Restricted Stock Unit Agreement with Steven J. Sadoff, dated January 31, 2011



 EXHIBIT 10.44 

 
 Multi-State Version- All Entities 

 
 KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC. 

2010 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN 
 RESTRICTED
STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT 
  

			
	Name of Grantee:	  	Steven J. Sadoff
		
	Restricted Stock Units:	  	214,286 Restricted Stock Units (“Stock Units”)
		
	Grant Date:	  	January 31, 2011
		
	Dates Upon Which	  	
	Restrictions Lapse:	  	100% of the Stock Units will vest on January 31, 2014.
	 (subject to accelerated
 lapse of restrictions as set forth in Sections 3 and 4 of this Agreement)
	  	
		  	No installment shall vest, and the entire Stock Units shall be forfeited, if the Company’s pre-tax income for calendar year 2011 (as determined based on the Company’s audited
financial statements in a manner consistent with past practice, without regard to non-operating and extraordinary items) does not equal to or exceed $50 million.


 

*        *        *        
*        *        *        *        * 

 
 This Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, including Exhibit A
(collectively, the “Agreement”) is executed and delivered as of the Grant Date by and between Knight Capital Group, Inc. (the “Company”) and the Grantee. The Grantee and the Company hereby agree as follows: 

 

	1.	 	The Company, pursuant to the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), which is incorporated herein by reference, and subject to the terms and conditions thereof, hereby
grants to the Grantee the above mentioned Stock Units. 

  

	2.	 	For purposes of this Agreement, the “Restricted Period” means the period from the Grant Date until the date on which the vesting restrictions applicable to Stock Units
lapse. Upon the expiration of the Restricted Period applicable to each such Stock Unit, the Company shall deliver to the Grantee, for each Stock Unit, a share of Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value, of the Company (“Shares”).


  
 Except as set forth in Section 3 or 4 of
this Agreement or otherwise provided for in Exhibit A, all restrictions imposed on the Stock Units shall lapse upon the expiration of the Restricted Period applicable to such Stock Units (as indicated above). 

 

	3.	 	 Except as otherwise provided for in a Grantee’s Offer Letter or Employment Agreement, as applicable, with the Company or an Affiliate, if the Grantee’s
employment with, or provision of services to, the Company shall terminate for any reason other than such Grantee’s death, Disability, Retirement (as defined below), or termination by the Company without Cause during the Restricted Period, all
Stock Units held by the Grantee still subject to restrictions shall be forfeited upon such termination. In the event of the Grantee’s death, Disability, Retirement, or termination by the Company without Cause, the restrictions applicable to the
Stock Units shall lapse (subject to the forfeiture provisions of the Plan and Exhibit A), and the Stock Units shall be deemed fully vested in accordance with the terms of the Plan. For purposes of this Agreement, “Retirement” means a
determination by the Company, in its sole and absolute discretion, that a Grantee has 










	 	 
had a retirement from the Company and its Affiliates upon a voluntary termination of employment by a Grantee (i) after having been employed by the Company or its Affiliates for a minimum of
five (5) full years of service (regardless of whether such service is continuous), (ii) with the Grantee having achieved or exceeded 50 years of age at the time of departure, and (iii) with the Grantee entering into a two year
non-compete agreement in a form acceptable to the Company; provided, however, that this term shall be applicable only to Grantees who are Employees. 



 

	4.	 	In the event of a Change-In-Control (as defined in the Plan), the restrictions applicable to the Stock Units shall lapse (subject to the forfeiture provisions of the Plan and
Exhibit A), and the Stock Units shall be deemed fully vested in accordance with the terms of the Plan. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 2 of this Agreement, to the extent required to avoid the imposition of additional taxes
and penalties under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and the regulations and other guidance promulgated thereunder (“Section 409A”), if such Change-In-Control does not constitute a
change in ownership or effective control of the Company or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the corporation within the meaning of Section 409A, the Company shall deliver to the Grantee, for each Stock Unit on which
such restriction lapsed as a result of such Change-In-Control, a Share (or cash equal to the Fair Market Value thereof) on such date that the Grantee would have received Shares under this Agreement in respect of the applicable Stock Units absent the
occurrence of the Change-In-Control. 

