exv4w1

EX-4.1 2 w55120exv4w1.htm EXHIBIT 4.1 exv4w1

Exhibit 4.1

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COLONIAL PROPERTIES TRUST

2008 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

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COLONIAL PROPERTIES TRUST
2008 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

Colonial Properties Trust, an Alabama real estate investment trust (the “Company”), sets forth herein the terms of its 2008 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), as follows:

1. PURPOSE

The Plan is intended to enhance the Company’s and its Affiliates’ (as defined herein) ability to attract and retain highly qualified officers, trustees, key employees, and other persons, and to motivate such persons to serve the Company and its Affiliates and to expend maximum effort to improve the business results and earnings of the Company, by providing to such persons an opportunity to acquire or increase a direct proprietary interest in the operations and future success of the Company. To this end, the Plan provides for the grant of share options, share appreciation rights, restricted shares, share units (including deferred share units), and unrestricted shares. Any of these awards may, but need not, be made as performance incentives to reward attainment of annual or long-term performance goals in accordance with the terms hereof. Share options granted under the Plan may be non-qualified share options or incentive share options, as provided herein, except that share options granted to outside trustees and any consultants or advisers providing services to the Company or an Affiliate shall in all cases be non-qualified share options.

2. DEFINITIONS

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

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

2.2 “Award” means a grant of an Option, Share Appreciation Right, Restricted Share, Unrestricted Share, Share Unit, Performance Share, or Performance Unit under the Plan.

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

2.4 “Benefit Arrangement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 15 hereof.

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

2.6 “Cause” means, as determined by the Board and unless otherwise provided in an applicable agreement with the Company or an Affiliate, (i) gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection with the performance of duties; (ii) conviction of a criminal offense (other than minor traffic offenses); or (iii) material breach of any term of any employment, consulting or other services, confidentiality, intellectual property or non-competition agreements, if any, between the Service Provider and the Company or an Affiliate.

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

2.8 “Committee” means a committee of, and designated from time to time by resolution of, the Board, which shall be constituted as provided in Section 3.2.

2.9 “Company” means Colonial Properties Trust.

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

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

2.12 “Disability” means the Grantee is unable to perform each of the essential duties of such Grantee's position by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment which is potentially permanent in character or which can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months; provided, however, that, with respect to rules regarding expiration of an Incentive Share Option following termination of the Grantee's Service, Disability shall mean the Grantee is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.

2.13 “Effective Date” means March 7, 2008, the date the Plan was approved by the Board.

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

2.15 “Fair Market Value” means the value of a Share, determined as follows: if on the Grant Date or other determination date the Shares are listed on an established national or regional stock exchange, or are publicly traded on an established securities market, the Fair Market Value of a Share shall be the closing price of the Shares on such exchange or in such market (if there is more than one such exchange or market the Board shall determine the appropriate exchange or market) on the Grant Date or such other determination date (or if there is no such reported closing price, the Fair Market Value shall be the mean between the highest bid and lowest asked prices or between the high and low sale prices on such trading day) or, if no sale of Shares is reported for such trading day, on the next preceding day on which any sale shall have been reported. If the Shares are not listed on such an exchange or traded on such a market, Fair Market Value shall be the value of the Shares as determined by the Board by the reasonable application of a reasonable valuation method, in a manner consistent with Code Section 409A.

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

2.17 “General Partner” means Colonial Properties Trust, the general partner of Colonial Realty Limited Partnership.

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

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

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

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

2.22 “Operating Partnership” means Colonial Realty Limited Partnership.

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

2.24 “Option Price” means the exercise price for each Share subject to an Option.

2.25 “Other Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 15 hereof.

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

2.27 “Partnership Agreement” means the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Colonial Realty Limited Partnership, as amended and/or restated from time to time.

2.28 “Performance Period” means the period of time during which the performance goals must be met in order to determine the degree of payout and/or vesting with respect to an Award.

2.27 “Performance Share” means an Award under Section 14 herein and subject to the terms of this Plan, denominated in Shares, the value of which at the time it is payable is determined as a function of the extent to which corresponding performance criteria have been achieved.

2.28 “Performance Unit” means an Award under Section 14 herein and subject to the terms of this Plan, denominated in units, the value of which at the time it is payable is determined as a function of the extent to which corresponding performance criteria have been achieved.

2.29 “Plan” means this Colonial Properties Trust 2008 Omnibus Incentive Plan.

2.30 “Prior Plans” means the Company’s Third Amended and Restated Employee Share Option and Restricted Share Plan, the Non-Employee Trustee Share Plan and the Trustee Share Option Plan.

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

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

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

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

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

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

2.37 “Service Provider” means an employee, officer or trustee of the Company or an Affiliate, or a consultant or adviser (who is a natural person) currently providing services to the Company or an Affiliate.

