Document:

EX-10.15

EXHIBIT 10.15

AMENDED AND RESTATED RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT

This AMENDED AND RESTATED RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) dated December
22, 2008, is made by and between Avatar Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“Company”) and Randy Kotler (the “Participant”) and amends and restates in its
entirety the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, by and between the Company and the Participant, dated
June 26, 2007 (the “Original Agreement”).

The Company and the Participant wish to provide for certain modifications to the Original
Agreement to comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
“Code”) and wish to amend, restate and supersede the Original Agreement, all upon the terms
and conditions set forth herein.

The award granted to the Participant pursuant to the Original Agreement remains in effect as
amended and restated in this Agreement.

1. AWARD. Pursuant to the provisions of the Avatar Holdings Inc. Amended and Restated 1997
Incentive and Capital Accumulation Plan (2005 Restatement), as the same may be amended, restated,
modified or supplemented (the “Plan”), the Committee (as defined in the Plan, the
“Committee”) awarded to the Participant, on July 9, 2007, subject to the terms and
conditions of the Plan and the terms and conditions set forth herein, an opportunity to receive
2,500 Performance Conditioned Restricted Stock Units (“Units”). Capitalized terms used but
not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Plan. This award is intended to
constitute a Performance-Based Award within the meaning of the Plan.

2. TERMS AND CONDITIONS. The award evidenced by this Agreement is subject to the following
terms and conditions:

(a) Subject to Section 4 hereof, the Participant shall be granted, automatically and without
further authorization on the part of the Committee, 2,500 Units upon satisfaction of the following
condition (the date on which such condition is satisfied is hereinafter referred to as the
“Grant Date”): (i) the closing stock price of the Common Stock on its principal trading
market shall have been at least $88.56 per share for twenty (20) trading days out of thirty (30)
consecutive trading days or (ii) the Company consummates a transaction which results in the
stockholders of the Company receiving cash, securities, or other property (or any combination
thereof) having a “value” as determined by the Committee of at least $88.56 per share in either
case, during the period beginning on July 9, 2007 and ending on July 8, 2010 (the “Hurdle Price
Condition”); provided, however, that, except as provided in Sections 4(c) and
4(d), no Units shall be granted if the Participant’s employment with the Company has terminated for
any reason on or prior to the time the Hurdle Price Condition is satisfied. For purposes of this
Section 2(a), “value” shall mean the amount received by the stockholders of the Company
taking into account the net present value of any debt, securities, future payments, contingent
rights or other non-cash consideration to be paid to such stockholders.

(b) The Participant shall not possess any incidents of ownership (including, without
limitation, dividend, interest and voting rights) in shares of Common Stock in respect of the Units
or the Change in Control Amount, as applicable, until such Units or the Change in Control Amount,
as applicable, shall have vested and been distributed to the Participant in the form of shares of
Common Stock or, in the case of a Change in Control Amount, a single lump sum cash payment, in
accordance with Sections 3 and 4 hereof.

(c) Except as provided in this Section 2(c), the Units and any interest of the Participant
therein may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of.
Any attempt to transfer Units in contravention of this Section 2(c) is void ab initio.
Units shall not be subject to execution, attachment or other process. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, with the written consent of the Committee, the Participant shall be permitted to
transfer such Units to members of his immediate family (i.e., children, grandchildren or
spouse), trusts for the benefit of such family members, and partnerships whose only partners are
such family members; provided, however, that no consideration can be paid for the
transfer of the Units and the transferee of the Units shall be subject to all conditions applicable
to the Units (including all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement) prior to transfer.

(d) Each reference contained in this Agreement to:

“Anniversary” shall mean, with respect to any date, the annual recurrence of
such date.

