UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.
)
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Definitive
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Definitive
Additional Materials |
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Soliciting
Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-12 |
Power
REIT
(Name
of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name
of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the
Registrant)
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computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and
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301
Winding Road
Old
Bethpage, NY 11804
212-750-0371
www.pwreit.com
|
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May
29, 2020
Dear
fellow shareholder:
Attached
please find materials related to the Power REIT 2020 Annual
Meeting.
As
previously disclosed, in 2019, Power REIT shifted its focus for
investment to Controlled Environment Agriculture (“CEA”) with a
particular focus on greenhouse properties. Since that time, we have
announced the acquisition of 6 properties with existing greenhouses
and/or an agreement to construct greenhouses with capital committed
by Power REIT. In addition, for two of the acquisitions, we have
already announced expansion of the facilities funded by Power REIT.
The total capital commitment by Power REIT to these properties is
approximately $12.6 million and the transactions generated
straight-line net income yields in excess of 18% based on the
leases with our tenants. Each of our existing CEA properties are
leased to operators for the cultivation of cannabis and each tenant
is required to maintain a medical cannabis license in the State
where the property is located.
The
acquisitions described above have been highly accretive to our
Funds from Operations. Prior to embarking on this new business
plan, Power REIT had very stable FFO of approximately $.56 per
share per year. As described in our recent press release dated May
15, 2020 which is included in this mailing, we now are targeting a
run-rate FFO of greater than $1.80 based on acquisitions completed
to date and the deployment of remaining capital available for
investment from a debt financing completed in November
2019.
Power
REIT continues to explore strategic opportunities to invest capital
on a disciplined basis that is focused on our goal of creating
long-term shareholder value. We appreciate your continued support
and look forward to a productive future as we continue to move
forward with our new business plan.
Very
truly yours,
 |
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|
|
David
H. Lesser |
|
Chairman
of the Board of Trustees |
|
Power
REIT
301
Winding Road
Old
Bethpage, NY 11804
NOTICE
OF 2020 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
Wednesday,
June 24, 2020, 10:00 AM (local time)
The
2020 annual meeting of holders (“shareholders”) of shares of
beneficial interest, $0.001 par value (“common shares” or “common
stock”) of Power REIT (the “Company” or the “Trust”) will be held
on Wednesday, June 24, 2020 at 10:00 AM (local time) at 301 Winding
Road, Old Bethpage NY 11804.
The
items of business are:
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(1) |
to
elect four trustees to the Trust’s Board of Trustees, to serve
until the next annual meeting of shareholders and until the
successors to such trustees have been duly elected and
qualified; |
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(2) |
to
ratify the appointment of MaloneBailey, LLP as the Trust’s
independent registered public accounting firm |
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(3) |
to
approve the 2020 Equity Incentive Plan; and |
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(4) |
to
transact such other business as may properly come before the
meeting. |
These
items are more fully described in the accompanying proxy statement.
The Trust’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2019, which includes the Trust’s consolidated financial
statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2019, is being
mailed with these materials.
The
Board of Trustees has fixed the close of business on May 18, 2020
as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled
to notice of and to vote at the 2020 annual meeting and any
adjournments thereof. Shareholders of record can vote their common
shares by using the Internet or telephone. Instructions for using
these convenient services are set forth in the enclosed materials.
You also may vote your common shares by marking your votes on the
enclosed white proxy card, signing and dating it and mailing it in
the enclosed envelope.
Your
vote is important. Please vote by using the Internet or telephone,
or by marking, signing, dating and returning the enclosed white
proxy card.
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By
order of the Board of Trustees |
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/s/
David H. Lesser |
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David
H. Lesser |
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Secretary |
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May
29, 2020 |
IMPORTANT
NOTICE CONCERNING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE
SHAREHOLDERS MEETING TO BE HELD ON June 24, 2020:
The
Trust’s 2020 proxy materials and annual report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2019 will be mailed on or about May 29,
2020 and are available at www.proxyvote.com.
Power
REIT
301
Winding Road
Old
Bethpage, NY 11804
PROXY
STATEMENT
2020
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
This
proxy statement is being furnished in connection with the
solicitation of proxies by the Board of Trustees of Power REIT (the
“Company”, the “Trust”, “we” or “us”) to be used at the 2020 annual
meeting of holders (“shareholders”) of shares of beneficial
interest, $0.001 par value (“common shares” or “common stock”) of
the Trust, to be held on Wednesday, June 24, 2020 at 10:00 A.M.
local time at 301 Winding Road, Old Bethpage, NY 11804, and at any
adjournments thereof. The items of business for the annual meeting
are:
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(1) |
to
elect the four trustees named herein to the Trust’s Board of
Trustees, to serve until the next annual meeting of shareholders
and until the successors to such trustees have been duly elected
and qualified; |
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(2) |
to
ratify the appointment of MaloneBailey, LLP as the Trust’s
independent registered public accounting firm |
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(3) |
to
approve the 2020 Equity Incentive Plan; and |
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(4) |
to
transact such other business as may properly come before the
meeting. |
This
proxy statement and the accompanying notice of annual meeting and
form of proxy card are first being mailed to shareholders on or
about May 29, 2020. Our annual report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2019, which includes our consolidated financial
statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2019, is being
mailed with these materials.
The
cost of this solicitation of proxies will be borne by the Trust.
Solicitations may be made by mail, telephone, facsimile or
electronic mail, and by officers of the Trust without extra
compensation. The Trust will reimburse brokerage firms and other
third parties for their reasonable and customary expenses in
forwarding our proxy materials to beneficial owners of our common
shares.
The
Board of Trustees has fixed the close of business on May 18, 2020
as the record date (the “record date”) for the determination of
shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the 2020 annual
meeting and any adjournments thereof. At the close of business on
the record date, there were outstanding and entitled to vote
1,912,939 of our common shares (including unvested, restricted
common shares granted pursuant to the Trust’s 2012 Equity Incentive
Plan (the “Plan”) and other stock grants, which pursuant to the
terms of the grants carry voting privileges).
Quorum,
Voting Power, Effect of Abstentions, Required Votes
At
the annual meeting, the presence, in person or by proxy, of
shareholders entitled to cast thirty-three and one third percent
(33 1/3%) of all the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting shall
constitute a quorum. Each outstanding common share shall be
entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote. A vote by
a majority of the shares both present, in person or by proxy, and
casting a vote shall decide a particular matter. For purposes of
the foregoing, abstentions and non-votes shall not be deemed to be
votes cast, although they shall be counted for purposes of
determining the existence of a quorum.
The
nominees for the Board of Trustees that receive the highest number
of affirmative votes cast, up to the number of nominee slots to be
filled, shall be elected as trustees. The approval of the 2020
Equity Incentive Plan requires the affirmative vote of the majority
of the shares both present, in person or by proxy, and casting a
vote. The ratification of the appointment of MaloneBailey, LLP
requires the affirmative vote of the majority of the shares both
present, in person or by proxy, and casting a vote shall decide a
particular matter.
Voting
Procedures
If
you hold our common shares in your own name, as a “holder of
record” or “registered” holder, you may vote your shares by
appointing proxies to vote on your behalf pursuant to your
instructions, through any of the following methods:
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● |
using
the Internet, log on to www.proxyvote.com and follow the
instructions; |
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using
any touch-tone telephone, dial 1-800-690-6903 and follow the
instructions; or |
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marking,
signing, dating, and returning the white proxy card in the
postage-paid mailing envelope provided. |
If
you are a holder or record or registered shareholder and do not
appoint and instruct proxies by voting over the Internet, by
telephone or by marking, signing, dating and returning the white
proxy card, then you must attend the meeting in person in order to
vote.
If
you do not hold our common shares in your own name, but instead
hold your interest in our shares through one or more
intermediaries, such as a bank or broker (in many cases referred to
as owning shares “in street name”), then you are considered a
holder of a beneficial interest in our common shares, or a
“beneficial owner”, and you will be able to vote the shares in
which you hold your interest through those intermediaries. An
intermediary will forward our proxy materials to you and request
your instructions as to how to vote the shares.
Broker
Non-Votes, Routine and Non-Routine Matters
If
you hold common shares through a bank or broker, the voting of the
shares by the bank or broker when you do not provide voting
instructions is governed by the rules of the NYSE American. These
rules allow banks and brokers to vote such shares in their
discretion on “routine” matters. On matters considered
“non-routine,” banks and brokers may not vote without your
instructions. Shares that banks and brokers are not authorized to
vote are referred to as “broker non-votes.”
The
ratification of MaloneBailey, LLP as the Trust’s independent
registered public accounting firm is considered a routine matter,
so banks and brokers may vote your shares in regard to this
proposal without your instructions. Accordingly, if you are a
beneficial owner and wish to have your vote on this proposal
counted in a particular way, either “for”, “against”, or as an
abstention, then you must provide your voting instructions by
Internet, telephone or white proxy card. If you do not, your bank
or broker may vote your shares in their discretion.
The
election of trustees is considered a non-routine matter, and
therefore banks and brokers may not vote on your behalf in the
election of trustees without your instructions. Please note that if
you want your votes in the election of trustees to be counted, you
must instruct your bank or broker how to vote your shares. If you
do not provide voting instructions, no votes will be cast on your
behalf in the election of trustees.
The
approval of the Plan is considered a non-routine matter, and
therefore banks and brokers may not vote on your behalf for the
approval of the Plan without your instructions. Please note that if
you want your votes related to the Plan to be counted, you must
instruct your bank or broker how to vote your shares. If you do not
provide voting instructions, no votes will be cast on your behalf
in the election of trustees.
Note
that, at the annual meeting, abstentions and non-votes shall not be
deemed to be votes cast, although they shall be counted for
purposes of determining the existence of a quorum.
Revocability
or Change of Proxies
A
proxy may be revoked or changed at any time prior to the voting
thereof, by (1) giving notice to the Secretary of the Trust in
writing c/o Power REIT, 301 Winding Road, Old Bethpage, NY 11804,
(2) submitting a later-dated
proxy, subject to the voting deadlines that are described on the
proxy card or voting instruction form, as applicable, (3)
delivering to the Secretary of Trust another duly executed proxy
bearing a later date or (4) by appearing at the 2020 Annual Meeting
in person and voting your shares. Attendance at the meeting will
not, by itself, revoke a proxy unless you specifically so
request.
Cumulative
Voting
Shareholders
of the Trust are not entitled to exercise cumulative voting rights
in the election of trustees.
Notice
of Electronic Availability of Proxy Materials
As
permitted by rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“SEC”), these proxy materials and our annual report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2019 are being made available to
our shareholders online, and are accessible through
www.proxyvote.com.
Trustees’
Voting Recommendations
The
Board of Trustees recommends that you vote your common shares FOR
each of the Board’s four nominees that are standing for election to
the Board of Trustees (Proposal No. 1), FOR the ratification of
MaloneBailey, LLP as our independent registered public accounting
firm (Proposal 2); and FOR the approval of the 2020 Equity
Incentive Plan (Proposal No. 3).
Proposal 1: Election of Trustees
Our
Board of Trustees is currently comprised of five trustees, four of
whom are independent under the rules of the NYSE American and under
applicable rules of the SEC: Virgil E. Wenger, William S. Susman,
Patrick R. Haynes, III and Justinian R. Hobor. Mr. Hobor has
decided not to run for re-election at the 2020 Annual Meeting. Our
fifth trustee, David H. Lesser, is a principal shareholder and
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company
and serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
The
Board recommends to shareholders that they vote for all four of the
nominees. If elected, the nominees would serve as trustees for a
one-year term until the 2021 annual meeting of shareholders and
until their successors are duly elected and qualified.
The
nominees are:
Name |
|
Age |
|
Trustee
Since
|
|
Company
Position |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David
H. Lesser |
|
54 |
|
2009* |
|
Chairman
of Board of Trustees
Chief
Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary
|
Virgil
E. Wenger |
|
89 |
|
1991* |
|
Trustee
Chairman
of Audit Committee
|
William
S. Susman |
|
56 |
|
2010* |
|
Trustee
Chairman
of Compensation Committee
Member
of Nominating Committee
|
Patrick
R. Haynes, III |
|
36 |
|
2011* |
|
Trustee
Chairman
of Nominating Committee
Member
of Audit Committee and Compensation Committee
|
* The
nominees have been trustees of Power REIT since December 2011 and
are and have been trustees of Pittsburgh & West Virginia
Railroad, a wholly owned subsidiary of Power REIT, since the dates
listed in the table above.
The
following are summaries of our nominees’ biographies and
experience:
David
H. Lesser has over 35 years of experience in real estate,
including substantial experience creating shareholder value in
REITs. Mr. Lesser is currently, and has been for more than the past
25 years, President of Hudson Bay Partners, LP (“HBP”), an
investment firm focused on real estate, real estate-related
situations and alternative energy. Since October 2013, Mr. Lesser
has served as Chairman and CEO of Millennium Investment and
Acquisition Company (ticker: MILC). Mr. Lesser is co-founder and
CEO of IntelliStay Hospitality Management, LLC which is sponsoring
investments in hotels. Mr. Lesser has previously held leadership
roles with public REITs, having served as a Senior Vice President
of Crescent Real Estate Equities and as a Director of Keystone
Property Trust. Prior to his time at Crescent, Mr. Lesser was a
Director of Investment Banking at Merrill Lynch & Co. within
the real estate finance group.
Since
1995, Mr. Lesser has, through HBP, invested in numerous real estate
and alternative energy transactions, including a reverse merger
transaction in 1997 that led to the formation of Keystone Property
Trust (NYSE: KTR) (“Keystone”). Mr. Lesser, as president of HBP,
led an investor group and structured a reverse merger transaction
with American Real Estate Investment Corporation (AMEX: REA) to
ultimately form Keystone. The transaction involved an investment of
$30 million of cash, the merger of a property management company
and the acquisition of a family-owned portfolio of industrial
properties for ownership in the REIT. In addition to initial
structuring and equity investment by HBP, Mr. Lesser served on
Keystone’s board of trustees until June 2000. Keystone was acquired
by Prologis (NYSE: PLD) in 2004 for a total enterprise value of
$1.4 billion, delivering a compound annual shareholder return of
16.5% from the initial transaction.
HBP
currently owns Intelligen Power Systems, LLC (“IPS”) which is an
alternative energy business focused on the manufacturing of
cogeneration equipment and the development of distributed energy
related to cogeneration, wind, solar and biofuel. HBP acquired IPS
through the bankruptcy reorganization of California-based Coast
Intelligen (“Coast”), which was acquired as a portfolio company by
an affiliate of Mr. Lesser’s in 2001. As a consequence of misdeeds
by Coast’s former owners and management team, which did not involve
Mr. Lesser, Coast was reorganized through a Chapter 11 bankruptcy
filing, the ultimate result of which was (i) Coast winding down its
operations; and (ii) IPS, which was a subsidiary of Coast,
successfully emerging from the reorganization. IPS continues to
operate today with a refocused business plan providing cogeneration
and other energy solutions to owners of real estate
properties.
Mr.
Lesser holds an M.B.A. from Cornell University and a B.S. in
Applied Management and Economics from Cornell
University.
Mr.
Lesser has been Chairman of Power REIT’s Board of Trustees, our
Chief Executive Officer since December 2011, and our Chief
Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer since February 2014. Mr.
Lesser has been a trustee of Pittsburgh & West Virginia
Railroad, a wholly owned subsidiary of Power REIT (“P&WV”),
from 2009 to the present, Chairman of P&WV’s Board of Trustees
from December 2010 to the present and CEO of P&WV from February
2011 to the present.
We
believe that Mr. Lesser’s years of experience as a real estate
investor, as a board director and in creating shareholder value for
REITs provide significant benefits to the Company.
Virgil
E. Wenger, CPA, is currently, and has for the past eight years
been, an independent consultant who primarily works with new
startup ventures that need accounting services and financial
planning assistance to determine investment and working capital
needs. He also serves as chief financial officer for two private
companies: Shareholder Intelligence Services, a provider of
information to publicly traded client companies concerning
shareholder ownership, broker activity and related analytics; and
Econergy Corporation, a manufacturer and marketer of proprietary
air conditioning systems. Mr. Wenger was previously a partner at
Ernst & Young LLP for over 25 years. He is a graduate of the
University of Kansas, with a B.S. in Business Administration, and
of the Harvard Business School Advanced Management
Program.
Mr.
Wenger has been a trustee and Power REIT’s Audit Committee Chairman
since December 2011 and has been a member of the Nominating
Committee since August 2012. Mr. Wenger has been a trustee of
P&WV from 1991 to the present and was P&WV’s Audit
Committee Chairman from 2005 to December 2011.
We
believe that Mr. Wenger’s many years of experience at Ernst &
Young LLP, significant financial expertise and leadership as
Chairman of the Audit Committee provide significant benefits to the
Company.
William
S. Susman has over 25 years of investment banking experience,
including significant experience in the transportation and railroad
industry. As the former head of Merrill Lynch’s Transportation and
Consumer Group, Mr. Susman advised numerous railroad clients,
including Burlington Northern, CSX, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk
Southern Railways, TMM and Union Pacific. Mr. Susman is currently
founder and CEO of a boutique investment advisory firm, Threadstone
Advisors since 2011. Prior to founding Threadstone Advisors, he was
President of Financo, an investment bank focused on retail and
consumer goods, where he worked from 2004-2011. Mr. Susman began
his investment banking career at Salomon Brothers, in their
transportation group. Mr. Susman sits on the boards of two private
companies: Preferred Fragrances and Jonathan Adler Enterprises. Mr.
Susman is a graduate of the University of Michigan, with a B.S. in
Business Administration and a Masters from the Kellogg Graduate
School of Management at Northwestern University.
Mr.
Susman has been a trustee and Power REIT’s Compensation Committee
Chairman since December 2011 and has been a member of the
Nominating Committee since August 2012. Mr. Susman has been a
trustee of P&WV from May 2011 to the present and was P&WV’s
Compensation Committee Chairperson from August 2011 to December
2011.
We
believe that Mr. Susman’s understanding of business, finance and
the railroad industry, acquired through over 20 years of investment
banking experience, and his leadership as Chairman of the
Compensation Committee and in regard to governance matters, provide
significant benefits to the Company.
Patrick
R. Haynes, III is co-founder and Managing Principal of Jackson
River Capital, LLC a holding company sponsoring investment
platforms co-founded by Mr. Haynes focused investments in
hospitality and healthcare commercial real estate assets. In 2015,
Mr. Haynes co-founded IntelliStay Hospitality Management, LLC which
is sponsoring investments in hotels. In 2018, Mr. Haynes co-founded
Wellness Real Estate Partners, LLC which is sponsoring investments
in healthcare NNN investments. Mr. Haynes was previously employed
by Alliance Partners HSP (“Alliance”), an opportunistic real estate
investment venture backed by the family offices of Jay Shidler and
Clay Hamlin and based in Philadelphia, PA. Mr. Haynes opened the
New York City office for Alliance in 2014 and ran all opportunistic
acquisitions for greater New York City Area. From 2010 until he
joined Alliance in 2012, Mr. Haynes worked for the Rockefeller
Group Investment Management Corp. (“RGIM”). At RGIM he was
responsible for the financial analysis for RGIM’s corporate
acquisitions and direct real estate investments and supported
institutional fundraising and business development. Mr. Haynes
began his career at Lehman Brothers in the Real Estate Private
Equity Group where he performed financial analysis, market research
and due diligence for over $2.0 billion in potential real estate
acquisitions across all asset classes nationally. Mr. Haynes also
worked on the successful management buyout of Lehman’s equity
funds’ advisory business, responsible for the management of
approximately $18 billion in real estate assets globally. Mr.
