Form of Performance Stock Unit Award Agreement






Exhibit 10.4




DUPONT FABROS TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Stock Unit Award Agreement
Issued Under the 2015 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan
THIS STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), effective as of the 16th day of March, 2015 (the “Grant Date”), governs an award granted by DUPONT FABROS TECHNOLOGY, INC., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), of stock units for shares of the common stock of the Company, par value, $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”), to __________________________ (the “Participant”), in accordance with and subject to the provisions of the Company’s 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).  A copy of the Plan has been made available to the Participant.  Capitalized terms used, but not defined, in this Agreement shall have the meaning given such terms in the Plan.
1.    Grant of Awards.  In accordance with the Plan, and effective as of the Grant Date, the Company hereby grants to the Participant, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement, an award of _______________ (______) stock units (the “Stock Unit Award,” with the number set forth in this sentence being the “Target Award”).
2.    Vesting.  The Participant’s interest in the stock units covered by the Stock Unit Award shall become vested as provided in this Section.
(a)    Company Total Shareholder Return Compared to RMS Return. One-half of the Participant’s interest in the stock units covered by the Stock Unit Award (the “RMS Return Target Award”) shall become vested as provided in the schedule below, if (a) the Participant remains in continuous Service from the Grant Date until March 1, 2018, and (b) the Company’s Total Shareholder Return for the Performance Period, meets or exceeds the RMS Return for the Performance Period.  The specific number of stock units that may vest with respect to the RMS Return Target Award shall be determined in accordance with the following:
	
			
	Performance Level
	Performance Requirements
	Number of Stock Units that Vest

	Below Target
	Total Shareholder Return is below the RMS Return
	None

	Target
	Total Shareholder Return equals the RMS Return
	100% of RMS Return Target Award

	Maximum
	Total Shareholder Return is 300 basis points or more greater than the RMS Return
	300% of the RMS Return Target Award




In the event that the Performance Level is between the “Target” and “Maximum” levels (as set forth in the table above), the number of stock units that will vest with respect to the RMS Return Target Award will be interpolated on a straight line basis, between 100% and 300% of the RMS Return Target Award.  If at the end of the Performance Period, none of the stock units covered by the Stock Unit Award related to RMS Return Target Award have vested in accordance with the criteria set forth above, the portion of the Stock Unit Award related to RMS Return Target Award will immediately lapse in its entirety.  Except as provided in this Agreement, any stock units covered by the portion of the Stock Unit Award related to RMS Return Target Award that are 









not vested and nonforfeitable on or before the date of the Participant’s termination of Service shall be forfeited on the date that such Service terminates.  
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if the Total Shareholder Return for the Performance Period is negative, the calculated payouts will be reduced by 50%.  By way of example, if the Total Shareholder Return for the Performance Period was negative 5.0%, while the RMS Return for the Performance Period was negative 8.0%, then the Participant will vest in a number of stock units equal to 150% of the RMS Return Target Award.
(b)    Company Total Shareholder Return Compared to Data Center Index Return. One-half of the Participant’s interest in the stock units covered by the Stock Unit Award (the “Data Center Index Return Target Award”) shall become vested as provided in the schedule below, if (a) the Participant remains in continuous Service from the Grant Date until March 1, 2018, and (b) the Company’s Total Shareholder Return for the Performance Period, meets or exceeds the Data Center Index Return for the Performance Period.  The specific number of stock units that may vest with respect to the Data Center Index Return Target Award shall be determined in accordance with the following:
	
			
	Performance Level
	Performance Requirements
	Number of Stock Units that Vest

	Below Target
	Total Shareholder Return is below the Data Center Index Return
	None

	Target
	Total Shareholder Return equals the Data Center Index Return
	100% of Data Center Index Return Target Award

	Maximum
	Total Shareholder Return is 300 basis points or more greater than the Data Center Index Return
	300% of the Data Center Index Return Target Award