“Change in Control” shall mean any of the following events: (a) a person or
entity or group of persons or entities, acting in concert, becomes the direct or indirect
beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended) of securities of the Company representing 50.1% or more of the combined voting
power of the issued and outstanding Common Stock; (b) the Board of Directors of the Company
approves any merger, consolidation or like business combination or reorganization of the
Company, the consummation of which would result in the occurrence of the event described in
clause (a) above, and such transaction shall have been consummated; (c) the Company ceases
to be engaged, directly or indirectly, and does not intend to be engaged at any time in the
foreseeable future, in any real estate business; or (d) the Company sells, transfers or
otherwise disposes of all or substantially all of its assets in one transaction or a series
of transactions. The date on which a Change in Control is consummated, with respect to
clauses (a) and (b), or occurs, with respect to clauses (c) and (d), is herein referred to
as the “Change in Control Date.”

“Change in Control Amount” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(e)
hereof.

“Common Stock” shall mean common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the
Company.

“Fair Market Value” shall mean the average of the closing prices of the Common
Stock for the fifteen trading days ending with and including the measuring date if the
Common Stock is readily tradeable on a national securities exchange, the National
Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System or other national market
system, provided, however, if such exchange or system is not open for business on any day
during such period or the Common Stock was not traded on any day during such period, the
Fair Market Value shall be determined as of the most recent fifteen (15) trading days
ending with and including the measuring date on which such exchange or system shall have
been open for business and the Common Stock was traded, and if the Common Stock is not
readily tradable as set forth above, Fair Market Value shall mean the amount determined in
good faith by the Committee as the fair market value of the Common Stock of the Company.

3. VESTING AND CONVERSION OF UNITS. On July 8, 2010, the Units granted to the Participant
pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof, if any, shall vest in full and such vested Units shall be
converted into an equivalent number of shares of Common Stock that will be immediately distributed
to the Participant; provided, however, that subject to the provisions of Section 4
hereof, no Units shall vest or be converted and distributed to the Participant unless the
Participant is an employee of the Company on July 8, 2010.

Upon the distribution of the shares of Common Stock in respect of the Units, the Company shall
issue to the Participant or the Participant’s personal representative a stock certificate
representing such shares of Common Stock, free of any restrictions, subject to Section 7 hereof.

4. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT; CHANGE IN CONTROL.

(a) For purposes of this Section 4, the terms Cause, Without Cause, Good Reason, Without Good
Reason and Disability shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Participant’s
employment agreement with the Company, dated as of the date hereof, as amended or restated from
time to time; provided, however, if the Participant is no longer employed pursuant
to such employment agreement, each such term shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the
employment agreement last in effect which contains such defined term.

(b) If the Participant’s employment with the Company is terminated by the Company for Cause or
by the Participant Without Good Reason, the Participant shall forfeit all Units granted to the
Participant pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof (or, in the event a Change in Control has occurred, the
Change in Control Amount if such Change in Control Amount has not yet been paid to the Participant
prior to such termination of employment), if any, as of the date of termination of employment.

(c) If the Participant’s employment with the Company is terminated by the Company Without
Cause, or is terminated by the Participant for Good Reason, (i)(A) all Units granted to the
Participant pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof, if any, shall vest, be converted into shares of Common
Stock and be immediately distributed to the Participant, and (B) any additional Units that satisfy
the Hurdle Price Condition on or before July 8, 2010, if any, shall vest on the date the Hurdle
Price Condition is satisfied, be converted into shares of Common Stock and be immediately
distributed to the Participant, or, (ii) in the event a Change in Control has occurred, the
Participant shall be entitled to receive the Change in Control Amount, if any, upon the date of
termination of employment, if such Change in Control Amount has not yet been paid to the
Participant prior to such termination of employment.