Haynes remained with the go forward venture created by the fund’s
management, Silverpeak Real Estate Partners, until joining RGIM.
Mr. Haynes received a BA in U.S. History from Brown
University.
Mr.
Haynes has been a trustee and a member of Power REIT’s Audit and
Compensation Committees since December 2011 and Chairman of the
Power REIT’s Nominating Committee since August 2012. Mr. Haynes has
been a trustee of P&WV from May 2011 to the present and was a
member of P&WV’s Compensation Committee from August 2011 to
December 2011 and a member of P&WV’s Audit Committee from 2010
to December 2011.
We
believe that Mr. Haynes’ experience and contacts in real estate and
his experience in transaction structuring and private equity
provide significant benefits to the Company.
In
summary, the nominees have experience and skills in, and industry
contacts relevant to, providing leadership to REITs, sourcing and
structuring investments and raising and investing capital. The
Trust believes these skills, relevant work experiences and contacts
will significantly benefit shareholders as the Trust implements its
business plan.
Family
Relationships
There
are no family relationships among any of our trustees or executive
officers.
Trustee
Compensation
In
August 2012, pursuant to the 2012 Plan, each independent trustee
was granted an option to acquire 2,000 of our shares at an exercise
price of $7.96. The options vested in three equal installments over
three years. In May 2013, pursuant to the Plan, each Trustee was
granted 400 shares of restricted common stock vesting quarterly in
equal installments commencing with the second quarter of 2013. In
June 2014, pursuant to the Plan, each independent Trustee was
granted 500 shares of restricted common stock vesting quarterly in
equal installments commencing with the second quarter of 2014. In
September 2015, pursuant to the Plan, each independent Trustee was
granted 500 shares of restricted common stock vesting of which 75%
vested during 2015 and 25% vested during the first quarter of 2016.
In May 2016, each independent Trustee who served a full year was
granted 600 shares of restricted common stock of which 75% vested
during 2016 and 25% vested during the first quarter of 2017 and
Justinian Hobor who served for approximately three quarters of the
year was granted 450 shares with two thirds vesting during 2016 and
one third vesting during the first quarter of 2017. In 2017, each
independent Trustee was granted 600 shares of restricted common
stock of which 75% vested during 2017 and 25% vested during the
first quarter of 2018. In 2018, each independent Trustee was
granted 700 shares of restricted common stock of which 75% vested
during 2018 and 25% vested during the first quarter of 2020. In
2019, each independent Trustee was granted 700 shares of restricted
common stock of which 75% vested during 2019 and 25% vested during
the first quarter of 2020. Other than the option grants and the
restricted stock grants, there are currently no other compensation
arrangements with any of the independent trustees. The Trust has a
policy to reimburse reasonable expenses of Trustees. During 2019
there were no such reimbursements.
Compensation
of our independent trustees for the fiscal year ending December 31,
2019, is listed in the table below.
Trustee Name |
|
Fees Earned or Paid in Cash |
|
|
Stock
Awards(1)
|
|
|
Option
Awards
|
|
|
Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compensation
|
|
|
Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Earnings |
|
|
All
Other
Compensation
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Virgil E. Wenger |
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
4,060 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
4,060 |
|
William S. Susman |
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
4,060 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
4,060 |
|
Patrick R Haynes, III |
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
4,060 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
4,060 |
|
Justinian R. Hobor |
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
4,060 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
4,060 |
|
|
(1) |
For
all stock awards, the values reflect the aggregate grant date fair
value computed in accordance with FASB ASC 718. For more
information on the on the stock awards granted in 2019, please
refer to Note 6 (Long-Term Compensation) in our 10-K for year ended
December 31, 2019. |
The
compensation provided to Mr. Lesser, the Chairman of the Board of
Trustees and also an officer of the Trust, is detailed in the table
under “Executive Officer – Executive Officer Compensation”,
below.
The
table below shows the aggregate number of option and stock awards
outstanding at December 31, 2019 for each of our independent
trustees.
Trustee Name |
|
|
Number
of shares
Subject
to
Outstanding
Options
|
|
|
|
Number
of
Unvested
Shares
Subject
to
Outstanding
Stock
Awards
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Virgil E. Wenger |
|
|
2,000 |
|
|
|
175 |
|
William S. Susman |
|
|
2,000 |
|
|
|
175 |
|
Patrick R Haynes, III |
|
|
2,000 |
|
|
|
175 |
|
Justinian R. Hobor |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
175 |
|
THE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE
ELECTION
OF EACH OF THE FOUR NOMINEES AS TRUSTEES OF THE
TRUST
ADDITIONAL DISCLOSURE RELATING TO OUR
TRUSTEES, EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE
Corporate Governance
Overview
In
accordance with our Declaration of Trust and Bylaws, our Board of
Trustees elects the Chairman of the Board and our executive
officers, and each of these positions may be held by the same or
separate persons. Our corporate governance guidelines do not
include a policy on whether the role of the Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer should be separate or, if not, whether a lead
independent trustee is to be elected. From February 2011, Mr.
Lesser, the Chairman of our Board of Trustees, has also served as
our Chief Executive Officer. We believe that this arrangement is
suitable for a company of our size. The Board of Trustees shall
review the need for any changes to these arrangements from time to
time in light of the Trust’s changing business needs.
Board
of Trustees
Our
Board of Trustees takes an active role in overseeing the management
of our risks. The Board regularly reviews information regarding our
liquidity, operations and investment activities, as well as the
risks associated with each. The Board is responsible for overseeing
the implementation of our investment strategy, the principal goal
of which is to enhance long-term shareholder value through
increases in earnings, cash flow and net asset value. Currently,
each investment transaction is approved by the Board. In the
future, the Board may establish an investment committee consisting
of trustees to oversee our investment activities, including the
review and approval of specific transactions.
The
Board held five scheduled meetings during 2019. On five other
occasions during the year, the trustees, after conferring in
writing, adopted Board resolutions by a majority of votes via
written consent. The independent trustees met in executive session
during 2019; all of the independent trustees were in attendance
during this session. During
2019, each trustee attended at least 75% of the aggregate of all
meetings of the Board of Directors and of all meetings of
committees of the Board on which such member served that were held
during the period in which such trustee served.
Four
of our five trustees attended the 2019 annual meeting of
shareholders. Our policy is
to invite and encourage each member of the Board to be present at
our annual meetings of stockholders.
Board
Committees
Our
Board of Trustees has three committees: an Audit Committee, a
Compensation Committee and a Nominating Committee. Each of the
three committees consists solely of independent trustees in
accordance with the NYSE American Company Guide.
Audit Committee
Our
Audit Committee has been established in accordance with section
3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange
Act”) and consists of two independent trustees, each of whom the
Board of Trustees has determined is “financially literate” and
“independent” under the rules of the NYSE American Company Guide:
Virgil E. Wenger and Patrick R. Haynes, III. Mr. Wenger serves as
chairman of the Audit Committee and the Board of Trustees has
determined that Mr. Wenger meets the definition of “audit committee
financial expert,” as defined in applicable SEC rules. Pursuant to
its charter, the Audit Committee, among other purposes, serves to
assist the Board of Trustees in overseeing:
|
● |
the
integrity of our financial statements; |
|
● |
our
compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and ethical
behavior; |
|
● |
the
retention of independent public auditors, including oversight of
their performance, qualifications and independence, as well as the
terms of their engagement; |
|
● |
our
accounting and financial reporting processes, internal control
systems and internal audit function, as applicable; |
|
● |
our
monitoring of compliance with laws and regulations and our code of
business conduct and ethics; and |
|
● |
our
investigation of any employee misconduct or fraud. |
During
2019, the Audit Committee on four occasions, after conferring
individually or via writing, took action by written consent. The
Audit Committee’s charter is available on the Trust’s website at:
www.pwreit.com.
Report
of the Audit Committee
The
Audit Committee hereby reports as follows:
|
1. |
Management
has the primary responsibility for the Trust’s financial statements
and reporting process, including its system of internal accounting
controls. The Audit Committee, in its oversight role, has reviewed
and discussed the audited financial statements with the Trust’s
management. |
|
|
|
|
2. |
The
Audit Committee has discussed with the Trust’s independent audit
firm the overall scope of, and plans for, its audits. The Audit
Committee discussed with the independent audit firm the Trust’s
financial reporting process in addition to other matters required
to be discussed by the statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as
amended (AICPA, Professional Standards, Vol. 1, AU section 380), as
adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”)
in Rule 3200T, as may be modified or supplemented. |
|
|
|
|
3. |
The
Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter
from MaloneBailey, LLP required by applicable requirements of the
PCAOB concerning independence, and has discussed with MaloneBailey,
LLP, its independence. |
|
|
|
|
4. |
Based
on the matters and discussions referred to in paragraphs (1)
through (3) above, the Audit Committee has recommended to the Board
of Trustees, and the Board has approved, that the audited financial
statements be included in the Trust’s annual report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2019, for filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. |
|
|
|
|
5. |
After
considering MaloneBailey LLP’s experience and independence, the
Audit Committee recommends that the Trust (a) retain MaloneBailey
LLP as the Trust’s independent audit firm to perform the audit of
the financial statements as of and for the year ending December 31,
2020 and (b) submit to shareholders the ratification of
MaloneBailey LLP, as the Trust’s independent audit firm at the 2020
annual meeting. |
Virgil
E. Wenger (chair)
Patrick
R. Haynes, III
Compensation Committee
During
2019, our Compensation Committee consisted of two independent
trustees: William S. Susman and Patrick R. Haynes, III. Mr. Susman
serves as chairman of the Compensation Committee. The Compensation
Committee, among other purposes, serves to:
|
● |
establish
and periodically review the adequacy of the compensation plans for
our executive officers and other employees; |
|
● |
review
the performance of executive officers and adjust compensation
arrangements as appropriate; |
|
● |
establish
compensation arrangements for our non-executive trustees;
and |
|
● |
evaluate
and make grants under the Trust’s 2012 Equity Incentive Plan and
other stock grants pursuant to authority delegated to it by the
Board of Trustees; |
|
● |
review
and monitor management developments and succession plans and
activities. |
During
2019, the Compensation Committee met once and on one other occasion
during the year, after conferring individually or via writing, took
one additional action by written consent. All of the Compensation
Committee members were in attendance at the meeting. The
Compensation Committee charter is available on the Trust’s website
at: www.pwreit.com.
Nominating Committee
The
Nominating Committee is chaired by Patrick R. Haynes with William
S. Susman serving as a member. The Nominating Committee evaluates
potential nominees to serve as trustees and makes recommendations
to the Board of Trustees for inclusion in the Trust’s annual proxy
statement. The Nominating Committee met one time in
2019.
Trustee
Nomination Process
The
Nominating Committee is responsible for developing and evaluating
potential trustee candidates for consideration in the event of a
vacancy on the Board of Trustees, and making nominee
recommendations to the Board of Trustees. The Nominating Committee
seeks candidates for election and appointment that possess the
integrity, leadership skills and competency required to direct and
oversee the Trust’s management in the best interests of its
shareholders, customers and employees, as well as the communities
it serves and other affected parties. Nominee candidates must be
willing to regularly attend committee and Board of Trustees
meetings, to develop a strong understanding of the Trust, its
businesses and its requirements, to contribute his or her time and
knowledge to the Trust and to be prepared to exercise his or her
duties with skill and care. In addition, each candidate should have
an understanding of relevant governance concepts and the legal
duties of a trustee of a public company.
To
propose a nominee, shareholders may contact the Nominating
Committee Chairman, the Chairman of the Board or the Company’s
Secretary by writing to them care of the Trust at its principal
executive offices. Such correspondence should include a detailed
description of the proposed nominee’s qualifications and a method
to contact the nominee if the Nominating Committee so chooses.
Candidates viewed by the Nominating Committee as qualified and
suitable for service as a trustee will be contacted to determine
interest in being considered to serve on the Board of Trustees and,
if interested, will be interviewed and have their qualifications
established and considered.
The
Nominating Committee recommended nominees to the Board for
inclusion within Proposal 1 of the proxy statement for the 2020
Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The Nominating Committee has
established a charter outlining its purpose and the practices it
follows. The Nominating Committee charter is available on the
Trust’s website at www.pwreit.com.
Code
of Business Conduct and Ethics
The
Trust has a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, with which all
officers and trustees must comply. A copy of the code may be viewed
on our website at www.pwreit.com, and printed copies may be
requested, without charge, by writing to us at 301 Winding Road,
Old Bethpage, NY 11804, Attention: Investor Relations.
Executive Officer
The
Trust is managed by David H. Lesser, the Trust’s Chief Executive
Officer, with oversight from its Board of Trustees.
Name |
|
Age |
|
Officer
Since
|
|
Company
Positions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David
H. Lesser |
|
54 |
|
2011 |
|
Chairman
of the Board of Trustees
Chief
Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer,
Secretary,
Treasurer
|
Executive Officer Compensation
The
Trust does not have an employment agreement with Mr. Lesser. In
2012, pursuant to the 2012 Plan, Mr. Lesser was awarded 20,000
shares of restricted stock and an option to acquire 100,000 shares
at an exercise price of $7.96. Both the restricted stock grant and
the option grant vested annually in equal installments over three
years commencing on the first anniversary of the grant. In 2014,
pursuant to the Plan, Mr. Lesser was awarded 40,000 shares of
restricted stock which vests monthly over a three year period
commencing with the second quarter of 2014. In 2015, pursuant to
the Plan, Mr. Lesser was awarded 9,400 shares of restricted stock
which vests monthly over a three year period commencing with the
third quarter of 2015. In 2016, Mr. Lesser was awarded 40,000
shares of restricted stock which vests monthly over a three year
period commencing with the second quarter of 2016. In 2017, Mr.
Lesser was awarded 40,000 shares of restricted stock which vests
monthly over a three year period commencing with the second quarter
of 2017. In 2018, Mr. Lesser was awarded 40,000 shares of
restricted stock which vests monthly over a three year period
commencing with the third quarter of 2018. In 2020, Mr. Lesser was
awarded 40,000 shares of restricted stock which vests monthly over
a three year period commencing with the first quarter of 2020.The
restricted stock grants provide for voting rights and dividends
during the vesting period. The assumptions used to value the grants
are described in footnote 6 to the Trust’s audited financial
statements included in the Trust’s annual report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2019, distributed along with this proxy
statement.
Compensation
for our principal executive officers for the two fiscal years
ending December 31, 2019 is set forth in the table
below:
Name and Principal Positions |
|
Year |
|
|
Salary ($) |
|
|
Bonus ($) |
|
|
Stock Awards ($) |
|
|
Option Awards ($) |
|
|
All Other Compensation ($) |
|
|
Total ($) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David H. Lesser, Chairman,
CEO and CFO |
|
|
2018 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
241,200 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
241,200 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David H. Lesser, Chairman, CEO and
CFO |
|
|
2019 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
(1) |
Restricted
Stock Awards granted and the assumptions used in the valuation of
such awards are discussed in footnote 6 to the Trust’s audited
financial statements included in the Trust’s annual report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, distributed along with
this proxy statement. |
Outstanding Equity Awards
The
following table sets forth outstanding option equity and restricted
stock awards granted to the Trust’s principal executive officer as
of December 31, 2019:
Option Awards |
|
Stock Awards |
Name |
|
|
Number of shares underlying
unexercised options (exercisable) |
|
|
|
Number of shares underlying
unexercised options (unexercisable) |
|
|
|
Option exercise price
($) |
|
|
|
Option expiration
date |
|
|
|
Number of shares that have not
vested |
|
|
|
Market value of shares that have
not vested (1) |
|
David H. Lesser, Chairman and CEO |
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
7.96 |
|
|
|
8/13/2022 |
|
|
|
23,333 |
|
|
$ |
143,567 |
|
|
(1) |
Based
on stock price as of the date of the grant. |
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation
Plans
The
following table sets forth the securities authorized for issuance
under the 2012 Plan, as of December 31, 2019:
|
|
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding
options, warrants and rights |
|
|
Weighted average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants
and rights |
|
|
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under
Plan (excluding securities in first column) |
|
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders |
|
|
106,000 |
|
|
|
7.96 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity
compensation plans not approved by security holders |
|
|
n/a |
|
|
|
n/a |
|
|
|
n/a |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
106,000 |
|
|
|
7.96 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
(1) |
The
2012 Plan contains an “evergreen” provision that automatically
adjusts the number of shares available for future issuance, as
provided in Section 4 of the Plan (subject to certain adjustments)
as follows: the number of shares of Stock which shall be made
available for issuance under the Plan shall be increased by the
positive number of shares equal to the lesser of: (i) (A) 10% of
the Company’s outstanding shares of Stock, calculated on a fully
diluted and consolidated basis, less (B) the sum of (1) the
aggregate number of shares remaining available for issuance under
the Plan as of such date, plus (2) the aggregate number of shares
subject to outstanding Awards and unvested shares of Restricted
Stock or other unvested equity compensation granted under the Plan
as of such date, or (ii) a lesser amount determined by the
Compensation Committee. For clarity, if the amount determined in
the formula in the preceding sentence is negative, the number of
shares available for issuance shall neither be increased nor
decreased. |
For
more information concerning the 2012 Plan and other stock based
compensation, see the Trust’s audited financial statements included
in the Trust’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2019, distributed along with this proxy
statement.
COMPENSATION
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
The
Trust’s compensation program is designed to incentivize key
individuals to provide services of value to the Trust, including
services in the long-term interest of the Trust. Over the last few
years, the Trust has focused on minimizing cash compensation and
providing incentive compensation in the form of option and
restricted stock grants. The compensation program has consisted
primarily of occasional option grants and restricted stock grants
to our Independent trustees and occasional option grants and
restricted stock grants to our CEO. The Trust believes this
approach provides the Trust with increased flexibility to vary the
amounts and types of compensation paid to the Trust’s executive
officer, to serve the goals of:
|
● |
more
strongly aligning the interests of the Trust and the interests of
its executive officers and trustees, among others, in support of
our business expansion and improvement plans; |
|
|
|
|
● |
rewarding
our executive officers in proportion to the increased duties we are
imposing on them and the increased levels of performance we are
requiring of them; and |
|
|
|
|
● |
rewarding
our executive officers and trustees, among others, if and when they
achieve substantial successes in expanding and improving our
business and prospects, including, without limitation, by creating
long-term shareholder value by increasing funds from operations
(“FFO”) and dividends per share through accretive acquisitions of
energy and transportation infrastructure. |
In
furtherance of these compensation goals, the Compensation Committee
approved certain stock grants during 2019. See the “Trustee
Compensation” table above, for further information as to these
grants and our compensation amounts generally.
securities OWNERSHIP
The
following table sets forth certain information regarding the
beneficial ownership and voting power of our common shares as of
May 15, 2020, by: (i) each person who owns more than 5% of our
shares and who has filed a Schedule 13D with the SEC that is
publicly available to the Trust and others at www.sec.gov,
(ii) each of our trustees and executive officers and (iii) all of
our trustees and executive officers as a group. Unless otherwise
indicated, the business address of each person listed is c/o Power
REIT, 301 Winding Road, Old Bethpage, NY 11804. Unless otherwise
indicated, all shares are owned directly, and the indicated person
has sole voting and investment power.
|
|
Owned at March 31, 2020 |
|
Name of Beneficial Owner |
|
Number
of
Shares
|
|
|
%
of Outstanding
Shares(4)
|
|
Trustees
and Executive Officers
David
H. Lesser (1) (2)
|
|
|
508,217 |
|
|
|
26.57 |
% |
Virgil E. Wenger |
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
0.31 |
% |
William S. Susman |
|
|
6,400 |
|
|
|
0.33 |
% |
Patrick R. Haynes, III |
|
|
7,937 |
|
|
|
0.41 |
% |
Justinian Hobor
(3) |
|
|
52,173 |
|
|
|
2.75 |
% |
All
trustees and executive officers as a group (1) -
(4) |
|
|
580,727 |
|
|
|
30.37 |
% |
5% beneficial Owners |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Renaissance
Technologies LLC and affiliates(5) |
|
|
96,558 |
|
|
|
5.05 |
% |
(1)
Mr. Lesser has beneficial ownership of 508,217 shares (including
restricted stock and option equity grants (vested and unvested)
under the Trust’s 2012 Equity Incentive Plan). A non-qualified
stock option to acquire 100,000 common shares (“Option”) was
awarded on August 13, 2012, pursuant to the Trust’s 2012 Plan. The
Option vested in three equal annual installments beginning with the
first anniversary of the respective grants. The Options have a
10-year term and a strike price equal to the closing price of the
stock on August 13, 2012.
