Document:

Exhibit

GARTNER, INC.
2014 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
PERFORMANCE STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT

Gartner, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby grants you (or the “Grantee”) the number of performance stock units indicated in the notice of grant (a “PSU” or the “PSUs”) under the Company’s 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time (the “Plan”) (this type of Award is referred to as Performance Shares under the Plan).  The date of this Agreement is February 6, 2019 (the “Grant Date”).  Subject to the provisions of Appendix A, Appendix B (each attached hereto) and of the Plan, the principal features of this PSU grant are as follows:
Target Number of PSUs:  As provided in the notice of grant, subject to adjustment as provided under Performance Adjustment below.

Performance Adjustment: The performance conditions and performance goals applicable to the PSUs are as set forth in Appendix B.

Vesting Schedule:

Twenty-five percent (25%) of the PSUs eligible to vest (if any, as determined as set forth on Appendix B) shall vest on each of the first four anniversaries of the date hereof, or February 6, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, subject to Grantee’s Continued Service through each such date.

APPENDIX A
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF PERFORMANCE STOCK UNITS
1.Grant of PSUs.  The Company hereby grants to the Grantee under the Plan, as a separate incentive in connection with his or her employment and not in lieu of any salary or other compensation for his or her services, the number of Performance Stock Units (“PSUs”) indicated in the notice of grant, subject to all of the terms and conditions in this Agreement and the Plan. This type of Award is referred to as “Performance Shares” under the Plan. 
2.    Company’s Obligation to Pay.  Each PSU has a value equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant.  Unless and until the PSUs have vested in the manner set forth in Paragraphs 3 or 4, the Grantee will have no right to payment of such PSUs.  Prior to actual payment of any vested PSUs, such PSUs will represent an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company.  Payment of any vested PSUs will be made in Shares only.  In no event will the Grantee be permitted, directly or indirectly, to specify the taxable year of the payment of any PSUs payable under the Agreement. 
3.    Vesting Schedule.  

		
	(a)
	General Rule. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the PSUs awarded by this Agreement are scheduled to vest in accordance with the vesting schedule set forth in the notice of grant. PSUs scheduled to vest on a particular date will vest only if the Grantee remains in Continued Service (as defined below) through such date. Subject to the following subsections of this Paragraph 3, should the Grantee’s Continued Service end at any time (the “Termination Date”) while the PSUs remain outstanding, any unvested PSUs will be immediately cancelled.

		
	(b)
	Termination of Continued Service due to Death or Disability. If the Grantee’s termination of Continued Service is due to the Grantee’s death or Disability, the unvested portion of the PSUs shall vest in full on the Termination Date. For the avoidance of doubt, if a Grantee’s Continued Service terminates due to his or her death or Disability and the Grantee is eligible for a Retirement in accordance with the requirements set forth in Paragraph 28 of this Agreement, such termination of Continued Service shall be governed by this Paragraph 3(b) and shall not be treated as a Retirement.

		
	(c)
	Termination of Continued Service due to Retirement-Eligible Voluntary Resignation During the Year of Grant. If termination of Continued Service is due to a voluntary resignation and the Grantee is eligible for a Retirement in accordance with the requirements set forth in Paragraph 28 of this Agreement, occurring during the calendar year in which the grant was made, the unvested portion of the PSUs shall continue to vest after the Termination Date as set forth in the notice of grant, despite the termination of Continued Service; provided, that (i) the number of PSUs that will continue to vest will be limited as set forth in Paragraph 3(e) below depending on the Grantee’s age at Retirement, and (ii) the target number of PSUs so granted will be reduced to equal the percentage of days in that year in which the Grantee was in Continued Service (i.e., for the avoidance of doubt, the target number of PSUs will equal the number specified in the notice of grant, multiplied by the number of days from January 1 for which the Grantee was in Continued Service, divided by 365).

