Document:

Exhibit

Exhibit 10.4
RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT
(2020 Performance-Based Award – Investment Results)

This Agreement (“Agreement”) is made this <Grant Date> by and between <Participant Name> (“Participant”) and The Progressive Corporation (the “Company”).  

1.    Definitions.  Unless otherwise defined or expressly given a different meaning in this Agreement, each capitalized term in this Agreement shall have the meaning given to it in The Progressive Corporation 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).  References herein to performance results of the Company mean the applicable results achieved by the Subsidiaries and mutual company and other affiliates of the Company in the portfolio(s) to the extent directly managed by Progressive Capital Management Corp. (“PCM”) during the Evaluation Period (“Managed Portfolios”).

2.    Award of Restricted Stock Units.  The Company grants to Participant an award (the “Award”) of performance-based restricted stock units (“Restricted Stock Units” or “Units”), pursuant to, and subject to, the terms of the Plan.  The Award is based on a target award value of <# of Units> Units (the “Target Award Units”).  The number of Restricted Stock Units that are ultimately earned pursuant to the Award (if any) will be determined based on the Target Award Units and the procedures and calculations set forth in this Agreement.  Under the calculations set forth below, the maximum potential Award is a number of Units equal to two (2.0) times the sum of Target Award Units plus any related Dividend Equivalent Units (the “Maximum Award Units”).  The Award is not intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code as was in effect during November 2017.

3.    Condition to Participant’s Rights under this Agreement. This Agreement shall not become effective, and Participant shall have no rights with respect to the Award or any Restricted Stock Units, unless and until Participant has fully executed this Agreement and delivered it to the Company. In the Company’s sole discretion, such execution and delivery may be accomplished through electronic means. 

4.    Restrictions; Vesting.  Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement, including the provisions of Paragraph 8 below, Participant’s rights in and to Restricted Stock Units shall vest, if at all, as follows: 

a.    Evaluation Period.  The “Evaluation Period” shall be the three-year period comprised of the calendar years 2020, 2021 and 2022.

b.    Certification.  The Award shall vest (if at all) only if, to the extent, and when the Committee certifies: 

i.     the Performance Ranking of the Company’s Fixed-Income Portfolio (as each of those terms are defined in Subparagraph c. below); and 

ii.     the Performance Factor (rounded to the nearest one-hundredth) to be multiplied by the Target Award Units (and any related Dividend Equivalent Units) to determine the number of Restricted Stock Units (if any) that have vested as a result of such performance. 

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Such certification shall occur as soon as practicable after the end of the Evaluation Period (the date of such certification, the “Certification Date”).   If the Committee certifies the vesting of a number of Units that is less than the Maximum Award Units, then with respect to all other Units that could have been earned under this Agreement, the Award will terminate and be forfeited automatically.

c.    Number of Units Vesting.  The number of Restricted Stock Units (if any) that vest in connection with the Award will be determined by application of the following formula:

Number of Units Vesting = Target Award Units (plus related Dividend Equivalent Units) x Performance Factor

i.    The Performance Factor will be determined by the Committee after the expiration of the Evaluation Period based on the fully taxable equivalent total return of the segment(s) of the Company’s fixed-income investment portfolio that constitute(s) Managed Portfolios (the “Fixed-Income Portfolio” or “Portfolio”), in comparison to the total returns of the group of comparable investment firms identified by the Independent Data Source (the “Investment Benchmark”), each calculated for the three calendar years comprising the Evaluation Period.  For purposes of this Agreement, the “Independent Data Source” shall be a third party independent data source determined by the Committee and, initially and until further action of the Committee, shall be Investment Metrics. After the end of the Evaluation Period, the Independent Data Source will determine the firms that are included in the Investment Benchmark in accordance with the criteria specified on Exhibit I hereto.  The Independent Data Source will also provide to the Company the monthly total return data for each of the Investment Benchmark firms for the three-year period ending on the last day of the Evaluation Period.  

Investment results for the Fixed-Income Portfolio will be marked to market, including 50% of the benefit of any state premium tax abatements for municipal securities held in the Portfolio beginning with 2019 and 100% of such benefit for 2018  that are realized by the Company during the Evaluation Period, in order to calculate the Portfolio’s fully taxable equivalent total return, compounded on a monthly basis, for the Evaluation Period.  The investment performance achieved by the Fixed-Income Portfolio for the Evaluation Period will then be compared against the total returns of the firms included in the Investment Benchmark for the same period, also compounded on a monthly basis, as determined by the Company from the monthly performance data supplied by the Independent Data Source for each firm in the Investment Benchmark, to determine where the Fixed-Income Portfolio’s performance falls on a percentile basis when compared to the firms in the Investment Benchmark, as further described in Exhibit II hereto (“Performance Ranking”).  

