Document:

Exhibit 10.53

MUNICIPAL MORTGAGE & EQUITY, LLC

2010 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS’ COMPENSATION PLAN

 

(Effective January 1, 2010)

 

1.           Purpose.  The purpose of this 2010 Non-Employee Directors’ Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) of Municipal Mortgage & Equity, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), is to advance the interests of the Company and its shareholders by providing a means to attract and retain highly qualified persons to serve as non-employee directors of the Company and to promote ownership by such directors of a greater proprietary interest in the Company, thereby aligning such directors’ interests more closely with the interests of shareholders of the Company.

 

2.           Definitions.  In addition to terms defined elsewhere in the Plan, the following are defined terms under the Plan:

 

(a)          “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.  References to any provision of the Code include regulations thereunder and successor provisions and regulations thereto.

 

(b)          For purposes of the Plan, a “Change in Control” shall have occurred if:

 

(i)           Any “person,” as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act (other than the Company, any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Company, any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares of the Company), is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 25% or more of either the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities or the then outstanding Shares (in either case, other than as a result of an acquisition of securities directly from the Company);

 

(ii)           during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any new director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in clause (i), (iii), or (iv) of this Section 2(b)) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board;

 

(iii)           the shareholders of the Company approve a merger, consolidation, recapitalization, or reorganization of the Company, or a reverse share split of any class of voting securities of the Company, or the consummation of any such transaction if shareholder approval is not obtained, other than any such transaction which would result in at least 75% of the total voting power represented by the voting securities of the Company or the surviving entity outstanding immediately after such transaction being beneficially owned by persons who together beneficially owned at least 75% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such transaction, with the relative voting power of each such continuing holder compared to the voting power of each other continuing holder not substantially altered as a result of the transaction; provided that, for purposes of this paragraph (iii), such continuity of ownership (and preservation of relative voting power) shall be deemed to be satisfied if the failure to meet such 75% threshold (or to substantially preserve such relative voting power) is due solely to the acquisition of voting securities by an employee benefit plan of the Company or such surviving entity or of any subsidiary of the Company or such surviving entity; or

 

(iv)           the shareholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets (or any transaction having a similar effect).

 

  

  

  

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no event or condition shall constitute a Change in Control to the extent that, if it were, a 20% tax would be imposed upon or with respect to any award under Section 409A of the Code; provided that, in such a case, the event or condition shall continue to constitute a Change in Control to the maximum extent possible (e.g., if applicable, in respect of vesting without an acceleration of distribution) without causing the imposition of such 20% tax.

 

(c)            “Deferred Share” means a credit to a Participant’s deferral account under Section 7 which represents the right to receive one Share upon settlement of the deferral account.  Deferral accounts, and Deferred Shares credited thereto, are maintained solely as bookkeeping entries by the Company evidencing unfunded obligations of the Company.

 

(d)           “Distribution Date” means the date or dates on which Deferred Shares will be distributed to the Participant.  Distributions may be made on Separation from Service, death, a specified date, or pursuant to a fixed schedule.  The timing of distributions shall be subject to such limitations as may be required to comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, distributions due upon a Separation from Service and death shall be made no later than 90 days after the occurrence of such event.

 

(e)           “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  References to any provision of the Exchange Act include the rules promulgated thereunder and successor provisions and rules thereto.

 

(f)           “Fair Market Value” of a Share means, as of any given date, (i) if Shares are then listed on a national securities exchange or quoted or reported on a national quotation system, the closing sales price of a Share on the exchange or system for the applicable date, or, if such day was not a trading day, the closing sales price for the most recent trading day prior to such date on such exchange or system, (ii) if Shares are not then listed on a national securities exchanges or quoted on a national quotation system but are then traded on an over-the-counter market or PORTAL, the closing sales price for the most recent trading day prior to such date if at least 50,000 shares were traded on such date, and if not, then the average of the closing bid and asked prices for the Shares in such over-the-counter market or PORTAL for the last preceding date on which there was a sale of such Shares in such market or PORTAL, or (iii) if Shares are not then listed on a national securities exchange, quoted on a national quotations system or traded on an over-the-counter market or PORTAL, such value as may be determined by the Board by whatever means or method as to which the Board, in the good faith exercise of its discretion, shall at such time deem appropriate.  For purposes of determining the average Fair Market Value of a Share during a period of days, only trading days shall be taken into account.

 

(g)           “Fiscal Quarter” means a fiscal quarter of the Company.

 

(h)            “Participant” means any person who, as a non-employee director of the Company, has been granted an a Share or Deferred Share which remains outstanding under the Plan.

 

(i)           “Rule 16b-3” means Exchange Act Rule 16b-3 as from time to time in effect and applicable to the Plan and Participants.

 

(j)           “Separation from Service” means a Participant’s separation from service with the Company and its subsidiaries.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any award that is subject to Section 409A of the Code, Separation from Service shall be interpreted within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Code.

 

(k)           “Share” means a common share of the Company and such other securities as may be substituted for such Share or such other securities pursuant to Section 8; provided, however, that to the extent any class of common shares are readily tradable on an established securities market, such common shares shall be designated as the Shares for purposes of this Plan.

