Document:

Exhibit 10.1

 

ASHFORD HOSPITALITY PRIME, INC.

 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED 2013 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

August 3, 2016

 

 

ASHFORD HOSPITALITY PRIME, INC.

 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED 2013 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

Table of Contents

 

	
ARTICLE I   INTRODUCTION
    	
1
    
	
1.1
    	
Purpose
    	
1
    
	
1.2
    	
Shares Subject to the   Plan
    	
1
    
	
1.3
    	
Administration of the   Plan
    	
2
    
	
1.4
    	
Amendment and   Discontinuance of the Plan
    	
2
    
	
1.5
    	
Granting of Awards
    	
2
    
	
1.6
    	
Term of Plan
    	
2
    
	
1.7
    	
Leave of Absence
    	
2
    
	
1.8
    	
Definitions
    	
3
    
	
ARTICLE II   OPTIONS
    	
8
    
	
2.1
    	
Grants
    	
8
    
	
2.2
    	
Calculation of Exercise   Price
    	
9
    
	
2.3
    	
Terms and Conditions of   Options
    	
9
    
	
2.4
    	
Amendment
    	
10
    
	
2.5
    	
Acceleration of Vesting
    	
10
    
	
2.6
    	
Other Provisions
    	
11
    
	
2.7
    	
Option Repricing
    	
11
    
	
ARTICLE III   INCENTIVE OPTIONS
    	
11
    
	
3.1
    	
Eligibility
    	
11
    
	
3.2
    	
Exercise Price
    	
11
    
	
3.3
    	
Dollar Limitation
    	
11
    
	
3.4
    	
10% Stockholder
    	
12
    
	
3.5
    	
Options Not   Transferable
    	
12
    
	
3.6
    	
Compliance with   Section 422 of the Code
    	
12
    
	
3.7
    	
Limitations on Exercise
    	
12
    
	
3.8
    	
Share Limitation
    	
12
    
	
ARTICLE IV   PURCHASED STOCK
    	
12
    
	
4.1
    	
Eligible Persons
    	
12
    
	
4.2
    	
Purchase Price
    	
12
    
	
4.3
    	
Payment of Purchase   Price
    	
12
    
	
ARTICLE V   BONUS STOCK
    	
13
    
	
ARTICLE VI   STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS AND PHANTOM STOCK
    	
13
    
	
6.1
    	
Stock Appreciation   Rights
    	
13
    
	
6.2
    	
Phantom Stock Awards
    	
14
    
	
ARTICLE VII   RESTRICTED STOCK
    	
15
    
	
7.1
    	
Eligible Persons
    	
15
    
	
7.2
    	
Restricted Period and   Vesting
    	
15
    
	
ARTICLE VIII   PERFORMANCE AWARDS
    	
15
    
	
8.1
    	
Eligible Persons
    	
15
    
	
8.2
    	
Performance Awards
    	
16
    
	
8.3
    	
Performance Goals
    	
16
    

 

 

	
ARTICLE IX   OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS
    	
17
    
	
ARTICLE X   CERTAIN PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL AWARDS
    	
17
    
	
10.1
    	
General
    	
17
    
	
10.2
    	
Stand-Alone,   Additional, Tandem, and Substitute Awards
    	
18
    
	
10.3
    	
Term of Awards
    	
18
    
	
10.4
    	
Form and Timing of   Payment under Awards; Deferrals
    	
18
    
	
10.5
    	
Vested and Unvested   Awards
    	
19
    
	
10.6
    	
Exemptions from   Section 16(b) Liability
    	
19
    
	
10.7
    	
Other Provisions
    	
19
    
	
10.8
    	
Change of Control
    	
19
    
	
10.9
    	
Ownership Limit
    	
20
    
	
10.10
    	
Minimum Vesting
    	
21
    
	
10.11
    	
Equity Retention Requirement
    	
21
    
	
ARTICLE XI   WITHHOLDING FOR TAXES
    	
21
    
	
ARTICLE XII   MISCELLANEOUS
    	
22
    
	
12.1
    	
No Rights to Awards
    	
22
    
	
12.2
    	
No Right to Employment
    	
22
    
	
12.3
    	
Governing Law
    	
22
    
	
12.4
    	
Severability
    	
22
    
	
12.5
    	
Other Laws
    	
22
    
	
12.6
    	
Stockholder Agreements
    	
22
    
	
12.7
    	
No Guarantee of Tax   Consequences
    	
22
    
	
12.8
    	
Compliance with   Section 409A of the Code
    	
22
    
	
12.9
    	
Claw-back Policy
    	
23
    

 

ii

 

ASHFORD HOSPITALITY PRIME, INC.
 2013 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

ARTICLE I
 INTRODUCTION

 

1.1          Purpose.  The Ashford Hospitality Prime, Inc. 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is intended to promote the interests of Ashford Hospitality Prime, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and its stockholders by encouraging Employees, Consultants and Non-Employee Directors of the Company, the Advisor and each of their respective Affiliates (each term as defined below) to acquire or increase their equity interests in the Company, thereby giving them an added incentive to work toward the continued growth and success of the Company. The Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) also contemplates that through the Plan, the Company, the Advisor and each of their respective Affiliates will be better able to compete for the services of the individuals needed for the continued growth and success of the Company.  The Plan shall not constitute any “employee benefit plan” for purposes of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

1.2          Shares Subject to the Plan.  The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company (“Common Stock”) that may be issued under the Plan shall not exceed 2,050,000 shares of outstanding Common Stock. In no event may the total number of shares of common stock subject to options or Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) awarded to any eligible participant under the Plan during any single calendar year exceed 1,000,000. In no event may the total number of shares of common stock subject to full value awards, including performance awards or other stock-based awards, awarded to any eligible Participant during any single calendar year exceed 1,000,000.

 

In the event that at any time after the Effective Date the outstanding shares of Common Stock are changed into or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or other securities of the Company by reason of a merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reclassification, stock split, stock dividend, combination of shares or the like, the aggregate number and class of securities available under the Plan, the individual share limits set forth above and in Section 3.8, the number, amount and type of common stock subject to awards under the Plan, and the grant, purchase or exercise price of outstanding Awards shall be ratably adjusted by the Committee (as defined below), whose determination shall be final and binding upon the Company and all other interested persons. Shares issued pursuant to the Plan (i) may be authorized but unissued shares or, if applicable, shares acquired in the open market and (ii) shall be fully paid and nonassessable.

 

Any shares of Common Stock subject to an Award that is forfeited or expires or is settled for cash shall, to the extent of such forfeiture, expiration or cash settlement, again become available for Awards under this Plan, and the total number of shares of Common Stock available for grant under this Section 1.2 shall be increased by the number of shares of Common Stock that is forfeited or expires or is settled for cash. The following shares of Common Stock shall not, however, again become available for Awards or increase the number of shares of Common Stock available for grant under this Section 1.2: (i) shares of Common Stock tendered by the

 

 

Participant or withheld by the Company in payment of the purchase price of an Option issued under this Plan, (ii) shares of Common Stock tendered by the Participant or withheld by the Company to satisfy any tax withholding obligation with respect to an Award, (iii) shares of Common Stock repurchased by the Company with proceeds received from the exercise of an Option issued under this Plan, and (iv) shares of Common Stock subject to a Stock Appreciation Right issued under this Plan that are not issued in connection with the stock settlement of that Stock Appreciation Right upon its exercise.

 

1.3          Administration of the Plan.  The Plan shall be administered by the Committee.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall interpret the Plan and all Awards under the Plan, shall make such rules as it deems necessary for the proper administration of the Plan, shall make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan and shall correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any Award under the Plan in the manner and to the extent that the Committee deems desirable to effectuate the Plan.  Any action taken or determination made by the Committee pursuant to this and the other paragraphs of the Plan shall be final, binding and conclusive on all parties.  The act or determination of a majority of the Committee shall be deemed to be the act or determination of the Committee.

 

1.4          Amendment and Discontinuance of the Plan.  The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan; provided, however, no amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan may, without the consent of the holder of an Award, terminate such Award or adversely affect such holder’s rights with respect to such Award in any material respect; provided further, however, that any amendment which would constitute a “material revision” of the Plan (as that term is used in the rules of the New York Stock Exchange) shall be subject to stockholder approval.

 

1.5          Granting of Awards.  The Committee shall have the authority to grant, prior to the expiration date of the Plan, Awards to such Employees, Consultants and Non-Employee Directors as may be selected by it on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth in the Plan.  In selecting the persons to receive Awards, including the type and size of the Award, the Committee may consider any factors that it may deem relevant.

 

1.6          Term of Plan.  The Plan was originally effective as of November 5, 2013 (the “Effective Date”), the date of original approval of the Plan by the stockholders of the Company. This amendment and restatement of the Plan was approved by the Board on March 25, 2015, subject to approval of the Company’s shareholders at its 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Amendment Date”) The provisions of the Plan, as amended and restated, are applicable to all Awards granted on or after the Amendment Date. If not sooner terminated under the provisions of Section 1.4, the Plan shall terminate upon, and no further Awards shall be made, after the tenth anniversary of the Amendment Date.

 

1.7          Leave of Absence.  If an employee of the Company, the Advisor or one of their respective Affiliates is on military, sick leave or other bona fide leave of absence, such person shall be considered an “Employee” for purposes of an outstanding Award during the period of such leave provided it does not exceed ninety (90) days, or, if longer, so long as the person’s right to reemployment is guaranteed either by statute or by contract.  If the period of leave

 

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exceeds ninety (90) days, such person shall be deemed to no longer be an “Employee” for purposes of an outstanding Award on the 91st day of such leave, unless the person’s right to reemployment is guaranteed by statute or contract.