The Portfolio’s Performance Ranking will be used to determine a performance score of between 0.00 and 2.00 for the Evaluation Period, based on the following schedule:

	
			
	Score = 0.00
Rank at or below
	Score = 1.00
Rank equal to
	Score = 2.00
Rank at or above

	

25th Percentile
	

50th Percentile
	

75th Percentile

 2 

  
A Performance Ranking between the values identified in the schedule will be interpolated on a straight-line basis to generate the Performance Factor, as further described on Exhibit II.  

ii.    The Company will work with the Independent Data Source to ensure, to the extent practicable, that the list of firms comprising the Investment Benchmark and all data necessary to calculate the Performance Ranking and the Performance Factor are received by March 1st of the year immediately following the Evaluation Period.  In all events, distributions under this Agreement must be made on or before March 15th of the year immediately following the Evaluation Period.  

iii.    In the event that the Independent Data Source (or its successors or assigns) ceases to provide or publish the information required to calculate the Performance Factor, or modifies the information in such a way as to render the comparisons required by this Agreement to be not meaningful, in the Committee’s sole judgment, the determinations required above shall be made using such investment return data for comparable firms  as may be available from another recognized provider of investment industry data as the Committee may approve in its sole discretion.

iv.    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Managed Portfolios and Fixed-Income Portfolio shall not include any portfolio managed by, or any investment made at the direction of, any business unit or area other than PCM. 

d.    Committee Discretion.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, at or prior to the time of vesting, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may reduce the number of Restricted Stock Units that otherwise would vest according to this Agreement, or eliminate the Award in full.  The Committee, in its sole discretion, may treat Participant differently than other individuals for these purposes.  Any such determination by the Committee shall be final and binding on Participant.  Under no circumstances shall the Committee have discretion to increase the award to Participant in excess of the number of Units that would have been awarded at vesting based on this Paragraph 4 (excluding adjustments required by Section 3(c) and/or Section 11 of the Plan).

The Award shall vest in accordance with and subject to the foregoing except to the extent that, prior to the Certification Date, the Award has been forfeited under the terms and conditions of the Plan or this Agreement.   

5.    Dividend Equivalents.   Subject to this Paragraph 5, with respect to dividends for which a record date occurs during the Restriction Period, Participant shall be credited with a Dividend Equivalent with respect to each outstanding Restricted Stock Unit, and with respect to any related Dividend Equivalent Unit (defined below) resulting from prior reinvestments of Dividend Equivalents as provided in this Paragraph.  All Dividend Equivalents so credited will be deemed to be reinvested in Restricted Stock Units on the date that the applicable dividend or distribution is made to the Company’s shareholders, based on the Target Award Units and any Dividend Equivalent Units resulting from prior reinvestments of Dividend Equivalents, in the number of Units determined by dividing the aggregate value of the Dividend Equivalents by the Fair Market Value of the Stock on such date (rounded to the nearest thousandth of a whole Unit or as otherwise reasonably determined by the Company); provided, 

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however, that if Dividend Equivalents cannot be reinvested in Units due to the operation of Section 3(a) of the Plan, such Dividend Equivalents will be credited to Participant as a cash value based on the Target Award Units and any Dividend Equivalent Units resulting from prior reinvestments of Dividend Equivalents, which cash value shall be held by the Company (without interest) subject to this Agreement. Any Units resulting from the deemed reinvestment of dividends in accordance with this Paragraph 5 are referred to herein as “Dividend Equivalent Units.”  Dividend Equivalents shall be subject to the same terms and conditions, and shall vest or be forfeited (as applicable) at the same time, upon the same conditions, and in the same proportion, as the Target Award Units set forth in this Award; provided, however, that if the Award vests after the record date for, but before the payment date of, a dividend, then the Dividend Equivalents related to such dividend and to Units vesting on the vesting date will be paid in cash or in Stock, in the sole discretion of the Company, as soon as practicable following the payment date for such dividend.

6.    Units Non-Transferable.  No Restricted Stock Units (and no Dividend Equivalents) shall be transferable by Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.  In the event all or any portion of the Award is transferred or assigned pursuant to a court order, such transfer or assignment shall be without liability to the Company, and the Company shall have the right to offset against the Award any expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by the Company, or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, in connection with such attempted transfer or assignment.  

7.    Executive Deferred Compensation Plan.  If Participant is eligible, and has made the appropriate election, to defer the Award into The Progressive Corporation Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Deferral Plan”), and the Award is eligible for deferral under the Deferral Plan, then at the time of vesting, the Restricted Stock Units that would otherwise vest under this Agreement (but not any Dividend Equivalents, which shall be delivered to Participant in accordance with Paragraph 10), instead of being delivered to Participant shall be credited to Participant’s account under the Deferral Plan, subject to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Deferral Plan and any related deferral agreement.

