975)

(11,801)

Less: Loan procurement costs, net

(14,605)

(15,849)

Total unsecured senior notes, net

$

2,774,420

$

2,772,350

(1)On April 4, 2017, the Operating Partnership issued $50.0 million of its 4.000% senior notes due 2025, which are part of the same series as the $250.0 million principal amount of the Operating Partnership’s 4.000% senior notes due November 15, 2025 issued on October 26, 2015. The $50.0 million and $250.0 million tranches were priced at 101.343% and 99.735%, respectively, of the principal amount to yield 3.811% and 4.032%, respectively, to maturity. The combined weighted average effective interest rate of the 2025 notes is 3.994%.

The indenture under which the Senior Notes were issued restricts the ability of the Operating Partnership and its subsidiaries to incur debt unless the Operating Partnership and its consolidated subsidiaries comply with a leverage ratio not to exceed 60% and an interest coverage ratio of more than 1.5:1.0 after giving effect to the incurrence of the debt. The indenture also restricts the ability of the Operating Partnership and its subsidiaries to incur secured debt unless the Operating Partnership and its consolidated subsidiaries comply with a secured debt leverage ratio not to exceed 40% after giving effect to the incurrence of the debt. The indenture also contains other financial and customary covenants, including a covenant not to own unencumbered assets with a value less than 150% of the unsecured indebtedness of the Operating Partnership and its consolidated subsidiaries. As of June 30, 2023, the Operating Partnership was in compliance with all of the financial covenants under the Senior Notes.

Revolving Credit Facility

On December 9, 2011, we entered into a credit agreement (the “Credit Facility”), which was subsequently amended and restated. On October 26, 2022, we again amended and restated, in its entirety, the Credit Facility (the “Second Amended and Restated Credit Facility”) which, subsequent to the amendment and restatement, is comprised of an $850.0 million unsecured revolving facility (the “Revolver”) maturing on February 15, 2027. Under the Second Amended and Restated Credit Facility, pricing on the Revolver is dependent upon our unsecured debt credit ratings and leverage levels. At our current unsecured debt credit ratings and leverage levels, amounts drawn under the Revolver are priced using a margin of 0.775% plus a facility fee of 0.15% over the Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR") plus a 0.10% SOFR adjustment.

As of June 30, 2023, borrowings under the Revolver had an interest rate of 6.12%. Additionally, as of June 30, 2023, $786.2 million was available for borrowing under the Revolver. The available balance under the Revolver is reduced by an outstanding letter of credit of $0.6 million.

Under the Second Amended and Restated Credit Facility, our ability to borrow under the Revolver is subject to ongoing compliance with certain financial covenants which include, among other things, (1) a maximum total indebtedness to total asset value of 60.0%, and (2) a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.5:1.0. As of June

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30, 2023, we were in compliance with all of the financial covenants under the Second Amended and Restated Credit Facility.

At-the-Market Equity Program

We maintain an “at-the-market” equity program that enables us to sell common shares through sales agents pursuant to equity distribution agreements (the “Equity Distribution Agreements”).

We did not sell any common shares under the Equity Distribution Agreements during the three or six months ended June 30, 2023. As of June 30, 2023, 5.8 million common shares remained available for issuance under the Equity Distribution Agreements.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

NOI

We define net operating income, which we refer to as “NOI”, as total continuing revenues less continuing property operating expenses. NOI also can be calculated by adding back to net income (loss): interest expense on loans, loan procurement amortization expense, loss on early extinguishment of debt, acquisition-related costs, equity in losses of real estate ventures, other expense, depreciation and amortization expense, general and administrative expense, and deducting from net income (loss): equity in earnings of real estate ventures, gains from sales of real estate, net, other income, gains from remeasurement of investments in real estate ventures and interest income. NOI is a measure of performance that is not calculated in accordance with GAAP.

We use NOI as a measure of operating performance at each of our stores, and for all of our stores in the aggregate. NOI should not be considered as a substitute for operating income, net income, cash flows provided by operating, investing and financing activities, or other income statement or cash flow statement data prepared in accordance with GAAP.

We believe NOI is useful to investors in evaluating our operating performance because:

it is one of the primary measures used by our management and our store managers to evaluate the economic productivity of our stores, including our ability to lease our stores, increase pricing and occupancy and control our property operating expenses;

it is widely used in the real estate industry and the self-storage industry to measure the performance and value of real estate assets without regard to various items included in net income that do not relate to or are not indicative of operating performance, such as depreciation and amortization, which can vary depending upon accounting methods and the book value of assets; and

it helps our investors to meaningfully compare the results of our operating performance from period to period by removing the impact of our capital structure (primarily interest expense on our outstanding indebtedness) and depreciation of our basis in our assets from our operating results.

There are material limitations to using a measure such as NOI, including the difficulty associated with comparing results among more than one company and the inability to analyze certain significant items, including depreciation and interest expense, that directly affect our net income. We compensate for these limitations by considering the economic effect of the excluded expense items independently as well as in connection with our analysis of net income. NOI should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP, such as total revenues, operating income and net income.

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FFO

Funds from operations (“FFO”) is a widely used performance measure for real estate companies and is provided here as a supplemental measure of operating performance. The April 2002 National Policy Bulletin of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (the “White Paper”), as amended and restated, defines FFO as net income (computed in accordance with GAAP), excluding gains (or losses) from sales of real estate and related impairment charges, plus real estate depreciation and amortization, and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures.

Management uses FFO as a key performance indicator in evaluating the operations of our stores. Given the nature of our business as a real estate owner and operator, we consider FFO a key measure of our operating performance that is not specifically defined by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. We believe that FFO is useful to management and investors as a starting point in measuring our operational performance because FFO excludes various items included in net income that do not relate to or are not indicative of our operating performance such as gains (or losses) from sales of real estate, gains from remeasurement of investments in real estate ventures, impairments of depreciable assets, and depreciation, which can make periodic and peer analyses of operating performance more difficult. Our computation of FFO may not be comparable to FFO reported by other REITs or real estate companies.

FFO should not be considered as an alternative to net income (determined in accordance with GAAP) as an indication of our performance. FFO does not represent cash generated from operating activities determined in accordance with GAAP and is not a measure of liquidity or an indicator of our ability to make cash distributions. We believe that to further understand our performance, FFO should be compared with our reported net income and considered in addition to cash flows computed in accordance with GAAP, as presented in our unaudited consolidated financial statements.

FFO, as adjusted

FFO, as adjusted represents FFO as defined above, excluding the effects of acquisition-related costs, gains or losses from early extinguishment of debt, and non-recurring items, which we believe are not indicative of the Company’s operating results. We present FFO, as adjusted because we believe it is a helpful measure in understanding our results of operations insofar as we believe that the items noted above that are included in FFO, but excluded from FFO, as adjusted are not indicative of our ongoing operating results. We also believe that the analyst community considers our FFO, as adjusted (or similar measures using different terminology) when evaluating us. Because other REITs or real estate companies may not compute FFO, as adjusted in the same manner as we do, and may use different terminology, our computation of FFO, as adjusted may not be comparable to FFO, as adjusted reported by other REITs or real estate companies.

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The following table presents a reconciliation of net income attributable to the Company’s common shareholders to FFO (and FFO, as adjusted) attributable to common shareholders and OP unitholders for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022.

Three Months Ended June 30, 

 

Six Months Ended June 30, 

    

2023

    

2022

    

2023

    

2022

(in thousands)

Net income attributable to the Company’s common shareholders

$

97,879

$

58,358

$

195,445

$

96,513

Add (deduct):

Real estate depreciation and amortization:

Real property

 

48,898

 

77,989

 

97,814

 

159,492

Company’s share of unconsolidated real estate ventures

 

2,115

 

2,368

 

4,249

 

4,906

Gains from sales of real estate, net (1)

 

 

 

(1,713)

 

Noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership

 

616

 

379

 

1,230

 

671

FFO attributable to the Company's common shareholders and OP

unitholders

$

149,508

$

139,094

$

297,025

$

261,582

Add:

Transaction-related expenses (2)

 

 

1,138

 

 

10,546

FFO, as adjusted, attributable to the Company's common

shareholders and OP unitholders

$

149,508

$

140,232

$

297,025

$

272,128

Weighted average diluted shares outstanding

226,275

225,895

226,238

 

225,820

Weighted average diluted units outstanding

1,419

 

1,460

 

1,421

 

1,588

Weighted average diluted shares and units outstanding

 

227,694

 

227,355

 

227,659

227,408

(1)Represents distributions made to the Company in excess of its investment in the 191 IV CUBE Southeast LLC ("HVPSE") unconsolidated real estate venture. HVPSE sold all 14 of its properties on August 30, 2022. The distributions during the six months ended June 30, 2023 relate to proceeds that were held back at the time of the sale. This gain is included in Equity in earnings of real estate ventures within our consolidated statements of operations.

(2)For the three months ended June 30, 2022, transaction-related expenses represent severance expenses. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, transaction-related expenses include severance expenses ($10.3 million) and other transaction expenses ($0.2 million). Prior to our acquisition of LAACO, Ltd. on December 9, 2021, the predecessor company entered into severance agreements with certain employees, including members of their executive team. These costs were known to us and the assumption of the obligation to make these payments post-closing was contemplated in our net consideration paid in the transaction. In accordance with GAAP, and based on the specific details of the arrangements with the employees prior to closing, these costs are considered post-combination compensation expenses. Transaction-related expenses are included in the component of other income (expense) designated as Other within our consolidated statements of operations.

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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not have off-balance sheet arrangements, financings or other relationships with other unconsolidated entities (other than our co-investment partnerships) or other persons, also known as variable interest entities, not previously discussed.

ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Our future income, cash flows and fair values relevant to financial instruments depend upon prevailing market interest rates.

Market Risk

Our investment policy relating to cash and cash equivalents is to preserve principal and liquidity while maximizing the return through investment of available funds.

Effect of Changes in Interest Rates on our Outstanding Debt

Our interest rate risk objectives are to limit the impact of interest rate fluctuations on earnings and cash flows and to lower our overall borrowing costs. To achieve these objectives, we may, from time to time, manage our exposure to fluctuations in market interest rates for a portion of our borrowings through the use of derivative financial instruments such as interest rate swaps or caps to mitigate our interest rate risk on a related financial instrument or to effectively lock the interest rate on a portion of our variable-rate debt. The analysis below presents the sensitivity of the market value of our financial instruments to selected changes in market rates. The range of changes chosen reflects our view of changes which are reasonably possible over a one-year period. Market values are the present value of projected future cash flows based on the market rates chosen.

As of June 30, 2023, our consolidated debt consisted of $2.92 billion of outstanding mortgage loans and notes payable and unsecured senior notes that are subject to fixed rates. Additionally, as of June 30, 2023, there were $63.2 million of outstanding unsecured credit facility borrowings subject to floating rates. Changes in market interest rates have different impacts on the fixed and variable-rate portions of our debt portfolio. A change in market interest rates on the fixed portion of the debt portfolio impacts the net financial instrument position, but has no impact on interest incurred or cash flows. A change in market interest rates on the variable portion of the debt portfolio impacts the interest incurred and cash flows, but does not impact the net financial instrument position.

If market interest rates on our variable-rate debt increase by 100 basis points, the increase in annual interest expense on our variable-rate debt would decrease future earnings and cash flows by approximately $0.6 million a year. If market interest rates on our variable-rate debt decrease by 100 basis points, the decrease in interest expense on our variable-rate debt would increase future earnings and cash flows by approximately $0.6 million a year.

If market interest rates increase by 100 basis points, the fair value of our outstanding fixed-rate mortgage debt and unsecured senior notes would decrease by approximately $127.9 million. If market rates of interest decrease by 100 basis points, the fair value of our outstanding fixed-rate mortgage debt and unsecured senior notes would increase by approximately $131.1 million.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Controls and Procedures (Parent Company)

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this Report, the Parent Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of its management, including its chief executive officer and chief financial officer,

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of the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act).

Based on that evaluation, the Parent Company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer have concluded that the Parent Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed at a reasonable assurance level and are effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Parent Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Parent Company’s management, including its chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There has been no change in the Parent Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during its most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, its internal control over financial reporting.

Controls and Procedures (Operating Partnership)

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this Report, the Operating Partnership carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of its management, including the Operating Partnership’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Operating Partnership’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act).

Based on that evaluation, the Operating Partnership’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer have concluded that the Operating Partnership’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed at a reasonable assurance level and are effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Operating Partnership in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Operating Partnership’s management, including the Operating Partnership’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There has been no change in the Operating Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during its most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Operating Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

To our knowledge and except as otherwise disclosed in this quarterly report, no legal proceedings are pending against us, other than routine actions and administrative proceedings, and other actions not deemed material, and which, in the aggregate, are not expected to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

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ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

Repurchases of Parent Company Common Shares

The following table provides information about repurchases of the Parent Company’s common shares during the three months ended June 30, 2023:

    

Total

Number of

Shares

Purchased (1)

    

Average
Price Paid
Per Share

     

Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased
as Part of
Publicly
Announced
Plans or Programs

    

Maximum

Number of

Shares that

May Yet Be

Purchased

Under the

Plans or

Programs

 

April 1 - April 30

2,935

$

46.22

N/A

3,000,000

May 1 - May 31

$

N/A

3,000,000

June 1 - June 30

$

N/A

3,000,000

Total

 

2,935

$

46.22

 

N/A

 

3,000,000

(1)Represents common shares withheld by the Parent Company upon the vesting of restricted shares to cover employee tax obligations.

On September 27, 2007, the Parent Company announced that the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) approved a share repurchase program for up to 3.0 million of the Parent Company’s outstanding common shares. Unless terminated earlier by resolution of the Board, the program will expire when the number of authorized shares has been repurchased. The Parent Company has made no repurchases under this program to date.

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

Trading Arrangements

During the three months ended June 30, 2023, none of our trustees or officers (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) adopted or terminated a Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement or non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement (as such terms are defined in Item 408 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended).

Compensation Actions

On August 1, 2023, the Board approved and adopted amendments to the Parent Company’s Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (the “DCP”) and Executive Severance Plan (the “Severance Plan”).

The DCP was amended to (i) require a participant’s consent for any amendment to the DCP that is adverse to the participant with respect to the participant’s prior deferrals, (ii) permit DCP participants to convert their restricted share units subject to deferral elections into cash amounts in connection with a change in control (based on the then-value of the shares underlying those restricted share units) and to allow those cash amounts to be notionally invested in a variety of different investment choices, (iii) provide that, prior to the occurrence of a change of control, all obligations under the DCP must be fully funded into a trust, and (iv) require the consent of at least two thirds of DCP participants to terminate or amend the DCP to disallow new deferrals at any time during the period within 90 days prior to and 10 years following a change in control.

The Severance Plan was amended to (i) modify the definition of “good reason” to include a material reduction in a participant’s annual target bonus or a relocation of the participant’s primary work location by more than 25 miles, (ii) provide that, for a participant who has been employed by the Parent Company or a subsidiary for more than two years, the bonus component of the participant’s severance benefits will be based on the greater of the participant’s target annual

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bonus or the participant’s average annual cash incentive earned for the two calendar years prior to the year of termination, (iii) provide that, the base salary amount used for the purpose of determining a participant’s severance benefits in connection with any severance-eligible termination occurring during the Severance Plan’s change in control protection period will be the greater of the participant’s base salary on the date of termination or the participant’s base salary on the day immediately prior to the change in control, (iv) provide that, in connection with any severance-eligible termination occurring during the Severance Plan’s change in control protection period, the participant’s pro-rata annual cash incentive will be based on target performance if greater than actual Parent Company performance for the year of termination, (v) provide that, instead of reimbursing a participant for COBRA coverage premiums during the severance period, the Parent Company will pay the participant a lump-sum payment equal to the amount that would provide the participant, net of taxes on such amount, with an amount equal to the cost of the participant's medical and welfare benefits for the 24 months following the participant’s termination of employment, (vi) increase the continued automobile allowance in connection with any severance-eligible termination occurring during the Severance Plan’s change in control protection period from 18 months to 24 months, and (vii) provide that, immediately prior to a change in control, all time-vested equity awards held by a participant will vest in full, and all performance-vested equity awards held by a participant will vest at the greater of target or actual Parent Company performance.

The foregoing description of the amendments to the DCP and the Severance Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the DCP and the Severance Plan, respectively, which are filed as Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2, respectively, to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and are incorporated herein by reference.

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Table of Contents

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.

    

Exhibit Description

10.1†

CubeSmart Executive Deferred Compensation Plan

10.2†

CubeSmart Executive Severance Plan

10.3†

CubeSmart 2007 Equity Incentive Plan

10.4†

Form of Non-Qualified Share Option Agreement under the CubeSmart 2007 Equity Incentive Plan

10.5†

Form of Performance-Vested Restricted Share Grant Agreement under the CubeSmart 2007 Equity Incentive Plan

10.6†

Form of Performance-Vested Restricted Share Unit Grant Agreement under the CubeSmart 2007 Equity Incentive Plan

10.7†

Form of Restricted Share Grant Agreement (3-Year Vesting) under the CubeSmart 2007 Equity Incentive Plan

10.8†

Form of Restricted Share Unit Grant Agreement (3-Year Vesting) under the CubeSmart 2007 Equity Incentive Plan

10.9†

Form of Restricted Share Grant Agreement (5-Year Vesting) under the CubeSmart 2007 Equity Incentive Plan

10.10†

Form of Restricted Share Grant Agreement for Non-Employee Trustees under the CubeSmart 2007 Equity Incentive Plan

10.11†

Form of Restricted Share Unit Grant Agreement for Non-Employee Trustees under the CubeSmart 2007 Equity Incentive Plan

31.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer of CubeSmart as required by Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) under the Exchange Act, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (filed herewith)

31.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer of CubeSmart as required by Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) under the Exchange Act, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (filed herewith)

31.3

Certification of Chief Executive Officer of CubeSmart, L.P., as required by Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) under the Exchange Act, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (filed herewith)

31.4

Certification of Chief Financial Officer of CubeSmart, L.P., as required by Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) under the Exchange Act, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (filed herewith)

32.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of CubeSmart pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (furnished herewith)

32.2

Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of CubeSmart, L.P., pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (furnished herewith)

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101

The following CubeSmart and CubeSmart, L.P. financial information for the three months ended June 30, 2023 formatted in Inline XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (iv) the Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements, tagged as blocks of text. (filed herewith)

104

Cover Page Interactive Data File – the cover page interactive data file does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document

Denotes a management contract or compensatory plan, contract or arrangement.

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SIGNATURES OF REGISTRANT

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

CUBESMART

(Registrant)

Date: August 4, 2023

By:

/s/ Christopher P. Marr

Christopher P. Marr, Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

Date: August 4, 2023

By:

/s/ Timothy M. Martin

Timothy M. Martin, Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

Date: August 4, 2023

By:

/s/ Matthew D. DeNarie

Matthew D. DeNarie, Chief Accounting Officer

(Principal Accounting Officer)

SIGNATURES OF REGISTRANT

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

, L.P

CUBESMART, L.P.

(Registrant)

Date: August 4, 2023

By:

/s/ Christopher P. Marr

Christopher P. Marr, Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

Date: August 4, 2023

By:

/s/ Timothy M. Martin

Timothy M. Martin, Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

Date: August 4, 2023

By:

/s/ Matthew D. DeNarie

Matthew D. DeNarie, Chief Accounting Officer

(Principal Accounting Officer)

47

Exhibit 10.1

CUBESMART

EXECUTIVE DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

Amended and Restated as of August 1, 2023


TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

ARTICLE 1 PURPOSE1

ARTICLE 2 DEFINITIONS1

2.1Base Salary1

2.2Board1

2.3Bonus1

2.4Code1

2.5Company1

2.6Company Stock Fund1

2.7Compensation Committee2

2.8Deferred Compensation2

2.9Deemed Investment Options2

2.10Distribution Account2

2.11Distribution Option2

2.12Election Agreement2

2.13Employee2

2.14Employer2

2.15Equity Compensation2

2.16Equity Plan2

2.17In-Service Distribution Account2

2.18In-Service Distribution Option2

2.19Matching Deferred Compensation2

2.20Nonelective Deferred Compensation3

2.21Participant3

2.22Plan3

2.23Plan Administrator3

2.24Plan Year3

2.25Retirement3

2.26Retirement Distribution Account3

2.27Retirement Distribution Option3

2.28Trust3

ARTICLE 3 PARTICIPATION3

3.1Eligibility3

3.2Participation3

ARTICLE 4 BENEFITS3

4.1Deferred Compensation3

4.2Matching Deferred Compensation4

4.3Nonelective Deferred Compensation4

4.4Election Procedures4

4.5Limited Redeferral5

(i)


ARTICLE 5 DISTRIBUTION ACCOUNTS6

5.1Participant Accounts6

5.2Returns on Distribution Accounts6

5.3Deemed Investment Options6

5.4Changes in Deemed Investment Options7

5.5Valuation of Accounts7

5.6Statement of Accounts7

5.7Distributions from Accounts7

5.8Deemed Company Stock Fund7

5.9Equity Compensation8

ARTICLE 6 DISTRIBUTIONS8

6.1Retirement Distribution Option8

6.2In-Service Distribution Option8

6.3Distribution Limitations8

ARTICLE 7 BENEFITS TO PARTICIPANTS9

7.1Benefits Under the Retirement Distribution Option9

7.2Benefits Under the In-Service Distribution Option9

ARTICLE 8 SURVIVOR BENEFITS10

8.1Death of Participant Prior to the Commencement of Benefits10

8.2Survivor Benefits Under the Retirement Distribution Option10

8.3Survivor Benefits Under the In-Service Distribution Option11

8.4Death of Participant After Benefits Have Commenced11

ARTICLE 9 EMERGENCY BENEFIT11

ARTICLE 10 ADMINISTRATION12

10.1Plan Administrator12

10.2Appointment of Administrative Committee12

10.3Powers of Plan Administrator12

10.4Limitation of Liability13

10.5Claims Procedures13

ARTICLE 11 MISCELLANEOUS13

11.1Unfunded Plan13

11.2Spendthrift Provision14

11.3Employment Rights14

11.4Designation of Beneficiary14

11.5Withholding of Taxes15

11.6Amendment or Termination15

11.7No Fiduciary Relationship Created15

11.8Release15

11.9No Warranty or Representation15

11.10Construction15

11.11Governing Law15

11.12Counterparts15

(ii)


11.13American Jobs Creation Act of 200416

(iii)


CUBESMART EXECUTIVE DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

ARTICLE 1
PURPOSE

The CubeSmart Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) has been established for the purpose of providing deferred compensation to eligible employees and is intended to be a non-qualified deferred compensation arrangement for a select group of management and highly compensated employees.  The Plan was originally adopted by the Board on November 3, 2006, was amended and restated as of January 1, 2007, and is hereby further amended and restated as of August 1, 2023.

ARTICLE 2
DEFINITIONS

The following terms shall have the following meanings described in this Article unless the context clearly indicates another meaning. All references in the Plan to specific Articles or Sections shall refer to Articles or Sections of the Plan unless otherwise stated.

2.1 Base Salary means for a Plan Year the annual cash compensation relating to services performed during such Plan Year, whether or not paid in such Plan Year or included on the Federal Income Tax Form W-2 for such year, excluding bonuses, commissions, overtime, special awards, tax planning stipends, fringe benefits, stock options, relocation expenses, incentive payments, non-monetary awards, fees, automobile and other allowances paid to a Participant for employment services rendered (whether or not such allowances are included in the Employee’s gross income).  Base Salary shall be calculated before reduction for compensation voluntarily deferred or contributed by the Participant pursuant to all qualified or non-qualified plans of any Employer and shall be calculated to include amounts not otherwise included in the Participant’s gross income under Code Section 125, 402(e)(3), 402(h), or 403(b) pursuant to any plan established by any Employer; provided, however, that all such amounts will be included in compensation only to the extent that, had there been no such plan, the amount would have been payable in cash to the Employee.
2.2 Board means the Board of Trustees of the Company.
2.3 Bonus means for a Plan Year any compensation payable to a Participant in the Plan Year as a cash incentive bonus based on metrics determined by the Board or the Company’s CEO, whether or not paid in a calendar year or included on the Federal Income Tax Form W-2 for a calendar year.
2.4 Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
2.5 Company means CubeSmart (f/k/a U-Store-It Trust), a Maryland real estate investment trust.
2.6 Company Stock Fund means the deemed “company stock fund” investment option provided in the Company’s qualified defined contribution plan.


2.7 Compensation Committee means the Compensation Committee of the Board or, at any time that no such committee exists, the Board.
2.8 Deferred Compensation means the portion of a Participant’s Base Salary, Bonus, or Equity Compensation allocated to the Participant’s Retirement Distribution Account or an In-Service Distribution Account in accordance with Section 4.1 of the Plan.
2.9 Deemed Investment Options means the deemed investment options selected by the Participant from time to time pursuant to which deemed earnings are credited to the Participant’s Distribution Accounts.
2.10 Distribution Account means, with respect to a Participant, the Retirement Distribution Account and/or the In-Service Distribution Account established on the books of account of the Company, pursuant to Section 5.1, for each Plan Year.
2.11 Distribution Option means the two distribution options that are available under the Plan, consisting of the Retirement Distribution Option and the In-Service Distribution Option.
2.12 Election Agreement means the written agreement entered into by an Employee, which shall be irrevocable, pursuant to which the Employee becomes a Participant in the Plan and makes an election relating to Deferred Compensation and the period over which Deferred Compensation, Matching Deferred Compensation, and Nonelective Deferred Compensation and investment return thereon will be paid.
2.13 Employee means any management or highly compensated employee or any Employer.
2.14 Employer means the Company and each other corporation in a controlled group of corporations (under Code Section 414(b)) of which the Company is a member that, with the authorization of the Board, adopts the Plan for the benefit of its employees pursuant to resolution of its board of directors.
2.15 Equity Compensation means any equity-based award granted to any Employee pursuant to the Equity Plan, as amended from time to time, or any similar plan, program, or agreement, in each case that is eligible for deferred payment or settlement in accordance with an Election Agreement entered into pursuant to this Plan.
2.16 Equity Plan means the Company’s 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.
2.17 In-Service Distribution Account means the Distribution Account maintained for a Participant for each Plan Year to which Deferred Compensation is credited pursuant to the In-Service Distribution Option.
2.18 In-Service Distribution Option means the Distribution Option pursuant to which benefits are payable in accordance with Section 7.2.
2.19 Matching Deferred Compensation means a Participant’s matching deferred compensation allocated to the Participant’s Account as further described in Section 4.2.

-2-


2.20 Nonelective Deferred Compensation means a Participant’s nonelective deferred compensation allocated to the Participant’s Account as further described in Section 4.3.
2.21 Participant means an Employee or former Employee who has met the requirements for participation under Section 3.1 and who is or may become eligible to receive a benefit from the Plan or whose beneficiary may be eligible to receive a benefit from the Plan.
2.22 Plan means the plan, the terms and provisions of which are herein set forth, and as it may be amended or restated from time to time, designated as the “CubeSmart Executive Deferred Compensation Plan.
2.23 Plan Administrator means the Company.
2.24 Plan Year means each calendar year during which the Plan is in effect.
2.25 Retirement means a Participant’s separation from service with the Company (for reasons other than death) at or after age 55.
2.26 Retirement Distribution Account means the Distribution Account maintained for a Participant to which Deferred Compensation, Matching Deferred Compensation, and Nonelective Deferred Compensation are credited pursuant to the Retirement Distribution Option.
2.27 Retirement Distribution Option means the Distribution Option pursuant to which benefits are payable in accordance with Section 7.1.
2.28 Trust means any domestic trust that may be maintained in the United States pursuant to Section 11.1.
ARTICLE 3
PARTICIPATION
3.1 Eligibility
. An Employee shall be eligible to participate in the Plan if he or she is an Employee designated as eligible by the Compensation Committee. Individuals not specifically designated by the Compensation Committee are not eligible to participate in the Plan.
3.2 Participation
. An Employee shall become a Participant as of the date he or she satisfies the eligibility requirements of Section 3.1 and completes all administrative forms required by the Plan Administrator. A Participant’s participation in the Plan shall terminate upon termination of employment with the Company and all direct and indirect subsidiaries of Company or upon such other events as determined by the Compensation Committee.
ARTICLE 4
BENEFITS
4.1 Deferred Compensation
. Subject to any limitations established by the Compensation Committee or the Plan Administrator and in accordance with the procedures described in Section 4.4, a Participant may elect for a Plan Year to have his or her Base Salary, Bonus, and/or Equity Compensation deferred in any amount, expressed as a percentage, and to

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have that amount credited to his or her Retirement Distribution Account or In-Service Distribution Account as Deferred Compensation. Deferred Compensation shall be credited to a Participant’s Accounts on such schedule as the Plan Administrator shall determine.

4.2 Matching Deferred Compensation
.  There shall be credited to each Participant’s Account for each Plan Year a Matching Deferred Compensation amount equal to the total matching contribution that such Participant would have received under the Company’s qualified defined contribution plan for the Plan Year without regard to the limitations imposed thereon under Sections 402(g), 415 and 417 of the Code less the actual matching contribution that such Participant received under the Company’s qualified defined contribution plan for the Plan Year, or such other amount as may be established from time to time by action of the Board, provided such Participant has made the maximum elective deferrals to the Company’s qualified defined contribution plan as permitted under the terms of such plan.  Matching Deferred Compensation shall be credited to a Participant’s Retirement Distribution Account on such schedule as the Plan Administrator shall determine.
4.3 Nonelective Deferred Compensation
.  The Compensation Committee may in its discretion determine for any Plan Year to make an additional credit to a Participant’s Retirement Distribution Account as Nonelective Deferred Compensation, which amount may be a different amount or percentage (including no amount) for each Participant, as the Compensation Committee shall in its sole and absolute discretion determine. Nonelective Deferred Compensation shall be credited to a Participant’s Retirement Distribution Account monthly or on such other schedule as the Compensation Committee shall determine.
4.4 Election Procedures
.
(a)Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) below, compensation for services performed during a taxable year may be deferred at the Participant’s election only if the election to defer such compensation is made not later than the close of the preceding taxable year.
(b)In the case of the first Plan Year in which a Participant becomes eligible to participate in the Plan, the Participant’s election with respect to amounts deferred pursuant to Sections 4.1 and 4.2 may be made with respect to services to be performed subsequent to the election within 30 days after the date on which the Participant becomes eligible to participate in the Plan.
(c)In the case of any performance-based compensation (as defined in Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(e)) based on a performance period of at least 12 months as determined by the Plan Administrator in accordance with Code Section 409A, an election may be made no later than six months before the end of the period as permitted in accordance with Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-2(a)(8).
(d)Each Participant shall on his or her Election Agreement with respect to each Plan Year (i) specify the percentage of Base Salary and/or the percentage of Bonus and/or the percentage of Equity Compensation that the Participant elects to defer for such Plan Year; (ii) allocate his or her deferrals between the In-Service Distribution Option and the Retirement Distribution Option in increments of ten percent, provided, however, that 100

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percent of such deferrals may be allocated to one or the other of the Distribution Options; (iii) with respect to amounts allocated to the Retirement Distribution Option for such Plan Year plus investment return credited to such amounts, elect whether such amounts will be paid in a single lump sum or in annual installments payable over five, ten, or fifteen years upon the Participant’s termination of employment with the Company; and (iv) with respect to amounts allocated to the In-Service Distribution Option for the Plan Year, elect the time and manner of distribution from among the options described in Section 7.2.  Moreover, a Participant may specify in his or her Election Agreement that distribution of his or her Distribution Accounts are to be made upon the occurrence of a change in control event within the meaning of Code Section 409A and the regulations thereunder, notwithstanding any other election made hereunder.
(e)A Participant can change his or her Election Agreement, and an eligible Employee who is not a Participant may become a Participant, as of any January 1 by completing, signing and filing an Election Agreement with the Plan Administrator not later than the preceding December 31 (subject, however, to the provisions of paragraph (b) above in the case of a Participant who becomes newly eligible during the Plan Year and the provisions of paragraph (c) above in the case of performance-based compensation). A Participant who does not complete a new Election Agreement for a Plan Year will be deemed to have elected not to have any Deferred Compensation for the Plan Year and will be deemed to have elected a single lump sum method of payment for any Nonelective Deferral Compensation for such Plan Year.  If any amount is credited to the Distribution Account of Participant with respect to which no timely election concerning method of payment has been made, such amount shall be payable in the single lump sum method of payment.
(f)An election of Deferred Compensation shall be irrevocable on the first day of the Plan Year (or other period) to which it relates, except that in the case of a hardship distribution within the meaning of Treas. Reg. §1.401(k)-1(d)(3), the election may be canceled for the remainder of the Plan Year.
(g)All Election Agreements must be in a form acceptable to the Plan Administrator and shall be completed, signed, and filed with the Plan Administrator as provided herein.
4.5 Limited Redeferral
.  A Participant who has made an effective election under Section 4.4 may make a subsequent election to delay payment or commencement of payment of such amount for a period of five (5) years from the date such payment would otherwise have been made or commenced, including a change in the form of a payment in accordance with the following provisions, subject to such administrative rules and procedures as may be established by the Compensation Committee:
(a)the subsequent election shall not take effect until 12 months after the date on which it is made;
(b)payment in the form of installments over a period of five years may be elected; and

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(c)in the case of an In-Service Distribution Account, the subsequent election shall be made not less than 12 months before the first scheduled date of payment of such amount as irrevocably elected by the Participant in the Election Agreement pursuant to which such In-Service Distribution Account was established, or pursuant to a subsequent redeferral pursuant to this Section 4.5.
ARTICLE 5
DISTRIBUTION ACCOUNTS
5.1 Participant Accounts
. The Plan Administrator shall establish separate Distribution Accounts with respect to a Participant for each Distribution Option.  A Participant’s Distribution Accounts shall consist of the Retirement Distribution Account and one or more In-Service Distribution Accounts.  A Participant’s Distribution Accounts shall be maintained by the Plan Administrator in accordance with the terms of this Plan until all of the Deferred Compensation, Matching Deferred Compensation, and Nonelective Deferred Compensation, and investment return to which a Participant is entitled has been distributed to a Participant or his or her beneficiary in accordance with the terms of the Plan. A Participant shall be fully vested in his or her Distribution Accounts at all times (except to the extent that a Distribution Account consists of Equity Compensation that has not yet vested in accordance with the terms of the underlying equity-based award).
5.2 Returns on Distribution Accounts
.  A Participant’s Distribution Accounts shall be credited with returns in accordance with the Deemed Investment Options elected by the Participant from time to time.  Participants may allocate their Retirement Distribution Account and/or each of their In-Service Distribution Accounts among the Deemed Investment Options available under the Plan only in whole percentages of not less than one (1) percent.  The rate of return, positive or negative, credited under each Deemed Investment Option is based upon the actual investment performance of the corresponding investment portfolios of the Company’s qualified defined contribution plan, or such other investment fund(s) as the Compensation Committee may designate from time to time, and shall equal the total return of such investment fund net of asset based charges, including, without limitation, money management fees, fund expenses and mortality and expense risk insurance contract charges.  The Compensation Committee reserves the right, on a prospective basis, to add or delete Deemed Investment Options.
5.3 Deemed Investment Options
.  Except as otherwise provided pursuant to Section 5.2, the Deemed Investment Options available under the Plan shall consist of options which correspond to certain investment portfolios of the Company’s qualified defined contribution plan, or such other investment fund(s) as the Compensation Committee may designate from time to time.