 

(l)           “Total Annual Compensation” shall be $50,000.  The Board may amend this amount from time to time, in its sole discretion.

 

  

  

  

 

(m)          “Total Quarterly Compensation” shall equal 1/4 of the Total Annual Compensation.

 

3.           Shares Available Under the Plan.  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 8, the total number of Shares reserved and available for issuance under the Plan is 1,500,000.  Such Shares may be authorized but unissued Shares, treasury Shares, or Shares acquired in the market for the account of the Participant.  For purposes of the Plan, Shares credited to a Participant’s deferral account will not be considered to be available , except for purposes of issuance upon the settlement of such account;  provided, however, that, if the Deferred Share is forfeited, the Shares credited in respect of a Deferred Share will again be available for issuance under the Plan.

 

4.           Administration of the Plan.  The Plan will be administered by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”); provided, however, that any action by the Board relating to the Plan will be taken only if, in addition to any other required vote, such action is approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors who are not then eligible to participate in the Plan.  The Board shall have authority to (i) determine the number of Shares or Deferred Shares to be credited to each Participant, and (ii) determine or impose conditions on such Shares and Deferred Shares under the Plan as it may deem appropriate.  The Participant shall take whatever additional actions and execute whatever additional documents the Board may in its reasonable judgment deem necessary or advisable in order to carry out or effectuate one or more of the obligations or restrictions imposed on the Participant pursuant to the express provisions of the Plan.  In addition, notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Board shall administer the Plan, and exercise authority and discretion under the Plan, to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Code or any exemption thereto.

 

5.           Eligibility.   Each individual who, on any date on which Shares are to be granted or cash is to be paid under Section 6, is a director of the Company and is not an employee of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company will be eligible, at such date, for the compensation described in Section 6 (subject to any deferral election under Section 7), except if, pursuant to an agreement between the individual and the Company, the individual is not eligible for the Plan.  No other person will be eligible to participate in the Plan.

 

6.           Quarterly Compensation.  Compensation for service on the Board during a Fiscal Quarter for each eligible director, as defined in Section 5 above, shall be made partly in cash and partly in Shares, as described in this Section 6.

 

(a)           Cash Payment.  For services during a Fiscal Quarter, each eligible director shall receive a cash payment equal to 50% of the Total Quarterly Compensation amount.  Payment with respect to a Fiscal Quarter shall be made on the last day of such Fiscal Quarter (or as soon as practicable thereafter, but in no event later than the date specified in Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(b)(4)(i)).  Quarterly cash payments for 2010 shall be made no later than December 31, 2010.

 

(b)          Shares.

 

(i)           For services during each Fiscal Quarter after 2010, each eligible director shall be granted Shares in an amount equal to 50% of the Total Quarterly Compensation amount divided by the average Fair Market Value of a Share during the 30-calendar day period ending on the last business day of such Fiscal Quarter, and, subject to any deferral election as described in Section 7, Shares shall be issued in the next Fiscal Quarter.

 

(ii)           For services during 2010, each eligible director shall be granted Shares with a value equal to 50% of the Total Annual Compensation, subject to any deferral election as described in Section 7, calculated and paid in two installments.  The first installment will be issued on or before the last business day of 2010 and shall consist of an amount of Shares equal to 3⁄4 of 50% of the Total Annual Compensation divided by the average of Fair Market Value of a Share during the 30-day-period ending on the last day business day of the third Fiscal Quarter of 2010.  The second installment will be issued during the first Fiscal Quarter of 2011 and shall consist of an amount of Shares equal to 1⁄4 of 50% of the Total Annual Compensation divided by the average of Fair Market Value of a Share during the 30-day-period ending on the last day business day of 2010.  Fractional shares that would otherwise be included in an installment will instead be paid in cash, based on the value used to determine the amount of Shares in the installment.

 

  

  

  

 

(iii)           The Shares shall be vested on the last business day of the Fiscal Quarter to which they relate (or, in the case in 2010, on the last business day of 2010), and, unless deferred pursuant to Section 7, shall not be subject to restriction from any voluntary or involuntary sale, transfer, pledge, anticipation, alienation, encumbrance or assignment, other than those imposed by operation of law.  Shares granted under the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Board shall determine.

 

7.           Receipt of Deferred Shares in Lieu of Shares.  Each Participant receiving compensation relating to his or her service as a director in the form of Shares, as specified in Section 6, may elect to receive Deferred Shares in lieu of Shares.  If so elected, payment of Deferred Shares shall be made in accordance with this Section 7.  With respect to Shares that otherwise would be granted for services performed in 2010, each eligible director’s election under the Municipal Mortgage & Equity, LLC 2009 Non-Employee Directors’ Share Plan shall be treated as an election under this Plan and shall apply to such awards.