  

	5.	 	The Stock Units shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares or other change in capitalization with a similar
substantive effect upon the Plan, the Shares, or the Stock Units. The Committee shall have the power and sole discretion to determine the nature and amount of the adjustment to be made, if any. Any adjustment so made shall be final and binding.


  

	6.	 	The Grantee shall have no rights as a stockholder of the Company, no dividend rights (except as expressly provided below) and no voting rights, with respect to the Stock Units
and any Shares underlying or issuable in respect of such Stock Units until such Shares are actually issued to and held of record by the Grantee. Notwithstanding the above, on the date Shares are actually issued to the Grantee in respect of a Stock
Unit, the Company shall pay the Grantee an amount in cash equal to the aggregate amount of the ordinary cash dividends (if any) paid by the Company on a Share for which the related dividend payment record date(s) occurred on or after the Grant Date
and on or before the date such Stock Unit became vested pursuant to the terms hereof (the right to receive such payment is referred to herein as a “Dividend Equivalent Right”). For purposes of clarity, no interest shall accrue with respect
to the period between the dividend payment record date and the date of payment of any Dividend Equivalent Rights, and no Dividend Equivalent Rights shall be paid with respect to any Stock Units that terminate pursuant to Section 3.


  

	7.	 	The Company shall withhold all applicable taxes required by law from all amounts paid in respect of the Stock Units upon the vesting of, or lapse of restrictions on, or payment
of, any or all of the Stock Units. The Grantee may satisfy the withholding obligation by paying the amount of any taxes in cash or, with the approval of the Committee, shares of stock may be deducted from the payment to satisfy the obligation in
full or in part. The amount of the withholding and the number of shares to be deducted shall be determined by the Committee with reference to the Fair Market Value of the stock when the withholding is required to be made. 


 

	8.	 	The Grantee specifically acknowledges that the Stock Units and any Shares or cash delivered in settlement thereof are subject to the provisions of Section 11.5 of the Plan,
entitled “Recapture; Adjustment of Awards,” which can cause the forfeiture of any gain realized upon the vesting of the Stock Units and/or the cancellation or adjustment of any grant of Stock Units. 


  
 2 









	9.	 	Except with the consent of the Committee, no Stock Units shall be assignable or transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution while such Stock Units
remain subject to restrictions. 

  

	10.	 	Nothing herein shall obligate the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company to continue the Grantee’s service for any particular period or on any particular
basis of compensation. 

  

	11.	 	The obligation of the Company to deliver Shares or cash in respect of Stock Units granted under this Agreement is specifically subject to all provisions of the Plan and all
applicable laws, rules, regulations and governmental and stockholder approvals. 

  

	12.	 	Any notice by the Grantee to the Company hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given only upon receipt thereof by the Company at its principal offices. Any
notice by the Company to the Grantee shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given if mailed to the Grantee at the address last specified to the Company by the Grantee. 

  

	13.	 	The grant of Stock Units herein is not enforceable until this Agreement has been signed by the Grantee and the Company. By executing this Agreement, the Grantee shall be deemed
to have accepted and consented to any action taken under the Plan by the Committee, the Board or its delegates. In addition, by executing this Agreement, the Grantee shall be deemed to have accepted and consented to the restrictive covenants set
forth in Exhibit A, attached hereto and made a part hereof.  

  

	14.	 	No change or modification of this Agreement shall be valid unless it is in writing and signed by the parties hereto. 


 

	15.	 	Except as otherwise provided in Exhibit A, the validity and construction of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflicts
of law principles thereof. 

  

	16.	 	Any capitalized term, to the extent not defined herein, shall have the same meaning as set forth in the Plan. 


 

	17.	 	This Agreement, together with the Plan, sets forth all of the promises, agreements, conditions, understandings, warranties and representations between the parties hereto
regarding the Stock Units, and there are no promises, agreements, conditions, understandings, warranties or representations, oral or written, express or implied, between them regarding the Stock Units other than as set forth herein or therein. This
Agreement is made under and subject to the provisions of the Plan, and all of the provisions of the Plan are also provisions of this Agreement. If there is a difference or conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of the
Plan, the provisions of the Plan will govern. 