In the event that the Performance Level is between the “Target” and “Maximum” levels (as set forth in the table above), the number of stock units that will vest with respect to the Data Center Index Return Target Award will be interpolated on a straight line basis, between 100% and 300% of the Data Center Index Return Target Award.  If at the end of the Performance Period, none of the stock units covered by the Stock Unit Award related to Data Center Index Return Target Award have vested in accordance with the criteria set forth above, the portion of the Stock Unit Award related to Data Center Index Return Target Award will immediately lapse in its entirety.  Except as provided in this Agreement, any stock units covered by the portion of the Stock Unit Award related to Data Center Index Return Target Award that are not vested and nonforfeitable on or before the date of the Participant’s termination of Service shall be forfeited on the date that such Service terminates.  
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if the Total Shareholder Return for the Performance Period is negative, the calculated payouts will be reduced by 50%.  By way of example, if the Total Shareholder Return for the Performance Period was negative 5.0%, while the Data Center Index Return for the Performance Period was negative 8.0%, then the Participant will vest in a number of stock units equal to 150% of the Data Center Index Return Target Award.









(c)    Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement 
(i)“Closing Data Center Index Value” shall mean the average value of the Data Center Index over the twenty consecutive trading days that include and immediately precede the last day of the Performance Period, determined using a weighted average based on the market capitalization of each company that comprises the Data Center Index.
(ii)“Closing RMS Value” shall mean the average value of the MSCI US REIT Index (RMS) over the twenty consecutive trading days that include and immediately precede the last day of the Performance Period.
(iii)“Closing Stock Price” shall mean the average closing price of one share of Common Stock for the twenty consecutive trading days that include and immediately precede the last day of the Performance Period.
(iv)“Data Center Index” shall mean the following companies: CoreSite Realty Corporation, CyrusOne Inc., Digital Realty Trust Inc., Equinix, Inc. and QTS Realty Trust, Inc.; provided, however, that in the event that any of the aforementioned companies that comprise the Data Center Index is acquired, dissolved, liquidated or a party to a business combination in which it is not the surviving entity (or any similar transaction), the composition of the Data Center Index shall be modified by the Committee in good faith.
(v)“Data Center Index Return” shall mean, with respect to a Performance Period, the total percentage return of the Data Center Index, including dividends and other distributions by a company included in the Data Center Index, determined using a weighted average based on the market capitalization of each company that comprises the Data Center Index.
(vi)“Initial Data Center Index Value” shall mean the average value of the Data Center Index over the twenty consecutive trading days immediately preceding the first day of the Performance Period, determined using a weighted average based on the market capitalization of each company that comprises the Data Center Index.
(vii)“Initial RMS Value” shall mean the average value of the MSCI US REIT Index (RMS) over the twenty consecutive trading days immediately preceding the first day of the Performance Period.
(viii)“Initial Stock Price” shall mean the average closing price of one share of Common Stock for the twenty consecutive trading days immediately preceding the first day of the Performance Period.
(ix)“Performance Period” shall mean the three calendar year period commencing on January 1, 2015 and ending on January 1, 2018, provided, however, that (i) in the event of the termination of a Participant’s Service due to death or Disability, the Performance Period shall end on the date of such Participant’s termination of Service, and (ii) in the event of a Change in Control as defined in Section 4, the Performance Period shall end as of the effective date of the Change in Control.
(x)“RMS Return” shall mean the percentage change of the MSCI US REIT Index (RMS) over the Performance Period, which shall be established by comparing the Initial RMS Value to the Closing RMS Value, provided, however, that in the event the MSCI US REIT Index is discontinued or its methodology significantly changed, a comparable index shall be selected by the Committee in good faith.
(xi)“Total Shareholder Return” shall mean, with respect to a Performance Period, the total percentage return per share of Common Stock, assuming contemporaneous reinvestment in the Common Stock of all dividends and other distributions at the closing price of one share of Common Stock on the date such dividend or other distribution was 