8.    Termination of Employment.  Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, or in this Paragraph 8, or as otherwise determined by the Committee, if Participant’s employment with the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate terminates for any reason, the Award and all Restricted Stock Units (and any related Dividend Equivalents) held by Participant that are unvested or subject to restriction at the time of such termination shall be forfeited automatically immediately after such termination.  Notwithstanding the foregoing:

a.    In the event that Participant’s employment terminates as a result of Participant’s death prior to Participant’s Qualified Retirement Eligibility Date, then this Agreement will remain effective for up to one year after the date of Participant’s death and the Restricted Stock Units (and Dividend Equivalents) will vest if, when and to the extent, that the performance measures identified in Paragraph 4 above are achieved and certified by the Committee pursuant to Paragraph 4 prior to the expiration of such one (1) year period.  The balance of the Award, if any, shall be forfeited;

b.    In the event that any such termination of employment occurs, for any reason other than for Cause, after the end of the Evaluation Period but prior to the Certification Date, the Award shall not be forfeited at the time of Participant’s termination and Participant shall be eligible to participate in the vesting of Restricted Stock Units (and any related Dividend Equivalents) under this Agreement to the extent certified by the Committee; and

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c.    In the event that any such termination of employment occurs as a result of Participant’s Qualified Retirement before the end of the Evaluation Period, the Award (A) shall remain in effect with respect to fifty percent (50%) of the Award, which shall vest after the Committee’s certification that, and the extent to which,  performance measures identified in paragraph 4 have been achieved and (B) shall terminate, effective as of the date of and immediately after the Qualified Retirement, with respect to the remaining fifty percent (50%) of the Award; provided that, with respect to any member of the Company’s Senior Management Group, and any other Participant specified in writing by the Compensation Committee (if the Participant is, at the time of such specification, an executive officer of the Company) or by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Human Resource Officer (for all other Participants), if such individual (i) becomes eligible, after such individual’s Qualified Retirement Eligibility Date, to receive benefits under the Company’s long-term disability benefits plan provided to its employees, or (ii)  has given the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (or Chairperson of the Board, if such individual is the Chief Executive Officer) written notice of his or her intended retirement date at least twelve months but not more than eighteen months prior to such date and if such individual in fact terminates on such intended retirement date (or such earlier or later date as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and such individual (or the Company’s Chairperson of the Board and such individual, if such individual is the Company’s Chief Executive Officer) may agree in writing and with such conditions as the Company may deem appropriate and state in such writing), then upon any Qualified Retirement of such individual consistent with such document(s), no portion of the Award will terminate on such termination date, but the Award will remain in effect in full and shall vest after the Committee certifies that, and to the extent that, the  performance measures identified in Paragraph 4 have been achieved (unless such performance measures are not achieved prior to the Expiration Date, in which event the Award will terminate and be forfeited, as of the Expiration Date).

d.    For purposes of this Paragraph 8:

		
	i.
	the term “Senior Management Group” means those individuals holding the following titles or positions at the time that written notice of retirement is given by such individual in accordance with Section 8(c) of this Agreement:  Chief Executive Officer, and any executive officers who are members of the Chief Executive Officer’s Direct Reporting Group;

		
	ii.
	the term “Qualified Retirement” means any termination of a Participant’s employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries or Affiliates for any reason (including death, but excluding an involuntary termination for Cause) that (x) qualifies as a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A, and (y) occurs on or after the first day of the calendar month in which either of the following conditions are scheduled to be satisfied:

        
		
	(A)
	the Participant is 55 years of age or older and has completed at least fifteen (15) years of service as an employee of the Company or one or more of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates; or

		
	(B)
	the Participant is 60 years of age or older and has completed at least ten (10) years of service as an employee of the Company or one or more of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates;

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provided, however, that if Participant provided any service as an employee to any entity (or one or more of its subsidiaries or affiliates) that became a Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company as a result of the Company’s acquisition, directly or indirectly, of the assets of such entity (and/or of one or more of its subsidiaries or affiliates) or all or a controlling interest in such entity’s capital stock or other equity interests (such entity being the “Acquired Entity), then Participant’s service as an employee of the Acquired Entity (or one or more subsidiaries or affiliates of the Acquired Entity) prior to the date of such acquisition by the Company shall not be treated as “service as an employee of the Company or one or more of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates” for purposes of this Paragraph 8(d)(ii); and

		
	iii.
	the term “Qualified Retirement Eligibility Date” means the first day of the earliest calendar month in which the Participant is scheduled to satisfy either of the age and years-of-service requirements for a Qualified Retirement as defined in Paragraph 8(d)(ii) of this Agreement. 

e.    Nothing in this Paragraph 8 will be interpreted as altering in any way the provisions of Section11 of the Plan. 

9.    Disqualifying Activity.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if the Committee determines that Participant is engaging in, or has engaged in, a Disqualifying Activity, the provisions of Section 10(b) of the Plan will apply.  A violation of Paragraph 12 below, and any violation of any non-competition agreement between Participant and the Company or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates, by Participant shall constitute a “material violation” of an “agreement between the Participant and the Company” within the meaning of clause (iii) of the definition of Disqualifying Activity.  

