(g) “Peer Group TSR” shall mean, for each member of the Peer Group, the average annual return (common stock appreciation/depreciation during the Measurement Period plus dividends paid on a share of common stock during the Measurement Period) over the term of the Measurement Period, expressed as a percentage. For purposes of calculating common stock appreciation/depreciation, the common stock prices for the beginning and end of the Measurement Period shall be the volume-weighted average price of the common stock as reported on the principal securities exchange on which the common stock is listed for the twenty trading days preceding the start or end, as applicable, of the Measurement Period. For purposes of calculating the Peer Group TSR, dividends for the period shall be treated as reinvested. The Peer Group TSR shall be determined in the Company’s reasonable discretion.
(h) “Percentile Ranking” means the relative ranking of the Company based on the Company’s TSR for the Measurement Period compared to the Peer Group TSR of each member of the Peer Group for the same Measurement Period. For this purpose, the Percentile Rank will be determined using Excel’s PercentRank.Inc function, including the Company’s TSR in the array, or such other comparable method if the Excel function does not exist at the time.
9. Plan to Prevail. This Award Agreement, the Units and Additional Units granted hereby, and the Shares subject hereto, are subject to all of the terms and provisions of the Plan. In the event of a conflict between the terms and provisions of this Award Agreement and the Plan, the provisions in the Plan shall prevail. Unless otherwise explicitly indicated herein, in the event of a conflict between the terms and provisions of the Employment Agreement and the Plan and/or the Award Agreement, the provisions of the Employment Agreement shall prevail, provided that the terms of this Award Agreement shall govern the determination of the number of Units and Additional Units that shall vest if the Participant experiences a Covered Termination or upon a Change of Control.
10. Administration. By accepting the grant of the Units and right to receive Additional Units, the Participant agrees (i) that the Committee shall have full power to interpret the terms and conditions of this Award Agreement and resolve, in its sole discretion, any discrepancies or questions of facts, and (ii) that no member of the Committee shall be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Units, any Additional Units, or this Agreement. Any action taken or decision made by the Company, the Committee or its delegates arising out of or in connection with the construction, administration, interpretation or effect of this Award Agreement shall lie within its sole and absolute discretion, shall not require the Participant’s consent and shall be final, conclusive and binding upon the Participant and all persons claiming under or through the Participant. Any certifications by the Committee pursuant to this Award Agreement shall be determined in writing and may be in any form determined by the Committee (including as part of applicable meeting minutes or in a written consent). By accepting the grant of the Units and right to receive Additional Units, the Participant and each person claiming under or through the Participant shall be conclusively deemed to have indicated acceptance and ratification of, and consent to, any action taken or decision made under, or with respect to, this Award Agreement by the Company, the Committee or its delegates. Notwithstanding anything in this Award Agreement or the Plan to the contrary, the Committee may at any time, in its sole discretion, elect to vest or accelerate the vesting of all or any portion of the Units and Additional Units.
11. Notices. Any notice to be given to the Company hereunder shall be in writing and shall be addressed to the Company’s Chief Financial Officer at the Company’s headquarters, or at such other address as the Company may hereafter designate to the Participant by notice as provided in this Section 11. Any notice to be given to the Participant hereunder shall be addressed to the Participant’s home address of record with the Company. A notice shall be deemed to have been duly given when personally delivered or mailed by registered or certified mail to the party entitled to receive it.
12. No Employment/Service Right. The grant of the Units and the terms set forth in this Award Agreement shall not confer upon the Participant the right to employment with, or other service to, the Company.
13. Successors and Assigns. The terms of this Award Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and the successors and assigns of the Company.
14. No Right to Future Awards. The grant of the Units does not confer on the Participant any right or entitlement to receive any other compensation at any time in the future or with respect to any future period.
15. Governing Law. This Award Agreement shall be interpreted, construed and administered in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts executed and to be performed entirely therein, without giving effect to conflict of law provisions.
16. Section 409A of the Code. This Award Agreement and the Plan are intended to either avoid the application of, or comply with, Section 409A of the Code. To that end, this Award Agreement and the Plan shall at all times be interpreted in a manner that is consistent with Section 409A of the Code.
17. Entire Agreement. The Plan, this Award Agreement and the Employment Agreement constitute the entire agreement between the parties hereto with regard to the subject matter hereof. This Award Agreement supersedes all other agreements, representations or understandings (whether oral or written and whether express or implied) that relate to the Units. By accepting the grant of the Units and the right to receive Additional Units, the Participant shall be deemed to accept all of the terms and conditions of this Award Agreement.
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