Notwithstanding that the rates of return credited to Participants’ Distribution Accounts under the Deemed Investment Options are based upon the actual performance of the corresponding portfolios of the Company’s qualified defined contribution plan, or such other investment fund(s) as the Compensation Committee may designate, the Company shall not be obligated to invest any Deferred Compensation by Participants under this Plan, or any other amounts, in such portfolios or in any other investment funds.

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5.4 Changes in Deemed Investment Options
.  A Participant may change the Deemed Investment Options to which the Participant’s Distribution Accounts are deemed to be allocated with whatever frequency is determined by the Plan Administrator, which shall not be less than four times per Plan Year.  Each such change may include (a) reallocation of the Participant’s existing Accounts in whole percentages of not less than one (1) percent, and/or (b) change in investment allocation of amounts to be credited to the Participant’s Distribution Accounts in the future, as the Participant may elect.  Notwithstanding the provisions herein, with respect to an “executive officer” as defined in the rules promulgated under Section 16 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, any change that reallocates an existing Account to or from the deemed Company Stock Fund or that increases or reduces the allocation to the deemed Company Stock Fund shall not become effective until the first business day of the next calendar quarter, or such other date as is determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion
5.5 Valuation of Accounts
.  The value of a Participant’s Distribution Accounts as of any date shall equal the amounts theretofore credited to such Accounts, including any earnings (positive or negative) deemed to be earned on such Accounts in accordance with Section 5.2 through the day preceding such date, less the amounts theretofore deducted from such Accounts.
5.6 Statement of Accounts
.  The Plan Administrator shall provide to each Participant, not less frequently than quarterly, a statement in such form as the Plan Administrator deems desirable setting forth the balance standing to the credit of each Participant in each of his Distribution Accounts.
5.7 Distributions from Accounts
.  Any distribution made to or on behalf of a Participant from one or more of his Distribution Accounts in an amount which is less than the entire balance of any such Account shall be made pro rata from each of the Deemed Investment Options to which such Account is then allocated.
5.8 Deemed Company Stock Fund
.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, for purposes of a Participant who is an “executive officer” as defined in the rules promulgated under Section 16 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and who directs any portion of his Distribution Accounts to be credited with returns in accordance with the Deemed Investment Option consisting of the Company Stock Fund, (a) Deferred Compensation, Matching Deferred Compensation and Nonelective Deferred Compensation shall be credited to that portion of the Participant’s Distribution Accounts which are credited with returns in accordance with the Deemed Investment Option consisting of the Company Stock Fund as of the first business day of the calendar quarter, or on such other date as is determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion, on or following the date that Deferred Compensation, Matching Deferred Compensation or Nonelective Deferred Compensation would have otherwise been paid to the Participant or credited to the Participant’s Account and (b) for the period commencing on the date Deferred Compensation, Matching Deferred Compensation or Nonelective Deferred Compensation would have otherwise been paid to the Participant or credited to the Participant’s Account until such date as the Deferred Compensation, Matching Deferred Compensation or Nonelective Deferred Compensation is actually credited to that portion of the Participant’s Distribution Accounts which are credited with returns in accordance with the Deemed Investment Option consisting of the Company Stock Fund, such amounts shall be deemed to earn a rate of return equal to the monthly applicable federal rate as of the first of the month.  No Participant may direct any portion of his or her Distribution Accounts into the Company Stock Fund following

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August 1, 2023, other than dividend reinvestments credited to such Distribution Accounts in respect of amounts already directed into the Company Stock Fund as of such date (or in respect of dividend reinvestments credited on such amounts following such date).

5.9 Equity Compensation
.  Notwithstanding anything in this Article 5 to the contrary, no Participant may select any Deemed Investment Option with respect to any portion of his or her Distribution Accounts that consists of Equity Compensation unless and until a Change in Control (as defined in the Equity Plan) occurs.  Prior to a Change in Control, all Equity Compensation deferred pursuant to this Plan will remain denominated in Shares (as defined in the Equity Plan) in accordance with the award(s) underlying such Equity Compensation.  Following a Change in Control, a Participant may select one or more Deemed Investment Options with respect to deferred Equity Compensation to the same extent as the Participant’s remaining Distribution Accounts in accordance with this Article 5 such that, as of the effective date of such election, the value of such Equity Compensation will be converted based on the then-current Fair Market Value (as defined in the Equity Plan) of the Shares then underlying such Equity Compensation, and will thereafter cease to be denominated in Shares and will instead track the value of such Deemed Investment Option, as in effect from time to time.  Notwithstanding anything in Section 5.4 or elsewhere in this Plan, the Company must permit each Participant to select one or more Deemed Investment Options with respect to Equity Compensation with effect as of the consummation of a Change in Control.
ARTICLE 6
DISTRIBUTIONS
6.1 Retirement Distribution Option
.  Subject to Section 7.1, distribution of the Participant’s Retirement Distribution Account shall commence no later than the later of (a) the 60th day after the Participant’s Retirement and (b) the year following the Participant’s attainment of age 65 or other elected age less than age 65, as elected by the Participant in the Election Agreement pursuant to which such Retirement Distribution Account was established.
6.2 In-Service Distribution Option
.  Subject to Section 7.2, the Participant’s In-Service Distribution Account for any Plan Year shall be distributed commencing no later than February 28 of the Plan Year elected by the Participant in the Election Agreement pursuant to which such In-Service Distribution Account was established.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Participant shall not be entitled to allocate any deferrals to an In-Service Distribution Account for the two Plan Years preceding the Plan Year which includes the date on which such Account is to be distributed and such additional deferrals shall instead be allocated to the Retirement Distribution Account.
6.3 Distribution Limitations
.  Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, compensation deferred under the Plan shall not be distributed earlier than
(a)separation from service as defined in Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(h);
(b)the date the Participant becomes disabled within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-3(i)(4);
(c)death of the Participant;

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(d)a specified time (or pursuant to a fixed schedule) specified under the Plan at the date of the deferral of such compensation;
(e)a change in the ownership or effective control of the Company, or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-3(i)(5); or
(f)the occurrence of an unforeseeable emergency within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-3(i)(3).

In the case of any key employee (as defined in Section 416(i) of the Code without regard to paragraph (5) thereof) of an Employer, distributions in connection with a separation from service of the Participant may not be made before the date which is six months after the date of separation from service (or, if earlier, the date of death of the Participant), provided that any payments to which such key employee would otherwise have been entitled during the first six months following the date of separation shall be accumulated and paid on the first day of the seventh month following the date of separation from service.

ARTICLE 7
BENEFITS TO PARTICIPANTS
7.1 Benefits Under the Retirement Distribution Option
.  Benefits under the Retirement Distribution Option shall be paid to a Participant as follows:
(a)Benefits Upon Retirement.  In the case of a Participant whose service with the Company terminates on account of Retirement and whose total Distribution Account balance exceeds $10,000, the Participant’s Retirement Distribution Account shall be distributed in one of the following methods, as elected by the Participant in writing with respect to the Plan Year in the Election Agreement:  (i) in a lump sum; (ii) in annual installments over five years; (iii) in annual installments over ten years; or (iv) in annual installments over 15 years.  An initial annual installment payment shall be equal to (i) the value of such Retirement Distribution Account to be so distributed as of the last business day of the Plan Year preceding the date of payment, divided by (ii) the number of annual installment payments elected by the Participant.  The remaining annual installments shall be paid not later than February 28 of each succeeding Plan Year in an amount equal to (i) the value of such Retirement Distribution Account as of the last business day of the immediately preceding Plan Year divided by (ii) the number of installments remaining.
(b)Benefits Upon Termination of Employment.  In the case of a Participant whose service with the Company terminates prior to the earliest date on which the Participant is eligible for Retirement, other than on account of death, or whose total Distribution Account balance does not exceed $10,000, the Participant’s Retirement Distribution Account shall be distributed in a lump sum 60 days following the date of separation from service or as soon thereafter as practicable, subject to the requirements of Section 6.3.
7.2 Benefits Under the In-Service Distribution Option
.  Benefits under the In-Service Distribution Option shall be paid to a Participant as follows:

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(a)In-Service Distributions.  In the case of a Participant who continues in service with the Company, the Participant’s In-Service Distribution Account for any Plan Year shall be paid as irrevocably elected by the Participant in the Election Agreement pursuant to which such In-Service Distribution Account was established in one lump sum or in annual installments payable over 2, 3, 4, or 5 years.  Any lump-sum benefit payable in accordance with this paragraph shall be in an amount equal to the value of such In-Service Distribution Account as of the last business day of the Plan Year preceding the date of payment.  The initial annual installment payment shall be equal to (i) the value of such In-Service Distribution Account as of the last business day of the Plan Year preceding the date of payment, divided by (ii) the number of annual installment payments elected by the Participant in the Election Agreement pursuant to which such In-Service Distribution Account was established.  The remaining annual installments shall be paid not later than February 28 of each succeeding year in an amount equal to (i) the value of such In-Service Distribution Account as of the last business day of the immediately preceding Plan Year divided by (ii) the number of installments remaining.
(b)Benefits Upon Termination of Employment.  In the case of a Participant whose Service with the Company terminates prior to the date on which the Participant’s In-Service Distribution Account would otherwise be distributed, other than on account of death, such In-Service Distribution Account shall be distributed as irrevocably elected by the Participant in the Election Agreement pursuant to which such In-Service Distribution Account was established.  In the case of a Participant whose total Distribution Account balance does not exceed $10,000, the Participant’s In-Service Distribution Accounts shall be distributed in a lump sum 60 days following the date of separation from service or as soon thereafter as practicable, subject to the requirements of Section 6.3.
ARTICLE 8
SURVIVOR BENEFITS
8.1 Death of Participant Prior to the Commencement of Benefits
.  In the event of a Participant’s death prior to the commencement of benefits in accordance with Article 7, benefits shall be paid to the Participant’s Beneficiary, as determined under Section 11.4, pursuant to Section 8.2 or 8.3, whichever is applicable, in lieu of any benefits otherwise payable under the Plan to or on behalf of such Participant.
8.2 Survivor Benefits Under the Retirement Distribution Option
.  In the case of a Participant with respect to whom the Plan Administrator has established a Retirement Distribution Account, and who dies prior to the commencement of benefits under such Retirement Distribution Account pursuant to Section 7.1, distribution of such Retirement Distribution Account shall be made (a) in a lump sum as soon as practicable following the Participant’s death, or (b) in the manner and at such time as such Retirement Distribution Account would otherwise have been distributed in accordance with Section 7.1 had the Participant lived, as elected by the Participant in the Election Agreement pursuant to which such Retirement Distribution Account was established or as may have been changed by the Participant in accordance with this Plan.  The amount of any lump-sum benefit payable in accordance with this Section shall equal the value of such Retirement Distribution Account as of the last business day of the calendar month immediately preceding the date on which such benefit is paid.  The amount of any annual

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installment benefit payable in accordance with this Section shall equal (a) the value of such Retirement Distribution Account as of the last business day of the calendar month immediately preceding the date on which such installment is paid, divided by (b) the number of annual installments remaining to be paid pursuant to the election of the Participant in the Election Agreement pursuant to which such Retirement Distribution Account was established or as may have been changed by the Participant.

8.3 Survivor Benefits Under the In-Service Distribution Option
.  In the case of a Participant with respect to whom the Plan Administrator has established one or more In-Service Distribution Accounts, and who dies prior to the date on which such In-Service Distribution Accounts are to be paid pursuant to Section 7.2, distribution of such In-Service Distribution Accounts shall be made (a) in a lump sum as soon as practicable following the Participant’s death, or (b) at such time and in such form as such In-Service Distribution Accounts would otherwise have been distributed in accordance with Section 7.2 had the Participant lived, as irrevocably elected by the Participant in the Election Agreement pursuant to which such In-Service Distribution Accounts were established.  The amount of any lump-sum benefit payable in accordance with this  Section shall equal the value of such In-Service Distribution Accounts as of the last business day of the calendar month immediately preceding the date on which such benefit is paid.
8.4 Death of Participant After Benefits Have Commenced
.  In the event a Participant dies after annual installment benefits payable under Section 7.1 or 7.2 have commenced, but before the entire balance of the applicable Distribution Account has been paid, any remaining installments shall continue to be paid to the Participant’s Beneficiary, as determined under Section 11.4, at such times and in such amounts as they would have been paid to the Participant had the Participant survived.
ARTICLE 9
EMERGENCY BENEFIT

In the event that the Plan Administrator, upon written request of a Participant, determines, in its sole discretion, that the Participant has suffered an unforeseeable emergency, the Company shall pay to the Participant from the Participant’s Distribution Account(s), as soon as practicable following such determination, an amount not exceeding the amount reasonably necessary to meet the emergency (which may include amounts necessary to pay any federal, state, or local income taxes or penalties reasonably anticipated that result from the distribution), after deduction of any and all taxes as may be required pursuant to Section 11.5 (the “Emergency Benefit”).  For purposes of this Plan, an unforeseeable emergency is a severe financial hardship of the Participant arising from an illness or accident of the Participant, the Participant’s spouse, or the Participant’s dependent (as defined in Code Section 152(a)); loss of the Participant’s property due to casualty (including the need to rebuild a home following damage to a home not otherwise covered by insurance, for example, as a result of a natural disaster); or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the Participant.  Cash needs arising from foreseeable events such as the education expenses for children shall not be considered to be the result of an unforeseeable financial emergency.  Emergency Benefits shall be paid first from the Participant’s In-Service Distribution Accounts, if any, in the order in which such Accounts would otherwise be distributed to the Participant.  If the distribution exhausts the

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In-Service Distribution Accounts, the Retirement Distribution Account may be accessed.  With respect to that portion of any Distribution Account which is distributed to a Participant as an Emergency Benefit, in accordance with this Article, no further benefit shall be payable to the Participant under this Plan.  Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, a Participant who receives an Emergency Benefit in any Plan Year shall not be entitled to make any further deferrals for the remainder of such Plan Year.  It is intended that the Plan Administrator’s determination as to whether a Participant has suffered an “unforeseeable emergency” shall be made consistent with the requirements under Section 409A of the Code.

ARTICLE 10
ADMINISTRATION
10.1 Plan Administrator
. The Company shall have the sole responsibility for the administration of the Plan and is designated as Plan Administrator.
10.2 Appointment of Administrative Committee
. The Company may delegate its duties as Plan Administrator to an Administrative Committee.  The members of the Administrative Committee shall be selected by the Board.
10.3 Powers of Plan Administrator
. The Plan Administrator shall have the full and exclusive power, discretion and authority to administer the Plan. The determinations and decisions of the Plan Administrator are final and binding on all persons. The Plan Administrator’s powers shall include but shall not be limited to, the power to:
(a)Maintain records pertaining to the Plan.
(b)Interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan, and to construe ambiguities and correct omissions.
(c)Establish procedures by which Participants may apply for benefits under the Plan and appeal a denial of benefits.
(d)Determine the rights under the Plan of any Participant applying for or receiving benefits.
(e)Administer the claims procedure provided in this Article.
(f)Perform all acts necessary to meet the reporting and disclosure obligations imposed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”).
(g)Delegate specific responsibilities for the operation and administration of the Plan to such employees or agents as it deems advisable and necessary.

In the exercise of its powers, the Plan Administrator shall be entitled to rely upon all tables, valuations, certificates and reports furnished by any accountant or consultant and upon opinions given by any legal counsel in each case duly selected by the Plan Administrator.

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10.4 Limitation of Liability
. Neither the Plan Administrator nor the Company, any other Employer, or any of their respective officers and directors (including but not limited to the members of the Board) shall be liable for any act or omission relating to their duties under the Plan, unless such act or omission is attributable to their own willful misconduct or lack of good faith.
10.5 Claims Procedures
.
(a)All claims under the Plan shall be directed to the attention of the Plan Administrator. Any Participant or beneficiary whose application for benefits or other claim under the Plan has been denied, in whole or in part, shall be given written notice of the denial by the Plan Administrator within sixty (60) days after the receipt of the claim. The notice shall explain that the Participant or beneficiary may request a review of the denial and the procedure for requesting review. The notice shall describe any additional information necessary to perfect the Participant’s or beneficiary’s claim and explain why such information is necessary. If a Participant or beneficiary does not receive a written response to a claim within sixty (60) days after receipt of the claim by the Plan Administrator, the claim will be deemed to be denied.
(b)A Participant or beneficiary may make a written request to the Plan Administrator for a review of any denial of claims under this Plan. The request for review must be in writing and must be made within sixty (60) days after the mailing date of the notice of denial or the deemed denial. The request shall refer to the provisions of the Plan on which it is based and shall set forth the facts relied upon as justifying a reversal or modification of the determination being appealed.
(c)A Participant or beneficiary who requests a review of denial of claims in accordance with this claims procedure may examine pertinent documents and submit pertinent issues and comments in writing. A Participant or beneficiary may have a duly authorized representative act on his or her behalf in exercising his or her right to request a review and any other rights granted by this claims procedure. The Plan Administrator shall provide a review of the decision denying the claim within sixty (60) days after receiving the written request for review. If a Participant or beneficiary does not receive a written response to a request for a review within the foregoing time limit, such request will be deemed to be denied. A decision by the Plan Administrator for review shall be final and binding on all persons.
ARTICLE 11
MISCELLANEOUS
11.1 Unfunded Plan
.
(a)The Plan shall be an unfunded plan maintained by the Company and the other Employers for the purpose of providing benefits for a select group of management or highly compensated employees. Neither the Company nor any other Employer shall be required to set aside, earmark or entrust any fund or money with which to pay their obligations under this Plan or to invest in any particular investment vehicle and may change investments of Company assets at any time.

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(b)The Company may at any time and from time to time establish and fund a Trust to hold property that may be used to pay benefits under the Plan; provided that the Company is obligated to establish and fully fund a Trust no later than immediately prior to a Change in Control with cash and/or property having a fair value as of such date that is no less than the aggregate amount accrued under this Plan as of such date under all Participants’ Distribution Accounts. The Trust shall be a domestic trust maintained in the United States. The Trust shall be intended to be a grantor trust, within the meaning of Section 671 of the Code, of which the Company is the grantor, and the Plan is to be construed in accordance with that intention. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, the assets of the Trust will remain the property of the Company and will be subject to the claims of creditors in the event of bankruptcy or insolvency, as provided in the Trust Agreement. No Participant or person claiming through a Participant will have any priority claim on the assets of the Trust or any security interest or other right superior to the rights of a general creditor of the Company or the other Employers as provided in the Trust Agreement.
(c)Subject to the following provisions of this Section 11.1(c), all benefits under this Plan shall be paid by the Participant’s Employer(s) from its general assets and/or the assets of the Trust, which assets shall, at all times, remain subject to the claims of creditors as provided in the Trust Agreement. No Employer, other than the Company as provided below, shall have any obligation to pay benefits hereunder in respect of any Participants who are not Employees or former Employees of such Employer. The obligation of each Employer hereunder in respect of any Participant shall be limited to the amounts payable to such Participant from the Distribution Account established for such Participant in respect of employment with that Employer, except that if an Employer shall fail to make or cause to be made any benefit payment hereunder when due, the Company shall promptly make such benefit payment from its general assets and/or the assets of the Trust.
(d)Neither Participants, their beneficiaries nor their legal representatives shall have any right, other than the right of an unsecured general creditor, against the Company or any other Employer in respect of any portion of a Participant’s Account and shall have no right, title or interest, legal or equitable, in or to any asset of the Company or any other Employer or the Trust.
11.2 Spendthrift Provision
. The Plan shall not in any manner be liable for or subject to the debts or liabilities of any Participant or beneficiary. No benefit or interest under the Plan is subject to assignment, alienation, pledge or encumbrance, whether voluntary or involuntary, and any purported or attempted assignment, alienation, pledge or encumbrance of benefits shall be void and will not be recognized by the Company or any other Employer.
11.3 Employment Rights
. The existence of the Plan shall not grant a Participant any legal or equitable right to continue as an Employee nor affect the right of the Company or any other Employer to discharge a Participant.
11.4 Designation of Beneficiary
.  Each Participant may designate a Beneficiary or Beneficiaries (which Beneficiary may be an entity other than a natural person) to receive any payments which may be made following the Participant’s death.  Such designation may be changed or canceled at any time without the consent of any such Beneficiary.  Any such designation, change

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or cancellation must be made in a form approved by the Plan Administrator and shall not be effective until received by the Plan Administrator, or its designee.  If no Beneficiary has been named, or the designated Beneficiary or Beneficiaries shall have predeceased the Participant, the Beneficiary shall be the Participant’ s estate.  If a Participant designates more than one Beneficiary, the interests of such Beneficiaries shall be paid in equal shares, unless the Participant has specifically designated otherwise.

11.5 Withholding of Taxes
. To the extent required by applicable law, the Company or another Employer will withhold from a Participant’s compensation and/or Deferred Compensation and any payment hereunder all taxes required to be withheld for federal, state or local government purposes.
11.6 Amendment or Termination
. Subject to the provisions of Section 11.13, the Company reserves the right to amend, modify, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time without prior notice by action of its Board; provided, however, that no such action may, without each affected Participant’s express written consent, deprive the Participant of his rights to receive a benefit pursuant to the Plan or be adverse to the Participant in any way with respect to compensation deferred prior to such action (including, for the avoidance of doubt, with respect to the Participant’s limited redeferral opportunity pursuant to Section 4.5); and provided further that no such action may be undertaken to terminate the Plan with respect to new deferrals without the affirmative written consent of at least two thirds of all Participants then holding Distribution Accounts under the Plan at any time during the period commencing 90 days prior to the entry into a definitive agreement contemplating a Change in Control through the tenth anniversary of the consummation of such Change in Control (or if sooner, through the date on which such transaction is abandoned by the parties thereto).
11.7 No Fiduciary Relationship Created
. Nothing contained in this Plan, and no action taken pursuant to the provisions of this Plan, shall create or be deemed to create a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any other Employer or the Plan Administrator and any Participant, beneficiary or any other person.
11.8 Release
. Any payment to any Participant or beneficiary in accordance with the provisions of this Plan shall, to the extent thereof, be in full satisfaction of all claims against the Plan Administrator, the Company, the other Employers and any of their respective officers, directors, shareholders, employees or agents.
11.9 No Warranty or Representation
. Neither the Company nor any other Employer makes any warranty or representation regarding the effect of deferrals made or benefits paid under this Plan for any purpose.
11.10 Construction
. Words used in the masculine shall apply to the feminine where applicable; and wherever the context of the Plan dictates, the plural shall be read as the singular and the singular as the plural.
11.11 Governing Law
. To the extent that Maryland law is not preempted by ERISA, the provisions of the Plan shall be governed by the laws of the State of Maryland.
11.12 Counterparts
. This Plan may be signed in any one or more counterparts each of which together shall constitute one instrument.

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11.13 American Jobs Creation Act of 2004
.  The Plan is intended to provide for the deferral of compensation in accordance with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code and Treasury Regulations and published guidance issued pursuant thereto.  Accordingly, the Plan shall be construed in a manner consistent with those provisions and may at any time be amended in the manner and to the extent determined necessary or desirable by the Company to reflect or otherwise facilitate compliance with such provisions.  Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, no otherwise permissible election or distribution shall be made or given effect under the Plan that would result in taxation of any amount under Section 409A of the Code.

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Exhibit 10.2

AMENDED AND RESTATED CUBESMART EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE PLAN

(Effective August 1, 2023)

CubeSmart, a Maryland real estate investment trust (“CubeSmart”), has adopted this Amended and Restated CubeSmart Executive Severance Plan (the “Plan”) for the benefit of certain senior executive employees of the CubeSmart and CubeSmart’s operating partnership, CubeSmart, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, on the terms and conditions hereinafter stated. All capitalized terms used herein are defined in Section 1 hereof. The Plan, as set forth herein, is intended to help retain qualified employees, maintain a stable work environment and provide economic security to eligible employees in the event of certain qualifying terminations of employment.

The benefits under the Plan are not intended as deferred compensation and no individual shall have a vested right in such benefits. The Plan is not intended to be an “employee pension benefit plan” or “pension plan” within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA. Rather, this Plan is unfunded, has no trustee and is administered by the Plan Administrator. This Plan is intended to be a “welfare benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(1) of ERISA and to meet the descriptive requirements of a plan constituting a “severance pay plan” within the meaning of regulations published by the Secretary of Labor at Title 29, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 2510.2(b), and is to be administered as a “top-hat” welfare plan exempt from the substantive requirements of ERISA. In addition, the Plan is intended to be a “separation pay plan” under Section 409A to the greatest possible extent, in accordance with the regulations issued thereunder.

SECTION 1.DEFINITIONS. As hereinafter used:
1.1Average Earned Annual Cash Incentive” means an Eligible Employee’s average earned annual cash incentive calculated as follows: (a) if such Eligible Employee has been a Company employee for at least two (2) full consecutive calendar years preceding the year in which the Effective Date of Termination occurs, the greater of (x) the average annual cash incentive earned by such Eligible Employee in respect of the preceding two (2) full consecutive calendar years and (y) the Eligible Employee’s target annual cash incentive for the calendar year in which the Effective Date of Termination occurs, or (b) if such Eligible Employee has been a Company employee for less than two (2) full consecutive calendar years preceding the year during which the Effective Date of Termination occurs, the Eligible Employee’s target annual cash incentive for the calendar year in which the Effective Date of Termination occurs.
1.2Base Salary” means the Eligible Employee’s full-year base salary amount based on (x) the Eligible Employee’s annual base salary rate in effect on the Effective Date of Termination or (y) if the Effective Date of Termination occurs during the Change in Control Protection Period, the greater of the amount in clause (x) above and the Eligible Employee’s annual base salary rate in effect on the day immediately preceding the Change in Control.
1.3Board” means the Board of Trustees of CubeSmart.
1.4Cause” means:
(a)an Eligible Employee’s conviction of, or pleading of guilty or nolo contendere to, any felony or a misdemeanor involving an act of moral turpitude;

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(b)the Eligible Employee’s commission of an act of material fraud, theft, misappropriation or embezzlement related to the business of the Company or its affiliates;
(c)the continuing failure by the Eligible Employee to substantially perform the Eligible Employee’s assigned duties (other than in the event that the Eligible Employee has become Disabled) after receiving a demand for substantial performance that identifies the manner in which the Company believes the Eligible Employee has failed to perform;
(d)the Eligible Employee’s material breach of the Company’s Code of Ethics;
(e)any willful act or omission by the Eligible Employee that results in material harm to the Company’s business or reputation; or
(f)the Eligible Employee’s material breach of the terms and conditions of any non-competition, non-solicitation, non-disparagement or confidentiality agreement between the Eligible Employee and the Company.

For purposes of this Section 1.4, no act, or failure to act, by an Eligible Employee shall be considered “willful” unless committed in bad faith and without a reasonable belief that the act or omission was in the best interests of the Company or any Subsidiary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if there exists (without regard to this sentence) an event or condition that constitutes Cause under clause (c), (d), (e) or (f) above, the Eligible Employee shall have thirty (30) days from the date written notice is given by the Company of such event or condition to cure such event or condition to the extent curable and, if the Eligible Employee does so, such event or condition shall not constitute Cause hereunder.  

1.5Change in Control” means “Change in Control” as defined in the Amended and Restated CubeSmart 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, as it may be amended from time to time, or any successor plan thereto.
1.6Change in Control Protection Period” means the twenty-seven (27)-month period commencing on the date that is three (3) months prior to a Change in Control and ends on the date that is twenty-four (24) months following the Change in Control; provided that the three (3)-month period preceding a Change in Control shall be considered part of the Change in Control Protection Period only if the Qualifying Termination is at the request of a third party who has taken steps calculated to effect a Change in Control or otherwise arose in connection with, or in anticipation of, a Change in Control.
1.7CIC Multiplier” means:
(a)for a Tier I Eligible Employee, three (3.0);
(b)for a Tier II Eligible Employee, two and one-half (2.5); and
(c)for a Tier III Eligible Employee, two (2.0).
1.8Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

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1.9Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board.
1.10Company” means CubeSmart, CubeSmart, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and any successors thereto.
1.11Disability” means an Eligible Employee’s inability, because of sickness or injury, to perform, with or without a reasonable accommodation, the Eligible Employee’s material duties of employment for a period of one hundred twenty (120) consecutive days or for a cumulative period of one hundred eighty (180) days in any twelve (12)-consecutive-month period.
1.12Effective Date of Termination” means (a) the Eligible Employee’s date of death, (b) in the case of a termination of employment by the Company other than for Cause or on account of the Eligible Employee’s Disability, the date on which the Eligible Employee’s employment actually terminates, as set forth in the notice of termination given by the Company to the Eligible Employee, which date shall be on or within thirty (30) days after the giving of such notice of termination, (c) in the case of termination of employment by an Eligible Employee for Good Reason, the date on which the Eligible Employee’s employment actually terminates, as specified in such Eligible Employee’s notice of termination given to the Company, (d) in the case of a termination of employment by the Company for Cause, the date on which the Eligible Employee’s employment actually terminates as determined by the Company in its sole discretion or (e) in the case of a termination of employment by an Eligible Employee without Good Reason, the date on which the Eligible Employee’s employment actually terminates as set forth in the notice of termination given by the Eligible Employee to the Company or as mutually agreed between the Eligible Employee and the Company.
1.13Eligible Employee” means any employee of the Company designated by the Committee as an Eligible Employee, as set forth on Exhibit C attached hereto together with such employee’s position and Tier of participation in the Plan.
1.14ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
1.15Good Reason” means, without the Eligible Employee’s consent:
(a)the material reduction of an Eligible Employee’s authority, duties and responsibilities, or the assignment to the Eligible Employee of duties materially and adversely inconsistent with the Eligible Employee’s position or positions with the Company or any Subsidiary, other than in the event that the Eligible Employee has incurred a Disability;
(b)a material reduction in the Eligible Employee’s annual base salary rate, except for a broad-based reduction applicable to all similarly situated executives that results in the Eligible Employee’s annual base salary rate being reduced to an amount that is not less than 85% of the Eligible Employee’s annual base salary rate before the reduction;
(c)a material reduction in the Eligible Employee’s annual target bonus amount, except for a broad-based reduction applicable to all similarly situated executives that results in the Eligible Employee’s annual target bonus amount being reduced to an amount that is not less than 85% of the Eligible Employee’s annual target bonus amount before the reduction;

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(d)the failure by the Company to obtain an agreement from any successor to the business of the Company to assume and agree to continue the Plan; or
(e)a requirement by the Company that the Eligible Employee’s primary work location be moved more than twenty-five (25) miles from the Company’s office where the Eligible Employee works effective as of the date immediately prior to the implementation of such requirement, resulting in a substantially longer commute from the Eligible Employee’s primary residence to the Eligible Employee’s new primary work location.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if there exists (without regard to this sentence) an event or condition that constitutes Good Reason above, the Eligible Employee must deliver to the Company within ninety (90) days following the event or condition that constitutes Good Reason a written notice detailing the event or condition that constitutes Good Reason and the Eligible Employee’s proposed Effective Date of Termination, and the Company shall have thirty (30) days from the date on which the Executive gives the written notice thereof to cure such event or condition. If the Company fails to cure such an event or condition constituting Good Reason during the Company’s thirty (30)-day cure period, the Eligible Employee must terminate employment within fifteen (15) days following the end of the Company’s thirty (30)-day cure period in order for such termination of employment to be for Good Reason. If the Company cures the event or condition that constitutes Good Reason as detailed in the Eligible Employee’s written notice within the Company’s thirty (30)-day cure period, such event or condition shall not constitute Good Reason hereunder.

1.16Non-CIC Multiplier” means:
(a)for a Tier I Eligible Employee, two (2); and
(b)for a Tier II or Tier III Eligible Employee, one and one-half (1.5).
1.17Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or political subdivision thereof or other entity.
1.18Plan” has the meaning set forth above.
1.19Plan Administrator” means the Chief Human Resources Officer, whom the Committee has appointed to administer the Plan, and if the Chief Human Resources Officer is removed as the Plan Administrator by the Committee, the Plan Administrator shall be the Chief Legal Officer.
1.20Pro-Rata Annual Cash Incentive” means (x) an amount reasonably determined by the Committee to be equal to an Eligible Employee’s annual cash incentive for the year in which the Effective Date of Termination occurs based on actual Company performance through the Effective Date of Termination or (y) if the Effective Date of Termination  occurs during the Change in Control Protection Period, the greater of the amount in clause (x) above and the Eligible Employee’s target annual cash incentive for the calendar year in which the Change in Control occurs; in each case multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in which the Eligible Employee was employed by Company during the year in which the Effective Date of Termination occurs, and the denominator of which is the full number of days in such year.

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1.21Qualifying Termination” means (a) the involuntary termination of an Eligible Employee’s employment by the Company, other than for Cause, death or Disability or (b) a termination of employment with the Company as a result of a resignation by an Eligible Employee for Good Reason, provided that, in either case, such termination of employment constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A.
1.22Restrictive Covenant Agreement” means the Restrictive Covenant Agreement, substantially in the form attached to the Plan as Exhibit B.
1.23Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code and the regulations and other guidance issued thereunder.
1.24Severance Period” means the two (2)-year period following a Tier I Eligible Employee’s Effective Date of Termination and the one and one-half (1.5) year period following a Tier II or Tier III Eligible Employee’s Effective Date of Termination.
1.25Subsidiary” means any Person (other than CubeSmart) of which a majority of its voting power or its equity securities or equity interest is owned directly or indirectly by CubeSmart.
1.26Tier” means an Eligible Employee’s tier of participation in the Plan, as set forth on Exhibit C attached hereto.
SECTION 2.SEVERANCE BENEFITS.
2.1Generally. Subject to Sections 2.7, 2.9 and 4, each Eligible Employee shall be entitled to severance payments and benefits pursuant to applicable provisions of this Section 2 if the Eligible Employee incurs a Qualifying Termination, or a termination of employment on account of death or Disability.
2.2Payment of Accrued Obligations. The Company shall pay to each Eligible Employee (or the Eligible Employee’s estate in the event of the Eligible Employee’s death) who incurs a Qualifying Termination or a termination on account of death or Disability a lump-sum payment in cash, paid as soon as practicable but no later than ten (10) days after the Effective Date of Termination, equal to the sum of (a) the Eligible Employee’s accrued but previously unpaid annual base salary, (b) the Eligible Employee’s annual cash incentive earned for the fiscal year immediately preceding the fiscal year in which the Effective Date of Termination occurs (if such annual cash incentive has not been paid as of the Effective Date of Termination), (c) the Eligible Employee’s accrued but unused paid time off and (d) reimbursement of reasonable business expenses incurred by the Eligible Employee in accordance with the Company’s applicable business expense policy but not yet paid prior to the Effective Date of Termination (provided that receipts are submitted on or within thirty (30) days after the Effective Date of Termination). In addition, the Eligible Employee shall be entitled to receive any other vested benefits under any other employee benefit plan or program of the Company in which such Eligible Employee participated immediately prior to the Effective Date of Termination in accordance with the terms of such plan or program.