 

1.8          Definitions.  As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

 

“1934 Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

“Advisor” means Ashford Hospitality Advisors LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, together with any successors and assigns.

 

“Affiliate” means (i) Remington, (ii) any entity in which the Company, the Advisor or Remington, directly or indirectly, owns 10% or more of the combined voting power, as determined by the Committee, (iii) any “parent corporation” of the Company, the Advisor or Remington (as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code), (iv) any “subsidiary corporation” of any such parent corporation (as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code) of the Company, the Advisor or Remington and (v) any trades or businesses, whether or not incorporated which are members of a controlled group or are under common control (as defined in Sections 414(b) or (c) of the Code) with the Company, the Advisor or Remington.

 

“Awards” means, collectively, Options, Purchased Stock, Bonus Stock, Stock Appreciation Rights, Phantom Stock, Restricted Stock, Performance Awards, or Other Stock-Based Awards.

 

“Bonus Stock” is defined in Article V.

 

“Cause” for termination of any Participant who is a party to an agreement of employment with or services to the Company or the Advisor shall mean termination for “Cause” as such term is defined in such agreement, the relevant portions of which are incorporated herein by reference.  If such agreement does not define “Cause” or if a Participant is not a party to such an agreement, “Cause” means (i) the willful commission by a Participant of a criminal or other act that causes or is likely to cause substantial economic damage to the Company, the Advisor or one of their respective Affiliates or substantial injury to the business reputation of the Company, the Advisor or one of their respective Affiliates; (ii) the commission by a Participant of an act of fraud in the performance of such Participant’s duties on behalf of the Company, the Advisor or one of their respective Affiliates; or (iii) the continuing willful failure of a Participant to perform the duties of such Participant to the Company, the Advisor or one of their respective Affiliates (other than such failure resulting from the Participant’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness) after written notice thereof (specifying the particulars thereof in reasonable detail) and a reasonable opportunity to be heard and cure such failure are given to the Participant by the Committee.  For purposes of the Plan, no act, or failure to act, on the Participant’s part shall be considered “willful” unless done or omitted to be done by the

 

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Participant not in good faith and without reasonable belief that the Participant’s action or omission was in the best interest of the Company, the Advisor or one of their respective Affiliates, as the case may be.

 

“Change of Control” shall be deemed to have occurred upon any of the following events:

 

(i)            any “person” (as defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the 1934 Act, and as modified in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the 1934 Act) other than (A) the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (B) any employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (C) Remington, the Advisor or any of their respective Affiliates, (D) a company owned, directly or indirectly, by stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Company, or (E) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the 1934 Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 30% or more of the shares of voting stock of the Company then outstanding; provided, however, that an initial public offering of Common Stock shall not constitute a Change of Control;

 

(ii)           the consummation of any merger, organization, business combination or consolidation of the Company or one of its subsidiaries with or into any other company, other than a merger, reorganization, business combination or consolidation which would result in the holders of the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto holding securities which represent immediately after such merger, reorganization, business combination or consolidation more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or the surviving company or the parent of such surviving company;

 

(iii)          the consummation of a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, other than a sale or disposition if the holders of the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto hold securities immediately thereafter which represent more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the acquiror, or parent of the acquiror, of such assets, or the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or

 

(iv)          individuals who, as of the Effective Date, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the Effective Date whose election by the Board, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an election contest with respect to the election or removal of

 

4

 

directors or other solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a person other than the Board.

 

Further, in the case of any item of income under an Award to which the foregoing definition would otherwise apply with the effect that the income tax under Section 409A of the Code would apply or be imposed on income under that Award, but where such tax would not apply or be imposed if the meaning of the term “Change of Control” met the requirements of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(v) of the Code, then the term “Change of Control” herein shall mean, but only with respect to the income so affected, a transaction, circumstance or event that constitutes a “Change of Control” (as defined above) and that also constitutes a “change in control event” within the meaning of Treas. Reg. §1.409A—3(i)(5).

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

“Committee” means the compensation committee appointed by the Board to administer the Plan or, if none, the Board; provided however, that with respect to any Award granted to a Covered Employee which is intended to be “performance-based compensation” as described in Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code, the Committee shall consist solely of two or more members of the Board, each of whom qualifies as both an “outside director” as described in Section 162(m)(4)(C)(i) of the Code and a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Section 16b-3 under the 1934 Act.

 

“Consultant” means any individual, other than a Director or an Employee, who renders consulting or advisory services to the Company, the Advisor or any of their respective Affiliates.

 

“Covered Employee” shall mean those employees of the Company who are “covered employees” as defined in Section 162(m)(3) of the Code.

 

“Disability” means an inability to perform the Participant’s material services for the Company, the Advisor or any of their respective Affiliates, as applicable, for a period of ninety (90) consecutive days or a total of one hundred eighty (180) days, during any 365-day period, in either case as a result of incapacity due to mental or physical illness, which is determined to be total and permanent.  A determination of Disability shall be made by a physician satisfactory to both the Participant (or his guardian) and the Company, provided that if the Participant (or his guardian) and the Company do not agree on a physician, the Participant and the Company shall each select a physician and these two together shall select a third physician, whose determination as to Disability shall be binding on all parties. Eligibility for disability benefits under any policy for long-term disability benefits provided to the Participant by the Company, the Advisor or any of their respective affiliates shall conclusively establish the Participant’s disability.  If a Disability constitutes a payment event with respect to any Award which provides for the deferral of compensation and is subject to

 

5

 

Section 409A, then, to the extent required to comply with Section 409A, the Participant must also be considered “disabled” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(C) of the Code.

 

“Employee” means any employee of the Company, the Advisor or any of their respective Affiliates.

 

“Employment” includes any period in which a Participant is an Employee or a paid Consultant to the Company, the Advisor or any of their respective Affiliates.

 

“Fair Market Value” or “FMV Per Share”.  The Fair Market Value or FMV Per Share of the Common Stock shall be the closing price on the New York Stock Exchange or other national securities exchange or over-the-counter market, if applicable, for the date of the determination or, if no trade of the Common Stock shall have been reported for such date, the closing sales price quoted on such exchange for the most recent trade prior to the determination date.  If shares of the Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on any exchange, over-the-counter market or any similar organization as of the determination date, the FMV Per Share shall be determined by the Committee in good faith using any fair and reasonable means selected in its discretion.

 

“Good Reason” means termination of employment by an Employee, termination of service by a Consultant or resignation from the Board of a Non-Employee Director under any of the following circumstances:

 

(i)            if such Employee, Consultant or Non-Employee Director is a party to an agreement for employment with or service to the Company, the Advisor or any of their respective Affiliates, which agreement includes a definition of “Good Reason” for termination of employment with or service to the Company, the Advisor or any of their respective Affiliates, “Good Reason” shall have the same definition for purposes of the Plan as is set forth in such agreement, the relevant portions of which are incorporated herein by reference.

 

(ii)           if such Employee, Consultant or Non-Employee Director is not a party to an agreement with the Company, the Advisor or any of their respective Affiliates that defines the term “Good Reason,” such term shall mean termination of employment or service under any of the following circumstances, if the Company, the Advisor or any of their respective Affiliates, as applicable, fails to cure such circumstances within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice from the Participant setting forth a description of such Good Reason:

 

(a)           the removal from or failure to re-elect the Participant to the office or position in which he or she last served;

 

(b)           any material diminishment, on a cumulative basis, of the Participant’s overall duties, responsibilities, or status, including the assignment to the Participant of any duties, responsibilities, or reporting 

 

6

 

requirements materially inconsistent with his or her position with the Company, the Advisor or one of their respective Affiliates, as applicable;

 

(c)           a material reduction by the Company, the Advisor or one of their respective Affiliates in the Participant’s fees, compensation, or benefits that is not part of a reduction affecting all members of the management team or Board; or

 

(d)           the requirement by the Company, the Advisor or one of their respective Affiliates that the principal place of business at which the Participant performs his or her duties be changed to a location more than fifty (50) miles from downtown Dallas, Texas.

 

“Incentive Option” means any option which satisfies the requirements of Section 422 of the Code and is granted pursuant to Article III of the Plan.

 

“Non-Employee Director” means persons who are members of the Board but who are neither Employees nor Consultants of the Company, the Advisor or any of their respective Affiliates.

 

“Non-Qualified Option” shall mean an option not intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Code and which is granted pursuant to Article II of the Plan.

 

“Option” means an option to acquire Common Stock granted pursuant to the provisions of the Plan, and refers to either an Incentive Option or a Non-Qualified Option, or both, as applicable.

 

“Optionee” means a Participant who has received or will receive an Option.

 

“Option Expiration Date” means the date determined by Committee which shall not be more than ten (10) years after the date of grant of an Option.

 

“Other Stock-Based Award” means an award granted pursuant to Article IX of the Plan that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, Common Stock, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan, including, without limitation, rights convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock, purchase rights for Common Stock, Awards with value and payment and/or settlement contingent upon performance of the Company or any other factors designated by the Committee, and Awards valued by reference to the value of Common Stock or the value of securities of or the performance of specified subsidiaries, including LTIP units in the Company’s operating partnership.

 

“Outstanding Company Common Stock” means, as of any date of determination, the then outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company.

 

7

 

“Outstanding Company Voting Securities” means, as of any date of determination, the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally on the election of directors.

 

“Participant” means any Employee, Consultant or Non-Employee Director granted an Award under the Plan.