  

	18.	 	 The intent of the parties is that payments and benefits under this Agreement (including Exhibit A) comply with Section 409A to the extent subject thereto,
and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted and be administered consistent with such intent. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, to the extent required in order to avoid accelerated
taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A, the Grantee shall not be considered to have terminated employment with the Company for purposes of this Agreement and no payment shall be due to the Grantee under Section 3 of this
Agreement until the Grantee would be considered to have incurred a “separation from service” from the Company within the meaning of Section 409A. Any payments that are due within the “short term deferral period” as defined
in 



  
 3 









	 	 
Section 409A shall not be treated as deferred compensation unless applicable law requires otherwise. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or the Plan, to the extent
that any Stock Units or other amounts are payable upon a “separation from service” and such settlement or payment would result in the imposition of any additional tax and penalties imposed under Section 409A, the settlement and
payment of such Stock Units shall instead be made on the first business day after the date that is six (6) months following such separation from service (or death, if earlier) to the extent any such delay would avoid the imposition of such tax
or penalty. In addition, each amount to be paid or benefit to be provided to the Grantee pursuant to this Agreement, which constitutes deferred compensation subject to Section 409A, shall be construed as a separate identified payment for
purposes of Section 409A. 


  
 By signing this
Agreement, the Grantee accepts and agrees to all of the foregoing terms and 
 provisions and to all of the terms and provisions of the Plan
incorporated herein by reference and confirms that he/she has received a copy of the Plan. 
  
 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by a duly authorized representative and the Grantee has hereunto set his/her hand as of the Grant Date. 

 

			
	 KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

		
	 By:
	 	  

		 	 Thomas M. Joyce

		 	 Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

	
	  

	 Steven J. Sadoff




  
 4 








 EXHIBIT A—APPLICABLE RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS 

 
 In consideration for Grantee agreeing to the following restrictions, the Company agrees
to provide Grantee with the Stock Units pursuant to this Agreement, as well as one or more of the following: initial or continued employment with the Company; portions of the Company’s confidential, proprietary and trade secret information; the
ability to develop relationships with the Company’s potential and existing suppliers, financing sources, customers and employees; and specialized training in, and knowledge of, the business group the Grantee is employed with. 

 
 (a) At all times during Grantee’s employment with the Company, and for the
applicable Protected Period (as defined below) following the termination of Grantee’s employment by the Company for “Cause” (as defined in the Plan), Grantee shall be bound by the Noncompete Obligation (defined below). 

 
 (b) In the event Grantee voluntarily terminates his/her employment for any reason or
where the Company terminates Grantee’s employment without Cause, the Company may elect, in its sole and absolute discretion upon notice to Grantee, to require that Grantee be bound by the Noncompete Obligation during the applicable Protected
Period and to provide Grantee with continuation of Grantee’s salary in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll practice during the Protected Period (the “Restrictive Covenant Benefit”). In the event Grantee does not
receive a salary from the Company, Grantee shall receive an amount, as determined by the Company in its sole and absolute discretion, based on Grantee’s corporate title with the Company or its Affiliates. 

 
 The receipt of the Restrictive Covenant Benefit is conditioned upon the execution of a
general waiver and release agreement in a form agreeable to the Company that becomes effective and irrevocable no later than the earlier of (x) eight weeks following the Grantee’s termination of employment and (y) February 15 of
the year following the year in which the Grantee’s termination of employment occurs. In addition, if the payment of the Restrictive Covenant Benefit is expected to continue beyond March 15 of the year following the year in which the
Grantee’s termination of employment occurs, the Company will either pay such amounts to the Grantee prior to such March 15 or place the portion of the Restrictive Covenant Benefit that would be paid after March 15 into an escrow
account meeting such terms and conditions as are determined by the Company prior to such March 15 and such amounts will be distributed from that escrow account during the remainder of the Protected Period. 

 
 For the avoidance of doubt, the Grantee has no legally binding right to the Restrictive
Covenant Benefit unless and until the Company elects, in its sole and absolute discretion, to require that Grantee be bound by the Noncompete Obligation. 
  