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2.3Severance Benefits upon a Qualifying Termination before or after the Change in Control Protection Period. Subject to Sections 2.7, 2.9 and 4, an Eligible Employee who incurs a Qualifying Termination will be entitled to the following payments and benefits:
(a)Severance Payment. An amount in cash equal to the product of the applicable Non-CIC Multiplier times the sum of (i) such Eligible Employee’s Base Salary; provided that if the Eligible Employee’s Qualifying Termination is a result of a termination of employment by the Eligible Employee on account of a material reduction in the Eligible Employee’s base compensation as set forth in Section 1.15(b), such Eligible Employee’s Base Salary at the rate in effect immediately prior to such reduction, plus (ii) the Eligible Employee’s Average Earned Annual Cash Incentive, which amount will be paid in installments in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices over the Severance Period.
(b)Pro-Rata Annual Cash Incentive. A lump-sum payment in cash equal to the Eligible Employee’s Pro-Rata Annual Cash Incentive.
(c)Health Insurance Benefits. The Company shall pay such Eligible Employee (i) a lump-sum cash payment equal to the full cost of continuing the Eligible Employee’s health and welfare benefits (including medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, and life insurance benefits) that were in place as of the Effective Date of Termination for the twenty-four (24) calendar months following the Effective Date of Termination, at the premium rates in effect as of the Effective Date of Termination (the “Lump-Sum Benefit”), plus (ii) an additional amount as is necessary, as determined by the Committee applying the highest marginal tax rates applicable to the Eligible Employee based on the Eligible Employee’s tax residence as reflected in the Company’s personnel records on the Effective Date of Termination, such that, after reduction for all applicable federal, state, and local income and payroll taxes incurred by the Eligible Employee in respect of the Lump-Sum Benefit and the amount paid pursuant to this clause (ii), the Eligible Employee retains a net after-tax amount equal to the Lump-Sum Benefit.
(d)Equity Awards. All outstanding equity awards held by such Eligible Employee immediately prior to the Effective Date of Termination that vest based upon the Eligible Employee’s continued service over time shall continue to vest following the Effective Date of Termination in accordance with the terms of the applicable award agreement and all outstanding equity awards held by the Eligible Employee immediately prior to the Effective Date of Termination that vest based upon attainment of performance criteria shall vest based on actual performance during the performance period but prorated to reflect the time during which the Eligible Employee was employed by the Company during the performance period.
2.4Severance Benefits upon a Qualifying Termination during the Change in Control Protection Period. Subject to Sections 2.4(d), 2.7, 2.9 and 4, an Eligible Employee who incurs a Qualifying Termination during the Change in Control Protection Period will be entitled to the following payments and benefits in lieu of the payments and benefits set forth in Section 2.3 above:
(a)Severance Payment. A lump-sum payment in cash equal to the product of the applicable CIC Multiplier times the sum of (i) such Eligible Employee’s Base Salary; provided that if the Eligible Employee’s Qualifying Termination is a result of a termination of employment by the Eligible Employee on account of a material reduction in the Eligible Employee’s base

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compensation as set forth in Section 1.15(b), the Base Salary amount determined pursuant to clause (x) of the definition of Base Salary shall equal the Eligible Employee’s annual base salary rate in effect immediately prior to such reduction, plus (ii) the Eligible Employee’s Average Earned Annual Cash Incentive. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the amount set forth in this Section 2.4(a) shall be paid in installments in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices over the Severance Period to the extent necessary to comply with the rules regarding the designation of alternative specified dates or payment schedules for amounts subject to Section 409A, as set forth in Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-3(c).
(b)Pro-Rata Annual Cash Incentive. A lump-sum payment in cash equal to the Eligible Employee’s Pro-Rata Annual Cash Incentive.
(c)Welfare Benefits. The Company shall pay such Eligible Employee (i) the Lump-Sum Benefit plus (ii) an additional amount as is necessary, as determined by the Committee applying the highest marginal tax rates applicable to the Eligible Employee based on the Eligible Employee’s tax residence as reflected in the Company’s personnel records on the Effective Date of Termination, such that, after reduction for all applicable federal, state, and local income and payroll taxes incurred by the Eligible Employee in respect of the Lump-Sum Benefit and the amount paid pursuant to this clause (ii), the Eligible Employee retains a net after-tax amount equal to the Lump-Sum Benefit.
(d)Equity Awards. All outstanding equity awards granted by the Company prior to the Change in Control and held by an Eligible Employee immediately prior to the Change in Control, with or without a Qualifying Termination, shall be treated as follows:
(i)those equity awards that vest based upon the Eligible Employee’s continued service over time shall accelerate and become fully vested and exercisable, as the case may be, immediately prior to the Change in Control;
(ii)those equity awards that vest based upon attainment of performance criteria shall vest immediately prior to the Change in Control based on the greater of (i) actual performance and (ii) target performance; and
(iii)all equity awards subject to exercise shall be deemed exercised on a “net exercise” basis immediately prior to the Change in Control, unless the Eligible Employee notifies the Administrator in writing that such awards should remain outstanding and unexercised following the Effective Date of Termination.
(e)Automobile. For twenty-four (24) months following the later to occur of the Eligible Employee’s Effective Date of Termination and the effective date of the Change in Control, the Company shall continue to provide the Eligible Employee with an automobile allowance for the personal use of an automobile (including payment of auto insurance) consistent with the allowance in effect immediately prior to the Eligible Employee’s Effective Date of Termination or, if greater, the allowance in effect immediately prior to such Change in Control.

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2.5Severance Benefits upon Death or Disability. Subject to Sections 2.9 and 4, an Eligible Employee who incurs a termination of employment on account of the Eligible Employee’s death or Disability will be entitled to the following payments and benefits:
(a)Pro-Rata Annual Cash Incentive. A lump sum payment in cash equal to the Eligible Employee’s Pro-Rata Annual Cash Incentive.
(b)Equity Awards. All outstanding equity awards held by an Eligible Employee immediately prior to the Effective Date of Termination that vest based upon the Eligible Employee’s continued service over time shall accelerate and become fully vested and exercisable, as the case may be, as of the date of the Effective Date of Termination and all outstanding equity awards held by the Eligible Employee immediately prior to the Effective Date of Termination that vest based upon attainment of performance criteria shall vest based on target performance.
2.6Termination for Cause or without Good Reason. An Eligible Employee whose employment is terminated by the Company for Cause or by the Eligible Employee without Good Reason will be entitled to a lump-sum payment in cash, paid as soon as practicable but no later than ten (10) days after the Effective Date of Termination, equal to the sum of (a) the Eligible Employee’s accrued but previously unpaid annual base salary, (b) the Eligible Employee’s accrued but unused paid time off and (c) reimbursement of reasonable business expenses incurred by the Eligible Employee in accordance with the Company’s applicable business expense policy but not yet paid prior to the Effective Date of Termination (provided that receipts are submitted on or within thirty (30) days after the Effective Date of Termination). In addition, the Eligible Employee shall be entitled to receive any other vested benefits under any other employee benefit plan or program of the Company in which such Eligible Employee participated immediately prior to the Effective Date of Termination in accordance with the terms of such plan or program.
2.7Release and Restrictive Covenant Agreement. No Eligible Employee who incurs a Qualifying Termination shall be eligible to receive any payments or other benefits under the Plan (other than payment of accrued obligations under Section 2.2 hereof) unless such Eligible Employee is fully in compliance with all confidentiality obligations to the Company and all restrictive covenants, and the Eligible Employee first executes and delivers to the Company within sixty (60) days following such Eligible Employee’s Effective Date of Termination (a) a general release in favor of the Company in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Release”), and all applicable statutory revocation periods related to such Release shall expire, and (b) a Restrictive Covenant Agreement.
2.8Timing of Payment. Subject to Section 2.9 below, (a) the payments and benefits described in Section 2.3(a) and (c) and, except as set forth below in clauses (b) and (c), the payments and benefits described in Section 2.4(a), (c) and (e) will be paid or provided (or begin to be paid or provided, as applicable) within sixty (60) days following the Effective Date of Termination as soon as administratively practicable following the date on which the Release becomes irrevocable; provided that if the sixty (60)-day period begins in one taxable year and ends in a second taxable year, such payments or benefits shall not commence until the second taxable year and, provided further that any installments not paid between the Effective Date of Termination and the date of the first payment will be paid with the first payment, (b) if the Qualifying Termination occurs during the Change in Control Protection Period and during the three (3)-month

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period prior to the occurrence of the Change in Control, and the Change in Control is a “change in control event” under Section 409A, the amount determined under Section 2.4(a) (less the amount already paid under Section 2.3(a)) shall be paid in a lump sum within sixty (60) days following the Change in Control, except to the extent set forth in Section 2.4(a) above, (c) if the Qualifying Termination occurs during the Change in Control Protection Period and during the three (3)-month period prior to the occurrence of the Change in Control, and if the Change in Control is not a “change in control event” under Section 409A, then the payments under Section 2.3(a) shall continue to be paid in installments over the Severance Period and the additional amount determined under Section 2.4(a) (less the amount determined under Section 2.3(a)) shall be paid in a lump sum within sixty (60) days following the Change in Control and (d) the payments described in Sections 2.3(b), 2.4(b) and 2.5(b) will be paid at the same time and under the same terms and conditions as annual cash incentives are paid to other senior employees of the Company, on or after January 1 but not later than March 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Eligible Employee’s Effective Date of Termination occurs.
2.9Section 409A. It is intended that payments and benefits under this Plan will not be subject Eligible Employees to taxation under Section 409A and, accordingly, this Plan shall be interpreted and administered to be in compliance therewith or an exception thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, no portion of the benefits or payments to be made under the Plan that constitute nonqualified deferred compensation that is subject to Section 409A and that are payable hereunder upon a termination of employment (and not upon any other permissible payment event under Section 409A) will be payable until the applicable Eligible Employee has a “separation from service” from the Company within the meaning of Section 409A. In addition, to the extent that compliance with the requirements of Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-3(i)(2) (or any successor provision) is necessary to avoid the application of an additional tax under Section 409A to payments and benefits due to the Eligible Employee upon or following his “separation from service,” then notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (or any otherwise applicable plan, policy, agreement or arrangement), any such payments and benefits that are otherwise due within six (6) months following the Eligible Employee’s “separation from service” will be deferred without interest and paid to the Eligible Employee in a lump sum immediately following that six (6)-month period (or upon the Eligible Employee’s death, if earlier). For purposes of the application of Section 409A, each payment will be deemed a separate payment and each payment in a series of payments pursuant to the Plan will be deemed a separate payment. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary or otherwise, except to the extent that any expense, reimbursement or in-kind benefit provided to an Eligible Employee does not constitute a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A, (i) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement or in-kind benefits provided to the Eligible Employee during any calendar year will not affect the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement or in-kind benefits provided to the Eligible Employee in any other calendar year, (ii) the reimbursements for expenses for which the Eligible Employee is entitled to be reimbursed shall be made on or before the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the applicable expense is incurred and (iii) the right to payment or reimbursement or in-kind benefits hereunder may not be liquidated or exchanged for any other benefit. In no event shall the Eligible Employee designate the year of payment hereunder.
2.10Nonduplication. This Plan supersedes all severance, separation, notice, or termination benefits under any other employment, severance or change in control policy, plan,

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agreement or practice of the Company (including any previously executed employment, severance, or change in control severance agreements). For the avoidance of doubt, if there is a conflict between the terms of the Plan and any other benefit or compensation program maintained by the Company in which the Eligible Employee is a participant, the terms of the Plan shall exclusively govern. Nothing in this Section 2.10 shall affect an Eligible Employee’s vested benefits under any employee benefit plan or program of the Company in which such Eligible Employee participated immediately prior to the Effective Date of Termination in accordance with the terms of such plan or program.
SECTION 3.PLAN ADMINISTRATION.
3.1The Plan Administrator shall administer the Plan and may interpret the Plan, prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations under the Plan and make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan, subject to all of the provisions of the Plan. All decisions made by the Plan Administrator pursuant to the Plan shall be made in its sole and absolute discretion and shall be final and binding on the Eligible Employees and the Company.
3.2The Plan Administrator may delegate any of its duties hereunder to such person or persons from time to time as it may designate.
3.3The Plan Administrator is empowered, on behalf of the Plan, to engage accountants, legal counsel and such other personnel as it deems necessary or advisable to assist it in the performance of its duties under the Plan. The functions of any such persons engaged by the Plan Administrator shall be limited to the specified services and duties for which they are engaged, and such persons shall have no other duties, obligations or responsibilities under the Plan. Such persons shall exercise no discretionary authority or discretionary control respecting the management of the Plan. All reasonable expenses thereof shall be borne by the Company.
SECTION 4.EXCISE TAX.

Unless a more favorable treatment is otherwise provided in an individual agreement with an Eligible Employee, if any of the payments or benefits provided or to be provided by the Company or its affiliates to an Eligible Employee or for the benefit of an Eligible Employee pursuant to this Plan or otherwise (“Covered Payments”) constitute parachute payments within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code and would, but for this Section 4, be subject to the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code (or any successor provision thereto) or any similar tax imposed by state or local law or any interest or penalties with respect to such taxes (collectively, the “Excise Tax”), then the Covered Payments shall be payable either (a) in full or (b) reduced to the minimum extent necessary to ensure that no portion of the Covered Payments is subject to the Excise Tax, whichever of the foregoing (a) or (b) results in the Eligible Employee’s receipt on an after-tax basis of the greatest amount of benefits after taking into account the applicable federal, state, local and foreign income, employment and excise taxes (including the Excise Tax).

SECTION 5.PLAN MODIFICATION OR TERMINATION.

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The Plan was originally adopted on November 1, 2016, and has been amended and restated effective as of August 1, 2023. The Plan may be terminated or amended by the Board or the Committee at any time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall any termination of the Plan or any amendment of the Plan that reduces benefits or excludes Eligible Employees be effective during the twenty-four (24) month period following a Change in Control without the consent of each affected Eligible Employee.

SECTION 6.GENERAL PROVISIONS.
6.1Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, no right or interest of any Eligible Employee under the Plan shall be assignable or transferable, in whole or in part, either directly or by operation of law or otherwise, including without limitation by execution, levy, garnishment, attachment, pledge or in any manner; no attempted assignment or transfer thereof shall be effective; and no right or interest of any Eligible Employee under the Plan shall be liable for, or subject to, any obligation or liability of such Eligible Employee. When a payment is due under this Plan to a severed employee who is unable to care for his or her affairs, payment may be made directly to his or her legal guardian or personal representative.
6.2Neither the establishment of the Plan, nor any modification thereof, nor the creation of any fund, trust or account, nor the payment of any benefits shall be construed as giving any Eligible Employee, or any person whomsoever, the right to be retained in the service of the Company or any Subsidiary, and all Eligible Employees shall remain subject to discharge to the same extent as if the Plan had never been adopted.
6.3If any provision of this Plan shall be held invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions hereof, and this Plan shall be construed and enforced as if such provisions had not been included.
6.4This Plan shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns of the parties, including each Eligible Employee and any successor to the Company. If a severed employee shall die while any amount would still be payable to such severed employee hereunder if the severed employee had continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Plan to the executor, personal representative or administrators of the severed employee’s estate.
6.5The headings and captions herein are provided for reference and convenience only, shall not be considered part of the Plan, and shall not be employed in the construction of the Plan.
6.6The Plan shall not be required to be funded. Regardless of whether the Plan is funded, no Eligible Employee shall have any right to, or interest in, any assets of any Company that may be applied by the Company to the payment of benefits or other rights under this Plan.
6.7Any notice or other communication required or permitted pursuant to the terms hereof shall have been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States Mail, first class, postage prepaid, addressed to the intended recipient at his, her or its last known address.
6.8This Plan shall be construed and enforced according to the laws of the State of Maryland, to the extent not preempted by federal law.

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6.9All benefits hereunder shall be reduced by applicable withholding and shall be subject to applicable tax reporting, as determined by the Plan Administrator.
SECTION 7.DISPUTES.
7.1Claim. In the event of a claim by any person, including but not limited to any Eligible Employee (the “Claimant”), as to whether such person is entitled to any benefit under the Plan, the amount of any distribution or its method of payment, such Claimant shall present the reason for his or her claim in writing to the Plan Administrator. Such claim must be filed within ninety (90) days following the date upon which the Claimant first learns of his or her claim. All claims shall be in writing, signed and dated and shall briefly explain the basis for the claim. The claim shall be mailed to the Plan Administrator by certified mail at the following address:

CubeSmart

5 Old Lancaster Road

Malvern, PA 19355

Attn: Chief Human Resources Officer

The Plan Administrator shall, within ninety (90) days after receipt of such written claim, decide the claim and send written notification to the Claimant as to its disposition; provided that the Plan Administrator may elect to extend such period for an additional ninety (90) days if special circumstances so warrant and the Claimant is so notified in writing prior to the expiration of the original ninety (90)-day period. If the claim is wholly or partially denied, such written notification shall (a) state the specific reason or reasons for the denial; (b) make specific reference to pertinent Plan provisions on which the denial is based; (c) provide a description of any additional material or information necessary for the Claimant to perfect the claim and an explanation of why such material or information is necessary; and (d) set forth the procedure by which the Claimant may appeal the denial of his or her claim. The Claimant may request a review of such denial by making application in writing to the Plan Administrator within sixty (60) days after receipt of such denial. Such application must be via certified mail. The named appeals fiduciary is the Plan Administrator or the person(s) named by the Plan Administrator to review the Claimant’s appeal. Such Claimant (or his or her duly authorized representative) may, upon written request to the Plan Administrator, review any documents pertinent to his or her claim, and submit in writing issues and comments in support of his or her claim or position. Within sixty (60) days after receipt of a written appeal, the named appeals fiduciary shall decide the appeal and notify the Claimant of the final decision; provided that the named appeals fiduciary may elect to extend such sixty (60)-day period up to an additional 60 (60) days after receipt of the written appeal. The final decision shall be in writing and shall include specific reasons for the decision, written in a manner calculated to be understood by the Claimant, and specific references to the pertinent Plan provisions on which the decision is based.

7.2Exhaustion and Time Limit to Arbitrate. A claim or action (a) to recover benefits allegedly due under the Plan or by reason of any law, (b) to enforce rights under the Plan, (c) to clarify rights to future benefits under the Plan, or (d) that relates to the Plan and seeks a remedy, ruling or decision of any kind against the Plan or a Plan fiduciary or party in interest (collectively, an “Arbitration Claim”), must be made only and exclusively by submitting the matter to arbitration and may not be arbitrated until after the Claimant has exhausted the Plan’s claims and appeals

12


procedures set forth in Section 7.1 above (an “Administrative Claim”). Following the submission of such claim to an arbitrator by the Claimant, the Claimant and the Plan Administrator shall select an arbitrator from a list of names supplied by JAMS, Inc. (“JAMS”), in accordance with JAMS’ procedures for selection of arbitrators, and the arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the JAMS Employment Arbitration Rules and Procedures and subject to the JAMS Policy on Employment Arbitration Minimum Standards of Procedural Fairness. The arbitrator shall have no power to alter, add to or subtract from any provision of the Plan, and the arbitrator’s authority shall be further limited to the affirmation or reversal of the Plan Administrator’s denial on appeal, and the arbitrator shall have no power to reverse the Plan Administrator’s denial on appeal unless he or she determines, based on the administrative record before the Plan Administrator, that such denial on appeal was unreasonable. Any Arbitration Claim must be commenced no later than two (2) years from the earlier of (i) the date the first benefit payment was made or allegedly due and (ii) the date the Plan Administrator or its delegate first denied the Claimant’s request; provided, however, that, if the Claimant commences an Administrative Claim before the expiration of such two (2)-year period, the period for commencing an Arbitration Claim shall expire on the later of the end of the two (2)-year period and the date that is three (3) months after the Claimant’s appeal of the initial denial of his Administrative Claim is finally denied, such that the Claimant has exhausted the Plan’s claims and appeals procedures. Any claim or action that is commenced, filed or raised, whether an Arbitration Claim or an Administrative Claim, after expiration of such two (2)-year period (or, if applicable, expiration of the three (3)-month period following exhaustion of the Plan’s claims and appeals procedures) shall be time-barred.
7.3Payment of Fees. All reasonable legal fees and expenses of the Claimant incurred in pursuing a claim in accordance with Section 7.1 shall be reimbursed to such Claimant by the Company, but only if the Claimant substantially prevails with respect to such claim. In connection with any Arbitration Claim brought following a Change in Control, all arbitration fees and expenses due and payable to the arbitrator shall be paid by the Company. In no event shall the Claimant be obligated to reimburse the Company for any legal fees or expenses in connection with any claim brought pursuant to the Plan.
SECTION 8.RECOUPMENT POLICY.

Eligible Employees and any severance benefits to which Eligible Employees shall be entitled under the Plan shall be subject to any Company clawback policy maintained by CubeSmart or any affiliate from time to time as necessary to comply with applicable law or exchange listing requirements.

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EXHIBIT A

SEVERANCE AND GENERAL RELEASE AGREEMENT

This agreement made and entered into between CubeSmart, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Company”), and ____________ (the “Executive”);

WHEREAS, the Executive has been employed by the Company (or its predecessor) since​ ​​ ​​ ​;

WHEREAS, the Executive’s employment with the Company has been terminated effective ​ ​​ ​​ ​;

WHEREAS, the Executive is an Eligible Employee under the Company’s Amended and Restated Executive Severance Plan (the “Severance Plan”), which provides for certain termination benefits (the “Termination Benefits”), in connection with such termination, upon the terms set forth in such Plan.

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:

1.The recitals set forth above are true and accurate.
2.As a material inducement to Executive to enter into this Agreement, the Company will provide the Executive with the Termination Benefits in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Severance Plan, from which the Company will make all applicable withholding. The Executive acknowledges that he is not entitled to receive the Termination Benefits unless he executes and does not revoke this Severance and General Release Agreement (the “Agreement”).
3.This Agreement is not and shall not be construed as an admission by the Executive of any fact or conclusion of law. Likewise, this Agreement is not and shall not be construed as an admission by Company of any fact or conclusion of law. Without limiting the general nature of the previous sentences, this Agreement shall not be construed as an admission that the Executive, the Company, or any of the Company’s officers, directors, managers, agents, or employees have violated any law or regulation or have violated any contract, express or implied.
4.The Executive represents and warrants that he has no personal knowledge of any practices engaged in by the Company that is or was a violation of any applicable state law or regulations or of any federal law or regulations. To the extent that the Executive has knowledge of any such practices, the Executive represents and warrants that the Executive has already notified the Company in writing of such alleged practices.

The Executive hereby irrevocably and unconditionally releases and forever discharges the Company, its subsidiaries, parent companies, and related entities, and each of the Company and its affiliates’ successors, assigns, agents, directors, officers, employees, representatives, and attorneys, and all persons acting by, through, under or in concert with

1


any of them (collectively “Released Parties”), or any of them, from any and all charges, complaints, claims, liabilities, obligations, promises, agreements, controversies, damages, actions, causes of action, suits, rights, demands, costs, losses, debts and expenses (including attorney’s fees and costs actually incurred), of any nature whatsoever, known or unknown (“Claims”), which the Executive now has, or claims to have, or which the Executive at any time heretofore had, or claimed to have, against each or any of the Released Parties. The definition of Claims also specifically encompasses all claims of under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 1981(a), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended, the Employment Retirement Income Security Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as all claims under state law provided under other applicable state law or local ordinance concerning the Executive’s employment or termination of the Executive’s employment. The Executive is not waiving his right to vested benefits under the written terms of any Company 401(k) Plan, claims for unemployment or workers’ compensation benefits, any medical claim incurred during the Executive’s employment that is payable under applicable medical plans or an employer-insured liability plan, claims arising after the date on which the Executive signs this Agreement, or claims that are not otherwise waivable under applicable law.

5.The Executive agrees that he forever waives and relinquishes any and all claim, right, or interest in reinstatement or future employment that he presently has or might in the future have with the Company and its successors and assigns. The Executive agrees that he will not seek employment with the Company and its successors and assigns in the future.
6.The Executive acknowledges that the Company has paid him all wages, salaries, bonuses, benefits and other amounts earned and accrued, less applicable deductions, and that the Company has no obligation to pay any additional amounts other than the Termination Benefits as provided for under the Severance Plan.
7.Nothing in this Agreement restricts or prohibits the Executive from initiating communications directly with, responding to any inquiries from, providing testimony before, providing confidential information, including trade secret information, to, reporting possible violations of law or regulation to, or from filing a claim or assisting with an investigation directly with a self-regulatory authority or a government agency, entity or official, including, but not limited to, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board, the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Congress, and any agency Inspector General (collectively, the “Regulators”), or from making other disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of state or federal law or regulation. However, to the maximum extent permitted by law, the Executive is waiving the Executive’s right to receive any individual monetary relief from the Company or any other Released Parties resulting from such claims or conduct, regardless of whether the Executive or another party has filed them, and if the Executive obtains such monetary relief, the Company will be entitled to an offset for the

2


payments made pursuant to this Agreement.  This Agreement does not limit the Executive’s right to receive an award from any Regulator that provides awards for providing information relating to a potential violation of law.  The Executive does not need the prior authorization of the Company to engage in conduct protected by this section and the Executive is not required to notify the Company that the Executive has engaged in such conduct.  

Please take notice that federal law provides criminal and civil immunity to federal and state claims for trade secret misappropriation to individuals who disclose a trade secret to their attorney, a court, or a government official in certain, confidential circumstances that are set forth at 18 U.S.C. §§ 1833(b)(1) and 1833(b)(2), related to the reporting or investigation of a suspected violation of the law, or in connection with a lawsuit for retaliation for reporting a suspected violation of the law.

8.The Executive agrees to indemnify and hold each and all of the Released Parties harmless from and against any and all loss, costs, damage, or expense, including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, incurred by the Released Parties, or any of them, arising out of the Executive’s breach of this Agreement or the fact that any representation made by him herein was false when made.
9.In the event of any breach of this Agreement or the Restrictive Covenant Agreement by the Executive, the Company shall be entitled to immediately cease payment of the Termination Benefits in addition to any other remedy it may have. Both parties understand and agree that should either of them breach any material term of this Agreement, the non-breaching party can institute an action to enforce the terms of this Agreement. If legal action is commenced to enforce any provision of this Agreement, the substantially prevailing party in such action shall be entitled to recover its attorneys’ fees and expenses through any and all trial courts or appellate courts, in addition to any other relief that may be granted.
10.The Executive represents that he has not heretofore assigned or transferred, or purported to assign or transfer to any person or entity, any Claim or any portion thereof or interest therein.
11.The Executive represents and acknowledges that in executing this Agreement he does not rely and has not relied upon any other representation or statement made by any of the Released Parties or by any of the Released Parties’ agents, representatives or attorneys, except as set forth herein, with regard to the subject matter, basis or effect of this Agreement.
12.The Executive further agrees that he will not disparage the Company, its business, its employees, officers or agents, or any of the Company’s affiliates or related entities in any manner harmful to their business or business reputation. Except as provided by Section 7, the Executive and the Company agree to keep the matters contained herein confidential. The Executive will not discuss this Agreement with any current or former employee(s) of the Company. This Section 12 shall not prevent the Executive from communicating confidentially with his attorney(s) or

3


spouse, or to the extent required by public disclosure laws or as required by laws, regulations, or a final and binding court order or other compulsory process, including without limitation as set forth in Section 3.2 of the Restrictive Covenant Agreement. Nothing in this Section 12 shall not prevent the Company from communicating confidentially with its attorney(s), officers, or directors of the corporation, or to the extent required by public disclosure laws or as required by laws, regulations, or a final and binding court order or other compulsory process.
13.This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company, the Executive and their respective heirs, administrators, representatives, executors, successors, and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of the Released Parties and each of them, and to their heirs, administrators, representatives, executor, successors and assigns.
14.All terms not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Severance Plan.
15.This Agreement shall in all respects be interpreted, enforced and governed under the laws of the State of Maryland.
16.This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement between the parties hereto. Any modification, amendment or change to this Agreement must be made in writing and signed by both parties.

The Company hereby advises the Executive to consult with an attorney prior to executing this Agreement. The Executive acknowledges that the Executive has been given a period of twenty-one (21) days within which to consider this Agreement. The Executive agrees that changes to this Agreement before its execution, whether material or immaterial, do not restart the Executive’s time to review the Agreement. The Executive further acknowledges that this Agreement may be revoked by the Executive at any time during the seven (7) day period beginning on the date that the Executive has signed this Agreement by providing written notice of revocation to:

CubeSmart

5 Old Lancaster Road

Malvern, PA 19355

Attn: Chief Human Resources Officer

Facsimile No.: (610) 293-5720

4


This Agreement shall not become effective if the Executive revokes the Agreement during this 7-day period and will not become effective otherwise until after expiration of the 7-day period. The Executive shall not be entitled to receive any Termination Benefits under this Agreement or otherwise until the expiration of the revocation period.

CUBESMART

/s/

Date

Name:

Title:

EXECUTIVE

/s/

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EXHIBIT B

RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AGREEMENT

THIS RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of ​ ​​ ​​ ​, 20__ by and between CubeSmart, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Company”), and ​ ​​ ​​ ​ (the “Executive”).

WHEREAS, the Executive’s employment with the Company, CubeSmart, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership of which the Company is the general partner, or any of their direct or indirect subsidiaries (collectively, the “REIT”) terminated on ___________, 20__ (“Termination Date”).

WHEREAS, as a condition to receiving the applicable termination benefits (“Termination Benefits”) in accordance with the Company’s Amended and Restated Executive Severance Plan (the “Severance Plan”), the Company and the Executive agree that the Executive will not engage in competition with the Company and will refrain from taking certain other actions pursuant to the terms and conditions hereof in an effort to protect the Company’s legitimate business interests and goodwill and for other business purposes.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which hereby are acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.As a material inducement to the Executive to enter into this Agreement, the Company will provide the Executive with the Termination Benefits in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Severance Plan, from which the Company will make all applicable withholding. The Executive acknowledges that he is not entitled to receive the Termination Benefits unless he executes and complies with this Agreement.
2.Noncompetition. For twelve (12) months after the Termination Date (the “Restricted Period”), the Executive will not, (a) directly or indirectly, engage in any business involving self-storage facility development, construction, financing, acquisition or operation (“Self-Storage Business”), whether such business is conducted by the Executive individually or as a principal, partner, member, stockholder, director, trustee, officer, employee or independent contractor of any Person (as defined below) or (b) own any interests in any self-storage facilities, in each case in the United States of America; provided, however, that this Section 2 shall not be deemed to prohibit the direct or indirect ownership by the Executive of up to five percent of the outstanding equity interests of any public company. For purposes of this Agreement, “Person” means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, company, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association or other entity.
3.Non-Solicitation. For the Restricted Period, such Executive will not (a) directly or indirectly solicit, induce or encourage any employee or independent contractor to terminate such employee’s or independent contractor’s employment with the REIT or to cease rendering services to the REIT, and the Executive shall not initiate discussions with any such Person for any such purpose or authorize or knowingly cooperate with the taking of any such actions by any other Person, (b) hire (on behalf of the Executive or any other Person) any employee or independent contractor who has left the employment or other service of the REIT (or any predecessor thereof)


within one year of the termination of such employee’s or independent contractor’s employment or other service with the REIT or (c) directly or indirectly, on behalf of Executive or any other Person, (i) solicit, induce or encourage any of the REIT’s customers, clients, patrons, vendors or suppliers with whom the REIT provided products or services or conducted business within one year prior to the Executive’s termination of employment or service with the REIT or any actively sought prospective customer, client or patron of the REIT for the purpose of providing such customer, client or patron or actively sought prospective customer, client or patron with products or services competitive with those offered by the REIT during Executive’s employment with the REIT, or (ii) encourage any customer, client, patron, vendor or supplier for whom the REIT provided products or services or conducted business within one year prior to Executive’s date of termination of employment or service to reduce the level or amount of business such customer, client, patron, vendor or supplier conducts with the REIT.
4.Confidential and Proprietary Information; Non-Disparagement.
4.1Confidential Information. The Executive shall keep secret and retain in strictest confidence, and shall not use for his personal benefit or the benefit of others or directly or indirectly disclose, except as permitted by Section 4.2 or as may be required or as appropriate in connection with his carrying out his duties under this Agreement, all confidential information, knowledge or data relating to the Company or any of its affiliates, or to the Company’s or any such affiliate’s respective businesses and investments (including confidential information of others that has come into the possession of the Company or any such affiliate), learned by the Executive heretofore or hereafter directly or indirectly from the Company or any of its affiliates and which is not generally available lawfully and without breach of confidential or other fiduciary obligation to the general public without restriction (the “Confidential Company Information”), except with the Company’s express written consent or as may otherwise be required by law or any legal process.
4.2Reports to Government Entities. Nothing in this Agreement restricts or prohibits the Executive from initiating communications directly with, responding to any inquiries from, providing testimony before, providing confidential information, including trade secret information, to, reporting possible violations of law or regulation to, or from filing a claim or assisting with an investigation directly with a self-regulatory authority or a government agency or entity, including the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board, the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Congress, and any agency Inspector General (collectively, the “Regulators”), or from making other disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of state or federal law or regulation. The Executive does not need the prior authorization of the Company to engage in conduct protected by this section, and the Executive is not required to notify the Company that the Executive has engaged in such conduct.

Please take notice that federal law provides criminal and civil immunity to federal and state claims for trade secret misappropriation to individuals who disclose a trade secret to their attorney, a court, or a government official in certain, confidential circumstances that are set forth at 18 U.S.C. §§ 1833(b)(1) and 1833(b)(2), related to the reporting or investigation of a suspected violation of the law, or in connection with a lawsuit for retaliation for reporting a suspected violation of the law. 


4.3Return of Documents; Rights to Products. All memoranda, notes, lists, records, property and any other tangible product and documents (and all copies thereof) made, produced or compiled by the Executive or made available to the Executive concerning the businesses and investments of the Company and its affiliates shall be the Company’s property and shall be delivered to the Company at any time on request, except as otherwise permitted under Section 4.2 above. To the extent that the Executive made use of his own personal computing device(s) (e.g., PDA, laptop, iPad, thumbdrive, etc.) during and in connection with his employment with the Company, the Executive agrees to deliver such personal computing device(s) to the Company for review and permit the Company to delete all of the Company’s confidential information from such personal computing device(s), and/or permit the Company to remotely delete all of the Company’s confidential information from such personal computing device(s).

The Executive shall assign to the Company all rights to trade secrets and other products relating to the Company’s business developed by him alone or in conjunction with others at any time while employed by the Company.

