Document

Exhibit 10.3


			
	IHEARTMEDIA, INC.
	 2021 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN




RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT GRANT NOTICE 


iHeartMedia, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), has granted to the participant listed below (“Participant”) the Restricted Stock Units (the “RSUs”) described in this Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice (this “Grant Notice”), subject to the terms and conditions of the iHeartMedia, Inc. 2021 Long-Term Incentive Award Plan (as amended from time to time, the “Plan”), the iHeartMedia, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors (the “Deferred Compensation Plan”) and the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Agreement”), each of which are incorporated into this Grant Notice by reference. Capitalized terms not specifically defined in this Grant Notice or the Agreement have the meanings given to them in the Plan.


						
	Participant:	[To be specified]
	Grant Date:	[To be specified]
	Number of RSUs:	[To be specified]
	Vesting Commencement Date:	[To be specified]
	Vesting Schedule:
	Subject to Participant’s continued service on the Board through each applicable vesting date, the RSUs shall vest on [the first anniversary of the Grant Date].
	In-Service Distribution Date:	[To be specified]




By accepting (whether in writing, electronically or otherwise) the RSUs, Participant agrees to be bound by the terms of this Grant Notice, the Plan, the Deferred Compensation Plan and the Agreement.  Participant has reviewed the Plan, the Deferred Compensation Plan, this Grant Notice and the Agreement in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Grant Notice and fully understands all provisions of the Plan, the Deferred Compensation Plan, this Grant Notice and the Agreement.  Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Administrator upon any questions arising under the Plan, the Deferred Compensation Plan, this Grant Notice or the Agreement.


															
	IHEARTMEDIA, INC.		PARTICIPANT
	By:			
	Name:			[Participant Name]
	Title:				
















RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT 


Capitalized terms not specifically defined in this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (this “Agreement”) have the meanings specified in the Grant Notice or, if not defined in the Grant Notice, in the Plan.


ARTICLE I.
GENERAL


1.1    Award of RSUs and Dividend Equivalents. 


a.The Company has granted the RSUs to Participant effective as of the Grant Date set forth in the Grant Notice (the “Grant Date”).  Each RSU represents the right to receive one Share as set forth in this Agreement.  Participant will have no right to the distribution of any Shares until the time (if ever) the RSUs have vested.


b.The Company hereby grants to Participant, with respect to each RSU granted hereunder, a Dividend Equivalent for ordinary cash dividends paid to substantially all holders of outstanding Shares with a record date after the Grant Date and prior to the date the applicable RSU is settled, forfeited or otherwise expires. Each Dividend Equivalent entitles Participant to receive the equivalent value of any such ordinary cash dividends paid on a single Share. The Company will establish a separate Dividend Equivalent bookkeeping account (a “Dividend Equivalent Account”) for each Dividend Equivalent and credit the Dividend Equivalent Account (without interest) on the applicable dividend payment date with the amount of any such cash paid. Any Dividend Equivalents granted in connection with the RSUs issued hereunder, and any amounts that may become distributable in respect thereof, shall be treated separately from such RSUs and the rights arising in connection therewith for purposes of the designation of time and form of payments required by Section 409A.  For clarity, the Dividend Equivalents granted hereunder shall satisfy the right to receive Dividend Equivalents pursuant to Section 3.4 of the Deferred Compensation Plan (as defined below).


1.2    Incorporation of Terms of Plan and Deferred Compensation Plan. The RSUs and Dividend Equivalents are subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Plan and  the Deferred Compensation Plan which are incorporated herein by reference.  In the event of any inconsistency between the Plan and this Agreement, the terms of the Plan or the Deferred Compensation Plan will control.


1.3    Unsecured Promise. The RSUs and Dividend Equivalents will at all times prior to settlement represent an unsecured Company obligation payable only from the Company’s general assets.


1.4    Certain Definitions.


a.“Cause” means Participant’s act or failure to act that constitutes cause for removal of a director under applicable Delaware law.


b.“Change in Control” shall, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in the Plan, have the meaning set forth in the Deferred Compensation Plan.


c.“Deferred Compensation Plan” shall mean the iHeartMedia Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors, as may be amended and/or restated from time to time.










d.“Disability” shall, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in the Plan, have the meaning set forth in the Deferred Compensation Plan.