(c) In the event that Grantee voluntarily terminates employment with the Company or the Company terminates Grantee’s employment without Cause, and the Company
does not elect to provide the Restrictive Covenant Benefit to Grantee under Paragraph (b) above, Grantee shall not be bound by the Noncompete Obligation. If Grantee voluntarily terminates employment with the Company or the Company terminates
Grantee’s employment without Cause and the Company elects to provide the Restrictive Covenant Benefit for a period of less than the Protected Period, Grantee shall be bound by the Noncompete Obligation only for the period that the Company is
paying, or that the Grantee is receiving, the Restrictive Covenant Benefit. 
  

(d) The Company may elect, in its sole and absolute discretion, to provide notice to Grantee prior to a termination without Cause (instead of offering the
Restrictive Covenant Benefit under Paragraph (b) above), the amount of said notice to be equal to the otherwise applicable Protected Period. During this notice period, Grantee will remain an employee of the Company and will assist in
transitioning the business relationships with customers and other business contacts with which Grantee has had 

  
 5 








 
material involvement as requested by the Company and as needed to help the Company retain such business relationships. However, Grantee acknowledges and agrees that the Company can remove Grantee
from active service during this notice period at its discretion but that doing so will not eliminate Grantee’s duty to remain loyal to the Company while on the Company’s payroll and to otherwise comply with the restrictions in this
Agreement. The Company reserves the right at its sole and absolute discretion to require Grantee not to carry out Grantee’s duties or to carry out limited duties for the Company prior to the termination date. During the notice period, the
Company shall be under no obligation to provide any work to, or vest any powers in, Grantee and Grantee shall have no right to perform any services for the Company. During the notice period, the Company shall be entitled at its sole and absolute
discretion: (i) to require Grantee not to attend Grantee’s place of work or any other premises of the Company; and (ii) to require Grantee to work from Grantee’s home. During the notice period, Grantee shall continue to receive
Grantee’s salary and all contractual benefits in the usual way and shall remain an employee of the Company with all associated duties under the common law; provided, however, that if the notice period is expected to continue
beyond March 15 of the year following the year in which the Company placed the Grantee on notice, the Company will either pay such amounts to the Grantee prior to such March 15 or place any salary that would be paid to the Grantee during
the remainder of the notice period into an escrow account meeting such terms and conditions as are determined by the Company prior to such March 15 and such amounts will be distributed from that escrow account during the remainder of the notice
period. 
  
 (e) Grantee further agrees that for one (1) year following the
termination of Grantee’s employment by either Grantee or the Company for any reason or no reason, Grantee will not, without the prior written consent of the Company, directly or indirectly (i) solicit, encourage, or induce any employee of
the Company to terminate his or her employment with the Company; or (ii) hire or employ any person who is or was an employee or consultant of the Company. 
  

(f) Grantee further agrees that for the Protected Period and thirty (30) days thereafter, upon the termination of Grantee’s employment by either Grantee
or the Company for any reason or no reason, Grantee will not, without the prior written consent of the Company, directly or indirectly: (i) solicit any customer, supplier or vendor of the Company with which or with whom Grantee was involved as
part of Grantee’s job responsibilities during Grantee’s employment with the Company (other than any such customer with which or with whom Grantee conducted business prior to commencement of his/her employment with the Company) or regarding
which or whom Grantee learned Confidential Information during Grantee’s employment with the Company to obtain a Conflicting Product or Service from a Competing Business; or (ii) encourage or induce any customer, supplier or vendor of the
Company not to do business with the Company or to reduce the amount of business it is doing or might do in the future with the Company or its affiliated entities. If Grantee is a resident of Georgia, for as long as Grantee is a resident of Georgia
the foregoing Paragraph (f) is rewritten as follows: Grantee agrees that for a period of one (1) year following the termination of Grantee’s employment by either Grantee or the Company for any reason or no reason, Grantee will not, in
any way, directly or indirectly, solicit, divert, or take away, or attempt to solicit, divert or take away, customers of the Company that Grantee served while Grantee was employed with the Company, to sell to such customer any service or product
that the Company provides at the time Grantee signed this Agreement, unless an authorized Company officer gives Grantee written permission to do so. Grantee and the Company agree this restriction is inherently reasonable because it is limited to the
places or locations where the customer is doing business at the time. 
  