10.    Delivery at Vesting. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and this Agreement, upon vesting of all or part of the Award, the Company shall deliver to Participant one share of Stock in exchange for each such vested Restricted Stock Unit and for each Dividend Equivalent Unit related thereto and cash in the amount of any other related Dividend Equivalents, and all Restricted Stock Units and Dividend Equivalents) shall be cancelled.  Unless determined otherwise by the Company at any time prior to the applicable delivery, each fractional Restricted Stock Unit (and related Dividend Equivalent Unit) shall vest and be settled in an equal fraction of a share of Stock.  The delivery of such shares of Stock shall be on or as soon as practicable following the Certification Date, but in no event later than March 15 of the calendar year following the year in which the Certification Date occurred.

11.    Taxes.  No later than the date as of which an amount relating to the Award first becomes taxable, Participant shall pay to the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Committee regarding the payment of, any Taxes and other items of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to such amount. The obligations of the Company under the Plan and this Agreement shall be conditioned on such payment or arrangements and the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates, to the extent permitted by law, shall have the right to deduct any such Taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to Participant.  At vesting, Restricted Stock Units and related Dividend Equivalent Units vesting on such date will be valued at the Fair Market Value of the Company’s Stock on such date.  

Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, Participant must satisfy the minimum statutory tax withholding obligations resulting from the vesting of Restricted Stock Units and related Dividend Equivalents (“Minimum Withholding Obligations”) by surrendering to the Company Restricted Stock 

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Units and/or Dividend Equivalents that are then vesting (or shares of Stock issuable as a result of the vesting) with a value sufficient to satisfy the Minimum Withholding Obligations.   

Under no circumstances will Participant be entitled to satisfy any Minimum Withholding Obligations by surrendering Restricted Stock Units that are not then vesting or any Restricted Stock Units that Participant has elected to defer under Paragraph 7 above.  Any request by Participant to satisfy Minimum Withholding Obligations by surrendering shares of Stock owned by Participant prior to the date of such satisfaction must be specifically approved in advance by the Committee.  All payments and surrenders of Units or shares of Stock and any requests for approval of alternative payment arrangements must be made by Participant in accordance with such procedures as may be adopted by the Company in connection therewith, and subject to such rules as have been or may be adopted by the Committee.  

12.    Non-Solicitation.  In consideration of the Award made to Participant under this Agreement, starting on the Grant Date and ending on the date that is exactly twelve (12) months after Participant's “Separation Date” (defined below), Participant shall not directly or indirectly recruit or solicit for hire, or hire, or assist in any manner in the recruitment, solicitation for hire or hiring, of any employee or officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, in each case involving employment by any individual, business or entity other than the Company or one of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, or in any way induce any such employee or officer to terminate his or her employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates.  For purposes of this Paragraph 12, "Separation Date" means the date on which Participant's employment with the Company or one of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates terminates for any reason.  The provisions of this Paragraph 12 shall be in addition to, and shall not supersede or replace, the provisions of any employment or other agreement between Participant and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates that contains similar or additional restrictions on Participant.

13.    Recoupment.  If the Securities and Exchange Commission adopts final rules under Section 954 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act that require, as a condition to the Company’s continued listing on a national securities exchange (“Exchange”), that the Company develop and implement a policy requiring the recovery of erroneously awarded compensation, and such regulations are applicable to Participant and the Award granted pursuant to this Agreement, then the Award shall be subject to recoupment pursuant to the terms of the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and any applicable Exchange and any policy of the Company adopted in response to such rules.  The provisions of this Paragraph 13 are in addition to the rights of the Company as set forth in Section 14(h) of the Plan.

14.    Entire Agreement.  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the Award and, except as provided in Paragraph 12, supersedes and cancels any other agreement, representation or communication, whether oral or in writing, between the parties relating to the Award, provided that the Agreement shall be at all times subject to the Plan. 

15.    Amendment.   The Committee may amend the terms of this Award to the fullest extent permitted by Section 12 of the Plan.

16.     Acknowledgments.  Participant: (a) acknowledges receiving a copy of the Plan Description relating to the Plan, and represents that he or she is familiar with all of the material provisions of the Plan, as set forth in such Plan Description; (b) accepts this Agreement and the Award subject to all provisions of the Plan and this Agreement; and (c) agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions and interpretations of the Committee relating to the Plan, this Agreement or the Award.

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Participant evidences his or her agreement with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and his or her intention to be bound by this Agreement, by electronically accepting the Award pursuant to the procedures adopted by the Company.  Upon such acceptance by Participant, this Agreement will be immediately binding and enforceable against Participant and the Company.   

THE PROGRESSIVE CORPORATION

By:  /s/     Daniel P. Mascaro 
Vice President & Secretary

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EXHIBIT I

INVESTMENT BENCHMARK CRITERIA

After the end of the Evaluation Period, the Independent Data Source will determine the firms comprising the Investment Benchmark for each applicable Plan year from its records and will supply to the Company the monthly total returns and any other relevant data for each of those firms for the Evaluation Period.  