2.38 “Share” means a common share of beneficial interest, par value $.01 per share, of the Company.

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

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

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

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

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

2.44 “Unit Option” means an option to purchase one or more Units pursuant to the Plan.

2.45 “Units” means units of partnership interest of the Operating Partnership (but does not include preferred interests in the Operating Partnership).

2.44 “Unrestricted Shares” means an Award pursuant to Section 12 hereof.

3. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

3.1. Board

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

3.2. Committee.

The Board from time to time may delegate to the Committee such powers and authorities related to the administration and implementation of the Plan, as set forth in Section 3.1 above and other applicable provisions, as the Board shall determine, consistent with the declaration of trust and by-laws of the Company and applicable law.

(i) Except as provided in Subsection (ii) and except as the Board may otherwise determine, the Committee, if any, appointed by the Board to administer the Plan shall consist of two or more Outside Trustees of the Company who: (a) qualify as “outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and who (b) meet such other requirements as may be established from time to time by the Securities and Exchange Commission for plans intended to qualify for exemption under Rule 16b-3 (or its successor) under the Exchange Act and who (c) comply with the independence requirements of the stock exchange on which the Shares are listed. Discretionary Awards to Outside Trustees may only be administered by the Committee.

(ii) The Board may also appoint one or more separate committees of the Board, each composed of one or more trustees of the Company who need not be Outside Trustees, who may administer the Plan with respect to employees or other Service Providers who are not officers or trustees of the Company, may grant Awards under the Plan to such employees or other Service Providers, and may determine all terms of such Awards.

In the event that the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement entered into hereunder provides for any action to be taken by or determination to be made by the Board, such action may be taken or such determination may be made by the Committee if the power and authority to do so has been delegated to the Committee by the Board as provided for in this Section. Unless otherwise expressly determined by the Board, any such action or determination by the Committee shall be final, binding and conclusive. To the extent permitted by law, the Committee may delegate its authority under the Plan to a member of the Board.

3.3. Terms of Awards.

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

(i) designate Grantees,

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

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

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

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

(vi) amend, modify, or supplement the terms of any outstanding Award. Such authority specifically includes the authority, in order to effectuate the purposes of the Plan but without amending the Plan, to make or modify Awards to eligible individuals who are foreign nationals or are individuals who are employed outside the United States to recognize differences in local law, tax policy, or custom. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment, modification or supplement of any Award shall, without the consent of the Grantee, impair the Grantee’s rights under such Award.

The Company may retain the right in an Award Agreement to cause a forfeiture of the gain realized by a Grantee on account of actions taken by the Grantee in violation or breach of or in conflict with any employment agreement, non-competition agreement, any agreement prohibiting solicitation of employees or clients of the Company or any Affiliate thereof or any confidentiality obligation with respect to the Company or any Affiliate thereof or otherwise in competition with the Company or any Affiliate thereof, to the extent specified in such Award Agreement applicable to the Grantee. In addition, the Company may annul an Award if the Grantee is an employee of the Company or an Affiliate thereof and is terminated for Cause as defined in the applicable Award Agreement or the Plan, as applicable.

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

3.4. No Repricing

Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, no amendment or modification may be made to an outstanding Option or SAR, including, without limitation, by replacement of Options or SARs with cash or other award type, that would be treated as a repricing under the rules of the stock exchange on which the Shares are listed, in each case, without the approval of the shareholders of the Company, provided, that, appropriate adjustments may be made to outstanding Options and SARs pursuant to Section 17 or Section 5.3 and may be made to make changes to achieve compliance with applicable law, including Internal Revenue Code Section 409A.

3.5. Deferral Arrangement.

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

3.6. No Liability.

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

3.7. Share Issuance/Book-Entry

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

4. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

4.1. Number of Shares Available for Awards

Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 17 hereof, the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be five million (5,000,000), all of which may be granted as Incentive Share Options, increased by Shares covered by awards granted under a Prior Plan that are not purchased or are forfeited or expire, or otherwise terminate without delivery of any Shares subject thereto, to the extent such Shares would again be available for issuance under such Prior Plan. Shares issued or to be issued under the Plan shall be authorized but unissued Shares; or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, issued Shares that have been reacquired by the Company.

4.2. Adjustments in Authorized Shares

The Board shall have the right to substitute or assume Awards in connection with mergers, reorganizations, separations, or other transactions to which Section 424(a) of the Code applies. The number of Shares reserved pursuant to Section 4 shall be increased by the corresponding number of Awards assumed and, in the case of a substitution, by the net increase in the number of Shares subject to Awards before and after the substitution.

