Exhibit 10.44
Form of HCA Healthcare, Inc.
Performance Share Unit Agreement
This PERFORMANCE SHARE UNIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of the ____ day of _________, 20__ (the “Grant Date”), between HCA Healthcare, Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with its Subsidiaries, Successors and other applicable Service Recipients, as applicable, the “Company”), and [Participant Name], (the “Grantee”). Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to such terms in the 2020 Stock Incentive Plan for Key Employees of HCA Healthcare, Inc. and its Affiliates, as may be amended and restated from time to time (the “Plan”).
WHEREAS, the Company has adopted the Plan, which permits the issuance of Performance-Based Awards, including Other Stock-Based Awards that provide the right to receive Shares upon the attainment of performance objectives (a “Performance Share Unit”); and
WHEREAS, the Committee has determined that Grantee is entitled to a Grant of Performance Share Units under the Plan on the terms and conditions set forth herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:
PERFORMANCE SHARE UNIT GRANT
Grantee: [Participant Name]
[Participant Address]
Target Number of Performance Share Units
Granted Hereunder (“Target Award”): [Award]
Grant Date: [Grant Date]
The Grantee shall receive Dividend Equivalent Rights in respect of the PSUs covered by this Award at the time of any payment of dividends to stockholders on Shares. At the Company’s option, the PSUs will be credited with either (a) additional Performance Share Units (the “Dividend Equivalent Units”) (including fractional units) for cash dividends paid on shares of the Company’s Common Stock by (i) multiplying the cash dividend paid per Share by the number of PSUs (and previously credited Dividend Equivalent Units) outstanding and unpaid, and (ii) dividing the product determined above by the Fair Market Value of a Share, in each case, on the dividend record date, or (b) a cash amount equal to the amount that would be payable to the Grantee as a stockholder in respect of a number of Shares equal to the number of PSUs (and previously credited Dividend
Equivalent Units) outstanding and unpaid as of the dividend record date; provided, that cash-based Dividend Equivalent Rights shall be credited unless the Committee affirmatively elects to credit Dividend Equivalent Units. The PSUs will be credited with Dividend Equivalent Units for stock dividends paid on shares of the Company’s Common Stock by multiplying the stock dividend paid per Share by the number of PSUs (and previously credited Dividend Equivalent Units) outstanding and unpaid on the dividend record date. Each Dividend Equivalent Unit shall have a value equal to one Share. Each Dividend Equivalent Unit or cash Dividend Equivalent Right will vest and be settled or payable at the same time as the PSU to which the Dividend Equivalent Right relates. For the avoidance of doubt, no Dividend Equivalent Rights shall accrue under this Section 3 in the event that any Dividend Equivalent Rights or other applicable adjustments pursuant to Section 5 hereof provide similar benefits.
Nothing in this Agreement or the Plan shall be interpreted or construed to confer upon the Grantee any right to continue service as an officer or employee of the Company or any Service Recipient.
The provisions of Section 8 and Section 9 of the Plan are hereby incorporated by reference, and the PSUs (and any Dividend Equivalent Units) are subject to such provisions. Any determination made by the Committee or the Board pursuant to such provisions shall be made in accordance with the provisions of the Plan and shall be final and binding for all purposes of the Plan and this Agreement.
Subject to the restrictions contained in Sections 6 and 10 of the Plan, the Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or alter, suspend, discontinue, cancel or terminate, the Award, prospectively or retroactively; provided that any such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancellation or termination that would adversely affect the rights of the Grantee or any holder or beneficiary of the Award in more than a de minimis way shall not to that extent be effective without the consent of the Grantee, holder or beneficiary affected.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, the settlement of the PSUs (including any Dividend Equivalent Rights related thereto) to be made to the Grantee pursuant to this Agreement is intended to qualify as a “short-term deferral” pursuant to Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) of the Regulations and this Agreement shall be interpreted consistently therewith. However, under certain circumstances, settlement of the PSUs or any Dividend Equivalent Rights may not so qualify, and in that case, the Committee shall administer the grant and settlement of such PSUs and any Dividend Equivalent Rights in strict compliance with Section 409A of the Code. Further, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at the time of the Grantee’s termination of employment with the Company and all Service Recipients, the Grantee is a “specified employee” as defined in Section 409A of the Code, and the deferral of the commencement of any payments or benefits otherwise payable hereunder as a result of such termination of service is necessary in order to prevent the imposition of any accelerated or additional tax under Section 409A of the Code, then the Company will defer the commencement of the payment of any such payments or benefits hereunder (without any reduction in such payments or benefits ultimately paid or provided to the Grantee) to the minimum extent necessary to satisfy Section 409A of the Code until the date that is six months and one day following the Grantee’s termination of employment with the Company (or the earliest date as is permitted under Section 409A of the Code), if such payment or benefit is payable upon a termination of employment. For purposes of this Agreement, a “termination of employment” shall have the same meaning as “separation from service” under Section 409A of the Code and
Grantee shall be deemed to have remained employed so long as Grantee has not “separated from service” with the Company or Successor. Each payment of PSUs (and related Dividend Equivalent Units) constitutes a “separate payment” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code.