(d) If the Participant’s employment with the Company is terminated due to the Participant’s
death or Disability, the number of Units granted to the Participant pursuant to Section 2(a)
hereof, if any, which equals the greater of (i) the product of (x) a fraction the numerator of
which is the number of completed whole months elapsed from July 9, 2007 to the date of death or
Disability, as the case may be (whichever is sooner), and the denominator of which is thirty-six
(36) and (y) 2,500 or (ii) 1,250 Units, shall vest, be converted into shares of Common Stock and be
immediately distributed to the Participant (or the executor or administrator of the deceased
Participant’s estate or the person or persons to whom the deceased Participant’s rights shall pass
by will or the laws of descent or distribution, as applicable), and any portion of the Units then
remaining unvested shall be forfeited. If the Participant’s employment with the Company is
terminated by Participant’s death or Disability prior to the Grant Date and the Hurdle Price
Condition is satisfied on or before the first Anniversary of Participant’s termination for death or
Disability, 1,250 Units shall be granted and shall vest, be converted into shares of Common Stock
and be immediately distributed to the Participant (or the executor or administrator of the deceased
Participant’s estate or the person or persons to whom the deceased Participant’s rights shall pass
by will or the laws of descent or distribution, as applicable), and any portion of the Units then
remaining unvested shall be forfeited. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change in Control has
occurred prior to such termination for death or Disability, the Participant (or the executor or
administrator of the deceased Participant’s estate or the person or persons to whom the deceased
Participant’s rights shall pass by will or the laws of descent or distribution, as applicable)
shall be entitled to receive the Change in Control Amount, if any, upon the date of termination of
employment, if such Change in Control Amount has not yet been paid to the Participant prior to the
Participant’s termination of employment due to death or Disability.

(e) In the event of a Change in Control, all Units granted to the Participant pursuant to
Section 2(a) hereof, if any, shall be converted into shares of Common Stock immediately prior to
the consummation of the Change in Control and, upon consummation of the Change in Control, shall be
converted into such amount of cash, securities or other property (or any combination thereof)
received by the stockholders of the Company in connection with the Change in Control (the
“Change in Control Amount”). The Change in Control Amount shall be distributed to the
Participant no later than thirty (30) days following the Change in Control Date.

5. EQUITABLE ADJUSTMENT. If there shall be any change in the Common Stock of the Company,
through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, stock dividend, stock split,
reverse stock split, split up, spinoff, combination of shares, exchange of shares, dividend in kind
or other like change in capital structure or distribution (other than normal cash dividends) to
stockholders of the Company, in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the Participant’s
rights under this Agreement and the Plan, the Committee may, in an equitable manner, adjust the
number and kind of shares that may be issued under this Agreement and make any other appropriate
adjustments in the terms of the Units and this Agreement to reflect such changes or distributions.

6. TAXES. Any distribution of Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement shall be net of any
amounts required to be withheld pursuant to applicable federal, state and local tax withholding
requirements. In connection with any such distribution, the Company may require the Participant to
remit to it an amount sufficient to satisfy such tax withholding requirements prior to the delivery
of any certificates for such Common Stock. In lieu thereof, the Company shall have the right to
withhold the amount of such taxes from any other sums due or to become due from the Company to the
Participant as the Committee shall prescribe. The Committee may, in its discretion and subject to
such rules as it may adopt (including any as may be required to satisfy applicable tax and/or
non-tax regulatory requirements), permit the Participant to pay all or a portion of the federal,
state and local withholding taxes arising in connection with the Units granted hereunder and any
distribution of shares of Common Stock in respect thereof by electing to have the Company withhold
shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of tax to be withheld, such
tax calculated at rates prescribed by statute or regulation.

7. FORFEITURE OF UNITS AND PROFITS. At the discretion of the Committee, all or any portion of
the shares of Common Stock issued to the Participant in respect of Units awarded pursuant to
Section 2(a) hereof, if any, and all or any portion of the proceeds received from the sale of such
shares of Common Stock (or, in the event of Change in Control, all or any portion of the Change in
Control Amount) shall be subject to forfeiture in accordance with the provisions of 15 U.S.C.
§ 7243 (Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002), or any successor statute, as if the
Participant were subject to such statute; provided, however, that the provisions of
this Section 7 shall no be applicable on or after a Change in Control Date.