paid, based on the Initial Stock Price and the Closing Stock Price for such Performance Period. 
3.    Delivery.  If any portion of the Stock Unit Award vests, the Company will issue the number of shares of Common Stock determined under this Agreement as soon as practicable following the end of the vesting date (the “Delivered Common Stock”), but in no event later than thirty-days following the end of the vesting date (such date of delivery, the “Delivery Date”). 
4.    Effect of Death or Disability.  If the Participant’s Service is terminated due to his death or Disability, the Performance Period shall end on the date of such termination of Service, and the Participant shall vest in the number of stock units, at the “Target” Performance Level, provided that the total number of stock units to which the Participant will be entitled shall be prorated by multiplying the number of stock units to which the Participant would otherwise be entitled by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days from January 1, 2015 until the date of the Participant’s termination of Service and the denominator is the number of days from January 1, 2015 to January 1, 2018. 
5.    Effect of Termination without Cause.  If the Participant’s Service is terminated by the Company without Cause, or the Participant terminates his or her Service with Good Reason, and the Participant is a party to an employment or other similar agreement that sets forth the treatment of a performance vesting award upon such a termination of Service, then the treatment of this Stock Unit Award will be as set forth in such employment or other similar agreement.  If the Participant’s Service is terminated by the Company without Cause, or the Participant terminates his or her Service with Good Reason, and the Participant is a party to an employment or other similar agreement that does not set forth the treatment of a performance vesting award upon a termination without Cause or with Good Reason, the treatment of the Participant’s Stock Unit Award will be determined in the same manner as Section 4. For purposes of this section, “Good Reason” shall have the meaning given to such term in the Participant’s employment or other similar agreement.
6.    Effect of Change in Control.  In the event of a Change in Control, the Performance Period shall be terminated as of the Change in Control and the Closing Stock Price shall be deemed to be the price per share of Common Stock received by stockholders in the Change in Control, provided, however, that in the event of a Change in Control in which stockholders do not receive a price per share for their Common Stock, the Closing Stock Price shall be determined in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.  A Participant's interest in the stock units covered by the Stock Unit Award (if not sooner vested) shall become vested and nonforfeitable as of the Change in Control if the Participant remains in continuous Service from the Grant Date until the effective date of the Change in Control, and the number of stock units that comprise the Stock Unit Award that shall vest and become nonforfeitable shall be the greater of: (a) the Target Award; and (b) the calculated value as determined pursuant to Section 2 above for the abbreviated Performance Period.
7.    Transferability.  Stock units covered by the Stock Unit Award that have not become vested and nonforfeitable under this Agreement cannot be transferred.
8.    Stockholder Rights.  The Participant does not have any of the rights of a stockholder with respect to any unvested stock unit, including voting and dividend rights.
9.    Withholding.  The Participant must make acceptable arrangements to pay any withholding or other taxes that may be due as a result of the vesting or receipt of the stock units or the shares of Common Stock.  In the event that the Company or an Affiliate, as applicable, determines that any federal, state, local or foreign tax or withholding payment is required relating to the vesting of stock units or receipt of shares of Common Stock arising from this grant, the Company or an Affiliate, as applicable, shall have the right to require such payments from the Participant, or to withhold such amounts from other payments due to the Participant from the Company or an Affiliate, as applicable.  Unless otherwise 









determined by the Company, the Company shall withhold the delivery of vested shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable under this Agreement to meet such obligations.  The shares of Stock so withheld shall have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to such withholding obligations.
10.    No Right to Continued Employment.  The grant of the Stock Unit Award does not give the Participant any right with respect to continuance of Service, nor shall it interfere in any way with the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate his Service at any time.
11.    Adjustments.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may make appropriate adjustments to the Target Award and any of the metrics set forth in Section 2 in connection with or as a result of any of the following events which have occurred after the Grant Date: reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend (after taking into consideration any payments to be made pursuant to Section 8), stock split, reverse stock split or other similar changes in the Common Stock, if the outstanding shares of Common Stock are increased or decreased or are exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or other securities of the Company, or additional share of new or different shares or other securities of the Company or other non-cash assets are distributed with respect to such shares of Common Stock or other securities. 
12.    Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Maryland.
13.    Conflicts.  In the event of any conflict between the provisions of the Plan as in effect on the Grant Date and this Agreement, the provisions of the Plan shall govern.  All references herein to the Plan shall mean the Plan as in effect on the Grant Date.
14.    Participant Bound by Plan.  The Participant hereby acknowledges that a copy of the Plan has been made available to him and agrees to be bound by all the terms and provisions of the Plan.
15.    Binding Effect.  Subject to the limitations stated above and in the Plan, this Agreement shall be binding upon the Participant and his or her successors in interest and the successors of the Company.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Participant have executed this Agreement effective as of the date set forth above.
	
			
	DUPONT FABROS TECHNOLOGY, INC.
	 
	[PARTICIPANT]

	By: _______________________________
	 
	___________________________________

	Name: 
Title: