THE MACERICH COMPANY SIGN-ON LTIP INDUCEMENT UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT (Service- Based)
Exhibit 10.3
This SIGN-ON LTIP INDUCEMENT UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT (Service-Based) (this “Agreement” or “Award Agreement”) is made as of the date set forth on Schedule A hereto between The Macerich Company, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), its subsidiary The Macerich Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership and the entity through which the Company conducts substantially all of its operations (the “Partnership”), and the party listed on Schedule A (the “Grantee”).
RECITALS
A. The Grantee is a key employee of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries or affiliates and provides services to the Partnership.
B. Sign-On LTIP Units (as defined herein) have been awarded by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) pursuant to authority set forth in the Committee’s charter, including authority to make grants of equity interests in the Partnership. This Agreement evidences an award to the Grantee (this “Award”), which is subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein. This Award constitutes a non-plan “inducement award,” as contemplated by New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual Rule 303A.08, and is therefore not made pursuant to The Macerich Company 2003 Equity Incentive Plan, or any successor equity plan (as such plan may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, collectively the “Stock Plan”) or the Company’s Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “LTIP”). Nonetheless, the terms and provisions of the 2003 Plan and the LTIP are hereby incorporated into this Agreement by this reference, as though fully set forth herein, as if this Award were granted pursuant to the 2003 Plan and the LTIP. Unless the context herein otherwise requires, the terms defined in the 2003 Plan and the LTIP shall have the same meanings herein.
C. The Grantee was selected by the Board to receive this Award as one of a select group of highly compensated or management employees who, through the effective execution of their assigned duties and responsibilities, are in a position to have a direct and measurable impact on the Company’s long-term financial results. Effective as of the grant date specified in Schedule A hereto, the Board awarded to the Grantee the number of Sign-On LTIP Units (as defined herein) set forth in Schedule A.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Company, the Partnership and the Grantee agree as follows:
1.Administration. The LTIP and this Award shall be administered by the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”), which in the administration of this Award and the LTIP shall have all the powers and authority it has in the administration of the Stock Plan, as set forth in the Stock Plan. The Committee may from time to time adopt any rules or
procedures it deems necessary or desirable for the proper and efficient administration of this Award and the LTIP, consistent with the terms hereof and of the Stock Plan.
2.Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein without definitions shall have the meanings given to those terms in the Stock Plan. In addition, as used herein:
“Cause” means “Cause” as defined in the Severance Arrangement, as modified pursuant to the terms and conditions of Grantee’s Service Agreement.
“Change of Control” means any of the following:
(a)The acquisition by any Person of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 33% or more of either (A) the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (B) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that, for purposes of this definition, the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of Control: (i) any acquisition directly from the Company, (ii) any acquisition by the Company, (iii) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any affiliate of the Company or successor or (iv) any acquisition by any entity pursuant to a transaction that complies with (c)(i), (c)(ii) and (c)(iii) below;
(b)Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board (including for these purposes, the new members whose election or nomination was so approved, without counting the member and his predecessor twice) shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board;
(c)Consummation of a reorganization, merger, statutory share exchange or consolidation or similar corporate transaction involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries, a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity by the Company or any of its subsidiaries (each, a “Business Combination”), in each case unless, following such Business Combination, (i) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities that were the beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 60% of the then-outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such Business Combination (including, without
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limitation, an entity that, as a result of such transaction, owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets directly or through one or more subsidiaries (“Parent”)) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (ii) no Person (excluding any entity resulting from such Business Combination or a Parent or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such entity resulting from such Business Combination or Parent) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the entity resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such entity, except to the extent that the ownership in excess of 20% existed prior to the Business Combination, and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors or trustees of the entity resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or of the action of the Board providing for such Business Combination; or
(d)Approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Common Stock” means shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, either currently existing or authorized hereafter.
“Competitive Activities” means that the Grantee, directly or indirectly, whether as owner, partner, shareholder, consultant, agent, employee, co-venturer or otherwise, engages, participates, assists or invests in any Competing Business (as hereinafter defined). The term “Competing Business” shall mean a publicly traded real estate investment trust that is identified by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“Nareit”) as a “mall REIT” or “shopping center REIT” (other than the Company or a surviving or resulting entity upon a Change of Control, or any of their respective affiliates). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Grantee may own equity securities of an entity which constitutes, or is affiliated with, a Competing Business, so long at their value does not exceed two percent (2%) of the aggregate equity market capitalization of the Competing Business.
“Continuous Service” means the continuous service to the Company or any Subsidiary or affiliate, without interruption or termination. Continuous Service shall not be considered interrupted in the case of (A) any approved leave of absence, (B) transfers among the Company and any Subsidiary or affiliate, or any successor, in any capacity of employee, or with the written consent of the Committee, consultant, or (C) any change in status as long as the individual remains in the service of the Company and any Subsidiary or affiliate in any capacity of employee, member of the Board or (if the Company specifically agrees in writing that the Continuous Service is not uninterrupted) a consultant. An approved leave of absence shall include sick leave, military leave, or any other authorized personal leave.
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“Disability” means a “disability”, as determined under the Company’s long-term disability plan in effect on the date of termination, entitling the Grantee to benefits under such long-term disability plan.
“Effective Date” means March 1, 2024.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Good Reason” means “Good Reason” as defined in the Severance Arrangement, as modified pursuant to the terms and conditions of Grantee’s Service Agreement.
“LTIP Units” means units of limited partnership interest of the Partnership designated as “LTIP Units” in the Partnership Agreement awarded pursuant to this Agreement under the LTIP having the rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption set forth in the Partnership Agreement.
“Partnership Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of the Partnership, dated as of March 16, 1994, among the Company, as general partner, and the limited partners who are parties thereto, as amended from time to time.
“Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, trust, unincorporated organization, other entity or “group” (as defined in the Exchange Act).
“Qualified Termination” means a termination of the Grantee’s employment (A) by the Company for no reason, or for any reason (other than for Cause, death or Disability) or, (B) by the Grantee for Good Reason.
“Restricted Period” means March 1, 2024, through March 1, 2029.
“Retirement” means Xxxxxxx’s voluntary termination of employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries on or after the attainment of age 55 and completion of ten (10) years of employment with the Company and/or a Subsidiary, provided that (1) the Grantee has provided notice of at least six (6) months prior to the effective date of the Grantee’s retirement and (2) following Retirement the Grantee does not engage in Competitive Activities during the balance of the Restricted Period. For purposes of the foregoing, Grantee shall be provided with years of service crediting in accordance with Grantee’s Service Agreement.
“Service Agreement” means Xxxxxxx’s Employment Agreement with the Company dated as of February 1, 2024.
“Severance Arrangement” means The Macerich Company Amended and Restated Severance Pay Plan, as in effect on the Effective Date.
“Sign-On LTIP Units” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).
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“Units” means Partnership Units (as defined in the Partnership Agreement) that are outstanding or are issuable upon the conversion, exercise, exchange or redemption of any securities of any kind convertible, exercisable, exchangeable or redeemable for Partnership Units.
“Vesting Date” means each of the vesting dates set forth in Section 4.
“Vesting Schedule” means the vesting schedule set forth in Section 4.
3.Award of Sign-On LTIP Units.
(a)On the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, as well as the terms and conditions of the Stock Plan, the Grantee is hereby granted this Award consisting of the number of Sign-On LTIP Units set forth on Schedule A hereto opposite “Sign-On LTIP Units”, which is incorporated herein by reference (the “Sign-On LTIP Units”).
(b)Sign-On LTIP Units shall constitute and be treated as the property of the Grantee as of the applicable grant date, subject to the terms of this Agreement and the Partnership Agreement. Every grant of Sign-On LTIP Units to the Grantee pursuant to this Award shall be set forth in minutes of the meetings of the Board. Sign-On LTIP Units will be: (A) subject to vesting and/or forfeiture to the extent provided in Section 4 and Section 5 hereof; and (B) subject to restrictions on transfer as provided in Section 8 hereof.
4.Vesting of Sign-On LTIP Units.
(a)Except as otherwise provided in this Section 4 or Section 5 hereof and/or the Stock Plan, the Sign-On LTIP Units shall become vested in the amounts provided in Schedule A hereto, provided that the Continuous Service of the Grantee continues through and on the relevant Vesting Date.
(b)The Grantee agrees to provide Continuous Service to the Company in consideration for the conditional rights to the unvested Sign-On LTIP Units. Except as otherwise provided in Section 5 or pursuant to the Stock Plan, the Vesting Schedule provided in Schedule A hereto requires Continuous Service through each applicable Vesting Date as a condition to the vesting of the applicable installment and rights and benefits under this Agreement. Partial service, even if substantial, during any vesting period will not entitle the Grantee to any proportionate vesting or avoid or mitigate a termination of rights and benefits upon or following a termination of employment or service except as provided in Section 5 below or under the Stock Plan.
(c)Any Sign-On LTIP Units that do not become vested pursuant to this Section 4 or Section 5 below shall, without payment of any consideration by the Partnership, automatically and without notice terminate, be forfeited and be and become null and void, and neither the Grantee nor any of his or her successors, heirs, assigns, or personal representatives will thereafter have any further rights or interests in such unvested Sign-On LTIP Units.
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5.Change of Control or Termination of Xxxxxxx’s Service Relationship.
(a)If the Grantee is a party to a Service Agreement, the provisions of this Section 5 shall govern the vesting of the Grantee’s Sign-On LTIP Units exclusively in the event of a Change of Control or termination of the Grantee’s service relationship with the Company or any Subsidiary or affiliate, unless the Service Agreement contains provisions that expressly refer to this Section 5 and provides that those provisions of the Service Agreement or the Severance Arrangement shall instead govern the vesting of the Grantee’s Sign-On LTIP Units. The foregoing sentence will be deemed an amendment to any applicable Service Agreement to the extent required to apply its terms consistently with this Section 5, such that, by way of illustration, any provisions of the Service Agreement with respect to accelerated vesting or payout of the Grantee’s bonus or incentive compensation awards in the event of certain types of terminations of Grantee’s service relationship (such as, for example, termination at the end of the term, termination without Cause by the employer or termination for Good Reason by the employee) shall not (unless the Service Agreement contains provisions that expressly refer to this Section 5 and provides that those provisions of the Service Agreement shall instead govern the vesting of the Grantee’s Sign-On LTIP Units) be interpreted as requiring that any vesting occur with respect to this Award other than as specifically provided in this Section 5. In the event an entity ceases to be a Subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, such action shall be deemed to be a termination of employment of all employees of that entity for purposes of this Agreement, resulting in any then unvested Sign-On LTIP Units, without payment of any consideration by the Partnership, being automatically and without notice forfeited, provided that the Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion, may make provision in such circumstances for accelerated vesting of some or all of the Grantee’s remaining unvested Sign-On LTIP Units that have not previously been forfeited effective immediately prior to such event.
(b)In the event of a Change of Control prior to March 1, 2029, then:
(i)if the Sign-On LTIP Units remain outstanding after a Change of Control or equivalent replacement awards (as defined in Section 5(b)(iii) hereof) are substituted for the Sign-On LTIP Units at the time of the Change of Control, then unvested Sign-On LTIP Units shall remain subject to vesting tied to the Grantee’s Continuous Service until March 1, 2029 as if no Change of Control had occurred, except that the Grantee shall become fully vested in such Sign-On LTIP Units immediately (A) upon the Grantee’s Qualified Termination in connection with or within twenty-four (24) months after the Change of Control, or (B) upon the Grantee’s death, Disability or Retirement;
(ii)if neither the Sign-On LTIP Units remain outstanding after a Change of Control nor equivalent replacement awards (as defined in Section 5(b)(iii) hereof) are substituted for the Sign-On LTIP Units at the time of the Change of Control, then the Grantee shall become fully vested in all unvested Sign-On LTIP Units as of the date of the Change of Control; and
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(iii)an award shall qualify as an “equivalent replacement award” if the following conditions are met in the good faith discretion of the Committee:
(A)the replacement award is of the same type as the Sign-On LTIP Units being replaced, including, without limitation, income tax attributes relating to the extent and timing of recognition of taxable income, gain or loss by the Grantee;
(B)the replacement award has a value equal to the Fair Market Value of the Sign-On LTIP Units being replaced as of the effective date of the Change of Control;
(C)the equity securities issuable upon the conversion, exercise, exchange or redemption of the replacement award, or securities underlying the replacement award, as applicable, are listed on a national stock exchange;
(D)the replacement award contains terms relating to vesting (including with respect to the Grantee’s Qualified Termination, death, Disability or Retirement) that are substantially identical to those of the Sign-On LTIP Units; and
(E)the other terms and conditions of the replacement award are not less favorable to the Grantee than the terms and conditions of the Sign-On LTIP Units.
(c)Except as otherwise provided in Section 5(b), in the event of the Grantee’s Qualified Termination, death, Retirement or Disability (as applicable below) prior to the end of the Restricted Period, conditioned upon the execution and delivery by the Grantee of a release of claims substantially in the form of Schedule A to the Severance Arrangement and the Grantee’s compliance with the restrictive covenants set forth in Section 9 of the Grantee’s Service Agreement, the following provision of this Section 5(c) shall modify the vesting for the Grantee, subject, in each case, to the provisions of Sections 6.4 and 6.5 of the Stock Plan: if Grantee experiences a Qualified Termination, Retirement, death or Disability any portion of the Sign-On LTIP Units that has not then vested shall become fully vested immediately upon the Grantee’s Qualified Termination, death, Disability or Retirement.
(d)In the event of a termination of employment or other cessation of the Grantee’s Continuous Service prior to the end of the Restricted Period, effective as of the date of such termination or cessation, all Sign-On LTIP Units except for those that had previously vested pursuant to Section 4 hereof and those that otherwise become vested pursuant to this Section 5 shall automatically and immediately be forfeited by the Grantee. Any forfeited Sign-On LTIP Units shall, without payment of any consideration by the Partnership, automatically and without notice be and become null and void, and neither the Grantee nor any of his
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successors, heirs, assigns, or personal representatives will thereafter have any further rights or interests in such forfeited Sign-On LTIP Units.
6.Payments by Award Recipients. No amount shall be payable to the Company or the Partnership by the Grantee at any time in respect of this Award.
7.Distributions. Distributions on Sign-On LTIP Units will be paid in accordance with the Partnership Agreement as modified hereby as follows:
(a)The LTIP Unit Distribution Participation Date (as defined in the Partnership Agreement) with respect to the Sign-On LTIP Units shall be the Effective Date and the Sign-On LTIP Units shall be entitled to the full distribution payable on Units outstanding as of the record date for the quarterly distribution in which the Effective Date falls even though the Sign-On LTIP Units will not have been outstanding for the whole quarterly period. All distributions paid with respect to Sign-On LTIP Units shall be fully vested and non-forfeitable when paid whether the underlying Sign-On LTIP Units are vested or unvested.
(b)To the extent that the Partnership makes distributions to holders of Units partially in cash and partially in additional Units or other securities, unless the Committee in its sole discretion determines to allow the Grantee to make a different election, the Grantee shall be deemed to have elected with respect to all Sign-On LTIP Units eligible to receive such distribution to receive 10% of such distribution in cash and 90% in Units.