8. SECTION 409A OF THE CODE. If any payment or entitlement provided to the Participant
hereunder in connection with the Participant’s termination of employment, is determined, in whole
or in part, to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A
of the Code (“Section 409A”) and the Participant is a specified employee as defined in
Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i), no part of such payments shall be paid before the day that is six (6)
months plus one (1) day after the date of termination or earlier death (the “New Payment
Date”). The aggregate of any payments that otherwise would have been paid to the Participant
during the period between the date of termination and the New Payment Date shall be paid to the
Participant in a lump sum on such New Payment Date. Thereafter, any payments that remain
outstanding as of the day immediately following the New Payment Date shall be paid without delay
over the time period originally scheduled, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. A
termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of
this Agreement providing for the payment of any amounts or benefits subject to Section 409A upon or
following a termination of employment unless such termination is also a “separation from service”
within the meaning of Section 409A, and for purposes of any such provision of this Agreement,
references to a “resignation,” “termination,” “terminate,” “termination of employment” or like
terms shall mean separation from service. The parties acknowledge and agree that the
interpretation of Section 409A and its application to the terms of this Agreement is uncertain and
may be subject to change as additional guidance and interpretations become available. Anything to
the contrary herein notwithstanding, all benefits or payments provided by the Company to the
Participant that would be deemed to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the
meaning of Section 409A are intended to comply with Section 409A. If, however, any such benefit or
payment is deemed to not comply with Section 409A, the Company and the Participant agree to
renegotiate in good faith any such benefit or payment (including, without limitation, as to the
timing of any severance payments payable hereof) so that either (i) Section 409A will not apply or
(ii) compliance with Section 409A will be achieved; provided, however, that any resulting
renegotiated terms shall provide to the Participant the after-tax economic equivalent of what
otherwise has been provided to the Participant pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and
provided further, that any deferral of payments or other benefits shall be only for such time
period as may be required to comply with Section 409A.

9. REGULATORY COMPLIANCE AND LISTING. The issuance or delivery of any stock certificates
representing shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to this Agreement may be postponed by the
Committee for such period as may be required to comply with any applicable requirements under the
federal or state securities laws, any applicable listing requirements of any national securities
exchange or securities association, and any applicable requirements under any other law, rule or
regulation applicable to the issuance or delivery of such shares, and the Company shall not be
obligated to deliver any such shares of Common Stock to the Participant if delivery thereof would
constitute a violation of any provision of any law or of any regulation of any governmental
authority or any national securities exchange or securities association.

10. INVESTMENT REPRESENTATIONS AND RELATED MATTERS. The Participant hereby represents that
the Common Stock issuable pursuant to this Agreement is being acquired for investment and not for
sale or with a view to distribution thereof. The Participant acknowledges and agrees that any sale
or distribution of shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to this Agreement may be made only
pursuant to either (a) a registration statement on an appropriate form under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), which registration statement has become effective
and is current with regard to the shares being sold, or (b) a specific exemption from the
registration requirements of the Securities Act that is confirmed in a favorable written opinion of
counsel, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Company, prior to any such sale or
distribution. The Participant hereby consents to such action as the Committee or the Company deems
necessary or appropriate from time to time to prevent a violation of, or to perfect an exemption
from, the registration requirements of the Securities Act or to implement the provisions of this
Agreement, including but not limited to placing restrictive legends on certificates evidencing
shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to this Agreement and delivering stop transfer instructions
to the Company’s stock transfer agent.

11. NO RIGHT TO CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT. This Agreement does not confer upon the Participant any
right to continued employment by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliated companies,
nor shall it interfere in any way with the right of the Participant’s employer to terminate the
Participant’s employment at any time for any reason or no reason.

12. CONSTRUCTION. The Plan and this Agreement will be construed by and administered under the
supervision of the Committee, and all determinations of the Committee will be final and binding on
the Participant.