If any provision of this Agreement is, or becomes, or is deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any Person or the Award, or would disqualify the Plan or Award under any laws deemed applicable by the Committee, 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 Committee, 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 Award shall remain in full force and effect.
The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to the conflicts of law principles thereof, except to the extent that such laws are preempted by Federal law.
This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon any successor to the Company. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Grantee’s legal representatives. All obligations imposed upon the Grantee and all rights granted to the Company under this Agreement shall be binding upon the Grantee’s heirs, executors, administrators and successors.
Any dispute or disagreement which may arise under, or as a result of, or in any way related to, the interpretation, construction or application of this Agreement shall be determined by the Committee and shall be final, binding and conclusive on the Grantee and the Company for all purposes. In the event of any controversy among the parties hereto arising out of, or relating to, this Agreement which cannot be resolved in accordance with the foregoing, such controversy shall be finally, exclusively and conclusively settled by mandatory arbitration conducted expeditiously in accordance with the American Arbitration Association rules, by a single independent arbitrator. Such arbitration process shall take place within the Nashville, Tennessee metropolitan area. The decision of the arbitrator shall be final and binding upon all parties hereto and shall be rendered pursuant to a written decision, which contains a detailed recital of the arbitrator’s reasoning. Judgment upon the award rendered may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. Each party shall bear its own legal fees and expenses, unless otherwise determined by the arbitrator. If the Grantee substantially prevails on any of his or
her substantive legal claims, then the Company shall reimburse all legal fees and arbitration fees incurred by the Grantee to arbitrate the dispute.
Any notice to be given under the terms of this Agreement to the Company shall be addressed to the Company in care of its Secretary or its designee, and any notice to be given to the Grantee shall be addressed to him at the address (including an electronic address) then reflected in the Company’s books and records. By a notice given pursuant to this Section 13, either party may hereafter designate a different address for notices to be given to him. Any notice, which is required to be given to the Grantee, shall, if the Grantee is then deceased, be given to the Grantee’s personal representative if such representative has previously informed the Company of his status and address by written notice under this Section 13. Any notice shall have been deemed duly given when (i) delivered in person, (ii) delivered in an electronic form approved by the Company, (iii) enclosed in a properly sealed envelope or wrapper addressed as aforesaid, deposited (with postage prepaid) in a post office or branch post office regularly maintained by the United States Postal Service, or (iv) enclosed in a properly sealed envelope or wrapper addressed as aforesaid, deposited (with fees prepaid) in an office regularly maintained by FedEx, UPS, or comparable non-public mail carrier.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Performance Share Unit Agreement to be duly executed effective as of the day and year first above written.
HCA Healthcare, Inc.
By:____________________________
Grantee:
(electronically accepted)
HCA Healthcare, Inc.
2024 Performance Share Unit Award
Performance Targets
Cumulative EPS | Percentage of Target Award Earned
|
Greater than or equal to 110% of Target EPS | 200% |
100% of Target EPS | 100% |
90% of Target EPS | 25% |
Less than 90% of Target EPS | 0% |
Thus, up to 200% of the Target Award may be earned if maximum performance is achieved for the Performance Period. Vesting related to performance between the percentages of Target EPS listed above will be determined by straight line interpolation. Any PSUs subject to this Award not earned and vested as provided above on the applicable determination date shall be forfeited.