8.Restrictions on Transfer. None of the Sign-On LTIP Units shall be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of or encumbered (whether voluntarily or involuntarily or by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or other legal or equitable proceeding) (each such action a “Transfer”), or redeemed in accordance with the Partnership Agreement (a) prior to vesting, and (b) unless such Transfer is in compliance with all applicable securities laws (including, without limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)), and such Transfer is in accordance with the applicable terms and conditions of the Partnership Agreement; provided, however, that clause (a) above shall not apply with respect to (i) the conversion into Units of Sign-On LTIP Units that have become vested in accordance with Sections 4 or 5 hereof (“Converted LTIP Units”) or (ii) any Transfer either of Sign-On LTIP Units that have become vested in accordance with Sections 4 or 5 hereof or of Converted LTIP Units, so long as such Transfer is (A) permitted under the Partnership Agreement and (B) in connection with donative, estate or tax planning by the Grantee; and provided, further, that the Transferee agrees in writing with the Company and the Partnership not to make any further Transfer of such vested Sign-On LTIP Units or Converted LTIP Units other than as permitted by this Section 8. In connection with any Transfer of Sign-On LTIP Units or Converted LTIP Units, the Partnership may require the Grantee to provide an opinion of counsel, satisfactory to the Partnership, that such Transfer is in compliance with all federal and state securities laws (including, without limitation, the Securities Act). Any attempted Transfer of Sign-On LTIP Units not in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Section 8 shall be null and void, and the Partnership shall not reflect on its records any change in record ownership of any Sign-On LTIP Units as a result of any such Transfer, shall otherwise refuse to recognize any such Transfer and shall not in any way give effect to any such Transfer of any
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Sign-On LTIP Units. The restrictions on Transfer in this Section 8 shall not be interpreted to prohibit the Grantee from designating one or more beneficiaries to receive the Grantee’s LTIP Units or Converted LTIP Units that are payable in the event of the Grantee’s death. Any such beneficiary designation shall be on a form provided or approved by the Company.
9.Changes in Capital Structure. Without duplication with the provisions of Section 6.2 of the Stock Plan, if (a) the Company shall at any time be involved in a merger, consolidation, dissolution, liquidation, reorganization, exchange of shares, sale of all or substantially all of the assets or stock of the Company, spin-off of a Subsidiary, business unit or significant portion of assets or other fundamental transaction similar thereto, (b) any stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, stock combination, reclassification, recapitalization, significant repurchases of stock, or other similar change in the capital structure of the Company shall occur, (c) any extraordinary dividend or other distribution to holders of shares of Common Stock or Units other than regular cash dividends shall be made, or (d) any other event shall occur that in each case in the good faith judgment of the Committee necessitates action by way of appropriate equitable adjustment in the terms of this Award, the LTIP or the Sign-On LTIP Units, then the Committee shall take such action as it deems necessary to maintain the Grantee’s rights hereunder so that they are substantially proportionate to the rights existing under this Award, the LTIP and the terms of the Sign-On LTIP Units prior to such event, including, without limitation: (i) adjustments in the Sign-On LTIP Units or other pertinent terms of this Award; and (ii) substitution of other awards under the Stock Plan or otherwise. The Grantee shall have the right to vote the Sign-On LTIP Units if and when voting is allowed under the Partnership Agreement, regardless of whether vesting has occurred.
10.Miscellaneous.
(a)Amendments; Modifications. This Agreement may be amended or modified only with the consent of the Company and the Partnership; provided that any such amendment or modification materially and adversely affecting the rights of the Grantee hereunder must be consented to by the Grantee to be effective as against him; and provided, further, that the Grantee acknowledges that the Stock Plan may be amended or discontinued in accordance with Section 6.6 thereof and that this Agreement may be amended or canceled by the Committee, on behalf of the Company and the Partnership, for the purpose of satisfying changes in law or for any other lawful purpose, so long as no such action shall impair the Grantee’s rights under this Agreement without the Grantee’s written consent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be amended in writing signed only by the Company to correct any errors or ambiguities in this Agreement and/or to make such changes that do not materially adversely affect the Grantee’s rights hereunder. No promises, assurances, commitments, agreements, undertakings or representations, whether oral, written, electronic or otherwise, and whether express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof, have been made by the parties which are not set forth expressly in this Agreement. This grant shall in no way affect the Grantee’s participation or benefits under any other plan or benefit program maintained or provided by the Company.
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(b)Incorporation of Stock Plan and Severance Arrangement; Committee Determinations. The provisions of the Stock Plan and the Severance Arrangement are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth herein. In the event of a conflict between this Agreement and the Stock Plan or this Agreement and the Severance Arrangement, this Agreement shall be controlling and determinative, except as otherwise expressly indicated otherwise in the Stock Plan or the Severance Arrangement. The Committee will make the determinations and certifications required by this Award as promptly as reasonably practicable following the occurrence of the event or events necessitating such determinations or certifications.
(c)Status as a Partner. As of the grant date set forth on Schedule A, the Grantee shall be admitted as a partner of the Partnership with beneficial ownership of the number of Sign-On LTIP Units issued to the Grantee as of such date pursuant to Section 3(a) hereof by: (A) signing and delivering to the Partnership a copy of this Agreement; and (B) signing, as a Limited Partner, and delivering to the Partnership a counterpart signature page to the Partnership Agreement (attached hereto as Exhibit A).
(d)Status of Sign-On LTIP Units. The Company will have the right at its option, as set forth in the Partnership Agreement, to issue shares of Common Stock in exchange for Units into which Sign-On LTIP Units may have been converted pursuant to the Partnership Agreement, subject to certain limitations set forth in the Partnership Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, such shares of Common Stock, if issued, will be issued from the Company’s authorized shares of Common Stock. The Grantee must be eligible to receive the Sign-On LTIP Units in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and to that effect is required to complete, execute and deliver certain covenants, representations and warranties (attached as Exhibit B). The Grantee acknowledges that the Grantee will have no right to approve or disapprove such determination by the Committee.
(e)Legend. The records of the Partnership evidencing the Sign-On LTIP Units shall bear an appropriate legend, as determined by the Partnership in its sole discretion, to the effect that such Sign-On LTIP Units are subject to restrictions as set forth herein, in the Stock Plan and in the Partnership Agreement.