(2)
In addition to the shareholdings disclosed above, the MEL
Generation Skipping Trust, a trust set up for the children of David
H. Lesser, (the “MEL Trust”) owns 36,375 common shares of the
Trust. MEL Trust also owns 9,600 of Power REIT 7.75% Preferred
Stock Series A which are not entitled to vote at the 2020 annual
meeting of shareholders. Mr. Lesser disclaims any beneficial,
pecuniary or residual interest in the shares owned by the MEL
Trust, does not serve as trustee of the MEL Trust and does not have
the power to revoke the MEL Trust.
(3)
Mr. Hobor has beneficial ownership of 52,173 shares: 9,104
directly; 10,000 held by Roundwood Capital, LLC, an investment
company co-managed by Mr. Hobor; and 33,069 shares where Mr. Hobor
has limited power of attorney to executed transactions on behalf of
clients. Mr. Hobor has elected not to run for re-lection as a
Trustee at the 2020 Annual Meeting.
(4)
The number of shares reported and the denominator used to calculate
the “% of Outstanding Shares” includes restricted stock grants.
Each restricted stock grant confers voting and dividend privileges
during its vesting period. Calculations are based on 1,912,939
shares of common stock outstanding on May 15, 2020.
(5)
Based on Form 13-G filed with the SEC on 2/12/20. Renaissance
Technologies Holdings Corp. holds a majority of the equity of
Renaissance Technologies LLC and is therefore deemed to
beneficially own the shares held by Renaissance Technologies LLC.
The principal address of Renaissance Technologies LLC and
Renaissance Technologies Holdings Corp.is 800 Third Avenue, New
York, New York 10022. James Rowen is the Vice President of
Renaissance Technologies Holdings Corp. and Chief operating officer
of Renaissance Technologies LLC.
DELINQUENT Section 16(a)
REPORTS: None
Section
16(a) of the Exchange Act requires that our executive officers and
trustees, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class
of our equity securities, file reports of ownership and changes in
ownership on Forms 3, 4 and 5 with the SEC and, in our case, the
NYSE American. Executive officers, trustees and greater than 10%
shareholders are required by the SEC to furnish us with copies of
all Forms 3, 4 and 5 that they file. Based on our review of such
copies, we believe that our current executive officers, trustees
and greater than 10% shareholders complied with all Section 16(a)
filing requirements applicable to them with respect to transactions
during 2019.
Related Party Transactions
The
Trust and its subsidiaries have hired Morrison Cohen, LLP
(“Morrison Cohen”) as their legal counsel with respect to general
corporate matters. The spouse of the Trust’s Chairman, CEO,
Secretary and Treasurer is a partner at Morrison Cohen. During both
2018 and 2019, Power REIT (on a consolidated basis) did not pay any
legal fees to Morrison Cohen.
A
wholly-owned subsidiary of HBP provides the Trust and its
subsidiaries with office space at no cost. Effective September
2016, the Board of Directors approved reimbursing an affiliate of
HBP $1,000 per month for administrative and accounting support
based on a conclusion that it would pay more for such support from
a third party. Effective January 1, 2019, the Board of Directors
approved increasing the amount to $1,750 per month for based on the
increased level of work and a conclusion that it would pay more for
such support from a third party. A total of $12,000 was paid
pursuant to this arrangement during 2019.
Under
the Trust’s Declaration of Trust, the Trust may enter into
transactions in which trustees, officers or employees have a
financial interest; provided however, that in the case of a
material financial interest, the transaction shall be disclosed to
the Board of Trustees or the transaction shall be fair and
reasonable. After consideration of the conditions and terms of the
retention of Morrison Cohen and the payment to an affiliate of HBP
for accounting and administrative support, the independent trustees
approved the hiring of Morrison Cohen as legal counsel and approved
the agreement with the affiliate of HBP described above, finding
the aforementioned arrangements to be fair and reasonable and in
the interest of the Trust.
PROPOSAL 2: RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT AUDIT
FIRM
The
firm of MaloneBailey LLP has served as the Trust’s independent
registered public accounting firm since January 20, 2015, and has
audited the Trust’s consolidated financial statements as of and for
the year ended December 31, 2019 included in the Trust’s annual
report on Form 10-K mailed with this proxy statement. The Board of
Trustees seeks ratification of the decision to retain MaloneBailey
LLP as the Trust’s independent registered public accounting firm
for fiscal 2020. Ratification of the appointment of MaloneBailey
LLP by our stockholders is not required by law, our bylaws or other
governing documents. As a matter of policy, however, the
appointment is being submitted to our stockholders for ratification
at the annual meeting. If our stockholders fail to ratify the
appointment, the Audit Committee will reconsider whether or not to
retain that firm. Even if the appointment is ratified, the Audit
Committee, in its discretion, may direct the appointment of
different independent auditors at any time during the year if they
determine that such a change would be in our best interest and the
best interests of our stockholders.
A
representative of MaloneBailey LLP will be in attendance at the
annual meeting via conference call to respond to appropriate
questions and to make a statement if they desire to do
so.
Audit
Fees
As
previously disclosed in our public filings effective January 20,
2015, the Trust retained MaloneBailey, LLP as its independent
registered public accounting firm. The Trust paid MaloneBailey,
LLP. $51,000 for professional services in each of the years ended
2019 and 2018 related to the annual audit of the Trust’s financial
statements and the inclusion of financial statements and other
financial information in the Trust’s quarterly reports on Form
10-Q, registration statements and other submissions to the
SEC.
Tax
Fees
The
Trust has engaged BDO USA LLP to prepare its 2019 and 2018 tax
returns. The trust paid BDO USA LLP $7,700 and $7,676 for
professional services rendered in the years 2019 and 2018,
respectively.
Other
Fees
Other
than the fees described above, there were no payments made to
MaloneBailey LLP, A.C., during 2018 or 2019, including payments
whose disclosure is called for under Items 9(e)(2) and (4) of the
SEC’s Schedule 14A.
Audit
Committee Pre-Approval of Services to be Provided by Independent
Auditor
Our
policies and procedures require our Audit Committee to review and
approve in advance all engagements for services to be rendered by
the Trust’s independent auditors. In the case of any non-audit
services proposed to be rendered by the Trust’s independent
auditors, that review includes consideration by the Audit Committee
as to whether the provision of such services would be compatible
with maintaining the auditors’ independence.
All
of the engagements for services rendered in 2018 and 2019 by the
Trust’s independent auditors were pre-approved by the Audit
Committee.
THE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE TO RATIFY MALONEBAILEY
LLP AS THE TRUST’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING
FIRM
PROPOSAL 3: APPROVAL OF THE 2020 EQUITY INCENTIVE
PLAN
The
Board has approved, subject to stockholder approval, the 2020
Equity Incentive Plan which will be the successor to our 2012 Plan.
Once the 2020 Equity Incentive Plan becomes effective, no further
grants will be made under the 2012.
The
principal provisions of the 2020 Equity Incentive Plan, (the “2020
Plan”), are summarized below and the 2020 Plan is attached hereto
as Appendix A. The following discussion is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the 2020 Plan.
Purpose
of the 2020 Plan
The
Board of Trustees believes the 2020 Plan, including the maximum
number of shares available for awards under the 2020 Plan, is
necessary to ensure that we have adequate capacity to continue to
attract, reward and retain employees, non-employee directors and
consultants.
The
2020 Plan reserves a total of 239,117 shares for issuance. We
believe that this number represents a reasonable amount of
potential equity dilution and allows the Trust to continue to award
equity incentives, which are an important component of our overall
compensation program.
Share
Usage and Key Data
2020 Plan. In April 2020, the Board of Directors adopted,
subject to stockholder approval at the 2020 Annual Meeting, the
2020 Plan. The 2020 Plan will become effective on the date the
stockholders approve the 2020 Plan.
Eligibility; Type of Awards. The 2020 Plan provides for the
grant of incentive stock options, or ISOs, nonstatutory stock
options, or NSOs, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock
awards, restricted stock unit awards, performance-based awards, and
other awards, or collectively, awards. ISOs may be granted only to
our employees, including our officers, and the employees of our
affiliates. All other awards may be granted to our officers, our
non-employee directors and consultants and the employees and
consultants of our affiliates.
Authorized shares. The aggregate number of shares of our
common stock that may be issued pursuant to stock awards under the
2020 Plan will not exceed 239,117 shares consisting of (A) the
shares reserved and available for issuance pursuant to the grant of
new awards upon the effectiveness of the 2020 Plan, and (B) the
shares subject to stock options or other awards granted under our
Predecessor Plan that on or after the 2020 Plan becomes effective,
terminate or expire prior to exercise or settlement; are not issued
because the award is settled in cash; are forfeited because of the
failure to vest; or are reacquired or withheld (or not issued) to
satisfy a tax withholding obligation or the purchase or exercise
price, if any, as such shares become available from time to time.
Additionally, the number of shares of our common stock reserved for
issuance under our 2020 Plan will automatically increase on January
1 of each year, beginning on January 1, 2020 and ending on and
including January 1, 2029, by 12.5% of the total number of shares
of our capital stock outstanding on December 31 of the preceding
calendar year, or a lesser number of shares determined by the Board
of Directors. The maximum number of shares that may be issued upon
the exercise of ISOs under our 2020 Plan is 239,117
shares.
Shares
issued under our 2020 Plan will be authorized but unissued or
reacquired shares of our common stock. Shares subject to awards
granted under our 2020 Plan that expire or terminate without being
exercised in full, or that are paid out in cash rather than in
shares, will not reduce the number of shares available for issuance
under our 2020 Plan. Additionally, shares issued pursuant to awards
under our 2020 Plan that we repurchase or that are forfeited, as
well as shares used to pay the exercise price of an award or to
satisfy the tax withholding obligations related to an award, will
become available for future grant.
Non-employee director limits. The maximum number of shares
of our common stock subject to stock awards granted during a single
fiscal year to any non-employee director with respect to any
calendar year that follows the calendar year in which such
individual is first appointed or elected to the Board, taken
together with any cash fees paid to such non-employee director
during the fiscal year, shall not exceed $300,000 in total value
and with respect to the calendar year in which a non-employee
director is first appointed or elected to the Board, will not
exceed $1,000,000 in total value (in each case, calculating the
value of any such stock awards based on the grant date fair value
of such stock awards for financial reporting purposes and
excluding, for this purpose, the value of any dividend equivalent
payments paid pursuant to any stock award granted in a previous
fiscal year).
Plan administration. The Board, or a duly authorized
committee of the Board, may administer our 2020 Plan. The Board has
delegated concurrent authority to administer our 2020 Plan to the
Compensation Committee under the terms of the Compensation
Committee’s charter. We sometimes refer to the Board, or the
applicable committee with the power to administer our equity
incentive plans, as the administrator. The administrator may also
delegate to one or more of our officers the authority to (1)
designate employees (other than officers) to receive specified
awards, and (2) determine the number of shares subject to such
awards.
The
administrator has the authority to determine the terms of awards,
including recipients, the exercise, purchase or strike price of
awards, if any, the number of shares subject to each award, the
fair market value of a share of our common stock, the vesting
schedule applicable to the awards, together with any vesting
acceleration, and the form of consideration, if any, payable upon
exercise or settlement of the award and the terms of the award
agreements for use under our 2020 Plan.
Stock Options. ISOs and NSOs are granted pursuant to stock
option agreements adopted by the administrator. The administrator
determines the exercise price for a stock option, within the terms
and conditions of the 2020 Plan, provided that the exercise price
of a stock option generally cannot be less than 100% of the fair
market value of our common stock on the date of grant. Options
granted under the 2020 Plan vest at the rate specified by the
administrator. The closing price of our common stock as reported on
the NYSE American on May 15, 2020 was $19.80 per share.
The
administrator determines the term of stock options granted under
the 2020 Plan, up to a maximum of ten years. Unless the terms of an
optionholder’s stock option agreement provide otherwise, if an
optionholder’s service relationship with us, or any of our
affiliates, ceases for any reason other than disability, death or
cause, the optionholder may generally exercise any vested options
for a period of three months following the cessation of service.
The option term may be extended in the event that either an
exercise of the option or an immediate sale of shares acquired upon
exercise of the option following such a termination of service is
prohibited by applicable securities laws or our insider trading
policy. If an optionholder’s service relationship with us or any of
our affiliates ceases due to disability or death, or an
optionholder dies within a certain period following cessation of
service, the optionholder or a beneficiary may generally exercise
any vested options for a period of 12 months in the event of
disability and 18 months in the event of death. In the event of a
termination for cause, options generally terminate immediately upon
the termination of the individual for cause. In no event may an
option be exercised beyond the expiration of its term.
Acceptable
consideration for the purchase of common stock issued upon the
exercise of a stock option will be determined by the administrator
and may include (1) cash, check, bank draft or money order, (2) a
broker-assisted cashless exercise, (3) the tender of shares of our
common stock previously owned by the optionholder, (4) a net
exercise of the option if it is an NSO, and (5) other legal
consideration approved by the administrator.
Options
may not be transferred to third party financial institutions for
value. Unless the administrator provides otherwise, options
generally are not transferable except by will, the laws of descent
and distribution, or pursuant to a domestic relations order. An
optionholder may designate a beneficiary, however, who may exercise
the option following the optionholder’s death.
Restricted Stock Awards. Restricted stock awards are
granted pursuant to restricted stock award agreements adopted by
the administrator. Restricted stock awards may be granted in
consideration for cash, check, bank draft or money order, services
rendered to us or our affiliates, or any other form of legal
consideration. Common stock acquired under a restricted stock award
may, but need not, be subject to a share repurchase option in our
favor in accordance with a vesting schedule to be determined by the
administrator. A restricted stock award may be transferred only
upon such terms and conditions as set by the administrator. Except
as otherwise provided in the applicable award agreement, restricted
stock awards that have not vested may be forfeited or repurchased
by us upon the participant’s cessation of continuous service for
any reason.
Restricted Stock Unit Awards. Restricted stock unit awards
are granted pursuant to restricted stock unit award agreements
adopted by the administrator. Restricted stock unit awards may be
granted in consideration for any form of legal consideration. A
restricted stock unit award may be settled by cash, delivery of
stock, a combination of cash and stock as deemed appropriate by the
administrator, or in any other form of consideration set forth in
the restricted stock unit award agreement. Additionally, dividend
equivalents may be credited in respect of shares covered by a
restricted stock unit award. Except as otherwise provided in the
applicable award agreement, restricted stock units that have not
vested will be forfeited upon the participant’s cessation of
continuous service for any reason.
Stock Appreciation Rights. Stock appreciation rights
are granted pursuant to stock appreciation right grant agreements
adopted by the administrator. The administrator determines the
strike price for a stock appreciation right, which generally cannot
be less than 100% of the fair market value of our common stock on
the date of grant. Upon the exercise of a stock appreciation right,
we will pay the participant an amount equal to the product of (1)
the excess of the per share fair market value of our common stock
on the date of exercise over the strike price, multiplied by (2)
the number of shares of common stock with respect to which the
stock appreciation right is exercised. A stock appreciation right
granted under the 2020 Plan vests at the rate specified in the
stock appreciation right agreement as determined by the
administrator.
The
administrator determines the term of stock appreciation rights
granted under the 2020 Plan, up to a maximum of ten years. Unless
the terms of a participant’s stock appreciation right agreement
provide otherwise, if a participant’s service relationship with us
or any of our affiliates ceases for any reason other than cause,
disability or death, the participant may generally exercise any
vested stock appreciation right for a period of three months
following the cessation of service. The stock appreciation right
term may be further extended in the event that exercise of the
stock appreciation right following such a termination of service is
prohibited by applicable securities laws. If a participant’s
service relationship with us, or any of our affiliates, ceases due
to disability or death, or a participant dies within a certain
period following cessation of service, the participant or a
beneficiary may generally exercise any vested stock appreciation
right for a period of 12 months in the event of disability and 18
months in the event of death. In the event of a termination for
cause, stock appreciation rights generally terminate immediately
upon the occurrence of the event giving rise to the termination of
the individual for cause. In no event may a stock appreciation
right be exercised beyond the expiration of its term.
Performance Awards. Our 2020 Plan permits the grant of
performance-based stock and cash awards. The administrator can
structure such awards so that the stock or cash will be issued or
paid pursuant to such award only following the achievement of
certain pre-established performance goals during a designated
performance period. Performance awards that are settled in cash or
other property are not required to be valued in whole or in part by
reference to, or otherwise based on, the common stock
The
performance goals may be based any measure of performance selected
by the administrator. The administrator may establish performance
goals on a company-wide basis, with respect to one or more business
units, divisions, affiliates, or business segments, and in either
absolute terms or relative to the performance of one or more
comparable companies or the performance of one or more relevant
indices. Unless specified otherwise (i) in the award agreement at
the time the award is granted or (ii) in such other document
setting forth the performance goals at the time the goals are
established, the administrator will appropriately make adjustments
in the method of calculating the attainment of the performance
goals as follows: (1) to exclude restructuring and/or other
nonrecurring charges; (2) to exclude exchange rate effects; (3) to
exclude the effects of changes to generally accepted accounting
principles; (4) to exclude the effects of any statutory adjustments
to corporate tax rates; (5) to exclude the effects of items that
are “unusual” in nature or occur “infrequently” as determined under
generally accepted accounting principles; (6) to exclude the
dilutive effects of acquisitions or joint ventures; (7) to assume
that any business divested by us achieved performance objectives at
targeted levels during the balance of a performance period
following such divestiture; (8) to exclude the effect of any change
in the outstanding shares of our common stock by reason of any
stock dividend or split stock repurchase, reorganization,
recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination or
exchange of shares or other similar corporate change, or any
distributions to common stockholders other than regular cash
dividends; (9) to exclude the effects of stock-based compensation
and the award of bonuses under our bonus plans; (10) to exclude
costs incurred in connection with potential acquisitions or
divestitures that are required to be expensed under generally
accepted accounting principles; and (11) to exclude the goodwill
and intangible asset impairment charges that are required to be
recorded under generally accepted accounting principles.
Other Awards. The administrator may grant other
awards based in whole or in part by reference to our common stock.
The administrator will set the number of shares under the award and
all other terms and conditions of such awards.
Changes to Capital Structure. In the event there is
a specified type of change in our capital structure, such as a
stock split, reverse stock split, or recapitalization, appropriate
adjustments will be made to (1) the class and maximum number of
shares reserved for issuance under the 2020 Plan; (2) the class and
maximum number of shares by which the share reserve may increase
automatically each year; (3) the class and maximum number of shares
that may be issued upon the exercise of incentive stock options;
and (4) the class and number of shares and exercise price, strike
price, or purchase price, if applicable, of all outstanding
awards
Corporate Transaction; Change in Control. The 2020 Plan
provides that in the event of a corporate transaction, as defined
in the 2020 Plan, the following provisions will apply to
outstanding stock awards, unless otherwise provided in a stock
award agreement or any other written agreement between us and a
participant, or unless otherwise expressly provided by the
administrator at the time of grant of a stock award:
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Any
stock awards outstanding under the 2020 Plan may be assumed,
continued or substituted for by any surviving or acquiring
corporation (or its parent company), and any reacquisition or
repurchase rights held by us with respect to the stock award may be
assigned to the successor (or its parent company). |
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If
the surviving or acquiring corporation (or its parent company) does
not assume, continue or substitute for such stock awards, then with
respect to any such stock awards that are held by participants
whose continuous service has not terminated prior to the effective
time of the corporate transaction, or current participants, the
vesting (and exercisability, if applicable) of such stock awards
will be accelerated in full to a date prior to the effective time
of the corporate transaction (contingent upon the effectiveness of
the corporate transaction), and such stock awards will terminate if
not exercised (if applicable) at or prior to the effective time of
the corporate transaction, and any reacquisition or repurchase
rights held by us with respect to such stock awards will lapse
(contingent upon the effectiveness of the corporate
transaction) |
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If
the surviving or acquiring corporation (or its parent company) does
not assume, continue or substitute for such stock awards, then any
such stock awards that are held by persons other than current
participants will terminate if not exercised (if applicable) prior
to the effective time of the corporate transaction, except that any
reacquisition or repurchase rights held by us with respect to such
stock awards will not terminate and may continue to be exercised
notwithstanding the corporate transaction. |
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In
the event a stock award will terminate if not exercised prior to
the effective time of a corporate transaction, the administrator
may provide, in its sole discretion, that the holder of such stock
award may not exercise such stock award but instead will receive a
payment equal in value to the excess (if any) of (i) the per share
amount payable to holders of common stock in connection with the
corporate transaction, over (ii) any per share exercise price
payable by such holder provided in the stock award, if applicable.
In addition, any escrow, holdback, earn out or similar provisions
in the definitive agreement for the corporate transaction may apply
to such payment to the same extent and in the same manner as such
provisions apply to the holders of common stock. |
In
addition, the Board has the sole and complete discretion to
determine to accelerate vesting and exercisability of all or any
awards in the event of a corporate transaction.
Under
the 2020 Plan, a corporate transaction is generally the
consummation of: (1) a sale of all or substantially all of our
assets, (2) the sale or disposition of more than 50% of our
outstanding securities, (3) a merger or consolidation where we do
not survive the transaction, or (4) a merger or consolidation where
we do survive the transaction but the shares of our common stock
outstanding immediately before such transaction are converted or
exchanged into other property by virtue of the
transaction.
A
stock award may be subject to additional acceleration of vesting
and exercisability upon or after a change in control, as defined in
the 2020 Plan, as may be provided in the stock award agreement for
such stock award or in any other written agreement between us and a
participant, but in the absence of such a provision, no such
acceleration will occur.
Transferability. A participant may not transfer
awards under our 2020 Plan other than by will, the laws of descent
and distribution or as otherwise provided under our 2020
Plan.
Plan amendment or termination. The Board has the authority
to amend, suspend, or terminate our 2020 Plan, provided that such
action does not materially impair the existing rights of any
participant without such participant’s written consent. Certain
material amendments also require the approval of our stockholders.
No ISOs may be granted after the tenth anniversary of the date the
Board adopted our 2020 Plan. No awards may be granted under our
2020 Plan while it is suspended or after it is
terminated.
Material
U.S. Federal Income Tax Treatment of Options and
Awards
The
following is a summary of the effect of U.S. federal income
taxation on the participants in the 2020 Plan and the company.
However, it does not purport to be complete and does not describe
the state, local or foreign tax considerations or the consequences
for any particular individual.
Incentive
Stock Options
An ISO
results in neither taxable income to the optionee, nor a deduction
to the Company at the time it is granted or exercised. If the
optionee holds the stock received as a result of an exercise of an
ISO for at least two years from the date of the grant and one year
from the date of exercise, then the gain realized on disposition of
the stock is treated as a long-term capital gain. If the shares are
disposed of during this period, however (i.e., a
“disqualifying disposition”), then the optionee will include the
income, as ordinary compensation for the year of the disposition,
in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value
of the shares, upon exercise of the option over the option price
(or, if less, the excess of the amount realized upon disposition
over the option price). The excess, if any, of the sale price over
the fair market value on the date of exercise will be a short-term
capital gain. In such case, the Company will be entitled to a
deduction, in the year of such a disposition, for the amount
includible in the optionee’s income as compensation, subject to the
limitations of Section 162(m) of the Code. The optionee’s tax basis
in the shares acquired upon exercise of an ISO is equal to the
option price paid, plus any amount includible in his or her income
as a result of a disqualifying disposition.
Non-Qualified
Stock Options
A NSO
results in no taxable income to the optionee or deduction to the
Company at the time it is granted. An optionee exercising a NSO
will, at that time, realize taxable compensation in the amount of
the excess of the then market value of the shares over the option
price. Subject to the applicable provisions of the Code, including
the limitations of Section 162(m), a deduction for federal income
tax purposes will be allowable to the Company in the year of
exercise in an amount equal to the taxable compensation realized by
the optionee. The optionee’s tax basis in shares received upon
exercise is equal to the sum of the option price plus the amount
includible in his or her income as compensation upon
exercise.
Any
gain (or loss) upon subsequent disposition of the shares will be a
long- or short-term gain (or loss), depending upon the holding
period of the shares.
If a
NSO is exercised by tendering previously owned shares of the
company’s common stock in payment of the option price, then,
instead of the treatment described above, the following will apply:
a number of new shares equal to the number of previously owned
shares tendered will be considered to have been received in a
tax-free exchange; the optionee’s basis and holding period for such
number of new shares will be equal to the basis and holding period
of the previously owned shares exchanged. The optionee will have
compensation income equal to the fair market value on the date of
exercise of the number of new shares received in excess of such
number of exchanged shares; the optionee’s basis in such excess
shares will be equal to the amount of such compensation income; and
the holding period in such shares will begin on the date of
exercise.
Stock
Appreciation Rights
Generally,
the recipient of a stand-alone SAR will not recognize taxable
income at the time the stand-alone SAR is granted.
If
the grantee receives the appreciation inherent in the SAR (change
in stock price plus dividends from grant date to settlement date)
in cash, the cash will be taxed as ordinary income to the employee
at the time it is received. If the grantee receives the
appreciation inherent in the SAR in stock, the value is converted
into stock which is taxable as ordinary income at the fair market
value of the stock.
In
general, there will be no federal income tax deduction allowed to
the Company upon the grant or termination of SARs. However, upon
the settlement of a SAR, the Company will be entitled to a
deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income the recipient is
required to recognize as a result of the settlement, subject to the
limitations of Section 162(m) of the Code.
Restricted
Stock Awards / Performance Stock Awards
No income
will be recognized at the time of grant by the recipient of a
restricted stock award or performance stock award while such award
is subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. Generally, at the
time the substantial risk of forfeiture terminates with respect to
a stock award, the then fair market value of the stock awarded will
constitute ordinary income to the employee. Subject to the
applicable limitations of Section 162(m), a deduction for federal
income tax purposes will be allowable to the company in an amount
equal to the compensation realized by the recipient.
Other
Awards
In
the case of an award of RSUs, performance awards, dividend
equivalents or dividend equivalent units or other stock or cash
awards, the recipient will generally recognize ordinary income in
an amount equal to any cash received and the fair market value of
any shares received on the date of payment or delivery. In that
taxable year, the company will receive a federal income tax
deduction in an amount equal to the ordinary income which the
recipient has recognized, subject to the limitations of Section
162(m) of the Code.
Section
162(m)
We generally
will be entitled to a tax deduction in connection with an award
granted under the 2020 Plan (subject to the requirement of
reasonableness, the provisions of Section 162(m) and the
satisfaction of a tax reporting obligation) in an amount equal to
the ordinary income recognized by a participant and at the time the
participant recognizes such income (for example, on the exercise of
a NSO). Section 162(m) may limit the deductibility of compensation
paid to our chief executive officer and to each of the three most
highly compensated executive officers other than the chief
executive officer and the chief financial officer. Under Section
162(m), the annual compensation paid to any of these specified
executives will be deductible by the company only to the extent
that it does not exceed $1,000,000 or an exemption from such
deduction limitation is applicable and available.
The
exemption from Section 162(m)’s deduction limit for
performance-based compensation has been repealed, effective for
taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, such that
compensation paid to our covered executive officers in excess of $1
million will not be deductible unless it qualifies for transition
relief applicable to certain performance-based compensation
arrangements already in place as of November 2, 2017. The
administrator reserves the right to grant awards under the 2020
Plan that result in compensation to our covered officers in excess
of the $1 million Section 162(m) deduction limitation.
New
Plan Benefits
Future
benefits under the 2020 Plan are not currently determinable, except
that we have adopted a non-employee director compensation policy
that provides that on the date of the annual meeting of
stockholders each non-employee director will receive an option to
acquire 7,500 shares of common stock, vesting 1/12th per
month with full vesting, if not fully vested at the time, on the
date of the next annual meeting of stockholders.
THE BOARD
OF TRUSTEES UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR APPROVAL OF
THE 2020 PLAN
OTHER
MATTERS
Principal
Executive Offices
The
Trust’s principal executive offices are located at 301 Winding
Road, Old Bethpage, NY 11804.
Other
Matters to Come Before the 2020 Annual Meeting
No
matters are planned to be presented for action at the annual
meeting other than as set forth in this proxy statement. If other
matters properly come before the meeting, the persons named as
proxies in the accompanying white proxy card will vote all the
proxies given to them as a consequence of proxy solicitations made
by the Board of Trustees pursuant to this proxy statement as
recommended by the Board of Trustees or, if no such recommendation
is given, in their own discretion.
Shareholder
Proposals and Nominations for the 2021 Annual
Meeting
Any
shareholder proposal that, pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the
Exchange Act, is to be considered for inclusion in our proxy
materials for the next annual meeting of shareholders, in 2021,
must be received by the Trust no later than February 24, 2021.
Proposals should be sent via registered, certified or express mail
to our principal executive offices.
In
addition, Qualified Shareholders (as defined below) who wish to
propose a nominee to the Board of Trustees or propose any other
business to be considered by the shareholders (other than a
shareholder proposal included in our proxy materials pursuant to
Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act) must comply with the advance
notice provisions and other requirements of Article III, Section 13
of our Bylaws, which are on file with the SEC and may be obtained
from the SEC’s website or from us upon written request. These
provisions require that nominations and proposals of business for
the 2021 annual meeting must be received by the Trust no earlier
than February 24, 2021 and no later than March 25, 2021. Such
nominations or proposals of business should be sent via registered,
certified or express mail to our principal executive offices. A
“Qualified Shareholder” is a shareholder or shareholders who
collectively have held both investment and voting control over at
least five percent (5%) of the shares of the Trust for at least
three consecutive years and have been acting in concert over that
time period; who are shareholders of record at the time their
advance notice is delivered to the Trust and at the time of the
annual meeting; who are entitled to vote at the meeting; and who
have complied in all respects with the procedures set forth in
Article III, Section 13 of our Bylaws.
Householding
of Proxy Materials
If
you and other residents at your mailing address own shares in
street name, your broker or bank may have sent you a notice that
your household will receive only one annual report and proxy
statement. This practice is known as “householding.” If you did not
respond that you did not want to participate in householding, then
you were deemed to have consented to householding, and your broker
or bank will be sending only one copy of our annual report and
proxy statement to your address. You may revoke your consent to
householding at any time by sending your name, the name of your
brokerage firm and your account number to Broadridge Financial
Solutions Inc., 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. In all events,
if you did not receive an individual copy of this proxy statement
or our annual report, and wish to do so, we will send you such a
copy or copies if you send a written request to us at our principal
executive offices, Attention: Investor Relations, or telephone us
at (212) 750-0371. If your household is receiving multiple copies
of our annual report and proxy statement, you can request
householding by contacting us in the same manner.
Additional
Copies of Materials
Additional
copies of this proxy statement and our annual report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2019 will be furnished without
charge upon written request to our principal executive offices,
Attention: Investor Relations.
Shareholder
Communications
Shareholders
may communicate with the Board of Trustees or an individual trustee
by sending their communications in writing care of Power REIT at
301 Winding Road, Old Bethpage, NY 11804. All such communications
will be forwarded to the respective trustee or trustees to whom
such communications are addressed.
Annual
Report
On
March 30, 2019, the Trust filed with the SEC its annual report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 which is being
mailed with the 2020 Proxy Material. Such annual report is also
available from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and from our
website at www.pwreit.com.
IN
CONNECTION WITH THE SOLICITATION OF PROXIES BY THE BOARD OF
TRUSTEES, YOU SHOULD RELY ONLY ON THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS
PROXY STATEMENT. WE HAVE NOT AUTHORIZED ANYONE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH
DIFFERENT OR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. YOU SHOULD NOT ASSUME THAT THE
INFORMATION IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT IS ACCURATE AS OF ANY DATE
OTHER THAN THE DATE OF THIS PROXY STATEMENT OR, WHERE INFORMATION
RELATES TO ANOTHER DATE SET FORTH IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT, AS OF
THAT DATE.
APPENDIX
A
2020 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
Adopted by the Board of Directors: May 27, 2020
Approved by the Stockholders: June 24, 2020
(a)
Successor to and Continuation of Prior Plan. The Plan is the
successor to and continuation of the Prior Plan. As of the
Effective Date, (i) no additional awards may be granted under the
Prior Plan; (ii) the Prior Plan’s Available Reserve plus any
Returning Shares will become available for issuance pursuant to
Awards granted under this Plan; and (iii) all outstanding awards
granted under the Prior Plan will remain subject to the terms of
the Prior Plan (except to the extent such outstanding awards result
in Returning Shares that become available for issuance pursuant to
Awards granted under this Plan). All Awards granted under this Plan
will be subject to the terms of this Plan.
(b)
Plan Purpose. The Company, by means of the Plan, seeks to
secure and retain the services of Employees, Directors and
Consultants, to provide incentives for such persons to exert
maximum efforts for the success of the Company and any Affiliate
and to provide a means by which such persons may be given an
opportunity to benefit from increases in value of the Common Stock
through the granting of Awards.
(c)
Available Awards. The Plan provides for the grant of the
following Awards: (i) Incentive Stock Options; (ii) Nonstatutory
Stock Options; (iii) SARs; (iv) Restricted Stock Awards; (v) RSU
Awards; (vi) Performance Awards; and (vii) Other Awards.
Adoption
Date. The Plan will come into existence on the Adoption Date.
No Award may be granted under the Plan prior to the Adoption Date.
Any Award granted prior to the Effective Date is contingent upon
timely receipt of stockholder approval to the extent required under
applicable tax, securities and regulatory rules, and satisfaction
of any other compliance requirements.
2. |
Shares Subject to the Plan. |
Share
Reserve. Subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 2(c)
and any adjustments as necessary to implement any Capitalization
Adjustments, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that
may be issued pursuant to Awards will not exceed 239,117 shares,
which number is the sum of: (i) new shares (ii) the Prior Plan’s
Available Reserve; plus (ii) the number of Returning Shares, if
any, as such shares become available from time to time.
In
addition, subject to any adjustments as necessary to implement any
Capitalization Adjustments, such aggregate number of shares of
Common Stock will automatically increase on January 1 of each
calendar year for a period of ten years commencing on January 1,
2021 and ending on (and including) January 1, 2030, in a number of
shares of Common Stock equal to 12.5% of the total number of shares
of Capital Stock outstanding on December 31 of the preceding
calendar year; provided, however that the Board may act prior to
January 1 of a given calendar year to provide that the increase for
such year will be a lesser number of shares of Common
Stock.
Aggregate
Incentive Stock Option Limit. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in Section 2(a) and subject to any adjustments as
necessary to implement any Capitalization Adjustments, the
aggregate maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be
issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options is
239,117 shares.
Share
Reserve Operation.
Limit
Applies to Common Stock Issued Pursuant to Awards. For clarity,
the Share Reserve is a limit on the number of shares of Common
Stock that may be issued pursuant to Awards and does not limit the
granting of Awards, except that the Company will keep available at
all times the number of shares of Common Stock reasonably required
to satisfy its obligations to issue shares pursuant to such Awards.
Shares may be issued in connection with a merger or acquisition as
permitted by, as applicable, Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c), NYSE
Listed Company Manual Section 303A.08, NYSE American Company Guide
Section 711 or other applicable rule, and such issuance will not
reduce the number of shares available for issuance under the
Plan.
Actions
that Do Not Constitute Issuance of Common Stock and Do Not Reduce
Share Reserve. The following actions do not result in an
issuance of shares under the Plan and accordingly do not reduce the
number of shares subject to the Share Reserve and available for
issuance under the Plan: (1) the expiration or termination of any
portion of an Award without the shares covered by such portion of
the Award having been issued, (2) the settlement of any portion of
an Award in cash (i.e., the Participant receives cash rather
than Common Stock), (3) the withholding of shares that would
otherwise be issued by the Company to satisfy the exercise, strike
or purchase price of an Award; (4) the withholding of shares that
would otherwise be issued by the Company to satisfy a tax
withholding obligation in connection with an Award.
Reversion
of Previously Issued Shares of Common Stock to Share Reserve.
The following shares of Common Stock previously issued pursuant to
an Award and accordingly initially deducted from the Share Reserve
will be added back to the Share Reserve and again become available
for issuance under the Plan: (1) any shares that are forfeited back
to or repurchased by the Company because of a failure to meet a
contingency or condition required for the vesting of such shares;
(2) any shares that are reacquired by the Company to satisfy the
exercise, strike or purchase price of an Award; and (3) any shares
that are reacquired by the Company to satisfy a tax withholding
obligation in connection with an Award.
Eligibility and Limitations.
Eligible
Award Recipients. Subject to the terms of the Plan, Employees,
Directors and Consultants are eligible to receive
Awards.
Specific
Award Limitations.
Limitations
on Incentive Stock Option Recipients. Incentive Stock Options
may be granted only to Employees of the Company or a “parent
corporation” or “subsidiary corporation” thereof (as such terms are
defined in Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code).
Incentive
Stock Option $100,000 Limitation. To the extent that the
aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time of grant) of
Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are
exercisable for the first time by any Optionholder during any
calendar year (under all plans of the Company and any Affiliates)
exceeds $100,000 (or such other limit established in the Code) or
otherwise does not comply with the rules governing Incentive Stock
Options, the Options or portions thereof that exceed such limit
(according to the order in which they were granted) or otherwise do
not comply with such rules will be treated as Nonstatutory Stock
Options, notwithstanding any contrary provision of the applicable
Option Agreement(s).
Limitations
on Incentive Stock Options Granted to Ten Percent Stockholders.
A Ten Percent Stockholder may not be granted an Incentive Stock
Option unless (i) the exercise price of such Option is at least
110% of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant of such Option
and (ii) the Option is not exercisable after the expiration of five
years from the date of grant of such Option.
Limitations
on Nonstatutory Stock Options and SARs. Nonstatutory Stock
Options and SARs may not be granted to Employees, Directors and
Consultants who are providing Continuous Service only to any
“parent” of the Company (as such term is defined in Rule 405)
unless the stock underlying such Awards is treated as “service
recipient stock” under Section 409A because the Awards are granted
pursuant to a corporate transaction (such as a spin off
transaction) or unless such Awards otherwise comply with the
distribution requirements of Section 409A.
Aggregate
Incentive Stock Option Limit. The aggregate maximum number of
shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to the exercise
of Incentive Stock Options is the number of shares specified in
Section 2(b).
Non-Employee
Director Compensation Limit. The aggregate value of all
compensation granted or paid, as applicable, to any individual for
service as a Non-Employee Director with respect to any calendar
year that follows the calendar year in which such individual is
first appointed or elected to the Board, including Awards granted
and cash fees paid by the Company to such Non-Employee Director,
will not exceed $750,000 in total value, and with respect to the
calendar year in which a Non-Employee Director is first appointed
or elected to the Board, will not exceed $1,500,000 in total value,
in each case calculating the value of any equity awards based on
the grant date fair value of such equity awards for financial
reporting purposes.
Options and Stock Appreciation Rights.
Each
Option and SAR will have such terms and conditions as determined by
the Board. Each Option will be designated in writing as an
Incentive Stock Option or Nonstatutory Stock Option at the time of
grant; provided, however, that if an Option is not so
designated, then such Option will be a Nonstatutory Stock Option,
and the shares purchased upon exercise of each type of Option will
be separately accounted for. Each SAR will be denominated in shares
of Common Stock equivalents. The terms and conditions of separate
Options and SARs need not be identical; provided, however,
that each Option Agreement and SAR Agreement will conform (through
incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the Award
Agreement or otherwise) to the substance of each of the following
provisions:
Term.
Subject to Section 3(b) regarding Ten Percent Stockholders, no
Option or SAR will be exercisable after the expiration of ten years
from the date of grant of such Award or such shorter period
specified in the Award Agreement.
Exercise
or Strike Price. Subject to Section 3(b) regarding Ten Percent
Stockholders, the exercise or strike price of each Option or SAR
will not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on the date of
grant of such Award. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option or
SAR may be granted with an exercise or strike price lower than 100%
of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant of such Award if such
Award is granted pursuant to an assumption of or substitution for
another option or stock appreciation right pursuant to a Corporate
Transaction and in a manner consistent with the provisions of
Sections 409A and, if applicable, 424(a) of the Code.
Exercise
Procedure and Payment of Exercise Price for Options. In order
to exercise an Option, the Participant must provide notice of
exercise to the Plan Administrator in accordance with the
procedures specified in the Option Agreement or otherwise provided
by the Company. The Board has the authority to grant Options that
do not permit all of the following methods of payment (or otherwise
restrict the ability to use certain methods) and to grant Options
that require the consent of the Company to utilize a particular
method of payment. The exercise price of an Option may be paid, to
the extent permitted by Applicable Law and as determined by the
Board, by one or more of the following methods of payment to the
extent set forth in the Option Agreement:
by
cash or check, bank draft or money order payable to the
Company;
pursuant
to a “cashless exercise” program developed under Regulation T as
promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board that, prior to the
issuance of the Common Stock subject to the Option, results in
either the receipt of cash (or check) by the Company or the receipt
of irrevocable instructions to pay the exercise price to the
Company from the sales proceeds;
by
delivery to the Company (either by actual delivery or attestation)
of shares of Common Stock that are already owned by the Participant
free and clear of any liens, claims, encumbrances or security
interests, with a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise that
does not exceed the exercise price, provided that (1) at the time
of exercise the Common Stock is publicly traded, (2) any remaining
balance of the exercise price not satisfied by such delivery is
paid by the Participant in cash or other permitted form of payment,
(3) such delivery would not violate any Applicable Law or agreement
restricting the redemption of the Common Stock, (4) any
certificated shares are endorsed or accompanied by an executed
assignment separate from certificate, and (5) such shares have been
held by the Participant for any minimum period necessary to avoid
adverse accounting treatment as a result of such
delivery;
if the
Option is a Nonstatutory Stock Option, by a “net exercise”
arrangement pursuant to which the Company will reduce the number of
shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise by the largest whole
number of shares with a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise
that does not exceed the exercise price, provided that (1) such
shares used to pay the exercise price will not be exercisable
thereafter and (2) any remaining balance of the exercise price not
satisfied by such net exercise is paid by the Participant in cash
or other permitted form of payment; or
in any other
form of consideration that may be acceptable to the Board and
permissible under Applicable Law.
Exercise
Procedure and Payment of Appreciation Distribution for SARs. In
order to exercise any SAR, the Participant must provide notice of
exercise to the Plan Administrator in accordance with the SAR
Agreement. The appreciation distribution payable to a Participant
upon the exercise of a SAR will not be greater than an amount equal
to the excess of (i) the aggregate Fair Market Value on the date of
exercise of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number
of Common Stock equivalents that are vested and being exercised
under such SAR, over (ii) the strike price of such SAR. Such
appreciation distribution may be paid to the Participant in the
form of Common Stock or cash (or any combination of Common Stock
and cash) or in any other form of payment, as determined by the
Board and specified in the SAR Agreement.
Transferability.
Options and SARs may not be transferred to third party financial
institutions for value. The Board may impose such additional
limitations on the transferability of an Option or SAR as it
determines. In the absence of any such determination by the Board,
the following restrictions on the transferability of Options and
SARs will apply, provided that except as explicitly provided
herein, neither an Option nor a SAR may be transferred for
consideration and provided, further, that if an Option is an
Incentive Stock Option, such Option may be deemed to be a
Nonstatutory Stock Option as a result of such transfer:
Restrictions
on Transfer. An Option or SAR will not be transferable, except
by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and will be
exercisable during the lifetime of the Participant only by the
Participant; provided, however, that the Board may permit
transfer of an Option or SAR in a manner that is not prohibited by
applicable tax and securities laws upon the Participant’s request,
including to a trust if the Participant is considered to be the
sole beneficial owner of such trust (as determined under Section
671 of the Code and applicable state law) while such Option or SAR
is held in such trust, provided that the Participant and the
trustee enter into a transfer and other agreements required by the
Company.
Domestic
Relations Orders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to the
execution of transfer documentation in a format acceptable to the
Company and subject to the approval of the Board or a duly
authorized Officer, an Option or SAR may be transferred pursuant to
a domestic relations order.
Vesting.
The Board may impose such restrictions on or conditions to the
vesting and/or exercisability of an Option or SAR as determined by
the Board. Except as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement or
other written agreement between a Participant and the Company or an
Affiliate, vesting of Options and SARs will cease upon termination
of the Participant’s Continuous Service.
Termination
of Continuous Service for Cause. Except as explicitly otherwise
provided in the Award Agreement or other written agreement between
a Participant and the Company or an Affiliate, if a Participant’s
Continuous Service is terminated for Cause, the Participant’s
Options and SARs will terminate and be forfeited immediately upon
such termination of Continuous Service, and the Participant will be
prohibited from exercising any portion (including any vested
portion) of such Awards on and after the date of such termination
of Continuous Service and the Participant will have no further
right, title or interest in such forfeited Award, the shares of
Common Stock subject to the forfeited Award, or any consideration
in respect of the forfeited Award.
Post-Termination
Exercise Period Following Termination of Continuous Service for
Reasons Other than Cause. Subject to Section 4(i), if a
Participant’s Continuous Service terminates for any reason other
than for Cause, the Participant may exercise his or her Option or
SAR to the extent vested, but only within the following period of
time or, if applicable, such other period of time provided in the
Award Agreement or other written agreement between a Participant
and the Company or an Affiliate; provided, however, that in
no event may such Award be exercised after the expiration of its
maximum term (as set forth in Section 4(a)):
three
months following the date of such termination if such termination
is a termination without Cause (other than any termination due to
the Participant’s Disability or death);
12
months following the date of such termination if such termination
is due to the Participant’s Disability;
18
months following the date of such termination if such termination
is due to the Participant’s death; or
18
months following the date of the Participant’s death if such death
occurs following the date of such termination but during the period
such Award is otherwise exercisable (as provided in (i) or (ii)
above).
Following
the date of such termination, to the extent the Participant does
not exercise such Award within the applicable Post-Termination
Exercise Period (or, if earlier, prior to the expiration of the
maximum term of such Award), such unexercised portion of the Award
will terminate, and the Participant will have no further right,
title or interest in terminated Award, the shares of Common Stock
subject to the terminated Award, or any consideration in respect of
the terminated Award.
Restrictions
on Exercise; Extension of Exercisability. A Participant may not
exercise an Option or SAR at any time that the issuance of shares
of Common Stock upon such exercise would violate Applicable Law.
Except as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement or other
written agreement between a Participant and the Company or an
Affiliate, if a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates for any
reason other than for Cause and, at any time during the last thirty
days of the applicable Post-Termination Exercise Period: (i) the
exercise of the Participant’s Option or SAR would be prohibited
solely because the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon such
exercise would violate Applicable Law, or (ii) the immediate sale
of any shares of Common Stock issued upon such exercise would
violate the Company’s Trading Policy, then the applicable
Post-Termination Exercise Period will be extended to the last day
of the calendar month that commences following the date the Award
would otherwise expire, with an additional extension of the
exercise period to the last day of the next calendar month to apply
if any of the foregoing restrictions apply at any time during such
extended exercise period, generally without limitation as to the
maximum permitted number of extensions; provided, however,
that in no event may such Award be exercised after the expiration
of its maximum term (as set forth in Section 4(a)).
Non-Exempt
Employees. No Option or SAR, whether or not vested, granted to
an Employee who is a non-exempt employee for purposes of the Fair
Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, will be first exercisable
for any shares of Common Stock until at least six months following
the date of grant of such Award. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in
accordance with the provisions of the Worker Economic Opportunity
Act, any vested portion of such Award may be exercised earlier than
six months following the date of grant of such Award in the event
of (i) such Participant’s death or Disability, (ii) a Corporate
Transaction in which such Award is not assumed, continued or
substituted, (iii) a Change in Control, or (iv) such Participant’s
retirement (as such term may be defined in the Award Agreement or
another applicable agreement or, in the absence of any such
definition, in accordance with the Company’s then current
employment policies and guidelines). This Section 4(j) is intended
to operate so that any income derived by a non-exempt employee in
connection with the exercise or vesting of an Option or SAR will be
exempt from his or her regular rate of pay.
Whole
Shares. Options and SARs may be exercised only with respect to
whole shares of Common Stock or their equivalents.
Awards Other Than Options and Stock Appreciation
Rights.
Restricted
Stock Awards and RSU Awards. Each Restricted Stock Award and
RSU Award will have such terms and conditions as determined by the
Board; provided, however, that each Restricted Stock Award
Agreement and RSU Award Agreement will conform (through
incorporation of the provisions hereof by reference in the Award
Agreement or otherwise) to the substance of each of the following
provisions:
Form
of Award.
RSAs:
To the extent consistent with the Company’s Bylaws, at the Board’s
election, shares of Common Stock subject to a Restricted Stock
Award may be (i) held in book entry form subject to the Company’s
instructions until such shares become vested or any other
restrictions lapse, or (ii) evidenced by a certificate, which
certificate will be held in such form and manner as determined by
the Board. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, a Participant
will have voting and other rights as a stockholder of the Company
with respect to any shares subject to a Restricted Stock
Award.
RSUs:
A RSU Award represents a Participant’s right to be issued on a
future date the number of shares of Common Stock that is equal to
the number of restricted stock units subject to the RSU Award. As a
holder of a RSU Award, a Participant is an unsecured creditor of
the Company with respect to the Company’s unfunded obligation, if
any, to issue shares of Common Stock in settlement of such Award
and nothing contained in the Plan or any RSU Agreement, and no
action taken pursuant to its provisions, will create or be
construed to create a trust of any kind or a fiduciary relationship
between a Participant and the Company or an Affiliate or any other
person. A Participant will not have voting or any other rights as a
stockholder of the Company with respect to any RSU Award (unless
and until shares are actually issued in settlement of a vested RSU
Award).
Consideration.
RSA:
A Restricted Stock Award may be granted in consideration for (A)
cash or check, bank draft or money order payable to the Company,
(B) past services to the Company or an Affiliate, or (C) any other
form of consideration (including future services) as the Board may
determine and permissible under Applicable Law.
RSU:
Unless otherwise determined by the Board at the time of grant, a
RSU Award will be granted in consideration for the Participant’s
services to the Company or an Affiliate, such that the Participant
will not be required to make any payment to the Company (other than
such services) with respect to the grant or vesting of the RSU
Award, or the issuance of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to
the RSU Award. If, at the time of grant, the Board determines that
any consideration must be paid by the Participant (in a form other
than the Participant’s services to the Company or an Affiliate)
upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock in settlement of
the RSU Award, such consideration may be paid in any form of
consideration as the Board may determine and permissible under
Applicable Law.
Vesting.
The Board may impose such restrictions on or conditions to the
vesting of a Restricted Stock Award or RSU Award as determined by
the Board and which may vary. Except as otherwise provided in the
Award Agreement or other written agreement between a Participant
and the Company or an Affiliate, vesting of Restricted Stock Awards
and RSU Awards will cease upon termination of the Participant’s
Continuous Service.
Termination
of Continuous Service. Except as otherwise provided in the
Award Agreement or other written agreement between a Participant
and the Company or an Affiliate, if a Participant’s Continuous
Service terminates for any reason, (i) the Company may receive
through a forfeiture condition or a repurchase right any or all of
the shares of Common Stock held by the Participant under his or her
Restricted Stock Award that have not vested as of the date of such
termination as set forth in the Restricted Stock Award Agreement
and (ii) any portion of his or her RSU Award that has not vested
will be forfeited upon such termination and the Participant will
have no further right, title or interest in the RSU Award, the
shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the RSU Award, or any
consideration in respect of the RSU Award.
Dividends
and Dividend Equivalents. Dividends or dividend equivalents may
be paid or credited, as applicable, with respect to any shares of
Common Stock subject to a Restricted Stock Award or RSU Award, as
determined by the Board and specified in the Award
Agreement).
Settlement
of RSU Awards. A RSU Award may be settled by the issuance of
shares of Common Stock or cash (or any combination thereof) or in
any other form of payment, as determined by the Board and specified
in the RSU Award Agreement. At the time of grant, the Board may
determine to impose such restrictions or conditions that delay such
delivery to a date following the vesting of the RSU
Award.
Performance
Awards. With respect to any Performance Award, the length of
any Performance Period, the Performance Goals to be achieved during
the Performance Period, the other terms and conditions of such
Award, and the measure of whether and to what degree such
Performance Goals have been attained will be determined by the
Board.
Other
Awards. Other forms of Awards valued in whole or in part by
reference to, or otherwise based on, Common Stock, including the
appreciation in value thereof (e.g., options or stock rights with
an exercise price or strike price less than 100% of the Fair Market
Value at the time of grant) may be granted either alone or in
addition to Awards provided for under Section 0 and the preceding
provisions of this Section 0. Subject to the provisions of the
Plan, the Board will have sole and complete discretion to determine
the persons to whom and the time or times at which such Other
Awards will be granted, the number of shares of Common Stock (or
the cash equivalent thereof) to be granted pursuant to such Other
Awards and all other terms and conditions of such Other
Awards.
Adjustments upon Changes in Common Stock; Other Corporate
Events.
Capitalization
Adjustments. In the event of a Capitalization Adjustment, the
Board shall appropriately and proportionately adjust: (i) the
class(es) and maximum number of shares of Common Stock subject to
the Plan and the maximum number of shares by which the Share
Reserve may annually increase pursuant to Section 0, (ii) the
class(es) and maximum number of shares that may be issued pursuant
to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options pursuant to Section 0,
and (iii) the class(es) and number of securities and exercise
price, strike price or purchase price of Common Stock subject to
outstanding Awards. The Board shall make such adjustments, and its
determination shall be final, binding and conclusive.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no fractional shares or rights for
fractional shares of Common Stock shall be created in order to
implement any Capitalization Adjustment. The Board shall determine
an equivalent benefit for any fractional shares or fractional
shares that might be created by the adjustments referred to in the
preceding provisions of this Section.
Dissolution
or Liquidation. Except as otherwise provided in the Award
Agreement, in the event of a dissolution or liquidation of the
Company, all outstanding Awards (other than Awards consisting of
vested and outstanding shares of Common Stock not subject to a
forfeiture condition or the Company’s right of repurchase) will
terminate immediately prior to the completion of such dissolution
or liquidation, and the shares of Common Stock subject to the
Company’s repurchase rights or subject to a forfeiture condition
may be repurchased or reacquired by the Company notwithstanding the
fact that the holder of such Award is providing Continuous Service,
provided, however, that the Board may determine to cause
some or all Awards to become fully vested, exercisable and/or no
longer subject to repurchase or forfeiture (to the extent such
Awards have not previously expired or terminated) before the
dissolution or liquidation is completed but contingent on its
completion.
Corporate
Transaction. The following provisions will apply to Awards in
the event of a Corporate Transaction unless otherwise provided in
the instrument evidencing the Award or any other written agreement
between the Company or any Affiliate and the Participant or unless
otherwise expressly provided by the Board. The Board has sole and
complete discretion to determine to accelerate the vesting and
exercisability of all or any Awards in the event of a Corporate
Transaction.
Awards
May Be Assumed. In the event of a Corporate Transaction, any
surviving corporation or acquiring corporation (or the surviving or
acquiring corporation’s parent company) may assume or continue any
or all Awards outstanding under the Plan or may substitute similar
awards for Awards outstanding under the Plan (including but not
limited to, awards to acquire the same consideration paid to the
stockholders of the Company pursuant to the Corporate Transaction),
and any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by the Company in
respect of Common Stock issued pursuant to Awards may be assigned
by the Company to the successor of the Company (or the successor’s
parent company, if any), in connection with such Corporate
Transaction. A surviving corporation or acquiring corporation (or
its parent) may choose to assume or continue only a portion of an
Award or substitute a similar award for only a portion of an Award,
or may choose to assume or continue the Awards held by some, but
not all Participants. The terms of any assumption, continuation or
substitution will be set by the Board.
Awards
Held by Current Participants. In the event of a Corporate
Transaction in which the surviving corporation or acquiring
corporation (or its parent company) does not assume or continue
such outstanding Awards or substitute similar awards for such
outstanding Awards, then with respect to Awards that have not been
assumed, continued or substituted and that are held by Participants
whose Continuous Service has not terminated prior to the effective
time of the Corporate Transaction (referred to as the
“Current Participants”), the vesting of such Awards
(and, with respect to Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, the
time when such Awards may be exercised) will be accelerated in full
to a date prior to the effective time of such Corporate Transaction
(contingent upon the effectiveness of the Corporate Transaction) as
the Board determines (or, if the Board does not determine such a
date, to the date that is five (5) days prior to the effective time
of the Corporate Transaction), and such Awards will terminate if
not exercised (if applicable) at or prior to the effective time of
the Corporate Transaction, and any reacquisition or repurchase
rights held by the Company with respect to such Awards will lapse
(contingent upon the effectiveness of the Corporate Transaction).
With respect to the vesting of Performance Awards that will
accelerate upon the occurrence of a Corporate Transaction pursuant
to this subsection (ii) and that have multiple vesting levels
depending on the level of performance, unless otherwise provided in
the Award Agreement, the vesting of such Performance Awards will
accelerate at 100% of the target level upon the occurrence of the
Corporate Transaction. With respect to the vesting of Awards that
will accelerate upon the occurrence of a Corporate Transaction
pursuant to this subsection (ii) and are settled in the form of a
cash payment, such cash payment will be made no later than 30 days
following the occurrence of the Corporate Transaction.
Awards
Held by Persons other than Current Participants. In the event
of a Corporate Transaction in which the surviving corporation or
acquiring corporation (or its parent company) does not assume or
continue such outstanding Awards or substitute similar awards for
such outstanding Awards, then with respect to Awards that have not
been assumed, continued or substituted and that are held by persons
other than Current Participants, such Awards will terminate if not
exercised (if applicable) prior to the occurrence of the Corporate
Transaction; provided, however, that any reacquisition or
repurchase rights held by the Company with respect to such Awards
will not terminate and may continue to be exercised notwithstanding
the Corporate Transaction.
Payment
for Awards in Lieu of Exercise. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
in the event an Award will terminate if not exercised prior to the
effective time of a Corporate Transaction, the Board may provide,
in its sole discretion, that the holder of such Award may not
exercise such Award but will receive a payment, in such form as may
be determined by the Board, equal in value, at the effective time,
to the excess, if any, of (1) the value of the property the
Participant would have received upon the exercise of the Award
(including, at the discretion of the Board, any unvested portion of
such Award), over (2) any exercise price payable by such holder in
connection with such exercise.
Appointment
of Stockholder Representative. As a condition to the receipt of
an Award under this Plan, a Participant will be deemed to have
agreed that the Award will be subject to the terms of any agreement
governing a Corporate Transaction involving the Company, including,
without limitation, a provision for the appointment of a
stockholder representative that is authorized to act on the
Participant’s behalf with respect to any escrow, indemnities and
any contingent consideration.
(a)
No Restriction on Right to Undertake Transactions. The grant of
any Award under the Plan and the issuance of shares pursuant to any
Award does not affect or restrict in any way the right or power of
the Company or the stockholders of the Company to make or authorize
any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in
the Company’s capital structure or its business, any merger or
consolidation of the Company, any issue of stock or of options,
rights or options to purchase stock or of bonds, debentures,
preferred or prior preference stocks whose rights are superior to
or affect the Common Stock or the rights thereof or which are
convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, or the
dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any sale or transfer
of all or any part of its assets or business, or any other
corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or
otherwise.
(a)
Administration by Board. The Board will administer the Plan
unless and until the Board delegates administration of the Plan to
a Committee or Committees, as provided in subsection (c)
below.
(b)
Powers of Board. The Board will have the power, subject to, and
within the limitations of, the express provisions of the
Plan:
(i)
To determine from time to time (1) which of the persons eligible
under the Plan will be granted Awards; (2) when and how each Award
will be granted; (3) what type or combination of types of Award
will be granted; (4) the provisions of each Award granted (which
need not be identical), including the time or times when a person
will be permitted to receive an issuance of Common Stock or other
payment pursuant to an Award; (5) the number of shares of Common
Stock or cash equivalent with respect to which an Award will be
granted to each such person; and (6) the Fair Market Value
applicable to an Award.
(ii)
To construe and interpret the Plan and Awards granted under it, and
to establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations for its
administration. The Board, in the exercise of this power, may
correct any defect, omission or inconsistency in the Plan or in any
Award Agreement, in a manner and to the extent it deems necessary
or expedient to make the Plan or Award fully effective.
(iii)
To settle all controversies regarding the Plan and Awards granted
under it.
(iv)
To accelerate the time at which an Award may first be exercised or
the time during which an Award or any part thereof will vest,
notwithstanding the provisions in the Award Agreement stating the
time at which it may first be exercised or the time during which it
will vest.
(v)
To prohibit the exercise of any Option, SAR or other exercisable
Award during a period of up to 30 days prior to the consummation of
any pending stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of
shares, merger, consolidation or other distribution (other than
normal cash dividends) of Company assets to stockholders, or any
other change affecting the shares of Common Stock or the share
price of the Common Stock including any Corporate Transaction, for
reasons of administrative convenience.
(vi)
To suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. Suspension or
termination of the Plan will not Materially Impair rights and
obligations under any Award granted while the Plan is in effect
except with the written consent of the affected
Participant.
(vii)
To amend the Plan in any respect the Board deems necessary or
advisable; provided, however, that stockholder approval will
be required for any amendment to the extent required by Applicable
Law. Except as provided above, rights under any Award granted
before amendment of the Plan will not be Materially Impaired by any
amendment of the Plan unless (1) the Company requests the consent
of the affected Participant, and (2) such Participant consents in
writing.
(viii)
To submit any amendment to the Plan for stockholder
approval.
(ix)
To approve forms of Award Agreements for use under the Plan and to
amend the terms of any one or more Awards, including, but not
limited to, amendments to provide terms more favorable to the
Participant than previously provided in the Award Agreement,
subject to any specified limits in the Plan that are not subject to
Board discretion; provided however, that, a Participant’s
rights under any Award will not be Materially Impaired by any such
amendment unless (1) the Company requests the consent of the
affected Participant, and (2) such Participant consents in
writing.
(x)
Generally, to exercise such powers and to perform such acts as the
Board deems necessary or expedient to promote the best interests of
the Company and that are not in conflict with the provisions of the
Plan or Awards.
(xi)
To adopt such procedures and sub-plans as are necessary or
appropriate to permit and facilitate participation in the Plan by,
or take advantage of specific tax treatment for Awards granted to,
Employees, Directors or Consultants who are foreign nationals or
employed outside the United States (provided that Board approval
will not be necessary for immaterial modifications to the Plan or
any Award Agreement to ensure or facilitate compliance with the
laws of the relevant foreign jurisdiction).
(xii)
To effect, at any time and from time to time, subject to the
consent of any Participant whose Award is Materially Impaired by
such action, (1) the reduction of the exercise price (or strike
price) of any outstanding Option or SAR; (2) the cancellation of
any outstanding Option or SAR and the grant in substitution
therefor of (A) a new Option, SAR, Restricted Stock Award, RSU
Award or Other Award, under the Plan or another equity plan of the
Company, covering the same or a different number of shares of
Common Stock, (B) cash and/or (C) other valuable consideration (as
determined by the Board); or (3) any other action that is treated
as a repricing under generally accepted accounting
principles.
(c)
Delegation to Committee.
(i)
General. The Board may delegate some or all of the
administration of the Plan to a Committee or Committees. If
administration of the Plan is delegated to a Committee, the
Committee will have, in connection with the administration of the
Plan, the powers theretofore possessed by the Board that have been
delegated to the Committee, including the power to delegate to
another Committee or a subcommittee of the Committee any of the
administrative powers the Committee is authorized to exercise (and
references in this Plan to the Board will thereafter be to the
Committee or subcommittee), subject, however, to such resolutions,
not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as may be adopted
from time to time by the Board. Each Committee may retain the
authority to concurrently administer the Plan with Committee or
subcommittee to which it has delegated its authority hereunder and
may, at any time, revest in such Committee some or all of the
powers previously delegated. The Board may retain the authority to
concurrently administer the Plan with any Committee and may, at any
time, revest in the Board some or all of the powers previously
delegated.
(ii)
Rule 16b-3 Compliance. To the extent an Award is intended to
qualify for the exemption from Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act
that is available under Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act, the Award
will be granted by the Board or a Committee that consists solely of
two or more Non-Employee Directors, as determined under Rule
16b-3(b)(3) of the Exchange Act and thereafter any action
establishing or modifying the terms of the Award will be approved
by the Board or a Committee meeting such requirements to the extent
necessary for such exemption to remain available.
(d)
Effect of Board’s Decision. All determinations, interpretations
and constructions made by the Board or any Committee in good faith
will not be subject to review by any person and will be final,
binding and conclusive on all persons.
(e)
Delegation to an Officer. The Board or any Committee may
delegate to one or more Officers the authority to do one or both of
the following (i) designate Employees who are not Officers to be
recipients of Options and SARs (and, to the extent permitted by
Applicable Law, other types of Awards) and, to the extent permitted
by Applicable Law, the terms thereof, and (ii) determine the number
of shares of Common Stock to be subject to such Awards granted to
such Employees; provided, however, that the resolutions or charter
adopted by the Board or any Committee evidencing such delegation
will specify the total number of shares of Common Stock that may be
subject to the Awards granted by such Officer and that such Officer
may not grant an Award to himself or herself. Any such Awards will
be granted on the applicable form of Award Agreement most recently
approved for use by the Board or the Committee, unless otherwise
provided in the resolutions approving the delegation authority.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, neither the Board
nor any Committee may delegate to an Officer who is acting solely
in the capacity of an Officer (and not also as a Director) the
authority to determine the Fair Market Value.
4.
Tax
Withholding
(a)
Withholding Authorization. As a condition to acceptance of any
Award under the Plan, a Participant authorizes withholding from
payroll and any other amounts payable to such Participant, and
otherwise agree to make adequate provision for (including), any
sums required to satisfy any U.S. federal, state, local and/or
foreign tax or social insurance contribution withholding
obligations of the Company or an Affiliate, if any, which arise in
connection with the exercise, vesting or settlement of such Award,
as applicable. Accordingly, a Participant may not be able to
exercise an Award even though the Award is vested, and the Company
shall have no obligation to issue shares of Common Stock subject to
an Award, unless and until such obligations are
satisfied.
(b)
Satisfaction of Withholding Obligation. To the extent permitted
by the terms of an Award Agreement, the Company may, in its sole
discretion, satisfy any U.S. federal, state, local and/or foreign
tax or social insurance withholding obligation relating to an Award
by any of the following means or by a combination of such means:
(i) causing the Participant to tender a cash payment; (ii)
withholding shares of Common Stock from the shares of Common Stock
issued or otherwise issuable to the Participant in connection with
the Award; (iii) withholding cash from an Award settled in cash;
(iv) withholding payment from any amounts otherwise payable to the
Participant; (v) by allowing a Participant to effectuate a
“cashless exercise” pursuant to a program developed under
Regulation T as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board, or (vi)
by such other method as may be set forth in the Award
Agreement.
(c)
No Obligation to Notify or Minimize Taxes; No Liability to
Claims. Except as required by Applicable Law the Company has no
duty or obligation to any Participant to advise such holder as to
the time or manner of exercising such Award. Furthermore, the
Company has no duty or obligation to warn or otherwise advise such
holder of a pending termination or expiration of an Award or a
possible period in which the Award may not be exercised. The
Company has no duty or obligation to minimize the tax consequences
of an Award to the holder of such Award and will not be liable to
any holder of an Award for any adverse tax consequences to such
holder in connection with an Award. As a condition to accepting an
Award under the Plan, each Participant (i) agrees to not make any
claim against the Company, or any of its Officers, Directors,
Employees or Affiliates related to tax liabilities arising from
such Award or other Company compensation and (ii) acknowledges that
such Participant was advised to consult with his or her own
personal tax, financial and other legal advisors regarding the tax
consequences of the Award and has either done so or knowingly and
voluntarily declined to do so. Additionally, each Participant
acknowledges any Option or SAR granted under the Plan is exempt
from Section 409A only if the exercise or strike price is at least
equal to the “fair market value” of the Common Stock on the date of
grant as determined by the Internal Revenue Service and there is no
other impermissible deferral of compensation associated with the
Award. Additionally, as a condition to accepting an Option or SAR
granted under the Plan, each Participant agrees not make any claim
against the Company, or any of its Officers, Directors, Employees
or Affiliates in the event that the Internal Revenue Service
asserts that such exercise price or strike price is less than the
“fair market value” of the Common Stock on the date of grant as
subsequently determined by the Internal Revenue Service.
(d)
Withholding Indemnification. As a condition to accepting an
Award under the Plan, in the event that the amount of the Company’s
and/or its Affiliate’s withholding obligation in connection with
such Award was greater than the amount actually withheld by the
Company and/or its Affiliates, each Participant agrees to indemnify
and hold the Company and/or its Affiliates harmless from any
failure by the Company and/or its Affiliates to withhold the proper
amount.
5.
Miscellaneous.
(a)
Source of Shares. The stock issuable under the Plan will be
shares of authorized but unissued or reacquired Common Stock,
including shares repurchased by the Company on the open market or
otherwise.
(b)
Use of Proceeds from Sales of Common Stock. Proceeds from the
sale of shares of Common Stock pursuant to Awards will constitute
general funds of the Company.
(c)
Corporate Action Constituting Grant of Awards. Corporate action
constituting a grant by the Company of an Award to any Participant
will be deemed completed as of the date of such corporate action,
unless otherwise determined by the Board, regardless of when the
instrument, certificate, or letter evidencing the Award is
communicated to, or actually received or accepted by, the
Participant. In the event that the corporate records (e.g., Board
consents, resolutions or minutes) documenting the corporate action
approving the grant contain terms (e.g., exercise price, vesting
schedule or number of shares) that are inconsistent with those in
the Award Agreement or related grant documents as a result of a
clerical error in the Award Agreement or related grant documents,
the corporate records will control and the Participant will have no
legally binding right to the incorrect term in the Award Agreement
or related grant documents.
(d)
Stockholder Rights. No Participant will be deemed to be the
holder of, or to have any of the rights of a holder with respect
to, any shares of Common Stock subject to such Award unless and
until (i) such Participant has satisfied all requirements for
exercise of the Award pursuant to its terms, if applicable, and
(ii) the issuance of the Common Stock subject to such Award is
reflected in the records of the Company.
(e)
No Employment or Other Service Rights. Nothing in the Plan, any
Award Agreement or any other instrument executed thereunder or in
connection with any Award granted pursuant thereto will confer upon
any Participant any right to continue to serve the Company or an
Affiliate in the capacity in effect at the time the Award was
granted or affect the right of the Company or an Affiliate to
terminate at will and without regard to any future vesting
opportunity that a Participant may have with respect to any Award
(i) the employment of an Employee with or without notice and with
or without cause, (ii) the service of a Consultant pursuant to the
terms of such Consultant’s agreement with the Company or an
Affiliate, or (iii) the service of a Director pursuant to the
Bylaws of the Company or an Affiliate, and any applicable
provisions of the corporate law of the state or foreign
jurisdiction in which the Company or the Affiliate is incorporated,
as the case may be. Further, nothing in the Plan, any Award
Agreement or any other instrument executed thereunder or in
connection with any Award will constitute any promise or commitment
by the Company or an Affiliate regarding the fact or nature of
future positions, future work assignments, future compensation or
any other term or condition of employment or service or confer any
right or benefit under the Award or the Plan unless such right or
benefit has specifically accrued under the terms of the Award
Agreement and/or Plan.
(f)
Change in Time Commitment. In the event a Participant’s regular
level of time commitment in the performance of his or her services
for the Company and any Affiliates is reduced (for example, and
without limitation, if the Participant is an Employee of the
Company and the Employee has a change in status from a full-time
Employee to a part-time Employee or takes an extended leave of
absence) after the date of grant of any Award to the Participant,
the Board may determine, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law,
to (i) make a corresponding reduction in the number of shares or
cash amount subject to any portion of such Award that is scheduled
to vest or become payable after the date of such change in time
commitment, and (ii) in lieu of or in combination with such a
reduction, extend the vesting or payment schedule applicable to
such Award. In the event of any such reduction, the Participant
will have no right with respect to any portion of the Award that is
so reduced or extended.
(g)
Execution of Additional Documents. As a condition to accepting
an Award under the Plan, the Participant agrees to execute any
additional documents or instruments necessary or desirable, as
determined in the Plan Administrator’s sole discretion, to carry
out the purposes or intent of the Award, or facilitate compliance
with securities and/or other regulatory requirements, in each case
at the Plan Administrator’s request.
(h)
Electronic Delivery and Participation. Any reference herein or
in an Award Agreement to a “written” agreement or document will
include any agreement or document delivered electronically, filed
publicly at www.sec.gov (or any successor website thereto) or
posted on the Company’s intranet (or other shared electronic medium
controlled by the Company to which the Participant has access). By
accepting any Award the Participant consents to receive documents
by electronic delivery and to participate in the Plan through any
on-line electronic system established and maintained by the Plan
Administrator or another third party selected by the Plan
Administrator. The form of delivery of any Common Stock
(e.g., a stock certificate or electronic entry evidencing
such shares) shall be determined by the Company.
Clawback/Recovery.
All Awards granted under the Plan will be subject to recoupment in
accordance with any clawback policy that the Company is required to
adopt pursuant to the listing standards of any national securities
exchange or association on which the Company’s securities are
listed or as is otherwise required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street
Reform and Consumer Protection Act or other Applicable Law and any
clawback policy that the Company otherwise adopts, to the extent
applicable and permissible under Applicable Law. In addition, the
Board may impose such other clawback, recovery or recoupment
provisions in an Award Agreement as the Board determines necessary
or appropriate, including but not limited to a reacquisition right
in respect of previously acquired shares of Common Stock or other
cash or property upon the occurrence of Cause. No recovery of
compensation under such a clawback policy will be an event giving
rise to a Participant’s right to voluntary terminate employment
upon a “resignation for good reason,” or for a “constructive
termination” or any similar term under any plan of or agreement
with the Company.
(i)
Securities Law Compliance. A Participant will not be issued any
shares in respect of an Award unless either (i) the shares are
registered under the Securities Act; or (ii) the Company has
determined that such issuance would be exempt from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act. Each Award also must comply
with other Applicable Law governing the Award, and a Participant
will not receive such shares if the Company determines that such
receipt would not be in material compliance with Applicable
Law.
(j)
Transfer or Assignment of Awards; Issued Shares. Except as
expressly provided in the Plan or the form of Award Agreement,
Awards granted under the Plan may not be transferred or assigned by
the Participant. After the vested shares subject to an Award have
been issued, or in the case of Restricted Stock and similar awards,
after the issued shares have vested, the holder of such shares is
free to assign, hypothecate, donate, encumber or otherwise dispose
of any interest in such shares provided that any such actions are
in compliance with the provisions herein, the terms of the Trading
Policy and Applicable Law.
(k)
Effect on Other Employee Benefit Plans. The value of any Award
granted under the Plan, as determined upon grant, vesting or
settlement, shall not be included as compensation, earnings,
salaries, or other similar terms used when calculating any
Participant’s benefits under any employee benefit plan sponsored by
the Company or any Affiliate, except as such plan otherwise
expressly provides. The Company expressly reserves its rights to
amend, modify, or terminate any of the Company’s or any Affiliate’s
employee benefit plans.