4.3. Share Usage

Shares covered by an Award shall be counted as used as of the Grant Date. Any Shares that are subject to Awards of Options shall be counted against the limit set forth in Section 4.1 as one (1) Share for every one (1) Share subject to an Award of Options. With respect to SARs, the number of Shares subject to an award of SARs will be counted against the aggregate number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan regardless of the number of Shares actually issued to settle the SAR upon exercise. Any Shares that are subject to Awards other than Options or Share Appreciation Rights shall be counted against the limit set forth in Section 4.1 as 3.60 Shares for every one (1) Share granted. If any Shares covered by an Award granted under the Plan or a Prior Plan are not purchased or are forfeited or expire, or if an Award otherwise terminates without delivery of any Shares subject thereto or is settled in cash in lieu of Shares, then the number of Shares counted against the aggregate number of Shares available under the Plan with respect to such Award shall, to the extent of any such forfeiture, termination or expiration, again be available for making Awards under the Plan in the same amount as such Shares were counted against the limit set forth in Section 4.1, provided that any Shares covered by an Award granted under a Prior Plan will again be available for making Awards under the Plan in the same amount as such Shares were counted against the limits set forth in the applicable Prior Plan. The number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan shall not be increased by (i) any Shares tendered or withheld or Award surrendered in connection with the purchase of Shares upon exercise of an Option as described in Section 13.2, or (ii) any Shares deducted or delivered from an Award payment in connection with the Company’s tax withholding obligations as described in Section 18.3.

5. EFFECTIVE DATE, DURATION AND AMENDMENTS

5.1. Effective Date.

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

5.2. Term.

The Plan shall terminate automatically ten (10) years after the Effective Date and may be terminated on any earlier date as provided in Section 5.3.

5.3. Amendment and Termination of the Plan

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

6. AWARD ELIGIBILITY AND LIMITATIONS

6.1. Service Providers and Other Persons

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

6.2. Successive Awards and Substitute Awards.

An eligible person may receive more than one Award, subject to such restrictions as are provided herein. Notwithstanding Sections 8.1 and 10.1, the Option Price of an Option or the grant price of a SAR that is a Substitute Award (as defined in Section 2.42) may be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the original date of grant; provided, that, the Option Price or grant price is determined in accordance with the principles of Code Section 424 and the regulations thereunder.

7. AWARD AGREEMENT

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

8. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS

8.1. Option Price

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

8.2. Vesting.

Subject to Sections 8.3 and 17.3 hereof, each Option granted under the Plan shall become exercisable at such times and under such conditions as shall be determined by the Board and stated in the Award Agreement. For purposes of this Section 8.2, fractional numbers of Shares subject to an Option shall be rounded down to the next nearest whole number.

8.3. Term.

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

8.4. Termination of Service.

Each Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Grantee shall have the right to exercise the Option following termination of the Grantee’s Service. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Board, need not be uniform among all Options issued pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination of Service.

8.5. Limitations on Exercise of Option.

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, in no event may any Option be exercised, in whole or in part, prior to the date the Plan is approved by the shareholders of the Company as provided herein or after the occurrence of an event referred to in Section 17 hereof which results in termination of the Option.

8.6. Method of Exercise.

Subject to the terms of Article 13 and Section 18.3, an Option that is exercisable may be exercised by the Grantee’s delivery to the Company of notice of exercise on any business day, at the Company’s principal office, on the form specified by the Company. Such notice shall specify the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised and shall be accompanied by payment in full of the Option Price of the Shares for which the Option is being exercised plus the amount (if any) of federal and/or other taxes which the Company may, in its judgment, be required to withhold with respect to an Award.

8.7. Rights of Holders of Options

Unless otherwise stated in the applicable Award Agreement, an individual holding or exercising an Option shall have none of the rights of a shareholder (for example, the right to receive cash or dividend payments or distributions attributable to the subject Shares or to direct the voting of the subject Shares) until the Shares covered thereby are fully paid and issued to him. Except as provided in Section 17 hereof, no adjustment shall be made for dividends, distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date of such issuance.

8.8. Delivery of Share Certificates.

Promptly after the exercise of an Option by a Grantee and the payment in full of the Option Price, such Grantee shall be entitled to the issuance of a shares certificate or certificates evidencing his or her ownership of the Shares subject to the Option.

8.9. Transferability of Options

Except as provided in Section 8.10, during the lifetime of a Grantee, only the Grantee (or, in the event of legal incapacity or incompetency, the Grantee's guardian or legal representative) may exercise an Option. Except as provided in Section 8.10, no Option shall be assignable or transferable by the Grantee to whom it is granted, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

8.10. Family Transfers.

If authorized in the applicable Award Agreement, a Grantee may transfer, not for value, all or part of an Option which is not an Incentive Share Option to any Family Member. For the purpose of this Section 8.10, a “not for value” transfer is a transfer which is (i) a gift, (ii) a transfer under a domestic relations order in settlement of marital property rights; or (iii) a transfer to an entity in which more than fifty percent of the voting interests are owned by Family Members (or the Grantee) in exchange for an interest in that entity. Following a transfer under this Section 8.10, any such Option shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable immediately prior to transfer. Subsequent transfers of transferred Options are prohibited except to Family Members of the original Grantee in accordance with this Section 8.10 or by will or the laws of descent and distribution. The events of termination of Service of Section 8.4 hereof shall continue to be applied with respect to the original Grantee, following which the Option shall be exercisable by the transferee only to the extent, and for the periods specified, in Section 8.4.