A firm will be included in the Investment Benchmark if the Independent Data Source is able to determine from its records that:
    
		
	1.
	The firm has provided monthly data  regarding its holdings and investment return, as necessary to determine or calculate such firm’s monthly total return, and to evaluate such firm’s compliance with each of the criteria set forth below, for the entire Evaluation Period; and 

		
	2.
	At all times during the Evaluation Period, the information provided by the firm shows, or the Independent Data Source is able to calculate, that such firm’s investment portfolio satisfies each of the following criteria:

Duration:             Effective Duration between 1.5 years and 5.0 years
Credit Quality Average         = A, or = AA, or = AAA, or = AAA+
Convexity (%)             >= -1
Sector Allocation:         U.S. High-Yield Corporate Debt <= 10%
Sector Allocation:         Mortgages <= 60%
Sector Allocation:         U.S. Investment-Grade Corporate Debt <= 60%
Sector Allocation:         CMBS <= 60%
Sector Allocation:         ABS <= 60%
Sector Allocation:         Emerging Markets Debt <= 5%

		
	3.
	The Company will have no discretion to alter the Investment Benchmark list after it is finalized by the Independent Data Source.

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EXHIBIT II

DETERMINATION OF PERFORMANCE RANKING  
AND PERFORMANCE FACTOR

Once all the total returns are calculated, the data is sorted in descending order from highest to lowest total return. From here, the process to compute the Performance Factor is as follows:

INTERPOLATED VALUES FOR SETTING TOP AND BOTTOM 25% LEVELS 
The top 25% and bottom 25% total return rankings are computed based on the total number of firms in the Investment Benchmark, excluding the PCM Fixed-Income Portfolio return. For example, if there were 279 participants, the return required to earn a 2.00 portfolio performance factor would be determined by interpolating between the sixty-ninth and seventieth firm’s returns, since 25% of 279 = 69.75. The same procedure would be used to determine the 0.00 portfolio performance factor. 

The total returns, computed by Investment Accounting, for the interpolated positions are calculated as follows (continuing to use an example of 279 survey firms):

Interpolated Value = Firm 69 return – ((Firm 69 Return - Firm 70 Return)*0.75) 
Firm 69 = 18.35%
Firm 70 = 18.23%

Firm 69.75 (Interpolated Value) = 18.35% - ((18.35%-18.23%)*0.75) = 18.26%.

In this case, the PCM Performance Factor will equal 2.00 if its total return equals the interpolated value for Firm 69.75 or 18.26%.  A similar calculation is then used to determine the bottom 25% group and interpolated value for a 0.00 performance score.  

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Once the two groups are computed, top and bottom 25%, the remainder of the performance scores are calculated as follows:

Performance score variance =  (2.00) / Number of positions from first participant after the top 25% ranking to the 1st participant in the bottom 25% ranking. In the case of 279 participants, the number of positions to divide the 2.00 performance factors by would be 142. 

The calculation for the performance score variance from 2.00 – 0.00 would be:

2.00 / 142 = .014085 per position for 279 firms

In the case of a tie in total returns between firms, each firm will have the same performance score, one step under the next higher position. The next lowest position would then be stepped down by a factor based on the number of participants who tie. In the case of a tie between two firms, the step down will be twice the performance score variance to maintain the proper stepping to the 0.00 performance score level. 

Example: If firms 70 and 71 each had the same total return in the 279 firm example, then firms 70 and 71 would each have a Performance Factor of 1.985915, which is 2.00 - .014085. The number 72 position in this example would have a performance score of 1.957746, which is the required step down from 70 to 72. 

In addition, if the returns are tied between the interpolated value set for the 2.00 performance score and any position below the 2.00 level, those lower positions will also be set to a 2.00 performance score. The step down factor in the performance score will work similarly as noted in the example above. For the last 25% group, all firms with total returns equaling the last interpolated total return value would have the same performance score as the last interpolated value (.014085), and all others in the last 25% group would have a 0.00 Portfolio Performance Factor. 

Once all the performance scores have been created, from 2.00 to 0.00, PCM’s return is compared to the rankings to determine its Performance Factor. If the PCM return is not in the top or bottom 25% and does not match the return of any participant, then PCM’s Performance Factor is an interpolated value between the firms with the next highest and next lowest returns.

The interpolation computation for the Performance Factor based on PCM’s return is as follows:

Performance score of firm below PCM return + (PCM’s Return – Return below PCM) / (Return above PCM – Return below PCM) * (Performance score of firm above PCM – Performance score of firm below PCM)

Assuming the following data, using the 279 firm example:

	
			
	Firm
	Performance score
	Total return

	Firm above PCM
	.90
	13.61

	PCM
	 
	13.39

	Firm below PCM
	.89
	13.34

The calculation of PCM’s Performance Factor is:

0.89 + (13.39-13.34) / (13.61-13.34) * (0.90-0.89) = 0.89 

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The performance scores and the final Performance Factor are rounded to the nearest one-hundredth, if necessary.