 

“Performance Award” means an Award granted pursuant to Article VIII of the Plan, which, if earned, shall be payable in shares of Common Stock, cash or any combination thereof as determined by the Committee.

 

“Phantom Stock” means an Award of the right to receive cash equal to the Fair Market Value of a specified number of shares of Common Stock at the end of a specified deferral period which is granted pursuant to Article VI of the Plan.

 

“Purchased Stock” is defined in Section 4.1.

 

“Remington” means Remington Lodging & Hospitality LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and its affiliates.

 

“Restricted Period” shall mean the period established by the Committee with respect to an Award during which the Award either remains subject to forfeiture or is not exercisable by the Participant.

 

“Restricted Stock” shall mean any share of Common Stock, prior to the lapse of restrictions thereon, granted under Article VII of the Plan.

 

“Stock Appreciation Rights” means an Award granted pursuant to Article VI of the Plan.

 

ARTICLE II
 OPTIONS

 

2.1          Grants.  The Committee may grant Options to purchase shares of Common Stock to any Employee, Consultant or Non-Employee Director of the Company according to the terms set forth below.  Options which are intended to comply with Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(i)(A) or any successor regulation, may be granted only to Employees, Consultants or Non-Employee Directors of the Company or a corporation or other type of entity in a chain of corporations or other entities in which each corporation or other entity has a “controlling interest” in another corporation or entity in the chain, starting with the Company and ending with the corporation or other entity for which such Employee, Consultant or Non-Employee Director performs services.  For these purposes, “controlling interest” means (i) in the case of a corporation, ownership of stock possessing at least 50% of total combined voting power of all classes of stock of such corporation entitled to vote or at least 50% of the total value of shares of all classes of stock of such corporation; (ii) in the case of a partnership, ownership of at least 50% of the profits interest or capital interest of such partnership; (iii) in the case of a sole proprietorship, ownership of the sole proprietorship; or (iv) in the case of a trust or estate, ownership of an actuarial interest (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.414(c)-

 

8

 

2(b)(2)(ii)) of at least 50% of such trust or estate.  The Committee may grant Options that are otherwise exempt from or compliant with Code Section 409A to any eligible Employee, Consultant or Non-Employee Director.

 

2.2          Calculation of Exercise Price.  The exercise price to be paid for each share of Common Stock deliverable upon exercise of each Option granted under this Article II shall not be less than the FMV Per Share on the date of grant of such Option.  The exercise price for each Option granted under Article II shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.3(d).

 

2.3          Terms and Conditions of Options.  Options shall be in such form as the Committee may from time to time approve, shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and may contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with this Article II, as the Committee shall deem desirable:

 

(a)           Option Period and Conditions and Limitations on Exercise.  No Option shall be exercisable later than the Option Expiration Date.  To the extent not prohibited by other provisions of the Plan, each Option shall be exercisable at such time or times as the Committee in its discretion may determine at the time such Option is granted.

 

(b)           Manner of Exercise.  In order to exercise an Option, the Participant entitled to exercise it shall deliver to the Company payment in full for the shares being purchased, together with any required withholding taxes.  The payment of the exercise price for each Option shall either be (i) in cash or by check payable and acceptable to the Company, (ii) with the consent of the Committee, by tendering to the Company shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant for more than six months having an aggregate Fair Market Value as of the date of exercise that is not greater than the full exercise price for the shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised and by paying any remaining amount of the exercise price as provided in (i) above, (iii) subject to such conditions and requirements as the Committee may specify, at the written request of the Participant, by the Company’s withholding from shares otherwise deliverable pursuant to the exercise of the Option shares of Common Stock having an aggregate Fair Market Value as of the date of exercise that is not greater than the full exercise price for the shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised and by paying any remaining amount of the exercise price as provided in (i) above, or (iv) subject to such instructions as the Committee may specify, at the Participant’s written request the Company may deliver certificates for the shares of Common Stock for which the Option is being exercised to a broker for sale on behalf of the Participant, provided that the Participant has irrevocably instructed such broker to remit directly to the Company on the Participant’s behalf the full amount of the exercise price from the proceeds of such sale.  In the event that the Participant elects to make payment as allowed under clause (ii) above, the Committee may, upon confirming that the Participant owns the number of additional shares being tendered, authorize the issuance of a new certificate for the number of shares being acquired pursuant to the exercise of the Option less the number of shares being tendered upon the exercise and return to the Participant (or not require surrender of) the certificate for the shares being tendered upon the exercise.  If the Committee so requires, such Participant shall also deliver a written representation that all shares being purchased are being acquired for investment and not with a view to, or for resale in connection with, any distribution of such shares.

 

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(c)           Options not Transferable.  Except as provided below, no Non-Qualified Option granted hereunder shall be transferable other than by (i) will or by the laws of descent and distribution or (ii) pursuant to a domestic relations order and, during the lifetime of the Participant to whom any such Option is granted, and it shall be exercisable only by the Participant (or his or her guardian).  Any attempt to transfer, assign, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of, or to subject to execution, attachment or similar process, any Option granted hereunder, or any right thereunder, contrary to the provisions hereof, shall be void and ineffective, shall give no right to the purported transferee, and shall, at the sole discretion of the Committee, result in forfeiture of the Option with respect to the shares involved in such attempt.  With respect to a specific Non-Qualified Option, the Participant (or his or her guardian) may transfer, for estate planning purposes, all or part of such Option to one or more immediate family members or related family trusts or partnerships or similar entities.

 

(d)           Adjustment of Options.  In the event that at any time after the Effective Date the outstanding shares of Common Stock are changed into or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or other securities of the Company by reason of merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reclassification, stock split, stock dividend, combination of shares or the like, the Committee shall make an appropriate and equitable adjustment in the number and kind of shares as to which all outstanding Options granted, or portions thereof then unexercised, shall be exercisable, to the end that after such event the shares subject to the Plan and each Participant’s proportionate interest shall be maintained as before the occurrence of such event.  Such adjustment in an outstanding Option shall be made without change in the total price applicable to the Option or the unexercised portion of the Option (except for any change in the aggregate price resulting from rounding-off of share quantities or prices) and with any necessary corresponding adjustment in exercise price per share.  Any such adjustment made by the Committee shall be final and binding upon all Participants, the Company and all other interested persons.

 

(e)           Listing and Registration of Shares.  Each Option shall be subject to the requirement that if at any time the Committee determines, in its discretion, that the listing, registration, or qualification of the shares subject to such Option under any securities exchange or under any state or federal law, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body, is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the issue or purchase of shares thereunder, such Option may not be exercised in whole or in part unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained and the same shall have been free of any conditions not acceptable to the Committee.

 

2.4          Amendment.  The Committee may, without the consent of the Participant or Participants entitled to exercise any outstanding Option, amend, modify or terminate such Option; provided, however, such amendment, modification or termination shall not, without such Participant’s consent, reduce or diminish the value of such Option determined as if the Option had been exercised, vested, cashed in or otherwise settled on the date of such amendment or termination.

 

2.5          Acceleration of Vesting.  Subject to Section 10.10, any Option granted hereunder which is not otherwise vested shall vest  (unless specifically provided to the contrary by the Committee in the document or instrument evidencing an Option granted hereunder) upon (i) termination or removal of an Employee, Consultant or Non-Employee Director without Cause or

 

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termination by or resignation of an Employee, Consultant or Non-Employee Director with Good Reason; (ii) termination, removal or resignation of an Employee, Consultant or Non-Employee Director for any reason within one (1) year from the effective date of the Change of Control; or (iii) death or Disability of the Participant.

 

2.6          Other Provisions.

 

(a)           A Participant entitled to exercise, or who has exercised, an Option shall not be entitled to any rights as a stockholder of the Company with respect to any shares subject to such Option until he or she shall have become the holder of record of such shares.

 

(b)           No Option granted hereunder shall be construed as limiting any right which the Company, the Advisor or any of their respective Affiliates may have to terminate at any time, with or without Cause, the employment or service of any Participant to whom such Option has been granted.

 

(c)           Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or the terms of any Option, the Company shall not be required to issue any shares hereunder if such issuance would, in the judgment of the Committee, constitute a violation of any state or federal law or of the rules or regulations of any governmental regulatory body.

 

2.7          Option Repricing.  With stockholder approval only, the Committee, in its absolute discretion, may grant to holders of outstanding Options, in exchange for the surrender and cancellation of such Options, new Options having exercise prices lower (or higher with any required consent) than the exercise price provided in the Options so surrendered and canceled and containing such other terms and conditions as the Committee may deem appropriate.

 

ARTICLE III
 INCENTIVE OPTIONS

 

The terms specified below shall be applicable to all Incentive Options.  Except as modified by the provisions of this Article III, all the provisions of Article II shall be applicable to Incentive Options.  Options which are specifically designated as Non-Qualified Options shall not be subject to the terms of this Article III.

 

3.1          Eligibility.  Incentive Options may only be granted to Employees of the Company.

 

3.2          Exercise Price.  The exercise price per Share shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the FMV Per Share on the option grant date.

 

3.3          Dollar Limitation.  The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the respective date or dates of grant) of shares of Common Stock for which one or more options granted to any Employee under the Plan (or any other option plan of the Company, or any parent or subsidiary thereof) may for the first time become exercisable as Incentive Options during any one (1) calendar year shall not exceed the sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000).  To the extent the Employee holds two (2) or more such options which become exercisable for the

 

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first time in the same calendar year, the foregoing limitation on the exercisability of such options as Incentive Options shall be applied on the basis of the order in which such options are granted.