4.4Non-Disparagement. The Executive shall not disparage the Company, its business, its employees, officers or agents, or any of the Company’s affiliates or related entities in any manner harmful to their business or business reputation, except as otherwise permitted under Section 4.2 above.
5.Reasonable and Necessary Restrictions. The Executive acknowledges that the restrictions, prohibitions and other provisions hereof, including, without limitation, the Restricted Period set forth in Section 2 and the restrictions set forth in Sections 2 and 3, are reasonable, fair and equitable in terms of duration, scope and geographic area, are necessary to protect the legitimate business interests of the REIT, and are a material inducement to the Company to enter into this Agreement and to provide the Termination Benefits.
6.Specific Performance. The Executive acknowledges that the obligations undertaken by the Executive pursuant to this Agreement are unique and that the Company likely will have no adequate remedy at law if the Executive shall fail to perform any of such Executive’s obligations hereunder, and the Executive therefore confirms that the Company’s right to specific performance of the terms of this Agreement is essential to protect the rights and interests of the Company. Accordingly, in addition to any other remedies that the Company may have at law or in equity, the Company shall have the right to have all obligations, covenants, agreements and other provisions of this Agreement specifically performed by the Executive, and the Company shall have the right to obtain preliminary and permanent injunctive relief to secure specific performance and to prevent a breach or contemplated breach of this Agreement by the Executive. Further, the Executive agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company from and against any reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Company as a result of any breach of this Agreement by such Executive, and in enforcing and preserving the Company’s rights under this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Company’s reasonable attorneys’ fees. The Executive hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Company shall not be required to post bond as a condition to obtaining or exercising such remedies, and the Executive hereby waives any such requirement or condition. If the Executive is the prevailing party in any action in which the Company seeks to enforce its rights under this Agreement, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Executive from


and against any reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Executive as a result of such action, including, without limitation, the Executive’s reasonable attorneys’ fees.
7.Miscellaneous Provisions.
7.1Assignment; Binding Effect. This Agreement may not be assigned by the Executive, but may be assigned by the Company to any successor to its business and will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon any such successor. Subject to the foregoing provisions restricting assignment, all covenants and agreements in this Agreement by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective successors, assigns, heirs, and personal representatives.
7.2Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the matters set forth herein and supersedes and renders of no force and effect all prior oral or written agreements, commitments and understandings among the parties with respect to the matters set forth herein. This Section 7.2 shall not be used to limit or restrict the rights or remedies, whether express or implied, of any noncompetition or non-solicitation policies of the REIT applicable to the Executive.
7.3Amendment. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, no amendment, modification or discharge of this Agreement shall be valid or binding unless set forth in writing and duly executed by each of the parties hereto.
7.4Waivers. No waiver by a party hereto shall be effective unless made in a written instrument duly executed by the party against whom such waiver is sought to be enforced, and only to the extent set forth in such instrument. Neither the waiver by either of the parties hereto of a breach or a default under any of the provisions of this Agreement, nor the failure of either of the parties, on one or more occasions, to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement or to exercise any right or privilege hereunder shall thereafter be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach or default of a similar nature, or as a waiver of any such provisions, rights or privileges hereunder.
7.5Severability. If fulfillment of any provision of this Agreement, at the time such fulfillment shall be due, shall transcend the limit of validity prescribed by law, then the obligation to be fulfilled shall be reduced to the limit of such validity; and if any clause or provision contained in this Agreement operates or would operate to invalidate this Agreement, in whole or in part, then such clause or provision only shall be held ineffective, as though not herein contained, and the remainder of this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the restrictions against engaging in competitive activity contained in this Agreement shall be determined by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable by reason of their extending for too great a period of time or over too great a geographical area or by reason of their being too extensive or unreasonable in any other respect, the Agreement shall be interpreted to extend only over the maximum period of time for which it may be enforceable and over the maximum geographical area as to which it may be enforceable and to the maximum extent in all other respects as to which it may be enforceable, all as determined by such court in such action and the court may limit the application of any other provision or covenant, or modify any such term, provision or covenant and proceed to enforce this Agreement as so limited or


modified. To the extent necessary, the parties shall revise the Agreement and enter into an appropriate amendment to the extent necessary to implement any of the foregoing.
7.6Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement, the rights and obligations of the parties hereto, and any claims or disputes relating thereto, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland, but not including the choice-of-law rules thereof.
7.7Headings. Section and subsection headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference only, shall not be deemed to be a part of this Agreement for any purpose, and shall not in any way define or affect the meaning, construction or scope of any of the provisions hereof.
7.8Executive’s Acknowledgement. The Executive acknowledges that he has had the opportunity to consult with independent counsel of his own choice concerning this Agreement, and (ii) that he has read and understands this Agreement, is fully aware of its legal effect, and has entered into it freely based on his own judgment.
7.9Notices. All notices, requests, demands, and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been delivered (i) when physically received by personal delivery (which shall include the confirmed receipt of a telecopied facsimile transmission), or (ii) three (3) business days after being deposited in the United States certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid or (iii) one (1) business day after being deposited with a nationally known commercial courier service providing next day delivery service (such as Federal Express), to the following addresses:

(i)if to the Executive, to the address set forth in the records of the Company; and

(ii)if to the Company:

CubeSmart

5 Old Lancaster Road

Malvern, PA 19355

Attn: Chief Human Resources Officer

Facsimile No.: (610) 293-5720

Execution in Counterparts. To facilitate execution, this Agreement may be executed in as many counterparts as may be required. It shall not be necessary that the signature of or on behalf of each party appears on each counterpart, but it shall be sufficient that the signature of or on behalf of each party appears on one or more of the counterparts. All counterparts shall collectively constitute a single agreement.

[Signature Page Follows]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed and delivered this Agreement, or caused this Agreement to be duly executed on its behalf, as of the date first set forth above.

THE EXECUTIVE:

THE COMPANY:

CUBESMART

By:

Name:


EXHIBIT C

ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES

Position

Tier

President and Chief Executive Officer

I

Chief Financial Officer

II

Chief Legal Officer

III

Chief Operating Officer

III

Chief Human Resources Officer

III


Exhibit 10.3

AMENDED AND RESTATED

CUBESMART 2007 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN


Table of Contents

Tab No.

Section 1. Purpose1

Section 2. Definitions1

Section 3. Administration5

Section 4. Shares Available for Awards7

Section 5. Eligibility8

Section 6. Stock Options and Share Appreciation Rights8

Section 7. Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units10

Section 8. Performance Awards12

Section 9. Other Share-Based Awards13

Section 10. Non-Employee Trustee Awards13

Section 11. Termination of Employment13

Section 12. Change in Control13

Section 13. Amendment and Termination14

Section 14. General Provisions16

Section 15. Term of The Plan19


AMENDED AND RESTATED

CUBESMART 2007 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

(As amended and restated effective August 1, 2023)

Section 1.Purpose.  This plan shall be known as the “Amended and Restated CubeSmart 2007 Equity Incentive Plan” (the “Plan”).  The purpose of the Plan is to promote the interests of CubeSmart, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Company”), its Subsidiaries and its shareholders by (i) attracting and retaining key officers, employees, and trustees of, and consultants to, the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates; (ii) motivating such individuals by means of performance-related incentives to achieve long-range performance goals; (iii) enabling such individuals to participate in the long-term growth and financial success of the Company; (iv) encouraging ownership of stock in the Company by such individuals; and (v) linking their compensation to the long-term interests of the Company and its shareholders.  
Section 2.Definitions.
(a)Rules of Construction.  As used in this Plan: (i) unless otherwise specified, all defined terms in the singular shall have comparable meanings when used in the plural and vice-versa; (ii) all pronouns and any variations thereof shall be deemed to refer to masculine, feminine or neuter, singular or plural, as the identity of the Person or Persons may require; (iii) the words “include,” “includes” and “including” will be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation,” whether or not such phrase is included therein; (iv) unless otherwise specified in the computation of a period of time from a date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including,” and the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding”; and (v) references to all documents, contracts, agreements or instruments shall include any and all supplements and amendments thereto.
(b)Definitions.  Subject to the provisions of Section 2(a) above, all initially capitalized words and phrases used in this Plan have the following meanings:

Affiliate” shall mean (i) any entity that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by the Company, (ii) any entity in which the Company has a significant equity interest, (iii) an affiliate of the Company, as defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and (iv) any entity in which the Company has at least twenty percent (20%) of the combined voting power of the entity’s outstanding voting securities, including CubeSmart, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, in each case as designated by the Board as being a participating employer in the Plan.

Award” shall mean any Option, Share Appreciation Right, Restricted Share, Restricted Share Unit, Performance Award, Other Share-Based Award or other award granted under the Plan, whether singly, in combination or in tandem, to a Participant by the Board pursuant to such terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations, if any, as the Board may establish or that are required by applicable legal requirements.

Award Agreement” shall mean any written agreement, contract or other instrument or document evidencing any Award.


Board” shall mean the Board of Trustees of the Company.

Cause” shall mean, unless otherwise defined in the applicable Award Agreement, (i) the engaging by the Participant in willful misconduct that is injurious to the Company or its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, or (ii) the embezzlement or misappropriation of funds or property of the Company or its Subsidiaries or Affiliates by the Participant.  For purposes of this paragraph, no act, or failure to act, on the Participant’s part shall be considered “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by the Participant not in good faith and without reasonable belief that the Participant’s action or omission was in the best interest of the Company.  Any determination of Cause for purposes of the Plan or any Award shall be made by the Board in its sole discretion.  Any such determination shall be final and binding on a Participant.

Change in Control” shall mean, unless otherwise defined in the applicable Award Agreement, any of the following events:

(i)any person or entity, including a “group” as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act, other than the Company or a wholly-owned subsidiary thereof or any employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, becomes the beneficial owner of the Company’s securities having 35% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company that may be cast for the election of Trustees of the Company (other than as a result of an issuance of securities initiated by the Company in the ordinary course of business);
(ii)as the result of, or in connection with, any cash tender or exchange offer, merger or other business combination or contested election, or any combination of the foregoing transactions, less than a majority of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company or any successor company or entity entitled to vote generally in the election of the Trustees of the Company or such other corporation or entity after such transaction are held in the aggregate by the holders of the Company’s securities entitled to vote generally in the election of Trustees of the Company immediately prior to such transaction;
(iii)during any period of two (2) consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of any such period constitute the Board cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof, unless the election, or the nomination for election, by the Company’s shareholders of each Trustee of the Company first elected during such period was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3rds) of the Trustees of the Company then still in office who were (a) Trustees of the Company at the beginning of any such period, and (b) not initially (1) appointed or elected to office as result of either an actual or threatened election or proxy contest by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board, or (2) designated by a Person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in (i) or (ii) above or (iv) or (v) below;
(iv)a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or
(v)the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to any Person (other than a transfer to a Subsidiary).

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Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

Committee” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board.

Company” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1 above.

Consultant” shall mean any consultant to the Company or its Subsidiaries or Affiliates.

Disability” shall mean, unless otherwise defined in the applicable Award Agreement, a disability that would qualify as a total and permanent disability under the Company’s then current long-term disability plan.

Employee” shall mean a current or prospective officer or employee of the Company or of any Subsidiary or Affiliate.

Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

Fair Market Value” with respect to the Shares, shall mean, for purposes of a grant of an Award as of any date, (i) the closing sales price during regular trading hours of the Shares on the New York Stock Exchange, or any other exchange on which the shares are traded, on such date, or in the absence of reported sales on such date, the closing sales price during regular trading hours on the immediately preceding date on which sales were reported or (ii) in the event there is no public market for the Shares on such date, the fair market value as determined, in good faith, by the Board in its sole discretion.

Family Member” shall mean 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 (50%) 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 (50%) of the voting interests.

Incentive Stock Option” shall mean an option to purchase Shares from the Company that is granted under Section 6 of the Plan and that is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision thereto.

Non-Qualified Stock Option” shall mean an option to purchase Shares from the Company that is granted under Section 6 or Section 10 of the Plan and is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.

Non-Employee Trustee” shall mean a member of the Board who is not an officer or employee of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate.

Option” shall mean an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

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Option Price” shall mean the purchase price payable to purchase one Share upon the exercise of an Option.

Other Share-Based Award” shall mean any Award granted under Section 9 or Section 10 of the Plan.

Participant” shall mean any Employee, Trustee, Consultant or other person who receives an Award under the Plan.

Performance Award” shall mean any Award granted under Section 8 of the Plan.

Person” shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or political subdivision thereof or other entity.

Plan” has the meaning set forth in the Section 1 above.

Restricted Share” shall mean an award of Shares that is subject to the terms contained in Section 7 of the Plan.

Restricted Share Unit” shall mean a contractual right to be issued one (1) Share (or cash or other property equal to the Fair Market Value of one (1) Share) pursuant to the terms of Section 7 of the Plan.  Each Restricted Share Unit represents an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company.

Retirement” shall mean, unless otherwise defined in the applicable Award Agreement, retirement of a Participant from the employ or service of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates in accordance with the terms of the applicable Company retirement plan or, if a Participant is not covered by any such plan, retirement on or after such Participant’s 65th birthday.

SEC” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.

Shares” shall mean shares of the common shares, $0.01 par value, of the Company.

Share Appreciation Right or “SAR” shall mean a share appreciation right granted under Section 6 or Section 10 of the Plan that entitles the holder to receive, with respect to each Share encompassed by the exercise of such SAR, the excess of the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise over the amount determined by the Board and specified in an Award Agreement as the exercise price of such SAR, provided that the exercise price shall not be less than the Fair Market Value on the date of grant.

Subsidiary” shall mean any Person (other than the Company) of which a majority of its voting power or its equity securities or equity interest is owned directly or indirectly by the Company.

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Substitute Awards” shall mean Awards granted solely in assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by a company acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines.

Trustee” shall mean a member of the Board.

Section 3.Administration.
(a)The Board.  The Board shall have such powers and authorities related to the administration of the Plan as are consistent with the Company’s governing documents 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 for 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 governing documents 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, binding and conclusive.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Board shall not take any action or make any Awards hereunder that could cause the Company to fail to qualify as a real estate investment trust for Federal income tax purposes.
(b)Delegation to Committee.  
(i)General.  The Board may delegate all or part of the administration of the Plan to the Committee. If administration is delegated to the Committee, the Committee shall have, in connection with the administration of the Plan, the powers theretofore possessed by the Board, including the power to delegate to a subcommittee any of the administrative powers the Committee is authorized to exercise (and references in this Plan to the Board shall thereafter be to the Committee or subcommittee), subject, however, to such resolutions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as may be adopted from time to time by the Board.  The Board may abolish its delegation of administration to the Committee at any time and revest in the Board the administration of the Plan.
(ii)Section 16 Matters.  All actions taken with respect to any Award granted to a Participant who is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act must be approved by either the full Board or a committee consisting solely of two (2) or more “non-employee directors” (as defined in the regulations promulgated under Section 16b-3 of the Exchange Act).
(c)Subject to the terms of the Plan and applicable law, and in addition to other express powers and authorizations conferred on the Board by the Plan, the Board shall have full power and authority in its discretion to:
(i)designate Participants;

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(ii)determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to a Participant;
(iii)determine the number of Shares to be covered by, or with respect to which payments, rights or other matters are to be calculated in connection with Awards;
(iv)determine the timing, terms, and conditions of any Award;
(v)subject to the terms of the Plan, accelerate the time at which all or any part of an Award may be settled or exercised;
(vi)determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances, Awards may be settled or exercised in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, or canceled, forfeited or suspended and the method or methods by which Awards may be settled, exercised, canceled, forfeited or suspended;
(vii)determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards, other property, and other amounts payable with respect to an Award shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the holder thereof or of the Board;
(viii)interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award made under, the Plan;
(ix)except to the extent prohibited by Section 6(b), amend or modify the terms of any Award at or after grant with the consent of the holder of the Award;
(x)establish, amend, suspend or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; and
(xi)make any other determination and take any other action that the Board deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan.  

The exercise of an Option or receipt of an Award shall be effective only if an Award Agreement shall have been duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Company following the grant of an Award.  

(d)Discretion Binding.  Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations, and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any Award shall be within the sole discretion of the Board, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive, and binding upon all Persons, including the Company, any Subsidiary or Affiliate, any Participant and any holder or beneficiary of any Award.
(e)Delegation.  Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Board or the Committee may also delegate to one or more officers or managers of the Company or of any Subsidiary or Affiliate, or to a committee of such officers or managers, the authority, subject to such terms and

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limitations as the Board or the Committee shall determine, to grant Awards to or to cancel, modify or waive rights with respect to, or to alter, discontinue, suspend or terminate Awards held by Participants who are not officers or trustees of the Company for purposes of Exchange Act Section 16 or who are otherwise not subject to such Section.
Section 4.Shares Available for Awards.
(a)Shares Available.  Subject to the additional limitation as provided in Section 4(b) and the adjustments as provided in Section 4(c), the total number of Shares subject to Awards granted under the Plan, in the aggregate, shall not exceed 13,000,000 Shares.  The number of Shares set forth in the preceding sentence is comprised of the sum of (i) the 4,500,000 Shares added as of the Restatement Effective Date, plus (ii) any Shares remaining available for issuance under the Plan as of the Restatement Effective Date, plus (iii) any Shares subject to Awards under the Plan as of the Restatement Effective Date that are later forfeited or for any other reason are not payable under the Plan.  The number of Shares taken into account with respect to a Share Appreciation Right shall be the number of Shares underlying the Share Appreciation Rights at grant (i.e., not the final number of Shares delivered upon exercise of the Share Appreciation Rights).  Notwithstanding the foregoing and subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(c), for any calendar year: (x) no Employee or Consultant may receive Awards in excess of 1,000,000 Shares; and (y) no Non-Employee Trustee may receive Awards in excess of 250,000 Shares.
(b)Effect of the Expiration or Termination of Awards; Other Adjustments to Share Pool.  
(i)Shares that have been granted under the Plan that are later forfeited or for any other reason are not payable under the Plan may again be made the subject of Awards under the Plan, and shall be restored to the Share reserve described in Section 4(a) above on a one-for-one basis.
(ii)If the Company withholds Shares to satisfy tax withholding requirements in connection with the exercise, vesting or payment of an award, other awards may not be granted covering the Shares so withheld to satisfy the tax withholding requirement.  If a Participant exercises an Option covering Shares via the delivery of Shares to pay the option exercise price or a Participant exercises an SAR that is settled in Shares, other awards may not be granted with respect to the total number of Shares with respect to which such exercise applies, including those not delivered because of the net share settlement of the award.
(c)Adjustments.  In the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Shares or other securities of the Company, or other similar corporate transaction or event affects the Shares, then the Board will in an equitable and proportionate manner (and, as applicable, in such manner as is consistent with Sections 424 and 409A of the Code) either: (i) adjust any or all of (1) the aggregate number of Shares or other securities of the

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Company (or number and kind of other securities or property) with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan; (2) the number of Shares or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards under the Plan, provided that the number of shares subject to any Award shall always be a whole number; (3) the grant or exercise price with respect to any Award under the Plan; and (4) the limits on the number of Shares that may be granted to Participants under the Plan in any calendar year; (ii) provide for an equivalent award in respect of securities of the surviving entity of any merger, consolidation or other transaction or event having a similar effect; or (iii)  make provision for a cash payment to the holder of an outstanding Award.
(d)Substitute Awards.  Any Shares issued by the Company as Substitute Awards in connection with the assumption or substitution of outstanding grants from any acquired corporation shall not reduce the Shares available for Awards under the Plan.
(e)Sources of Shares Deliverable Under Awards.  Any Shares delivered pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Shares or of issued Shares which have been reacquired by the Company.
Section 5.Eligibility.  Any Employee, Trustee or Consultant shall be eligible to be designated a Participant; provided, however, that Non-Employee Trustees shall only be eligible to receive Awards granted consistent with Section 10.
Section 6.Stock Options and Share Appreciation Rights.
(a)Grant.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan including, without limitation, Section 3(c) above and other applicable legal requirements, the Board shall have sole and complete authority to determine the Participants to whom Options and SARs shall be granted, the number of Shares subject to each Award, the exercise price and the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of each Option and SAR.  An Option may be granted with or without a related SAR.  A SAR may be granted with or without a related Option.  The Board shall have the authority to grant Incentive Stock Options, and to grant Non-Qualified Stock Options.  In the case of Incentive Stock Options, the terms and conditions of such grants shall be subject to and comply with Section 422 of the Code.  A person who has been granted an Option or SAR under this Plan may be granted additional Options or SARs under the Plan if the Board shall so determine; provided, however, that to the extent the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted) of the Shares with respect to which all Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by an Employee during any calendar year (under all plans described in Section 422(d) of the Code of the Employee’s employer corporation and its parent and Subsidiaries) exceeds $100,000, such Options shall be treated as Non-Qualified Stock Options.
(b)Price.  The Board in its sole discretion shall establish the Option Price at the time each Option is granted.  Except in the case of Substitute Awards, the Option Price of an Option may not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Shares with respect to which the Option is granted on the date of grant of such Option.  Notwithstanding the foregoing and except as permitted by the provisions of Section 4(c) and Section 14, the Board shall not have the power to (i) amend the terms of previously granted Options to reduce

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the Option Price of such Options, or (ii) cancel such Options and grant substitute Options with a lower Option Price than the cancelled Options.  Except with respect to Substitute Awards, SARs may not be granted at a price less than the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant.
(c)Term.  Subject to the Board’s authority under Section 3(a) and the provisions of Section 6(e), each Option and SAR and all rights and obligations thereunder shall expire on the date determined by the Board and specified in the Award Agreement.  The Board shall be under no duty to provide terms of like duration for Options or SARs granted under the Plan.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Option or SAR shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date such Option or SAR was granted.
(d)Exercise.
(i)Each Option and SAR shall be exercisable at such times and subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may, in its sole discretion, specify in the applicable Award Agreement or thereafter.  Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Board shall have full and complete authority to determine, subject to Section 6(e), whether an Option or SAR will be exercisable in full at any time or from time to time during the term of the Option or SAR, or to provide for the exercise thereof in such installments, upon the occurrence of such events and at such times during the term of the Option or SAR as the Board may determine.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no portion of Options and SARs shall vest over a period that is not less than one year from the date of grant.  An Award Agreement may provide for accelerated vesting without regard to the minimum vesting period in connection with a Participant’s death or disability, or in the event of (i) a change in control of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries or (ii) a corporate event described in Section 4(c).  In addition, up to five percent of the Shares subject to the aggregate share reserve set forth in Section 4(a), which may include, without limitation, Awards to Non-Employee Trustees, may be subject to Awards that are not subject to the foregoing vesting restriction.  
(ii)The Board may impose such conditions with respect to the exercise of Options, including without limitation, any relating to the application of federal, state or foreign securities laws or the Code, as it may deem necessary or advisable.  The exercise of any Option granted pursuant to this Plan shall be effective only at such time as the sale of Shares pursuant to such exercise will not violate any state or federal securities or other laws.
(iii)An Option or SAR may be exercised in whole or in part at any time, with respect to whole Shares only, within the period permitted thereunder for the exercise thereof, and shall be exercised by written notice of intent to exercise the Option or SAR, delivered to the Company at its principal office, and payment in full to the Company at the direction of the Board of the amount of the Option Price for the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is then being exercised.
(iv)Payment of the Option Price shall be made in cash or cash equivalents, or, at the discretion of the Board, (A) by transfer, either actually or by attestation, to the Company of Shares that have been held by the Participant for at least

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six (6) months (or such lesser period as may be permitted by the Board), valued at the Fair Market Value of such Shares on the date of exercise (or next succeeding trading date, if the date of exercise is not a trading date), together with any applicable withholding taxes, such transfer to be upon such terms and conditions as determined by the Board, or (B) by a combination of such cash (or cash equivalents) and such Shares; provided, however, that the optionee shall not be entitled to tender Shares pursuant to successive, substantially simultaneous exercises of an Option or any other stock option of the Company.  Subject to applicable securities laws, an Option may also be exercised by delivering a notice of exercise of the Option and simultaneously selling the Shares thereby acquired, pursuant to a brokerage or similar agreement approved in advance by proper officers of the Company, using the proceeds of such sale as payment of the Option Price, together with any applicable withholding taxes.  Until the optionee has been issued the Shares subject to such exercise, he or she shall possess no rights as a shareholder with respect to such Shares.
(v)At the Board’s discretion, the amount payable as a result of the exercise of an SAR may be settled in cash, Shares or a combination of cash and Shares.  A fractional Share shall not be deliverable upon the exercise of a SAR but a cash payment will be made in lieu thereof.
(e)Ten Percent Stock Rule.  Notwithstanding any other provisions in the Plan, if at the time an Option is otherwise to be granted pursuant to the Plan, the optionee or rights holder owns directly or indirectly (within the meaning of Section 424(d) of the Code) Shares of the Company possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or its parent or Subsidiary or Affiliate corporations (within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code), then any Incentive Stock Option to be granted to such optionee or rights holder pursuant to the Plan shall satisfy the requirement of Section 422(c)(5) of the Code, and the Option Price shall be not less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Shares of the Company, and such Incentive Stock Option by its terms shall not be exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years from the date such Incentive Stock Option is granted.
Section 7.Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units.
(a)Grant.
(i)Subject to the provisions of the Plan and other applicable legal requirements, the Board shall have sole and complete authority to determine the Participants to whom Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units shall be granted, the number of Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units to be granted to each Participant, the duration of the period during which, and the conditions under which, the Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units may be forfeited to the Company, and the other terms and conditions of such Awards.  The Restricted Share and Restricted Share Unit Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements in such form as the Board shall from time to time approve, which agreements shall comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan and any additional terms and conditions established by the Board that are consistent with the terms of the Plan.

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(ii)Each Restricted Share and Restricted Share Unit Award made under the Plan shall be for such number of Shares as shall be determined by the Board and set forth in the Award Agreement containing the terms of such Restricted Share or Restricted Share Unit Award.  Such agreement shall set forth a period of time during which the Participant must remain in the continuous employment of the Company in order for the forfeiture and transfer restrictions to lapse.  If the Board so determines, the restrictions may lapse during such restricted period in installments with respect to specified portions of the Shares covered by the Restricted Share or Restricted Share Unit Award.  The Award Agreement may also, in the discretion of the Board, set forth performance or other conditions that will subject the Shares to forfeiture and transfer restrictions.  Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Board may, at its discretion, waive all or any part of the restrictions applicable to any or all outstanding Restricted Share and Restricted Share Unit Awards.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no portion of Restricted Share and Restricted Unit Awards shall vest over a period that is not less than one year from the date of grant.  An Award Agreement may provide for accelerated vesting without regard to the minimum vesting period in connection with a Participant’s death or disability, or in the event of (i) a change in control of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries or (ii) a corporate event described in Section 4(c).  In addition, up to five percent of the Shares subject to the aggregate share reserve set forth in Section 4(a), which may include, without limitation, Awards to Non-Employee Trustees, may be subject to Awards that are not subject to the foregoing vesting restriction.  
(b)Delivery of Shares and Transfer Restrictions.  At the time of a Restricted Share Award, a certificate representing the number of Shares awarded thereunder shall be registered in the name of the Participant, or a book entry reflecting such issuance shall be made in the records of the Company.  Such certificate, if registered, shall be held by the Company or any custodian appointed by the Company for the account of the Participant subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, and shall bear such a legend setting forth the restrictions imposed thereon as the Board, in its discretion, may determine.  The applicable Award Agreement will specify whether a Participant has the right to receive dividends with respect to the Restricted Shares prior to the lapsing of transfer restrictions. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, the grantee shall have all other rights of a shareholder with respect to the Restricted Shares, including the right to vote such Shares, subject to the following restrictions: (i) the Participant shall not be entitled to delivery of the stock certificate until the expiration of the restricted period and the fulfillment of any other restrictive conditions set forth in the Award Agreement with respect to such Shares; (ii) none of the Shares may be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise encumbered or disposed of during such restricted period or until after the fulfillment of any such other restrictive conditions; and (iii) except as otherwise determined by the Board at or after grant, all of the Shares shall be forfeited and all rights of the Participant to such Shares shall terminate, without further obligation on the part of the Company, unless the grantee remains in the continuous employment of the Company for the entire restricted period in relation to which such Shares were granted and unless any other restrictive conditions relating to the Restricted Share Award are met.  Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, any Shares, any other securities of the Company and any other property (except for cash dividends) distributed with respect to the Shares subject to Restricted Share Awards shall be subject to the same restrictions, terms and conditions as such Restricted Shares.

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(c)Termination of Restrictions.  At the end of the restricted period and provided that any other restrictive conditions of the Restricted Share Award are met, or at such earlier time as otherwise determined by the Board, all restrictions set forth in the Award Agreement relating to the Restricted Share Award or in the Plan shall lapse as to the Restricted Shares subject thereto, and the Board may determine, in its sole discretion, to deliver to the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary or estate, as the case may be, a stock certificate for the appropriate number of Shares, free of the restrictions and restricted stock legend.
(d)Payment of Restricted Share Units.  Each Restricted Share Unit shall have a value equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share.  Restricted Share Units shall be paid in cash, Shares, other securities or other property, as determined in the sole discretion of the Board, upon the lapse of the restrictions applicable thereto, or otherwise in accordance with the applicable Award Agreement.  The applicable Award Agreement will specify whether a Participant will be entitled to receive dividend rights in respect of Restricted Share Units at the time of any payment of dividends to shareholders on Shares.  If the applicable Award Agreement specifies that a Participant will be entitled to receive dividend rights, (i) the amount of any such dividend right shall equal the amount that would be payable to the Participant as a shareholder in respect of a number of Shares equal to the number of Restricted Share Units then credited to the Participant, (ii) any such dividend right shall be paid in accordance with the Company’s payment practices as may be established from time to time and as of the date on which such dividend would have been payable in respect of outstanding Shares, and (iii) the applicable Award Agreement will specify whether dividend equivalents shall be paid in respect of Restricted Share Units that are not yet vested.  Except as otherwise determined by the Board at or after grant, Restricted Share Units may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise encumbered or disposed of, and all Restricted Share Units and all rights of the grantee to such Restricted Share Units shall terminate, without further obligation on the part of the Company, unless the Participant remains in continuous employment of the Company for the entire restricted period in relation to which such Restricted Share Units were granted and unless any other restrictive conditions relating to the Restricted Share Unit Award are met.
Section 8.Performance Awards.
(a)Grant.  The Board shall have sole and complete authority to determine the Participants who shall receive a Performance Award, which shall consist of a right that is (i) denominated in cash or Shares (including but not limited to Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units), (ii) valued, as determined by the Board, in accordance with the achievement of such performance goals during such performance periods as the Board shall establish, and (iii) payable at such time and in such form as the Board shall determine.
(b)Terms and Conditions.  Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, the Board shall determine the performance goals to be achieved during any performance period, the length of any performance period, the amount of any Performance Award and the amount and kind of any payment or transfer to be made pursuant to any Performance Award, and may amend specific provisions of the Performance Award; provided, however, that such amendment may not adversely affect existing Performance Awards made within a performance period commencing prior to implementation of the amendment.

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(c)Payment of Performance Awards.  Performance Awards may be paid in a lump sum or in installments following the close of the performance period or, in accordance with the procedures established by the Board, on a deferred basis.  Termination of employment prior to the end of any performance period, other than for reasons of death or Disability, will result in the forfeiture of the Performance Award, and no payments will be made.  A Participant’s rights to any Performance Award may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise encumbered or disposed of in any manner, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or except as the Board may determine at or after grant.
Section 9.Other Share-Based Awards.  The Board shall have the authority to determine the Participants who shall receive an Other Share-Based Award, which shall consist of any right that is (i) not an Award described in Section 6 or Section 7 above and (ii) an Award of Shares or an Award denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to, Shares (including, without limitation, securities convertible into Shares), as deemed by the Board to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan.  Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, the Board shall determine the terms and conditions of any such Other Share-Based Award.
Section 10.Non-Employee Trustee Awards.  The Board may provide that all or a portion of a Non-Employee Trustee’s annual retainer, meeting fees and other awards or compensation as determined by the Board, be payable (either automatically or at the election of a Non-Employee Trustee) in the form of Non-Qualified Stock Options, Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units or Other Share-Based Awards, including unrestricted Shares.  The Board shall determine the terms and conditions of any such Awards, including the terms and conditions which shall apply upon a termination of the Non-Employee Trustee’s service as a member of the Board, and shall have full power and authority in its discretion to administer such Awards, subject to the terms of the Plan and applicable law.  Subject to applicable legal requirements, the Board may also grant Awards to Non-Employee Trustees pursuant to the terms of the Plan, including any Award described in Section 6, Section 7 or Section 9 above.  
Section 11.Termination of Employment.  The Board shall have the full power and authority to determine the terms and conditions that shall apply to any Award upon a termination of employment with the Company, its Subsidiaries and Affiliates, including a termination by the Company with or without Cause, by a Participant voluntarily, or by reason of death, Disability or Retirement, and may provide such terms and conditions in the Award Agreement or in such rules and regulations as it may prescribe.  
Section 12.Change in Control.  
(a)Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Board shall take one or more of the following actions with respect to any or all outstanding Awards, without the consent of any Participant: (i) the Board may determine that outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall automatically accelerate and become fully exercisable and the restrictions and conditions on outstanding Restricted Share Awards, Restricted Share Unit Awards, Performance Awards and Other Share Based Awards shall immediately lapse; provided that if the vesting of any such Awards is based, in whole or in part, on performance, the applicable Award Agreement shall specify how the portion of the Award that becomes vested pursuant to this Section 12(a)

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shall be calculated; (ii) the Board may determine that Participants shall receive a payment in settlement of outstanding Restricted Share Unit Awards, Performance Awards and Other Share Based Awards in such amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to such Awards (iii) the Board may require that Participants surrender their outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights in exchange for a payment by the Company, in cash, Shares or common stock of the surviving corporation (or a parent of the surviving corporation) as determined by the Board, in an amount equal to the amount, if any, by which the then per share Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the Participant’s unexercised Options and Stock Appreciation Rights exceeds the applicable Exercise Price; (iv) after giving Participants an opportunity to exercise all of their outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights prior to the Change in Control, the Board may terminate any or all unexercised Options and Stock Appreciation Rights at such time as the Board deems appropriate; and (v) if the Company is the surviving corporation and ultimate parent company, the Board may determine that the Awards shall be continued.  Such surrender, termination or payment shall take place as of the date of the Change in Control or such other date as the Board may specify.  Without limiting the foregoing, if the per share Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the Participant’s unexercised Options and Stock Appreciation Rights does not exceed the applicable Exercise Price, the Company shall not be required to make any payment to the Participant upon surrender of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right.
(b)If the Company is the surviving corporation and ultimate parent company in the Change in Control and the Board elects to continue Awards pursuant to clause (v) of Section 12(a) above, then if the Participant’s employment or service is terminated by the Company without Cause upon or within the 12 months following the Change in Control, the Participant’s outstanding Awards shall become fully vested, and if applicable, exercisable, as of the date of such termination; provided that if the vesting of any such Awards is based, in whole or in part, on performance, the Award will vest based on the greater of (i) actual performance and (ii) target performance.
Section 13.Amendment and Termination.
(a)Amendments to the Plan.  The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time; provided that no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination shall be made without shareholder approval if such approval is necessary to comply with any tax or regulatory requirement for which or with which the Board deems it necessary or desirable to comply, and provided further, that no amendment that shall increase the Share Pool shall be effective unless such increase has been approved by the Company’s shareholders as and to the extent required by the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange.
(b)Amendments to Awards.  Subject to the restrictions of Section 6(b), the Board may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of or alter, suspend, discontinue, cancel or terminate, any Award theretofore granted, prospectively or retroactively; provided that any such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancellation or termination that would materially and adversely affect the rights of any Participant or any holder or beneficiary of any Award theretofore granted shall not to that extent be effective without the consent of the affected Participant, holder or beneficiary.

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(c)Adjustments of Awards Upon the Occurrence of Certain Unusual or Nonrecurring Events.  The Board is hereby authorized to make equitable and proportionate adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (and shall make such adjustments for events described in Section 4(c)) affecting the Company, any Subsidiary or Affiliate, or the financial statements of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate, or of changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting principles.
(d)No Repricing Without Shareholder Approval.  Except as otherwise provided in Section 4(c), the terms of outstanding Awards may not be amended to reduce the exercise price of outstanding Options or the base amount of outstanding SARs or to cancel outstanding Options or SARs in exchange for cash, other awards, Options with an exercise price that is less than the exercise price of the original Options or SARs with a base amount that is less than the base amount for the original SARs, without shareholder approval.
(e)Section 409A Compliance.  The Plan is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, to the extent applicable.  All Awards shall be construed and administered such that the Award either (A) qualifies for an exemption from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code or (B) satisfies the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.  If an Award is subject to Section 409A of the Code, (1) distributions shall only be made in a manner and upon an event permitted under Section 409A of the Code, (2) payments to be made upon a termination of employment shall only be made upon a “separation from service” under Section 409A of the Code, (3) payments to be made upon a Change in Control shall only be made upon a “change of control event” under Section 409A of the Code, (4) unless an Award specifies otherwise, each payment shall be treated as a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, and (5) in no event shall a Participant, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year in which a distribution is made except in accordance with Section 409A of the Code.
(f)No Award (or modification thereof) shall provide for deferral of compensation that does not comply with Section 409A of the Code unless the Board, at the time of grant, specifically provides that the Award is not intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code.  Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, if one or more of the payments or benefits received or to be received by a Participant pursuant to an Award would cause the Participant to incur any additional tax or interest under Section 409A of the Code, the Board may reform such provision to maintain to the maximum extent practicable the original intent of the applicable provision without violating the provisions of Section 409A of the Code.  
(g)Any Award made under the Plan that is subject to Section 409A of the Code and that is to be distributed to a Key Employee (as defined below) upon separation from service shall be administered so that any distribution with respect to such Award shall be postponed for six months following the date of the Participant’s separation from service, if required by Section 409A of the Code.  If a distribution is delayed pursuant to Section 409A of the Code, the distribution shall be paid within 30 days after the end of the six-month period.  If the Participant dies during such six-month period, any postponed amounts shall be paid within 90 days of the Participant’s death.  The determination of Key Employees, including the number and identity of persons considered Key Employees and the identification date, shall be made by

15


the Committee or its delegate each year in accordance with Section 416(i) of the Code and the “specified employee” requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

(h)Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, each Participant shall be solely responsible for the tax consequences of Awards under the Plan, and in no event shall the Company have any responsibility or liability if an Award does not meet any applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code.  Although the Company intends to administer the Plan to prevent taxation under Section 409A of the Code, the Company does not represent or warrant that the Plan or any Award complies with any provision of federal, state, local or other tax law.  
Section 14.General Provisions.
(a)Limited Transferability of Awards.  Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, no Award shall be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution.  No transfer of an Award by will or by laws of descent and distribution shall be effective to bind the Company unless the Company shall have been furnished with written notice thereof and an authenticated copy of the will or such other evidence as the Board may deem necessary or appropriate to establish the validity of the transfer.  If authorized in the applicable Award Agreement, a Participant may transfer, “not for value”, all or part of an Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option to any Family Member. For the purpose of this Section 14(a), a “not for value” transfer is a transfer that 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 (50%) of the voting interests are owned by Family Members (or the Participant) in exchange for an interest in that entity. Following a transfer under this Section 14(a), 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 Participant in accordance with this Section 14(a) or by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding any transfer permitted by this Section 14(a), such Options shall remain subject to any vesting, forfeiture or other requirements set forth in the Award Agreement.
(b)Dividend Equivalents.  In the sole and complete discretion of the Board, an Award may provide the Participant with dividends or dividend equivalents, payable in cash, Shares, other securities or other property on a current or deferred basis.  All dividend or dividend equivalents which are not paid currently may, at the Board’s discretion, accrue interest, be reinvested into additional Shares, or, in the case of dividends or dividend equivalents credited in connection with an Award that is a Performance Award, be credited as additional Performance Awards and paid to the Participant if and when, and to the extent that, payment is earned and made pursuant to such Award.  The total number of Shares available for grant under Section 4 shall not be reduced to reflect any dividends or dividend equivalents that are reinvested into additional Shares or credited as Performance Awards.

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(c)No Rights to Awards.  No Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants or holders or beneficiaries of Awards.  The terms and conditions of Awards need not be the same with respect to each Participant.
(d)Share Certificates.  All certificates for Shares or other securities of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award or the exercise thereof, if any, shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Board may deem advisable under the Plan or the rules, regulations and other requirements of the SEC or any state securities commission or regulatory authority, any stock exchange or other market upon which such Shares or other securities are then listed, and any applicable Federal or state laws, and the Board may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.
(e)Withholding.  A Participant may be required to pay to the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate and the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate shall have the right and is hereby authorized to withhold from any Award, from any payment due or transfer made under any Award or under the Plan, or from any compensation or other amount owing to a Participant the amount (in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property) of any applicable withholding or other tax-related obligations in respect of an Award, its exercise or any other transaction involving an Award, or any payment or transfer under an Award or under the Plan and to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such taxes.  
(f)Award Agreements.  Each Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall be delivered to the Participant and may specify the terms and conditions of the Award and any rules applicable thereto.  In the event of a conflict between the terms of the Plan and any Award Agreement, the terms of the Plan shall prevail.  The Board shall, subject to applicable law, determine the date an Award is deemed to be granted.  The Board or, except to the extent prohibited under applicable law, its delegate(s) may establish the terms of agreements or other documents evidencing Awards under this Plan and may, but need not, require as a condition to any such agreement’s or document’s effectiveness that such agreement or document be executed by the Participant, including by electronic signature or other electronic indication of acceptance, and that such Participant agree to such further terms and conditions as specified in such agreement or document.  The grant of an Award under this Plan shall not confer any rights upon the Participant holding such Award other than such terms, and subject to such conditions, as are specified in this Plan as being applicable to such type of Award (or to all Awards) or as are expressly set forth in the agreement or other document evidencing such Award.
(g)No Limit on Other Compensation Arrangements.  Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate from adopting or continuing in effect other compensation arrangements, which may, but need not, provide for the grant of Options, Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Other Share-Based Awards or other types of Awards.
(h)No Right to Employment.  The grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained in the employ of the Company or any Subsidiary

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or Affiliate.  Further, the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate may at any time dismiss a Participant from employment, free from any liability or any claim under the Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided in an Award Agreement.
(i)No Rights as Shareholder.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, no Participant or holder or beneficiary of any Award shall have any rights as a shareholder with respect to any Shares to be distributed under the Plan until such person has become a holder of such Shares.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with each grant of Restricted Shares, the applicable Award Agreement shall specify if and to what extent the Participant shall not be entitled to the rights of a shareholder in respect of such Restricted Shares.
(j)Governing Law.  The validity, construction and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan and any Award Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland without giving effect to conflicts of laws principles.
(k)Severability.  If any provision of the Plan or any Award is, or becomes, or is deemed to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any Person or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Board, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to the applicable laws, or if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Board, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, Person or Award and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.
(l)Other Laws.  The Board may refuse to issue or transfer any Shares or other consideration under an Award if, acting in its sole discretion, it determines that the issuance or transfer of such Shares or such other consideration might violate any applicable law or regulation (including applicable non-U.S. laws or regulations) or entitle the Company to recover the same under Exchange Act Section 16(b), and any payment tendered to the Company by a Participant, other holder or beneficiary in connection with the exercise of such Award shall be promptly refunded to the relevant Participant, holder or beneficiary.
(m)No Trust or Fund Created.  Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate and a Participant or any other Person.  To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate.
(n)No Fractional Shares.  No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Board shall determine whether cash, other securities or other property shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated or otherwise eliminated.

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(o)Headings.  Headings are given to the sections and subsections of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference.  Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan or any provision thereof.
(p)Recoupment Policy.  All Awards under this Plan will be subject to each applicable clawback policy maintained by the Company or any affiliate from time to time as necessary to comply with applicable law or exchange listing requirements, regardless of whether such clawback policy is implemented before or after the grant date of such Awards.  
(q)Statute of Limitations.  A Participant or any other person filing a claim for benefits under the Plan must file the claim within one year after the Participant or other person knew or reasonably should have known of the principal facts on which the claim is based.
Section 15.Term of The Plan.
(a)Effective Date.  The Plan initially became effective as of May 8, 2007, was amended and restated effective as of June 1, 2016 (the “Restatement Effective Date”), and is hereby further amended and restated as of August 1, 2023.
(b)Expiration Date.  No new Awards shall be granted under the Plan after the tenth anniversary of the Restatement Effective Date.  Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in an applicable Award Agreement, any Award may, and the authority of the Board or the Board to amend, alter, adjust, suspend, discontinue or terminate any such Award or to waive any conditions or rights under any such Award shall, continue after the tenth anniversary of the Restatement Effective Date.

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Exhibit 10.4

Grant No.: _____

CUBESMART
2007 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

NONQUALIFIED SHARE OPTION GRANT AGREEMENT

CubeSmart, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Company”), grants an option (“Option”) to purchase Shares of the Company to the individual named below (“you”), as of the Grant Date set forth below.  The terms and conditions of the Option are set forth in this cover sheet, in the attached agreement (the “Agreement”), and in the Company’s 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, as may be amended from time to time (the “Plan”).

Grant Date:

Name of Participant:

Vesting Start Date:
Number of Shares Covered by Option:
Option Price per Share: $

By signing this cover sheet, you agree to all of the terms and conditions described in the Agreement and the Plan.  A copy of the Plan will be provided on request.  You acknowledge that you have carefully reviewed the Plan, and agree that the Plan will control in the event that any provision of this Agreement should appear to be inconsistent with the terms of the Plan.

Participant:​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​
Name:

Company:​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​
Name: Christopher P. Marr
President and Chief Executive Officer

This is not a share certificate or a negotiable instrument.


CUBESMART 2007 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN


NONQUALIFIED SHARE OPTION GRANT AGREEMENT

Nonqualified
Share Option

This Option is not intended to be an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code and will be interpreted accordingly.

Vesting

This Option is only exercisable before it expires and then only with respect to the vested portion of the Option.  Subject to the preceding sentence, you may exercise this Option, in whole or in part, to purchase a whole number of Shares not less than 100 Shares, unless the number of Shares purchased is the total number available for purchase under the Option, by following the procedures set forth in the Plan and below in this Agreement.

1/3rd of the Option vests and becomes exercisable on each of the first three (3) anniversaries of the Vesting Start Date (each, an “Anniversary Date”), provided that you continue to be employed or in service with the Company through the applicable Anniversary Date.  The resulting aggregate number of Shares underlying the vested portion of the Option will be rounded to the nearest whole number, and you cannot vest in more than the total number of Shares covered by this Option.  

Other than pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or the Plan, no additional portion of the Option will vest after your employment or service has terminated for any reason, and the unvested portion will terminate expire in connection with any such termination of employment or service, unless otherwise provided in a severance plan adopted by the Company in which you are eligible to participate or as determined by the Committee.

Term

Your Option will expire in any event at the close of business at Company headquarters on the day before the 10th anniversary of the Grant Date, as shown on the cover sheet.  Your Option will expire earlier if your employment or service terminates, as described below.

Termination for Cause

If your employment or service is terminated for Cause, then you immediately forfeit all rights to your Option and your Option will immediately expire.

Termination by Death or Disability

If your employment or service terminates as a result of your death or due to your “Disability,” then your Option shall become fully vested and will expire at the close of business at Company headquarters on the earlier of (a) the end of the term of your Option, and (b) at the close of business at Company headquarters on the date twelve (12) months after the date of termination.  In the event of your death, during the applicable period


described in the preceding sentence, your estate or heirs may exercise your Option.

For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Disability” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in any applicable Company severance plan in which you are an eligible employee, or in the absence of such a severance plan, then it shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Plan.

In addition, if you die during the 90-day period described below in connection with a regular termination (i.e., a termination of your employment or service not on account of your death, Disability or Cause), and a vested portion of your Option has not yet been exercised, then your Option will instead expire on the earlier of (a) the end of the term of your Option, and (b) the date twelve (12) months after your termination date.  In such a case, during the applicable period described in the preceding sentence, your estate or heirs may exercise the vested portion of your option.

Retirement

If your employment or service terminates because of your “Retirement” and on the “Effective Date of Retirement” you enter into the Restrictive Covenant Agreement attached as Exhibit A hereto, then your unvested Options will continue to vest following the Effective Date of Retirement in accordance with the vesting terms set forth in the “Vesting” section above, and vested Options (including Options that vest after the Effective Date of Retirement) which have not yet been exercised will expire at the close of business at Company headquarters on the earlier of (a) the end of the term of your Option, and (b) the date five (5) years after your Effective Date of Retirement.  

For purposes of this Agreement, (a) the term “Retirement” shall mean the attainment of the age of sixty (60) plus a minimum of ten (10) years of employment or service with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, and (b) the term “Effective Date of Retirement” shall mean the date that is at least six (6) months following your delivery of written notice to the Company notifying the Company of the effective date of your Retirement.

Other
Termination

If your employment or service terminates for any reason, other than death, Disability, Retirement, or Cause, your Option will expire at the close of business at Company headquarters on the earlier of (a) the expiration of the term of your Option, and (b) on the 90th day after your termination date.

Leaves of
Absence

For purposes of this Option, your employment or service does not terminate when you go on a bona fide employee leave of absence that was approved by the Company in writing, if the terms of the leave provide for continued service crediting, or when continued service crediting is

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required by applicable law.  However, your employment or service will be treated as terminating 90 days after your employee leave commences, unless your right to return to active work is guaranteed by law or by a contract.  Your employment or service terminates in any event when the approved leave ends unless you immediately return to active employee work.

The Company determines, in its sole discretion, which leaves count for this purpose, and when your employment or service terminates for all purposes under the Plan.

Notice of Exercise

When you wish to exercise the vested portion of your Option, you must notify the Company by filing the proper “Notice of Exercise” form at the address given on the form.  Your notice must specify how many Shares you wish to purchase (in a parcel of at least 100 Shares generally).  Your notice must also specify how your Shares should be registered (in your name only or in your and your spouse’s or domestic partner’s names as joint tenants with right of survivorship).  The notice will be effective when it is received by the Company.

If someone else wants to exercise this Option after your death, that person must prove to the Company’s satisfaction that he or she is entitled to do so.

Form of
Payment

When you submit your notice of exercise, you must include payment of the Option Price for the Shares you are purchasing.  Payment may be made in one (or a combination) of the following forms:

Cash, your personal check, a cashier’s check, a money order or another cash equivalent acceptable to the Company.
Shares which have already been owned by you for more than six months and which are surrendered to the Company.  The value of the Shares, determined as of the effective date of the Option exercise, will be applied to the Option Price.
By delivery (on a form prescribed by the Company) of an irrevocable direction to a licensed securities broker acceptable to the Company to sell Shares and to deliver all or part of the sale proceeds to the Company in payment of the aggregate option price and any withholding taxes (if approved in advance by the Compensation Committee of the Board if you are either an executive officer or a director of the Company).

Withholding
Taxes

You will not be allowed to exercise this Option unless you make acceptable arrangements to pay any withholding or other taxes that may be due as a result of the Option exercise or sale of Shares acquired under

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this Option.  In the event that the Company determines that any federal, state, local or foreign tax or withholding payment is required relating to the exercise or sale of Shares arising from this grant, the Company shall have the right to require such payments from you, or withhold such amounts from other payments due to you from the Company or any Affiliate.

Transfer of
Option

During your lifetime, only you (or, in the event of your legal incapacity or incompetency, your guardian or legal representative) may exercise the Option.  You cannot transfer or assign this Option.  For instance, you may not sell this Option or use it as security for a loan.  If you attempt to do any of these things, this Option will immediately become invalid and expire.  You may, however, dispose of this Option in your will or it may be transferred upon your death by the laws of descent and distribution.

Regardless of any marital property settlement agreement, the Company is not obligated to honor a notice of exercise from your spouse or domestic partner, nor is the Company obligated to recognize your spouse’s interest in your Option in any other way.

Retention
Rights

This Agreement does not give you the right to be retained by the Company (or any parent, Subsidiaries or Affiliates) in any capacity.  Furthermore, nothing in the Plan or this Agreement shall be construed to limit the discretion of the Company or any Affiliate to terminate your employment or service with the Company at any time, with or without Cause.

Recoupment Policy

The Option granted pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to any clawback policy maintained by the Company or any Affiliate from time to time as necessary to comply with applicable law or exchange listing requirements.

No Impact on Other Benefits

The value of this Option and Shares covered by this Option is not part of your normal or expected compensation for purposes of calculating any severance, retirement, welfare, insurance or similar employee benefit.

Shareholder
Rights

Neither you, nor your estate or heirs, have any rights as a shareholder of the Company until an appropriate book entry has been made reflecting the issuance of Shares.  No adjustments are made for dividends or other rights if the applicable record date occurs before an appropriate book entry has been made, except as described in the Plan.

Adjustments

In the event of a split, a dividend or a similar change in the Shares, the number of Shares covered by this Option and the Option Price per Share shall be adjusted if required pursuant to the Plan.  Your Option shall be subject to the terms of the agreement of merger, liquidation or reorganization in the event the Company is subject to such corporate activity.

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Successors and Assigns

The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement.  This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company.  Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein, this Agreement will be binding upon you and your beneficiaries, executors, administrators and the person(s) to whom the Options may be transferred by will or the laws of descent or distribution.

The Plan

The Plan is discretionary and may be amended, canceled or terminated by the Company at any time, in its discretion.  The Grant of the Option under this Agreement does not create any contractual right or other right to receive any Options or other grants in the future.  Future grants, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Company. Any amendment, modification, or termination of the Plan shall not constitute a change or impairment of the terms and conditions of your employment or service with the Company.

The text of the Plan is incorporated in this Agreement by reference.  Except as otherwise noted, capitalized terms used in this Agreement, and not otherwise defined in this Agreement, have the meaning set forth in the Plan.

This Agreement, the Plan, and any applicable Company severance plan in which you are an eligible employee, constitute the entire understanding between you and the Company with regard to the Options granted pursuant to this Agreement.  Any prior agreements, commitments or negotiations concerning the Options granted under this Agreement are superseded.

Notices

Any notice required to be delivered to the Company under this Agreement shall be in writing and addressed to the Corporate Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal corporate offices.  Any notice required to be delivered to you under this Agreement shall be in writing and addressed to you at your address as shown in the records of the Company.  Either party may designate another address in writing (or by such other method approved by the Company) from time to time.

Applicable Law

This Agreement will be interpreted and enforced under 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 Agreement to the substantive law of another jurisdiction.

Severability

The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement or the Plan shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement or the Plan, and each provision of this Agreement and the Plan shall be severable and enforceable to the extent permitted by law.

Data Privacy

In order to administer the Plan, the Company may process personal data about you.  Such data includes, but is not limited to, the information

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provided in this Agreement and any changes thereto, other appropriate personal and financial data about you such as home address and business addresses and other contact information, payroll information and any other information that might be deemed appropriate by the Company to facilitate the administration of the Plan.

By accepting this Option, you give explicit consent to the Company to process any such personal data.  You also give explicit consent to the Company to transfer any such personal data outside the country in which you work or are employed, including, with respect to non-U.S. resident Grantees, to the United States, to transferees who shall include the Company and other persons who are designated by the Company to administer the Plan.

Consent to Electronic Delivery

The Company may choose to deliver certain statutory materials relating to the Plan in electronic form.  By accepting this Option, you agree that the Company may deliver the Plan prospectus and the Company’s annual report to you in an electronic format.  If at any time you would prefer to receive paper copies of these documents, as you are entitled to, the Company would be pleased to provide copies.  Please contact the Corporate Secretary of the Company to request paper copies of these documents.

By signing the cover sheet of this Agreement, you agree to all of the terms and conditions described above and in the Plan.

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EXHIBIT A

RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AGREEMENT

THIS RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of ​ ​​ ​​ ​, 20__ by and between CubeSmart, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Company”), and ​ ​​ ​​ ​ (the “Executive”).

WHEREAS, the Executive is the recipient of one or more grants of common shares of the Company pursuant to those written grant agreements dated ​ ​​ ​​ ​, 20__, by and between the Company and the Executive (the “Grant Agreements”), which Grant Agreements were entered into pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Company’s 2007 Equity Incentive Plan.

WHEREAS, the Executive’s employment with the Company, CubeSmart, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership of which the Company is the general partner, or any of their direct or indirect subsidiaries (collectively, the “REIT”) terminated because of the Executive’s retirement on ___________, 20__ (“Retirement Date”).

WHEREAS, as a condition to participating in the provisions of the Retirement section of the Grant Agreement (“Retirement Benefits”), the Company and the Executive agree that the Executive will not engage in competition with the Company and will refrain from taking certain other actions pursuant to the terms and conditions hereof in an effort to protect the Company’s legitimate business interests and goodwill and for other business purposes.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which hereby are acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.As a material inducement to the Executive to enter into this Agreement, the Company will provide the Executive with the Retirement Benefits in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Grant Agreements. The Executive acknowledges that the Executive is not entitled to receive the Retirement Benefits unless the Executive executes and complies with this Agreement.

2.Noncompetition. For twelve (12) months after the Retirement Date (the “Restricted Period”), the Executive will not, (a) directly or indirectly, engage in any business involving self-storage facility development, construction, financing, acquisition or operation (“Self-Storage Business”), whether such business is conducted by the Executive individually or as a principal, partner, member, stockholder, director, trustee, officer, employee or independent contractor of any Person (as defined below) or (b) own any interests in any self-storage facilities, in each case in the United States of America; provided, however, that this Section 2 shall not be deemed to prohibit the direct or indirect ownership by the Executive of up to five percent of the outstanding equity interests of any public company. For purposes of this Agreement, “Person” means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, company, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association or other entity.

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3.Non-Solicitation. For the Restricted Period, such Executive will not (a) directly or indirectly solicit, induce or encourage any employee or independent contractor to terminate such employee’s or independent contractor’s employment with the REIT or to cease rendering services to the REIT, and the Executive shall not initiate discussions with any such Person for any such purpose or authorize or knowingly cooperate with the taking of any such actions by any other Person, (b) hire (on behalf of the Executive or any other Person) any employee or independent contractor who has left the employment or other service of the REIT (or any predecessor thereof) within one year of the termination of such employee’s or independent contractor’s employment or other service with the REIT or (c) directly or indirectly, on behalf of Executive or any other Person, (i) solicit, induce or encourage any of the REIT’s customers, clients, patrons, vendors or suppliers with whom the REIT provided products or services or conducted business within one year prior to the Executive’s termination of employment or service with the REIT or any actively sought prospective customer, client or patron of the REIT for the purpose of providing such customer, client or patron or actively sought prospective customer, client or patron with products or services competitive with those offered by the REIT during Executive’s employment with the REIT, or (ii) encourage any customer, client, patron, vendor or supplier for whom the REIT provided products or services or conducted business within one year prior to Executive’s date of termination of employment or service to reduce the level or amount of business such customer, client, patron, vendor or supplier conducts with the REIT.

4.Confidential and Proprietary Information; Non-Disparagement.

4.1Confidential Information. The Executive shall keep secret and retain in strictest confidence, and shall not use for his personal benefit or the benefit of others or directly or indirectly disclose, except as permitted by Section 4.2 or as may be required or as appropriate in connection with his carrying out his duties under this Agreement, all confidential information, knowledge or data relating to the Company or any of its affiliates, or to the Company’s or any such affiliate’s respective businesses and investments (including confidential information of others that has come into the possession of the Company or any such affiliate), learned by the Executive heretofore or hereafter directly or indirectly from the Company or any of its affiliates and which is not generally available lawfully and without breach of confidential or other fiduciary obligation to the general public without restriction (the “Confidential Company Information”), except with the Company’s express written consent or as may otherwise be required by law or any legal process.
4.2Reports to Government Entities. Nothing in this Agreement restricts or prohibits the Executive from initiating communications directly with, responding to any inquiries from, providing testimony before, providing confidential information, including trade secret information, to, reporting possible violations of law or regulation to, or from filing a claim or assisting with an investigation directly with a self-regulatory authority or a government agency or entity, including the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board, the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Congress, and any agency Inspector General (collectively, the “Regulators”), or from making other disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of state or federal law or regulation. The Executive does not need the prior authorization of the Company to engage in conduct protected by this section, and the Executive is not required to notify the Company that the Executive has engaged in such conduct.

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Please take notice that federal law provides criminal and civil immunity to federal and state claims for trade secret misappropriation to individuals who disclose a trade secret to their attorney, a court, or a government official in certain, confidential circumstances that are set forth at 18 U.S.C. §§ 1833(b)(1) and 1833(b)(2), related to the reporting or investigation of a suspected violation of the law, or in connection with a lawsuit for retaliation for reporting a suspected violation of the law. 

4.3Return of Documents; Rights to Products. All memoranda, notes, lists, records, property and any other tangible product and documents (and all copies thereof) made, produced or compiled by the Executive or made available to the Executive concerning the businesses and investments of the Company and its affiliates shall be the Company’s property and shall be delivered to the Company at any time on request, except as otherwise permitted under Section 4.2 above. To the extent that the Executive made use of his own personal computing device(s) (e.g., PDA, laptop, iPad, thumbdrive, etc.) during and in connection with his employment with the Company, the Executive agrees to deliver such personal computing device(s) to the Company for review and permit the Company to delete all of the Company’s confidential information from such personal computing device(s), and/or permit the Company to remotely delete all of the Company’s confidential information from such personal computing device(s).

The Executive shall assign to the Company all rights to trade secrets and other products relating to the Company’s business developed by him alone or in conjunction with others at any time while employed by the Company.

4.4Non-Disparagement. The Executive shall not disparage the Company, its business, its employees, officers or agents, or any of the Company’s affiliates or related entities in any manner harmful to their business or business reputation, except as otherwise permitted under Section 4.2 above.

5.Reasonable and Necessary Restrictions. The Executive acknowledges that the restrictions, prohibitions and other provisions hereof, including, without limitation, the Restricted Period set forth in Section 2 and the restrictions set forth in Sections 2 and 3, are reasonable, fair and equitable in terms of duration, scope and geographic area, are necessary to protect the legitimate business interests of the REIT, and are a material inducement to the Company to enter into this Agreement and to provide the Retirement Benefits.
6.Specific Performance. The Executive acknowledges that the obligations undertaken by the Executive pursuant to this Agreement are unique and that the Company likely will have no adequate remedy at law if the Executive shall fail to perform any of such Executive’s obligations hereunder, and the Executive therefore confirms that the Company’s right to specific performance of the terms of this Agreement is essential to protect the rights and interests of the Company. Accordingly, in addition to any other remedies that the Company may have at law or in equity, the Company shall have the right to have all obligations, covenants, agreements and other provisions of this Agreement specifically performed by the Executive, and the Company shall have the right to obtain preliminary and permanent injunctive relief to secure specific performance and to prevent a breach or contemplated breach of this Agreement by the Executive. Further, the Executive agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company from and against any reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Company as a result of any breach of this Agreement by such Executive, and in enforcing and preserving the Company’s rights under this Agreement, including, without

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limitation, the Company’s reasonable attorneys’ fees. The Executive hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Company shall not be required to post bond as a condition to obtaining or exercising such remedies, and the Executive hereby waives any such requirement or condition. If the Executive is the prevailing party in any action in which the Company seeks to enforce its rights under this Agreement, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Executive from and against any reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Executive as a result of such action, including, without limitation, the Executive’s reasonable attorneys’ fees.

7.Miscellaneous Provisions.

7.1Assignment; Binding Effect. This Agreement may not be assigned by the Executive, but may be assigned by the Company to any successor to its business and will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon any such successor. Subject to the foregoing provisions restricting assignment, all covenants and agreements in this Agreement by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective successors, assigns, heirs, and personal representatives.

7.2Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the matters set forth herein and supersedes and renders of no force and effect all prior oral or written agreements, commitments and understandings among the parties with respect to the matters set forth herein. This Section 7.2 shall not be used to limit or restrict the rights or remedies, whether express or implied, of any noncompetition or non-solicitation policies of the REIT applicable to the Executive.

7.3Amendment. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, no amendment, modification or discharge of this Agreement shall be valid or binding unless set forth in writing and duly executed by each of the parties hereto.

7.4Waivers. No waiver by a party hereto shall be effective unless made in a written instrument duly executed by the party against whom such waiver is sought to be enforced, and only to the extent set forth in such instrument. Neither the waiver by either of the parties hereto of a breach or a default under any of the provisions of this Agreement, nor the failure of either of the parties, on one or more occasions, to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement or to exercise any right or privilege hereunder shall thereafter be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach or default of a similar nature, or as a waiver of any such provisions, rights or privileges hereunder.
7.5Severability. If fulfillment of any provision of this Agreement, at the time such fulfillment shall be due, shall transcend the limit of validity prescribed by law, then the obligation to be fulfilled shall be reduced to the limit of such validity; and if any clause or provision contained in this Agreement operates or would operate to invalidate this Agreement, in whole or in part, then such clause or provision only shall be held ineffective, as though not herein contained, and the remainder of this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the restrictions against engaging in competitive activity contained in this Agreement shall be determined by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable by reason of their extending for too great a period of time or over too great a geographical area or by reason of their being too extensive or unreasonable in any other respect, the Agreement shall be interpreted to extend only over the maximum period of time for which it may be enforceable

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and over the maximum geographical area as to which it may be enforceable and to the maximum extent in all other respects as to which it may be enforceable, all as determined by such court in such action and the court may limit the application of any other provision or covenant, or modify any such term, provision or covenant and proceed to enforce this Agreement as so limited or modified. To the extent necessary, the parties shall revise the Agreement and enter into an appropriate amendment to the extent necessary to implement any of the foregoing.

7.6Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement, the rights and obligations of the parties hereto, and any claims or disputes relating thereto, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland, but not including the choice-of-law rules thereof.

7.7Headings. Section and subsection headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference only, shall not be deemed to be a part of this Agreement for any purpose, and shall not in any way define or affect the meaning, construction or scope of any of the provisions hereof.

7.8Executive’s Acknowledgement. The Executive acknowledges that he has had the opportunity to consult with independent counsel of his own choice concerning this Agreement, and (ii) that he has read and understands this Agreement, is fully aware of its legal effect, and has entered into it freely based on his own judgment.

7.9Notices. All notices, requests, demands, and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been delivered (i) when physically received by personal delivery (which shall include the confirmed receipt of a telecopied facsimile transmission), or (ii) three (3) business days after being deposited in the United States certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid or (iii) one (1) business day after being deposited with a nationally known commercial courier service providing next day delivery service (such as Federal Express), to the following addresses:

(i)if to the Executive, to the address set forth in the records of the Company; and

(ii)if to the Company:

CubeSmart

5 Old Lancaster Road

Malvern, PA 19355

Attn: Chief Human Resources Officer

Facsimile No.: (610) 293-5720

7.10Execution in Counterparts. To facilitate execution, this Agreement may be executed in as many counterparts as may be required. It shall not be necessary that the signature of or on behalf of each party appears on each counterpart, but it shall be sufficient that the signature of or on behalf of each party appears on one or more of the counterparts. All counterparts shall collectively constitute a single agreement.

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[Signature Page Follows]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed and delivered this Agreement, or caused this Agreement to be duly executed on its behalf, as of the date first set forth above.

THE EXECUTIVE:

THE COMPANY:

CUBESMART

By:

Name:

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Exhibit 10.5

Grant No.: _____

CUBESMART
2007 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

PERFORMANCE-VESTED RESTRICTED SHARE GRANT AGREEMENT

CubeSmart, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Company”), grants performance-vested Restricted Shares (“Performance Shares”) to the individual named below (“you”), as of the Grant Date set forth below.  The Performance Shares will vest on the attainment of certain Company performance metrics, and additional terms and conditions of the grant are set forth in this cover sheet, in the attached agreement (the “Agreement”), and in the Company’s 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, as may be amended from time to time (the “Plan”).


Grant Date:

Name of Participant:
Number of Performance Shares:

Maximum:​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​ (2x Target)
Target:​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​
Threshold:​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​ (1/2x Target)

Performance Period: January 1, 20__ – December 31, 20__

By signing this cover sheet, you agree to all of the terms and conditions described in the Agreement and the Plan.  A copy of the Plan will be provided on request.  You acknowledge that you have carefully reviewed the Plan, and agree that the Plan will control in the event that any provision of this Agreement should appear to be inconsistent with the terms of the Plan.

Participant:​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​
Name:

Company:____________________________________
Name: Christopher P. Marr
President and Chief Executive Officer

This is not a share certificate or a negotiable instrument.


CUBESMART
2007 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN


PERFORMANCE-VESTED RESTRICTED SHARE GRANT AGREEMENT

Performance Shares/

Non- transferability

The grant is an award of Performance Shares for up to the maximum number of Performance Shares as set forth on the cover sheet, subject to the vesting conditions described below (the “Grant”).  

To the extent not yet vested, your Performance Shares may not be transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated, whether by operation of law or otherwise, nor may the Performance Shares be made subject to execution, attachment or similar process.

Vesting

Up to the maximum number of Performance Shares will vest on the last day of the Performance Period, provided that you continue to be employed or in service with the Company through the last day of the Performance Period.  The number of Performance Shares that vest, if any, shall be based on the Company’s total shareholder return (appreciation in share price and dividends) (“TSR”), as measured by the average closing stock price during the thirty (30) trading days immediately preceding the first day of the performance period and the average closing stock price during the last thirty (30) trading days of the Performance Period, plus aggregate dividends, compared to the TSR of the peer group (consisting of all equity REIT’s) as set forth below:

If the Company’s TSR for the Performance
Period falls in the:

The number of Performance Shares that vest shall be:

Upper Quartile (75th percentile and above)

200% of Target

Third Quartile (50th to 74th percentile)

Target

Second Quartile (25th to 49th percentile)

50% of Target

Lower Quartile (below 25th percentile)

0%

The number of Performance Shares that vest for results (i) above the 25th percentile but less than the 50th percentile and (ii) above the 50th percentile but less than the 75th percentile, will be interpolated.