8.11. Limitations on Incentive Share Options.

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

8.12. Notice of Disqualifying Disposition

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

9. GRANT AND EXERCISE OF UNIT OPTIONS

9.1 Issuance of Unit Options

Upon the issuance of an Option, and in accordance with Section 4.2(B) of the Partnership Agreement, the General Partner shall be deemed automatically to have caused the Operating Partnership to issue to the General Partner a corresponding Unit Option on terms identical to those of such Option.

9.2 Exercise of Unit Options

A Unit Option shall be deemed exercised automatically, upon the exercise by an Optionee of the corresponding Option, as to the number of Units equal to the number of Shares for which such Option is exercised. The General Partner shall then cause the Operating Partnership to issue such Units to the General Partner, and the Company shall remit payment for such Units to the General Partner, which shall then remit payment to the Operating Partnership, all in accordance with Section 4.2(B) of the Partnership Agreement.

9.2 Termination of Unit Options

Upon the termination of an Option, the corresponding Unit Option also shall terminate.

10. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SHARE APPRECIATION RIGHTS

10.1. Right to Payment and Grant Price.

A SAR shall confer on the Grantee to whom it is granted a right to receive, upon exercise thereof, the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of exercise over (B) the grant price of the SAR as determined by the Board. The Award Agreement for a SAR shall specify the grant price of the SAR, which shall be at least the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant. SARs may be granted in conjunction with all or part of an Option granted under the Plan or at any subsequent time during the term of such Option, in conjunction with all or part of any other Award or without regard to any Option or other Award; provided that a SAR that is granted subsequent to the Grant Date of a related Option must have a SAR Price that is no less than the Fair Market Value of one Share on the SAR Grant Date.

10.2. Other Terms.

The Board shall determine at the date of grant or thereafter, the time or times at which and the circumstances under which a SAR may be exercised in whole or in part (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), the time or times at which SARs shall cease to be or become exercisable following termination of Service or upon other conditions, the method of exercise, method of settlement, form of consideration payable in settlement, method by or forms in which Shares will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Grantees, whether or not a SAR shall be in tandem or in combination with any other Award, and any other terms and conditions of any SAR.

10.3. Term.

Each SAR granted under the Plan shall terminate, and all rights thereunder shall cease, upon the expiration of ten years from the date such SAR is granted, or under such circumstances and on such date prior thereto as is set forth in the Plan or as may be fixed by the Board and stated in the Award Agreement relating to such SAR.

10.4. Transferability of SARS

Except as provided in Section 10.5, during the lifetime of a Grantee, only the Grantee (or, in the event of legal incapacity or incompetency, the Grantee's guardian or legal representative) may exercise a SAR. Except as provided in Section 10.5, no SAR shall be assignable or transferable by the Grantee to whom it is granted, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

10.5. Family Transfers.

If authorized in the applicable Award Agreement, a Grantee may transfer, not for value, all or part of a SAR to any Family Member. For the purpose of this Section 10.5, a “not for value” transfer is a transfer which is (i) a gift, (ii) a transfer under a domestic relations order in settlement of marital property rights; or (iii) a transfer to an entity in which more than fifty percent of the voting interests are owned by Family Members (or the Grantee) in exchange for an interest in that entity. Following a transfer under this Section 10.5, any such SAR shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable immediately prior to transfer. Subsequent transfers of transferred SARs are prohibited except to Family Members of the original Grantee in accordance with this Section 10.5 or by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

11. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF RESTRICTED SHARES AND SHARE UNITS

11.1. Grant of Restricted Shares or Share Units.

Awards of Restricted Shares or Share Units may be made for no consideration (other than par value of the Shares which is deemed paid by Services already rendered).

11.2. Restrictions.

At the time a grant of Restricted Shares or Share Units is made, the Board may, in its sole discretion, establish a period of time (a “restricted period”) applicable to such Restricted Shares or Share Units. Each Award of Restricted Shares or Share Units may be subject to a different restricted period. The Board may in its sole discretion, at the time a grant of Restricted Shares or Share Units is made, prescribe restrictions in addition to or other than the expiration of the restricted period, including the satisfaction of corporate or individual performance objectives, which may be applicable to all or any portion of the Restricted Shares or Share Units as described in Article 14. Notwithstanding the foregoing terms of this Section 11.2, and subject to Section 11.9 below, (i) Restricted Shares and Share Units that vest solely by the passage of time shall not vest in full in less than three (3) years from the Grant Date, and (ii) Restricted Shares and Share Units that vest, or for which vesting may be accelerated, by achieving performance targets shall not vest in full in less than one (1) year from the Grant Date. The foregoing restriction shall not apply to Restricted Shares or Share Units assumed in connection with mergers, reorganizations, separations, or other transactions to which Section 424(a) of the Code applies. Neither Restricted Shares nor Share Units may be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of during the restricted period or prior to the satisfaction of any other restrictions prescribed by the Board with respect to such Restricted Shares or Share Units.

11.3. Restricted Share Certificates.

The Company shall issue, in the name of each Grantee to whom Restricted Shares have been granted, share certificates representing the total number of Restricted Shares granted to the Grantee, as soon as reasonably practicable after the Grant Date. The Board may provide in an Award Agreement that either (i) the Secretary of the Company shall hold such certificates for the Grantee’s benefit until such time as the Restricted Shares are forfeited to the Company or the restrictions lapse, or (ii) such certificates shall be delivered to the Grantee, provided, however, that such certificates shall bear a legend or legends that comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and makes appropriate reference to the restrictions imposed under the Plan and the Award Agreement.

11.4. Rights of Holders of Restricted Shares.

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

11.5. Rights of Holders of Share Units.

11.5.1. Voting and Dividend Rights.

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

11.5.2. Creditor’s Rights.

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

11.6. Termination of Service.

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

(b) Notwithstanding the terms of Section 11.6(a), and subject to Section 11.9 below, the Board may not (i) grant Restricted Shares or Share Units that provide for acceleration of vesting, except in the case of a Grantee’s death, disability or retirement, or upon or in connection with a Corporate Transaction, or upon the satisfaction of performance-based vesting conditions as provided in Section 11.2; or (ii) waive vesting restrictions or conditions applicable to Restricted Shares or Share Units, except in the case of a Grantee’s death, disability or retirement or upon or in connection with a Corporation Transaction. The foregoing restriction shall not apply to Restricted Shares or Share Unit Awards assumed in connection with mergers, reorganizations, separations, or other transactions to which Section 424(a) of the Code applies.

11.7. Purchase of Restricted Shares and Shares Subject to Share Units.

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

11.8. Delivery of Shares.

Upon the expiration or termination of any restricted period and the satisfaction of any other conditions prescribed by the Board, the restrictions applicable to Restricted Shares or Share Units settled in Shares shall lapse, and, unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, a share certificate for such Shares shall be delivered, free of all such restrictions, to the Grantee or the Grantee’s beneficiary or estate, as the case may be. Neither the Grantee, nor the Grantee’s beneficiary or estate, shall have any further rights with regard to a Share Unit once the Shares represented by the Share Unit has been delivered.

11.9. Unrestricted Pool.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan, Restricted Shares and Share Unit Awards may be (i) granted with vesting terms that do not comply with the requirements of Section 11.2; (ii) granted with terms providing for the acceleration of vesting that do not comply with Section 11.6(b), and/or (iii) subsequent to the date of grant, modified to provide acceleration of vesting terms that do not comply with Section 11.6(b), provided that, in no event, shall the aggregate number of shares underlying Restricted Shares and Share Unit Awards granted or modified as contemplated in this Section 11.9 exceed five percent of the shares authorized for issuance in Section 4.1 hereof.

12. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF UNRESTRICTED SHARE AWARDS

The Board may, in its sole discretion, grant (or sell at par value or such other higher purchase price determined by the Board) an Unrestricted Share Award to any Grantee pursuant to which such Grantee may receive Shares free of any restrictions (“Unrestricted Shares”) under the Plan; provided, however, that, in the aggregate, no more than five percent of the shares reserved for issuance under this Plan may be granted pursuant to this Section 12 and the exceptions set forth in Section 11.9. Unrestricted Share Awards may be granted or sold as described in the preceding sentence in respect of past services and other valid consideration, or in lieu of, or in addition to, any cash compensation due to such Grantee.

13. FORM OF PAYMENT FOR OPTIONS AND RESTRICTED SHARES

13.1. General Rule.

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

13.2. Surrender of Shares.

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

13.3. Cashless Exercise.

With respect to an Option only (and not with respect to Restricted Shares), to the extent permitted by law and to the extent the Award Agreement so provides, payment of the Option Price for Shares purchased pursuant to the exercise of an Option may be made all or in part by delivery (on a form acceptable to the Board) of an irrevocable direction to a licensed securities broker acceptable to the Company to sell Shares and to deliver all or part of the sales proceeds to the Company in payment of the Option Price and any withholding taxes described in Section 18.3.

13.4. Other Forms of Payment.

To the extent the Award Agreement so provides, payment of the Option Price for Shares purchased pursuant to exercise of an Option or the Purchase Price for Restricted Shares may be made in any other form that is consistent with applicable laws, regulations and rules, including, without limitation, Service.

14. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF PERFORMANCE SHARES AND PERFORMANCE UNITS

14.1. Grant of Performance Units/Performance Shares.

Subject to the terms and provisions of this Plan, the Board, at any time and from time to time, may grant Performance Units and/or Performance Shares to Participants in such amounts and upon such terms as the Committee shall determine.

14.2. Value of Performance Units/Performance Shares.

Each Performance Unit shall have an initial value that is established by the Board at the time of grant. The Board shall set performance goals in its discretion which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the value and/or number of Performance Units/Performance Shares that will be paid out to the Participant.

14.3. Earning of Performance Units/Performance Shares.

Subject to the terms of this Plan, after the applicable Performance Period has ended, the holder of Performance Units/Performance Shares shall be entitled to receive payout on the value and number of Performance Units/Performance Shares earned by the Participant over the Performance Period, to be determined as a function of the extent to which the corresponding performance goals have been achieved. The Board shall have the ability, which it may exercise in its sole discretion, to alter the performance goals to take into account unusual or nonrecurring events or items or other factors the Board considers relevant.

14.4. Form and Timing of Payment of Performance Units/Performance Shares.

Payment of earned Performance Units/Performance Shares shall be as determined by the Board and as evidenced in the Award Agreement. Subject to the terms of this Plan, the Board, in its sole discretion, may pay earned Performance Units/Performance Shares in the form of cash or in Shares (or in a combination thereof) equal to the value of the earned Performance Units/Performance Shares at the close of the applicable Performance Period, or as soon as practicable after the end of the Performance Period. Any Shares may be granted subject to any restrictions deemed appropriate by the Committee. The determination of the Committee with respect to the form of payout of such Awards shall be set forth in the Award Agreement pertaining to the grant of the Award.

14.5. Settlement of Awards; Other Terms.

Settlement of such Awards shall be in cash, Shares, other Awards or other property, in the discretion of the Board. The Board shall specify the circumstances in which such Performance Shares or Performance Units shall be paid or forfeited in the event of termination of Service by the Grantee prior to the end of a performance period or settlement of Awards.

15. PARACHUTE LIMITATIONS

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan or of any other agreement, contract, or understanding heretofore or hereafter entered into by a Grantee with the Company or any Affiliate, except an agreement, contract, or understanding that expressly addresses Section 280G or Section 4999 of the Code (an “Other Agreement”), and notwithstanding any formal or informal plan or other arrangement for the direct or indirect provision of compensation to the Grantee (including groups or classes of Grantees or beneficiaries of which the Grantee is a member), whether or not such compensation is deferred, is in cash, or is in the form of a benefit to or for the Grantee (a “Benefit Arrangement”), if the Grantee is a “disqualified individual,” as defined in Section 280G(c) of the Code, any Option, Restricted Share, Share Unit, Performance Share or Performance Unit held by that Grantee and any right to receive any payment or other benefit under this Plan shall not become exercisable or vested (i) to the extent that such right to exercise, vesting, payment, or benefit, taking into account all other rights, payments, or benefits to or for the Grantee under this Plan, all Other Agreements, and all Benefit Arrangements, would cause any payment or benefit to the Grantee under this Plan to be considered a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code as then in effect (a “Parachute Payment”) and (ii) if, as a result of receiving a Parachute Payment, the aggregate after-tax amounts received by the Grantee from the Company under this Plan, all Other Agreements, and all Benefit Arrangements would be less than the maximum after-tax amount that could be received by the Grantee without causing any such payment or benefit to be considered a Parachute Payment. In the event that the receipt of any such right to exercise, vesting, payment, or benefit under this Plan, in conjunction with all other rights, payments, or benefits to or for the Grantee under any Other Agreement or any Benefit Arrangement would cause the Grantee to be considered to have received a Parachute Payment under this Plan that would have the effect of decreasing the after-tax amount received by the Grantee as described in clause (ii) of the preceding sentence, then the Grantee shall have the right, in the Grantee’s sole discretion, to designate those rights, payments, or benefits under this Plan, any Other Agreements, and any Benefit Arrangements that should be reduced or eliminated so as to avoid having the payment or benefit to the Grantee under this Plan be deemed to be a Parachute Payment; provided, however, that in order to comply with Section 409A of the Code, the reduction or elimination will be performed in the order in which each dollar of value subject to an Award reduces the Parachute Payment to the greatest extent.

