Document:

EXHIBIT 10.11

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”), dated as of July 17, 2017, by and between JBG SMITH Properties, a Maryland real estate investment trust (together with its affiliates, the “Company”), with its principal offices in Chevy Chase, Maryland and Stephen W. Theriot (“Executive”).

 

Recitals

 

The Company and Executive desire to set forth the terms upon which Executive will enter into employment with the Company;

 

Vornado Realty Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust and Vornado Realty L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Vornado Parties”), and JBG Properties Inc., a Maryland corporation and JBG/Operating Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, together with certain JBG entities (the “JBG Parties”), and the Company, have entered into the Master Transaction Agreement, dated as of October 31, 2016 (the “Transaction Agreement”), pursuant to which the Vornado Parties and the JBG Parties will effectuate a series of transactions resulting in the acquisition, transfer and contribution of assets and interests to JBG SMITH Properties and JBG SMITH LP, a Delaware limited partnership; and

 

Executive and the Company are entering into this Agreement, which will become effective contingent upon and as of the Closing Date (as defined in the Transaction Agreement).

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants set forth below, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

Agreement

 

1.                                      Employment.  The Company hereby agrees to employ Executive, and Executive hereby accepts such employment, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

 

2.                                      Term. The term of Executive’s employment hereunder by the Company will commence on the Closing Date (the “Effective Date”) and will continue for three years thereafter (the “Initial Period”).  On the third anniversary of the Effective Date, the term will automatically renew for one year periods unless either party notifies in writing the other party of nonrenewal at least 180 days prior to the renewal date (the Initial Period and any subsequent renewal periods, the “Employment Period”).  The effectiveness of this Agreement is contingent on the occurrence of the Closing (as defined in the Transaction Agreement).  If the Transaction Agreement terminates in accordance with its terms or the Closing does not occur for any reason, this Agreement will be void ab initio.

 

3.                                      Position and Duties. During the Employment Period, Executive will serve as Chief Financial Officer of the Company and will report to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. Executive will have those powers and duties normally associated with the position of Chief Financial Officer and such other powers and duties as may be reasonably prescribed by or at the direction of the Chief Executive Officer or the board of trustees of the Company (the “Board”), provided that such other powers and duties are consistent with Executive’s position as Chief Financial Officer of the Company. Executive will devote 

 

 

substantially all of his working time, attention and energies during normal business hours (other than absences due to illness or vacation) to the performance of his duties for the Company and its affiliates. Without the consent of the Board, during the Employment Period, Executive will not serve on the board of directors, trustees or any similar governing body of more than one for-profit entity (with the exception of any entity which has been disclosed to the Company on a list provided to the Company by Executive coincident with the execution of this Agreement).  Notwithstanding the above, Executive will be permitted, to the extent such activities do not substantially interfere with the performance by Executive of his duties and responsibilities hereunder or violate Section 11(a), (b) or (c) of this Agreement, to (i) manage Executive’s (and his immediate family’s) personal, financial and legal affairs, and (ii) serve on civic or charitable boards or committees (it being expressly understood and agreed that Executive’s continuing to serve on the board and/or committees on which Executive is serving, or with which Executive is otherwise associated, as of the Effective Date (each of which has been disclosed to the Company on a list provided to the Company by Executive coincident with the execution of this Agreement), will be deemed not to interfere with the performance by Executive of his duties and responsibilities under this Agreement).

 

4.                                      Place of Performance. The place of employment of Executive will be at the Company’s offices in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area.

 

5.                                      Compensation and Related Matters.

 

(a)                                 Base Salary.  During the Employment Period, the Company will pay Executive a base salary at the rate of not less than $550,000 per year (“Base Salary”). Executive’s Base Salary will be paid in approximately equal installments in accordance with the Company’s customary payroll practices. Executive’s Base Salary shall be reviewed at least annually for possible increase, but not decrease. If Executive’s Base Salary is increased by the Company, such increased Base Salary will then constitute the Base Salary for all purposes of this Agreement.

 

(b)                                 Annual Bonus. During the Employment Period, Executive will be entitled to receive an annual bonus (“Annual Bonus”) of 100% of Base Salary at target performance, with the actual amount earned payable in cash. Such bonus shall be paid no later than March 15th of the year following the year in which it was earned.

 

(c)                                  Annual Long-Term Incentive Awards.

 

(i)                                     As soon as reasonably practicable after the Effective Date, Executive will receive a grant under the Company’s long-term incentive compensation plan (the “LTI Plan”) of a number of equity awards equal to $1,000,000, divided by the volume-weighted average price of the Company’s stock on the NYSE for the 10 trading days immediately preceding the grant date, comprised of 50% long-term incentive partnership units (the “2017 LTIP Units”), and 50% outperformance plan units (assuming the achievement of target-level performance), (the “2017 OPP Units”) which will have such terms and conditions as set forth in the applicable award agreements issued pursuant to the LTI Plan.  The 2017 LTIP Units will vest in equal annual installments on the 1st through 4th anniversary of the Effective Date, subject to continued employment with the Company through each vesting date except as provided herein. The 2017 OPP Units (if earned pursuant to the terms and conditions of the award agreement), will vest 50% on each of the 3rd and 4th anniversaries of the Effective Date, subject to continued employment with the Company through the vesting date except as provided herein.

 

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(ii)                                  The amount of future grants and the terms of such grants will be determined in the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Board.

 

(d)                                 Initial Formation Award.  On or as soon as reasonably practicable after the Effective Date, the Company will grant Executive a number of initial formation partnership units (in the form of profits interests which provide for a share of appreciation above the fair market value on the grant date) equal to $4,000,000, divided by the volume-weighted average price of the Company’s stock on the NYSE on the grant date (the “Initial Formation Award”).  The Initial Formation Award will have such terms and conditions as set forth in the applicable award agreement issued pursuant to the LTI Plan.  The Initial Formation Award will vest 25% on each of the 3rd and 4th anniversaries and 50% on the 5th anniversary, of the Effective Date, subject to continued employment with the Company through each vesting date.  Notwithstanding this paragraph 5(d), if applicable tax laws change such that the Initial Formation Award becomes taxable to Executive as ordinary income, the Initial Formation Award may be restructured by the Company in a way that permits the Company a tax deduction while preserving substantially similar pre-tax economics to Executive.

 

(e)                                  Welfare, Pension and Incentive Benefit Plans.  During the Employment Period, Executive will be entitled to participate in such 401(k) and employee welfare and benefit plans and programs of the Company as are made available to the Company’s senior level executives or to its employees generally, as such plans or programs may be in effect from time to time, including, without limitation, health, medical, dental, long-term disability and life insurance plans.

 

(f)                                   Expenses. The Company will promptly reimburse Executive for all reasonable business expenses upon the presentation of reasonably itemized statements of such expenses in accordance with the Company’s policies and procedures now in force or as such policies and procedures may be modified with respect to all senior executive officers of the Company.

 

(g)                                  Vacation.  Executive will be entitled to vacation in accordance with the Company’s vacation policy as in effect from time to time.

 

(h)                                 Relocation Expenses. The Company will reimburse Executive for all reasonable relocation expenses incurred by him in the course of his relocation to the Washington, DC area (the “Relocation Expenses”), subject to the Company’s requirements with respect to reporting and documentation of such expenses. To the extent that the reimbursement of any Relocation Expenses results in taxable income to Executive (without any offsetting deduction), the Company shall pay to Executive an additional amount (the “Relocation Gross-Up”) such that the net after-tax proceeds to Executive of the reimbursement of his Relocation Expenses and the Relocation Gross-Up (at his then-current combined state and federal marginal income tax rates, taking into account the deductibility of state and local income taxes for federal income tax purposes) is equal to Executive’s reimbursable Relocation Expenses. If the Executive resigns with or without Good Reason prior to the second anniversary of the Effective Date or the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for Cause prior to the first anniversary of the Effective Date, Executive shall repay the Company all amounts reimbursed by the Company pursuant to this Section 5(h).

 

6.                                      Reasons for Termination. Executive’s employment hereunder may or will be terminated during the Employment Period under the following circumstances:

 

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(a)                                 Death. Executive’s employment hereunder will terminate upon his death.

 

(b)                                 Disability. If, as a result of Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness, Executive shall have been substantially unable to perform his duties hereunder for a continuous period of 180 days, and within 30 days after written Notice of Termination is given after such 180-day period, Executive shall not have returned to the substantial performance of his duties on a full-time basis, the Company may terminate Executive’s employment hereunder for “Disability”. During any period that Executive fails to perform his duties hereunder as a result of incapacity due to physical or mental illness, Executive will continue to receive his full Base Salary set forth in Section 5(a) until his employment terminates.

 

(c)                                  Cause. The Company may terminate Executive’s employment for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, the Company will have “Cause” to terminate Executive’s employment upon Executive’s:

 

(i)                                     conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony;

 

(ii)                                  willful and continued failure to use reasonable best efforts to substantially perform his duties hereunder (other than such failure resulting from Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness) that Executive fails to remedy within 30 days after written notice is delivered by the Company to Executive that specifically identifies in reasonable detail the manner in which the Company believes Executive has not used reasonable efforts to perform in all material respects his duties hereunder; or

 

(iii)                               willful misconduct (including, but not limited to, a willful breach of the provisions of Section 11) that is materially economically injurious to the Company.

 

For purposes of this Section 6(c), no act, or failure to act, by Executive will be considered “willful” unless committed in bad faith and without a reasonable belief that the act or omission was in the best interests of the Company.

 

(d)                                 Good Reason. Executive may terminate his employment with “Good Reason” within 120 days after Executive has actual knowledge of the occurrence, without the written consent of Executive, of one of the following events that has not been cured within 30 days after written notice thereof has been given by Executive to the Company setting forth in reasonable detail the basis of the event (provided that such notice must be given to the Company within 60 days of Executive becoming aware of such condition):

 

(i)                                     a reduction by the Company in Executive’s Base Salary or target Annual Bonus under this Agreement;

 

(ii)                                  a material diminution in Executive’s position, authority, duties or responsibilities or the assignment of duties materially and adversely inconsistent with Executive’s position as Chief Financial Officer;

 

(iii)                               a relocation of Executive’s location of employment to a location outside of the Washington D.C. metropolitan area; or

 

(iv)                              the Company’s material breach of any provision of this Agreement or any equity agreement, which will be deemed to include (a) Executive not holding the title of Chief Financial Officer of the Company, (b) failure of a successor to the Company to 

 

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assume this Agreement in accordance with Section 13(a) below and (c) a material change in Executive’s reporting relationship such that Executive no longer reports directly to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer.

 

Executive’s continued employment during the 90-day period referred to above in this paragraph (d) shall not constitute consent to, or a waiver of rights with respect to, any act or failure to act constituting Good Reason hereunder. Executive’s right to terminate his employment hereunder for Good Reason shall not be affected by his incapacity due to physical or mental illness.

 

(e)                                  Without Cause. The Company may terminate Executive’s employment hereunder without Cause by providing Executive with a Notice of Termination (as defined in Section 7). This means that, notwithstanding this Agreement, Executive’s employment with the Company will be “at will.”

 

(f)                                   Without Good Reason. Executive may terminate his employment hereunder without Good Reason by providing the Company with a Notice of Termination.

 

7.                                      Termination Procedure.

 

(a)                                 Notice of Termination. Any termination of Executive’s employment by the Company or by Executive during the Employment Period (other than termination pursuant to Section 6(a)) will be communicated by written Notice of Termination to the other party hereto in accordance with Section 14. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Notice of Termination” means a notice which shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated if the termination is based on Sections 6(b), (c) or (d).

 

(b)                                 Date of Termination. “Date of Termination” means (i) if Executive’s employment is terminated by his death, the date of his death, (ii) if Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to Section 6(b) (Disability), 30 days after Notice of Termination (provided that Executive shall not have returned to the substantial performance of his duties on a full-time basis during such 30-day period), (iii) upon notice to Executive of the Company’s intention to not renew the term of this Agreement, pursuant to Section 2, the last day of the Employment Period, and (iv) if Executive’s employment terminates for any other reason, the date on which a Notice of Termination is given or any later date (within 30 days after the giving of such notice) set forth in such Notice of Termination; provided, however, that if such termination is due to a Notice of Termination by Executive, the Company shall have the right to accelerate such notice and make the Date of Termination the date of the Notice of Termination or such other date prior to Executive’s intended Date of Termination as the Company deems appropriate, which acceleration shall in no event be deemed a termination by the Company without Cause or constitute Good Reason.

 

(c)                                  Removal from any Boards and Position. Upon the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, he shall be deemed to resign (i) from the board of trustees or directors of any subsidiary of the Company and/or any other board to which he has been appointed or nominated by or on behalf of the Company (including the Board), and (ii) from any position with the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, including, but not limited to, as an officer and trustee or director of the Company and any of its subsidiaries.

 

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8.                                      Compensation upon Termination. This Section provides the payments and benefits to be paid or provided to Executive as a result of his termination of employment. Except as provided in this Section 8, Executive shall not be entitled to anything further from the Company as a result of the termination of his employment, regardless of the reason for such termination.

 

(a)                                 Termination for Any Reason. Following the termination of Executive’s employment, regardless of the reason for such termination and including, without limitation, a termination of his employment by the Company for Cause or by Executive without Good Reason or upon expiration of the Employment Period, the Company will:

 

(i)                                     pay Executive (or his estate in the event of his death) as soon as practicable following the Date of Termination (A) any earned but unpaid Base Salary and (B) any accrued and unused vacation pay to the extent provided by the Company’s vacation policy as in effect from time to time, through the Date of Termination;

 

(ii)                                  reimburse Executive as soon as practicable following the Date of Termination for any amounts due Executive pursuant to Section 5(f) (unless such termination occurred as a result of misappropriation of funds); and

 

(iii)                               provide Executive with any compensation and/or benefits as may be due or payable to Executive in accordance with the terms and provisions of any employee benefit plans or programs of the Company.

 

Upon any termination of Executive’s employment hereunder, except as otherwise provided herein, Executive (or his beneficiary, legal representative or estate, as the case may be, in the event of his death) shall be entitled to such rights in respect of any equity awards theretofore made to Executive, and to only such rights, as are provided by the plan or the award agreement pursuant to which such equity awards have been granted to Executive or other written agreement or arrangement between Executive and the Company, provided that all vested profits interests (including any vested portion of the Initial Formation Award) shall remain exchangeable for common partnership units and all vested stock options shall remain exercisable for 60 days following the Date of Termination (or if earlier, through the expiration of the scheduled term of such award).

 

(b)                                 Termination by Company without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason. If Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason, Executive will be entitled to the payments and benefits provided in Section 8(a) hereof and, in addition, the Company will, subject to the following paragraph, pay to Executive (i) the Severance Amount, (ii) the Pro Rata Bonus, (iii) the Medical Benefits, (iv) the Equity Vesting Benefits, and (v) any unpaid Annual Bonus for the year preceding the year of termination if the relevant measurement period for such bonus concluded prior to the Date of Termination (the “Unpaid Prior Year Bonus”).

 

(i)                                     The “Severance Amount” will be equal to:

 

(A)                               if such termination is following the execution of a definitive agreement the consummation of which would result in, or within two years following, a Change in Control of the Company (and such Change in Control does in fact occur) (a “Qualifying CIC Termination”), two times the sum of Executive’s: (x) current Base Salary, and (y) target Annual Bonus, payable in a lump sum within 60 days after the Date of Termination; or

 

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(B)                               if such termination is not a Qualifying CIC Termination, one times the sum of Executive’s (x) current Base Salary, and (y) target Annual Bonus, payable in equal installments over 12 months in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll procedures, commencing within 60 days after the Date of Termination.

 

(ii)                                   The “Pro Rata Bonus” will be equal to:

 

(A)                               if such termination is a Qualifying CIC Termination, Executive’s target Annual Bonus for the year of termination, paid in a lump sum within 60 days after the Date of Termination; or

 

(B)                               if such termination is not a Qualifying CIC Termination, Executive’s Annual Bonus earned in the year of termination based on actual performance, paid at the time bonuses are paid to similarly situated employees of the Company;

 

in either case such amount will be prorated based on the number of days in the year up to and including the Date of Termination and divided by 365.

 

(iii)                               The “Medical Benefits” require the Company to provide Executive medical insurance coverage substantially identical to that provided to other senior executives of the Company (which may be provided pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) for (A) if such termination is a Qualifying CIC Termination, two years following the Termination Date or (B) if such termination is not a Qualifying CIC Termination, 18 months following the Termination Date. If this agreement to provide benefits continuation raises any compliance issues or impositions of penalties under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or other applicable law, then the parties agree to modify this Agreement so that it complies with the terms of such laws without impairing the economic benefit to Executive.

 

(iv)                              The “Equity Vesting Benefits” mean

 

(A)                               if such termination is a Qualifying CIC Termination, vesting of all outstanding unvested equity-based awards (including the Initial Formation Award) on the Date of Termination (with OPP Units and other awards with performance-vesting conditions measured at performance specified in the applicable award agreement); or

 

(B)                               if such termination is not a Qualifying CIC Termination, (i) vesting of any outstanding unvested portion of the Initial Formation Award, (ii) vesting of a prorated portion of any OPP Units and other performance-based awards scheduled to vest on the next vesting date based on the number of days completed in the vesting cycle then in process for such awards up to and including the Date of Termination divided by the total number of days in such vesting cycle, with performance-vesting conditions measured at performance specified in the award agreement (e.g., if 300 units are granted on January 1, 2018, the award vests in three annual installments, and the Date of Termination is July 1, 2019, then 50% of the 100 units that would vest on January 1, 2020 will vest (if earned based on performance) and the remaining unvested units will be forfeited) and (iii) full vesting of any outstanding unvested LTIP Units and other equity awards

 

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without performance-vesting conditions (excluding the Initial Formation Award);

 

(v)                                  and, in either case, all vested profits interests shall remain exchangeable for common partnership units and all vested stock options shall remain exercisable for 60 days following the Date of Termination (or if earlier, through the expiration of the scheduled term of such award).

 

(vi)                              “Change in Control” shall mean:

 

(A)                               Any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) (a “Person”) becomes the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 30% or more of either (1) the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (2) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of trustees (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that, for purposes of this Section 8(b)(v), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of Control:  (i) any acquisition directly from the Company, (ii) any acquisition by the Company, (iii) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any of its affiliates or (iv) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction that complies with Sections 8(b)(v)(C)(1), 8(b)(v)(C)(2) and 8(b)(v)(C)(3);

 

(B)                               Any time at which individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a trustee subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the trustees then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of trustees or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board;

 

(C)                               Consummation of a reorganization, merger, statutory share exchange or consolidation or similar transaction involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries, a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity by the Company or any of its subsidiaries (each, a “Business Combination”), in each case unless, following such Business Combination, (1) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities that were the beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the then-outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or trustees, as the case may be, of the corporation 

 

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resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation that, as a result of such transaction, owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (2) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 30% or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation, except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination, and (3) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors or trustees of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or of the action of the Board providing for such Business Combination; or

 

(D)                               Approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

As a condition to the payments and other benefits pursuant to Section 8(b), Executive must execute a separation and general release agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Release”), which must become effective within 55 days following the Date of Termination; provided, however, that if Executive’s Date of Termination occurs on or after November 1 of a given calendar year, any such payments (except as provided in Section 8(b)(ii)(B)) shall, subject to Section 9 hereof, be paid (or commence to be paid) in January of the immediately following calendar year.

 

(c)                                  Disability. In the event Executive’s employment is terminated for Disability pursuant to Section 6(b), Executive will be entitled to the payments and benefits provided in Section 8(a) hereof and (i) vesting of any outstanding unvested portion of the Initial Formation Award, (ii) vesting of a prorated portion of any outstanding unvested OPP Units scheduled to vest on the next vesting date (if earned pursuant to the terms and conditions of the award agreement) based on the number of days completed in the vesting cycle then in process for such awards up to and including the Date of Termination divided by the total number of days in such vesting cycle, (iii) vesting of all outstanding unvested LTIP Units, (iv) the Pro Rata Bonus and (v) the Unpaid Prior Year Bonus (collectively, the “Death and Disability Vesting Benefits”).

 

(d)                                 Death. If Executive’s employment is terminated by his death, Executive’s beneficiary, legal representative or estate, as the case may be, will be entitled to the payments and benefits provided in Section 8(a) hereof and the Death and Disability Vesting Benefits.

 

(e)                                  Nonrenewal of the Agreement by the Company.  Upon notice to Executive of the Company’s intention to not renew the term of this Agreement, pursuant to Section 2, and conditioned upon the execution by Executive of the Release, which must become effective within 55 days following the Date of Termination, Executive shall be entitled to receive (i) an amount equal to one times the sum of Executive’s (x) current Base Salary, 

 

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and (y) target Annual Bonus, payable in equal installments over 12 months in accordance with  the Company’s regular payroll procedures, commencing within 60 days after the Date of Termination, (ii) the Pro Rata Bonus, (iii) the Equity Vesting Benefits and (iv) the Unpaid Prior Year Bonus.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if upon mutual agreement with Executive to continue Executive’s employment with the Company, the Company repudiates the notice described in the preceding sentence, Executive shall not be entitled to any payments described in this Section 8(e). For the avoidance of doubt, following a nonrenewal of the Agreement by the Company, Executive shall continue to be subject to those provisions that survive the termination of this Agreement, including without limitation, those provided in Section 11.

 

9.                                      409A and Termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if necessary to comply with the restriction in Section 409A(a)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) concerning payments to “specified employees” (as defined in Section 409A of the Code and applicable regulations thereunder, “Section 409A”) any payment on account of Executive’s separation from service that would otherwise be due hereunder within six months after such separation shall nonetheless be delayed until the first business day of the seventh month following Executive’s date of termination and the first such payment shall include the cumulative amount of any payments that would have been paid prior to such date if not for such restriction, together with interest on such cumulative amount during the period of such restriction at a rate, per annum, equal to the applicable federal short-term rate (compounded monthly) in effect under Section 1274(d) of the Code on the Date of Termination. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, Executive shall not be considered to have terminated employment with the Company for purposes of Section 8 hereof unless he would be considered to have incurred a “separation from service” from the Company within the meaning of Section 409A.

 

10.                               Section 280G. In the event that any payments or benefits otherwise payable to Executive, whether or not pursuant to this Agreement, (1) constitute “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and (2) but for this Section 10, would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, then such payments and benefits will be either (x) delivered in full, or (y) delivered as to such lesser extent that would result in no portion of such payments and benefits being subject to excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code, whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable federal, state and local income and employment taxes and the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (and any equivalent state or local excise taxes), results in the receipt by Executive on an after-tax basis, of the greatest amount of benefits, notwithstanding that all or some portion of such payments and benefits may be taxable under Section 4999 of the Code. Unless the Company and Executive otherwise agree in writing, any determination required under this Section 10 will be made in writing by a nationally-recognized accounting or consulting firm selected by the Company in its discretion (the “Accountants”), whose determination will be conclusive and binding upon Executive and the Company for all purposes, other than in the event of manifest error. The Company shall request the Accountants to perform all necessary calculations promptly in connection with the applicable Change in Control or termination of employment. For purposes of making the calculations required by this Section 10, the Accountants may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code. The Company and Executive agree to furnish to the Accountants such information and documents as the Accountants may reasonably request in order to make a determination under this provision. The Company will bear all costs the Accountants may reasonably incur in connection with any calculations contemplated by

 

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this provision. Any reduction in payments and/or benefits required by this provision will occur in the following order: (1) reduction of cash payments; (2) reduction of vesting acceleration of equity awards; and (3) reduction of other benefits paid or provided to Executive. In the event that acceleration of vesting of equity awards is to be reduced, such acceleration of vesting will be cancelled in the reverse order of the date of grant for equity awards. If two or more equity awards are granted on the same date, each award will be reduced on a pro-rata basis.  To the extent requested by Executive, the Company shall cooperate with Executive in good faith in valuing, and the Accountants shall take into account the value of, services to be provided by Executive (including Executive agreeing to refrain from performing services pursuant to a covenant not to compete) before, on or after the date of the transaction which causes the application of Section 280G of the Code such that payments in respect of such services may be considered to be “reasonable compensation” within the meaning of Q&A-9 and Q&A-40 to Q&A 44 of the final regulations under Section 280G of the Code and/or exempt from the definition of the term “parachute payment” within the meaning of Q&A-2(a) of such final regulations in accordance with Q&A-5(a) of such final regulations.

 

11.                               Confidential Information, Ownership of Documents; Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation.

 

(a)                                 Confidential Information. During the Employment Period and thereafter, Executive shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company all trade secrets and confidential information, knowledge or data relating to the Company and its businesses and investments, which shall have been obtained by Executive during Executive’s employment by the Company and which is not generally available public or industry knowledge (other than by acts by Executive in violation of this Agreement). Except as may be required or appropriate in connection with his carrying out his duties under this Agreement, Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company or as may otherwise be required by law or any legal process, any statutory obligation or order of any court or statutory tribunal of competent jurisdiction, or as requested by a governmental or administrative agency, or as is necessary in connection with any adversarial proceeding against the Company (in which case Executive shall use his reasonable best efforts in cooperating with the Company (at the Company’s expense) in obtaining a protective order against disclosure by a court of competent jurisdiction), communicate or divulge any such trade secrets, information, knowledge or data to anyone other than the Company and those designated by the Company or on behalf of the Company in the furtherance of its business or to perform duties hereunder.  For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Agreement is intended to impair Executive’s rights to make disclosures under any applicable Federal whistleblower law.

 

(b)                                 Removal of Documents; Rights to Products. Executive may not remove any records, files, drawings, documents, models, equipment, and the like relating to the Company’s business from the Company’s premises without its written consent, unless such removal is in the furtherance of the Company’s business or is in connection with Executive’s carrying out his duties under this Agreement and, if so removed, they will be returned to the Company promptly after termination of Executive’s employment hereunder, or otherwise promptly after removal if such removal occurs following termination of employment. Executive shall and hereby does assign to the Company all rights to trade secrets and other products relating to the Company’s business developed by him alone or in conjunction with others at any time while employed by the Company. In the event of any conflict between the provision of this paragraph and of any applicable 

 

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employee manual or similar policy of the Company, the provisions of this paragraph will govern.

 

(c)                                  Protection of Business. During the Employment Period and until the later of (1)(i) the third anniversary of the Effective Date and (ii) the first anniversary of the applicable Date of Termination, Executive will not (x) engage in any Competing Business (as defined below) or pursue or attempt to develop any project known to Executive and which the Company is pursuing, developing or attempting to develop as of the Date of Termination (a “Project”), directly or indirectly, alone, in association with or as a shareholder, principal, agent, partner, officer, director, employee or consultant of any other organization or (y) divert to any entity which is engaged in any business conducted by the Company any Project, corporate opportunity or any customer of the Company; and (2)(A) the third anniversary of the Effective Date and (B) the second anniversary of the applicable Date of Termination, Executive will not solicit any officer, employee (other than secretarial staff) or exclusive or primary consultant of the Company to leave the employ of the Company. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, Executive shall not be prohibited from owning less than 1% percent of any publicly-traded corporation, whether or not such corporation is in competition with the Company or from owning any passive investment in a hedge fund, private equity fund or similar instrument that, at the time of Executive’s acquisition, did not to Executive’s knowledge (after reasonable inquiry) hold any investment in any Competing Business (as defined below); provided, that, Executive shall be permitted to invest in mutual funds or ETFs so long as such funds or ETFs are not invested primarily in real estate investment trusts. If, at any time, the provisions of this Section 11(c) shall be determined to be invalid or unenforceable, by reason of being vague or unreasonable as to duration or scope of activity, this Section 11(c) shall be considered divisible and shall become and be immediately amended to only such duration and scope of activity as shall be determined to be reasonable and enforceable by the court or other body having jurisdiction over the matter; and Executive agrees that this Section 11(c) as so amended shall be valid and binding as though any invalid or unenforceable provision had not been included herein. “Competing Business” means any business the primary business of which is being engaged in by the Company in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area as a principal business as of the Date of Termination (including, without limitation, the development, owning and operating of commercial real estate and the acquisition and disposition of commercial real estate for the purpose of development, owning and operating such real estate).

 

(d)                                 Injunctive Relief. In addition to any other remedy available to the Company under applicable law, in the event of a breach or threatened breach of this Section 11, Executive agrees that the Company shall be entitled to seek injunctive relief in a court of appropriate jurisdiction to remedy any such breach or threatened breach, Executive acknowledging that damages would be inadequate and insufficient.

 

(e)                                  Forfeiture of Unvested Equity Awards.  In the event that Executive breaches Section 11(a), 11(b) or 11(c), Executive will forfeit his rights to payment or benefits under all outstanding unvested equity awards including any shares, partnership equity or profits interests to be issued in respect thereof.

 

(f)                                   Continuing Operation. Except as specifically provided in this Section 11, the termination of Executive’s employment or of this Agreement shall have no effect on the continuing operation of this Section 11.

 

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12.                               Indemnification.

 

(a)                                 The Company agrees that if Executive is made a party to or threatened to be made a party to or is requested to be made a witness in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “Proceeding”), by reason of the fact that Executive is or was a trustee, director or officer of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company or any subsidiary or either thereof as a trustee, director, officer, member, employee or agent of another corporation or a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including, without limitation, service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether or not the basis of such Proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a trustee, director, officer, member, employee or agent while serving as a trustee, director, officer, member, employee or agent, Executive shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest extent authorized by applicable law (including the advancement of applicable, reasonable legal fees and expenses), as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, against all liabilities, costs, fees and other expenses incurred or suffered by Executive in connection therewith, and such indemnification shall continue as to Executive even if Executive has ceased to be an officer, director, trustee or agent, or is no longer employed by the Company and shall inure to the benefit of his heirs, executors and administrators.

 

(b)                                 Executive will be entitled to coverage under the Company’s directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy on substantially the same terms as for the Company’s other officers.

 

13.                               Successors; Binding Agreement.

 

(a)                                 Company’s Successors. No rights or obligations of the Company under this Agreement may be assigned or transferred except that the Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place.

 

(b)                                 Executive’s Successors. No rights or obligations of Executive under this Agreement may be assigned or transferred by Executive other than his rights to payments or benefits hereunder, which may be transferred only by will or the laws of descent and distribution. If Executive should die following his Date of Termination while any amounts would still be payable to him hereunder if he had continued to live, all such amounts unless otherwise provided herein shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to such person or persons so appointed in writing by Executive, or otherwise to his legal representatives or estate.

 

14.                               Notice. For the purposes of this Agreement, notices, demands and all other communications provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered either personally or by United States certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

 

If to Executive:

 

Address on file with the Company

 

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If to the Company:

 

JBG SMITH Properties

4445 Willard Avenue, Suite 400

Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815
 Attention:  General Counsel

 

15.                               Resolution of Differences Over Breaches of Agreement. The parties shall use good faith efforts to resolve any controversy or claim arising out of, or relating to this Agreement or the breach thereof, first in accordance with the Company’s internal review procedures, except that this requirement shall not apply to any claim or dispute under or relating to Section 11 of this Agreement. If despite their good faith efforts, the parties are unable to resolve such controversy or claim through the Company’s internal review procedures, then such controversy or claim shall be resolved by arbitration in Maryland, in accordance with the rules then applicable of the American Arbitration Association (provided that the Company shall pay the filing fee and all hearing fees, arbitrator expenses and compensation fees, and administrative and other fees associated with any such arbitration), and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.  If any contest or dispute shall arise between the Company and Executive regarding any provision of this Agreement, the Company shall reimburse Executive for all legal fees and expenses reasonably incurred by Executive in connection with such contest or dispute, but only if Executive is successful in respect of substantially all of Executive’s claims brought and pursued in connection with such contest or dispute.

 

16.                               Miscellaneous.

 

(a)                                 Amendments. No provisions of this Agreement may be amended, modified, or waived unless such amendment or modification is agreed to in writing signed by Executive and by a duly authorized officer of the Company, and such waiver is set forth in writing and signed by the party to be charged. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

 

(b)                                 Full Settlement. The Company’s obligations to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder will not (absent fraud or willful misconduct or a termination for Cause) be affected by any set-offs, counterclaims, recoupment, defense, or other claim, right or action that the Company may have against Executive or others. After termination of the Employment Period, in no event will Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement and such amounts will not be reduced whether or not Executive obtains other employment.

 

(c)                                  Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Maryland without regard to its conflicts of law principles.

 

17.                               Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and supersedes all prior agreements, term sheets, promises, covenants, arrangements, communications, representations or warranties, whether oral or written, by any officer, employee or

 

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representative of any party hereto in respect of such subject matter, including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Employment Agreement by and between Vornado Realty Trust and the Executive, dated June 1, 2013 (the “2013 Agreement”). Any other prior agreement of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein, including the 2013 Agreement, is hereby terminated and cancelled, other than any equity agreements or any compensatory plan or program in which Executive is a participant on the Effective Date.  For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Agreement addresses or impacts in any way the terms of the Common Partnership Units to be issued to Executive under a Unit Issuance Agreement to be entered  into in connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreement.

 

18.                               409A Compliance.

 

(a)                                 This Agreement is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A. To the extent that any provision in this Agreement is ambiguous as to its compliance with Section 409A or to the extent any provision in this Agreement must be modified to comply with Section 409A (including, without limitation, Treasury Regulation 1.409A-3(c)), such provision shall be read, or shall be modified (with the mutual consent of the parties, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), as the case may be, in such a manner so that all payments due under this Agreement shall comply with Section 409A. For purposes of Section 409A, each payment made under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment. In no event may Executive, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of payment.

 

(b)                                 All reimbursements provided under this Agreement shall be made or provided in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A, including, where applicable, the requirement that (i) any reimbursement is for expenses incurred during Executive’s lifetime (or during a shorter period of time specified in this Agreement), (ii) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement during a calendar year may not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other calendar year, (iii) the reimbursement of an eligible expense will be made on or before the last day of the calendar year following the year in which the expense is incurred, and (iv) the right to reimbursement is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.

 

(c)                                  Executive further acknowledges that any tax liability incurred by Executive under Section 409A of the Code is solely the responsibility of Executive.

 

19.                               Representations. Executive represents and warrants to the Company that he is under no contractual or other binding legal restriction which would prohibit his from entering into and performing under this Agreement or that would limit the performance his duties under this Agreement.

 

20.                               Withholding Taxes. The Company may withhold from any amounts or benefits payable under this Agreement income taxes and payroll taxes that are required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

 

21.                               Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement shall become binding when one or more counterparts hereof, individually or taken together, shall bear the signatures of all of the parties reflected hereon as the signatories. Photographic, faxed or PDF copies of such signed counterparts may be used in lieu of the originals for any purpose.

 

[signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the date first above written.

 

	
COMPANY:
    	
 
    	
EXECUTIVE:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
JBG SMITH Properties, a Maryland real estate investment trust
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/   Mitchell Schear
    	
 
    	
/s/   Stephen W. Theriot
    
	
 
    	
Name:   Mitchell Schear
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:   Vice President and SecretaryExhibit 10.12

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of [  ], 2017, by and among JBG SMITH Properties, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Company” or the “Indemnitor”) and [                  ] (the “Indemnitee”).

 

WHEREAS, the Indemnitee is an officer [or][and] a member of the Board of Trustees of the Company and in such [capacity][capacities] is performing a valuable service for the Company;

 

WHEREAS, Maryland law permits the Company to enter into contracts with its officers or members of its Board of Trustees with respect to indemnification of, and advancement of expenses to, such persons;

 

WHEREAS, the Articles of Amendment and Restatement of the Declaration of Trust of the Company (the “Declaration of Trust”) provide that the Company shall indemnify and advance expenses to its trustees and officers to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time;

 

WHEREAS, the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (the “Bylaws”) provide that each trustee and officer of the Company shall be indemnified by the Company to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time and shall be entitled to advancement of expenses consistent with Maryland law; and

 

WHEREAS, to induce the Indemnitee to provide services to the Company as an officer [or][and] a member of the Board of Trustees, and to provide the Indemnitee with specific contractual assurance that indemnification will be available to the Indemnitee regardless of, among other things, any amendment to or revocation of the Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws, or any acquisition transaction relating to the Company, the Indemnitor desires to provide the Indemnitee with protection against personal liability as set forth herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Indemnitor and the Indemnitee hereby agree as follows:

 

 

1.                                      DEFINITIONS

 

For purposes of this Agreement:

 

(A)                               “Change in Control” shall have the definition set forth in the JBG SMITH Properties 2017 Omnibus Share Plan as of the date hereof.

 

(B)                               “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was a trustee or officer of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, trustee, officer, partner (limited or general), manager, member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other foreign or domestic corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, other enterprise (whether conducted for profit or not for profit) or employee benefit plan. For clarification and without limiting the circumstances in which Indemnitee may be serving at the request of the Company, the Company shall be deemed to have requested the Indemnitee to serve: (i) as a director, trustee, officer, partner (limited or general), manager, member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other foreign or domestic corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, or other enterprise (whether conducted for profit or not for profit) (1) of which a majority of the voting power or equity interest is or was owned directly or indirectly by the Company or (2) the management of which is controlled directly or indirectly by the Company and (ii) an employee benefit plan where the performance of the Indemnitee’s duties to the Company also imposes or imposed duties on, or otherwise involves or involved services by, the Indemnitee to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan, including as deemed fiduciary thereof.

 

(C)                               “Expenses” shall include all reasonable and out-of-pocket attorneys’ and paralegals’ fees, disbursements retainers, court costs, arbitration and mediation costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, accounting fees, witness fees, travel expenses, deposition expenses, expenses of investigations, duplicating costs, document production costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, or being or preparing to be a witness in or otherwise participating in a Proceeding. Expenses shall also include Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding including, without limitation, the premium, security for and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond or other appeal bond or its equivalent.

 

(D)                               “Proceeding” includes any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation (including any formal or informal internal investigation to which the Indemnitee is made a party by reason of the Corporate Status of the Indemnitee), inquiry, administrative 

 

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hearing, claim, demand, discovery request or any other proceeding, including appeals therefrom, whether brought by or in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether civil (including intentional or unintentional tort claims), criminal, administrative, or investigative, except one initiated by the Indemnitee pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement to enforce such Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.

 

(E)                                “Special Legal Counsel” means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporate law and neither currently is, or in the past five years has been, retained to represent (i) the Indemnitor or the Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning Indemnitee under this Agreement or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to or participant or witness in the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification or advance of Expenses hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Special Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.

 

2.                                      INDEMNIFICATION

 

The Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this Section 2 and under applicable law, the Declaration of Trust, the Bylaws, any other agreement, a vote of shareholders or resolution of the Board of Trustees or otherwise if, by reason of such Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, such Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to any threatened, pending, or contemplated Proceeding, including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company.  Unless prohibited by Section 13 hereof and subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall be indemnified hereunder, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, against judgments, penalties, fines and settlements and reasonable Expenses actually incurred by or on behalf of such Indemnitee in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein; provided, however, that in the case of amounts paid in settlement, any settlement of such proceeding is approved in advance by the Company in writing, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or applied in an inconsistent manner; provided, further, that no change in Maryland law shall have the effect of reducing the benefits available to Indemnitee hereunder based on Maryland law as in effect on the date hereof.  For purposes of this Section 2, excise taxes assessed on the Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall be deemed fines.

 

3.                                      INDEMNIFICATION FOR EXPENSES IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES

 

(A)                               Without limiting the effect of any other provision of this Agreement (including the Indemnitee’s rights to indemnification under Section 2 and advancement of expenses under Section 4), without regard to whether the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under Section 2 and without regard to the provisions of Section 6 hereof, to the extent that the Indemnitee is successful, on the merits or otherwise, 

 

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in any Proceeding to which the Indemnitee is a party by reason of such Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, such Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all reasonable Expenses actually incurred by or on behalf of such Indemnitee in connection therewith.

 

(B)                               If the Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues, or matters in such Proceeding, the Indemnitor shall indemnify the Indemnitee against all reasonable Expenses actually incurred by or on behalf of such Indemnitee in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter, allocated on a reasonable and proportionate basis.

 

(C)                               For purposes of this Section 3 and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

 

(D)                               Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, a court of appropriate jurisdiction, upon application of Indemnitee and such notice as the court shall require, may order indemnification of Indemnitee by the Company in the following circumstances: (i) if such court determines that Indemnitee is entitled to reimbursement under Section 2-418(d)(1) of the Maryland General Corporation Law (“MGCL”), the court shall order indemnification, in which case Indemnitee shall be entitled to recover the Expenses of securing such reimbursement; or (ii) if such court determines that Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification in view of all the relevant circumstances, whether or not Indemnitee (i) has met the standards of conduct set forth in Section 2-418(b) of the MGCL or (ii) has been adjudged liable for receipt of an improper personal benefit under Section 2-418(c) of the MGCL, the court may order such indemnification as the court shall deem proper without regard to any limitation on such court-ordered indemnification contemplated by Section 2-418(d)(2)(ii) of the MGCL.

 

4.                                      ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, but subject to Section 13 hereof, if the Indemnitee is or was or becomes a party to or is otherwise involved in any Proceeding (including as a witness), or is or was threatened to be made a party to or a participant (including as a witness) in any such Proceeding, by reason of the Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, or by reason of (or arising in part out of) any actual or alleged event or occurrence related to the Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, or by reason of any actual or alleged act or omission on the part of the Indemnitee taken or omitted in or relating to the Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, then the Indemnitor shall advance all reasonable Expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with any such Proceeding within ten (10) days after the receipt by the Indemnitor of a statement from the Indemnitee requesting such advance from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding, which advance may be in the form of, in the reasonable discretion of the Indemnitee (but without duplication) (a) payment of such Expenses directly to 

 

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third parties on behalf of Indemnitee, (b) advance of funds to Indemnitee in an amount sufficient to pay such Expenses or (c) reimbursement to Indemnitee for Indemnitee’s payment of such Expenses; provided that, such statement shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred or to be incurred by the Indemnitee and shall include or be preceded or accompanied by (i) a written affirmation by the Indemnitee of the Indemnitee’s good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the Indemnitor as authorized by this Agreement has been met and (ii) a written undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay the amounts advanced if it should ultimately be determined that the standard of conduct has not been met.  To the extent that Expenses advanced to Indemnitee do not relate to a specific claim, issue or matter in the Proceeding, such Expenses shall be allocated on a reasonable and proportionate basis.  The undertaking required by clause (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence shall be an unlimited general obligation of the Indemnitee but shall be unsecured, shall not bear interest and may be accepted without reference to financial ability to make the repayment.

 

5.                                      WITNESS EXPENSES

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that the Indemnitee is or may be, by reason of such Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a witness (or is forced or asked to respond to discovery requests or is otherwise asked to participate in any Proceeding or is called upon to produce documents) for any reason in any Proceeding to which such Indemnitee is not a named defendant or respondent, the Indemnitor shall advance all Expenses actually incurred by or on behalf of such Indemnitee, on an as-incurred basis in accordance with Section 4 of this Agreement, in connection therewith and indemnify the Indemnitee therefor.

 

6.                                      DETERMINATION OF ENTITLEMENT TO AND AUTHORIZATION OF INDEMNIFICATION

 

(A)                               To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall submit to the Indemnitor a written request, including therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to the Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification. Indemnitee may submit one or more such requests from time to time and at such time(s) as Indemnitee deems appropriate in Indemnitee’s sole discretion.  The officer of the Company receiving any such request from Indemnitee shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board of Trustees in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.

 

(B)                               The Indemnitor agrees that the Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by law.  Indemnification under this Agreement may not be made unless authorized for a specific Proceeding after a determination has been made in accordance with this Section 6(B) that indemnification of the Indemnitee is permissible in the circumstances because the Indemnitee has met the following standard of conduct: the Indemnitor shall indemnify the Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of Section 2 hereof, unless it is established in a final adjudication of the Proceeding not subject to further appeal that: (a) the act or 

 

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omission of the Indemnitee was material to the matter giving rise to the Proceeding and (x) was committed in bad faith or (y) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty; (b) the Indemnitee actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or (c) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful.  Upon receipt by the Indemnitor of the Indemnitee’s written request for indemnification pursuant to paragraph 6(A), a determination as to whether the applicable standard of conduct has been met shall be made within the period specified in paragraph 6(E):  (i) if a Change in Control shall have occurred, by Special Legal Counsel in a written opinion to the Board of Trustees, a copy of which shall be delivered to the Indemnitee, which Special Legal Counsel shall be selected by the Indemnitee (the Indemnitee shall give prompt written notice to the Indemnitor advising the Indemnitor of the identity of the Special Legal Counsel so selected) and approved by the Board of Trustees in accordance with Section 2-418(e)(2)(ii) of the MGCL, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed; or (ii) if a Change in Control shall not have occurred, (A) by the Board of Trustees by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of trustees not, at the time, parties to the proceeding, or, if such quorum cannot be obtained, then by a majority vote of a committee of the Board of Trustees consisting solely of two or more trustees not, at the time, parties to such proceeding and who were duly designated to act in the matter by a majority vote of the full Board of Trustees in which the designated trustees who are parties may participate, (B) if the requisite quorum of the full Board of Trustees cannot be obtained therefor and the committee cannot be established (or, even if such quorum is obtainable or such committee can be established, if such quorum or committee so directs), by Special Legal Counsel in a written opinion to the Board of Trustees, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee, which Special Legal Counsel shall be selected by the Board of Trustees or a committee of the Board of Trustees by vote as set forth in clause (ii)(A) of this paragraph 6(B) (or, if the requisite quorum of the full Board of Trustees cannot be obtained therefor and the committee cannot be established, by a majority of the full Board of Trustees in which trustees who are parties to the Proceeding may participate) (if the Indemnitor selects Special Legal Counsel to make the determination under this clause (ii), the Indemnitor shall give prompt written notice to the Indemnitee advising him or her of the identity of the Special Legal Counsel so selected) in accordance with Section 2-418(e)(2)(ii) of the MGCL and approved by the Indemnitee, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed or (C) if so directed by a majority of the members of the Board of Trustees, by the shareholders of the Company, other than trustees or officers who are parties to the Proceeding.  If it is so determined that the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to the Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination. Authorization of indemnification and determination as to reasonableness of Expenses shall be made in the same manner as the determination that indemnification is permissible. However, if the determination that indemnification is permissible is made by Special Legal Counsel under clause (ii)(B) above, authorization of indemnification and determination as to 

 

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reasonableness of Expenses shall be made in the manner specified under clause (ii)(B) above for the selection of such Special Legal Counsel.

 

(C)                               The Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person or entity making such determination with respect to the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to the Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination.  Any reasonable costs or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by the Indemnitee in so cooperating shall be borne by the Indemnitor (irrespective of the determination as to the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Indemnitor hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold the Indemnitee harmless therefrom.

 

(D)                               In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Special Legal Counsel pursuant to Section 6(B) hereof, the Indemnitee, or the Indemnitor, as the case may be, may, within seven days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Indemnitor or to the Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection.  Such objection may be asserted only on the grounds that the Special Legal Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Special Legal Counsel” as defined in Section 1 of this Agreement.  If such written objection is made, the Special Legal Counsel so selected may not serve as Special Legal Counsel until a court has determined that such objection is without merit.  If, within twenty (20) days after submission by the Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 6(A) hereof, no Special Legal Counsel shall have been selected or, if Special Legal Counsel shall have been selected, shall have been objected to, either the Indemnitor or the Indemnitee may petition a court for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Indemnitor or the Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Special Legal Counsel and/or for the appointment as Special Legal Counsel of a person selected by the court or by such other person as the court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom an objection is so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Special Legal Counsel under Section 6(B) hereof.  The Indemnitor shall pay all reasonable fees and expenses of Special Legal Counsel incurred in connection with acting pursuant to Section 6(B) hereof, and all reasonable fees and expenses incident to the selection of such Special Legal Counsel pursuant to this Section 6(D).  In the event that a determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Special Legal Counsel and such determination shall not have been made and delivered in a written opinion within ninety (90) days after the receipt by the Indemnitor of the Indemnitee’s request in accordance with Section 6(A), upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding in accordance with Section 8(A) of this Agreement, Special Legal Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity.

 

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(E)                                If the person or entity making the determination whether the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within forty-five (45) days after receipt by the Indemnitor of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall be deemed to have been made and the Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent:  (i) a misstatement by the Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make the Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.  Such 45-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional fifteen (15) days, if the person or entity making said determination in good faith requires additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto.  The foregoing provisions of this paragraph 6(E) shall not apply: (i) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the shareholders and if within fifteen (15) days after the receipt by the Indmenitor of the request for such determination the Board of Trustees resolves to submit such determination to the shareholders for consideration at an annual or special meeting thereof to be held within seventy-five (75) days after such receipt and such determination is made at such meeting or (ii) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Special Legal Counsel pursuant to paragraph 6(B) of this Agreement.

 

7.                                      PRESUMPTIONS

 

(A)                               It shall be presumed that the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 6 of this Agreement, and the Indemnitor or any other person or entity challenging such right shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption.

 

(B)                               The termination of any Proceeding by conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, or an entry of an order of probation prior to judgment, creates a rebuttable presumption that the Indemnitee did not meet the requisite standard of conduct described herein for indemnification.

 

(C)                               The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any other director, trustee, officer, partner (limited or general), manager, member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other foreign or domestic corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, other enterprise (whether conducted for profit or not for profit) or employee benefit plan shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining any other right to indemnification under this Agreement.

 

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8.                                      REMEDIES

 

(A)                               In the event that:  (i) a determination is made in accordance with the provisions of Section 6 that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, or (ii) advancement of reasonable Expenses is not timely made pursuant to this Agreement, or (iii) payment of indemnification due the Indemnitee under this Agreement is not timely made, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication in an appropriate court of competent jurisdiction of such Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses.

 

(B)                               In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 6 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 8 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits. The fact that a determination has been made earlier pursuant to Section 6 of this Agreement that the Indemnitee was not entitled to indemnification shall not be taken into account in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 8 and (i) the Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced in any way by reason of that determination, (ii) the Indemnitee shall be entitled to have such Expenses advanced by the Indemnitor in accordance with Section 4 of this Agreement and applicable law and (ii) the Indemnitor shall have the burden of proving that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be. If the Indemnitee fails to challenge a determination within ninety (90) days, or if Indemnitee challenges a determination and such determination has been upheld by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction from which no appeal can be made, then, to the extent and only to the extent required by such determination or final judgment, the Indemnitor shall not be obligated to indemnify the Indemnitee under this Agreement.

 

(C)                               If a determination shall have been made or deemed to have been made pursuant to Section 6 of this Agreement that the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Indemnitor shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 8, absent: (i) a misstatement by the Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make the Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

 

(D)                               The Indemnitor shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 8 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court that the Indemnitor is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.

 

(E)                                In the event that the Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section 8, seeks a judicial adjudication of such Indemnitee’s rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement, if successful on the merits or otherwise as to all or less than 

 

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all claims, issues or matters in such judicial adjudication, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to recover from the Company, and shall be indemnified by the Company against, any and all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter.

 

(F)                                 Interest shall be paid by the Company to Indemnitee at the maximum rate allowed to be charged for judgments under the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland for amounts which the Company pays or is obligated to pay for the period (i) commencing with either the tenth day after the date on which the Company was requested to advance Expenses in accordance with Sections 4 or 5 or the 60th day after the date on which the Company was requested to make the determination of entitlement to indemnification under Section 6, as applicable, and (ii) ending on the date such payment is made to Indemnitee by the Company.

 

(G)                               Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement of the Indemnitee to indemnification under this Agreement shall be required to be made prior to the final disposition of the Proceeding.

 

9.                                      NOTIFICATION AND DEFENSE OF CLAIMS

 

The Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Indemnitor in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, request, information, or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder and shall include with such notice a description of the nature of the Proceeding and a summary of the facts underlying the Proceeding, but the failure so to notify the Indemnitor will not relieve the Indemnitor from any liability that the Indemnitor may have to Indemnitee under this Agreement unless the Indemnitor can establish that such omission to notify resulted in actual and material prejudice to the ability of the Company to defend in such Proceeding or to obtain proceeds under any insurance policy which cannot be reversed or otherwise eliminated without any material adverse effect on the Indemnitor.  With respect to any such Proceeding as to which Indemnitee notifies the Indemnitor of the commencement thereof:

 

(A)                              The Indemnitor will be entitled to participate therein at its own expense.

 

(B)                               Except as otherwise provided below, the Indemnitor will be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to Indemnitee.  After notice from the Indemnitor to Indemnitee of the Indemnitor’s election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnitor will not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation or as otherwise provided below.  The Indemnitee shall have the right to employ Indemnitee’s own counsel in such Proceeding, but the fees and disbursements of such counsel incurred after notice from the Indemnitor of the Indemnitor’s assumption of the defense thereof shall be at the expense of the Indemnitee unless 

 

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(a) the employment of counsel by the Indemnitee has been authorized by the Indemnitor, (b) the Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded, based upon an opinion of counsel approved by the Indemnitor, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, that there may be a conflict of interest between the Indemnitor and the Indemnitee in the conduct of the defense of such action, (c) the Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded, based upon an opinion of counsel approved by the Indemnitor, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, that Indemnitee may have separate defenses or counterclaims to assert with respect to any issue which may not be consistent with other defendants in such Proceeding, (d) such Proceeding seeks penalties or other relief against the Indemnitee with respect to which the Indemnitor could not provide monetary indemnification to the Indemnitee (such as injunctive relief or incarceration) or (e) the Indemnitor shall not in fact have employed counsel to assume the defense of such action in a timely manner, in each of which cases the fees and disbursements of counsel (which counsel shall be subject to the prior approval of the Indemnitor, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be at the expense of the Indemnitor (subject to Section 3(B).  In addition, if the Company fails to comply with any of its obligations under this Agreement or in the event that the Company or any other person takes any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any Proceeding to deny or to recover from Indemnitee the benefits intended to be provided to Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall have the right to retain counsel of Indemnitee’s choice, subject to the prior approval of the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, at the expense of the Company (subject to Section 3(B)), to represent Indemnitee in connection with any such matter.  The Indemnitor shall not be entitled to assume the defense of any Proceeding brought by or on behalf of the Indemnitor, or as to which the Indemnitee shall have reached the conclusion specified in clause (b) above, or which involves penalties or other relief against the Indemnitee of the type referred to in clause (c) above.

 

(C)                                The Indemnitor shall not be liable to indemnify the Indemnitee under this Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of any action or claim effected without the Indemnitor’s written consent.  The Indemnitor shall not settle any action or claim in any manner that would (i) include an admission of fault of Indemnitee, (ii) not include, as an unconditional term thereof, the full release of Indemnitee from all liability in respect of such Proceeding, which release shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Indemnitee, or (iii) impose any penalty or limitation on the Indemnitee without the Indemnitee’s written consent.  Neither the Indemnitor nor Indemnitee will unreasonably withhold or delay consent to any proposed settlement.

 

10.                               NON-EXCLUSIVITY; SURVIVAL OF RIGHTS; INSURANCE SUBROGATION

 

(A)                               The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of reasonable Expenses as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights 

 

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to which the Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Declaration of Trust, the Bylaws, any other agreement, a vote of shareholders, a resolution of the Board of Trustees or otherwise, except that any payments otherwise required to be made by the Indemnitor hereunder shall be offset by any and all amounts received by the Indemnitee from any other indemnitor or under one or more liability insurance policies maintained by an indemnitor or otherwise and shall not be duplicative of any other payments received by an Indemnitee from the Indemnitor in respect of the matter giving rise to the indemnity hereunder.  No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of the Declaration of Trust or Bylaws of the Company, or any provision hereof or thereof, shall be effective as to the Indemnitee with respect to any action taken or omitted by the Indemnitee prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal.  No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right or remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right or remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise.  The assertion of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prohibit the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

 

(B)                               The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to acquire directors and officers liability insurance, on terms and conditions deemed appropriate by the Board of Trustees, with the advice of counsel, covering Indemnitee or any claim made against Indemnitee by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status and covering the Company for any indemnification or advancement of Expenses made by the Company to Indemnitee for any claims made against Indemnitee by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status.  In the event of a Change in Control, the Company shall maintain in force any and all directors and officers liability insurance policies that were maintained by the Company immediately prior to the Change in Control for a period of six years with the insurance carrier or carriers and through the insurance broker in place at the time of the Change in Control,  including through purchase of a “tail” policy for such six year period; provided, however, (i) if the carriers will not offer the same policy and an expiring policy needs to be replaced, a policy substantially comparable in scope and amount shall be obtained and (ii) if any replacement insurance carrier is necessary to obtain a policy substantially comparable in scope and amount, such insurance carrier shall have an AM Best rating that is the same or better than the AM Best rating of the existing insurance carrier; provided, further, however, in the event a tail policy is purchased to fulfill the Company’s obligations in this Section 10(B), in no event shall the Company be required to expend in the aggregate in excess of 300% of the annual premium or premiums paid by the Company for directors and officers liability insurance in effect on the date of the Change in Control in order to purchase such tail policy.  In the event that 300% of the annual premium paid by the Company for such existing directors and officers liability insurance is insufficient to purchase a tail policy providing such coverage, the Company shall spend up to that amount to purchase a tail policy providing such lesser coverage as may be obtained with such amount.

 

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(C)                               Without in any way limiting any other obligation under this Agreement, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee for any payment by Indemnitee which would otherwise be indemnifiable hereunder arising out of the amount of any deductible or retention and the amount of any excess of the aggregate of all judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with a Proceeding over the coverage of any insurance referred to in Section 10(B).  The purchase, establishment and maintenance of any such insurance shall not in any way limit or affect the rights or obligations of the Company or Indemnitee under this Agreement except as expressly provided herein, and the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the Indemnitee shall not in any way limit or affect the rights or obligations of the Company under any such insurance policies.  If, at the time the Company receives notice from any source of a Proceeding to which Indemnitee is a party or a participant (as a witness or otherwise) the Company has trustee and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of such Proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies.

 

(D)                               The Indemnitee shall cooperate with the Company or any insurance carrier of the Company with respect to any Proceeding.

 

(E)                                In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Indemnitor shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all actions necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Indemnitor to bring suit to enforce such rights.

 

(F)                                 The Indemnitor shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder if and to the extent that the Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance policy, contract, agreement, or otherwise.

 

11.                               CONTINUATION OF INDEMNITY

 

(A)                               All agreements and obligations of the Indemnitor contained herein shall continue during the period the Indemnitee is an officer or a member of the Board of Trustees of the Company or is serving at the request of the Company as a director, trustee, officer, partner (limited or general), manager, member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other foreign or domestic corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, other enterprise (whether conducted for profit or not for profit) or employee benefit plan and shall continue thereafter so long as the Indemnitee shall be subject to any threatened, pending or completed Proceeding by reason of such Indemnitee’s Corporate Status and during the period of statute of limitations for any act or omission occurring during the Indemnitee’s term of Corporate Status.  This 

 

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Agreement shall be binding upon the Indemnitor and its respective successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the Indemnitee and such Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators.

 

(B)                               The Company shall require and cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place, and the Company shall not permit any such succession (purchase of assets or business, acquisition of securities or merger or consolidation) to occur until such written agreement has been executed and delivered. No such assumption and agreement shall relieve the Company of any of its obligations hereunder, and this Agreement shall not otherwise be assignable by the Company.

 

(C)                               The Company and Indemnitee agree that a monetary remedy for breach of this Agreement, at some later date, may be inadequate, impracticable and difficult of proof, and further agree that such breach may cause Indemnitee irreparable harm.  Accordingly, the parties hereto agree that Indemnitee may enforce this Agreement by seeking injunctive relief and/or specific performance hereof, without any necessity of showing actual damage or irreparable harm and that by seeking injunctive relief and/or specific performance, Indemnitee shall not be precluded from seeking or obtaining any other relief to which Indemnitee may be entitled.  Indemnitee shall further be entitled to such specific performance and injunctive relief, including temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions and permanent injunctions, without the necessity of posting bonds or other undertakings in connection therewith.  The Company acknowledges that, in the absence of a waiver, a bond or undertaking may be required of Indemnitee by a court, and the Company hereby waives any such requirement of such a bond or undertaking.

 

12.                               SEVERABILITY

 

If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever, (i) the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law, (ii) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto and (iii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal 

 

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or unenforceable that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provisions held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.

 

13.                               EXCEPTIONS TO RIGHT OF INDEMNIFICATION OR ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES

 

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall not be entitled to indemnification or advancement of reasonable Expenses under this Agreement with respect to (i) any Proceeding initiated by such Indemnitee against the Indemnitor other than (x) a proceeding commenced pursuant to Section 8 hereof or (y) any proceeding authorized by the Company’s Declaration of Trust or Bylaws, a resolution of the shareholders entitled to vote generally in the election of trustees or of the Board of Trustees or an agreement approved by the Board of Trustees to which the Company is a party expressly provides otherwise, or (ii) any Proceeding for an accounting of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities of the Company in violation of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any similar provisions of any federal, state or local statute.

 

14.                               NOTICE TO THE COMPANY SHAREHOLDERS

 

To the extent required by the MGCL, any indemnification of, or advancement of reasonable Expenses to, an Indemnitee in accordance with this Agreement, if arising out of a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company, shall be reported in writing to the shareholders of the Company with the notice of the next Company shareholders’ meeting following the date of the payment of any such indemnification or advance of Expenses or prior to such meeting.

 

15.                               SECTION 409A

 

If the Indemnitee’s right to payment of indemnification pursuant to Section 6 or right to the advancement of Expenses under Sections 4 or 5 would not be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) pursuant to Final Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(b)(10), then (i) the payment of indemnification and Expenses provided or advanced to or for Indemnitee pursuant to this Agreement in one taxable year shall not affect the amount of indemnification and Expenses provided or advanced to or for Indemnitee in any other taxable year, (ii) any reimbursement to Indemnitee of Expenses under this Agreement shall be paid to Indemnitee on or before the last day of Indemnitee’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the Expense was incurred and (iii) the right to advancement, reimbursement or payment of indemnification and Expenses under this Agreement may not be liquidated or exchanged for any other benefit. In addition, to the extent that this Agreement is subject to Section 409A of the Code, the parties agree to cooperate and work together in good faith to timely amend this Agreement to comply with Section 409A of the Code.

 

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16.                               HEADINGS

 

The headings of the Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

 

17.                               MODIFICATION AND WAIVER

 

No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by each of the parties hereto.  No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

18.                               NOTICES

 

All notices, requests, demands, and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (i) delivered by hand or by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service and received by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, on the day of such delivery, or (ii) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed, if so delivered or mailed, as the case may be, to the following addresses:

 

If to the Indemnitee, to the address set forth in the records of the Company.

 

If to the Indemnitor, to:

 

JBG SMITH Properties

4445 Willard Avenue, Suite 400

Chevy Chase, MD 20815

Attention:  Chief Legal Officer

 

or to such other address as may have been furnished to the Indemnitee by the Indemnitor or to the Indemnitor by the Indemnitee, as the case may be.

 

19.                               CONTRIBUTION

 

(A)                               To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, other than for failure to satisfy the standard of conduct set forth in Sections 4 or due to the provisions of Section 6(B), the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall pay the entire amount actually incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, penalties, fines and settlements and reasonable Expenses actually incurred by or on behalf of an Indemnitee, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, without requiring Indemnitee to contribute to such payment, and the Company hereby waives and relinquishes any right of contribution it may have at any time against Indemnitee

 

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20.                               GOVERNING LAW

 

The parties agree that this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Maryland, without application of the conflict of laws principles thereof.

 

21.                               NO ASSIGNMENTS

 

The Indemnitee may not assign its rights or delegate obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Indemnitor.  Any assignment or delegation in violation of this Section 21 shall be null and void.

 

22.                               NO THIRD-PARTY RIGHTS

 

Nothing expressed or referred to in this Agreement will be construed to give any person other than the parties to this Agreement any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or with respect to this Agreement or any provision of this Agreement. This Agreement and all of its provisions are for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties to this Agreement and their successors and permitted assigns.

 

23.                               COUNTERPARTS

 

This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts (delivery of which may be by facsimile, or via e-mail as a portable document format (.pdf) or other electronic format), each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together constitute an agreement binding on all of the parties hereto.

 

[Signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

	
 
    	
JBG SMITH Properties
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
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Name:
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
INDEMNITEE:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:

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