		
	(d)
	Termination of Continued Service due to Retirement-Eligible Voluntary Resignation After the Year of Grant or Retirement-Eligible Termination without Cause. If the Grantee is eligible for a Retirement in accordance with the requirements set forth in Paragraph 28 of this Agreement and his or her termination of Continued Service is due to (i) a voluntary resignation occurring any time after the calendar year in which the grant was made, or (ii) an involuntary termination without Cause, other than pursuant to a Qualifying Termination (which treatment is governed exclusively by Paragraph 3(f)), the unvested portion of the PSUs shall continue to vest after the Termination Date as set forth in the notice of grant, despite the termination of Continued Service; provided, that the number of PSUs that will continue to vest will be limited as set forth in Paragraph 3(e) below depending on the Grantee’s age at Retirement.  

		
	(e)
	Number of PSUs Subject to Continued Vesting Upon Retirement. If the Grantee’s Continued Service terminates due to a Retirement in accordance with the requirements set forth in Paragraph 28 of this Agreement and:

		
	(i)
	The Grantee is less than age 60 on the Termination Date, the unvested portion of the PSUs that would have vested by its terms within the twelve (12) months from the Termination Date shall continue to vest as set forth in the notice of grant, despite the termination of Continued Service;

		
	(ii)
	The Grantee is age 60 (but less than age 61) on the Termination Date, the unvested portion of the PSUs that would have vested by its terms within the twenty-four (24) months from the Termination Date shall continue to vest as set forth in the notice of grant, despite the termination of Continued Service;

		
	(iii)
	The Grantee is age 61 (but less than age 62) on the Termination Date, the unvested portion of the PSUs that would have vested by its terms within the thirty-six (36) months from the Termination Date shall continue to vest as set forth in the notice of grant, despite the termination of Continued Service; and

		
	(iv)
	The Grantee is age 62 or older on the Termination Date, the entire unvested portion of the PSUs shall continue to vest after the Termination Date as set forth in the notice of grant, despite the termination of Continued Service.

		
	(f)
	Qualifying Termination following a Change of Control. Unless the Grantee’s employment, severance or other written agreement with the Company provides more favorable treatment, in the event that the Grantee’s Continued Service is involuntarily terminated without Cause (including as a result of the elimination of his or her position) during the twelve (12) months following a Change of Control (“Qualifying Termination”), the unvested portion of the PSUs shall vest on the Termination Date, with the performance goals hereunder being deemed achieved at one-hundred percent (100%) of the target level of performance. For the avoidance of doubt, (i) to the extent that the Grantee is eligible for a Retirement in accordance with the requirements set forth in Paragraph 28 of this Agreement and he or she experiences a Qualifying Termination, the vesting provisions set forth in this Paragraph 3(f) (not Paragraph 3(d)) shall control, and (ii) Section 13.10 of the Plan does not apply to the PSUs granted hereunder.

		
	(g)
	Other Conditions. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the vesting terms set forth in this Paragraph 3 are contingent upon the Grantee being in full compliance with all the terms of this Agreement at the time of vesting, and (ii) in the case of PSUs as to which the Performance Adjustment referred to in the notice of grant has not been made at the Termination Date, the PSUs that will be deemed vested on the Termination Date or otherwise pursuant to this Paragraph 3 shall be determined, and shall vest, when such Performance Adjustment has occurred.