Other than pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, no additional Performance Shares will vest after your employment or service has terminated for any reason unless otherwise provided in a severance plan adopted by the Company in which you are eligible to participate or as determined by the Committee.

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Change in Control

In the event of a Change in Control, where the Company is not the surviving corporation and ultimate parent company, before the last day of the Performance Period, your unvested Performance Shares shall, subject to your continued employment or service through the Change in Control, vest immediately prior to the Change in Control based on the greater of (a) actual performance through the date of the Change in Control, and (b) target performance.

Termination by Death or Disability


If your employment or service terminates as a result of your death or due to your “Disability” before the last day of the Performance Period, a pro-rated amount of your Performance Shares will vest on the last day of the Performance Period, equal to the product of (x) times (y), rounded down to the nearest whole Performance Share, where (x) is the Target number of Performance Shares, and (y) is a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days that elapse from January 1, 20__, to the date on which you terminate from employment or service, and the denominator of which is the total number of days in the Performance Period.

For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Disability” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in any applicable Company severance plan in which you are an eligible employee, or in the absence of such severance plan, then it shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Plan.

Retirement

If your employment or service terminates because of your “Retirement” and on the “Effective Date of Retirement” you enter into the Restrictive Covenant Agreement attached as Exhibit A hereto, then a pro-rated amount of your unvested Performance Shares immediately prior to your Effective Date of Retirement will vest on the last day of the Performance Period, equal to the product of (x) times (y), rounded down to the nearest whole Performance Share, where (x) is the number of Performance Shares that would have vested on the last day of the Performance Period as determined on the same basis as if you had continued in active service through the last day of the Performance Period, and (y) is a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days that elapsed from January 1, 20__, to the Effective Date of Retirement, and the denominator of which is the total number of days in the Performance Period.

For purposes of this Agreement, (a) the term “Retirement” shall mean the attainment of the age of sixty (60) plus a minimum of ten (10) years of employment or service with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, and (b) the term “Effective Date of Retirement” shall mean the date that is at least six (6) months following your delivery of written notice to the Company notifying the Company of the effective date of your Retirement.

Forfeiture of Unvested

Except as provided in this Agreement, the Plan, or any severance plan adopted by the Company in which you are eligible to participate, in the event that your employment or service terminates for any reason other

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Performance Shares

than your death, Disability, or Retirement, you will forfeit to the Company all unvested Performance Shares.  For the avoidance of doubt, in connection with a termination for “Cause” you will forfeit all outstanding Performance Shares to the Company for no consideration.

For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Cause” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in any applicable Company severance plan in which you are an eligible employee, or in the absence of such severance plan, then it shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Plan.

Recoupment
Policy

The Performance Shares granted pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to any clawback policy maintained by the Company or any Affiliate from time to time as necessary to comply with applicable law or exchange listing requirements.

Withholding
Taxes

You agree, as a condition of this Grant, that you will make acceptable arrangements to pay any withholding or other taxes that may be due as a result of the vesting of Shares acquired under this Grant.  In the event that the Company determines that any federal, state, local or foreign tax or withholding payment is required relating to the vesting of Shares arising from this grant, the Company shall have the right to: (i) require you to make a cash payment to the Company, (ii) withhold such amounts from other payments due to you from the Company or any Affiliate, or (iii) withhold a number of Shares otherwise vesting to you having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the amount of the withholding or other taxes due.

Retention Rights

This Agreement does not give you the right to be retained by the Company (or any parent, Subsidiaries or Affiliates) in any capacity.  Furthermore, nothing in the Plan or this Agreement shall be construed to limit the discretion of the Company to terminate your employment or service with the Company at any time, with or without Cause.

No Impact on Other Benefits

The value of your Performance Shares is not part of your normal or expected compensation for purposes of calculating any severance, retirement, welfare, insurance or similar employee benefit.

Shareholder
Rights; Dividends

You have the right to vote your Performance Shares and to receive any cash dividends declared or paid on such Shares; provided that any such cash dividends will be withheld and made subject to the same vesting conditions as the Performance Shares to which they relate, to vest and be paid, or to be forfeited, as and when such Performance Shares vest or are forfeited.  Any distributions of stock or other property you receive as a result of any split, stock dividend, combination of Shares or other similar transaction shall be deemed to be a part of the Shares and subject to the same conditions and restrictions applicable thereto.

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Adjustments

In the event of a split, a dividend or a similar change in the Shares, the number of Shares covered by this Grant may be adjusted pursuant to the Plan.  Your Performance Shares shall be subject to the terms of the agreement of merger, liquidation or reorganization in the event the Company is subject to such corporate activity.

Successors and Assigns

The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein, this Agreement will be binding upon you and your beneficiaries, executors, administrators and the person(s) to whom the Performance Shares may be transferred by will or the laws of descent or distribution.

The Plan

The Plan is discretionary and may be amended, canceled or terminated by the Company at any time, in its discretion.  The Grant of the Performance Shares under this Agreement does not create any contractual right or other right to receive any Performance Shares or other grants in the future.  Future grants, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Company.  Any amendment, modification, or termination of the Plan shall not constitute a change or impairment of the terms and conditions of your employment or service with the Company.

The text of the Plan is incorporated in this Agreement by reference. Except as otherwise noted, capitalized terms used in this Agreement, and not otherwise defined in this Agreement, have the meaning set forth in the Plan.

This Agreement, the Plan, and any applicable Company severance plan in which you are an eligible employee, constitute the entire understanding between you and the Company with regard to the Performance Shares granted pursuant to this Agreement.  Any prior agreements, commitments or negotiations concerning the Performance Shares to which this Agreement applies, are superseded.

Notices

Any notice required to be delivered to the Company under this Agreement shall be in writing and addressed to the Corporate Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal corporate offices. Any notice required to be delivered to you under this Agreement shall be in writing and addressed to you at your address as shown in the records of the Company. Either party may designate another address in writing (or by such other method approved by the Company) from time to time.

Applicable Law

This Agreement will be interpreted and enforced under 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 Agreement to the substantive law of another jurisdiction.

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Severability

The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement or the Plan shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement or the Plan, and each provision of this Agreement and the Plan shall be severable and enforceable to the extent permitted by law.

Data Privacy

In order to administer the Plan, the Company may process personal data about you. Such data includes, but is not limited to, the information provided in this Agreement and any changes thereto, other appropriate personal and financial data about you such as home address and business addresses and other contact information, payroll information and any other information that might be deemed appropriate by the Company to facilitate the administration of the Plan.

By accepting this Grant, you give explicit consent to the Company to process any such personal data.  You also give explicit consent to the Company to transfer any such personal data outside the country in which you work or are employed, including, with respect to non-U.S. resident Grantees, to the United States, to transferees who shall include the Company and other persons who are designated by the Company to administer the Plan.

Consent to Electronic Delivery

The Company may choose to deliver certain statutory materials relating to the Plan in electronic form.  By accepting this Grant, you agree that the Company may deliver the Plan prospectus and the Company’s annual report to you in an electronic format.  If at any time you would prefer to receive paper copies of these documents, as you are entitled to, the Company would be pleased to provide copies.  Please contact the Corporate Secretary of the Company to request paper copies of these documents.

By signing the cover sheet of this Agreement, you agree to all of the terms and conditions described above and in the Plan.

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EXHIBIT A

RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AGREEMENT

THIS RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of ​ ​​ ​​ ​, 20__ by and between CubeSmart, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Company”), and ​ ​​ ​​ ​ (the “Executive”).

WHEREAS, the Executive is the recipient of one or more grants of common shares of the Company pursuant to those written grant agreements dated ​ ​​ ​​ ​, 20__, by and between the Company and the Executive (the “Grant Agreements”), which Grant Agreements were entered into pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Company’s 2007 Equity Incentive Plan.

WHEREAS, the Executive’s employment with the Company, CubeSmart, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership of which the Company is the general partner, or any of their direct or indirect subsidiaries (collectively, the “REIT”) terminated because of the Executive’s retirement on ___________, 20__ (“Retirement Date”).

WHEREAS, as a condition to participating in the provisions of the Retirement section of the Grant Agreement (“Retirement Benefits”), the Company and the Executive agree that the Executive will not engage in competition with the Company and will refrain from taking certain other actions pursuant to the terms and conditions hereof in an effort to protect the Company’s legitimate business interests and goodwill and for other business purposes.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which hereby are acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.As a material inducement to the Executive to enter into this Agreement, the Company will provide the Executive with the Retirement Benefits in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Grant Agreements. The Executive acknowledges that the Executive is not entitled to receive the Retirement Benefits unless the Executive executes and complies with this Agreement.

2.Noncompetition. For twelve (12) months after the Retirement Date (the “Restricted Period”), the Executive will not, (a) directly or indirectly, engage in any business involving self-storage facility development, construction, financing, acquisition or operation (“Self-Storage Business”), whether such business is conducted by the Executive individually or as a principal, partner, member, stockholder, director, trustee, officer, employee or independent contractor of any Person (as defined below) or (b) own any interests in any self-storage facilities, in each case in the United States of America; provided, however, that this Section 2 shall not be deemed to prohibit the direct or indirect ownership by the Executive of up to five percent of the outstanding equity interests of any public company. For purposes of this Agreement, “Person” means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, company, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association or other entity.

3.Non-Solicitation. For the Restricted Period, such Executive will not (a) directly or indirectly solicit, induce or encourage any employee or independent contractor to terminate such

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employee’s or independent contractor’s employment with the REIT or to cease rendering services to the REIT, and the Executive shall not initiate discussions with any such Person for any such purpose or authorize or knowingly cooperate with the taking of any such actions by any other Person, (b) hire (on behalf of the Executive or any other Person) any employee or independent contractor who has left the employment or other service of the REIT (or any predecessor thereof) within one year of the termination of such employee’s or independent contractor’s employment or other service with the REIT or (c) directly or indirectly, on behalf of Executive or any other Person, (i) solicit, induce or encourage any of the REIT’s customers, clients, patrons, vendors or suppliers with whom the REIT provided products or services or conducted business within one year prior to the Executive’s termination of employment or service with the REIT or any actively sought prospective customer, client or patron of the REIT for the purpose of providing such customer, client or patron or actively sought prospective customer, client or patron with products or services competitive with those offered by the REIT during Executive’s employment with the REIT, or (ii) encourage any customer, client, patron, vendor or supplier for whom the REIT provided products or services or conducted business within one year prior to Executive’s date of termination of employment or service to reduce the level or amount of business such customer, client, patron, vendor or supplier conducts with the REIT.

4.Confidential and Proprietary Information; Non-Disparagement.

4.1Confidential Information. The Executive shall keep secret and retain in strictest confidence, and shall not use for his personal benefit or the benefit of others or directly or indirectly disclose, except as permitted by Section 4.2 or as may be required or as appropriate in connection with his carrying out his duties under this Agreement, all confidential information, knowledge or data relating to the Company or any of its affiliates, or to the Company’s or any such affiliate’s respective businesses and investments (including confidential information of others that has come into the possession of the Company or any such affiliate), learned by the Executive heretofore or hereafter directly or indirectly from the Company or any of its affiliates and which is not generally available lawfully and without breach of confidential or other fiduciary obligation to the general public without restriction (the “Confidential Company Information”), except with the Company’s express written consent or as may otherwise be required by law or any legal process.

4.2Reports to Government Entities. Nothing in this Agreement restricts or prohibits the Executive from initiating communications directly with, responding to any inquiries from, providing testimony before, providing confidential information, including trade secret information, to, reporting possible violations of law or regulation to, or from filing a claim or assisting with an investigation directly with a self-regulatory authority or a government agency or entity, including the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board, the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Congress, and any agency Inspector General (collectively, the “Regulators”), or from making other disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of state or federal law or regulation. The Executive does not need the prior authorization of the Company to engage in conduct protected by this section, and the Executive is not required to notify the Company that the Executive has engaged in such conduct.

Please take notice that federal law provides criminal and civil immunity to federal and state claims for trade secret misappropriation to individuals who disclose a trade secret to their attorney, a court, or a government official in certain, confidential circumstances that are set forth at 18 U.S.C.

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§§ 1833(b)(1) and 1833(b)(2), related to the reporting or investigation of a suspected violation of the law, or in connection with a lawsuit for retaliation for reporting a suspected violation of the law. 

4.3Return of Documents; Rights to Products. All memoranda, notes, lists, records, property and any other tangible product and documents (and all copies thereof) made, produced or compiled by the Executive or made available to the Executive concerning the businesses and investments of the Company and its affiliates shall be the Company’s property and shall be delivered to the Company at any time on request, except as otherwise permitted under Section 4.2 above. To the extent that the Executive made use of his own personal computing device(s) (e.g., PDA, laptop, iPad, thumbdrive, etc.) during and in connection with his employment with the Company, the Executive agrees to deliver such personal computing device(s) to the Company for review and permit the Company to delete all of the Company’s confidential information from such personal computing device(s), and/or permit the Company to remotely delete all of the Company’s confidential information from such personal computing device(s).

The Executive shall assign to the Company all rights to trade secrets and other products relating to the Company’s business developed by him alone or in conjunction with others at any time while employed by the Company.

4.4Non-Disparagement. The Executive shall not disparage the Company, its business, its employees, officers or agents, or any of the Company’s affiliates or related entities in any manner harmful to their business or business reputation, except as otherwise permitted under Section 4.2 above.

5.Reasonable and Necessary Restrictions. The Executive acknowledges that the restrictions, prohibitions and other provisions hereof, including, without limitation, the Restricted Period set forth in Section 2 and the restrictions set forth in Sections 2 and 3, are reasonable, fair and equitable in terms of duration, scope and geographic area, are necessary to protect the legitimate business interests of the REIT, and are a material inducement to the Company to enter into this Agreement and to provide the Retirement Benefits.

6.Specific Performance. The Executive acknowledges that the obligations undertaken by the Executive pursuant to this Agreement are unique and that the Company likely will have no adequate remedy at law if the Executive shall fail to perform any of such Executive’s obligations hereunder, and the Executive therefore confirms that the Company’s right to specific performance of the terms of this Agreement is essential to protect the rights and interests of the Company. Accordingly, in addition to any other remedies that the Company may have at law or in equity, the Company shall have the right to have all obligations, covenants, agreements and other provisions of this Agreement specifically performed by the Executive, and the Company shall have the right to obtain preliminary and permanent injunctive relief to secure specific performance and to prevent a breach or contemplated breach of this Agreement by the Executive. Further, the Executive agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company from and against any reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Company as a result of any breach of this Agreement by such Executive, and in enforcing and preserving the Company’s rights under this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Company’s reasonable attorneys’ fees. The Executive hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Company shall not be required to post bond as a condition to obtaining or exercising such remedies, and the Executive hereby waives any such requirement or condition. If the

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Executive is the prevailing party in any action in which the Company seeks to enforce its rights under this Agreement, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Executive from and against any reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Executive as a result of such action, including, without limitation, the Executive’s reasonable attorneys’ fees.

7.Miscellaneous Provisions.

7.1Assignment; Binding Effect. This Agreement may not be assigned by the Executive, but may be assigned by the Company to any successor to its business and will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon any such successor. Subject to the foregoing provisions restricting assignment, all covenants and agreements in this Agreement by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective successors, assigns, heirs, and personal representatives.

7.2Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the matters set forth herein and supersedes and renders of no force and effect all prior oral or written agreements, commitments and understandings among the parties with respect to the matters set forth herein. This Section 7.2 shall not be used to limit or restrict the rights or remedies, whether express or implied, of any noncompetition or non-solicitation policies of the REIT applicable to the Executive.

7.3Amendment. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, no amendment, modification or discharge of this Agreement shall be valid or binding unless set forth in writing and duly executed by each of the parties hereto.

7.4Waivers. No waiver by a party hereto shall be effective unless made in a written instrument duly executed by the party against whom such waiver is sought to be enforced, and only to the extent set forth in such instrument. Neither the waiver by either of the parties hereto of a breach or a default under any of the provisions of this Agreement, nor the failure of either of the parties, on one or more occasions, to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement or to exercise any right or privilege hereunder shall thereafter be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach or default of a similar nature, or as a waiver of any such provisions, rights or privileges hereunder.

7.5Severability. If fulfillment of any provision of this Agreement, at the time such fulfillment shall be due, shall transcend the limit of validity prescribed by law, then the obligation to be fulfilled shall be reduced to the limit of such validity; and if any clause or provision contained in this Agreement operates or would operate to invalidate this Agreement, in whole or in part, then such clause or provision only shall be held ineffective, as though not herein contained, and the remainder of this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the restrictions against engaging in competitive activity contained in this Agreement shall be determined by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable by reason of their extending for too great a period of time or over too great a geographical area or by reason of their being too extensive or unreasonable in any other respect, the Agreement shall be interpreted to extend only over the maximum period of time for which it may be enforceable and over the maximum geographical area as to which it may be enforceable and to the maximum extent in all other respects as to which it may be enforceable, all as determined by such court in such action and the court may limit the application of any other provision or covenant, or modify

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any such term, provision or covenant and proceed to enforce this Agreement as so limited or modified. To the extent necessary, the parties shall revise the Agreement and enter into an appropriate amendment to the extent necessary to implement any of the foregoing.

7.6Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement, the rights and obligations of the parties hereto, and any claims or disputes relating thereto, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland, but not including the choice-of-law rules thereof.

7.7Headings. Section and subsection headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference only, shall not be deemed to be a part of this Agreement for any purpose, and shall not in any way define or affect the meaning, construction or scope of any of the provisions hereof.

7.8Executive’s Acknowledgement. The Executive acknowledges that he has had the opportunity to consult with independent counsel of his own choice concerning this Agreement, and (ii) that he has read and understands this Agreement, is fully aware of its legal effect, and has entered into it freely based on his own judgment.

7.9Notices. All notices, requests, demands, and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been delivered (i) when physically received by personal delivery (which shall include the confirmed receipt of a telecopied facsimile transmission), or (ii) three (3) business days after being deposited in the United States certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid or (iii) one (1) business day after being deposited with a nationally known commercial courier service providing next day delivery service (such as Federal Express), to the following addresses:

(i)if to the Executive, to the address set forth in the records of the Company; and

(ii)if to the Company:

CubeSmart

5 Old Lancaster Road

Malvern, PA 19355

Attn: Chief Human Resources Officer

Facsimile No.: (610) 293-5720

7.10Execution in Counterparts. To facilitate execution, this Agreement may be executed in as many counterparts as may be required. It shall not be necessary that the signature of or on behalf of each party appears on each counterpart, but it shall be sufficient that the signature of or on behalf of each party appears on one or more of the counterparts. All counterparts shall collectively constitute a single agreement.

[Signature Page Follows]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed and delivered this Agreement, or caused this Agreement to be duly executed on its behalf, as of the date first set forth above.

THE EXECUTIVE:

THE COMPANY:

CUBESMART

By:

Name:

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Exhibit 10.6

Grant No.: _____

CUBESMART
2007 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN


PERFORMANCE-VESTED RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT GRANT AGREEMENT

CubeSmart, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Company”), grants performance-vested Restricted Share Units (“PSUs”) to the individual named below (“you”), as of the Grant Date set forth below.  Each PSU represents an unfunded, unsecured right to receive one (1) Share, subject to the vesting and performance conditions set forth in the attached agreement (the “Agreement”).  The PSUs will vest on the attainment of certain Company performance metrics, and additional terms and conditions of the grant are set forth in this cover sheet, in the Agreement, and in the Company’s 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, as may be amended from time to time (the “Plan”).


Grant Date:

Name of Participant:
Number of PSUs:

Maximum:​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​ (2x Target)
Target:​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​
Threshold:​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​ (1/2x Target)

Performance Period: January 1, 20__ – December 31, 20__

By signing this cover sheet, you agree to all of the terms and conditions described in the Agreement and the Plan.  A copy of the Plan will be provided on request.  You acknowledge that you have carefully reviewed the Plan, and agree that the Plan will control in the event that any provision of this Agreement should appear to be inconsistent with the terms of the Plan.

Participant:​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​
Name:

Company:____________________________________
Name: Christopher P. Marr
President and Chief Executive Officer

This is not a share certificate or a negotiable instrument.


CUBESMART
2007 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN


PERFORMANCE-VESTED RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT GRANT AGREEMENT

PSUs/

Non- transferability

The grant is an award of PSUs for up to the maximum number of PSUs set forth on the cover sheet, subject to the vesting conditions described below (the “Grant”).  Your PSUs may not be transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated, whether by operation of law or otherwise, nor may the PSUs be made subject to execution, attachment or similar process.

Issuance and Vesting

Up to the maximum number of PSUs will vest on the last day of the Performance Period, provided that you continue to be employed or in service with the Company through the last day of the Performance Period.  The number of PSUs that vest, if any, and the number of Shares deliverable following vesting shall be based on the Company’s total shareholder return (appreciation in share price and dividends) (“TSR”), as measured by the average closing stock price during the thirty (30) trading days immediately preceding the first day of the performance period and the average closing stock price during the last thirty (30) trading days of the Performance Period, plus aggregate dividends, compared to the TSR of the peer group (consisting of all equity REIT’s) as set forth below:

If the Company’s TSR for the Performance Period falls in the:

The number of PSUs that vest shall be:

Upper Quartile (75th percentile and above)

200% of Target

Third Quartile (50th to 74th percentile)

Target

Second Quartile (25th to 49th percentile)

50% of Target

Lower Quartile (below 25th percentile)

0%

The number of PSUs that vest for results (i) above the 25th percentile but less than the 50th percentile and (ii) above the 50th percentile but less than the 75th percentile, will be interpolated.

Within thirty (30) days following the date on which a PSU vests hereunder, the Company will, in settlement of such vested PSU, issue to you one (1) Share, unless you made a timely election to defer settlement of the PSUs pursuant to the Company’s Executive Deferred

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Compensation Plan, in which case such Shares will be issued to you on the date or dates elected by you pursuant to that plan.

Other than pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, no additional PSUs will vest after your employment or service has terminated for any reason unless otherwise provided in a severance plan adopted by the Company in which you are eligible to participate or as determined by the Committee.

Change in Control

In the event of a Change in Control, where the Company is not the surviving corporation and ultimate parent company, before the last day of the Performance Period, your unvested PSUs shall vest, subject to your continued employment or service through the Change in Control, immediately prior to the Change in Control based on the greater of (a) actual performance through the date of the Change in Control, and (b) Target performance.

Termination by Death or Disability

If your employment or service terminates as a result of your death or due to your “Disability” before the last day of the Performance Period, a pro-rated amount of your PSUs will vest on the last day of the Performance Period, equal to the product of (x) times (y), rounded down to the nearest whole PSU, where (x) is the Target number of PSUs, and (y) is a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days that elapse from January 1, 20__, to the date on which you terminate from employment or service, and the denominator of which is the total number of days in the Performance Period.

For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Disability” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in any applicable Company severance plan in which you are an eligible employee, or in the absence of such severance plan, then it shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Plan.

Retirement

If your employment or service terminates because of your “Retirement” and on the “Effective Date of Retirement” you enter into the Restrictive Covenant Agreement  attached as Exhibit A hereto, then a pro-rated amount of your unvested PSUs immediately prior to your Effective Date of Retirement will vest on the last day of the Performance Period, equal to the product of (x) times (y), rounded down to the nearest whole PSU, where (x) is the number of PSUs that would have vested on the last day of the Performance Period as determined on the same basis as if you had continued in active service through the last day of the Performance Period, and (y) is a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days that elapsed from January 1, 20__, to the Effective Date of Retirement, and the denominator of which is the total number of days in the Performance Period.  

For purposes of this Agreement, (a) the term “Retirement” shall mean the attainment of the age of sixty (60) plus a minimum of ten (10) years

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of employment or service with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, and (b)the term “Effective Date of Retirement” shall mean the date that is at least six (6) months following your delivery of written notice to the Company notifying the Company of the effective date of your Retirement.

Forfeiture of Unvested PSUs

Except as provided in this Agreement, the Plan, or any severance plan adopted by the Company in which you are eligible to participate, in the event that your employment or service terminates for any reason other than your death, Disability, or Retirement, you will forfeit to the Company all unvested PSUs.  For the avoidance of doubt, in connection with a termination for “Cause” you will forfeit all then-outstanding PSUs to the Company for no consideration.

For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Cause” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in any applicable Company severance plan in which you are an eligible employee, or in the absence of such severance plan, then it shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Plan.

Recoupment
Policy

The PSUs granted pursuant to this Agreement and the Shares delivered to you pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to any clawback policy maintained by the Company or any Affiliate from time to time as necessary to comply with applicable law or exchange listing requirements.

Withholding
Taxes

You agree, as a condition of this Grant, that you will make acceptable arrangements to pay any withholding or other taxes that may be due as a result of the issuance of Shares under this Grant. In the event that the Company determines that any federal, state, local or foreign tax or withholding payment is required relating to the issuance of Shares arising from this grant, the Company shall have the right to: (i) require you to make a cash payment to the Company, (ii) withhold such amounts from other payments due to you from the Company or any Affiliate, or (iii) withhold a number of Shares otherwise issuable to you having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the amount of the withholding or other taxes due.

Retention Rights

This Agreement does not give you the right to be retained by the Company (or any parent, Subsidiaries or Affiliates) in any capacity.  Furthermore, nothing in the Plan or this Agreement shall be construed to limit the discretion of the Company to terminate your employment or service with the Company at any time, with or without Cause.

No Impact on Other Benefits

The value of your PSUs is not part of your normal or expected compensation for purposes of calculating any severance, retirement, welfare, insurance or similar employee benefit.

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Dividend Equivalents

On each of the Company’s regular dividend payment dates occurring after the Grant Date and prior to the date on which Shares are issued to you in respect of the PSUs granted hereunder, the Company shall credit to a bookkeeping account, solely for the purposes of recordkeeping, a number of PSUs equal to the quotient of (x) divided by (y), where (x) is an amount equal to the dividends payable with respect to the number of Shares underlying the outstanding PSUs subject to this Grant, and (y) is the closing price of the Shares on such dividend payment date, rounded down to the nearest whole PSU.  On each applicable vesting date of the PSUs, PSUs credited to the bookkeeping account (“Dividend Equivalents”) shall vest or be forfeited, as applicable, to the extent that the PSUs to which they relate vest or are forfeited.  Vested Dividend Equivalents shall be paid in Shares at the same time and subject to the same terms as the underlying vested PSUs.

Shareholder
Rights

You do not have the right to vote the Shares in respect of your PSUs, and you do not have any of the rights of a shareholder with respect to the PSUs, unless and until the Shares relating to the PSUs are issued to you.  Any distributions of stock or other property you receive as a result of any split, stock dividend, combination of Shares or other similar transaction shall be deemed to be a part of the Shares and subject to the same conditions and restrictions applicable thereto.  You do not have the right to make an election pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Adjustments

In the event of a split, a dividend or a similar change in the Shares, the number of Shares covered by this Grant may be adjusted pursuant to the Plan.  Your PSUs shall be subject to the terms of the agreement of merger, liquidation or reorganization in the event the Company is subject to such corporate activity.

Successors and Assigns

The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement.  This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company.  Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein, this Agreement will be binding upon you and your beneficiaries, executors, administrators and the person(s) to whom the PSUs may be transferred by will or the laws of descent or distribution.

The Plan

The Plan is discretionary and may be amended, canceled or terminated by the Company at any time, in its discretion.  The Grant of the PSUs under this Agreement does not create any contractual right or other right to receive any PSUs or other grants in the future.  Future grants, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Company. Any amendment, modification, or termination of the Plan shall not constitute a change or impairment of the terms and conditions of your employment or service with the Company.

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The text of the Plan is incorporated in this Agreement by reference. Except as otherwise noted, capitalized terms used in this Agreement, and not otherwise defined in this Agreement, have the meaning set forth in the Plan.

This Agreement, the Plan, and any applicable Company severance plan in which you are an eligible employee, constitute the entire understanding between you and the Company with regard to the PSUs granted pursuant to this Agreement.  Any prior agreements, commitments or negotiations concerning the PSUs to which this Agreement applies, are superseded.

Notices

Any notice required to be delivered to the Company under this Agreement shall be in writing and addressed to the Corporate Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal corporate offices.  Any notice required to be delivered to you under this Agreement shall be in writing and addressed to you at your address as shown in the records of the Company.  Either party may designate another address in writing (or by such other method approved by the Company) from time to time.

Applicable Law

This Agreement will be interpreted and enforced under 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 Agreement to the substantive law of another jurisdiction.

Severability

The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement or the Plan shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement or the Plan, and each provision of this Agreement and the Plan shall be severable and enforceable to the extent permitted by law.

Data Privacy

In order to administer the Plan, the Company may process personal data about you. Such data includes, but is not limited to, the information provided in this Agreement and any changes thereto, other appropriate personal and financial data about you such as home address and business addresses and other contact information, payroll information and any other information that might be deemed appropriate by the Company to facilitate the administration of the Plan.

By accepting this Grant, you give explicit consent to the Company to process any such personal data.  You also give explicit consent to the Company to transfer any such personal data outside the country in which you work or are employed, including, with respect to non-U.S. resident Grantees, to the United States, to transferees who shall include the Company and other persons who are designated by the Company to administer the Plan.

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Consent to Electronic Delivery

The Company may choose to deliver certain statutory materials relating to the Plan in electronic form.  By accepting this Grant, you agree that the Company may deliver the Plan prospectus and the Company’s annual report to you in an electronic format.  If at any time you would prefer to receive paper copies of these documents, as you are entitled to, the Company would be pleased to provide copies.  Please contact the Corporate Secretary of the Company to request paper copies of these documents.

By signing the cover sheet of this Agreement, you agree to all of the terms and conditions described above and in the Plan.

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EXHIBIT A

RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AGREEMENT

THIS RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of ​ ​​ ​​ ​, 20__ by and between CubeSmart, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Company”), and ​ ​​ ​​ ​ (the “Executive”).

WHEREAS, the Executive is the recipient of one or more grants of common shares of the Company pursuant to those written grant agreements dated ​ ​​ ​​ ​, 20__, by and between the Company and the Executive (the “Grant Agreements”), which Grant Agreements were entered into pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Company’s 2007 Equity Incentive Plan.

WHEREAS, the Executive’s employment with the Company, CubeSmart, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership of which the Company is the general partner, or any of their direct or indirect subsidiaries (collectively, the “REIT”) terminated because of the Executive’s retirement on ___________, 20__ (“Retirement Date”).

WHEREAS, as a condition to participating in the provisions of the Retirement section of the Grant Agreement (“Retirement Benefits”), the Company and the Executive agree that the Executive will not engage in competition with the Company and will refrain from taking certain other actions pursuant to the terms and conditions hereof in an effort to protect the Company’s legitimate business interests and goodwill and for other business purposes.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which hereby are acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.As a material inducement to the Executive to enter into this Agreement, the Company will provide the Executive with the Retirement Benefits in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Grant Agreements. The Executive acknowledges that the Executive is not entitled to receive the Retirement Benefits unless the Executive executes and complies with this Agreement.

2.Noncompetition. For twelve (12) months after the Retirement Date (the “Restricted Period”), the Executive will not, (a) directly or indirectly, engage in any business involving self-storage facility development, construction, financing, acquisition or operation (“Self-Storage Business”), whether such business is conducted by the Executive individually or as a principal, partner, member, stockholder, director, trustee, officer, employee or independent contractor of any Person (as defined below) or (b) own any interests in any self-storage facilities, in each case in the United States of America; provided, however, that this Section 2 shall not be deemed to prohibit the direct or indirect ownership by the Executive of up to five percent of the outstanding equity interests of any public company. For purposes of this Agreement, “Person” means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, company, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association or other entity.

1


3.Non-Solicitation. For the Restricted Period, such Executive will not (a) directly or indirectly solicit, induce or encourage any employee or independent contractor to terminate such employee’s or independent contractor’s employment with the REIT or to cease rendering services to the REIT, and the Executive shall not initiate discussions with any such Person for any such purpose or authorize or knowingly cooperate with the taking of any such actions by any other Person, (b) hire (on behalf of the Executive or any other Person) any employee or independent contractor who has left the employment or other service of the REIT (or any predecessor thereof) within one year of the termination of such employee’s or independent contractor’s employment or other service with the REIT or (c) directly or indirectly, on behalf of Executive or any other Person, (i) solicit, induce or encourage any of the REIT’s customers, clients, patrons, vendors or suppliers with whom the REIT provided products or services or conducted business within one year prior to the Executive’s termination of employment or service with the REIT or any actively sought prospective customer, client or patron of the REIT for the purpose of providing such customer, client or patron or actively sought prospective customer, client or patron with products or services competitive with those offered by the REIT during Executive’s employment with the REIT, or (ii) encourage any customer, client, patron, vendor or supplier for whom the REIT provided products or services or conducted business within one year prior to Executive’s date of termination of employment or service to reduce the level or amount of business such customer, client, patron, vendor or supplier conducts with the REIT.

4.Confidential and Proprietary Information; Non-Disparagement.

4.1Confidential Information. The Executive shall keep secret and retain in strictest confidence, and shall not use for his personal benefit or the benefit of others or directly or indirectly disclose, except as permitted by Section 4.2 or as may be required or as appropriate in connection with his carrying out his duties under this Agreement, all confidential information, knowledge or data relating to the Company or any of its affiliates, or to the Company’s or any such affiliate’s respective businesses and investments (including confidential information of others that has come into the possession of the Company or any such affiliate), learned by the Executive heretofore or hereafter directly or indirectly from the Company or any of its affiliates and which is not generally available lawfully and without breach of confidential or other fiduciary obligation to the general public without restriction (the “Confidential Company Information”), except with the Company’s express written consent or as may otherwise be required by law or any legal process.

4.2Reports to Government Entities. Nothing in this Agreement restricts or prohibits the Executive from initiating communications directly with, responding to any inquiries from, providing testimony before, providing confidential information, including trade secret information, to, reporting possible violations of law or regulation to, or from filing a claim or assisting with an investigation directly with a self-regulatory authority or a government agency or entity, including the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board, the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Congress, and any agency Inspector General (collectively, the “Regulators”), or from making other disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of state or federal law or regulation. The Executive does not need the prior authorization of the Company to engage in conduct protected by this section, and the Executive is not required to notify the Company that the Executive has engaged in such conduct.

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Please take notice that federal law provides criminal and civil immunity to federal and state claims for trade secret misappropriation to individuals who disclose a trade secret to their attorney, a court, or a government official in certain, confidential circumstances that are set forth at 18 U.S.C. §§ 1833(b)(1) and 1833(b)(2), related to the reporting or investigation of a suspected violation of the law, or in connection with a lawsuit for retaliation for reporting a suspected violation of the law. 