 

3.4          10% Stockholder.  If any Employee to whom an Incentive Option is granted is a 10% Stockholder, then the exercise price per share shall not be less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the FMV Per Share on the option grant date and the option term shall not exceed five (5) years measured from the option grant date.

 

3.5          Options Not Transferable.  No Incentive Option granted hereunder shall be transferable other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during the Optionee’s lifetime only by such Optionee.

 

3.6          Compliance with Section 422 of the Code.  All Options that are intended to be Incentive Options shall be designated as such in the Option grant and in all respects shall be issued in compliance with Section 422 of the Code.

 

3.7          Limitations on Exercise.  No Incentive Option shall be exercisable more than three (3) months after the Optionee ceases to be an Employee for any reason other than death or Disability, or more than one (1) year after the Optionee ceases to be an Employee due to death or Disability.

 

3.8          Share Limitation.  The maximum number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Options may be granted under the Plan is 2,050,000 shares of Common Stock.

 

ARTICLE IV
 PURCHASED STOCK

 

4.1          Eligible Persons.  The Committee shall have the authority to authorize the sale of shares of Common Stock (“Purchased Stock”) to such Employees, Consultants and Non-Employee Directors of the Company, the Advisor or their respective Affiliates as may be selected by it, on such terms and conditions as it may establish, subject to the further provisions of this Article IV.  Each issuance and sale of Purchased Stock under this Plan shall be evidenced by an agreement which shall be subject to applicable provisions of this Plan and to such other provisions not inconsistent with this Plan as the Committee may approve for the particular sale transaction.

 

4.2          Purchase Price.  The price per share of Purchased Stock under this Plan shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, and may be less than, but shall not be greater than the FMV Per Share at the time of purchase.

 

4.3          Payment of Purchase Price.  Payment of the purchase price for Purchased Stock under this Plan shall be made in full in cash or by check payable and acceptable to the Company.

 

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ARTICLE V
 BONUS STOCK

 

The Committee may, from time to time and subject to the provisions of the Plan, grant shares of Bonus Stock to Employees, Consultants or Non-Employee Directors of the Company, the Advisor or any of their respective Affiliates.  “Bonus Stock” shall be shares of Common Stock that are not subject to a Restricted Period under Article VII.

 

ARTICLE VI
 STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS AND PHANTOM STOCK

 

6.1          Stock Appreciation Rights.  The Committee is authorized to grant Stock Appreciation Rights to Employees, Consultants or Non-Employee Directors of the Company on the following terms and conditions.  Stock Appreciation Rights which are intended to comply with Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(i)(B) or any successor regulation, may be granted only to Employees, Consultants or Non-Employee Directors of the Company or a corporation or other type of entity in a chain of corporations or other entities in which each corporation or other entity has a “controlling interest” in another corporation or entity in the chain, starting with the Company and ending with the corporation or other entity for which such Employee, Consultant or Non-Employee Director performs services.  For these purposes, “controlling interest” means (i) in the case of a corporation, ownership of stock possessing at least 50% of total combined voting power of all classes of stock of such corporation entitled to vote or at least 50% of the total value of shares of all classes of stock of such corporation; (ii) in the case of a partnership, ownership of at least 50% of the profits interest or capital interest of such partnership; (iii) in the case of a sole proprietorship, ownership of the sole proprietorship; or (iv) in the case of a trust or estate, ownership of an actuarial interest (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.414(c)-2(b)(2)(ii)) of at least 50% of such trust or estate.  The Committee may grant Stock Appreciation Rights that are otherwise exempt from or compliant with Code Section 409A to any eligible Employee, Consultant or Non-Employee Director.

 

(a)           Right to Payment.  A Stock Appreciation Right shall confer on the Participant to whom it is granted a right to receive, upon exercise thereof, the excess of (A) the FMV Per Share on the date of exercise over (B) the grant price of the Stock Appreciation Right as determined by the Committee.

 

(b)           Rights Related to Options.  A Stock Appreciation Right granted in connection with an Option shall entitle a Participant, upon exercise thereof, to surrender that Option or any portion thereof, to the extent unexercised, and to receive payment of an amount computed pursuant to Section 6.1(a).  That Option shall then cease to be exercisable to the extent surrendered.  A Stock Appreciation Right granted in connection with an Option shall be exercisable only at such time or times and only to the extent that the related Option is exercisable and shall not be transferable (other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution) except to the extent that the related Option is transferable.

 

(c)           Right Without Option.  A Stock Appreciation Right granted independent of an Option shall be exercisable as determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award agreement governing the Stock Appreciation Right.

 

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(d)           Terms.  The Committee shall determine at the date of grant the time or times at which, and the circumstances under which, a Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised in whole or in part (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), the method of exercise, whether or not a Stock Appreciation Right shall be in tandem or in combination with any other Award, and any other terms and conditions of any Stock Appreciation Right.  The grant price per each Stock Appreciation Right granted hereunder shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant.

 

(e)           Stock Appreciation Right Repricing. With stockholder approval only, the Committee, in its absolute discretion, may grant to holders of outstanding Stock Appreciation Rights, in exchange for the surrender and cancellation of such Stock Appreciation Rights, new Stock Appreciation Rights having grant prices lower (or higher with any required consent) than the grant price provided in the Stock Appreciation Rights so surrendered and canceled and containing such other terms and conditions as the Committee may deem appropriate.

 

6.2          Phantom Stock Awards.  The Committee is authorized to grant Phantom Stock to the Participants, which are rights to receive cash equal to the Fair Market Value of a specified number of shares of Common Stock at the end of a specified deferral period, subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

(a)           Award and Restrictions.  Satisfaction of Phantom Stock shall occur upon expiration of the deferral period specified for such Phantom Stock by the Committee or, if permitted by the Committee, as elected by the Participant.  In addition, Phantom Stock shall be subject to such restrictions (which may include a risk of forfeiture), if any, as the Committee may impose, which restrictions may lapse at the expiration of the deferral period or at earlier specified times (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), separately or in combination, installments or otherwise, as the Committee may determine.

 

(b)           Forfeiture.  Except as otherwise determined by the Committee or as may be set forth in any Award, employment or other agreement pertaining to awards of Phantom Stock, upon termination of employment or services during the applicable deferral period or portion thereof to which forfeiture conditions apply, all Phantom Stock that is at that time subject to deferral (other than a deferral at the election of the Participant) shall be forfeited; provided that the Committee may provide, by rule or regulation or in any Award agreement, or may determine in any individual case, that restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Phantom Stock shall be waived in whole or in part in the event of terminations resulting from specified causes, and the Committee may in other cases waive in whole or in part the forfeiture of Phantom Stock.

 

(c)           Performance Goals.  To the extent the Committee determines that Phantom Stock granted pursuant to this Article VI shall constitute performance-based compensation for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code, the grant or settlement of Phantom Stock shall, in the Committee’s discretion, be subject to the achievement of performance goals determined and applied in a manner consistent with Section 8.2.

 

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ARTICLE VII
 RESTRICTED STOCK

 

7.1          Eligible Persons.  All Employees, Consultants and Non-Employee Directors shall be eligible for grants of Restricted Stock.

 

7.2          Restricted Period and Vesting.

 

(a)           Unless the Award specifically provides otherwise, Restricted Stock shall be subject to restrictions on transfer by the Participant and repurchase by the Company such that the Participant shall not be permitted to transfer such shares and the Company shall have the right to repurchase or recover such shares for the lesser of the FMV Per Share on the forfeiture day or the amount of cash paid therefor, if any, if the Participant shall terminate employment from or services to the Company, the Advisor or any of their respective Affiliates, as applicable, provided that such transfer and repurchase restrictions shall lapse with respect to 33.33% of such initial shares on the first anniversary of the date of grant and on each subsequent anniversary of the date of grant that the Participant shall remain continuously as an Employee, Non-Employee Director or Consultant of the Company, the Advisor or any of their respective Affiliates, as applicable; subject to Section 7.2(b) below.

 

(b)           Notwithstanding the foregoing and subject to Section 10.10, unless the Award specifically provides otherwise, all Restricted Stock not otherwise vested shall vest upon (i) termination or removal of an Employee, Consultant or Non-Employee Director without Cause; (ii) termination by or resignation of an Employee, Consultant or Non-Employee Director with Good Reason; (iii) termination, resignation or removal of an Employee, Consultant or Non-Employee Director for any reason within one (1) year from the effective date of a Change of Control; or (iv) death or Disability of the Participant.

 

(c)           Each certificate representing Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan shall be registered in the name of the Participant and, during the Restricted Period, shall be left in deposit with the Company and a stock power endorsed in blank.  The grantee of Restricted Stock shall have all the rights of a stockholder with respect to such shares including the right to vote and the right to receive dividends or other distributions paid or made with respect to such shares.  Any certificate or certificates representing shares of Restricted Stock shall bear a legend similar to the following:

 

The shares represented by this certificate have been issued pursuant to the terms of the Ashford Hospitality Prime, Inc. 2013 Equity Incentive Plan and Grant of Restricted Stock dated        , 20     and may not be sold, pledged, transferred, assigned or otherwise encumbered in any manner except as is set forth in the terms of such plan or grant.

 

ARTICLE VIII
 PERFORMANCE AWARDS

 

8.1          Eligible Persons.  All Employees, Consultants and Non-Employee Directors shall be eligible for grants of Performance Awards.

 

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8.2          Performance Awards.  The Committee may grant Performance Awards based on performance criteria measured over a period of not less than one year and not more than three (3) years.  The Committee may use such business criteria and other measures of performance as it may deem appropriate in establishing any performance conditions, and may exercise its discretion to increase the amounts payable under any Award subject to performance conditions, except as limited under Section 8.3 in the case of a Performance Award granted to a Covered Employee. In no event shall grants in any single calendar year to any eligible Participant under this Plan of cash awards intended to qualify as Section 162(m) awards provide for payment of more than $20,000,000.