(l)
Deferrals. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the
Board, in its sole discretion, may determine that the delivery of
Common Stock or the payment of cash, upon the exercise, vesting or
settlement of all or a portion of any Award may be deferred and may
also establish programs and procedures for deferral elections to be
made by Participants. Deferrals will be made in accordance with the
requirements of Section 409A.
(m)
Section 409A. Unless otherwise expressly provided for in an
Award Agreement, the Plan and Award Agreements will be interpreted
to the greatest extent possible in a manner that makes the Plan and
the Awards granted hereunder exempt from Section 409A, and, to the
extent not so exempt, in compliance with the requirements of
Section 409A. If the Board determines that any Award granted
hereunder is not exempt from and is therefore subject to Section
409A, the Award Agreement evidencing such Award will incorporate
the terms and conditions necessary to avoid the consequences
specified in Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code, and to the extent an
Award Agreement is silent on terms necessary for compliance, such
terms are hereby incorporated by reference into the Award
Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan
(and unless the Award Agreement specifically provides otherwise),
if the shares of Common Stock are publicly traded, and if a
Participant holding an Award that constitutes “deferred
compensation” under Section 409A is a “specified employee” for
purposes of Section 409A, no distribution or payment of any amount
that is due because of a “separation from service” (as defined in
Section 409A without regard to alternative definitions thereunder)
will be issued or paid before the date that is six months and one
day following the date of such Participant’s “separation from
service” or, if earlier, the date of the Participant’s death,
unless such distribution or payment can be made in a manner that
complies with Section 409A, and any amounts so deferred will be
paid in a lump sum on the day after such six month period elapses,
with the balance paid thereafter on the original
schedule.
(n)
Choice of Law.
This Plan and any controversy arising out of or relating to this
Plan shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the
internal laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict
of law principles that would result in any application of any law
other than the law of the State of Delaware.
6.
Covenants of the
Company.
(a)
Compliance with Law. The Company will seek to obtain from each
regulatory commission or agency, as may be deemed to be necessary,
having jurisdiction over the Plan such authority as may be required
to grant Awards and to issue and sell shares of Common Stock upon
exercise or vesting of the Awards; provided, however, that
this undertaking will not require the Company to register under the
Securities Act the Plan, any Award or any Common Stock issued or
issuable pursuant to any such Award. If, after reasonable efforts
and at a reasonable cost, the Company is unable to obtain from any
such regulatory commission or agency the authority that counsel for
the Company deems necessary or advisable for the lawful issuance
and sale of Common Stock under the Plan, the Company will be
relieved from any liability for failure to issue and sell Common
Stock upon exercise or vesting of such Awards unless and until such
authority is obtained. A Participant is not eligible for the grant
of an Award or the subsequent issuance of Common Stock pursuant to
the Award if such grant or issuance would be in violation of any
Applicable Law.
7.
Additional Rules for Awards
Subject to Section 409A.
(a)
Application. Unless the provisions of this Section of the Plan
are expressly superseded by the provisions in the form of Award
Agreement, the provisions of this Section shall apply and shall
supersede anything to the contrary set forth in the Award Agreement
for a Non-Exempt Award.
(b)
Non-Exempt Awards Subject to Non-Exempt Severance Arrangements.
To the extent a Non-Exempt Award is subject to Section 409A due to
application of a Non-Exempt Severance Arrangement, the following
provisions of this subsection (b) apply.
(i)
If the Non-Exempt Award vests in the ordinary course during the
Participant’s Continuous Service in accordance with the vesting
schedule set forth in the Award Agreement, and does not accelerate
vesting under the terms of a Non-Exempt Severance Arrangement, in
no event will the shares be issued in respect of such Non-Exempt
Award any later than the later of: (i) December 31st of
the calendar year that includes the applicable vesting date, or
(ii) the 60th day that follows the applicable vesting
date.
(ii)
If vesting of the Non-Exempt Award accelerates under the terms of a
Non-Exempt Severance Arrangement in connection with the
Participant’s Separation from Service, and such vesting
acceleration provisions were in effect as of the date of grant of
the Non-Exempt Award and, therefore, are part of the terms of such
Non-Exempt Award as of the date of grant, then the shares will be
earlier issued in settlement of such Non-Exempt Award upon the
Participant’s Separation from Service in accordance with the terms
of the Non-Exempt Severance Arrangement, but in no event later than
the 60th day that follows the date of the Participant’s
Separation from Service. However, if at the time the shares would
otherwise be issued the Participant is subject to the distribution
limitations contained in Section 409A applicable to “specified
employees,” as defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code,
such shares shall not be issued before the date that is six months
following the date of such Participant’s Separation from Service,
or, if earlier, the date of the Participant’s death that occurs
within such six month period.
(iii)
If vesting of a Non-Exempt Award accelerates under the terms of a
Non-Exempt Severance Arrangement in connection with a Participant’s
Separation from Service, and such vesting acceleration provisions
were not in effect as of the date of grant of the Non-Exempt Award
and, therefore, are not a part of the terms of such Non-Exempt
Award on the date of grant, then such acceleration of vesting of
the Non-Exempt Award shall not accelerate the issuance date of the
shares, but the shares shall instead be issued on the same schedule
as set forth in the Grant Notice as if they had vested in the
ordinary course during the Participant’s Continuous Service,
notwithstanding the vesting acceleration of the Non-Exempt Award.
Such issuance schedule is intended to satisfy the requirements of
payment on a specified date or pursuant to a fixed schedule, as
provided under Treasury Regulations Section
1.409A-3(a)(4).
(c)
Treatment of Non-Exempt Awards Upon a Corporate Transaction for
Employees and Consultants. The provisions of this subsection
(c) shall apply and shall supersede anything to the contrary set
forth in the Plan with respect to the permitted treatment of any
Non-Exempt Award in connection with a Corporate Transaction if the
Participant was either an Employee or Consultant upon the
applicable date of grant of the Non-Exempt Award.
(i)
Vested Non-Exempt Awards. The following provisions shall apply
to any Vested Non-Exempt Award in connection with a Corporate
Transaction:
(1)
If the Corporate Transaction is also a Section 409A Change in
Control then the Acquiring Entity may not assume, continue or
substitute the Vested Non-Exempt Award. Upon the Section 409A
Change of Control the settlement of the Vested Non-Exempt Award
will automatically be accelerated and the shares will be
immediately issued in respect of the Vested Non-Exempt Award.
Alternatively, the Company may instead provide that the Participant
will receive a cash settlement equal to the Fair Market Value of
the shares that would otherwise be issued to the Participant upon
the Section 409A Change of Control.
(2)
If the Corporate Transaction is not also a Section 409A Change of
Control, then the Acquiring Entity must either assume, continue or
substitute each Vested Non-Exempt Award. The shares to be issued in
respect of the Vested Non-Exempt Award shall be issued to the
Participant by the Acquiring Entity on the same schedule that the
shares would have been issued to the Participant if the Corporate
Transaction had not occurred. In the Acquiring Entity’s discretion,
in lieu of an issuance of shares, the Acquiring Entity may instead
substitute a cash payment on each applicable issuance date, equal
to the Fair Market Value of the shares that would otherwise be
issued to the Participant on such issuance dates, with the
determination of the Fair Market Value of the shares made on the
date of the Corporate Transaction.
(ii)
Unvested Non-Exempt Awards. The following provisions shall
apply to any Unvested Non-Exempt Award unless otherwise determined
by the Board pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section.
(1)
In the event of a Corporate Transaction, the Acquiring Entity shall
assume, continue or substitute any Unvested Non-Exempt Award.
Unless otherwise determined by the Board, any Unvested Non-Exempt
Award will remain subject to the same vesting and forfeiture
restrictions that were applicable to the Award prior to the
Corporate Transaction. The shares to be issued in respect of any
Unvested Non-Exempt Award shall be issued to the Participant by the
Acquiring Entity on the same schedule that the shares would have
been issued to the Participant if the Corporate Transaction had not
occurred. In the Acquiring Entity’s discretion, in lieu of an
issuance of shares, the Acquiring Entity may instead substitute a
cash payment on each applicable issuance date, equal to the Fair
Market Value of the shares that would otherwise be issued to the
Participant on such issuance dates, with the determination of Fair
Market Value of the shares made on the date of the Corporate
Transaction.
(2)
If the Acquiring Entity will not assume, substitute or continue any
Unvested Non-Exempt Award in connection with a Corporate
Transaction, then such Award shall automatically terminate and be
forfeited upon the Corporate Transaction with no consideration
payable to any Participant in respect of such forfeited Unvested
Non-Exempt Award. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent
permitted and in compliance with the requirements of Section 409A,
the Board may in its discretion determine to elect to accelerate
the vesting and settlement of the Unvested Non-Exempt Award upon
the Corporate Transaction, or instead substitute a cash payment
equal to the Fair Market Value of such shares that would otherwise
be issued to the Participant, as further provided in subsection
(e)(ii) below. In the absence of such discretionary election by the
Board, any Unvested Non-Exempt Award shall be forfeited without
payment of any consideration to the affected Participants if the
Acquiring Entity will not assume, substitute or continue the
Unvested Non-Exempt Awards in connection with the Corporate
Transaction.
(3)
The foregoing treatment shall apply with respect to all Unvested
Non-Exempt Awards upon any Corporate Transaction, and regardless of
whether or not such Corporate Transaction is also a Section 409A
Change of Control.
(d)
Treatment of Non-Exempt Awards Upon a Corporate Transaction for
Non-Employee Directors. The following provisions of this
subsection (d) shall apply and shall supersede anything to the
contrary that may be set forth in the Plan with respect to the
permitted treatment of a Non-Exempt Director Award in connection
with a Corporate Transaction.
(i)
If the Corporate Transaction is also a Section 409A Change of
Control then the Acquiring Entity may not assume, continue or
substitute the Non-Exempt Director Award. Upon the Section 409A
Change of Control the vesting and settlement of any Non-Exempt
Director Award will automatically be accelerated and the shares
will be immediately issued to the Participant in respect of the
Non-Exempt Director Award. Alternatively, the Company may provide
that the Participant will instead receive a cash settlement equal
to the Fair Market Value of the shares that would otherwise be
issued to the Participant upon the Section 409A Change of Control
pursuant to the preceding provision.
(ii)
If the Corporate Transaction is not also a Section 409A Change of
Control, then the Acquiring Entity must either assume, continue or
substitute the Non-Exempt Director Award. Unless otherwise
determined by the Board, the Non-Exempt Director Award will remain
subject to the same vesting and forfeiture restrictions that were
applicable to the Award prior to the Corporate Transaction. The
shares to be issued in respect of the Non-Exempt Director Award
shall be issued to the Participant by the Acquiring Entity on the
same schedule that the shares would have been issued to the
Participant if the Corporate Transaction had not occurred. In the
Acquiring Entity’s discretion, in lieu of an issuance of shares,
the Acquiring Entity may instead substitute a cash payment on each
applicable issuance date, equal to the Fair Market Value of the
shares that would otherwise be issued to the Participant on such
issuance dates, with the determination of Fair Market Value made on
the date of the Corporate Transaction.
(e)
If the RSU Award is a Non-Exempt Award, then the provisions in this
Section 11(e) shall apply and supersede anything to the contrary
that may be set forth in the Plan or the Award Agreement with
respect to the permitted treatment of such Non-Exempt
Award:
(i)
Any exercise by the Board of discretion to accelerate the vesting
of a Non-Exempt Award shall not result in any acceleration of the
scheduled issuance dates for the shares in respect of the
Non-Exempt Award unless earlier issuance of the shares upon the
applicable vesting dates would be in compliance with the
requirements of Section 409A.
(ii)
The Company explicitly reserves the right to earlier settle any
Non-Exempt Award to the extent permitted and in compliance with the
requirements of Section 409A, including pursuant to any of the
exemptions available in Treasury Regulations Section
1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix).
(iii)
To the extent the terms of any Non-Exempt Award provide that it
will be settled upon a Change in Control or Corporate Transaction,
to the extent it is required for compliance with the requirements
of Section 409A, the Change in Control or Corporate Transaction
event triggering settlement must also constitute a Section 409A
Change of Control. To the extent the terms of a Non-Exempt Award
provides that it will be settled upon a termination of employment
or termination of Continuous Service, to the extent it is required
for compliance with the requirements of Section 409A, the
termination event triggering settlement must also constitute a
Separation From Service. However, if at the time the shares would
otherwise be issued to a Participant in connection with a
“separation from service” such Participant is subject to the
distribution limitations contained in Section 409A applicable to
“specified employees,” as defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of
the Code, such shares shall not be issued before the date that is
six months following the date of the Participant’s Separation From
Service, or, if earlier, the date of the Participant’s death that
occurs within such six month period.
(iv)
The provisions in this subsection (e) for delivery of the shares in
respect of the settlement of a RSU Award that is a Non-Exempt Award
are intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A so
that the delivery of the shares to the Participant in respect of
such Non-Exempt Award will not trigger the additional tax imposed
under Section 409A, and any ambiguities herein will be so
interpreted.
8.
Severability.
If
all or any part of the Plan or any Award Agreement is declared by
any court or governmental authority to be unlawful or invalid, such
unlawfulness or invalidity shall not invalidate any portion of the
Plan or such Award Agreement not declared to be unlawful or
invalid. Any Section of the Plan or any Award Agreement (or part of
such a Section) so declared to be unlawful or invalid shall, if
possible, be construed in a manner which will give effect to the
terms of such Section or part of a Section to the fullest extent
possible while remaining lawful and valid.
9.
Termination of the
Plan.
The
Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at any time.
No
Incentive Stock Options may be granted after the tenth anniversary
of the earlier of: (i) the Adoption Date, or (ii) the Effective
Date.
No
Awards may be granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or
after it is terminated.
Definitions.
As
used in the Plan, the following definitions apply to the
capitalized terms indicated below:
(a)
“Acquiring Entity” means the surviving or acquiring
corporation (or its parent company) in connection with a Corporate
Transaction.
(b)
Adoption Date” means the date the Plan is first approved
by the Board or Compensation Committee.
(c)
“Affiliate” means, at the time of determination, any
“parent” or “subsidiary” of the Company as such terms are defined
in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act. The Board may
determine the time or times at which “parent” or “subsidiary”
status is determined within the foregoing definition.
(d)
“Applicable Law” means shall mean any applicable
securities, federal, state, foreign, material local or municipal or
other law, statute, constitution, principle of common law,
resolution, ordinance, code, edict, decree, rule, listing rule,
regulation, judicial decision, ruling or requirement issued,
enacted, adopted, promulgated, implemented or otherwise put into
effect by or under the authority of any Governmental Body
(including under the authority of any applicable self-regulating
organization such as the Nasdaq Stock Market, New York Stock
Exchange, or the Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority).
(e)
“Award” means any right to receive Common Stock, cash
or other property granted under the Plan (including an Incentive
Stock Option, a Nonstatutory Stock Option, a Restricted Stock
Award, a RSU Award, a SAR, a Performance Award or any Other
Award).
(f)
“Award Agreement” means a written agreement between
the Company and a Participant evidencing the terms and conditions
of an Award. The Award Agreement generally consists of the Grant
Notice and the agreement containing the written summary of the
general terms and conditions applicable to the Award and which is
provided to a Participant along with the Grant Notice.
(g)
“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company
(or its designee). Any decision or determination made by the Board
shall be a decision or determination that is made in the sole
discretion of the Board (or its designee), and such decision or
determination shall be final and binding on all
Participants.
(h)
“Capitalization Adjustment” means any change that is
made in, or other events that occur with respect to, the Common
Stock subject to the Plan or subject to any Award after the
Effective Date without the receipt of consideration by the Company
through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization,
reincorporation, stock dividend, dividend in property other than
cash, large nonrecurring cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock
split, liquidating dividend, combination of shares, exchange of
shares, change in corporate structure or any similar equity
restructuring transaction, as that term is used in Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards
Codification Topic 718 (or any successor thereto). Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the conversion of any convertible securities of the
Company will not be treated as a Capitalization
Adjustment.
(i)
“Cause” has the meaning ascribed to such term in any
written agreement between the Participant and the Company defining
such term and, in the absence of such agreement, such term means,
with respect to a Participant, the occurrence of any of the
following events: (i) such Participant’s commission of any crime
involving fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude or attempted
commission of, or participation in, a fraud or act of dishonesty
against the Company; (ii) such Participant’s intentional, material
violation of any contract or agreement between the Participant and
the Company or of any statutory duty owed to the Company; (iii)
such Participant’s unauthorized use or disclosure of the Company’s
confidential information or trade secrets; or (iv) such
Participant’s gross misconduct, conduct that constitutes gross
insubordination, incompetence or habitual neglect of duties and
that results in (or might have reasonably resulted in) material
harm to the business of the Company. The determination that a
termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service is either for
Cause or without Cause will be made by the Board with respect to
Participants who are executive officers of the Company and by the
Company’s Chief Executive Officer with respect to Participants who
are not executive officers of the Company. Any determination by the
Company that the Continuous Service of a Participant was terminated
with or without Cause for the purposes of outstanding Awards held
by such Participant will have no effect upon any determination of
the rights or obligations of the Company or such Participant for
any other purpose.
(j)
“Change in Control” or “Change of
Control” means the occurrence, in a single transaction or
in a series of related transactions, of any one or more of the
following events; provided, however, to the extent necessary to
avoid adverse personal income tax consequences to the Participant
in connection with an Award, also constitutes a Section 409A Change
of Control:
(i)
any Exchange Act Person becomes the Owner, directly or indirectly,
of securities of the Company representing more than 50% of the
combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities
other than by virtue of a merger, consolidation or similar
transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control
shall not be deemed to occur (A) on account of the acquisition of
securities of the Company directly from the Company, (B) on account
of the acquisition of securities of the Company by an investor, any
affiliate thereof or any other Exchange Act Person that acquires
the Company’s securities in a transaction or series of related
transactions the primary purpose of which is to obtain financing
for the Company through the issuance of equity securities, or (C)
solely because the level of Ownership held by any Exchange Act
Person (the “Subject Person”) exceeds the designated
percentage threshold of the outstanding voting securities as a
result of a repurchase or other acquisition of voting securities by
the Company reducing the number of shares outstanding, provided
that if a Change in Control would occur (but for the operation of
this sentence) as a result of the acquisition of voting securities
by the Company, and after such share acquisition, the Subject
Person becomes the Owner of any additional voting securities that,
assuming the repurchase or other acquisition had not occurred,
increases the percentage of the then outstanding voting securities
Owned by the Subject Person over the designated percentage
threshold, then a Change in Control shall be deemed to
occur;
(ii)
there is consummated a merger, consolidation or similar transaction
involving (directly or indirectly) the Company and, immediately
after the consummation of such merger, consolidation or similar
transaction, the stockholders of the Company immediately prior
thereto do not Own, directly or indirectly, either (A) outstanding
voting securities representing more than 50% of the combined
outstanding voting power of the surviving Entity in such merger,
consolidation or similar transaction or (B) more than 50% of the
combined outstanding voting power of the parent of the surviving
Entity in such merger, consolidation or similar transaction, in
each case in substantially the same proportions as their Ownership
of the outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately
prior to such transaction;
(iii)
the stockholders of the Company approve or the Board approves a
plan of complete dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or a
complete dissolution or liquidation of the Company shall otherwise
occur, except for a liquidation into a parent
corporation;
(iv)
there is consummated a sale, lease, exclusive license or other
disposition of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets
of the Company and its Subsidiaries, other than a sale, lease,
license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the
consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries to an
Entity, more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting
securities of which are Owned by stockholders of the Company in
substantially the same proportions as their Ownership of the
outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to
such sale, lease, license or other disposition; or
(v)
individuals who, on the date the Plan is adopted by the Board, are
members of the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease
for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of
the Board; provided, however, that if the appointment or
election (or nomination for election) of any new Board member was
approved or recommended by a majority vote of the members of the
Incumbent Board then still in office, such new member shall, for
purposes of this Plan, be considered as a member of the Incumbent
Board.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing or any other provision of this Plan, (A) the term
Change in Control shall not include a sale of assets, merger or
other transaction effected exclusively for the purpose of changing
the domicile of the Company, and (B) the definition of Change in
Control (or any analogous term) in an individual written agreement
between the Company or any Affiliate and the Participant shall
supersede the foregoing definition with respect to Awards subject
to such agreement; provided, however, that if no definition
of Change in Control or any analogous term is set forth in such an
individual written agreement, the foregoing definition shall
apply.