ARTICLE II.
VESTING; FORFEITURE AND SETTLEMENT


2.1    Vesting; Forfeiture.
a.The RSUs will vest according to the vesting schedule in the Grant Notice except that any fraction of an RSU that would otherwise be vested will be accumulated and will vest only when a whole RSU has accumulated.  Dividend Equivalents (including any Dividend Equivalent Account balance) will vest upon the vesting of the RSUs with respect to which the Dividend Equivalent (including the Dividend Equivalent Account) relates.  


b.Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 2.1(a) hereof, if a Change in Control occurs and Participant remains in continuous service on the Board until immediately prior to such Change in Control, then 100% of the then-unvested RSUs shall vest immediately prior to the consummation of the Change in Control.


c.Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 2.1(a) hereof, upon Participant’s removal from the Board or the Company’s failure to nominate Participant for re-election to the Board, in each case, (i) for reasons other than for Cause or (ii) due to Participant’s death or Disability, the number of RSUs that would have otherwise vested on the next regularly scheduled vesting date shall vest on a pro rata basis (as if the RSUs were subject to monthly vesting) through the date of such termination.  


d.Except as otherwise determined by the Administrator or provided in a binding written agreement between Participant and the Company, in the event of Participant’s Termination of Service as a Director, (i) all unvested RSUs will immediately and automatically be cancelled and forfeited (after taking into consideration any accelerated vesting which may occur in connection with such Termination of Service, including as set forth in this Section 2.1), and Participant shall have no further right to or interest in such RSUs and (ii) Dividend Equivalents (including any Dividend Equivalent Account balance) will be forfeited upon the forfeiture of the RSUs with respect to which the Dividend Equivalent (including the Dividend Equivalent Account) relates.


2.2    Settlement.


a.Subject to and in accordance with the Deferred Compensation Plan, the RSUs, to the extent vested, and Dividend Equivalents (including any Dividend Equivalent Account balance) will, in any case, be paid in Shares within 45 days following the earliest to occur of: (i) Participant’s “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A); (ii) a Change in Control (as defined below); (iii) Participant’s death; (iv) Participant’s Disability (as defined below); or (v) the In-Service Distribution Date set forth in the Grant Notice, if any (in any case, such payment date, the “Payment Date”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the exact Payment Date shall be determined by the Company in its sole discretion (and Participant shall not have the right to designate the time of payment). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may delay any payment under this Agreement that the Company reasonably determines would violate Applicable Law until the earliest date the Company reasonably determines the making of the payment will not cause such a violation (in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(7)(ii)); provided the Company reasonably believes the delay will not result in the imposition of excise taxes under Section 409A.  For the avoidance of doubt, any Dividend Equivalents granted in connection with the RSUs issued hereunder, and 








any amounts that may become distributable in respect thereof, shall be treated separately from such RSUs and the rights arising in connection therewith for purposes of the designation of time and form of payments required by Section 409A.


ARTICLE III.
TAXATION AND TAX WITHHOLDING


3.1    Representation. Participant represents to the Company that Participant has reviewed with Participant’s own tax advisors the tax consequences of this award of RSUs and Dividend Equivalents (the “Award”) and the transactions contemplated by the Grant Notice and this Agreement.  Participant is relying solely on such advisors and not on any statements or representations of the Company or any of its agents.


3.2    Tax Withholding.
 
a.Payment of the withholding tax obligations with respect to the Award (if any) may be by any of the following, or a combination thereof, as determined by Participant or the Administrator:


i. Cash or check;


ii. In whole or in part by delivery of Shares, including Shares delivered by attestation and Shares retained from the Award creating the tax obligation, valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of delivery; or


iii. In whole or in part by the Company withholding of Shares otherwise vesting or issuable under this Award in satisfaction of any applicable withholding tax obligations.  


b.Subject to Section 9.5 of the Plan, the applicable tax withholding obligation will be determined based on Participant’s Applicable Withholding Rate.  Participant’s “Applicable Withholding Rate” shall mean the greater of (A) the minimum applicable statutory tax withholding rate or (B) with Participant’s consent, the maximum individual tax withholding rate permitted under the rules of the applicable taxing authority for tax withholding attributable to the underlying transaction; provided, however, that (i) in no event shall Participant’s Applicable Withholding Rate exceed the maximum individual statutory tax rate in the applicable jurisdiction at the time of such withholding (or such other rate as may be required to avoid the liability classification of the applicable award under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America); and (ii) the number of Shares tendered or withheld, if applicable, shall be rounded up to the nearest whole Share sufficient to cover the applicable tax withholding obligation, to the extent rounding up to the nearest whole Share does not result in the liability classification of the RSUs under generally accepted accounting principles.


c.Participant acknowledges that Participant is ultimately liable and responsible for all taxes owed in connection with the RSUs and Dividend Equivalents, regardless of any action the Company or any Subsidiary takes with respect to any tax withholding obligations that arise in connection with the RSUs or Dividend Equivalents.  Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary makes any representation or undertaking regarding the treatment of any tax withholding in connection with the awarding, vesting or payment of the RSUs or the Dividend Equivalents or the subsequent sale of Shares.  The Company and its Subsidiaries do not commit and are under no obligation to structure the RSUs or Dividend Equivalents to reduce or eliminate Participant’s tax liability.










3.3    Section 409A.


a.To the extent applicable, this Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the effective date of this Agreement.


b.Sections 10.6(b) and (c) of the Plan shall apply to the RSUs, Dividend Equivalents and this Agreement.  For purposes of Section 409A, each RSU (and the right to payment with respect to each RSU) is to be treated as a right to a separate payment.


ARTICLE IV.
OTHER PROVISIONS


4.1    Adjustments. Participant acknowledges that the RSUs, the Shares subject to the RSUs and the Dividend Equivalents are subject to adjustment, modification and/or termination in certain events as provided in this Agreement and the Plan.


4.2    Clawback. The Award and the Shares issuable hereunder shall be subject to any Company clawback or recoupment policy in effect on the Grant Date or as may be adopted or maintained by the Company following the Grant Date, including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.    


4.3    Notices. Any notice to be given under the terms of this Agreement to the Company must be in writing and addressed to the Company in care of the Company’s General Counsel  at the Company’s principal office or the General Counsel’s then-current email address or facsimile number.  Any notice to be given under the terms of this Agreement to Participant must be in writing and addressed to Participant (or, if Participant is then deceased, to the Designated Beneficiary) at Participant’s last known mailing address, email address or facsimile number in the Company’s personnel files.  By a notice given pursuant to this Section, either party may designate a different address for notices to be given to that party.  Any notice will be deemed duly given when actually received, when sent by email, when sent by certified mail (return receipt requested) and deposited with postage prepaid in a post office or branch post office regularly maintained by the United States Postal Service, when delivered by a nationally recognized express shipping company or upon receipt of a facsimile transmission confirmation.


4.4    Titles. Titles are provided herein for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Agreement.


4.5    Conformity to Securities Laws. Participant acknowledges that the Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement are intended to conform to the extent necessary with all Applicable Laws and, to the extent Applicable Laws permit, will be deemed amended as necessary to conform to Applicable Laws.


4.6    Successors and Assigns. The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement to a single or multiple assignees, and this Agreement will inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company.  Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Agreement or the Plan, this Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs, legatees, legal representatives, successors and assigns of the parties hereto.


4.7    Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or this Agreement, if Participant is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the Plan, the Grant Notice, this Agreement and the RSUs and Dividend Equivalents will be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b-3) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule.  To the 








extent Applicable Laws permit, this Agreement will be deemed amended as necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.


4.8    Entire Agreement; Amendment
.  The Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement (including any exhibit hereto, as well as the Deferred Compensation Plan) constitute the entire agreement of the parties and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Participant with respect to the subject matter hereof. To the extent permitted by the Plan, this Agreement may be wholly or partially amended or otherwise modified, suspended or terminated at any time or from time to time by the Administrator or the Board; provided, however, that except as may otherwise be provided by the Plan, no amendment, modification, suspension or termination of this Agreement shall materially and adversely affect the RSUs or Dividend Equivalents without the prior written consent of Participant. 


4.9    Agreement Severable. In the event that any provision of the Grant Notice or this Agreement is held illegal or invalid, the provision will be severable from, and the illegality or invalidity of the provision will not be construed to have any effect on, the remaining provisions of the Grant Notice or this Agreement.


4.10    Limitation on Participant’s Rights. Participation in the Plan confers no rights or interests other than as herein provided.  This Agreement creates only a contractual obligation on the part of the Company as to amounts payable and may not be construed as creating a trust.  Neither the Plan nor any underlying program, in and of itself, has any assets. Participant will have only the rights of a general unsecured creditor of the Company with respect to amounts credited and benefits payable, if any, with respect to the RSUs and Dividend Equivalents, and rights no greater than the right to receive cash or the Shares as a general unsecured creditor with respect to the RSUs and Dividend Equivalents, as and when settled pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.


4.11    Not a Service Contract. Nothing in the Plan, the Grant Notice or this Agreement confers upon Participant any right to continue in the employ or service of the Company or any Subsidiary or interferes with or restricts in any way the rights of the Company and its Subsidiaries, which rights are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge or terminate the services of Participant at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause, except to the extent expressly provided otherwise in a written agreement between the Company or a Subsidiary and Participant.


4.12    Counterparts. The Grant Notice may be executed in one or more counterparts, including by way of any electronic signature, subject to Applicable Law, each of which will be deemed an original and all of which together will constitute one instrument.