13. NOTICES. Any notice required or permitted under this Agreement shall be deemed given when
delivered personally, or when deposited in a United States Post Office, postage prepaid, addressed,
as appropriate, (i) to the Participant at the last address specified in Participant’s employment
records, or such other address as the Participant may designate in writing to the Company, or (ii)
to the Company, Avatar Holdings Inc., 201 Alhambra Circle, 12th Floor, Coral Gables, Florida 33134,
Attention: Corporate Secretary, or such other address as the Company may designate in writing to
the Participant.

14. FAILURE TO ENFORCE NOT A WAIVER. The failure of either party hereto to enforce at any
time any provision of this Agreement shall in no way be construed to be a waiver of such provision
or of any other provision hereof.

15. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed according to the laws of
the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflicts of laws provisions thereof.

16. INCORPORATION OF PLAN. The Plan is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of
this Agreement, and this Agreement shall be subject to the terms of the Plan, as the Plan may be
amended from time to time.

17. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which
shall be an original but all of which together shall represent one and the same agreement.

18. MISCELLANEOUS. This Agreement cannot be modified or terminated orally. This Agreement
and the Plan contain the entire agreement between the parties relating to the subject matter
hereof. The section headings herein are intended for reference only and shall not affect the
interpretation hereof.

(signature page follows)

1

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

	 	 	 
	AVATAR HOLDINGS INC.

	By:

	 	/s/ Gerald D. Kelfer
	
 
	 	 

	 	 	Name: Gerald D. Kelfer

Title: Chief Executive Officer

	 	 	 	/s/ Randy Kotler

	 	 	Randy 

Kotler

2EX-10.1

December 23, 2008

Robert Grien

Re: Transition Employment Agreement

Dear Rob,

This letter (our “Agreement”) will confirm our understanding with respect to your termination
as an employee of Deerfield Capital Management LLC (the “Company”) as a result of a reduction in
force. You acknowledge that this Agreement is intended only to resolve matters relating to your
employment with the Company and is not an admission of fault or liability on the part of you or the
Company. Subject to your continuing to comply with the terms of this Agreement, you and the
Company agree as follows:

1. As part of the Company’s reduction in force, you are scheduled to be terminated effective
November 14, 2008. The Company is offering you a choice in terms of severance arrangements as
follows (please initial the option you choose):

     X     Option 1: The Company is offering you the opportunity, in consideration of
your entering into this Agreement, to remain a Company employee from the date hereof until
January 13, 2009 or your earlier resignation (the “Transition Period”), at your current
salary and benefits and subject to the terms of this Agreement; or

If you do not wish to remain a Company employee after November 14, 2008, in consideration of
your entering into this Agreement, you may choose either of the following:

     Option 2: Although you will no longer be an employee, you may choose to receive
periodic payments through January 4, 2009 equivalent in amount and payment date to the
salary you would have received through that date if you had remained a Company employee
through that date; or

     Option 3: Receive a lump sum payment of $50,077.00. If you choose this option, all
salary payments will cease as of November 14, 2008. The lump sum payment will be made to
you promptly after the Effective Date, as defined in Paragraph 21 below, in accordance with
the Company’s normal payroll policies.

If you choose either Option 2 or Option 3, you would have no further employment duties, access
to the Company’s offices, or rights after your termination date.

2. Regardless of which of the above options you choose, you will also receive a separate lump
sum payment, representing your discretionary bonus for the 2008 calendar year, of $500,000.00, in
accordance with the Company’s standard bonus payment policy, which in any event will be no later
than March 31, 2009. You acknowledge that you are not otherwise entitled to the benefits that are
described in this paragraph and in Paragraph 1.