“Code”
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including any
applicable regulations and guidance thereunder.
“Committee”
means the Compensation Committee and any other committee of
Directors to whom authority has been delegated by the Board or
Compensation Committee in accordance with the Plan.
(k)
“Common Stock” means the common stock of the
Company.
(l)
“Company” means Power REIT, a Maryland real estate
investment trust.
(m)
“Compensation Committee” means the Compensation
Committee of the Board.
(n)
“Consultant” means any person, including an advisor,
who is (i) engaged by the Company or an Affiliate to render
consulting or advisory services and is compensated for such
services, or (ii) serving as a member of the board of directors of
an Affiliate and is compensated for such services. However, service
solely as a Director, or payment of a fee for such service, will
not cause a Director to be considered a “Consultant” for purposes
of the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a person is treated as
a Consultant under this Plan only if a Form S-8 Registration
Statement under the Securities Act is available to register either
the offer or the sale of the Company’s securities to such
person.
(o)
“Continuous Service” means that the Participant’s
service with the Company or an Affiliate, whether as an Employee,
Director or Consultant, is not interrupted or terminated. A change
in the capacity in which the Participant renders service to the
Company or an Affiliate as an Employee, Director or Consultant or a
change in the Entity for which the Participant renders such
service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of
the Participant’s service with the Company or an Affiliate, will
not terminate a Participant’s Continuous Service; provided,
however, that if the Entity for which a Participant is
rendering services ceases to qualify as an Affiliate, as determined
by the Board, such Participant’s Continuous Service will be
considered to have terminated on the date such Entity ceases to
qualify as an Affiliate. For example, a change in status from an
Employee of the Company to a Consultant of an Affiliate or to a
Director will not constitute an interruption of Continuous Service.
To the extent permitted by law, the Board or the chief executive
officer of the Company, in that party’s sole discretion, may
determine whether Continuous Service will be considered interrupted
in the case of (i) any leave of absence approved by the Board or
chief executive officer, including sick leave, military leave or
any other personal leave, or (ii) transfers between the Company, an
Affiliate, or their successors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a
leave of absence will be treated as Continuous Service for purposes
of vesting in an Award only to such extent as may be provided in
the Company’s leave of absence policy, in the written terms of any
leave of absence agreement or policy applicable to the Participant,
or as otherwise required by law. In addition, to the extent
required for exemption from or compliance with Section 409A, the
determination of whether there has been a termination of Continuous
Service will be made, and such term will be construed, in a manner
that is consistent with the definition of “separation from service”
as defined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h) (without
regard to any alternative definition thereunder).
(p)
“Corporate Transaction” means the consummation, in a
single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of any
one or more of the following events:
(i)
a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all, as
determined by the Board, of the consolidated assets of the Company
and its Subsidiaries;
(ii)
a sale or other disposition of at least 50% of the outstanding
securities of the Company;
(iii)
a merger, consolidation or similar transaction following which the
Company is not the surviving corporation; or
(iv)
a merger, consolidation or similar transaction following which the
Company is the surviving corporation but the shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately preceding the merger, consolidation or
similar transaction are converted or exchanged by virtue of the
merger, consolidation or similar transaction into other property,
whether in the form of securities, cash or otherwise.
(q)
“Director” means a member of the Board.
(r)
“determine” or “determined” means as determined by the
Board or the Committee (or its designee) in its sole
discretion.
(s)
“Disability” means, with respect to a Participant,
such Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful
activity by reason of any 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, as provided in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code,
and will be determined by the Board on the basis of such medical
evidence as the Board deems warranted under the
circumstances.
(t)
“Effective Date” means the date of the 2020 annual
meeting of the Company’s stockholders, provided this Plan is
approved by the Company’s stockholders on such date.
(u)
“Employee” means any person employed by the Company
or an Affiliate. However, service solely as a Director, or payment
of a fee for such services, will not cause a Director to be
considered an “Employee” for purposes of the Plan.
(v)
“Employer” means the Company or the Affiliate of the
Company that employs the Participant.
(w)
“Entity” means a corporation, partnership, limited
liability company or other entity.
(x)
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder.
(y)
“Exchange Act Person” means any natural person,
Entity or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of
the Exchange Act), except that “Exchange Act Person” will not
include (i) the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, (ii) any
employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company or any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under
an employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding securities
pursuant to a registered public offering of such securities, (iv)
an Entity Owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the
Company in substantially the same proportions as their Ownership of
stock of the Company; or (v) any natural person, Entity or “group”
(within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act)
that, as of the Effective Date, is the Owner, directly or
indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than 50%
of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding
securities.
(z)
“Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, unless
otherwise determined by the Board, the value of the Common Stock
(as determined on a per share or aggregate basis, as applicable)
determined as follows:
(i)
If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or
traded on any established market, the Fair Market Value will be the
closing sales price for such stock as quoted on such exchange or
market (or the exchange or market with the greatest volume of
trading in the Common Stock) on the date of determination, as
reported in a source the Board deems reliable.
(ii)
If there is no closing sales price for the Common Stock on the date
of determination, then the Fair Market Value will be the closing
selling price on the last preceding date for which such quotation
exists.
(iii)
In the absence of such markets for the Common Stock, or if
otherwise determined by the Board, the Fair Market Value will be
determined by the Board in good faith and in a manner that complies
with Sections 409A and 422 of the Code.
“Governmental
Body” means any: (a) nation, state, commonwealth, province,
territory, county, municipality, district or other jurisdiction of
any nature; (b) federal, state, local, municipal, foreign or other
government; (c) governmental or regulatory body, or
quasi-governmental body of any nature (including any governmental
division, department, administrative agency or bureau, commission,
authority, instrumentality, official, ministry, fund, foundation,
center, organization, unit, body or Entity and any court or other
tribunal, and for the avoidance of doubt, any Tax authority) or
other body exercising similar powers or authority; or (d)
self-regulatory organization (including the Nasdaq Stock Market,
New York Stock Exchange, and the Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority).
(aa)
“Grant Notice” means the notice provided to a
Participant that he or she has been granted an Award under the Plan
and which includes the name of the Participant, the type of Award,
the date of grant of the Award, number of shares of Common Stock
subject to the Award or potential cash payment right, (if any), the
vesting schedule for the Award (if any) and other key terms
applicable to the Award.
(bb)
“Incentive Stock Option” means an option granted
pursuant to Section 0 of the Plan that is intended to be, and
qualifies as, an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of
Section 422 of the Code.
“Materially Impair” means any amendment to the terms of the
Award that materially adversely affects the Participant’s rights
under the Award. A Participant’s rights under an Award will not be
deemed to have been Materially Impaired by any such amendment if
the Board, in its sole discretion, determines that the amendment,
taken as a whole, does not materially impair the Participant’s
rights. For example, the following types of amendments to the terms
of an Award do not Materially Impair the Participant’s rights under
the Award: (i) imposition of reasonable restrictions on the minimum
number of shares subject to an Option that may be exercised, (ii)
to maintain the qualified status of the Award as an Incentive Stock
Option under Section 422 of the Code; (iii) to change the terms of
an Incentive Stock Option in a manner that disqualifies, impairs or
otherwise affects the qualified status of the Award as an Incentive
Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code; (iv) to clarify the
manner of exemption from, or to bring the Award into compliance
with or qualify it for an exemption from, Section 409A; or (v) to
comply with other Applicable Laws.
(cc)
“Non-Employee Director” means a Director who either
(i) is not a current employee or officer of the Company or an
Affiliate, does not receive compensation, either directly or
indirectly, from the Company or an Affiliate for services rendered
as a consultant or in any capacity other than as a Director (except
for an amount as to which disclosure would not be required under
Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated pursuant to the
Securities Act (“Regulation S-K”)), does not possess
an interest in any other transaction for which disclosure would be
required under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K, and is not engaged in
a business relationship for which disclosure would be required
pursuant to Item 404(b) of Regulation S-K; or (ii) is otherwise
considered a “non-employee director” for purposes of Rule
16b-3.
(dd)
“Non-Exempt Award” means any Award that is subject to,
and not exempt from, Section 409A, including as the result of (i) a
deferral of the issuance of the shares subject to the Award which
is elected by the Participant or imposed by the Company, (ii) the
terms of any Non-Exempt Severance Agreement.
(ee)
“Non-Exempt Director Award” means a Non-Exempt Award
granted to a Participant who was a Director but not an Employee on
the applicable grant date.
(ff)
“Non-Exempt Severance Arrangement” means a severance
arrangement or other agreement between the Participant and the
Company that provides for acceleration of vesting of an Award and
issuance of the shares in respect of such Award upon the
Participant’s termination of employment or separation from service
(as such term is defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Code
(and without regard to any alternative definition thereunder)
(“Separation from Service”)) and such severance
benefit does not satisfy the requirements for an exemption from
application of Section 409A provided under Treasury Regulations
Section 1.409A-1(b)(4), 1.409A-1(b)(9) or otherwise.
(gg)
“Nonstatutory Stock Option” means any option granted
pursuant to Section 0 of the Plan that does not qualify as an
Incentive Stock Option.
(hh)
“Officer” means a person who is an officer of the
Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange
Act.
(ii)
“Option” means an Incentive Stock Option or a
Nonstatutory Stock Option to purchase shares of Common Stock
granted pursuant to the Plan.
(jj)
“Option Agreement” means a written agreement between
the Company and the Optionholder evidencing the terms and
conditions of the Option grant. The Option Agreement includes the
Grant Notice for the Option and the agreement containing the
written summary of the general terms and conditions applicable to
the Option and which is provided to a Participant along with the
Grant Notice. Each Option Agreement will be subject to the terms
and conditions of the Plan.
(kk)
“Optionholder” means a person to whom an Option is
granted pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable, such other person
who holds an outstanding Option.
(ll)
“Other Award” means an award based in whole or in
part by reference to the Common Stock which is granted pursuant to
the terms and conditions of Section 0.
(mm)
“Other Award Agreement” means a written agreement
between the Company and a holder of an Other Award evidencing the
terms and conditions of an Other Award grant. Each Other Award
Agreement will be subject to the terms and conditions of the
Plan.
(nn)
“Own,” “Owned,” “Owner,”
“Ownership” means that a person or Entity will be
deemed to “Own,” to have “Owned,” to be the “Owner” of, or to have
acquired “Ownership” of securities if such person or Entity,
directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement,
understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares voting
power, which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting,
with respect to such securities.
(oo)
“Participant” means an Employee, Director or
Consultant to whom an Award is granted pursuant to the Plan or, if
applicable, such other person who holds an outstanding
Award.
(pp)
“Performance Award” means an Award that may vest or
may be exercised or a cash award that may vest or become earned and
paid contingent upon the attainment during a Performance Period of
certain Performance Goals and which is granted under the terms and
conditions of Section 0 pursuant to such terms as are approved by
the Board. In addition, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law
and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, the Board may
determine that cash or other property may be used in payment of
Performance Awards. Performance Awards that are settled in cash or
other property are not required to be valued in whole or in part by
reference to, or otherwise based on, the Common Stock.
(qq)
“Performance Criteria” means the one or more criteria
that the Board will select for purposes of establishing the
Performance Goals for a Performance Period. The Performance
Criteria that will be used to establish such Performance Goals may
be based on any measure of performance selected by the
Board.
(rr)
“Performance Goals” means, for a Performance Period,
the one or more goals established by the Board for the Performance
Period based upon the Performance Criteria. Performance Goals may
be based on a Company-wide basis, with respect to one or more
business units, divisions, Affiliates, or business segments, and in
either absolute terms or relative to the performance of one or more
comparable companies or the performance of one or more relevant
indices. Unless specified otherwise by the Board (i) in the Award
Agreement at the time the Award is granted or (ii) in such other
document setting forth the Performance Goals at the time the
Performance Goals are established, the Board will appropriately
make adjustments in the method of calculating the attainment of
Performance Goals for a Performance Period as follows: (1) to
exclude restructuring and/or other nonrecurring charges; (2) to
exclude exchange rate effects; (3) to exclude the effects of
changes to generally accepted accounting principles; (4) to exclude
the effects of any statutory adjustments to corporate tax rates;
(5) to exclude the effects of items that are “unusual” in nature or
occur “infrequently” as determined under generally accepted
accounting principles; (6) to exclude the dilutive effects of
acquisitions or joint ventures; (7) to assume that any business
divested by the Company achieved performance objectives at targeted
levels during the balance of a Performance Period following such
divestiture; (8) to exclude the effect of any change in the
outstanding shares of common stock of the Company by reason of any
stock dividend or split, stock repurchase, reorganization,
recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination or
exchange of shares or other similar corporate change, or any
distributions to common stockholders other than regular cash
dividends; (9) to exclude the effects of stock based compensation
and the award of bonuses under the Company’s bonus plans; (10) to
exclude costs incurred in connection with potential acquisitions or
divestitures that are required to expensed under generally accepted
accounting principles; and (11) to exclude the goodwill and
intangible asset impairment charges that are required to be
recorded under generally accepted accounting principles. In
addition, the Board retains the discretion to reduce or eliminate
the compensation or economic benefit due upon attainment of
Performance Goals and to define the manner of calculating the
Performance Criteria it selects to use for such Performance Period.
Partial achievement of the specified criteria may result in the
payment or vesting corresponding to the degree of achievement as
specified in the Award Agreement or the written terms of a
Performance Cash Award.
(ss)
“Performance Period” means the period of time
selected by the Board over which the attainment of one or more
Performance Goals will be measured for the purpose of determining a
Participant’s right to vesting or exercise of an Award. Performance
Periods may be of varying and overlapping duration, at the sole
discretion of the Board.
(tt)
“Plan” means this Power REIT 2020 Equity Incentive
Plan, as amended from time to time.
(uu)
“Plan Administrator” means the person, persons, and/or
third-party administrator designated by the Company to administer
the day to day operations of the Plan and the Company’s other
equity incentive programs.
(vv)
“Post-Termination Exercise Period” means the period
following termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service within
which an Option or SAR is exercisable, as specified in Section
4(h).
(ww)
“Prior Plan’s Available Reserve” means the number of
shares available for the grant of new awards under the Prior Plan,
to the extent applicable, as of immediately prior to the Effective
Date.
“Prior
Plan” means the Power REIT 2012 Equity Incentive Plan, as
amended.
(xx)
“Prospectus” means the document containing the Plan
information specified in Section 10(a) of the Securities
Act.
(yy)
“Restricted Stock Award” or “RSA” means
an Award of shares of Common Stock which is granted pursuant to the
terms and conditions of Section 0.
(zz)
“Restricted Stock Award Agreement” means a written
agreement between the Company and a holder of a Restricted Stock
Award evidencing the terms and conditions of a Restricted Stock
Award grant. The Restricted Stock Award Agreement includes the
Grant Notice for the Restricted Stock Award and the agreement
containing the written summary of the general terms and conditions
applicable to the Restricted Stock Award and which is provided to a
Participant along with the Grant Notice. Each Restricted Stock
Award Agreement will be subject to the terms and conditions of the
Plan.
(aaa)
“Returning Shares” means shares subject to
outstanding stock awards granted under the Prior Plan and that
following the Effective Date: (A) are not issued because such stock
award or any portion thereof expires or otherwise terminates
without all of the shares covered by such stock award having been
issued; (B) are not issued because such stock award or any portion
thereof is settled in cash; (C) are forfeited back to or
repurchased by the Company because of the failure to meet a
contingency or condition required for the vesting of such shares;
(D) are withheld or reacquired to satisfy the exercise, strike or
purchase price; or (E) are withheld or reacquired to satisfy a tax
withholding obligation.
(bbb)
“RSU Award” or “RSU” means an Award of
restricted stock units representing the right to receive an
issuance of shares of Common Stock which is granted pursuant to the
terms and conditions of Section 0.
(ccc)
“RSU Award Agreement” means a written agreement
between the Company and a holder of a RSU Award evidencing the
terms and conditions of a RSU Award grant. The RSU Award Agreement
includes the Grant Notice for the RSU Award and the agreement
containing the written summary of the general terms and conditions
applicable to the RSU Award and which is provided to a Participant
along with the Grant Notice. Each RSU Award Agreement will be
subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(ddd)
“Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the
Exchange Act or any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect from time
to time.
(eee)
“Rule 405” means Rule 405 promulgated under the
Securities Act.
(fff)
“Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code and the
regulations and other guidance thereunder.
(ggg)
“Section 409A Change of Control” means a change in
the ownership or effective control of the Company, or in the
ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets, as
provided in Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(v) of the Code and Treasury
Regulations Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) (without regard to any
alternative definition thereunder).
(hhh)
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
(iii)
“Share Reserve” means the number of shares available for
issuance under the Plan as set forth in Section 2(a).
(jjj)
“Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR”
means a right to receive the appreciation on Common Stock that is
granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section
0.
(kkk)
“SAR Agreement” means a written agreement between the
Company and a holder of a SAR evidencing the terms and conditions
of a SAR grant. The SAR Agreement includes the Grant Notice for the
SAR and the agreement containing the written summary of the general
terms and conditions applicable to the SAR and which is provided to
a Participant along with the Grant Notice. Each SAR Agreement will
be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(lll)
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to the Company, (i)
any corporation of which more than 50% of the outstanding capital
stock having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board
of directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether, at the
time, stock of any other class or classes of such corporation will
have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any
contingency) is at the time, directly or indirectly, Owned by the
Company, and (ii) any partnership, limited liability company or
other entity in which the Company has a direct or indirect interest
(whether in the form of voting or participation in profits or
capital contribution) of more than 50%.
(mmm)
“Ten Percent Stockholder” means a person who Owns (or
is deemed to Own pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) stock
possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all
classes of stock of the Company or any Affiliate.
(nnn)
“Trading Policy” means the Company’s policy
permitting certain individuals to sell Company shares only during
certain “window” periods and/or otherwise restricts the ability of
certain individuals to transfer or encumber Company shares, as in
effect from time to time.
(ooo)
“Unvested Non-Exempt Award” means the portion of any
Non-Exempt Award that had not vested in accordance with its terms
upon or prior to the date of any Corporate Transaction.
(ppp)
“Vested Non-Exempt Award” means the portion of any
Non-Exempt Award that had vested in accordance with its terms upon
or prior to the date of a Corporate Transaction.

Power REIT (AMEX:PW)
Historical Stock Chart
From Dec 2020 to Jan 2021
Power REIT (AMEX:PW)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jan 2020 to Jan 2021