 

(a)           Elections.  Each director who elects to defer payment of Shares awarded for service in a given calendar year under Section 6 and instead to receive Deferred Shares for such given calendar year must file a written election with the Secretary of the Company no later than December 31 of the year preceding such calendar year; provided, however, that any newly elected or appointed director may file an election for any year not later than 30 days after the date such person first became a director (with respect to Shares not earned as of the date of such election).  In no event may an election be made after the last date that such election must be made in order to comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code.  Each election may specify a Distribution Date for the Shares to which it pertains.  Except as provided under this Section  7(a), and in Section  7(b) below, an election for a calendar year (or in the case of a new Participant, the remainder of a calendar year) is irrevocable.  An election under this Section  7(a) must specify the following:

 

(i)           The percentage of the Shares awarded to the Participant for such calendar year that are to be deferred in the form of Deferred Shares under the Plan; and

 

(ii)           The Distribution Date of Deferred Shares.  If the Distribution Date is not specified in an initial or annual election, Shares subject to the election shall be settled 30 days after the Participant’s Separation from Service with the Company.  Any election to be paid upon a cessation of service as a director (or as soon as practicable thereafter) shall be settled upon  a Separation from Service (or as soon as practicable, but no later than 90 days, thereafter).

 

(b)           Change in Election.  A director may change the Distribution Date with respect to Deferred Shares on an annual basis by making a subsequent election; provided that the subsequent election must, except as may otherwise be permitted under the rules applicable under Section 409A of the Code, (A) not be effective for at least one year after such election, or, in the case of payments to commence at a specific time, be made at least one year before the first scheduled payment and (B) defer the commencement of distributions (and each affected distribution) for at least five years.

 

An election by a director shall be deemed to be continuing and therefore applicable to subsequent Plan years as to both percentage and settlement date unless the director revokes or changes such election for a future year by filing a new election form by the due date for such form specified in this Section 7(a).

(c)           Deferred Shares.  The Company will establish a deferral account for each Participant who elects to receive Deferred Shares under this Section 7.  At any date on which Shares would otherwise be payable to a Participant who has elected to receive Deferred Shares, the Company will credit such Participant’s deferral account with a number of Deferred Shares equal to the number of Shares granted under Section 6 for which the Participant has elected to receive Deferred Shares.  The amount of Deferred Shares so credited shall include any fractional amounts calculated to at least two decimal places.

 

  

  

  

 

(d)           Crediting of Dividend Equivalents.  Whenever dividends are paid or distributions are made with respect to Shares, a Participant to whom Deferred Shares are then credited in a deferral account shall be entitled to receive, as dividend equivalents, an amount equal in value to the amount of the dividend paid or property distributed on a single Share multiplied by the number of Deferred Shares (including any fractional Share) credited to his or her deferral account as of the record date for such dividend or distribution.  Such dividend equivalents shall be credited to the Participant’s deferral account as a number of Deferred Shares determined by dividing the aggregate value of such dividend equivalents by the Fair Market Value of a Share at the payment date of the dividend or distribution.  No distributions shall be made with respect to such dividend equivalents until the Participant’s Distribution Date applicable to the Deferred Shares associated with the dividend equivalents.

 

(e)           Settlement of Deferred Shares.  The Company will settle the Participant’s deferral account by delivering to the Participant (or his or her beneficiary) a number of Shares equal to the number of whole Deferred Shares then credited to his or her deferral account (or a specified portion in the event of any partial settlement), together with cash in lieu of any fractional share remaining at a time when less than one whole Deferred Share is credited to such deferral account.  Such settlement shall be made on the Distribution Date specified or deemed specified in the Participant’s election filed in accordance with this Section 7.

 

(f)           Unforeseen Emergency.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7, a Participant may receive any amounts deferred by the Participant in the event of an “Unforeseeable Emergency.”  For these purposes, an “Unforeseeable Emergency,” as determined by the Board in its sole discretion, is a severe financial hardship of the Participant resulting from an illness or accident of the Participant, the Participant’s spouse, or the Participant’s dependent (as defined in Section 152(a) of the Code); loss of the Participant’s property due to casualty; or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the Participant, but only where such severe financial hardship is not and may not be relieved (i) through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise, or (ii) by liquidation of the Participant’s assets, to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship.  The determination of whether a financial hardship constitutes an Unforeseeable Emergency shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(ii) of the Code.  The amount distributed shall be limited to the amount necessary to satisfy the emergency need (which amount may include amounts necessary to pay federal, state and local income taxes that will be incurred in connection with the distribution).  In the event of a distribution on account of an Unforeseeable Emergency, any deferral election that is in effect on behalf of the Participant for the calendar year of distribution shall be cancelled.

 

(g)           Nonforfeitability.  The interest of each Participant in any Deferred Shares (and the deferral account relating thereto) at all times will be nonforfeitable.

 

(h)           Compliance with Section 409A.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, all distributions of Deferred Shares shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code and the Plan shall be interpreted consistent with this intention.