(f)Compliance With Securities Laws. The Partnership and the Grantee will make reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable securities laws. In addition, notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, no Sign-On LTIP Units will become vested or be issued at a time that such vesting or issuance would result in a violation of any such laws.
(g)Investment Representations; Registration. The Grantee hereby makes the covenants, representations and warranties set forth on Exhibit B attached hereto. All of such covenants, warranties and representations shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Grantee. The Partnership will have no obligation to register under the Securities Act any Sign-On LTIP Units or any other securities issued pursuant to this Agreement or upon conversion or exchange of Sign-On LTIP Units. The Grantee agrees that any resale of the shares of Common Stock received upon the exchange of Units into which Sign-On LTIP Units
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may be converted shall not occur during the “blackout periods” forbidding sales of Company securities, as set forth in the then applicable Company employee manual or xxxxxxx xxxxxxx policy. In addition, any resale shall be made in compliance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act or an applicable exemption therefrom, including, without limitation, the exemption provided by Rule 144 promulgated thereunder (or any successor rule).
(h)Section 83(b) Election. In connection with the issuance of Sign-On LTIP Units under this Award pursuant to Section 3 hereof the Grantee may (but is not required to) make an election to include in gross income in the year of transfer the applicable Sign-On LTIP Units pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C and, if such an election is made, the Grantee shall provide to the Company a copy thereof and supply to the Company such other information as the Company is required to maintain or file in accordance with the regulations promulgated thereunder.
(i)Severability. If, for any reason, any provision of this Agreement is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement not so held invalid, and each such other provision shall to the full extent consistent with law continue in full force and effect. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid in part, such invalidity shall in no way affect the rest of such provision not held so invalid, and the rest of such provision, together with all other provisions of this Agreement, shall to the full extent consistent with law continue in full force and effect.
(j)Governing Law. This Agreement is made under, and will be construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws of such state.
(k)No Obligation to Continue Position as an Employee, Consultant or Advisor. Neither the Company nor any affiliate is obligated by or as a result of this Agreement to continue to have the Grantee as an employee, consultant or advisor and this Agreement shall not interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any affiliate to terminate the Grantee’s service relationship at any time.
(l)Notices. Any notice to be given to the Company shall be addressed to the Secretary of the Company at its principal place of business and any notice to be given the Grantee shall be addressed to the Grantee at the Grantee’s address as it appears on the employment records of the Company, or at such other address as the Company or the Grantee may hereafter designate in writing to the other.
(m)Withholding and Taxes. No later than the date as of which an amount first becomes includible in the gross income of the Grantee for income tax purposes or subject to the Federal Insurance Contributions Act withholding with respect to this Award, the Grantee will pay to the Company or, if appropriate, any of its affiliates, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Committee regarding the payment of, any United States federal, state or local or foreign taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to such amount. The obligations of the Company under this Agreement will be conditional on such payment or
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arrangements, and the Company and its affiliates shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment otherwise due to the Grantee.
(n)Headings. The headings of paragraphs hereof are included solely for convenience of reference and shall not control the meaning or interpretation of any of the provisions of this Agreement.
(o)Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts with the same effect as if each of the signing parties had signed the same document. All counterparts shall be construed together and constitute the same instrument.
(p)Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and any successors to the Company and the Partnership, on the one hand, and any successors to the Grantee, on the other hand, by will or the laws of descent and distribution, but this Agreement shall not otherwise be assignable or otherwise subject to hypothecation by the Grantee.
(q)409A. To the extent applicable, this Agreement shall be construed, administered and interpreted in accordance with a good faith interpretation of Section 409A of the Code. Any provision of this Agreement that is inconsistent with Section 409A of the Code, to the extent applicable, or that may result in penalties under Section 409A of the Code, shall be amended, in consultation with the Grantee and with the reasonable cooperation of the Grantee and the Company, in the least restrictive manner necessary to (i) exclude the applicable payment or benefit under this Agreement from the definition of “deferred compensation” within the meaning of such Section 409A or (ii) comply with the provisions of Section 409A, other applicable provision(s) of the Code and/or any rules, regulations or other regulatory guidance issued under such statutory provisions, in each case without diminution in the value of the benefits granted hereby to the Grantee. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event the amounts payable under this Agreement are determined to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code, then, to the extent the Grantee is a “specified employee” under Section 409A of the Code subject to the six-month delay thereunder, any such vesting or related payments to be made during the six-month period commencing on the Grantee’s “separation from service” (as defined in Section 409A of the Code) shall be delayed until the expiration of such six-month period.
(r)Complete Agreement. This Agreement (together with those agreements and documents expressly referred to herein, for the purposes referred to herein) embody the complete and entire agreement and understanding between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersede any and all prior promises, assurances, commitments, agreements, undertakings or representations, whether oral, written, electronic or otherwise, and whether express or implied, which may relate to the subject matter hereof in any way.
[signature page follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Award Agreement to be executed as of the 1st day of March, 2024.
THE MACERICH COMPANY
By:
THE MACERICH PARTNERSHIP, L.P.