4.3Return of Documents; Rights to Products. All memoranda, notes, lists, records, property and any other tangible product and documents (and all copies thereof) made, produced or compiled by the Executive or made available to the Executive concerning the businesses and investments of the Company and its affiliates shall be the Company’s property and shall be delivered to the Company at any time on request, except as otherwise permitted under Section 4.2 above. To the extent that the Executive made use of his own personal computing device(s) (e.g., PDA, laptop, iPad, thumbdrive, etc.) during and in connection with his employment with the Company, the Executive agrees to deliver such personal computing device(s) to the Company for review and permit the Company to delete all of the Company’s confidential information from such personal computing device(s), and/or permit the Company to remotely delete all of the Company’s confidential information from such personal computing device(s).

The Executive shall assign to the Company all rights to trade secrets and other products relating to the Company’s business developed by him alone or in conjunction with others at any time while employed by the Company.

4.4Non-Disparagement. The Executive shall not disparage the Company, its business, its employees, officers or agents, or any of the Company’s affiliates or related entities in any manner harmful to their business or business reputation, except as otherwise permitted under Section 4.2 above.

5.Reasonable and Necessary Restrictions. The Executive acknowledges that the restrictions, prohibitions and other provisions hereof, including, without limitation, the Restricted Period set forth in Section 2 and the restrictions set forth in Sections 2 and 3, are reasonable, fair and equitable in terms of duration, scope and geographic area, are necessary to protect the legitimate business interests of the REIT, and are a material inducement to the Company to enter into this Agreement and to provide the Retirement Benefits.

6.Specific Performance. The Executive acknowledges that the obligations undertaken by the Executive pursuant to this Agreement are unique and that the Company likely will have no adequate remedy at law if the Executive shall fail to perform any of such Executive’s obligations hereunder, and the Executive therefore confirms that the Company’s right to specific performance of the terms of this Agreement is essential to protect the rights and interests of the Company. Accordingly, in addition to any other remedies that the Company may have at law or in equity, the Company shall have the right to have all obligations, covenants, agreements and other provisions of this Agreement specifically performed by the Executive, and the Company shall have the right to obtain preliminary and permanent injunctive relief to secure specific performance and to prevent a breach or contemplated breach of this Agreement by the Executive. Further, the Executive agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company from and against any reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Company as a result of any breach of this Agreement by such Executive, and in enforcing and preserving the Company’s rights under this Agreement, including, without

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limitation, the Company’s reasonable attorneys’ fees. The Executive hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Company shall not be required to post bond as a condition to obtaining or exercising such remedies, and the Executive hereby waives any such requirement or condition. If the Executive is the prevailing party in any action in which the Company seeks to enforce its rights under this Agreement, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Executive from and against any reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Executive as a result of such action, including, without limitation, the Executive’s reasonable attorneys’ fees.

7.Miscellaneous Provisions.

7.1Assignment; Binding Effect. This Agreement may not be assigned by the Executive, but may be assigned by the Company to any successor to its business and will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon any such successor. Subject to the foregoing provisions restricting assignment, all covenants and agreements in this Agreement by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective successors, assigns, heirs, and personal representatives.

7.2Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the matters set forth herein and supersedes and renders of no force and effect all prior oral or written agreements, commitments and understandings among the parties with respect to the matters set forth herein. This Section 7.2 shall not be used to limit or restrict the rights or remedies, whether express or implied, of any noncompetition or non-solicitation policies of the REIT applicable to the Executive.

7.3Amendment. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, no amendment, modification or discharge of this Agreement shall be valid or binding unless set forth in writing and duly executed by each of the parties hereto.

7.4Waivers. No waiver by a party hereto shall be effective unless made in a written instrument duly executed by the party against whom such waiver is sought to be enforced, and only to the extent set forth in such instrument. Neither the waiver by either of the parties hereto of a breach or a default under any of the provisions of this Agreement, nor the failure of either of the parties, on one or more occasions, to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement or to exercise any right or privilege hereunder shall thereafter be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach or default of a similar nature, or as a waiver of any such provisions, rights or privileges hereunder.

7.5Severability. If fulfillment of any provision of this Agreement, at the time such fulfillment shall be due, shall transcend the limit of validity prescribed by law, then the obligation to be fulfilled shall be reduced to the limit of such validity; and if any clause or provision contained in this Agreement operates or would operate to invalidate this Agreement, in whole or in part, then such clause or provision only shall be held ineffective, as though not herein contained, and the remainder of this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the restrictions against engaging in competitive activity contained in this Agreement shall be determined by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable by reason of their extending for too great a period of time or over too great a geographical area or by reason of their being too extensive or unreasonable in any other respect, the Agreement shall be interpreted to extend only over the maximum period of time for which it may be enforceable

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and over the maximum geographical area as to which it may be enforceable and to the maximum extent in all other respects as to which it may be enforceable, all as determined by such court in such action and the court may limit the application of any other provision or covenant, or modify any such term, provision or covenant and proceed to enforce this Agreement as so limited or modified. To the extent necessary, the parties shall revise the Agreement and enter into an appropriate amendment to the extent necessary to implement any of the foregoing.

7.6Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement, the rights and obligations of the parties hereto, and any claims or disputes relating thereto, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland, but not including the choice-of-law rules thereof.

7.7Headings. Section and subsection headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference only, shall not be deemed to be a part of this Agreement for any purpose, and shall not in any way define or affect the meaning, construction or scope of any of the provisions hereof.

7.8Executive’s Acknowledgement. The Executive acknowledges that he has had the opportunity to consult with independent counsel of his own choice concerning this Agreement, and (ii) that he has read and understands this Agreement, is fully aware of its legal effect, and has entered into it freely based on his own judgment.

7.9Notices. All notices, requests, demands, and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been delivered (i) when physically received by personal delivery (which shall include the confirmed receipt of a telecopied facsimile transmission), or (ii) three (3) business days after being deposited in the United States certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid or (iii) one (1) business day after being deposited with a nationally known commercial courier service providing next day delivery service (such as Federal Express), to the following addresses:

(i)if to the Executive, to the address set forth in the records of the Company; and

(ii)if to the Company:

CubeSmart

5 Old Lancaster Road

Malvern, PA 19355

Attn: Chief Human Resources Officer

Facsimile No.: (610) 293-5720

7.10Execution in Counterparts. To facilitate execution, this Agreement may be executed in as many counterparts as may be required. It shall not be necessary that the signature of or on behalf of each party appears on each counterpart, but it shall be sufficient that the signature of or on behalf of each party appears on one or more of the counterparts. All counterparts shall collectively constitute a single agreement.

[Signature Page Follows]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed and delivered this Agreement, or caused this Agreement to be duly executed on its behalf, as of the date first set forth above.

THE EXECUTIVE:

THE COMPANY:

CUBESMART

By:

Name:

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Exhibit 10.7

Grant No.: _____

CUBESMART
2007 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

RESTRICTED SHARE GRANT AGREEMENT

CubeSmart, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Company”), grants Restricted Shares to the individual named below (“you”), as of the Grant Date set forth below.  Additional terms and conditions of the grant are set forth in this cover sheet, in the attached agreement (the “Agreement”), and in the Company’s 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, as may be amended from time to time (the “Plan”).

Grant Date:

Name of Participant:

Vesting Start Date:
Number of Restricted Shares:

By signing this cover sheet, you agree to all of the terms and conditions described in the Agreement and the Plan.  A copy of the Plan will be provided on request.  You acknowledge that you have carefully reviewed the Plan, and agree that the Plan will control in the event that any provision of this Agreement should appear to be inconsistent with the terms of the Plan.

Participant:​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​
Name:

Company:​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​
Name: Christopher P. Marr
President and Chief Executive Officer

This is not a share certificate or a negotiable instrument.


CUBESMART
2007 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN


RESTRICTED SHARE GRANT AGREEMENT

Restricted Shares/ Non-transferability

The grant is an award of the number of Restricted Shares as set forth on the cover sheet, subject to the vesting conditions described below (the “Grant”).  

To the extent not yet vested, your Restricted Shares may not be transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated, whether by operation of law or otherwise, nor may the Restricted Shares be made subject to execution, attachment or similar process.

Vesting

1/3rd of the total number of the Restricted Shares vest on each of the first three (3) anniversaries of the Vesting Start Date (each, an “Anniversary Date”), provided that you continue to be employed or in service with the Company through the applicable Anniversary Date.

Other than pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, no additional Restricted Shares will vest after your employment or service has terminated for any reason unless otherwise provided in a severance plan adopted by the Company in which you are eligible to participate or as determined by the Committee.

Termination by Death or Disability

If your employment or service terminates as a result of your death or due to your “Disability,” then your unvested Restricted Shares will become fully vested as of your date of termination.  

For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Disability” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in any applicable Company severance plan in which you are an eligible employee, or in the absence of such severance plan, then it shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Plan.

Retirement

If your employment or service terminates because of your “Retirement” and on the “Effective Date of Retirement” you enter into the Restrictive Covenant Agreement attached as Exhibit A hereto, then your unvested Restricted Shares will continue to vest following the Effective Date of Retirement in accordance with the vesting terms set forth in the “Vesting” section above, and will fully vest on the third anniversary of the Vesting Start Date.

For purposes of this Agreement, (a) the term “Retirement” shall mean the attainment of the age of sixty (60) plus a minimum of ten (10) years of employment or service with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, and (b) the term “Effective Date of Retirement” shall

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mean the date that is at least six (6) months following your delivery of written notice to the Company notifying the Company of the effective date of your Retirement.

Forfeiture of Unvested Restricted Shares

Except as provided in this Agreement, the Plan, or any severance plan adopted by the Company in which you are eligible to participate, in the event that your employment or service terminates for any reason other than your death, Disability, or Retirement, you will forfeit to the Company all unvested Restricted Shares.

Recoupment Policy

The Restricted Shares granted pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to any clawback policy maintained by the Company or any Affiliate from time to time as necessary to comply with applicable law or exchange listing requirements.

Withholding
Taxes

You agree, as a condition of this Grant, that you will make acceptable arrangements to pay any withholding or other taxes that may be due as a result of the vesting of Shares acquired under this Grant.  In the event that the Company determines that any federal, state, local or foreign tax or withholding payment is required relating to the vesting of Shares arising from this grant, the Company shall have the right to: (i) require you to make a cash payment to the Company, (ii) withhold such amounts from other payments due to you from the Company or any Affiliate, or (iii) withhold a number of Shares otherwise vesting to you having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the amount of the withholding or other taxes due.

Retention Rights

This Agreement does not give you the right to be retained by the Company (or any parent, Subsidiaries or Affiliates) in any capacity.  Furthermore, nothing in the Plan or this Agreement shall be construed to limit the discretion of the Company to terminate your employment or service with the Company at any time, with or without Cause.

No Impact on Other Benefits

The value of your Restricted Shares is not part of your normal or expected compensation for purposes of calculating any severance, retirement, welfare, insurance or similar employee benefit.

Shareholder Rights; Dividends

You have the right to vote your Restricted Shares and to receive any cash dividends declared or paid on such Shares; provided that any such cash dividends will be withheld and made subject to the same vesting conditions as the Restricted Shares to which they relate, to vest and be paid, or to be forfeited, as and when such Restricted Shares vest or are forfeited.  Any distributions of stock or other property you receive as a result of any split, stock dividend, combination of Shares or other similar transaction shall be deemed to be a part of the Shares and subject to the same conditions and restrictions applicable thereto.  

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Adjustments

In the event of a split, a dividend or a similar change in the Shares, the number of Shares covered by this Grant may be adjusted pursuant to the Plan.  Your Restricted Shares shall be subject to the terms of the agreement of merger, liquidation or reorganization in the event the Company is subject to such corporate activity.

Successors and Assigns

The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement.  This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company.  Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein, this Agreement will be binding upon you and your beneficiaries, executors, administrators and the person(s) to whom the Restricted Shares may be transferred by will or the laws of descent or distribution.

The Plan

The Plan is discretionary and may be amended, canceled or terminated by the Company at any time, in its discretion.  The Grant of the Restricted Shares under this Agreement does not create any contractual right or other right to receive any Restricted Shares or other grants in the future.  Future grants, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Company. Any amendment, modification, or termination of the Plan shall not constitute a change or impairment of the terms and conditions of your employment or service with the Company.

The text of the Plan is incorporated in this Agreement by reference.  Except as otherwise noted, capitalized terms used in this Agreement, and not otherwise defined in this Agreement, have the meaning set forth in the Plan.

This Agreement, the Plan, and any applicable Company severance plan in which you are an eligible employee, constitute the entire understanding between you and the Company with regard to the Restricted Shares granted pursuant to this Agreement.  Any prior agreements, commitments or negotiations concerning the Restricted Shares to which this Agreement applies, are superseded.

Notices

Any notice required to be delivered to the Company under this Agreement shall be in writing and addressed to the Corporate Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal corporate offices.  Any notice required to be delivered to you under this Agreement shall be in writing and addressed to you at your address as shown in the records of the Company.  Either party may designate another address in writing (or by such other method approved by the Company) from time to time.

Applicable Law

This Agreement will be interpreted and enforced under the laws of the State of Maryland, other than any conflicts or choice of law rule or

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principle that might otherwise refer construction or interpretation of this Agreement to the substantive law of another jurisdiction.

Severability

The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement or the Plan shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement or the Plan, and each provision of this Agreement and the Plan shall be severable and enforceable to the extent permitted by law.

Data Privacy

In order to administer the Plan, the Company may process personal data about you.  Such data includes, but is not limited to, the information provided in this Agreement and any changes thereto, other appropriate personal and financial data about you such as home address and business addresses and other contact information, payroll information and any other information that might be deemed appropriate by the Company to facilitate the administration of the Plan.

By accepting this Grant, you give explicit consent to the Company to process any such personal data.  You also give explicit consent to the Company to transfer any such personal data outside the country in which you work or are employed, including, with respect to non-U.S. resident Grantees, to the United States, to transferees who shall include the Company and other persons who are designated by the Company to administer the Plan.

Consent to Electronic Delivery

The Company may choose to deliver certain statutory materials relating to the Plan in electronic form.  By accepting this Grant, you agree that the Company may deliver the Plan prospectus and the Company’s annual report to you in an electronic format.  If at any time you would prefer to receive paper copies of these documents, as you are entitled to, the Company would be pleased to provide copies.  Please contact the Corporate Secretary of the Company to request paper copies of these documents.

By signing the cover sheet of this Agreement, you agree to all of the terms and conditions described above and in the Plan.

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EXHIBIT A

RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AGREEMENT

THIS RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of ​ ​​ ​​ ​, 20__ by and between CubeSmart, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Company”), and ​ ​​ ​​ ​ (the “Executive”).

WHEREAS, the Executive is the recipient of one or more grants of common shares of the Company pursuant to those written grant agreements dated ​ ​​ ​​ ​, 20__, by and between the Company and the Executive (the “Grant Agreements”), which Grant Agreements were entered into pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Company’s 2007 Equity Incentive Plan.

WHEREAS, the Executive’s employment with the Company, CubeSmart, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership of which the Company is the general partner, or any of their direct or indirect subsidiaries (collectively, the “REIT”) terminated because of the Executive’s retirement on ___________, 20__ (“Retirement Date”).

WHEREAS, as a condition to participating in the provisions of the Retirement section of the Grant Agreement (“Retirement Benefits”), the Company and the Executive agree that the Executive will not engage in competition with the Company and will refrain from taking certain other actions pursuant to the terms and conditions hereof in an effort to protect the Company’s legitimate business interests and goodwill and for other business purposes.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which hereby are acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.As a material inducement to the Executive to enter into this Agreement, the Company will provide the Executive with the Retirement Benefits in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Grant Agreements. The Executive acknowledges that the Executive is not entitled to receive the Retirement Benefits unless the Executive executes and complies with this Agreement.
2.Noncompetition. For twelve (12) months after the Retirement Date (the “Restricted Period”), the Executive will not, (a) directly or indirectly, engage in any business involving self-storage facility development, construction, financing, acquisition or operation (“Self-Storage Business”), whether such business is conducted by the Executive individually or as a principal, partner, member, stockholder, director, trustee, officer, employee or independent contractor of any Person (as defined below) or (b) own any interests in any self-storage facilities, in each case in the United States of America; provided, however, that this Section 2 shall not be deemed to prohibit the direct or indirect ownership by the Executive of up to five percent of the outstanding equity interests of any public company. For purposes of this Agreement, “Person” means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, company, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association or other entity.
3.Non-Solicitation. For the Restricted Period, such Executive will not (a) directly or indirectly solicit, induce or encourage any employee or independent contractor to terminate such

1


employee’s or independent contractor’s employment with the REIT or to cease rendering services to the REIT, and the Executive shall not initiate discussions with any such Person for any such purpose or authorize or knowingly cooperate with the taking of any such actions by any other Person, (b) hire (on behalf of the Executive or any other Person) any employee or independent contractor who has left the employment or other service of the REIT (or any predecessor thereof) within one year of the termination of such employee’s or independent contractor’s employment or other service with the REIT or (c) directly or indirectly, on behalf of Executive or any other Person, (i) solicit, induce or encourage any of the REIT’s customers, clients, patrons, vendors or suppliers with whom the REIT provided products or services or conducted business within one year prior to the Executive’s termination of employment or service with the REIT or any actively sought prospective customer, client or patron of the REIT for the purpose of providing such customer, client or patron or actively sought prospective customer, client or patron with products or services competitive with those offered by the REIT during Executive’s employment with the REIT, or (ii) encourage any customer, client, patron, vendor or supplier for whom the REIT provided products or services or conducted business within one year prior to Executive’s date of termination of employment or service to reduce the level or amount of business such customer, client, patron, vendor or supplier conducts with the REIT.
4.Confidential and Proprietary Information; Non-Disparagement.
4.1Confidential Information. The Executive shall keep secret and retain in strictest confidence, and shall not use for his personal benefit or the benefit of others or directly or indirectly disclose, except as permitted by Section 4.2 or as may be required or as appropriate in connection with his carrying out his duties under this Agreement, all confidential information, knowledge or data relating to the Company or any of its affiliates, or to the Company’s or any such affiliate’s respective businesses and investments (including confidential information of others that has come into the possession of the Company or any such affiliate), learned by the Executive heretofore or hereafter directly or indirectly from the Company or any of its affiliates and which is not generally available lawfully and without breach of confidential or other fiduciary obligation to the general public without restriction (the “Confidential Company Information”), except with the Company’s express written consent or as may otherwise be required by law or any legal process.
4.2Reports to Government Entities. Nothing in this Agreement restricts or prohibits the Executive from initiating communications directly with, responding to any inquiries from, providing testimony before, providing confidential information, including trade secret information, to, reporting possible violations of law or regulation to, or from filing a claim or assisting with an investigation directly with a self-regulatory authority or a government agency or entity, including the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board, the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Congress, and any agency Inspector General (collectively, the “Regulators”), or from making other disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of state or federal law or regulation. The Executive does not need the prior authorization of the Company to engage in conduct protected by this section, and the Executive is not required to notify the Company that the Executive has engaged in such conduct.

Please take notice that federal law provides criminal and civil immunity to federal and state claims for trade secret misappropriation to individuals who disclose a trade secret to their attorney, a

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court, or a government official in certain, confidential circumstances that are set forth at 18 U.S.C. §§ 1833(b)(1) and 1833(b)(2), related to the reporting or investigation of a suspected violation of the law, or in connection with a lawsuit for retaliation for reporting a suspected violation of the law. 

4.3Return of Documents; Rights to Products. All memoranda, notes, lists, records, property and any other tangible product and documents (and all copies thereof) made, produced or compiled by the Executive or made available to the Executive concerning the businesses and investments of the Company and its affiliates shall be the Company’s property and shall be delivered to the Company at any time on request, except as otherwise permitted under Section 4.2 above. To the extent that the Executive made use of his own personal computing device(s) (e.g., PDA, laptop, iPad, thumbdrive, etc.) during and in connection with his employment with the Company, the Executive agrees to deliver such personal computing device(s) to the Company for review and permit the Company to delete all of the Company’s confidential information from such personal computing device(s), and/or permit the Company to remotely delete all of the Company’s confidential information from such personal computing device(s).

The Executive shall assign to the Company all rights to trade secrets and other products relating to the Company’s business developed by him alone or in conjunction with others at any time while employed by the Company.

4.4Non-Disparagement. The Executive shall not disparage the Company, its business, its employees, officers or agents, or any of the Company’s affiliates or related entities in any manner harmful to their business or business reputation, except as otherwise permitted under Section 4.2 above.
5.Reasonable and Necessary Restrictions. The Executive acknowledges that the restrictions, prohibitions and other provisions hereof, including, without limitation, the Restricted Period set forth in Section 2 and the restrictions set forth in Sections 2 and 3, are reasonable, fair and equitable in terms of duration, scope and geographic area, are necessary to protect the legitimate business interests of the REIT, and are a material inducement to the Company to enter into this Agreement and to provide the Retirement Benefits.
6.Specific Performance. The Executive acknowledges that the obligations undertaken by the Executive pursuant to this Agreement are unique and that the Company likely will have no adequate remedy at law if the Executive shall fail to perform any of such Executive’s obligations hereunder, and the Executive therefore confirms that the Company’s right to specific performance of the terms of this Agreement is essential to protect the rights and interests of the Company. Accordingly, in addition to any other remedies that the Company may have at law or in equity, the Company shall have the right to have all obligations, covenants, agreements and other provisions of this Agreement specifically performed by the Executive, and the Company shall have the right to obtain preliminary and permanent injunctive relief to secure specific performance and to prevent a breach or contemplated breach of this Agreement by the Executive. Further, the Executive agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company from and against any reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Company as a result of any breach of this Agreement by such Executive, and in enforcing and preserving the Company’s rights under this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Company’s reasonable attorneys’ fees. The Executive hereby acknowledges and

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agrees that the Company shall not be required to post bond as a condition to obtaining or exercising such remedies, and the Executive hereby waives any such requirement or condition. If the Executive is the prevailing party in any action in which the Company seeks to enforce its rights under this Agreement, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Executive from and against any reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Executive as a result of such action, including, without limitation, the Executive’s reasonable attorneys’ fees.
7.Miscellaneous Provisions.
7.1Assignment; Binding Effect. This Agreement may not be assigned by the Executive, but may be assigned by the Company to any successor to its business and will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon any such successor. Subject to the foregoing provisions restricting assignment, all covenants and agreements in this Agreement by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective successors, assigns, heirs, and personal representatives.
7.2Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the matters set forth herein and supersedes and renders of no force and effect all prior oral or written agreements, commitments and understandings among the parties with respect to the matters set forth herein. This Section 7.2 shall not be used to limit or restrict the rights or remedies, whether express or implied, of any noncompetition or non-solicitation policies of the REIT applicable to the Executive.
7.3Amendment. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, no amendment, modification or discharge of this Agreement shall be valid or binding unless set forth in writing and duly executed by each of the parties hereto.
7.4Waivers. No waiver by a party hereto shall be effective unless made in a written instrument duly executed by the party against whom such waiver is sought to be enforced, and only to the extent set forth in such instrument. Neither the waiver by either of the parties hereto of a breach or a default under any of the provisions of this Agreement, nor the failure of either of the parties, on one or more occasions, to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement or to exercise any right or privilege hereunder shall thereafter be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach or default of a similar nature, or as a waiver of any such provisions, rights or privileges hereunder.
7.5Severability. If fulfillment of any provision of this Agreement, at the time such fulfillment shall be due, shall transcend the limit of validity prescribed by law, then the obligation to be fulfilled shall be reduced to the limit of such validity; and if any clause or provision contained in this Agreement operates or would operate to invalidate this Agreement, in whole or in part, then such clause or provision only shall be held ineffective, as though not herein contained, and the remainder of this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the restrictions against engaging in competitive activity contained in this Agreement shall be determined by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable by reason of their extending for too great a period of time or over too great a geographical area or by reason of their being too extensive or unreasonable in any other respect, the Agreement shall be interpreted to extend only over the maximum period of time for which it may be enforceable and over the maximum geographical area as to which it may be enforceable and to the maximum

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extent in all other respects as to which it may be enforceable, all as determined by such court in such action and the court may limit the application of any other provision or covenant, or modify any such term, provision or covenant and proceed to enforce this Agreement as so limited or modified. To the extent necessary, the parties shall revise the Agreement and enter into an appropriate amendment to the extent necessary to implement any of the foregoing.
7.6Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement, the rights and obligations of the parties hereto, and any claims or disputes relating thereto, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland, but not including the choice-of-law rules thereof.
7.7Headings. Section and subsection headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference only, shall not be deemed to be a part of this Agreement for any purpose, and shall not in any way define or affect the meaning, construction or scope of any of the provisions hereof.
7.8Executive’s Acknowledgement. The Executive acknowledges that he has had the opportunity to consult with independent counsel of his own choice concerning this Agreement, and (ii) that he has read and understands this Agreement, is fully aware of its legal effect, and has entered into it freely based on his own judgment.
7.9Notices. All notices, requests, demands, and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been delivered (i) when physically received by personal delivery (which shall include the confirmed receipt of a telecopied facsimile transmission), or (ii) three (3) business days after being deposited in the United States certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid or (iii) one (1) business day after being deposited with a nationally known commercial courier service providing next day delivery service (such as Federal Express), to the following addresses:

(i)if to the Executive, to the address set forth in the records of the Company; and

(ii)if to the Company:

CubeSmart

5 Old Lancaster Road

Malvern, PA 19355

Attn: Chief Human Resources Officer

Facsimile No.: (610) 293-5720

7.10Execution in Counterparts. To facilitate execution, this Agreement may be executed in as many counterparts as may be required. It shall not be necessary that the signature of or on behalf of each party appears on each counterpart, but it shall be sufficient that the signature of or on behalf of each party appears on one or more of the counterparts. All counterparts shall collectively constitute a single agreement.

[Signature Page Follows]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed and delivered this Agreement, or caused this Agreement to be duly executed on its behalf, as of the date first set forth above.

THE EXECUTIVE:

THE COMPANY:

CUBESMART

By:

Name:

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Exhibit 10.8

Grant No.: _____

CUBESMART
2007 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN


RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT GRANT AGREEMENT

CubeSmart, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Company”), grants Restricted Share Units to the individual named below (“you”), as of the Grant Date set forth below.  Each Restricted Share Unit represents an unfunded, unsecured right to receive one (1) Share, subject to the vesting conditions set forth in the attached agreement (the “Agreement”). Additional terms and conditions of the grant are set forth in this cover sheet, in the Agreement, and in the Company’s 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, as may be amended from time to time (the “Plan”).

Grant Date:

Name of Participant:

Vesting Start Date:
Number of Restricted Share Units:

By signing this cover sheet, you agree to all of the terms and conditions described in the Agreement and the Plan.  A copy of the Plan will be provided on request.  You acknowledge that you have carefully reviewed the Plan, and agree that the Plan will control in the event that any provision of this Agreement should appear to be inconsistent with the terms of the Plan.

Participant:​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​
Name:

Company:​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​
Name: Christopher P. Marr
President and Chief Executive Officer

This is not a share certificate or a negotiable instrument.


CUBESMART
2007 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN


RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT GRANT AGREEMENT

Restricted Share Units/

Non-transferability

The grant is an award of the number of Restricted Share Units as set forth on the cover sheet, subject to the vesting conditions described below (the “Grant”).  

Your Restricted Share Units may not be transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated, whether by operation of law or otherwise, nor may the Restricted Share Units be made subject to execution, attachment or similar process.

Issuance and
Vesting

1/3rd of the Restricted Share Units vest on each of the first three (3) anniversaries of the Vesting Start Date (each, an “Anniversary Date”), provided that you continue to be employed or in service with the Company through the applicable Anniversary Date.

Within thirty (30) days following the date on which a Restricted Share Unit vests hereunder, the Company will, in settlement of such vested Restricted Share Unit, issue to you one (1) Share, unless you made a timely election to defer settlement of the Restricted Share Units pursuant to the Company’s Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, in which case such Shares will be issued to you on the date or dates elected by you pursuant to that plan.

Other than pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, no additional Restricted Share Units will vest after your employment or service has terminated for any reason unless otherwise provided in a severance plan adopted by the Company in which you are eligible to participate or as determined by the Committee.

Termination by Death or Disability

If your employment or service terminates as a result of your death or due to your “Disability,” then your unvested Restricted Share Units will become fully vested as of your date of termination.  

For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Disability” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in any applicable Company severance plan in which you are an eligible employee, or in the absence of such severance plan, then it shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Plan.

Retirement

If your employment or service terminates because of your “Retirement” and on the “Effective Date of Retirement” you enter into the Restrictive Covenant Agreement attached as Exhibit A hereto, then your unvested Restricted Share Units will continue to vest following the Effective

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Date of Retirement in accordance with the vesting terms set forth in the “Issuance and Vesting” section above, and will fully vest on the third anniversary of the Vesting Start Date.

For purposes of this Agreement, (a) the term “Retirement” shall mean the attainment of the age of sixty (60) plus a minimum of ten (10) years of employment or service with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, and (b) the term “Effective Date of Retirement” shall mean the date that is at least six (6) months following your delivery of written notice to the Company notifying the Company of the effective date of your Retirement.

Forfeiture of Unvested Restricted Share Units

Except as provided in this Agreement, the Plan, or any severance plan adopted by the Company in which you are eligible to participate, in the event that your employment or service terminates for any reason other than your death, Disability, or Retirement, you will forfeit to the Company all unvested Restricted Share Units.  For the avoidance of doubt, in connection with a termination for “Cause” you will forfeit all then-outstanding Restricted Share Units to the Company for no consideration.

For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Cause” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in any applicable Company severance plan in which you are an eligible employee, or in the absence of such severance plan, then it shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Plan.

Recoupment Policy

The Restricted Share Units granted pursuant to this Agreement and the Shares delivered to you pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to any clawback policy maintained by the Company or any Affiliate from time to time as necessary to comply with applicable law or exchange listing requirements.

Withholding
Taxes

You agree, as a condition of this Grant, that you will make acceptable arrangements to pay any withholding or other taxes that may be due as a result of the issuance of Shares under this Grant.  In the event that the Company determines that any federal, state, local or foreign tax or withholding payment is required relating to the issuance of Shares arising from this grant, the Company shall have the right to: (i) require you to make a cash payment to the Company, (ii) withhold such amounts from other payments due to you from the Company or any Affiliate, or (iii) withhold a number of Shares otherwise issuable to you having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the amount of the withholding or other taxes due.

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Retention Rights

This Agreement does not give you the right to be retained by the Company (or any parent, Subsidiaries or Affiliates) in any capacity.  Furthermore, nothing in the Plan or this Agreement shall be construed to limit the discretion of the Company to terminate your employment or service with the Company at any time, with or without Cause.

No Impact on Other Benefits

The value of your Restricted Share Units is not part of your normal or expected compensation for purposes of calculating any severance, retirement, welfare, insurance or similar employee benefit.

Dividend Equivalents

On each of the Company’s regular dividend payment dates occurring after the Grant Date and prior to the date on which Shares are issued to you in respect of the Restricted Share Units granted hereunder, the Company shall credit to a bookkeeping account, solely for the purposes of recordkeeping, a number of Restricted Share Units equal to the quotient of (x) divided by (y), where (x) is an amount equal to the dividends payable with respect to the number of Shares underlying the outstanding Restricted Share Units subject to this Grant, and (y) is the closing price of the Shares on such dividend payment date, rounded down to the nearest whole Restricted Share Unit.  On each applicable vesting date of the Restricted Share Units, Restricted Share Units credited to the bookkeeping account (“Dividend Equivalents”) shall vest or be forfeited, as applicable, to the extent that the Restricted Share Units to which they relate vest or are forfeited.  Vested Dividend Equivalents shall be paid in Shares at the same time and subject to the same terms as the underlying vested Restricted Share Units.

Shareholder Rights

You do not have the right to vote the Shares in respect of your Restricted Share Units, and you do not have any of the rights of a shareholder with respect to the Restricted Share Units, unless and until the Shares relating to the Restricted Share Units are issued to you.  Any distributions of stock or other property you receive as a result of any split, stock dividend, combination of Shares or other similar transaction shall be deemed to be a part of the Shares and subject to the same conditions and restrictions applicable thereto.  You do not have the right to make an election pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Adjustments

In the event of a split, a dividend or a similar change in the Shares, the number of Shares covered by this Grant may be adjusted pursuant to the Plan.  Your Restricted Share Units shall be subject to the terms of the agreement of merger, liquidation or reorganization in the event the Company is subject to such corporate activity.

Successors and Assigns

The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on

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transfer set forth herein, this Agreement will be binding upon you and your beneficiaries, executors, administrators and the person(s) to whom the Restricted Share Units may be transferred by will or the laws of descent or distribution.

The Plan

The Plan is discretionary and may be amended, canceled or terminated by the Company at any time, in its discretion.  The Grant of the Restricted Share Units under this Agreement does not create any contractual right or other right to receive any Restricted Share Units or other grants in the future. Future grants, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Company. Any amendment, modification, or termination of the Plan shall not constitute a change or impairment of the terms and conditions of your employment or service with the Company.

The text of the Plan is incorporated in this Agreement by reference. Except as otherwise noted, capitalized terms used in this Agreement, and not otherwise defined in this Agreement, have the meaning set forth in the Plan.

This Agreement, the Plan, and any applicable Company severance plan in which you are an eligible employee, constitute the entire understanding between you and the Company with regard to the Restricted Share Units granted pursuant to this Agreement.  Any prior agreements, commitments or negotiations concerning the Restricted Share Units to which this Agreement applies, are superseded.

Notices

Any notice required to be delivered to the Company under this Agreement shall be in writing and addressed to the Corporate Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal corporate offices.  Any notice required to be delivered to you under this Agreement shall be in writing and addressed to you at your address as shown in the records of the Company.  Either party may designate another address in writing (or by such other method approved by the Company) from time to time.

Applicable Law

This Agreement will be interpreted and enforced under 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 Agreement to the substantive law of another jurisdiction.

Severability

The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement or the Plan shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement or the Plan, and each provision of this Agreement and the Plan shall be severable and enforceable to the extent permitted by law.

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Data Privacy

In order to administer the Plan, the Company may process personal data about you.  Such data includes, but is not limited to, the information provided in this Agreement and any changes thereto, other appropriate personal and financial data about you such as home address and business addresses and other contact information, payroll information and any other information that might be deemed appropriate by the Company to facilitate the administration of the Plan.

By accepting this Grant, you give explicit consent to the Company to process any such personal data. You also give explicit consent to the Company to transfer any such personal data outside the country in which you work or are employed, including, with respect to non-U.S. resident Grantees, to the United States, to transferees who shall include the Company and other persons who are designated by the Company to administer the Plan.

Consent to Electronic Delivery

The Company may choose to deliver certain statutory materials relating to the Plan in electronic form.  By accepting this Grant, you agree that the Company may deliver the Plan prospectus and the Company’s annual report to you in an electronic format.  If at any time you would prefer to receive paper copies of these documents, as you are entitled to, the Company would be pleased to provide copies.  Please contact the Corporate Secretary of the Company to request paper copies of these documents.

By signing the cover sheet of this Agreement, you agree to all of the terms and conditions described above and in the Plan.

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EXHIBIT A

RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AGREEMENT

THIS RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of ​ ​​ ​​ ​, 20__ by and between CubeSmart, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Company”), and ​ ​​ ​​ ​ (the “Executive”).

WHEREAS, the Executive is the recipient of one or more grants of common shares of the Company pursuant to those written grant agreements dated ​ ​​ ​​ ​, 20__, by and between the Company and the Executive (the “Grant Agreements”), which Grant Agreements were entered into pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Company’s 2007 Equity Incentive Plan.

WHEREAS, the Executive’s employment with the Company, CubeSmart, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership of which the Company is the general partner, or any of their direct or indirect subsidiaries (collectively, the “REIT”) terminated because of the Executive’s retirement on ___________, 20__ (“Retirement Date”).

WHEREAS, as a condition to participating in the provisions of the Retirement section of the Grant Agreement (“Retirement Benefits”), the Company and the Executive agree that the Executive will not engage in competition with the Company and will refrain from taking certain other actions pursuant to the terms and conditions hereof in an effort to protect the Company’s legitimate business interests and goodwill and for other business purposes.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which hereby are acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.As a material inducement to the Executive to enter into this Agreement, the Company will provide the Executive with the Retirement Benefits in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Grant Agreements. The Executive acknowledges that the Executive is not entitled to receive the Retirement Benefits unless the Executive executes and complies with this Agreement.

2.Noncompetition. For twelve (12) months after the Retirement Date (the “Restricted Period”), the Executive will not, (a) directly or indirectly, engage in any business involving self-storage facility development, construction, financing, acquisition or operation (“Self-Storage Business”), whether such business is conducted by the Executive individually or as a principal, partner, member, stockholder, director, trustee, officer, employee or independent contractor of any Person (as defined below) or (b) own any interests in any self-storage facilities, in each case in the United States of America; provided, however, that this Section 2 shall not be deemed to prohibit the direct or indirect ownership by the Executive of up to five percent of the outstanding equity interests of any public company. For purposes of this Agreement, “Person” means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, company, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association or other entity.

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3.Non-Solicitation. For the Restricted Period, such Executive will not (a) directly or indirectly solicit, induce or encourage any employee or independent contractor to terminate such employee’s or independent contractor’s employment with the REIT or to cease rendering services to the REIT, and the Executive shall not initiate discussions with any such Person for any such purpose or authorize or knowingly cooperate with the taking of any such actions by any other Person, (b) hire (on behalf of the Executive or any other Person) any employee or independent contractor who has left the employment or other service of the REIT (or any predecessor thereof) within one year of the termination of such employee’s or independent contractor’s employment or other service with the REIT or (c) directly or indirectly, on behalf of Executive or any other Person, (i) solicit, induce or encourage any of the REIT’s customers, clients, patrons, vendors or suppliers with whom the REIT provided products or services or conducted business within one year prior to the Executive’s termination of employment or service with the REIT or any actively sought prospective customer, client or patron of the REIT for the purpose of providing such customer, client or patron or actively sought prospective customer, client or patron with products or services competitive with those offered by the REIT during Executive’s employment with the REIT, or (ii) encourage any customer, client, patron, vendor or supplier for whom the REIT provided products or services or conducted business within one year prior to Executive’s date of termination of employment or service to reduce the level or amount of business such customer, client, patron, vendor or supplier conducts with the REIT.

4.Confidential and Proprietary Information; Non-Disparagement.

4.1Confidential Information. The Executive shall keep secret and retain in strictest confidence, and shall not use for his personal benefit or the benefit of others or directly or indirectly disclose, except as permitted by Section 4.2 or as may be required or as appropriate in connection with his carrying out his duties under this Agreement, all confidential information, knowledge or data relating to the Company or any of its affiliates, or to the Company’s or any such affiliate’s respective businesses and investments (including confidential information of others that has come into the possession of the Company or any such affiliate), learned by the Executive heretofore or hereafter directly or indirectly from the Company or any of its affiliates and which is not generally available lawfully and without breach of confidential or other fiduciary obligation to the general public without restriction (the “Confidential Company Information”), except with the Company’s express written consent or as may otherwise be required by law or any legal process.

4.2Reports to Government Entities. Nothing in this Agreement restricts or prohibits the Executive from initiating communications directly with, responding to any inquiries from, providing testimony before, providing confidential information, including trade secret information, to, reporting possible violations of law or regulation to, or from filing a claim or assisting with an investigation directly with a self-regulatory authority or a government agency or entity, including the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board, the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Congress, and any agency Inspector General (collectively, the “Regulators”), or from making other disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of state or federal law or regulation. The Executive does not need the prior authorization of the Company to engage in conduct protected by this section, and the Executive is not required to notify the Company that the Executive has engaged in such conduct.

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Please take notice that federal law provides criminal and civil immunity to federal and state claims for trade secret misappropriation to individuals who disclose a trade secret to their attorney, a court, or a government official in certain, confidential circumstances that are set forth at 18 U.S.C. §§ 1833(b)(1) and 1833(b)(2), related to the reporting or investigation of a suspected violation of the law, or in connection with a lawsuit for retaliation for reporting a suspected violation of the law. 

4.3Return of Documents; Rights to Products. All memoranda, notes, lists, records, property and any other tangible product and documents (and all copies thereof) made, produced or compiled by the Executive or made available to the Executive concerning the businesses and investments of the Company and its affiliates shall be the Company’s property and shall be delivered to the Company at any time on request, except as otherwise permitted under Section 4.2 above. To the extent that the Executive made use of his own personal computing device(s) (e.g., PDA, laptop, iPad, thumbdrive, etc.) during and in connection with his employment with the Company, the Executive agrees to deliver such personal computing device(s) to the Company for review and permit the Company to delete all of the Company’s confidential information from such personal computing device(s), and/or permit the Company to remotely delete all of the Company’s confidential information from such personal computing device(s).

The Executive shall assign to the Company all rights to trade secrets and other products relating to the Company’s business developed by him alone or in conjunction with others at any time while employed by the Company.

4.4Non-Disparagement. The Executive shall not disparage the Company, its business, its employees, officers or agents, or any of the Company’s affiliates or related entities in any manner harmful to their business or business reputation, except as otherwise permitted under Section 4.2 above.

5.Reasonable and Necessary Restrictions. The Executive acknowledges that the restrictions, prohibitions and other provisions hereof, including, without limitation, the Restricted Period set forth in Section 2 and the restrictions set forth in Sections 2 and 3, are reasonable, fair and equitable in terms of duration, scope and geographic area, are necessary to protect the legitimate business interests of the REIT, and are a material inducement to the Company to enter into this Agreement and to provide the Retirement Benefits.

6.Specific Performance. The Executive acknowledges that the obligations undertaken by the Executive pursuant to this Agreement are unique and that the Company likely will have no adequate remedy at law if the Executive shall fail to perform any of such Executive’s obligations hereunder, and the Executive therefore confirms that the Company’s right to specific performance of the terms of this Agreement is essential to protect the rights and interests of the Company. Accordingly, in addition to any other remedies that the Company may have at law or in equity, the Company shall have the right to have all obligations, covenants, agreements and other provisions of this Agreement specifically performed by the Executive, and the Company shall have the right to obtain preliminary and permanent injunctive relief to secure specific performance and to prevent a breach or contemplated breach of this Agreement by the Executive. Further, the Executive agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company from and against any reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Company as a result of any breach of this Agreement by such Executive, and in

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enforcing and preserving the Company’s rights under this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Company’s reasonable attorneys’ fees. The Executive hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Company shall not be required to post bond as a condition to obtaining or exercising such remedies, and the Executive hereby waives any such requirement or condition. If the Executive is the prevailing party in any action in which the Company seeks to enforce its rights under this Agreement, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Executive from and against any reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Executive as a result of such action, including, without limitation, the Executive’s reasonable attorneys’ fees.

7.Miscellaneous Provisions.

7.1Assignment; Binding Effect. This Agreement may not be assigned by the Executive, but may be assigned by the Company to any successor to its business and will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon any such successor. Subject to the foregoing provisions restricting assignment, all covenants and agreements in this Agreement by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective successors, assigns, heirs, and personal representatives.

7.2Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the matters set forth herein and supersedes and renders of no force and effect all prior oral or written agreements, commitments and understandings among the parties with respect to the matters set forth herein. This Section 7.2 shall not be used to limit or restrict the rights or remedies, whether express or implied, of any noncompetition or non-solicitation policies of the REIT applicable to the Executive.

7.3Amendment. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, no amendment, modification or discharge of this Agreement shall be valid or binding unless set forth in writing and duly executed by each of the parties hereto.

7.4Waivers. No waiver by a party hereto shall be effective unless made in a written instrument duly executed by the party against whom such waiver is sought to be enforced, and only to the extent set forth in such instrument. Neither the waiver by either of the parties hereto of a breach or a default under any of the provisions of this Agreement, nor the failure of either of the parties, on one or more occasions, to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement or to exercise any right or privilege hereunder shall thereafter be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach or default of a similar nature, or as a waiver of any such provisions, rights or privileges hereunder.

7.5Severability. If fulfillment of any provision of this Agreement, at the time such fulfillment shall be due, shall transcend the limit of validity prescribed by law, then the obligation to be fulfilled shall be reduced to the limit of such validity; and if any clause or provision contained in this Agreement operates or would operate to invalidate this Agreement, in whole or in part, then such clause or provision only shall be held ineffective, as though not herein contained, and the remainder of this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the restrictions against engaging in competitive activity contained in this Agreement shall be determined by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable by reason of their extending for too great a period of time or over too great a geographical area or

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by reason of their being too extensive or unreasonable in any other respect, the Agreement shall be interpreted to extend only over the maximum period of time for which it may be enforceable and over the maximum geographical area as to which it may be enforceable and to the maximum extent in all other respects as to which it may be enforceable, all as determined by such court in such action and the court may limit the application of any other provision or covenant, or modify any such term, provision or covenant and proceed to enforce this Agreement as so limited or modified. To the extent necessary, the parties shall revise the Agreement and enter into an appropriate amendment to the extent necessary to implement any of the foregoing.

7.6Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement, the rights and obligations of the parties hereto, and any claims or disputes relating thereto, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland, but not including the choice-of-law rules thereof.

7.7Headings. Section and subsection headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference only, shall not be deemed to be a part of this Agreement for any purpose, and shall not in any way define or affect the meaning, construction or scope of any of the provisions hereof.

7.8Executive’s Acknowledgement. The Executive acknowledges that he has had the opportunity to consult with independent counsel of his own choice concerning this Agreement, and (ii) that he has read and understands this Agreement, is fully aware of its legal effect, and has entered into it freely based on his own judgment.

7.9Notices. All notices, requests, demands, and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been delivered (i) when physically received by personal delivery (which shall include the confirmed receipt of a telecopied facsimile transmission), or (ii) three (3) business days after being deposited in the United States certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid or (iii) one (1) business day after being deposited with a nationally known commercial courier service providing next day delivery service (such as Federal Express), to the following addresses:

(i)if to the Executive, to the address set forth in the records of the Company; and

(ii)if to the Company:

CubeSmart

5 Old Lancaster Road

Malvern, PA 19355

Attn: Chief Human Resources Officer

Facsimile No.: (610) 293-5720

7.10Execution in Counterparts. To facilitate execution, this Agreement may be executed in as many counterparts as may be required. It shall not be necessary that the signature of or on behalf of each party appears on each counterpart, but it shall be sufficient that the signature of or

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on behalf of each party appears on one or more of the counterparts. All counterparts shall collectively constitute a single agreement.

[Signature Page Follows]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed and delivered this Agreement, or caused this Agreement to be duly executed on its behalf, as of the date first set forth above.

THE EXECUTIVE:

THE COMPANY:

CUBESMART

By:

Name:

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Exhibit 10.9

Grant No.: _____

CUBESMART
2007 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN


RESTRICTED SHARE GRANT AGREEMENT

CubeSmart, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Company”), grants Restricted Shares to the individual named below (“you”), as of the Grant Date set forth below.  Additional terms and conditions of the grant are set forth in this cover sheet, in the attached agreement (the “Agreement”), and in the Company’s 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, as may be amended from time to time (the “Plan”).

Grant Date:

Name of Participant:

Vesting Start Date:
Number of Restricted Shares:

By signing this cover sheet, you agree to all of the terms and conditions described in the Agreement and the Plan.  A copy of the Plan will be provided on request.  You acknowledge that you have carefully reviewed the Plan, and agree that the Plan will control in the event that any provision of this Agreement should appear to be inconsistent with the terms of the Plan.

Participant:​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​
Name:

Company:​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​
Name: Christopher P. Marr
President and Chief Executive Officer

This is not a share certificate or a negotiable instrument.


CUBESMART
2007 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN


RESTRICTED SHARE GRANT AGREEMENT

Restricted Shares/ Non-transferability

The grant is an award of the number of Restricted Shares as set forth on the cover sheet, subject to the vesting conditions described below (the “Grant”).  

To the extent not yet vested, your Restricted Shares may not be transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated, whether by operation of law or otherwise, nor may the Restricted Shares be made subject to execution, attachment or similar process.

Vesting

1/5th of the total number of the Restricted Shares vest on each of the first five (5) anniversaries of the Vesting Start Date (each, an “Anniversary Date”), provided that you continue to be employed or in service with the Company through the applicable Anniversary Date.

Other than pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, no additional Restricted Shares will vest after your employment or service has terminated for any reason unless otherwise provided in a severance plan adopted by the Company in which you are eligible to participate or as determined by the Committee.

Termination by Death or Disability

If your employment or service terminates as a result of your death or due to your “Disability,” then your unvested Restricted Shares will become fully vested as of your date of termination.

For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Disability” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Plan.

Forfeiture of Unvested Restricted Shares

Except as provided in this Agreement or the Plan, in the event that your employment or service terminates for any reason other than your death or Disability you will forfeit to the Company all unvested Restricted Shares.  

Recoupment Policy

The Restricted Shares granted pursuant to this shall be subject to any clawback policy maintained by the Company or any Affiliate from time to time as necessary to comply with applicable law or exchange listing requirements.

Withholding Taxes

You agree, as a condition of this Grant, that you will make acceptable arrangements to pay any withholding or other taxes that may be due as a result of the vesting of Shares acquired under this Grant.  In the event that the Company determines that any federal, state, local or foreign tax or withholding payment is required relating to the vesting of Shares arising from this grant, the Company shall have the right to: (i) require

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you to make a cash payment to the Company, (ii) withhold such amounts from other payments due to you from the Company or any Affiliate, or (iii) withhold a number of Shares otherwise vesting to you having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the amount of the withholding or other taxes due.

Retention Rights

This Agreement does not give you the right to be retained by the Company (or any parent, Subsidiaries or Affiliates) in any capacity.  Furthermore, nothing in the Plan or this Agreement shall be construed to limit the discretion of the Company to terminate your employment or service with the Company at any time, with or without Cause.

No Impact on Other Benefits

The value of your Restricted Shares is not part of your normal or expected compensation for purposes of calculating any severance, retirement, welfare, insurance or similar employee benefit.

Shareholder Rights; Dividends

You have the right to vote your Restricted Shares and to receive any cash dividends declared or paid on such Shares; provided that any such cash dividends will be withheld and made subject to the same vesting conditions as the Restricted Shares to which they relate, to vest and be paid, or to be forfeited, as and when such Restricted Shares vest or are forfeited.  Any distributions of stock or other property you receive as a result of any split, stock dividend, combination of Shares or other similar transaction shall be deemed to be a part of the Shares and subject to the same conditions and restrictions applicable thereto.

Adjustments

In the event of a split, a dividend or a similar change in the Shares, the number of Shares covered by this Grant may be adjusted pursuant to the Plan. Your Restricted Shares shall be subject to the terms of the agreement of merger, liquidation or reorganization in the event the Company is subject to such corporate activity.

Successors and Assigns

The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein, this Agreement will be binding upon you and your beneficiaries, executors, administrators and the person(s) to whom the Restricted Shares may be transferred by will or the laws of descent or distribution.

The Plan

The Plan is discretionary and may be amended, canceled or terminated by the Company at any time, in its discretion.  The Grant of the Restricted Shares under this Agreement does not create any contractual right or other right to receive any Restricted Shares or other grants in the future. Future grants, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Company. Any amendment, modification, or termination of the Plan

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shall not constitute a change or impairment of the terms and conditions of your employment or service with the Company.

The text of the Plan is incorporated in this Agreement by reference.  Except as otherwise noted, capitalized terms used in this Agreement, and not otherwise defined in this Agreement, have the meaning set forth in the Plan.

This Agreement and the Plan constitute the entire understanding between you and the Company with regard to the Restricted Shares granted pursuant to this Agreement.  Any prior agreements, commitments or negotiations concerning the Restricted Shares to which this Agreement applies, are superseded.

Notices

Any notice required to be delivered to the Company under this Agreement shall be in writing and addressed to the Corporate Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal corporate offices. Any notice required to be delivered to you under this Agreement shall be in writing and addressed to you at your address as shown in the records of the Company. Either party may designate another address in writing (or by such other method approved by the Company) from time to time.

Applicable Law

This Agreement will be interpreted and enforced under 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 Agreement to the substantive law of another jurisdiction.

Severability

The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement or the Plan shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement or the Plan, and each provision of this Agreement and the Plan shall be severable and enforceable to the extent permitted by law.

Data Privacy

In order to administer the Plan, the Company may process personal data about you. Such data includes, but is not limited to, the information provided in this Agreement and any changes thereto, other appropriate personal and financial data about you such as home address and business addresses and other contact information, payroll information and any other information that might be deemed appropriate by the Company to facilitate the administration of the Plan.

By accepting this Grant, you give explicit consent to the Company to process any such personal data.  You also give explicit consent to the Company to transfer any such personal data outside the country in which you work or are employed, including, with respect to non-U.S. resident Grantees, to the United States, to transferees who shall include

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the Company and other persons who are designated by the Company to administer the Plan.

Consent to Electronic Delivery

The Company may choose to deliver certain statutory materials relating to the Plan in electronic form.  By accepting this Grant, you agree that the Company may deliver the Plan prospectus and the Company’s annual report to you in an electronic format.  If at any time you would prefer to receive paper copies of these documents, as you are entitled to, the Company would be pleased to provide copies.  Please contact the Corporate Secretary of the Company to request paper copies of these documents.

By signing the cover sheet of this Agreement, you agree to all of the terms and conditions described above and in the Plan.

-5-


Exhibit 10.10

Grant No.:_____

CUBESMART
2007 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

RESTRICTED SHARE GRANT AGREEMENT

CubeSmart, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Company”), grants Restricted Shares to the individual named below (“you”), as of the Grant Date set forth below.  Additional terms and conditions of the grant are set forth in this cover sheet, in the attached agreement (the “Agreement”), and in the Company’s 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, as may be amended from time to time (the “Plan”).

Grant Date:

Name of Participant:
Vesting Start Date:
Number of Restricted Shares:

By signing this cover sheet, you agree to all of the terms and conditions described in the Agreement and the Plan.  A copy of the Plan will be provided on request.  You acknowledge that you have carefully reviewed the Plan, and agree that the Plan will control in the event that any provision of this Agreement should appear to be inconsistent with the terms of the Plan.

Participant:​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​
Name:

Company:​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​
Name: Christopher P. Marr
President and Chief Executive Officer

This is not a share certificate or a negotiable instrument.


CUBESMART
2007 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN


RESTRICTED SHARE GRANT AGREEMENT

Restricted Shares/ Non-transferability

The grant is an award of the number of Restricted Shares as set forth on the cover sheet, subject to the vesting conditions described below (the “Grant”).

To the extent not yet vested, your Restricted Shares may not be transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated, whether by operation of law or otherwise, nor may the Restricted Shares be made subject to execution, attachment or similar process.

Vesting

The Restricted Shares vest on the earliest to occur of (a) the first anniversary of the Grant Date, (b) the date of the 20__ Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and (c) the date you resign or retire from service on the Board.  

Other than pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, no additional Restricted Shares will vest after your service has terminated for any reason.

Change in Control

In the event of a Change in Control, where the Company is not the surviving corporation and ultimate parent company, subject to your continued service through the Change in Control, your unvested Restricted Shares shall vest immediately prior to the Change in Control.

Termination by Death or Disability

If your service terminates as a result of your death or due to your “Disability,” then your unvested Restricted Shares will become fully vested as of your date of termination.  

For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Disability” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Plan.

Forfeiture of Unvested Restricted Shares

Except as provided in this Agreement or the Plan, in the event that your service terminates for any reason other than your death or Disability, you will forfeit to the Company all unvested Restricted Shares.

Recoupment Policy

The Restricted Shares granted pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to any clawback policy maintained by the Company or any Affiliate from time to time as necessary to comply with applicable law or exchange listing requirements.

Withholding
Taxes

You agree, as a condition of this Grant, that you will make acceptable arrangements to pay any withholding or other taxes that may be due as a result of the vesting of Shares acquired under this Grant.  In the event that the Company determines that any federal, state, local or foreign tax

- 2 -


or withholding payment is required relating to the vesting of Shares arising from this grant, the Company shall have the right to: (i) require you to make a cash payment to the Company, (ii) withhold such amounts from other payments due to you from the Company or any Affiliate, or (iii) withhold a number of Shares otherwise vesting to you having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the amount of the withholding or other taxes due.

Retention Rights

This Agreement does not give you the right to be retained by the Company (or any parent, Subsidiaries or Affiliates) in any capacity.  Furthermore, nothing in the Plan or this Agreement shall be construed to limit the discretion of the Company to terminate your service with the Company at any time, with or without Cause.

No Impact on Other Benefits

The value of your Restricted Shares is not part of your normal or expected compensation for purposes of calculating any severance, retirement, welfare, insurance or similar employee benefit.

Shareholder Rights; Dividends

You have the right to vote your Restricted Shares and to receive any cash dividends declared or paid on such Shares; provided that any such cash dividends will be withheld and made subject to the same vesting conditions as the Restricted Shares to which they relate, to vest and be paid, or to be forfeited, as and when such Restricted Shares vest or are forfeited.  Any distributions of stock or other property you receive as a result of any split, stock dividend, combination of Shares or other similar transaction shall be deemed to be a part of the Shares and subject to the same conditions and restrictions applicable thereto.

Adjustments

In the event of a split, a dividend or a similar change in the Shares, the number of Shares covered by this Grant may be adjusted pursuant to the Plan.  Your Restricted Shares shall be subject to the terms of the agreement of merger, liquidation or reorganization in the event the Company is subject to such corporate activity.

Successors and Assigns

The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein, this Agreement will be binding upon you and your beneficiaries, executors, administrators and the person(s) to whom the Restricted Shares may be transferred by will or the laws of descent or distribution.

The Plan

The Plan is discretionary and may be amended, canceled or terminated by the Company at any time, in its discretion.  The Grant of the Restricted Shares under this Agreement does not create any contractual right or other right to receive any Restricted Shares or other grants in the future.  Future grants, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Company.  Any amendment, modification, or termination of the Plan

- 3 -


shall not constitute a change or impairment of the terms and conditions of your service with the Company.

The text of the Plan is incorporated in this Agreement by reference. Except as otherwise noted, capitalized terms used in this Agreement, and not otherwise defined in this Agreement, have the meaning set forth in the Plan.

This Agreement and the Plan constitute the entire understanding between you and the Company with regard to the Restricted Shares granted pursuant to this Agreement.  Any prior agreements, commitments or negotiations concerning the Restricted Shares to which this Agreement applies, are superseded.

Notices

Any notice required to be delivered to the Company under this Agreement shall be in writing and addressed to the Corporate Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal corporate offices. Any notice required to be delivered to you under this Agreement shall be in writing and addressed to you at your address as shown in the records of the Company. Either party may designate another address in writing (or by such other method approved by the Company) from time to time.

Applicable Law

This Agreement will be interpreted and enforced under 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 Agreement to the substantive law of another jurisdiction.

Severability

The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement or the Plan shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement or the Plan, and each provision of this Agreement and the Plan shall be severable and enforceable to the extent permitted by law.

Data Privacy

In order to administer the Plan, the Company may process personal data about you. Such data includes, but is not limited to, the information provided in this Agreement and any changes thereto, other appropriate personal and financial data about you such as home address and business addresses and other contact information, payroll information and any other information that might be deemed appropriate by the Company to facilitate the administration of the Plan.

By accepting this Grant, you give explicit consent to the Company to process any such personal data. You also give explicit consent to the Company to transfer any such personal data outside the country in which you work or are employed, including, with respect to non-U.S. resident Grantees, to the United States, to transferees who shall include the Company and other persons who are designated by the Company to administer the Plan.

- 4 -


Consent to Electronic Delivery

The Company may choose to deliver certain statutory materials relating to the Plan in electronic form. By accepting this Grant, you agree that the Company may deliver the Plan prospectus and the Company’s annual report to you in an electronic format. If at any time you would prefer to receive paper copies of these documents, as you are entitled to, the Company would be pleased to provide copies. Please contact the Corporate Secretary of the Company to request paper copies of these documents.

By signing the cover sheet of this Agreement, you agree to all of the terms and conditions described above and in the Plan.

- 5 -


Exhibit 10.11

Grant No.:_____

CUBESMART
2007 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT GRANT AGREEMENT

CubeSmart, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Company”), grants Restricted Share Units to the individual named below (“you”), as of the Grant Date set forth below.  Each Restricted Share Unit represents an unfunded, unsecured right to receive one (1) Share, subject to the vesting conditions set forth in the attached agreement (the “Agreement”).  Additional terms and conditions of the grant are set forth in this cover sheet, in the Agreement, and in the Company’s 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, as may be amended from time to time (the “Plan”).

Grant Date:

Name of Participant:
Vesting Start Date:
Number of Restricted Share Units:

By signing this cover sheet, you agree to all of the terms and conditions described in the Agreement and the Plan.  A copy of the Plan will be provided on request.  You acknowledge that you have carefully reviewed the Plan, and agree that the Plan will control in the event that any provision of this Agreement should appear to be inconsistent with the terms of the Plan.

Participant:​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​
Name:

Company:​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​
Name: Christopher P. Marr
President and Chief Executive Officer

This is not a share certificate or a negotiable instrument.


CUBESMART
2007 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN


RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT GRANT AGREEMENT

Restricted Share Units/ Non-transferability

The grant is an award of the number of Restricted Share Units as set forth on the cover sheet, subject to the vesting conditions described below (the “Grant”).

Your Restricted Share Units may not be transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated, whether by operation of law or otherwise, nor may the Restricted Share Units be made subject to execution, attachment or similar process.

Issuance and
Vesting

Your Restricted Share Units vest on the earliest to occur of (a) the first anniversary of the Grant Date, (b) the date of the 20__ Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and (c) the date you resign or retire from service on the Board.  

Within thirty (30) days following the date on which a Restricted Share Unit vests hereunder, the Company will, in settlement of such vested Restricted Share Unit, issue to you one (1) Share.

Other than pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, no additional Restricted Share Units will vest after your service has terminated for any reason.

Change in Control

In the event of a Change in Control, where the Company is not the surviving corporation and ultimate parent company, subject to your continued service through the Change in Control, your unvested Restricted Shares shall vest immediately prior to the Change in Control.

Termination by Death or Disability

If your service terminates as a result of your death or due to your “Disability,” then your unvested Restricted Share Units will become fully vested as of your date of termination.  

For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Disability” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Plan.

- 2 -


Forfeiture of Unvested Restricted Share Units

Except as provided in this Agreement or the Plan, in the event that your service terminates for any reason other than your death or Disability, you will forfeit to the Company all unvested Restricted Share Units.  For the avoidance of doubt, in connection with a termination for “Cause” you will forfeit all then-outstanding Restricted Share Units to the Company for no consideration.

For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Cause” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Plan.

Recoupment Policy

The Restricted Share Units granted pursuant to this Agreement and the Shares delivered to you pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to any clawback policy maintained by the Company or any Affiliate from time to time as necessary to comply with applicable law or exchange listing requirements.

Withholding
Taxes

You agree, as a condition of this Grant, that you will make acceptable arrangements to pay any withholding or other taxes that may be due as a result of the issuance of Shares under this Grant.  In the event that the Company determines that any federal, state, local or foreign tax or withholding payment is required relating to the issuance of Shares arising from this grant, the Company shall have the right to: (i) require you to make a cash payment to the Company, (ii) withhold such amounts from other payments due to you from the Company or any Affiliate, or (iii) withhold a number of Shares otherwise issuable to you having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the amount of the withholding or other taxes due.

Retention Rights

This Agreement does not give you the right to be retained by the Company (or any parent, Subsidiaries or Affiliates) in any capacity.  Furthermore, nothing in the Plan or this Agreement shall be construed to limit the discretion of the Company to terminate your service with the Company at any time, with or without Cause.

No Impact on Other Benefits

The value of your Restricted Share Units is not part of your normal or expected compensation for purposes of calculating any severance, retirement, welfare, insurance or similar employee benefit.

Dividend Equivalents

On each of the Company’s regular dividend payment dates occurring after the Grant Date and prior to the date on which Shares are issued to you in respect of the Restricted Share Units granted hereunder, the Company shall credit to a bookkeeping account, solely for the purposes of recordkeeping, a number of Restricted Share Units equal to the quotient of (x) divided by (y), where (x) is an amount equal to the dividends payable with respect to the number of Shares underlying the outstanding Restricted Share Units subject to this Grant, and (y) is the closing price of the Shares on such dividend payment date, rounded down to the nearest whole Restricted Share Unit.  On each applicable

- 3 -


vesting date of the Restricted Share Units, Restricted Share Units credited to the bookkeeping account (“Dividend Equivalents”) shall vest or be forfeited, as applicable, to the extent that the Restricted Share Units to which they relate vest or are forfeited.  Vested Dividend Equivalents shall be paid in Shares at the same time and subject to the same terms as the underlying vested Restricted Share Units.

Shareholder Rights

You do not have the right to vote the Shares in respect of your Restricted Share Units, and you do not have any of the rights of a shareholder with respect to the Restricted Share Units, unless and until the Shares relating to the Restricted Share Units are issued to you.  Any distributions of stock or other property you receive as a result of any split, stock dividend, combination of Shares or other similar transaction shall be deemed to be a part of the Shares and subject to the same conditions and restrictions applicable thereto. You do not have the right to make an election pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Adjustments

In the event of a split, a dividend or a similar change in the Shares, the number of Shares covered by this Grant may be adjusted (pursuant to the Plan.  Your Restricted Share Units shall be subject to the terms of the agreement of merger, liquidation or reorganization in the event the Company is subject to such corporate activity.

Successors and Assigns

The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein, this Agreement will be binding upon you and your beneficiaries, executors, administrators and the person(s) to whom the Restricted Share Units may be transferred by will or the laws of descent or distribution.

The Plan

The Plan is discretionary and may be amended, canceled or terminated by the Company at any time, in its discretion.  The Grant of the Restricted Share Units under this Agreement does not create any contractual right or other right to receive any Restricted Share Units or other grants in the future. Future grants, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Company. Any amendment, modification, or termination of the Plan shall not constitute a change or impairment of the terms and conditions of your service with the Company.

The text of the Plan is incorporated in this Agreement by reference. Except as otherwise noted, capitalized terms used in this Agreement, and not otherwise defined in this Agreement, have the meaning set forth in the Plan.

This Agreement and the Plan constitute the entire understanding between you and the Company with regard to the Restricted Share

- 4 -


Units granted pursuant to this Agreement. Any prior agreements, commitments or negotiations concerning the Restricted Share Units to which this Agreement applies, are superseded.

Notices

Any notice required to be delivered to the Company under this Agreement shall be in writing and addressed to the Corporate Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal corporate offices. Any notice required to be delivered to you under this Agreement shall be in writing and addressed to you at your address as shown in the records of the Company. Either party may designate another address in writing (or by such other method approved by the Company) from time to time.

Applicable Law

This Agreement will be interpreted and enforced under 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 Agreement to the substantive law of another jurisdiction.

Severability

The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement or the Plan shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement or the Plan, and each provision of this Agreement and the Plan shall be severable and enforceable to the extent permitted by law.

Data Privacy

In order to administer the Plan, the Company may process personal data about you. Such data includes, but is not limited to, the information provided in this Agreement and any changes thereto, other appropriate personal and financial data about you such as home address and business addresses and other contact information, payroll information and any other information that might be deemed appropriate by the Company to facilitate the administration of the Plan.

By accepting this Grant, you give explicit consent to the Company to process any such personal data. You also give explicit consent to the Company to transfer any such personal data outside the country in which you work or are employed, including, with respect to non-U.S. resident Grantees, to the United States, to transferees who shall include the Company and other persons who are designated by the Company to administer the Plan.

Consent to Electronic Delivery

The Company may choose to deliver certain statutory materials relating to the Plan in electronic form. By accepting this Grant, you agree that the Company may deliver the Plan prospectus and the Company’s annual report to you in an electronic format. If at any time you would prefer to receive paper copies of these documents, as you are entitled to, the Company would be pleased to provide copies. Please contact the Corporate Secretary of the Company to request paper copies of these documents.

- 5 -


By signing the cover sheet of this Agreement, you agree to all of the terms and conditions described above and in the Plan.

- 6 -


Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER

PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Christopher P. Marr, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of CubeSmart;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s Board of Trustees (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: August 4, 2023

/s/ Christopher P. Marr

Christopher P. Marr

Chief Executive Officer


Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER

PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Timothy M. Martin, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of CubeSmart;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s Board of Trustees (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: August 4, 2023

/s/ Timothy M. Martin

Timothy M. Martin

Chief Financial Officer


Exhibit 31.3

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER

PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Christopher P. Marr, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of CubeSmart L.P.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s Board of Trustees (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: August 4, 2023

/s/ Christopher P. Marr

Christopher P. Marr

Chief Executive Officer


Exhibit 31.4

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER

PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Timothy M. Martin, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of CubeSmart L.P.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s Board of Trustees (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: August 4, 2023

/s/ Timothy M. Martin

Timothy M. Martin

Chief Financial Officer


Exhibit 32.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

The undersigned, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of CubeSmart (the “Company”), each hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(a) The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the period ended June 30, 2023 (the “Report”) filed on the date hereof with the Securities and Exchange Commission fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

(b) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: August 4, 2023

/s/ Christopher P. Marr

Christopher P. Marr

Chief Executive Officer

Date: August 4, 2023

/s/ Timothy M. Martin

Timothy M. Martin

Chief Financial Officer

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.


Exhibit 32.2

Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

The undersigned, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of CubeSmart L.P. (the “Company”), each hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(a) The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the period ended June 30, 2023 (the “Report”) filed on the date hereof with the Securities and Exchange Commission fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

(b) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: August 4, 2023

/s/ Christopher P. Marr

Christopher P. Marr

Chief Executive Officer

Date: August 4, 2023

/s/ Timothy M. Martin

Timothy M. Martin

Chief Financial Officer

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.