 

8.           Adjustment Provisions.

 

(a)           Corporate Transactions and Events.  In the event any recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination, repurchase, exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, share split or reverse split, extraordinary dividend (whether in the form of cash, Shares, or other property), liquidation, dissolution, or other similar corporate transaction or event affects the Shares such that an adjustment is appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of each Participant’s rights under the Plan (which would not include a transaction in which public stockholders retain no interest in the surviving company), then an adjustment shall be made, in a manner that is proportionate to the change to the Shares and otherwise equitable, in (i) the number and kind of Shares remaining reserved and available for issuance under Section 3, (ii) the number and kind of Shares under Section 6, (iii) whether Deferred Shares are issued under Section 7, and (iv) the number of Shares to be issued upon settlement of Deferred Shares under Section 7.  The foregoing notwithstanding, no adjustment may be made hereunder except as will be necessary to maintain the proportionate interest of the Participant under the Plan and to preserve, without exceeding, the value of outstanding Deferred Shares.

 

  

  

  

 

(b)           Insufficient Number of Shares.  If at any date an insufficient number of Shares are available under the Plan for the receipt of Shares or deferral of Deferred Shares at that date, Shares will be distributed proportionately to each eligible director to the extent Shares are then available.

 

9.           Interpretation and Other Rules.  The Board may make such rules and regulations and establish such procedures for the administration of the Plan as it deems appropriate.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Board may (i) interpret the Plan and any agreements under Section 11(a), with such interpretations to be conclusive and binding on all persons and otherwise accorded the maximum deference permitted by law, provided, that the Board’s interpretation shall not be entitled to deference on and after a Change in Control except to the extent that such interpretations are made exclusively by members of the Board who are individuals who served as Board members before the Change in Control, and (ii) take any other actions and make any other determinations or decisions that it deems necessary or appropriate in connection with the Plan or the administration or interpretation thereof.  In the event of any dispute or disagreement as to the interpretation of the Plan or of any rule, regulation or procedure, or as to any question, right or obligation arising from or related to the Plan, the decision of the Board shall be final and binding upon all persons.  Except as provided in Section 7 with respect to Deferred Shares, Shares are not intended to provide for the deferral of compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code and, if any provision of the Plan is subject to more than one interpretation or construction, such ambiguity shall be resolved in favor of that interpretation or construction which is consistent with such grants or payments not being subject to the provisions of Section 409A of the Code.  Deferred Shares are subject to Section 409A of the Code.

 

10.          Changes to the Plan.  The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the Plan or authority to grant Shares or to permit payment of Deferred Shares under the Plan without the consent of shareholders or Participants, except that any amendment or alteration will be subject to the approval of the Company’s shareholders at or before the next Annual Meeting for which the record date is after the date of such Board action if such shareholder approval is required by any applicable federal or state law or regulation or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system as then in effect, and the Board may otherwise determine to submit other such amendments or alterations to shareholders for approval; provided, however, that, without the consent of an affected Participant, no such action  may materially impair the rights of such Participant with respect to any previous award of Shares or Deferred Shares, provided, further that no such amendment, discontinuance or termination of the Plan shall accelerate the time for payment of any Deferred Shares or other amounts subject to Section 409A of the Code (except to the extent permitted by Section 409A of the Code).  For purposes of this Section 10, a termination of the Plan that involves an accelerated payment of amounts due under the Plan is not considered to materially impair the rights of a Participant.

 

11.          General Provisions.

 

(a)           Agreements.  Deferred Shares and any other right or obligation under the Plan may be evidenced by agreements or other documents executed by the Company and the Participant incorporating the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan, together with such other terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan, as the Board may from time to time approve.  Such agreements and documents which pertain to awards that are subject to Section 409A of the Code shall include such additional terms and conditions as may be required to satisfy the requirements thereof.

 

(b)           Compliance with Laws and Obligations.  The Company will not be obligated to issue or deliver Shares in connection with any award of Shares or in settlement of Deferred Shares in a transaction subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any other federal or state securities law, any requirement under any listing agreement between the Company and any stock exchange or automated quotation system, or any other law, regulation, or contractual obligation of the Company, until the Company is satisfied that such laws, regulations, and other obligations of the Company have been complied with in full.  Certificates representing Shares issued under the Plan will be subject to such stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as may be applicable under such laws, regulations, and other obligations of the Company, including any requirement that a legend or legends be placed thereon.

 

  

  

  

 

(c)           Compliance.  The obligation of the Company to provide Shares under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including all applicable federal and state securities laws, and the obtaining of all such approvals by governmental agencies as may be deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board.  The election and settlement of Deferred Shares shall be administered in conformance with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code.  The Board may make such changes to the Plan as may be necessary or appropriate to comply with the rules and regulations of any government authority or to obtain tax benefits applicable to rights under the Plan.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Company shall not be required to take or permit any action under the Plan or any agreement under Section 11(a) which, in the good-faith determination of the Company, would result in a material risk of a violation by the Company of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act.

