Company: ABR-PF
Filing Date: 2025-04-17
Form Type: DEF 14A
Source: 0001628280-25-018236
Chunk: 40

Company: ARBOR REALTY TRUST INC
Filing Date: 2025-04-17
Form: DEF 14A
Chunk 40
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 recently completed calendar year, in 2025, the Compensation Committee granted our NEOs stock-based awards, consisting of restricted stock with a multi-year vesting schedule under our Stock Incentive Plan with respect to their service and performance in 2024. In March 2025, the Compensation Committee granted an aggregate of 602,016 shares of restricted stock to certain of our employees with respect to their 2024 performance. Included in such granted awards was an aggregate of 167,296 shares of restricted stock that were granted to the NEO group, excluding Mr. Kaufman. One third of the shares vested as of the date of grant and one third will vest on each of the first and second anniversaries of the date of grant (subject to continued employment). In addition, in March 2025, in connection with the 2024 Agreement with Mr. Kaufman (see below), the Compensation Committee granted Mr. Kaufman 170,674 shares of time-based vesting restricted stock (“time-based vesting stock”) which will vest in full in March 2028 and performance-vesting restricted stock units which will vest at the end of a four-year performance period based upon our achievement of total shareholder return objectives, and which entitle Mr. Kaufman to receive up to 682,699 shares of common stock. See “Retirement and Other Benefits” below.

Stock-based awards are generally granted to participants of the Stock Incentive Plan at the Board’s discretion, within the first two and a half months of the year. In certain circumstances, including the hiring or promotion of a participant, the Board may approve grants to be effective at other times. The Board did not takematerial nonpublic information into account when determining the timing and terms of stock-based awards in 2024, and we do not timethe disclosure of material nonpublic information for the purpose of affecting the value of executive compensation.

Future Grants of Stock Options . The Compensation Committee has traditionally viewed restricted stock awards as more effective than stock options in achieving our compensation objectives. However, the Compensation Committee also considers stock options, in addition to restricted stock awards, as a viable tool to retain key employees. To the extent that the Compensation Committee decides to grant stock options in the future, it is anticipated that: (1) the exercise price for the stock options will be equivalent to the market price of the underlying common stock on the date of grant; (2) the stock options will vest over a multi-year period; and (3) the stock options will be