 

 12ffbw_Ex4_2

		
			Exhibit 4.2
		

		
			Description of FFBW, Inc. Common Stock
		

		
			Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, references in this Exhibit 4.2 to “we, “us” and “our” refer collectively to FFBW, Inc. and First Federal Bank of Wisconsin or to any of those entities, depending on the context.
		

		
			General
		

		
			FFBW, Inc. is authorized to issue 100,000,000 shares of common stock, par value of $0.01 per share, and 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share. Each share of common stock has the same relative rights as, and is identical in all respects to, each other share of common stock. All of our shares of common stock are duly authorized, fully paid and nonassessable.
		

		
			Common Stock
		

		
			Dividends. FFBW, Inc. can pay dividends on its common stock if, after giving effect to the distribution, it would be able to pay its indebtedness as the indebtedness comes due in the usual course of business and its total assets exceed the sum of its liabilities and the amount needed, if FFBW, Inc. were to be dissolved at the time of the distribution, to satisfy the preferential rights upon dissolution of any holders of capital stock who have a preference in the event of dissolution. The holders of common stock of FFBW, Inc. are entitled to receive and share equally in dividends as may be declared by our Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor. If FFBW, Inc. issues shares of preferred stock, the holders thereof may have a priority over the holders of the common stock with respect to dividends.
		

		
			Voting Rights. The holders of common stock of FFBW, Inc. have exclusive voting rights in FFBW, Inc. They elect FFBW, Inc.’s Board of Directors and act on other matters as are required to be presented to them under Maryland law or as are otherwise presented to them by the Board of Directors. Generally, each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote per share and does not have any right to cumulate votes in the election of directors. Any person who beneficially owns more than 10% of the outstanding shares of FFBW, Inc.’s common stock, however, is not be entitled or permitted to vote any shares of common stock held in excess of the 10% limit. If FFBW, Inc. issues shares of preferred stock, holders of the preferred stock may also possess voting rights. Amendments to the articles of incorporation generally require a two-thirds vote, and certain amendments require an 80% stockholder vote.
		

		
			Liquidation. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of First Federal Bank of Wisconsin, FFBW, Inc., as the holder of 100% of First Federal Bank of Wisconsin’s capital stock, would be entitled to receive all assets of First Federal Bank of Wisconsin available for distribution, after payment or provision for payment of all debts and liabilities of First Federal Bank of Wisconsin, including all deposit accounts and accrued interest thereon, and after distribution of the balance in the liquidation account to “Eligible Account Holders” and “Supplemental Eligible Account Holders” (as defined in the Plan of Conversion of FFBW, MHC). In the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of FFBW, Inc., the holders of its common stock would be entitled to receive, after payment or provision for payment of all its debts and liabilities, all of the assets of FFBW, Inc. available for distribution. If preferred stock is issued, the holders thereof may have a priority over the holders of the common stock in the event of liquidation or dissolution.
		

		
			Preemptive Rights. Holders of the common stock of FFBW, Inc. are not entitled to preemptive rights with respect to any shares that may be issued, unless such preemptive rights are approved by the Board of Directors. The common stock is not subject to redemption.
		

		
			

		 

		

		
			Preferred Stock
		

		
			None of the shares of FFBW, Inc.’s authorized preferred stock are outstanding. Preferred stock may be issued with preferences and designations as our Board of Directors may from time to time determine. Our Board of Directors may, without stockholder approval, issue shares of preferred stock with voting, dividend, liquidation and conversion rights that could dilute the voting strength of the holders of the common stock and may assist management in impeding an unfriendly takeover or attempted change in control.
		

		
			FFBW, Inc.’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
		

		
			FFBW, Inc.’s articles of incorporation and bylaws contain a number of provisions relating to corporate governance and rights of stockholders that might discourage future takeover attempts. As a result, stockholders who might desire to participate in such transactions may not have an opportunity to do so. In addition, these provisions will also render the removal of the Board of Directors or management of FFBW, Inc. more difficult.
		

		
			Directors. The Board of Directors is divided into three classes. The members of each class are elected for a term of three years and only one class of directors is elected annually. Thus, it would take at least two annual elections to replace a majority of our directors. The bylaws establish qualifications for board members, including restrictions on affiliations with competitors of First Federal Bank of Wisconsin and prior legal or regulatory violations and a requirement that board members maintain residence within the State of Wisconsin for a period of at least one year immediately before his or her nomination or appointment to the Board of Directors. Further, the bylaws impose notice and information requirements in connection with the nomination by stockholders of candidates for election to the Board of Directors or the proposal by stockholders of business to be acted upon at an annual meeting of stockholders. Such notice and information requirements are applicable to all stockholder business proposals and nominations, and are in addition to any requirements under the federal securities laws.
		