 

(d)           Limitations on Transferability.  Deferred Shares and rights relating thereto under the Plan will not be transferable by a Participant except by will or the laws of descent and distribution (or to a designated beneficiary in the event of a Participant’s death), and will be exercisable during the lifetime of the Participant only by such Participant or his or her guardian or legal representative.  A Participant may designate a beneficiary by filing with the Company the beneficiary Designation Form attached to the Plan. The Company may rely upon the beneficiary designation last filed in accordance with this Section 11(d).  Deferred Shares and rights relating thereto under the Plan may not be pledged, mortgaged, hypothecated, or otherwise encumbered, and shall not be subject to the claims of creditors of any Participant.

 

(e)           No Fiduciary Relationship.  Nothing contained in the Plan and no action taken pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall create or shall be construed to create a trust of any kind, or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or its subsidiaries, or their officers or the Board, on the one hand, and the Participant, the Company, its subsidiaries or any other person or entity, on the other.

 

(f)           Notices.  All notices under the Plan shall be in writing, and if to the Company, shall be delivered to the Company or mailed to its principal office, addressed to the attention of the Board; and if to the Participant, shall be delivered personally, sent by facsimile transmission or mailed to the Participant at the address appearing in the records of the Company.  Such addresses may be changed at any time by written notice to the other party given in accordance with this Section 11(f).

 

(g)           Unfunded Status of Accounts.  With respect to any Shares or payments not yet made to a Participant in respect of Deferred Shares, nothing contained in the Plan or such Deferred Shares shall give any such Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general unsecured creditor of the Company; provided, however, that the Committee may authorize the creation of trusts or make other arrangements to meet the Company’s obligations under the Plan to deliver cash or Shares, which trusts or other arrangements shall be consistent with the “unfunded” status of the Plan.

 

(h)           Compliance with Rule 16b-3.  It is the intent of the Company that this Plan complies in all respects with applicable provisions of Rule 16b-3.  Accordingly, if any provision of this Plan or any agreement hereunder does not comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 as then applicable to a transaction by a Participant, such provision will be construed or deemed amended to the extent necessary, to conform to the applicable requirements with respect to such Participant.

 

(i)           No Right To Continue as a Director.  Nothing contained in the Plan or any agreement hereunder will confer upon any Participant any right to continue to serve as a director of the Company.

 

(j)           No Shareholder Rights Conferred.  Nothing contained in the Plan or any agreement hereunder will confer upon any Participant (or any person or entity claiming rights by or through a Participant) any rights of a shareholder of the Company unless and until Shares are in fact issued to such Participant (or person).

 

(k)          Nonexclusivity of the Plan.  Neither the adoption of the Plan by the Board nor any submission thereof to the shareholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such other compensatory arrangements for directors as it may deem desirable.

 

  

  

  

 

(l)           Limitation of Liability.  Each member of the Board shall be entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to him by any officer or other employee of the Company or any subsidiary, the Company’s independent certified public accountants, or any executive compensation consultant, legal counsel, or other professional retained by the Company to assist in the administration of the Plan.  No member of the Board, nor any officer or employee of the Company acting on behalf of the Board, shall be personally liable for any action, determination, or interpretation taken or made in good faith with respect to the Plan, and all members of the Board and any officer or employee of the Company acting on behalf of the Board or members thereof shall, to the extent permitted by, law, be fully indemnified and protected by the Company with respect to any such action, determination, or interpretation.

 

(m)         Captions.  The use of captions in this Plan is for convenience.  The captions are not intended to provide substantive rights.

 

(n)          Governing Law.  The validity, construction, and effect of the Plan and any agreement hereunder will be determined in accordance with the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act and other laws (including those governing contracts) of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of laws, and applicable federal law.

 

(o)          Tax Withholding. Prior to the payment or settlement of any award under the Plan, the Participant must pay, or make arrangements acceptable to the Company for the payment of, any and all federal, state and local tax withholding (including FICA tax) that in the opinion of the Board is required by law. If the Participant does not make such payment or arrangement, in the Board’s discretion, the Participant may forfeit the award.  The Board shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, the minimum statutory amount to satisfy federal, state and local tax withholding (including FICA tax), required by law or regulation to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising as a result of this Plan.  The Participant shall remain responsible at all times for paying any tax due with respect to any award under the Plan, and the Company shall not be liable for any interest or penalty that a Participant incurs by failing to make timely payments of tax.

 

12.          Effective Date and Plan Termination.  The Plan will be effective upon the date specified herein upon approval of the Board, subject to its approval by the shareholders of the Company if such shareholder approval is required by any applicable federal or state law or regulation or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system as then in effect.  Unless earlier terminated by action of the Board, the Plan will remain in effect until such time as no Shares remain available for issuance under the Plan and the Company and Participants have no further rights or obligations under the Plan.  The Board may (without the approval or consent of any Participant) elect to settle (and distribute) all Deferred Shares within thirty (30) days prior to, or twelve (12) months following, a “Change In Control” (as defined for purposes of Section 409A of the Code), provided that all substantially similar arrangements that are sponsored by the Company which are deemed to be part of a single plan for purposes of Section 409A of the Code are terminated, and all Deferred Shares are settled within twelve (12) months of the date of termination.  In the event the Plan is terminated, any distribution or settlement of Deferred Shares shall conform to the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code so that Participant avoids liability under Section 409A.