4.    Committee Discretion.  The Committee, in its discretion, may accelerate the vesting of the balance, or some lesser portion of the balance, of the PSUs at any time, subject to the terms of the Plan. If so accelerated, such PSUs will be considered as having vested as of the date specified by the Committee.  If the Committee, in its discretion, accelerates the vesting of the balance, or some lesser portion of the balance, of the PSUs and the PSUs are “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A, the payment of such accelerated PSUs nevertheless shall be made at the same time or times as if such PSUs had vested in accordance with the vesting schedule set forth in the notice of grant (whether or not the Grantee remains in Continued Service through such date(s)).  The immediately preceding sentence may be superseded in a future agreement or amendment to this Award Agreement only by direct and specific reference to the sentence.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such PSUs that are “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A are accelerated in connection with the Grantee’s termination of Continued Service (other than due to death), the PSUs that vest on account of the Grantee’s termination of Continued Service will not be considered due or payable until the Grantee has a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A.  In addition, if the Grantee is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A at the time of the Grantee’s separation from service, then any such accelerated PSUs otherwise payable within the six (6) month period following the Grantee’s separation from service instead will be paid on the date that is six (6) months and one (1) day following the date of the Grantee’s separation from service, unless the Grantee dies following his or her separation from service, in which case, the accelerated PSUs will be paid to the Grantee’s estate as soon as practicable following his or her death, subject to Paragraph 8.  Thereafter, such PSUs shall continue to be paid in accordance with the vesting schedule set forth on the first page of this Agreement.  Each payment payable to a U.S. taxpayer under this Agreement is intended to constitute a separate payment for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2).  For purposes of this Agreement, “Section 409A” means Section 409A of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any final Treasury Regulations and other Internal Revenue Service guidance thereunder, as each may be amended from time to time.
5.    Payment after Vesting.  Any PSUs that vest in accordance with Paragraph 4 will be released to the Grantee (or in the event of the Grantee’s death, to his or her estate) in Shares as soon as practicable following the date of vesting, subject to Paragraph 8, but in no event later than the applicable two and one-half (2-1⁄2) month period of the “short-term deferral” rule set forth in the Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) of the Treasury Regulations issued under Section 409A.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the PSUs are “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A, the vested PSUs will be released to the Grantee (or in the event of the Grantee’s death, to his or her estate) in Shares as soon as practicable following the date of vesting, subject to Paragraph 8, but in no event later than the end of the calendar year that includes the date of vesting or, if later, the fifteen (15th) day of the third (3rd) calendar month following the date of vesting (provided that the Grantee will not be permitted, directly or indirectly, to designate the taxable year of the payment). Further, if some or all of the PSUs that are “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A vest on account of the Grantee’s termination of Continued Service (other than due to death) in accordance with Paragraph 3, the PSUs that vest on account of the Grantee’s termination of Continued Service will not be considered due or payable until the Grantee has a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A.   In addition, if the Grantee is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A at the time of the Grantee’s separation from service (other than due to death), then any accelerated PSUs will be paid to the Grantee no earlier than six (6) months and one (1) day following the date of the Grantee’s separation from service unless the Grantee dies following his or her separation from service, in which case, the PSUs will be paid to the Grantee’s estate as soon as practicable following his or her death, subject to Paragraph 8.  Any PSUs that vest in accordance with Paragraph 4 will be paid to the Grantee (or in the event of the Grantee’s death, to his or her estate) in Shares in accordance with the provision of such paragraph, subject to Paragraph 8.
6.    Forfeiture.  Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this Agreement, the balance of the PSUs that have not vested pursuant to Paragraphs 3 or 4 at the time the Grantee ceases to be in Continued Service will be forfeited and automatically transferred to and reacquired by the Company at no cost to the Company.  The Grantee shall not be entitled to a refund of any of the price paid for the PSUs forfeited to the Company pursuant to this Paragraph 6.