3. Additionally, you will be paid for your accrued but unused vacation as outlined in the
attached severance schedule.

4. You agree that, in addition to complying with the terms of this Agreement, effective upon
the end of your Transition Period (if you choose Option 1 above), you will execute a release in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit A, which will release the Company from any claims that may have
arisen during the Transition Period (the “Second Release”). In consideration of this Second
Release, the Company will pay you an additional one week of salary at the rate of your current
annual salary, upon the expiration of the 7-day revocation period contained in the Second Release
in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll policies. You acknowledge that you are not
otherwise entitled to the benefits that are described in this paragraph. Notwithstanding anything
contained in this agreement, the Company retains the right to terminate you for cause during the
Transition Period and concurrently rescind its obligation to pay you the amounts set forth in
Paragraph 1 and Paragraph 2.

5. During the Transition Period (if you choose Option 1 above), you may make reasonable use
of the Company’s facilities until December 31, 2008.

6. Upon your execution of this Agreement or the Second Release, as applicable, the Company
agrees that it will not contest any claim for unemployment insurance benefits you may file with the
New York State Department of Labor.

7. You, on behalf of your heirs, executors, administrators, assigns, successors and legal
representatives, release and forever discharge the Company, its affiliates, parent or subsidiary
entities or corporations, and its and their officers, directors, shareholders, employees, agents,
representatives, insurers, successors and assigns (“Company Affiliates”), from any and all claims,
liabilities, demands, sums of money, agreements, promises, damages, sums of money, costs or
expenses, attorneys fees, causes of action and liabilities of any kind or character whatsoever,
including all known and unknown claims, arising on or before the Effective Date (as hereafter
defined) which you now have or may hereafter have against the Company or any Company Affiliate
(other than the obligations described in this Agreement). You agree that the severance payments
described in Paragraphs 1 and 2 hereof, and the Company’s promises in Paragraphs 4 and 5 hereof,
represent full and complete consideration for the release you are providing and for any other
promises you are making in this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall constitute a release of
any of your rights to any vested benefits or rights to indemnification under the Company’s
insurance policies, bylaws or other applicable agreements.

8. Your release includes any claims or causes of action you might have under any local,
federal or state law, including the Illinois Human Rights Act, the Federal Age Discrimination in
Employment Act of 1967, as amended, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the Americans with
Disabilities Act; the Equal Pay Act; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended; the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993; the Civil Rights Act of April 9, 1866; the
Federal Occupation Safety and Health Act; and the Chicago Human Rights Ordinance.

9. (a) You represent that you have not filed any complaints or charges or lawsuits against
the Company or Company Affiliates in any court or before any government agency except for a claim
for unemployment insurance benefits. You further represent that you have advised the Company of
any potential claims you may have regarding your employment with the Company as of the date you
sign this Agreement.

(b) The Company represents that it has not filed any complaints or charges or lawsuits against
you in any court or before any government agency. The Company further represents that it has
advised you that it is not aware of any potential claims it may have regarding your employment with
the Company as of the date you sign this Agreement.

10. You agree that you will not make any disparaging or untrue statements concerning the
Company or Company Affiliates.

11. The Company agrees that in response to appropriate inquiries, in accordance with its
standard policy, it will provide a neutral reference concerning your employment with the Company.

12. Other than to carry out its terms, the Agreement shall not be used or offered by any
person for any purpose, including as an admission of liability or wrongdoing or the validity or
invalidity of any claims which were or could have been asserted by either you or the Company.

13. This Agreement embodies the sole and entire Agreement between you and the Company
concerning the resolution of all matters concerning your employment with the Company, and
supersedes any and all prior agreements, arrangements and understandings you or the Company may
have regarding your employment or compensation, except those set forth in the Satisfaction
Agreement dated May 22, 2008 between you and Deerfield Capital Corp. and Sections 5, 6(f), 7 and
8(c) (and any definitions in Section 4 that relate to the foregoing sections) of your employment
agreement with the Company dated July 10, 2004.; each of which shall remain in full force and
effect after your employment with the Company terminates.

14. The provisions of this Agreement may be modified only by the written agreement of you and
the Company.

15. In executing this Agreement, you represent that you are not relying on any inducements,
promises or representations of the Company or Company Affiliates other than expressly set forth in
this Agreement.

16. If any provision of this Agreement shall be deemed invalid under applicable law, such
provision shall be deemed omitted, but the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect.

17. You agree and acknowledge that this Agreement will be disclosed publicly in a Form 8-K to
be filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

18. The Company agrees to take commercially reasonable steps to promptly deliver to you, in
certificate form, all shares of Deerfield Capital Corp. common stock that vest upon your
termination by the Company.

19. All disputes arising in connection with this Agreement or any rights arising pursuant to
this Agreement shall be resolved by binding arbitration in accordance with the applicable rules of
the American Arbitration Association. The arbitration shall be held in Cook County, Illinois
before a single arbitrator selected in accordance with Section 11 of the American Arbitration
Association Commercial Arbitration Rules who shall have (i) substantial business experience in the
investment advisory industry, and shall otherwise be conducted in accordance with the American
Arbitration Association Commercial Arbitration Rules and (ii) the right to award to any party any
right or remedy that is available under applicable law. The award of the arbitrator shall be final
and binding and may be entered and enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction.

20. This agreement is binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns.

21. If this Agreement correctly reflects the understanding reached between you and the
Company, please sign and return the two enclosed copies of this Agreement. You should consult with
an attorney before you sign this Agreement, and you have forty-five (45) calendar days in which to
consider whether to sign. You may waive this 45 day consideration period. After you sign this
Agreement, you have seven (7) calendar days during which you may revoke this Agreement, and this
Agreement will not become effective until this seven day period has expired (the “Effective Date”).

22. We have attached to this Agreement a schedule containing the job titles and ages of all
employees affected by this reduction in force, and the ages of all individuals with the same job
classification not affected by this reduction in force.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]

1

The Company anticipates your cooperation during
your Transition Period, and wishes you good luck in your future endeavors thereafter.

DEERFIELD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC

	 	 	 
	By:

	 	/s/ Luke D. Knecht
	
 
	 	 
	Its:

	 	Luke D. Knecht

Chief Operating Officer

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE SIGNING. THIS AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE INCLUDES A RELEASE OF ALL
KNOWN AND UNKNOWN CLAIMS YOU MAY HAVE AGAINST THE COMPANY.

Approved and Accepted this 23rd

day of December 2008.

/s/ Robert Grien

Robert Grien

2

EXHIBIT A

SECOND RELEASE

In consideration of the payments specified in Option 1 of Paragraph 1 of my Transition
Employment Agreement with the Company (the “Agreement”), upon the Effective Date as defined below,
I, on behalf of myself and my heirs, executors, administrators, assigns, successors and legal
representatives, release and forever discharge the Company, its affiliates, parent or subsidiary
entities or corporations, and its and their officers, directors, shareholders, employees, agents,
representatives, insurers, successors and assigns (“Company Affiliates”), from any and all claims,
liabilities, demands, sums of money, agreements, promises, damages, sums of money, costs or
expenses, attorneys fees, causes of action and liabilities of any kind or character whatsoever,
including all known and unknown claims, arising after the date of the Agreement and before the
Effective Date (as hereafter defined), which I now have or may hereafter have against the Company
or any Company Affiliate (other than the obligations described in the Agreement).

My release includes any claims or causes of action I might have under any local, federal or
state law, including the Illinois Human Rights Act; the Federal Age Discrimination in Employment
Act of 1967, as amended; the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the Americans with Disabilities
Act; the Equal Pay Act; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended; the Family
and Medical Leave Act of 1993; the Civil Rights Act of April 9, 1866; the Federal Occupation Safety
and Health Act; and the Chicago Human Rights Ordinance.

I understand that I may revoke this Second Release by sending written notice to the Company,
Attention: General Counsel, within seven days of the date I sign the Agreement. This Second
Release will not become effective until this seven day period has expired (the “Effective Date”).

Approved and Accepted this     

day of      , 2008.

     

Robert Grien

3

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