 

As adopted by the Board: November 29, 2010

 

  

  

  

 

MUNICIPAL MORTGAGE & EQUITY, LLC

 

2010 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS’ COMPENSATION PLAN

 

Director’s Deferral Election Form

 

This Election Form sets forth my election under the 2010 Non-Employee Directors’ Compensation Plan (the Plan) of Municipal Mortgage & Equity LLC (the Company) regarding voluntary deferral of common shares of the Company (the Shares) that I am awarded under the Plan as compensation for serving as a Director of the Company.

 

The elections I make below apply to Shares for services I perform after the year in which I make this election, except that if I am making these elections within 30 days of first becoming a director, these elections apply to Shares I earn for services performed after I make this election.  These elections will remain in effect until I revoke or change them.   An election to receive Deferred Shares cannot  be revoked or changed with respect to Shares I earn for services during the year in which I make the change.  My elections can be revoked or changed only with regard to Shares I earn for services performed in a subsequent calendar year by an election form that I deliver to the Company before the beginning of that calendar year.

 

	
1.

	
Election regarding voluntary deferral of Shares.

 

I elect to receive all Shares to which I become entitled as a director as follows:

 

______ % in Shares delivered to me when Shares are granted under the Plan.

 

______ % in Deferred Shares (as that term is defined in the Plan), that will entitle me to receive Shares on the date or dates specified in Section 2 of this form.

 

	
2.

	
Election as to deferral period

 

To the extent I have elected to receive Deferred Shares, I elect to have the Shares to which I am entitled as a result of that election distributed to me on, or beginning on, ______________________ (the Distribution Date)

 

I elect to have those Shares distributed to me as follows (check one)

 

_____  deliver on the Distribution Date all the Shares to which I am entitled.

 

_____  deliver the Shares to which I am entitled in ________ equal annual installments, beginning on the Distribution Date (up to 10 installments permitted).

 

	
3.

	
Effect of death, disability, resignation, or separation from service.

 

If, before the Distribution Date, I cease to be a director for any reason (such as because I die, because I become disabled or because I resign or am not re-elected), I elect to have the Shares to which I am entitled distributed to me, or to the persons who are entitled to receive them as a result of my death, as follows:

 

_____  deliver the Shares to which I am entitled as I elected in Section 2.

 

_____  deliver as promptly as practicable (and no more than 90 days) after I cease to be a director all the Shares to which I am entitled.

 

_____  deliver the Shares to which I am entitled in ________ equal annual installments, beginning as promptly as possible (and no more than 90 days) after I cease to be a director (up to 10 installments permitted).

 

However, if I am a specified employee (within the meaning of Section 409A(2)(B)(i) of the Code) on the date I separate from service, any payment otherwise due within the six months following my separation from service shall, instead, be paid in the seventh month after my separation from service to the extent such delay is required by Section 409A(2)(B)(i) of the Code.

 

  

  

  

 

Acknowledgement and Signature

 

I am aware that the elections above are being made under the Plan, and that they are governed by the Plan, including the provisions of the Plan relating to Deferred Shares and deferred share accounts.  I acknowledge that those elections and the Plan together constitute an agreement between the Company and me, which can only be revoked or changed as described above (including the specific limitation on my right to revoke or change elections to receive Deferred Shares).

 

The elections made above supersede and revoke any prior elections I made under the Plan or any predecessor Non-Employee Directors’ Share Plan with respect to the Shares covered by this election.

 

	  	  	  
	
(Date)

	  	
(Signature of Director)

	  	  	  
	  	  	  
	
(Social Security No.)

	  	
(Print Name)

Date received by the Company

 

	
Date received by the Company

	  	

       

Agreement of the Company

 

Municipal Mortgage & Equity, LLC, agrees to honor the elections made above as valid elections under the Plan to the director who made the elections in accordance with those elections.

 

	  	
MUNICIPAL MORTGAGE & EQUITY, LLC

	  	  
	  	
By:

	

       

	  	  	  
	  	
Name:  

	

       

	  	  	  
	  	
Title:

	
       

 

  

  

  

 

MUNICIPAL MORTGAGE AND EQUITY, LLC

 

2010 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS’ COMPENSATION PLAN

 

Beneficiary Designation Form

 

Designation of Beneficiaries

 

Pursuant to Section 11(d) of the 2010 Non-Employee Directors’ Compensation Plan of Municipal Mortgage & Equity, LLC, I designate the following individual(s) as my beneficiary (or beneficiaries) to receive Shares or amounts that are distributed with regard to my deferral account after my death:

 

First Beneficiary:

___________________________________, my ____________________, to receive ______%

(Name)                                                                             (Relationship)

	
       

	  	  
	  	  	  
	
       

	  	
       

	
(Address)

	  	
(Social Security No.)

Second Beneficiary:

___________________________________, my ____________________, to receive ______%

(Name)                                                                             (Relationship)

	
       

	  	  
	  	  	  
	
       

	  	
       

	
(Address)

	  	
(Social Security No.)