 (g)
Grantee further acknowledges and agrees that the protective covenants herein are material and important terms of this Agreement, and Grantee further agrees that should all or any part or application of Paragraphs (a), (b), (d), (e) or
(f) of this Exhibit A be held or found invalid or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever by a court or arbitrator of competent jurisdiction in an action between Grantee and 

  
 6 








 
the Company (despite, and after application of, any applicable rights to reformation that could add or renew enforceability), or if the Grantee breaches the obligations of this Exhibit A, the
Company shall be entitled to receive from Grantee a return of the Stock Units and Restrictive Covenant Benefit (if applicable) and the Grantee shall forfeit any remaining portion of the Restrictive Covenant Benefit that has not been paid or
distributed to the Grantee. If Grantee has sold, transferred, or otherwise disposed of the Stock Units, the Company shall be entitled to receive from Grantee the profits (if any) derived by Grantee by virtue of such sale, transfer, or other
disposition. 
  
 (h) Grantee agrees not to engage in any unauthorized use or
disclosure of the Company’s Confidential Information, customer relationships, or specialized training. Grantee agrees to use the Company’s Confidential Information and other benefits of Grantee’s employment to further the business
interests of the Company. Grantee agrees to preserve records on current and prospective Company customers, suppliers, and other business relationships that Grantee develops or helps to develop, and not use these records in any way, directly or
indirectly, to harm the Company’s business. Grantee agrees not to use the Company’s Confidential Information or any document or record concerning the business and affairs of the Company (“Company Record”) for any purpose without
the prior written authorization of an officer of the Company, except that Grantee may use Confidential Information and Company Records to perform Grantee’s duties. These restrictions on use or disclosure of Confidential Information will only
apply for three (3) years after the end of Grantee’s employment where information that does not qualify as a trade secret is concerned; however, the restrictions will continue apply to trade secret information for as long as the
information at issue remains qualified as a trade secret. 
  
 (i) As used
herein, the following terms shall have the meaning ascribed to them: 
  
 a. “Protected Period” shall mean: 
     i. For Executive Vice
Presidents and Senior Managing Directors: six (6) months; 
     ii. For Managing Directors: four (4) months;

     iii. For Directors and Vice Presidents: three (3) months; and 

    iv. Below Vice President: eight (8) weeks. 

 
 b. “Noncompete Obligation” means that Grantee will
not, directly or indirectly, provide services to a Competing Business that are identical or similar to those Grantee performed for the Company or which serve the same or similar function or purpose or which are otherwise likely to result in the
disclosure of Confidential Information. 
  
 c.
“Competing Business” means any person or entity engaged in the business of providing a Conflicting Product or Service anywhere in the United States, Europe or Asia. If you are a resident of Georgia, for as long as you are a resident
of Georgia, the foregoing definition of Competing Business is rewritten as follows: “Competing Business” means any person or entity engaged in the business of providing a Conflicting Product or Service in a country in which Knight does
business and regarding which you have responsibilities. 
  
 d.
“Conflicting Product or Service” means a product and/or service that is the same or similar in function or purpose to a Company product and/or service, such that it would replace or compete with: a product and/or service the Company
provides to its customers; or a product or service that is under development or planning by the Company but not yet provided to customers and regarding which Grantee was provided Confidential Information in the course of his/her employment.

  
 e. “Confidential Information” refers to
the Company’s trade secrets and any other legally protectable information that is maintained as confidential by the Company and that is not authorized for disclosure to the public. 

  
 7 








 (j) If a court or arbitrator finds a restriction herein to be unenforceable as written, such court or arbitrator (for
the jurisdiction covered by that court or the matter before that arbitrator only) will revise the restriction so as to make it enforceable to protect the Company’s legitimate business interests. If one or more of the provisions of this
Agreement are deemed void by law, then the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect. 
  
 (k) Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or this Agreement to the contrary, the validity and construction of the provisions of this Exhibit A will be governed by the laws of the State of New Jersey, without
regard to the conflicts of law principles thereof. The Grantee expressly agrees that the provisions of the Plan, including, without limitation, the Choice of Forum and Dispute Resolution provision therein, apply with full force and effect to this
Exhibit A. 
  
 (l) If Grantee is already subject to similar restrictive
covenants in Grantee’s employment agreement or offer letter, the restrictive covenants in that agreement will control and supercede the provisions in this Agreement. 

  
 8