 

8.3          Performance Goals.  The grant and/or settlement of a Performance Award shall be contingent upon terms set forth in this Section 8.3.

 

(a)           General.  The performance goals for Performance Awards shall consist of one or more business criteria and a targeted level or levels of performance with respect to each of such criteria, as specified by the Committee.  In the case of any Award granted to a Covered Employee which are intended to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code, performance goals shall be designed to be objective and shall otherwise meet the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code and regulations thereunder (including Treasury Regulation Section 1.162-27 and successor regulations thereto), including the requirement that the level or levels of performance targeted by the Committee are such that the achievement of performance goals is “substantially uncertain” at the time of grant.  The Committee may determine that such Performance Awards shall be granted and/or settled upon achievement of any one performance goal or that two or more of the performance goals must be achieved as a condition to the grant and/or settlement of such Performance Awards.  Performance goals may differ among Performance Awards granted to any one Participant or for Performance Awards granted to different Participants.

 

(b)           Business Criteria.  One or more of the following business criteria for the Company, an a consolidated basis, and/or for specified subsidiaries, divisions or business or geographical units of the Company (except with respect to the total stockholder return and earnings per share criteria), shall be used by the Committee in establishing performance goals for Performance Awards granted to a Participant:  (A) earnings per share; (B) increase in revenues; (C) increase in cash flow; (D) increase in cash flow return; (E) return on net assets; (F) return on assets; (G) return on investment; (H) return on capital; (I) return on equity; (J) economic value added; (K) gross margin; (L) net income; (M) pretax earnings; (N) pretax earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization; (O) pretax operating earnings after interest expense and before incentives, service fees, and extraordinary or special items; (P) operating income; (Q) total stockholder return; (R) debt reduction; and (S) any of the above goals determined on an absolute or relative basis or as compared to the performance of a published or special index deemed applicable by the Committee including, but not limited to, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index or a group of comparable companies.

 

(c)           Performance Period; Timing for Establishing Performance Goals.  Achievement of performance goals in respect of Performance Awards shall be measured over a performance period of not less than one year and not more than three (3) years, as specified by the Committee.  Performance goals in the case of any Award granted to a Participant shall be established not later than ninety (90) days after the beginning of any performance period applicable to such

 

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Performance Awards, or at such other date as may be required or permitted for “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

(d)           Settlement of Performance Awards; Other Terms.  After the end of each performance period, the Committee shall determine the amount, if any, of Performance Awards payable to each Participant based upon achievement of business criteria over a performance period.  The Committee may not exercise discretion to increase any such amount payable in respect of a Performance Award designed to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code.  Subject to Treasury Regulation Section 1.162-27(e)(2)(v), the Committee shall specify the circumstances in which such Performance Awards shall be paid or forfeited in the event of termination of employment by the Participant prior to the end of a performance period or settlement of Performance Awards.

 

(e)           Written Determinations.  All determinations by the Committee as to the establishment of performance goals, the amount of any Performance Award, and the achievement of performance goals relating to Performance Awards shall be made in writing in the case of any Award granted to a Participant.  The Committee may not delegate any responsibility relating to such Performance Awards.

 

ARTICLE IX
 OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS

 

The Committee is hereby authorized to grant to Employees, Non-Employee Directors and Consultants of the Company, the Advisor or any of their respective Affiliates Other Stock-Based Awards, which shall consist of a right which (i) is not an Award described in any other Article and (ii) is denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to, shares of Common Stock (including, without limitation, securities convertible into shares of Common Stock), LTIP units in the Company’s operating partnership, or cash as are deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan.  Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of any such Other Stock-Based Award.

 

ARTICLE X
 CERTAIN PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL AWARDS

 

10.1        General.  Awards may be granted on the terms and conditions set forth herein.  In addition, the Committee may impose on any Award or the exercise thereof, such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine, including terms requiring forfeiture of Awards in the event of termination of employment by the Participant and terms permitting a Participant to make elections relating to his or her Award.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may amend any Award without the consent of the holder if the Committee deems it necessary to avoid adverse tax consequences to the holder under Section 409A of the Code.  The Committee shall retain full power and discretion to accelerate or waive, at any time, any term or condition of an Award that is not mandatory under this Plan; provided, however, that the Committee shall not have discretion to accelerate or waive any term or condition of an Award (i) if such discretion would cause the Award to have adverse tax consequences to the Participant under Section 409A of the

 

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Code, or (ii) if the Award is intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code and such discretion would cause the Award not to so qualify.  Except in cases in which the Committee is authorized to require other forms of consideration under the Plan, or to the extent other forms of consideration must be paid to satisfy the requirements of the Maryland General Corporation Law, no consideration other than services may be required for the grant of any Award.

 

10.2        Stand-Alone, Additional, Tandem, and Substitute Awards.  Subject to Section 2.7, Awards granted under the Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution or exchange for, any other Award or any award granted under another plan of the Company, the Advisor, any of their respective Affiliates, or any business entity to be acquired by the Company, the Advisor or any of their respective Affiliates, or any other right of a Participant to receive payment from the Company, the Advisor or any of their respective Affiliates.  Such additional, tandem and substitute or exchange Awards may be granted at any time.  If an Award is granted in substitution or exchange for another Award, the Committee shall require the surrender of such other Award in consideration for the grant of the new Award.  In addition, Awards may be granted in lieu of cash compensation, including in lieu of cash amounts payable under other plans of the Company, the Advisor or any of their respective Affiliates.

 

10.3        Term of Awards.  The term or Restricted Period of each Award that is an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Phantom Stock or Restricted Stock shall be for such period as may be determined by the Committee; provided that in no event shall the term of any such Award exceed a period of ten (10) years (or such shorter terms as may be require in respect of an Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code).

 

10.4        Form and Timing of Payment under Awards; Deferrals.  Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award agreement, payments to be made by the Company or a subsidiary upon the exercise of an Option or other Award, or settlement of an Award may be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments, or on a deferred basis.  The settlement of any Award may, subject to any limitations set forth in the Award agreement, be accelerated and cash paid in lieu of shares in connection with such settlement, in the discretion of the Committee or upon occurrence of one or more specified events; provided, however, that such discretion may not be exercised by the Committee if the exercise of such discretion would result in adverse tax consequences to the Participant under Section 409A of the Code.  In the discretion of the Committee, Awards granted pursuant to Article VI or VIII of the Plan may be payable in shares to the extent permitted by the terms of the applicable Award agreement.  Installment or deferred payments may be required by the Committee (subject to Section 1.4 of the Plan, including the consent provisions thereof in the case of any deferral of an outstanding Award not provided for in the original Award agreement) or permitted at the election of the Participant on terms and conditions established by the Committee; provided, however, that no deferral shall be required or permitted by the Committee if such deferral would result in adverse tax consequences to the Participant under Section 409A of the Code.  Payments may include, without limitation, provisions for the payment or crediting of reasonable interest on installment or deferred payments or the grant or crediting of amounts in respect of installment or deferred payments denominated in shares.  Any deferral shall only be allowed as is provided in a separate deferred compensation plan adopted by the Company.

 

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10.5        Vested and Unvested Awards.  After the satisfaction of all of the terms and conditions set by the Committee with respect to an Award of (i) Restricted Stock, a certificate, without the legend set forth in Section 7.2(c), for the number of shares that are no longer subject to such restrictions, terms and conditions shall be delivered to the Participant, (ii) Phantom Stock, to the extent not paid in cash, a certificate for the number of shares equal to the number of shares of Phantom Stock earned, and (iii) Stock Appreciation Rights or Performance Awards, cash and/or a certificate for the number of shares equal in value to the number of Stock Appreciation Rights or amount of Performance Awards vested shall be delivered to the Participant.  Upon termination, resignation or removal of a Participant under circumstances that do not cause such Participant to become fully vested, any remaining unvested Options, shares of Restricted Stock, Phantom Stock, Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance Awards or Other Stock-Based Awards, as the case may be, shall either be forfeited back to the Company or, if appropriate under the terms of the Award, shall continue to be subject to the restrictions, terms and conditions set by the Committee with respect to such Award.

 

10.6        Exemptions from Section 16(b) Liability.  It is the intent of the Company that the grant of any Awards to or other transaction by a Participant who is subject to Section 16 of the 1934 Act shall be exempt from Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act pursuant to an applicable exemption (except for transactions acknowledged by the Participant in writing to be non-exempt).  Accordingly, if any provision of this Plan or any Award agreement does not comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 as then applicable to any such transaction, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to the applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3 so that such Participant shall avoid liability under Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act.

 

10.7        Other Provisions.  No grant of any Award shall be construed as limiting any right which the Company, the Advisor or any of their respective Affiliates may have to terminate at any time, with or without cause, the employment of any person to whom such Award has been granted.

 

10.8        Change of Control.  In the event of a Change of Control, the following provisions shall apply.

 

(a)           General.  Unless otherwise provided in the Award, in connection with a Change of Control, the Board shall have the authority in its sole discretion to take any one or more of the following actions with respect to the Awards:

 

(i)            the Board may cause the acquirer to assume the Plan and the Awards or exchange the Awards for awards for the acquirer’s stock;

 

(ii)           the Board may terminate the Plan;

 

(iii)          the Board may terminate and cancel all outstanding unvested or unexercised Awards as of the date of the Change of Control on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate;

 

(iv)          in the event that the acquirer refuses to assume the Plan and the Awards or exchange the Awards for awards for the acquirer’s stock, the Board may accelerate

 

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vesting of all Awards and, with respect to Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, the time at which all Options and Stock Appreciation Rights then outstanding may be exercised or paid so that all Awards may be fully vested and exercised or paid in full for a limited period of time on or before a specified date fixed by the Board or the Committee, after which specified date all unexercised Awards, if any, and all rights of the Participants thereunder shall terminate, or the Board or the Committee may accelerate vesting or payment and the time at which such Awards may be exercised or paid so that such Awards may be exercised or paid in full for their then remaining term; and

 

(v)           in the event that the acquirer refuses to assume the Plan and the Awards or exchange the Awards for awards for the acquirer’s stock, the Board may waive, alter and/or amend the performance goals and other restrictions and conditions of Awards then outstanding, with the result that the affected Awards may be deemed vested, and the Restricted Period or other limitations on payment in full with respect thereto shall be deemed to have expired, as of the date of the Change of Control or such other date as may be determined by the Board.

 

Notwithstanding the above provisions of this Section 10.8(a), the Board shall not be required to take any action described in the preceding provisions of this Section 10.8(a), and any decision made by the Board, in its sole discretion, not to take some or all of the actions described in the preceding provisions of this Section 10.8(a) shall be final, binding and conclusive with respect to the Company and all other interested persons.

 

(b)           Right to Cash-Out.  In the event that the acquirer refuses to assume the Plan and the Awards or exchange the Awards for awards for the acquirer’s stock, the Board shall, in connection with a Change of Control, have the right to require all, but not less than all, Participants to transfer and deliver to the Company all Awards previously granted to the Participants in exchange for an amount equal to the Cash Value (as defined below) of the Awards. Such right shall be exercised by written notice to all affected Participants. The amount payable to each Participant by the Company shall be in cash or by certified check paid within five (5) days following the transfer and delivery of such Award (but in no event later than fifty (50) days following the date of the Change of Control) and shall be reduced by any taxes required to be withheld. “Cash Value” of an Award means the sum of (i) in the case of any Award which is not an Option or an Award of Restricted Stock, the value of all benefits to which the Participant would be entitled as if the Award were vested and settled or exercised and (ii) (A) in the case of any Award that is an Option, the excess of the FMV Per Share over the exercise price or (B) in the case of an Award of Restricted Stock, the FMV Per Share of Restricted Stock, multiplied by the number of shares subject to such Award, all as determined by the Board as of the date of the Change of Control or such other date as may be determined by the Board.

 

10.9        Ownership Limit.  Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or the terms of any Awards, the Company shall not be required to, and shall not, issue any Awards hereunder if such issuance would cause the Company to violate the Ownership Limits set forth in its Articles of Amendment and Restatement.  As used herein and in the Company’s Articles of Amendment and Restatement, the term “Ownership Limit” means (i) with respect to any class or series shares of Common Stock, 9.8% (in value or number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of the outstanding shares of such class or series of Common Stock of the Company and (ii) with respect

 

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to any class or series of shares of preferred stock or other stock, 9.8% (in value or number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of the outstanding shares of such class or series of preferred stock or other stock of the Company.

 

10.10      Minimum Vesting. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no Option, Purchased Stock, Bonus Stock, Stock Appreciation Right, Phantom Stock, Restricted Stock, or Other Stock-Based Award that vests based on continued employment or the passage of time shall vest in less than one year from the date the Award is made, other than upon the death or Disability of the Participant or in the case of termination without cause or for good reason, or a termination following a Change of Control, in each case as specified in the document or instrument evidencing the Award granted hereunder. The performance period for any such Award that vests based in whole or in part on performance shall be at least one year. Notwithstanding the foregoing, up to five percent (5%) of the shares authorized under the Plan and any shares issued pursuant to an Award granted to a Non-Employee Director may be issued pursuant to the vesting of Awards over less than a one-year period.

 

10.11      Equity Retention Requirement.  Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or the terms of any Awards, each member of the Board and each executive officer is required to retain at least 50% of the after-tax shares received in connection with any Awards granted under the Plan after August 3, 2016 until such time that such director or executive officer has met his or her required ownership level as described in the Corporate Governance Guidelines of the Company. For purposes of this Article X, Section 10.10, “executive officers” include the CEO, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Accounting Officer, the Chief Operating Officer, the Executive Vice President of Asset Management and the Chief Strategy Officer.

 

ARTICLE XI
 WITHHOLDING FOR TAXES

 

Any issuance of Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of an Option or payment of any other Award under the Plan shall not be made until appropriate arrangements satisfactory to the Company have been made for the payment of any tax amounts (federal, state, local or other) that may be required to be withheld or paid by the Company with respect thereto.  Such arrangements may, at the discretion of the Committee, include allowing the person to tender to the Company shares of Common Stock owned by the person, or to request the Company to withhold shares of Common Stock being acquired pursuant to the Award, whether through the exercise of an Option or as a distribution pursuant to the Award, which have an aggregate FMV Per Share as of the date of such withholding that is not greater than the sum of all tax amounts to be withheld with respect thereto, together with payment of any remaining portion of such tax amounts in cash or by check payable and acceptable to the Company.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if on the date of an event giving rise to a tax withholding obligation on the part of the Company the person is an officer or individual subject to Rule 16b-3, such person may direct that such tax withholding be effectuated by the Company withholding the necessary number of shares of Common Stock (at the tax rate required by the Code) from such Award payment or exercise.

 

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ARTICLE XII
 MISCELLANEOUS

 

12.1        No Rights to Awards.  No Participant or other person shall have any claim to be granted any Award, there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants, or holders or beneficiaries of Awards and the terms and conditions of Awards need not be the same with respect to each recipient.

 

12.2        No Right to Employment.  The grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained in the employ of the Company, the Advisor or any of their respective Affiliates.  Further, the Company, the Advisor or any of their respective Affiliates may at any time dismiss a Participant from employment, free from any liability or any claim under the Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in any Award agreement.

 

12.3        Governing Law.  The validity, construction, and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan shall be determined in accordance with applicable federal law and the laws of the State of Maryland, without regard to any principles of conflicts of law.

 

12.4        Severability.  If any provision of the Plan or any Award is, becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any Participant or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to the applicable laws, or if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, Participant or Award and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.

 

12.5        Other Laws.  The Committee may refuse to issue or transfer any shares or other consideration under an Award if, acting in its sole discretion, it determines that the issuance of transfer or such shares or such other consideration might violate any applicable law.

 

12.6        Stockholder Agreements.  The Committee may condition the grant, exercise or payment of any Award upon such person entering into a stockholders’ agreement in such form as approved from time to time by the Board.

 

12.7        No Guarantee of Tax Consequences.  Each Participant shall be solely responsible for and liable for any tax consequences (including but not limited to any interest or penalties) as a result of his or her participation in the Plan.  None of the Board, the Company or the Committee makes any commitment or guarantee that any federal, state or local tax treatment will apply or be available to any person participating or eligible to participate hereunder and assumes no liability whatsoever for the tax consequences to the Participants.

 

12.8        Compliance with Section 409A of the Code.  Certain items of compensation paid pursuant to this Plan are or may be subject to Section 409A of the Code.  In such instances, this Plan is intended to comply and shall be administered in a manner that is intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code and shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent.  Subject to any other restrictions or limitations contained herein, in the event that a

 

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“specified employee” (as defined under Section 409A of the Code) becomes entitled to a payment under the Plan that is subject to Section 409A of the Code on account of a “separation from service” (as defined under Section 409A of the Code), such payment shall not occur until the date that is six months plus one day from the date of such “separation from service.”  In the event that a Participant becomes entitled to a payment under the Plan that is subject to Section 409A of the Code on account of a termination of employment, such termination of employment must also constitute a “separation from service” (as defined under Section 409A of the Code).

 

12.9        Claw-back Policy.  All Awards (including any proceeds, gains or other economic benefit actually or constructively received by the Participant upon any receipt or exercise of any Award or upon the receipt or resale of any shares of Common Stock underlying the Award) shall be subject to the provisions of any claw-back policy implemented by the Company, the Advisor or any Affiliate, as applicable, including, without limitation, any claw-back policy adopted to comply with the requirements of any federal or state laws and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder, to the extent set forth in such claw-back policy and/or in the applicable Award agreement.

 

23Exhibit 10.2

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of           , 20   , by and between Ashford Hospitality Prime, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company” or the “Indemnitor”) and            (the “Indemnitee”).

 

WHEREAS, the Indemnitee is an officer and/or a member of the Board of Directors of the Company and in such capacity is performing a valuable service for the Company;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

1.                                      DEFINITIONS

 

For purposes of this Agreement:

 

(A)                               “Change of Control” is when the following have occurred and are continuing:

 

·                  the acquisition by any person, including any syndicate or group deemed to be a “person” under Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), of beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, through a purchase, merger or other acquisition transaction or series of purchases, mergers or other acquisition transactions of shares of the Company entitling that person to exercise more than 50% of the total voting power of all shares of the Company entitled to vote generally in elections of directors (except that such person will be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is

 

 

currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition); and

 

·                  following the closing of any transaction referred to in the bullet point above, neither the Company nor the acquiring or surviving entity has a class of common securities (or ADRs representing such securities) listed on the NYSE, the NYSE Amex or NASDAQ or listed or quoted on an exchange or quotation system that is a successor to the NYSE, the NYSE Amex or NASDAQ.

 

(B)                            “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was a director or officer of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, partner (limited or general), member, employee or agent of any other foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, other enterprise (whether conducted for profit or not for profit) or employee benefit plan. The Company shall be deemed to have requested the Indemnitee to serve an employee benefit plan where the performance of the Indemnitee’s duties to the Company also imposes or imposed duties on, or otherwise involves or involved services by, the Indemnitee to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan.

 

(C)                            “Determination” means a determination that either (x) there is a reasonable basis for the conclusion that indemnification of Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the Indemnitee had met the applicable standard of conduct (a “Favorable Determination”) or (y) there is no reasonable basis for the conclusion that indemnification of Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances (an “Adverse Determination”).

 

(D)                            “Disinterested Director” means a director who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee and does not otherwise have an interest materially adverse to any interest of the Indemnitee.

 

(E)                             “Expenses” shall include all attorneys’ and paralegals’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, or being or preparing to be a witness in a Proceeding.

 

(F)                              “Proceeding” includes any action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation (including any formal or informal internal investigation to which the Indemnitee is made a party by reason of the Corporate Status of the Indemnitee), administrative hearing, or any other proceeding, including appeals therefrom, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative.

 

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(G)                            “Special Legal Counsel” means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporate law and neither presently is, or in the past two years has been, retained to represent (i) the Indemnitor or the Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party, or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder.

 

2.                                      INDEMNIFICATION

 

The Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this paragraph 2 and under applicable law, the Charter, the Bylaws, any other agreement, a vote of stockholders or resolution of the Board of Directors or otherwise if, by reason of such Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, such Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to any threatened, pending, or contemplated Proceeding, including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company.  Unless prohibited by paragraph 13 hereof and subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall be indemnified hereunder, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, against judgments, penalties, fines and settlements and reasonable Expenses actually incurred by or on behalf of such Indemnitee in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein; provided, however, that if such Proceeding was initiated by or in the right of the Company, indemnification may not be made in respect of such Proceeding if the Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged to be liable to the Company.  For purposes of this paragraph 2, excise taxes assessed on the Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall be deemed fines.

 

3.                                      INDEMNIFICATION FOR EXPENSES IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES

 

(A)                            Without limiting the effect of any other provision of this Agreement (including the Indemnitee’s rights to indemnification under paragraph 2 and advancement of expenses under paragraph 4), without regard to whether the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under paragraph 2 and without regard to the provisions of paragraph 6 hereof, to the extent that the Indemnitee is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding to which the Indemnitee is a party by reason of such Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, such Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all reasonable Expenses actually incurred by or on behalf of such Indemnitee in connection therewith.

 

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

 

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

 

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4.                                      ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, but subject to paragraph 13 hereof, if the Indemnitee is or was or becomes a party to or is otherwise involved in any Proceeding (including as a witness), or is or was threatened to be made a party to or a participant (including as a witness) in any such Proceeding, by reason of the Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, or by reason of (or arising in part out of) any actual or alleged event or occurrence related to the Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, or by reason of any actual or alleged act or omission on the part of the Indemnitee taken or omitted in or relating to the Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, then the Indemnitor shall advance all reasonable Expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with any such Proceeding within twenty (20) days after the receipt by the Indemnitor of a statement from the Indemnitee requesting such advance from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding; provided that, such statement shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred or to be incurred by the Indemnitee and shall include or be preceded or accompanied by (i) a written affirmation by the Indemnitee of the Indemnitee’s good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the Indemnitor as authorized by this Agreement has been met and (ii) a written undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay the amounts advanced if it should ultimately be determined that the standard of conduct has not been met.  The undertaking required by clause (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence shall be an unlimited general obligation of the Indemnitee but need not be secured and may be accepted without reference to financial ability to make the repayment.

 

5.                                      WITNESS EXPENSES

 

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

 

6.                                      DETERMINATION OF ENTITLEMENT TO AND AUTHORIZATION OF INDEMNIFICATION

 

(A)                               To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall submit to the Indemnitor a written request, including therewith such documentation and information reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification.

 

(B)                               The Indemnitor agrees that the Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by law.  Indemnification under this Agreement may not be made unless authorized for a specific Proceeding after a Determination has been made in accordance with this paragraph 6(B) that indemnification of the Indemnitee is permissible in the circumstances because the Indemnitee has met the following standard of conduct: the Indemnitor shall indemnify the Indemnitee in accordance

 

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with the provisions of paragraph 2 hereof, unless it is established that: (a) the act or omission of the Indemnitee was material to the matter giving rise to the Proceeding and (x) was committed in bad faith or (y) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty; (b) the Indemnitee actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or (c) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful.  Any Determination shall be made within thirty (30) days after receipt of Indemnitee’s written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 6(A) and such Determination shall be made either (i) by the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum, so long as Indemnitee does not request that such Determination be made by Special Legal Counsel, or (ii) if so requested by Indemnitee, in Indemnitee’s sole discretion, by Special Legal Counsel in a written opinion to the Indemnitor and Indemnitee. If a Determination is made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to the Indemnitee shall be made within fifteen (15) business days after such Determination.  Indemnitee shall reasonably cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such Determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such Determination. Any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the Disinterested Directors or Special Legal Counsel, as the case may be, making such determination shall be advanced and borne by the Indemnitor in accordance with paragraph 4 of this Agreement (irrespective of the Determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification). If the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 6(B) of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a Favorable Determination within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Indemnitor of the request therefor, the requisite Determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law; provided, however, that such thirty (30) day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional fifteen (15) days, if the person, persons or entity making the Determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto; and provided, further, that the foregoing provisions of this Section 6(B) shall not apply if the Determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Special Legal Counsel pursuant to Section 6(E).

 

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(C)                            The Indemnitor shall be bound by and shall have no right to challenge a Favorable Determination. If an Adverse Determination is made, or if for any other reason the Indemnitor does not make timely indemnification payments or advancement of Expenses required by this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall have the right to commence a Proceeding before a court of competent jurisdiction to challenge such Adverse Determination and/or to require the Indemnitor to make such payments or advancement of expenses (and the Indemnitor shall have the right to defend their position in such Proceeding and to appeal any adverse judgment in such Proceeding). The Indemnitee shall be entitled to have such Expenses advanced by the Indemnitor in accordance with paragraph 4 of this Agreement and applicable law.  If the Indemnitee fails to challenge an Adverse Determination within ninety (90) business days, or if Indemnitee challenges an Adverse Determination and such Adverse Determination has been upheld by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction from which no appeal can be taken, then, to the extent and only to the extent required by such Adverse Determination or final judgment, the Indemnitor shall not be obligated to indemnify the Indemnitee under this Agreement.

 

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

 

(E)                             In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Special Legal Counsel pursuant to Section 6(B) hereof, the Indemnitee, or the Indemnitor, as the case may be, may, within seven days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Indemnitor or to the Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection.  Such objection may be asserted only on the grounds that the Special Legal Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Special Legal Counsel” as defined in paragraph 1 of this Agreement.  If such written objection is made, the Special Legal Counsel so selected may not serve as Special Legal Counsel until a court has determined that such objection is without merit.  If, within twenty (20) days after submission by the Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 6(A) hereof, no Special Legal Counsel shall have been selected or, if selected, shall have been objected to, either the Indemnitor or the Indemnitee may petition a court for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Indemnitor or the Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Special Legal Counsel and/or for the appointment as Special Legal Counsel of a person selected by the

 

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court or by such other person as the court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom an objection is so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Special Legal Counsel under Section 6(B) hereof.  The Indemnitor shall pay all reasonable fees and expenses of Special Legal Counsel incurred in connection with acting pursuant to Section 6(B) hereof, and all reasonable fees and expenses incident to the selection of such Special Legal Counsel pursuant to this Section 6(D).  In the event that a determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Special Legal Counsel and such determination shall not have been made and delivered in a written opinion within ninety (90) days after the receipt by the Indemnitor of the Indemnitee’s request in accordance with Section 6(A), upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding in accordance with Section 8(A) of this Agreement, Special Legal Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity.

 

7.                                      PRESUMPTIONS

 

(A)                               It shall be presumed that the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement (notwithstanding any Adverse Determination), and the Indemnitor or any other person or entity challenging such right shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption.

 

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

 

8.                                      REMEDIES

 

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

 

(B)                               In the event that an Adverse Determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 6(B) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this paragraph 8 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits. The fact that an Adverse Determination has been made earlier pursuant to paragraph 6 of this Agreement that the Indemnitee was not entitled to indemnification shall not be taken into account in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this paragraph 8 and the (i) Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced in any way by reason of that Adverse Determination and (ii) the

 

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Indemnitor shall have the burden of proving that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be.

 

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

 

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

 

(E)                                In the event that the Indemnitee, pursuant to this paragraph 8, seeks a judicial adjudication of such Indemnitee’s rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement, if successful on the merits or otherwise as to all or less than all claims, issues or matters in such judicial adjudication, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to recover from the Indemnitor, and shall be indemnified by the Indemnitor against, any and all reasonable Expenses actually incurred by such Indemnitee in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter.