		
			Evaluation of Offers. The articles of incorporation of FFBW, Inc. provide that its Board of Directors, when evaluating a transaction that would or may involve a change in control of FFBW, Inc. (whether by purchases of its securities, merger, consolidation, share exchange, dissolution, liquidation, sale of all or substantially all of its assets, proxy solicitation or otherwise), may, in connection with the exercise of its business judgment in determining what is in the best interests of FFBW, Inc. and its stockholders and in making any recommendation to the stockholders, give due consideration to all relevant factors, including, but not limited to:
		

			
	
			
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			the economic effect, both immediate and long-term, upon FFBW, Inc.’s stockholders, including stockholders, if any, who do not participate in the transaction;

			
	
			
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			the social and economic effect on the present and future employees, creditors and customers of, and others dealing with, FFBW, Inc. and its subsidiaries and on the communities in which FFBW, Inc. and its subsidiaries operate or are located;

			
	
			
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			whether the proposal is acceptable based on the historical, current or projected future operating results or financial condition of FFBW, Inc.;

			
	
			
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			whether a more favorable price could be obtained for FFBW, Inc.’s stock or other securities in the future;

			
	
			
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			the reputation and business practices of the other entity to be involved in the transaction and its management and affiliates as they would affect the employees of FFBW, Inc. and its subsidiaries;

		
			

		 

		

			
	
			
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			the future value of the stock or any other securities of FFBW, Inc. or the other entity to be involved in the proposed transaction;

			
	
			
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			any antitrust or other legal and regulatory issues that are raised by the proposal;

			
	
			
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			the business and historical, current or expected future financial condition or operating results of the other entity to be involved in the transaction, including, but not limited to, debt service and other existing financial obligations, financial obligations to be incurred in connection with the proposed transaction, and other likely financial obligations of the other entity to be involved in the proposed transaction; and

			
	
			
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			the ability of FFBW, Inc. to fulfill its objectives as a financial institution holding company and on the ability of its subsidiary financial institution(s) to fulfill the objectives of a federally insured financial institution under applicable statutes and regulations. the economic effect, both immediate and long-term, upon FFBW, Inc.’s stockholders, including stockholders, if any, who do not participate in the transaction;

		
			If the Board of Directors determines that any proposed transaction should be rejected, it may take any lawful action to defeat such transaction.
		

		
			Restrictions on Call of Special Meetings. The bylaws provide that special meetings of stockholders can be called by only the President, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chairperson of the Board or by the Board of Directors, or the Secretary upon the written request of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all votes entitled to vote at the meeting.
		

		
			Prohibition of Cumulative Voting. The articles of incorporation prohibit cumulative voting for the election of directors.
		

		
			Limitation of Voting Rights. The articles of incorporation provide that in no event will any person who beneficially owns more than 10% of the then-outstanding shares of common stock be entitled or permitted to vote any of the shares of common stock held in excess of the 10% limit; provided that such 10% limit shall not apply if a majority of the unaffiliated directors approve the acquisition of shares in excess of the 10% limit prior to such acquisition.
		

		
			Restrictions on Removing Directors from Office. The articles of incorporation provide that directors may be removed only for cause, and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of capital stock of FFBW, Inc. entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (after giving effect to the limitation on voting rights discussed above in “− Limitation of Voting Rights”), voting together as a single class.
		

		
			Authorized but Unissued Shares. FFBW, Inc. has authorized but unissued shares of common and preferred stock. The articles of incorporation authorize 50,000,000 shares of serial preferred stock. FFBW, Inc. is authorized to issue preferred stock from time to time in one or more series subject to applicable provisions of law, and the board of directors is authorized to fix the preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption of such shares. In addition, the articles of incorporation provide that a majority of the whole board may, without action by the stockholders, amend the articles of incorporation to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of stock of any class or series that FFBW, Inc. has the authority to issue. In the event of a proposed merger, tender offer or other attempt to gain control of FFBW, Inc. that the board of directors does not approve, it would be possible for the board of directors to authorize the issuance of a series of preferred stock with rights and preferences that would impede the completion of the transaction. An effect of the possible issuance of preferred stock therefore may be to deter a future attempt to gain control of FFBW, Inc.
		

		
			

		 

		

		
			Amendments to Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. Except as provided under “− Authorized but Unissued Shares,” above, regarding the amendment of the articles of incorporation by the Board of Directors to increase or decrease the number of shares authorized for issuance, or as otherwise allowed by law, any amendment to the articles of incorporation must be approved by our Board of Directors and also by two-thirds of the outstanding shares of our voting stock (or a majority of the outstanding shares of our voting stock if the amendment is approved by two-thirds of our board of directors); provided, however, that approval by at least 80% of the outstanding voting stock is generally required to amend the following provisions:
		

			
	
			
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			The limitation on voting rights of persons who directly or indirectly beneficially own more than 10% of the outstanding shares of common stock;

			
	
			
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			The division of the board of directors into three staggered classes;

			
	
			
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			The ability of the board of directors to fill vacancies on the board;

			
	
			
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			The requirement that at least a majority of the voting power of the stockholders must vote to remove directors, and can only remove directors for cause;

			
	
			
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			The ability of the board of directors to amend and repeal the bylaws and the required stockholder vote to amend or repeal the bylaws;

			
	
			
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			The ability of the board of directors to evaluate a variety of factors in evaluating offers to purchase or otherwise acquire FFBW, Inc.;

			
	
			
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			The authority of the board of directors to provide for the issuance of preferred stock;

			
	
			
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			The validity and effectiveness of any action lawfully authorized by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the total number of outstanding shares of common stock;

			
	
			
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			The number of stockholders constituting a quorum or required for stockholder consent;

			
	
			
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			The provision regarding stockholder proposals and nominations;

			
	
			
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			The indemnification of current and former directors and officers, as well as employees and other agents, by FFBW, Inc.;

			
	
			
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			The limitation of liability of officers and directors to FFBW, Inc. for money damages; and

			
	
			
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			The provision of the articles of incorporation requiring approval of at least 80% of the outstanding voting stock to amend the provisions of the articles of incorporation set forth in (i) through (xii) of this list and the provisions related to amendment of the articles of incorporation.

		
			The articles of incorporation also provide that the bylaws may be amended by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of directors that FFBW, Inc. would have if there were no vacancies on the board of directors or by the stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least 80% of the votes entitled to be cast in the election of directors (after giving effect to the limitation on voting rights discussed above in “– Limitation of Voting Rights”).
		

		
			Maryland Corporate Law
		

		
			Under Maryland law, “business combinations” between a Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder or an affiliate of an interested stockholder are prohibited for five years after the most recent date 

		 

on which the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. These business combinations include a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or, in circumstances specified in the statute, certain transfers of assets, certain stock issuances and transfers, liquidation plans and reclassifications involving interested stockholders and their affiliates or issuance or reclassification of equity securities. Maryland law defines an interested stockholder as: (i) any person who beneficially owns 10% or more of the voting power of a corporation’s voting stock after the date on which FFBW, Inc. had 100 or more beneficial owners of its stock; or (ii) an affiliate or associate of FFBW, Inc. at any time after the date on which FFBW, Inc. had 100 or more beneficial owners of its stock who, within the two-year period prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of the then-outstanding voting stock of FFBW, Inc.. A person is not an interested stockholder under the statute if the board of directors approved in advance the transaction by which the person otherwise would have become an interested stockholder. However, in approving a transaction, the board of directors may provide that its approval is subject to compliance, at or after the time of approval, with any terms and conditions determined by the board.
		

		
			After the five-year prohibition, any business combination between the Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder generally must be recommended by the board of directors of FFBW, Inc. and approved by the affirmative vote of at least: (i) 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding shares of voting stock of FFBW, Inc. and (ii) two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of voting stock of FFBW, Inc. other than shares held by the interested stockholder with whom or with whose affiliate the business combination is to be effected or held by an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder. These super-majority vote requirements do not apply if FFBW, Inc.’s common stockholders receive a minimum price, as defined under Maryland law, for their shares in the form of cash or other consideration in the same form as previously paid by the interested stockholder for its shares.
		

		
			Change in Control Regulations
		

		
			Under the Change in Bank Control Act, no person may acquire control of an insured savings association or its parent holding company unless the Federal Reserve Board has been given 60 days’ prior written notice and has not issued a notice disapproving the proposed acquisition. The Federal Reserve Board takes into consideration certain factors, including the financial and managerial resources of the acquirer and the competitive effects of the acquisition. In addition, federal regulations provide that no company may acquire control of a savings association without the prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board. Any company that acquires such control becomes a “savings and loan holding company” subject to registration, examination and regulation by the Federal Reserve Board.
		

		
			Control, as defined under federal law, means ownership, control of or holding irrevocable proxies representing more than 25% of any class of voting stock, control in any manner of the election of a majority of the company’s directors, or a determination by the Federal Reserve Board that the acquirer has the power to direct, or directly or indirectly exercise a controlling influence over, the management or policies of the institution. Acquisition of more than 10% of any class of a savings and loan holding company’s voting stock constitutes a rebuttable determination of control under the regulations under certain circumstances including where, as is the case with FFBW, Inc., the issuer has registered securities under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Federal Reserve Board regulations provide that parties seeking to rebut control will be provided an opportunity to do so in writing.
		

		
			Benefit Plans
		

		
			In addition to the provisions of FFBW, Inc.’s articles of incorporation and bylaws described above, benefit plans of FFBW, Inc. and First Federal Bank of Wisconsin that may authorize the issuance of equity to its board of directors, officers and employees contain or may contain provisions which also may discourage hostile takeover attempts which the board of directors of First Federal Bank of Wisconsin might conclude are not in the best interests of FFBW, Inc. and First Federal Bank of Wisconsin or FFBW, Inc.’s stockholders.

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