7.    Death of Grantee.  Any distribution or delivery to be made to the Grantee under this Agreement will, if the Grantee is then deceased, be made to the administrator or executor of the Grantee’s estate (or such other person to whom the PSUs are transferred pursuant to the Grantee’s will or in accordance with the laws of descent and distribution).  Any such transferee must furnish the Company (a) written notice of his or her status as a transferee, (b) evidence satisfactory to the Company to establish the validity of the transfer of these PSUs and compliance with any laws or regulations pertaining to such transfer, and (c) written acceptance of the terms and conditions of this Performance Stock Unit grant as set forth in this Agreement.
8.    Withholding of Taxes.  When the Shares are issued as payment for vested PSUs, the Grantee will recognize immediate U.S. taxable income if the Grantee is a U.S. taxpayer.  If the Grantee is a non-U.S. taxpayer, the Grantee may be subject to applicable taxes in his or her jurisdiction.  The Company (or the employing parent of the Company or Subsidiary) will withhold a portion of the Shares otherwise issuable in payment for vested PSUs that have an aggregate market value sufficient to pay the federal, state and local income, employment and any other applicable taxes required to be withheld by the Company (or the employing parent of the Company or Subsidiary) with respect to the Shares, not to exceed the amount determined by using the maximum federal, state or local marginal income tax rates applicable to the Grantee or the Company, as applicable, with respect to the Shares on the date that the amount of tax to be withheld or remitted is to be determined.  No fractional Shares will be withheld or issued pursuant to the grant of PSUs and the issuance of Shares thereunder.  The Company (or the employing parent of the Company or Subsidiary) may instead, in its discretion, withhold an amount necessary to pay the applicable taxes from the Grantee’s paycheck, with no withholding of Shares.  In the event the withholding requirements are not satisfied through the withholding of Shares (or, through the Grantee’s paycheck, as indicated above), no payment will be made to the Grantee (or his or her estate) for PSUs unless and until satisfactory arrangements (as determined by the Committee) have been made by the Grantee with respect to the payment of any income and other taxes which the Company determines must be withheld or collected with respect to such PSUs.  By accepting this Award, the Grantee expressly consents to the withholding of Shares and to any cash or Share withholding as provided for in this Paragraph 8.  All income and other taxes related to the Performance Stock Unit award and any Shares delivered in payment thereof are the sole responsibility of the Grantee.  In no event will the Company reimburse the Grantee for any taxes or other costs that may be imposed on the Grantee as result of Section 409A.
9.    Rights as Stockholder.  Neither the Grantee nor any person claiming under or through the Grantee shall have any of the rights or privileges of a stockholder of the Company in respect of any Shares deliverable hereunder unless and until certificates representing such Shares (which may be in book entry form) shall have been issued, recorded on the records of the Company or its transfer agents or registrars, and delivered to the Grantee (including through electronic delivery to a brokerage account).  Notwithstanding any contrary provisions of this Agreement, any quarterly or other regular, periodic dividends or distributions (as determined by the Company) paid on Shares will accrue with respect to (i) unvested PSUs and (ii) PSUs that are vested but unpaid, and no such dividends or other distributions will be paid on PSUs nor PSUs that are vested but unpaid pursuant to Paragraph 4, and in each case will be subject to the same forfeiture provisions (if any), and be paid out at the same time or time(s), as the underlying PSUs on which such dividends or other distributions have accrued. After such issuance, recordation and delivery, the Grantee will have all the rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to voting such Shares and receipt of dividends and distributions on such Shares. 
10.    No Effect on Employment or Service.  The Grantee’s employment with the Company and any parent of the Company or Subsidiary is on an at-will basis only, subject to the provisions of applicable law.  Accordingly, subject to any written, express employment contract with the Grantee, nothing in this Agreement or the Plan shall confer upon the Grantee any right to continue to be employed by the Company or any parent of the Company or Subsidiary or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the Company or the employing parent of the Company or Subsidiary, which are hereby expressly reserved, to terminate the employment of the Grantee at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without good cause.  Such reservation of rights can be modified only in an express written contract executed by a duly authorized officer of the Company or the parent of the Company or Subsidiary employing the Grantee.  
11.    Address for Notices.  Any notice to be given to the Company under the terms of this Agreement shall be addressed to the Company, in care of its Secretary at the Company’s headquarters, P.O. Box 10212, 56 Top Gallant Road, Stamford, CT 06902-7700, or at such other address as the Company may hereafter designate in writing.