16. REQUIREMENTS OF LAW

16.1. General.

The Company shall not be required to sell or issue any Shares under any Award if the sale or issuance of such Shares would constitute a violation by the Grantee, any other individual exercising an Option, or the Company of any provision of any law or regulation of any governmental authority, including without limitation any federal or state securities laws or regulations. If at any time the Company shall determine, in its discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of any shares subject to an Award upon any securities exchange or under any governmental regulatory body is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the issuance or purchase of Shares, no Shares may be issued or sold to the Grantee or any other individual exercising an Option pursuant to such Award unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Company, and any delay caused thereby shall in no way affect the date of termination of the Award. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in connection with the Securities Act, upon the exercise of any Option or any SAR that may be settled in Shares or the delivery of any Shares underlying an Award, unless a registration statement under such Act is in effect with respect to the Shares covered by such Award, the Company shall not be required to sell or issue such Shares unless the Board has received evidence satisfactory to it that the Grantee or any other individual exercising an Option may acquire such Shares pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act. Any determination in this connection by the Board shall be final, binding, and conclusive. The Company may, but shall in no event be obligated to, register any securities covered hereby pursuant to the Securities Act. The Company shall not be obligated to take any affirmative action in order to cause the exercise of an Option or a SAR or the issuance of Shares pursuant to the Plan to comply with any law or regulation of any governmental authority. As to any jurisdiction that expressly imposes the requirement that an Option (or SAR that may be settled in Shares) shall not be exercisable until the Shares covered by such Option (or SAR) are registered or are exempt from registration, the exercise of such Option (or SAR) under circumstances in which the laws of such jurisdiction apply shall be deemed conditioned upon the effectiveness of such registration or the availability of such an exemption.

16.2. Rule 16b-3.

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

17. EFFECT OF CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION

17.1. Changes in Shares.

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

17.2. Reorganization in Which the Company Is the Surviving Entity Which does not Constitute a Corporate Transaction.

Subject to Section 17.3 hereof, if the Company shall be the surviving entity in any reorganization, merger, or consolidation of the Company with one or more other entities which does not constitute a Corporate Transaction, any Option or SAR theretofore granted pursuant to the Plan shall pertain to and apply to the securities to which a holder of the number of Shares subject to such Option or SAR would have been entitled immediately following such reorganization, merger, or consolidation, with a corresponding proportionate adjustment of the Option Price or SAR Exercise Price per share so that the aggregate Option Price or SAR Exercise Price thereafter shall be the same as the aggregate Option Price or SAR Exercise Price of the shares remaining subject to the Option or SAR immediately prior to such reorganization, merger, or consolidation. Subject to any contrary language in an Award Agreement evidencing an Award, any restrictions applicable to such Award shall apply as well to any replacement shares received by the Grantee as a result of the reorganization, merger or consolidation. In the event of a transaction described in this Section 17.2, Share Units shall be adjusted so as to apply to the securities that a holder of the number of Shares subject to the Share Units would have been entitled to receive immediately following such transaction.

17.3. Corporate Transaction in which Awards are not Assumed.

Upon the occurrence of a Corporate Transaction in which outstanding Options, SARs, Share Units and Restricted Shares are not being assumed or continued:

(i) all outstanding Restricted Shares shall be deemed to have vested, and all Share Units shall be deemed to have vested and the Shares subject thereto shall be delivered, immediately prior to the occurrence of such Corporate Transaction, and

(ii) either of the following two actions shall be taken:

(A) fifteen days prior to the scheduled consummation of a Corporate Transaction, all Options and SARs outstanding hereunder shall become immediately exercisable and shall remain exercisable for a period of fifteen days, or

(B) the Board may elect, in its sole discretion, to cancel any outstanding Awards of Options, Restricted Shares, Share Units, and/or SARs and pay or deliver, or cause to be paid or delivered, to the holder thereof an amount in cash or securities having a value (as determined by the Board acting in good faith), in the case of Restricted Shares or Share Units, equal to the formula or fixed price per share paid to holders of Shares and, in the case of Options or SARs, equal to the product of the number of Shares subject to the Option or SAR (the “Award Shares”) multiplied by the amount, if any, by which (I) the formula or fixed price per share paid to holders of Shares pursuant to such transaction exceeds (II) the Option Price or SAR Exercise Price applicable to such Award Shares.

With respect to the Company's establishment of an exercise window, (i) any exercise of an Option or SAR during such fifteen-day period shall be conditioned upon the consummation of the event and shall be effective only immediately before the consummation of the event, and (ii) upon consummation of any Corporate Transaction, the Plan and all outstanding but unexercised Options and SARs shall terminate. The Board shall send notice of an event that will result in such a termination to all individuals who hold Options and SARs not later than the time at which the Company gives notice thereof to its shareholders.