By: The Macerich Company,
its general partner
its general partner
By:
GRANTEE
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EXHIBIT A
FORM OF LIMITED PARTNER SIGNATURE PAGE
The Grantee, desiring to become one of the within named Limited Partners of The Macerich Partnership, L.P., hereby accepts all of the terms and conditions of (including, without limitation, the provisions related to powers of attorney), and becomes a party to, the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of The Macerich Partnership, L.P., dated as of March 16, 1994, as amended from time to time (the “Partnership Agreement”). The Grantee agrees that this signature page may be attached to any counterpart of the Partnership Agreement and further agrees as follows (where the term “Limited Partner” refers to the Grantee):
1.The Limited Partner xxxxxx confirms that it has reviewed the terms of the Partnership Agreement and affirms and agrees that it is bound by each of the terms and conditions of the Partnership Agreement, including, without limitation, the provisions thereof relating to limitations and restrictions on the transfer of Partnership Units. Without limitation of the foregoing, the Limited Partner is deemed to have made all of the acknowledgements, waivers and agreements set forth in Sections 10.6 and 13.11 of the Partnership Agreement.
2.The Limited Partner hereby confirms that it is acquiring the Partnership Units for its own account as principal, for investment and not with a view to resale or distribution, and that the Partnership Units may not be transferred or otherwise disposed of by the Limited Partner otherwise than in a transaction pursuant to a registration statement filed by the Partnership (which it has no obligation to file) or that is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and all applicable state and foreign securities laws, and the General Partner may refuse to transfer any Partnership Units as to which evidence of such registration or exemption from registration satisfactory to the General Partner is not provided to it, which evidence may include the requirement of a legal opinion regarding the exemption from such registration. If the General Partner delivers to the Limited Partner shares of common stock of the General Partner (“Common Shares”) upon redemption of any Partnership Units, the Common Shares will be acquired for the Limited Partner’s own account as principal, for investment and not with a view to resale or distribution, and the Common Shares may not be transferred or otherwise disposed of by the Limited Partner otherwise than in a transaction pursuant to a registration statement filed by the General Partner with respect to such Common Shares (which it has no obligation under the Partnership Agreement to file) or that is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and all applicable state and foreign securities laws, and the General Partner may refuse to transfer any Common Shares as to which evidence of such registration or exemption from such registration satisfactory to the General Partner is not provided to it, which evidence may include the requirement of a legal opinion regarding the exemption from such registration.
3.The Limited Partner hereby affirms that it has appointed the General Partner, any liquidator and authorized officers and attorneys-in-fact of each, and each of those acting singly, in each case with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful agent and attorney-in-
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fact, with full power and authority in its name, place and stead, in accordance with Section 6.10 of the Partnership Agreement, which Section is hereby incorporated by reference. The foregoing power of attorney is hereby declared to be irrevocable and a power coupled with an interest, and it shall survive and not be affected by the death, incompetency, dissolution, disability, incapacity, bankruptcy or termination of the Limited Partner and shall extend to the Limited Partner’s heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors and assigns.
4.The Limited Partner hereby irrevocably consents in advance to any amendment to the Partnership Agreement, as may be recommended by the General Partner, intended to avoid the Partnership being treated as a publicly-traded partnership within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Internal Revenue Code, including, without limitation, (a) any amendment to the provisions of Section 9.1 or the Redemption Rights Exhibit of the Partnership Agreement intended to increase the waiting period between the delivery of a notice of redemption and the redemption date to up to sixty (60) days or (b) any other amendment to the Partnership Agreement intended to make the redemption and transfer provisions, with respect to certain redemptions and transfers, more similar to the provisions described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704 1(f).
5.The Limited Partner hereby appoints the General Partner, any Liquidator and authorized officers and attorneys-in-fact of each, and each of those acting singly, in each case with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority in its name, place and stead, to execute and deliver any amendment referred to in the foregoing paragraph 4(a) on the Limited Partner’s behalf. The foregoing power of attorney is hereby declared to be irrevocable and a power coupled with an interest, and it shall survive and not be affected by the death, incompetency, dissolution, disability, incapacity, bankruptcy or termination of the Limited Partner and shall extend to the Limited Partner’s heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors and assigns.
6.The Limited Partner agrees that it will not transfer any interest in the Partnership Units (i) through a national, non-U.S., regional, local or other securities exchange or (ii) an over-the-counter market (including an interdealer quotation system that regularly disseminates firm buy or sell quotations by identified brokers or dealers by electronic means or otherwise) or (iii) to or through (a) a person, such as a broker or dealer, that makes a market in, or regularly quotes prices for, interests in the Partnership or (b) a person that regularly makes available to the public (including customers or subscribers) bid or offer quotes with respect to any interests in the Partnership and stands ready to effect transactions at the quoted prices for itself or on behalf of others.
7.The Limited Partner acknowledges that the General Partner shall be a third party beneficiary of the representations, covenants and agreements set forth in Sections 4 and 5 hereof. The Limited Partner agrees that it will transfer, whether by assignment or otherwise, Partnership Units only to the General Partner or to transferees that provide the Partnership and the General Partner with the representations and covenants set forth in Sections 4 and 5 hereof.
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8.This Acceptance shall be construed and enforced in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law.
Signature Line for Limited Partner:
Date: March 1, 2024
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EXHIBIT B
GRANTEE’S COVENANTS, REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
The Grantee hereby represents, warrants and covenants as follows:
(a)The Grantee has received and had an opportunity to review the following documents (the “Background Documents”):
(i)The Company’s latest Annual Report to Stockholders;
(ii)The Company’s Proxy Statement for its most recent Annual Meeting of Stockholders;
(iii)The Company’s Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year most recently ended;
(iv)The Company’s Form 10-Q, if any, for the most recently ended quarter filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission since the filing of the Form 10-K described in clause (iii) above;
(v)Each of the Company’s Current Report(s) on Form 8-K, if any, filed since the end of the fiscal year most recently ended for which a Form 10-K has been filed by the Company;
(vi)The Partnership Agreement;
(vii)The Stock Plan; and
(viii)The Company’s Articles of Amendment and Restatement, as amended.
The Grantee also acknowledges that any delivery of the Background Documents and other information relating to the Company and the Partnership prior to the determination by the Partnership of the suitability of the Grantee as a holder of Sign-On LTIP Units shall not constitute an offer of Sign-On LTIP Units until such determination of suitability shall be made.
(b)The Grantee hereby represents and warrants that:
(i)The Grantee either (A) is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act, or (B) by reason of the business and financial experience of the Grantee, together with the business and financial experience of those persons, if any, retained by the Grantee to represent or advise him with respect to the grant to him of Sign-On LTIP Units, the potential conversion of Sign-On LTIP Units into units of limited partnership of the Partnership (“Common Units”) and the potential redemption of such Common Units for shares the Company’s common stock (“REIT Shares”), has such knowledge, sophistication and experience in financial and business
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matters and in making investment decisions of this type that the Grantee (I) is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Partnership and potential investment in the Company and of making an informed investment decision, (II) is capable of protecting his own interest or has engaged representatives or advisors to assist him in protecting his interests, and (III) is capable of bearing the economic risk of such investment.
(ii)The Grantee, after due inquiry, hereby certifies that for purposes of Rule 506(d) and Rule 506(e) of the Securities Act, he is not subject to any felony or misdemeanor conviction related to any securities matter; any federal or state order, judgment, decree or injunction related to any securities, insurance, banking or U.S. Postal Service matter; any SEC disciplinary or cease and desist order; or any suspension, expulsion or bar related to a registered national securities exchange, national or affiliated securities association or member thereof, whether it occurred or was issued before, on or after September 23, 2013, and agrees that he will notify the Company immediately upon becoming aware that the foregoing is not, or is no longer, complete and accurate in every material respect, including as a result of events occurring after the date hereof.
(iii)The Grantee understands that (A) the Grantee is responsible for consulting his own tax advisors with respect to the application of the U.S. federal income tax laws, and the tax laws of any state, local or other taxing jurisdiction to which the Grantee is or by reason of the award of Sign-On LTIP Units may become subject, to his particular situation; (B) the Grantee has not received or relied upon business or tax advice from the Company, the Partnership or any of their respective employees, agents, consultants or advisors, in their capacity as such; (C) the Grantee provides services to the Partnership on a regular basis and in such capacity has access to such information, and has such experience of and involvement in the business and operations of the Partnership, as the Grantee believes to be necessary and appropriate to make an informed decision to accept the award of Sign-On LTIP Units; and (D) an investment in the Partnership and/or the Company involves substantial risks. The Grantee has been given the opportunity to make a thorough investigation of matters relevant to the Sign-On LTIP Units and has been furnished with, and has reviewed and understands, materials relating to the Partnership and the Company and their respective activities (including, but not limited to, the Background Documents). The Grantee has been afforded the opportunity to obtain any additional information (including any exhibits to the Background Documents) deemed necessary by the Grantee to verify the accuracy of information conveyed to the Grantee. The Grantee confirms that all documents, records, and books pertaining to his receipt of Sign-On LTIP Units which were requested by the Grantee have been made available or delivered to the Grantee. The Grantee has had an opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from the Partnership and the Company, or from a person or persons acting on their behalf, concerning the terms and conditions of the Sign-On LTIP Units. The Grantee has relied upon, and is making its decision solely upon, the Background Documents and other written information provided to the Grantee by the Partnership or the Company.
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(iv)The Sign-On LTIP Units to be issued, the Common Units issuable upon conversion of the Sign-On LTIP Units and any REIT Shares issued in connection with the redemption of any such Common Units will be acquired for the account of the Grantee for investment only and not with a current view to, or with any intention of, a distribution or resale thereof, in whole or in part, or the grant of any participation therein, without prejudice, however, to the Grantee’s right (subject to the terms of the Sign-On LTIP Units, the Stock Plan, the Partnership Agreement, the articles of organization of the Company, as amended, and this Agreement) at all times to sell or otherwise dispose of all or any part of his Sign-On LTIP Units, Common Units or REIT Shares in compliance with the Securities Act, and applicable state securities laws, and subject, nevertheless, to the disposition of his assets being at all times within his control.
(v)The Grantee acknowledges that (A) neither the Sign-On LTIP Units to be issued, nor the Common Units issuable upon conversion of the Sign-On LTIP Units, have been registered under the Securities Act or state securities laws by reason of a specific exemption or exemptions from registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws and, if such Sign-On LTIP Units or Common Units are represented by certificates, such certificates will bear a legend to such effect, (B) the reliance by the Partnership and the Company on such exemptions is predicated in part on the accuracy and completeness of the representations and warranties of the Grantee contained herein, (C) such Sign-On LTIP Units or Common Units, therefore, cannot be resold unless registered under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, or unless an exemption from registration is available, (D) there is no public market for such Sign-On LTIP Units and Common Units and (E) neither the Partnership nor the Company has any obligation or intention to register such Sign-On LTIP Units or the Common Units issuable upon conversion of the Sign-On LTIP Units under the Securities Act or any state securities laws or to take any action that would make available any exemption from the registration requirements of such laws, except, that, upon the redemption of the Common Units for REIT Shares, the Company may issue such REIT Shares from the Company’s authorized REIT Shares and pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act, to the extent that (I) the Grantee is eligible to receive such REIT Shares at the time of such issuance, (II) the Company has filed a Form S-8 Registration Statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission registering the issuance of such REIT Shares and (III) such Form S-8 is effective at the time of the issuance of such REIT Shares. The Grantee hereby acknowledges that because of the restrictions on transfer or assignment of such Sign-On LTIP Units acquired hereby and the Common Units issuable upon conversion of the Sign-On LTIP Units which are set forth in the Partnership Agreement or this Agreement, the Grantee may have to bear the economic risk of his ownership of the Sign-On LTIP Units acquired hereby and the Common Units issuable upon conversion of the Sign-On LTIP Units for an indefinite period of time.