Third Beneficiary:

___________________________________, my ____________________, to receive ______%

(Name)                                                                             (Relationship)

	
       

	  	  
	  	  	  
	
       

	  	
       

	
(Address)

	  	
(Social Security No.)

Note:  For This Election to Be Valid, the Percentages Must Total 100%.

 

(Signatures on next page)

 

  

  

  

 

Spousal agreement

 

I understand that any designation of a beneficiary other than my spouse must be agreed to by my spouse in the space below.

 

Termination or modification

 

I understand that this beneficiary designation is terminable and modifiable in accordance with the provisions of the Plan.  My making a valid beneficiary designation by delivering this Beneficiary Designation to the Company supersedes and revokes any prior beneficiary election that I made before I delivered this Beneficiary Designation to the Company.

 

Signatures

 

	

       

	  	

       

	
(Date)

	  	
(Signature of Director)

	  	  	  
	

       

	  	

       

	  	  	
(Print Name)

Agreement of Spouse

 

I agree to the beneficiary designation(s) set forth above on this Beneficiary Designation Form

 

	

       

	  	

       

	
(Date)

	  	
(Signature of Spouse)

	  	  	  
	

       

	  	

       

	  	  	
(Print Name of Spouse)

Date received by the Company

 

	
Date received by the CompanyUnassociated Document

VOTING AGREEMENT

THIS VOTING AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of this __ day of November, 2010, by and among Discovery Laboratories, Inc., a Dela­ware corporation (the “Company”), and ________________ (“Participant”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Company’s 2007 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“Plan”), on September __, 2010, the Company issued to Participant a grant consisting of  ____,000 shares of restricted stock (“Shares”).  Under the terms of the related award agreement between the Company and Participant (the “RSA Agreement”), at the discretion of the Company, Participant may be required to execute a stockholders agreement with respect to the voting rights associated with the Shares, in such form as shall be determined by the Company.

WHEREAS, in accordance with the RSA Agreement, the parties now desire to set forth their agreements and understandings with respect to how the Shares will be voted.

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:

1.  Voting of the Shares; Irrevocable Proxy.

1.1.  Acknowledgement.  Participant hereby acknowledges and agrees that, until such time as (a) the Shares become fully vested in accordance with the terms of the RSA Agreement, or (b) Participant forfeits the Shares pursuant to Section 4 of the RSA Agreement, the Company shall have the right to vote, or cause to be voted, all Shares of Participant, including any additional Shares that may be made subject to this Agreement under Section 4.1 of this Agreement, with respect to all matters that may be brought for a vote before the stockholders of the Company, either at a meeting of stockholders or by written consent, including, without limitation: election or removal of directors; ratification of the appointment of the Company’s independent auditors;  amendments to, or restatements of, the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation; approval of executive compensation arrangements, including compensation and employee benefit plans; and approval of transactions involving a change of control of the Company or the issuance of shares of capital stock of the Company, including strategic alliances and financings, and mergers, acquisitions, business combinations and other similar transactions.

1.2.  Irrevocable Proxy.  Participant hereby constitutes and appoints the Chief Executive Officer of the Company (“CEO”), or if the Company does not have a CEO, the individual performing the functions of a CEO, with full power of substitution, as the proxy of Participant with respect to the Shares, including any additional Shares made subject to this Agreement under Section 4.1 of this Agreement, and hereby authorizes the Company’s CEO to represent and vote all of the Shares, in his or her discretion, in accordance with the recommendations of the Company’s Board of Directors, and to vote all of the Shares, in his or her discretion, upon such other business as may properly come up for a vote of the Company’s stockholders, by consent or at a meeting of stockholders or any adjournments or postponements thereof.  The proxy granted pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence is given in consideration of the agreements and covenants of the Company under the RSA Agreement and, as such, is coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable unless and until this Agreement terminates or expires pursuant to Section 3 of this Agreement.  Participant hereby revokes any and all previous proxies with respect to the Shares and shall not hereafter, unless and until this Agreement terminates or expires, purport to grant any other proxy or power of attorney with respect to any of the Shares or enter into any agreement (other than this Agreement), arrangement or understanding with any person, directly or indirectly, to vote, grant any proxy or give instruc­tions with respect to the voting of any of the Shares.

 

  

  

  

 

1.3.  Stock Splits, Stock Dividends, etc.  In the event of any issuance of shares of Common Stock or other voting securities of the Company hereafter to Participant with respect to the Shares (including, without limitation, in connection with any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, or the like), such additional shares of Common Stock or other voting securities shall be deemed to be Shares and shall immediately upon issuance become subject to this Agreement.

1.4.  No Liability for Voting or not Voting Shares.  Under no circumstances shall the Company or the individual proxy designated under Section 1.2 of this Agreement have any liability as a result of voting or not voting the Shares in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

1.5.  Manner of Voting. The Company may vote the Shares pursuant to this Agreement in any manner permitted by applica­ble law. If for any reason, the proxy provided in Section 1.2 of this Agreement shall be deemed unenforceable either in a particular circumstance or for all purposes, then, Participant hereby agrees to vote the Shares in accordance with any written instructions provided by the Company and, in the absence of such written shares, to vote the Shares “for” each proposal that is recommended by the Board of Directors of the Company.