17.4. Corporation Transaction in which Awards are Assumed.

The Plan, Options, SARs, Share Units and Restricted Shares theretofore granted shall continue in the manner and under the terms so provided in the event of any Corporate Transaction to the extent that provision is made in writing in connection with such Corporate Transaction for the assumption or continuation of the Options, SARs, Share Units and Restricted Shares theretofore granted, or for the substitution for such Options, SARs, Share Units and Restricted Shares for new common share options and share appreciation rights and new common share units and restricted shares relating to the shares of a successor entity, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number of shares (disregarding any consideration that is not common stock) and option and share appreciation right exercise prices. In the event a Grantee’s Award is assumed, continued or substituted upon the consummation of any Corporate Transaction and his employment is terminated without Cause within one year following the consummation of such Corporate Transaction, the Grantee’s Award will be fully vested and may be exercised in full, to the extent applicable, beginning on the date of such termination and for the one-year period immediately following such termination or for such longer period as the Committee shall determine.

17.5. Adjustments

Adjustments under this Section 17 related to Shares or securities of the Company shall be made by the Board, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive. No fractional shares or other securities shall be issued pursuant to any such adjustment, and any fractions resulting from any such adjustment shall be eliminated in each case by rounding downward to the nearest whole share. The Board shall determine the effect of a Corporate Transaction upon Awards other than Options, SARs, Share Units and Restricted Shares, and such effect shall be set forth in the appropriate Award Agreement. The Board may provide in the Award Agreements at the time of grant, or any time thereafter with the consent of the Grantee, for different provisions to apply to an Award in place of those described in Sections 17.1, 17.2, 17.3 and 17.4. This Section 17 does not limit the Company’s ability to provide for alternative treatment of Awards outstanding under the Plan in the event of change of control events that are not Corporate Transactions.

17.6. No Limitations on Company

The making of Awards pursuant to the Plan shall not affect or limit in any way the right or power of the Company to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations, or changes of its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, or liquidate, or to sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.

18. GENERAL PROVISIONS

18.1. Disclaimer of Rights

No provision in the Plan or in any Award or Award Agreement shall be construed to confer upon any individual the right to remain in the employ or service of the Company or any Affiliate, or to interfere in any way with any contractual or other right or authority of the Company either to increase or decrease the compensation or other payments to any individual at any time, or to terminate any employment or other relationship between any individual and the Company. In addition, notwithstanding anything contained in the Plan to the contrary, unless otherwise stated in the applicable Award Agreement, no Award granted under the Plan shall be affected by any change of duties or position of the Grantee, so long as such Grantee continues to be a trustee, officer, consultant or employee of the Company or an Affiliate. The obligation of the Company to pay any benefits pursuant to this Plan shall be interpreted as a contractual obligation to pay only those amounts described herein, in the manner and under the conditions prescribed herein. The Plan shall in no way be interpreted to require the Company to transfer any amounts to a third party trustee or otherwise hold any amounts in trust or escrow for payment to any Grantee or beneficiary under the terms of the Plan.

18.2. Nonexclusivity of the Plan

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

18.3. Withholding Taxes

The Company or an Affiliate, as the case may be, shall have the right to deduct from payments of any kind otherwise due to a Grantee any federal, state, or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to the vesting of or other lapse of restrictions applicable to an Award or upon the issuance of any Shares upon the exercise of an Option or pursuant to an Award. At the time of such vesting, lapse, or exercise, the Grantee shall pay to the Company or the Affiliate, as the case may be, any amount that the Company or the Affiliate may reasonably determine to be necessary to satisfy such withholding obligation. Subject to the prior approval of the Company or the Affiliate, which may be withheld by the Company or the Affiliate, as the case may be, in its sole discretion, the Grantee may elect to satisfy such obligations, in whole or in part, (i) by causing the Company or the Affiliate to withhold Shares otherwise issuable to the Grantee or (ii) by delivering to the Company or the Affiliate Shares already owned by the Grantee. The Shares so delivered or withheld shall have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to such withholding obligations. The Fair Market Value of the Shares used to satisfy such withholding obligation shall be determined by the Company or the Affiliate as of the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined. A Grantee who has made an election pursuant to this Section 18.3 may satisfy his or her withholding obligation only with Shares that are not subject to any repurchase, forfeiture, unfulfilled vesting, or other similar requirements. The maximum number of Shares that may be withheld from any Award to satisfy any federal, state or local tax withholding requirements upon the exercise, vesting, lapse of restrictions applicable to such Award or payment of Shares pursuant to such Award, as applicable, cannot exceed such number of shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum statutory amount required by the Company to be withheld and paid to any such federal, state or local taxing authority with respect to such exercise, vesting, lapse of restrictions or payment of Shares.

18.4. Captions

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

18.5. Other Provisions

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

18.6. Number and Gender

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

18.7. Severability

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

18.8. Governing Law

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

18.9. Section 409A of the Code

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

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