(vi)The Grantee has determined that the Sign-On LTIP Units are a suitable investment for the Grantee.
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(vii)No representations or warranties have been made to the Grantee by the Partnership or the Company, or any officer, director, stockholder, agent, or affiliate of any of them, and the Grantee has received no information relating to an investment in the Partnership or the Sign-On LTIP Units except the information specified in paragraph (b) above.
(c)So long as the Grantee holds any Sign-On LTIP Units, the Grantee shall disclose to the Partnership in writing such information as may be reasonably requested with respect to ownership of Sign-On LTIP Units as the Partnership may deem reasonably necessary to ascertain and to establish compliance with provisions of the Code, applicable to the Partnership or to comply with requirements of any other appropriate taxing authority.
(d)The address set forth on the signature page of this Agreement is the address of the Grantee’s principal residence, and the Grantee has no present intention of becoming a resident of any country, state or jurisdiction other than the country and state in which such residence is sited.
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EXHIBIT C
ELECTION TO INCLUDE IN GROSS INCOME IN YEAR OF
TRANSFER OF PROPERTY PURSUANT TO SECTION 83(b)
OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE
TRANSFER OF PROPERTY PURSUANT TO SECTION 83(b)
OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE
The undersigned hereby makes an election pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, Treasury Regulations Section 1.83-2 promulgated thereunder, and Rev. Proc. 2012-29, 2012-28 IRB, 06/26/2012, to include in gross income as compensation for services the excess (if any) of the fair market value of the property described below over the amount paid for such property.
1.The name, address and taxpayer identification number of the undersigned are:
Name: (the “Taxpayer”)
Address:
Social Security No./Taxpayer Identification No.: _____________
Taxable Year: Calendar Year 2024
2.Description of property with respect to which the election is being made:
The election is being made with respect to __________ Sign-On LTIP Units in The Macerich Partnership, L.P. (the “Partnership”).
3.The date on which the Sign-On LTIP Units were transferred to the undersigned is March 1, 2024.
4.Nature of restrictions to which the Sign-On LTIP Units are subject:
(a) Until the Sign-On LTIP Units vest, the Taxpayer may not transfer in any manner any portion of the Sign-On LTIP Units without the consent of the Partnership.
(b) The Taxpayer’s Sign-On LTIP Units vest in accordance with the vesting provisions described in the Schedule attached hereto. Unvested Sign-On LTIP Units are forfeited in accordance with the vesting provisions described in the Schedule attached hereto.
5.The fair market value at time of transfer (determined without regard to any restrictions other than a nonlapse restriction as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.83-3(h)) of the Sign-On LTIP Units with respect to which this election is being made was $0 per Sign-On LTIP Unit.
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6.The amount paid by the Taxpayer for the Sign-On LTIP Units was $0 per Sign-On LTIP Unit.
7.The amount to include in gross income is $0.
The undersigned taxpayer will file this election with the Internal Revenue Service office with which taxpayer files his or her annual income tax return not later than 30 days after the date of transfer of the property. A copy of the election also will be furnished to the person for whom the services were performed. The undersigned is the person performing the services in connection with which the property was transferred.
Dated:
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SCHEDULE TO 83(b) ELECTION
Vesting Provisions of Sign-On LTIP Units
LTIP Units are subject to service-based vesting with 50% of such units vesting on March 1, 2027, and 25% of such units vesting on each of March 1, 2028, and March 1, 2029. The above vesting is conditioned upon the Taxpayer’s continuous employment or service with The Macerich Company (the “Company”), or a subsidiary or affiliate thereof, through the applicable vesting dates, and subject to acceleration or continued vesting in the event of a change of control of the Company or termination of the Taxpayer’s service relationship with the Company under specified circumstances. Unvested LTIP Units are subject to forfeiture in the event of failure to vest based on the passage of time and continued service with the Company, or a subsidiary or affiliate thereof.
SCHEDULE A TO SIGN-ON INDUCEMENT UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT
(Service-Based)
(Service-Based)
| Date of Award Agreement: | March 1, 2024 | ||||
| Name of Grantee: | Xxxxxxx Xxxxx | ||||
| Number of Sign-On LTIP Units Subject to Xxxxx: | |||||
| Grant Date: | March 1, 2024 | ||||
Vesting Schedule:
| Vesting Date | Number of Sign-On LTIP Units Becoming Vested | Cumulative Percentage Vested | ||||||
| March 1, 2027 | (50%) | 50% | ||||||
| March 1, 2028 | (25%) | 75% | ||||||
| March 1, 2029 | (25%) | 100% | ||||||
Initials of Company representative: _________
Initials of Grantee: _________