 

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

 

9.                                      NOTIFICATION AND DEFENSE OF CLAIMS

 

The Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Indemnitor in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information, or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder, but the failure so to notify the Indemnitor will not relieve the Indemnitor from any liability that the Indemnitor may have to Indemnitee under this Agreement unless the Indemnitor can establish that such omission to notify resulted in actual and material prejudice to which it cannot be reversed or otherwise eliminated without any material negative effect on the Indemnitor.  With respect to any such Proceeding as to which Indemnitee notifies the Indemnitor of the commencement thereof:

 

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

 

(B)                               Except as otherwise provided below, the Indemnitor will be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to Indemnitee.  After notice

 

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from the Indemnitor to Indemnitee of the Indemnitor’s election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnitor will not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation or as otherwise provided below.  Indemnitee shall have the right to employ Indemnitee’s own counsel in such Proceeding, but the fees and disbursements of such counsel incurred after notice from the Indemnitor of the Indemnitor’s assumption of the defense thereof shall be at the expense of Indemnitee unless (a) the employment of counsel by the Indemnitee has been authorized by the Indemnitor, (b) the Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest between the Indemnitor and the Indemnitee in the conduct of the defense of such action, (c) such Proceeding seeks penalties or other relief against the Indemnitee with respect to which the Indemnitor could not provide monetary indemnification to the Indemnitee (such as injunctive relief or incarceration) or (d) the Indemnitor shall not in fact have employed counsel to assume the defense of such action, in each of which cases the fees and disbursements of counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnitor.  The Indemnitor shall not be entitled to assume the defense of any Proceeding brought by or on behalf of the Indemnitor, or as to which the Indemnitee shall have reached the conclusion specified in clause (b) above, or which involves penalties or other relief against the Indemnitee of the type referred to in clause (c) above.

 

(C)                               The Indemnitor shall not be liable to indemnify the Indemnitee under this Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of any action or claim effected without the Indemnitor’s written consent.  The Indemnitor shall not settle any action or claim in any manner that would impose any penalty or limitation on the Indemnitee without the Indemnitee’s written consent.  Neither the Indemnitor nor Indemnitee will unreasonably withhold or delay consent to any proposed settlement.

 

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

 

(A)                               The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of reasonable Expenses as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Charter, the Bylaws, any other agreement, a vote of stockholders, a resolution of the Board of Directors or otherwise, except that any payments otherwise required to be made by the Indemnitor hereunder shall be offset by any and all amounts received by the Indemnitee from any other indemnitor or under one or more liability insurance policies maintained by an indemnitor or otherwise and shall not be duplicative of any other payments received by an Indemnitee from the Indemnitor in respect of the matter giving rise to the indemnity hereunder; provided, however, that if indemnification rights are provided by an Additional Indemnitor as defined in Section 18(B) hereof, such Section shall govern.  No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or any provision hereof shall

 

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be effective as to the Indemnitee with respect to any action taken or omitted by the Indemnitee prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal.

 

(B)                               To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors and officers of the Company, the Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available and upon any Change of Control the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain or arrange for continuation and/or “tail” coverage for the Indemnitee to the maximum extent obtainable at such time.

 

(C)                               Except as otherwise provided in Section 18(B) hereof, in the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Indemnitor shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all actions necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Indemnitor to bring suit to enforce such rights.

 

(D)                               Except as otherwise provided in Section 18(B) hereof, the Indemnitor shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder if and to the extent that the Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance policy, contract, agreement, or otherwise.

 

(E)                                If Ashford Inc. (or any member or other affiliate thereof other than the Indemnitor) pays or causes to be paid, for any reason, any amounts with respect to any Proceeding in which the Indemnitee may be indemnified  or entitled to indemnification hereunder or under any other indemnification agreement with the Indemnitee (whether pursuant to contract, by-laws, charter or other organizational documents) or otherwise in its capacity as a stockholder of the Company, then (x) Ashford Inc. (or such affiliate, as the case may be) shall be fully subrogated to all rights of the Indemnitee with respect to such payment and (y) the Indemnitor shall fully indemnify, reimburse and hold harmless Ashford Inc. (or such other affiliates) for all such payments actually made by Ashford Inc. (or such other affiliates).

 

11.                               CONTINUATION OF INDEMNITY

 

(A)                               All agreements and obligations of the Indemnitor contained herein shall continue during the period the Indemnitee is an officer or a member of the Board of Directors of the Company and shall continue thereafter so long as the Indemnitee shall be subject to any threatened, pending or completed Proceeding by reason of such Indemnitee’s Corporate Status and during the period of statute of limitations for any act or omission occurring during the Indemnitee’s term of Corporate Status.  This Agreement shall be binding upon the Indemnitor and its respective

 

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successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the Indemnitee and such Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators.

 

(B)                               The Company shall require and cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

 

12.                               SEVERABILITY

 

If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever, (i) the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, and (ii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provisions held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.

 

13.                               EXCEPTIONS TO RIGHT OF INDEMNIFICATION OR ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES

 

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall not be entitled to indemnification or advancement of reasonable Expenses under this Agreement with respect to (i) any Proceeding initiated by such Indemnitee against the Indemnitor other than a proceeding commenced pursuant to paragraph 8 hereof, or (ii) any Proceeding for an accounting of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities of the Company in violation of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any similar provisions of any federal, state or local statute.

 

14.                               NOTICE TO THE COMPANY STOCKHOLDERS

 

Any indemnification of, or advancement of reasonable Expenses, to an Indemnitee in accordance with this Agreement, if arising out of a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company, shall be reported in writing to the stockholders of the Company with the notice of the next Company stockholders’ meeting or prior to the meeting.

 

15.                               HEADINGS

 

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

 

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16.                               MODIFICATION AND WAIVER

 

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

 

17.                               NOTICES

 

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

 

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

 

If to the Indemnitor, to:

 

Ashford Hospitality Prime, Inc.

14185 Dallas Parkway

Suite 1100

Dallas, TX 75254

Attention:  General Counsel

 

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

 

18.                               CONTRIBUTION

 

(A)                            To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, penalties, fines and settlements and Expenses actually incurred by or on behalf of an Indemnitee, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such Proceeding; and/or (ii) the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s).

 

(B)                            The Company acknowledges and agrees that as between the Company and any other entity that has provided indemnification rights in respect of Indemnitee’s

 

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service as a director of the Company at the request of such entity (an “Additional Indemnitor”), the Company shall be primarily liable to Indemnitee as set forth in this Agreement for any indemnification claim (including, without limitation, any claim for advancement of Expenses) by Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding for which Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder.  In the event the Additional Indemnitor is liable to any extent to Indemnitee by virtue of indemnification rights provided by the Additional Indemnitor to Indemnitee in respect of Indemnitee’s service on the Board of Directors at the request of the Additional Indemnitor and Indemnitee is also entitled to indemnification under this Agreement (including, without limitation, for advancement of Expenses) as a result of any Proceeding, the Company shall pay, in the first instance, the entire amount of any indemnification claim (including, without limitation, any claim for advancement of Expenses) brought by the Indemnitee against the Company under this Agreement (including, without limitation, any claim for advancement of Expenses) without requiring the Additional Indemnitor to contribute to such payment, and the Company hereby waives and relinquishes any right of contribution, subrogation or any other right of recovery of any kind it may have against the Additional Indemnitor in respect thereof.  The Company further agrees that no advancement or payment by the Additional Indemnitor on behalf of Indemnitee with respect to any claim for which Indemnitee has sought indemnification from the Company shall affect the foregoing and the Additional Indemnitor shall be subrogated to the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Indemnitee against the Company.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company hereby acknowledges that certain of its Directors, including the Directors affiliated with Ashford Inc. (the “Specified Directors”), may have certain rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by Ashford Inc. and certain of its affiliates (collectively, the “Ashford Inc. Indemnitors”), which shall constitute Additional Indemnitors for purposes of this paragraph.  To the extent the Indemnitee is a Specified Director, the Company hereby agrees and acknowledges that with respect to matters for which it is required to provide indemnity pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, (i) it shall be the indemnitor of first resort with respect to the Indemnitee (i.e., its obligations to the Indemnitee are primary and any obligation of the Ashford Inc. Indemnitors to advance expenses or to provide indemnification for expenses or liabilities incurred by the Indemnitee are secondary), (ii) it shall advance the full amount of expenses incurred and shall be liable for the full amount of all expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement by the Indemnitee to the extent required by the terms of this Agreement (or any other agreement between the Company and the Indemnitee), without regard to any rights the Specified Directors may have against the Ashford Inc. Indemnitors and (iii) it irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases the Ashford Inc. Indemnitors from any and all claims against the Ashford Inc. Indemnitors for contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect thereof related to the Company’s obligations set forth in clauses (i) and

 

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(ii) in this sentence.  The Company further agrees that no advancement or payment by the Ashford Inc. Indemnitors on behalf of the Indemnitee with respect to any claim for which the Indemnitee has sought indemnification from the Company shall affect the foregoing and the Ashford Inc. Indemnitors shall have a right of contribution and/or be subrogated to the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Indemnitee against the Company.

 

19.                               GOVERNING LAW

 

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

 

20.                               NO ASSIGNMENTS

 

The Indemnitee may not assign its rights or delegate obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Indemnitor.  Any assignment or delegation in violation of this paragraph 20 shall be null and void.

 

21.                               NO THIRD PARTY RIGHTS

 

Except for the rights of an Additional Indemnitor under paragraph 18(B) hereof and except for Ashford Inc., who is expressly made a third party beneficiary of paragraph 10(E) hereof: (a), nothing expressed or referred to in this Agreement will be construed to give any person other than the parties to this Agreement any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or with respect to this Agreement or any provision of this Agreement; and (b) this Agreement and all of its provisions are for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties to this Agreement and their successors and permitted assigns.

 

22.                               COUNTERPARTS

 

This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together constitute an agreement binding on all of the parties hereto.

 

[Signature page follows]

 

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

 

	
 
    	
ASHFORD   HOSPITALITY PRIME, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
David   A. Brooks, Chief Operating Officer
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
and   General Counsel
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
INDEMNITEE:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Kenneth   Hopkins Fearn, Jr.

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