2.  Term.

2.1.  This Agreement shall be effective as of the date hereof and shall continue in effect until, and shall terminate effective upon, the earlier to occur of (a) vesting of all Shares in accordance with the RSA Agreement, and (b) the effective date of any termination or expiration of the RSA Agreement.

3.  Remedies.

3.1.  Specific Enforcement.  Participant acknowledges and agrees that the Company will be irreparably damaged in the event that Participant fails to comply with the terms of this Agreement.  Accordingly, it is agreed that the Company shall be entitled to an injunction to prevent breaches of this Agreement, and to specific enforcement of this Agreement and its terms and provisions in any action instituted in any court of the United States or any state having subject matter jurisdiction.

3.2.  Remedies Cumulative.  All remedies, either under this Agreement or by law or otherwise afforded to any party, shall be cumulative and not alternative.

 

  

2

  

3.3.  Delays or Omissions.  No delay or failure to exercise any right, power or remedy available to the Company under this Agreement, upon any breach of Participant, shall impair any such right, power or remedy of the Company; nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of, or an acquiescence in, any such breach of or in any similar breach or default thereafter occurring; nor shall any waiver of any single breach or default be deemed a waiver of any other breach or default previously or thereafter occurring.

4.  Miscellaneous.

4.1.  Transfers.  Each transferee or assignee of any Shares subject to this Agree­ment shall continue to be subject to the terms hereof, and, as a condition precedent to the Com­pany’s consenting to such transfer, each transferee or assignee shall agree in writing to be subject to the terms of this Agreement.

4.2.  Successors and Assigns.  The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective successors and assigns of the parties.  Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.

4.3.  Governing Law.   This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its princi­ples of conflicts of laws.

4.4.  Counterparts; Facsimile.  This Agreement may be executed and deliv­ered by facsimile signature and in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

4.5.  Titles and Subtitles.   The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.

4.6.  Notices.  Any notice required to be given or delivered to the Company under the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing and addressed to the Company at 2600 Kelly Road, Suite 100, Warrington, Pennsylvania 18976, Attention: Legal Department, or to such other address as shall be provided in writing to Participant.  Any notice required to be given or delivered to Participant shall be in writing and addressed to the most recent address of Participant, as set forth in the books and records of the Company.  All notices shall be deemed effective one day after being sent by Federal Express or similar overnight delivery or three days after being mailed registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, and properly addressed to the party to be notified.

4.7.  Amendment, Modification or Waiver.  This Agreement may be amended or modified and the observance of any term hereof may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively) only by a written instrument executed by the party against whom any such amendment, waiver or modification is intended to be charged.

 

  

3

  

 

4.8.  Severability.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision hereof shall in no way affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision.

4.9.  Entire Agreement.  This Agreement constitutes the full and entire understanding and agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and any other written or oral agreement relating to the subject matter hereof existing between the parties are expressly canceled.

4.10.  Further Assurances.  Participant agrees to cooperate with the Company, and at the request of the Company, to execute and deliver any further instruments or documents and to take all such further action as the Company may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent of the parties under this Agreement.

4.11.  Severability.  Whenever possible, each provision in this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement shall be held to be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, then (a) such provision shall be deemed amended to accomplish the objectives of the provision as originally written to the fullest extent permitted by law and (b) all other provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

4.12.  Dispute Resolution.  Any unresolved controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, shall be submitted to arbitration by one arbitrator mutually agreed upon by the parties, and if no agreement can be reached within thirty (30) days after names of potential arbitrators have been proposed by the American Arbitration Association (the “AAA”), then by one arbitrator having reasonable experience in Delaware law corporate governance matters and who is chosen by the AAA.  The arbitration shall take place in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, in accordance with the AAA rules then in effect, and judgment upon any award rendered in such arbitration will be binding and may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.  There shall be limited discovery prior to the arbitration hearing as follows:  (a) exchange of witness lists and copies of documentary evidence and documents relating to or arising out of the issues to be arbitrated, (b) depositions of all party witnesses and (c) such other depositions as may be allowed by the arbitrators upon a showing of good cause.  Depositions shall be conducted in accordance with the Pennsylvania Code of Civil Procedure, the arbitrator shall be required to provide in writing to the parties the basis for the award or order of such arbitrator, and a court reporter shall record all hearings, with such record constituting the official transcript of such proceedings.  Each party will bear its own costs in respect of any disputes arising under this Agreement. Each of the parties to this Agreement consents to personal jurisdiction for any equitable action sought in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania or any court of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania having subject matter jurisdiction.

[Signatures appear on the following page]

  

4

  

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Voting Agreement as of the date first written above.

	
Discovery Laboratories, Inc.

	  	  	  
	  	  	  
	
By:

	  	  
	
Name:

	  	  
	
Title:

	  	  

 

	
PARTICIPANT

	  	  	  
	  	  	  
	  	  	  
	
Name:

	  	  

  

5

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