12.    Grant is Not Transferable.  Except to the limited extent provided in Paragraph 7 above, this grant and the rights and privileges conferred hereby shall not be transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated in any way (whether by operation of law or otherwise) and shall not be subject to sale under execution, attachment or similar process.  Upon any attempt to transfer, assign, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of this grant, or of any right or privilege conferred hereby, or upon any attempted sale under any execution, attachment or similar process, this grant and the rights and privileges conferred hereby immediately shall become null and void.  Notwithstanding the preceding, the Grantee may transfer (not for consideration and for bona fide estate planning purposes) the Performance Stock Units awarded under this Agreement to a revocable estate planning trust that is established solely for the benefit of Grantee and his or her immediate family.  Any such transfer will be permitted only if it is in compliance with such rules and procedures as the Company may establish from time to time. Among other things, Grantee must acknowledge and agree that (a) for U.S. income tax purposes, all taxable income from the Performance Stock Units will be reported to Grantee alone, (b) if Grantee proposes to change the nature or character of the transferee trust, Grantee first must inform the Company and the Company may require that the Performance Stock Units be transferred back to Grantee alone, and (c) no additional other or further transfers of the Performance Stock Units will be permitted under any circumstance.

13.    Non-Competition. (a)(i) “Competitive Acts” shall mean: (A) the development, production, marketing or selling of (or assisting others to develop, produce, market or sell): (x) syndicated research that competes with the Company or its Subsidiaries; or (y) a product or service which is competitive with the existing or planned products or services of the Company with which Grantee was involved in or managed at any time during the last twenty-four (24) months of the Grantee’s Continued Service; and (B) the direct or indirect provision of services to, or solicitation of, the Company’s clients or known prospects with whom Grantee had contact, managed, or became aware of as a result of being employed by the Company, for the purposes of developing, producing, marketing or selling such competitive products or services.

(ii)    Grantee understands and agrees that the Company’s business is global in nature and that its clients are located throughout the world; therefore, a territorial limitation on the non-competition covenants set forth in Paragraph 13 would not allow the Company to adequately protect its legitimate business interests, and the absence of such a limitation is entirely reasonable under these circumstances.  In addition, Grantee agrees that the provisions of this Paragraph 14 are reasonable to protect and preserve the Company’s legitimate business interests, including the protection of the Company’s Confidential Information (as defined below) and the Company’s substantial investment made to develop and retain its Confidential Information, client base, accounts and related goodwill.

(iii)    The Company may, in its sole discretion, waive any portion of the Grantee’s obligations contained in Paragraph 13.  No such waiver shall be valid unless directly provided to Grantee, in writing, by the Company’s General Counsel or his/her designee.

(b)    Grantee agrees that, for a period of two (2) years following the termination of his or her Continued Service for any reason whatsoever (the “Restricted Period”), the Grantee will not, on his or her own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity (whether as a consultant, analyst, sales person, independent contractor, independent business venturer, partner, member, employee or otherwise), directly or indirectly: (i) engage in any Competitive Acts; and/or (ii) entice, encourage, cause or invite any of the Company’s clients, known prospects, and vendors to discontinue, diminish, or otherwise adversely modify the business done with the Company, or otherwise interfere with the relationship between the Company and its clients, known prospects, and vendors.

(c)    Grantee agrees that, in addition to any and all other remedies available to the Company (at law, in equity, or as otherwise set forth in this Agreement), the Company shall be entitled to liquidated damages for any violation of Paragraph 13 in an amount equal to: (i) the final twelve (12) months’ salary, commissions, and bonus paid to the Grantee; and (ii) an additional amount equal to the aggregate dollar value of shares underlying any stock appreciation rights, performance stock units, and/or restricted stock units that vested (or, in the case of stock appreciation rights, vested and Grantee exercised) at any time during the twelve (12) months prior to the Grantee’s termination of Continued Service.  The dollar value of each such share shall be equal to the closing price of Gartner stock on the date of grant of the applicable stock appreciation right, performance stock unit or restricted stock unit.  Grantee agrees that the liquidated damages set forth herein are a reasonable approximation of the damages experienced by the Company for a violation of Paragraph 13, and are not to be deemed a penalty of any kind.

(d)    Grantee acknowledges that the time, geographic and scope limitations of the non-competition obligation set forth herein are fair and reasonable in all respects, and that Grantee will not be precluded from gainful employment if obligated to comply with the provisions hereof.  To the extent a court of appropriate jurisdiction finds the duration and/or geographic scope of the non-competition or non-solicitation restrictions to be unenforceable under applicable law, then it is the intention of the parties that such restriction be enforced to the fullest extent which the court deems reasonable.  In the event of Grantee’s breach or violation of this Paragraph 13, or good faith allegation by the Company of such breach or violation, the Restricted Period set forth in this Paragraph 13 shall be tolled until such breach or violation, or allegation thereof, has been duly cured or resolved.  

(e)    During the Restricted Period set forth above, the Grantee will notify (in writing and not less than 72 hours in advance) the Company’s General Counsel if he or she intends to become an employee or other service provider of any entity other than the Company (for example, but not by way of limitation, as an employee, consultant, analyst, sales person, independent contractor, agent, independent business venturer, partner or member). 
14.    Non‐Solicitation and No‐Hire.  The Grantee further agrees that, during the Restricted Period, the Grantee will not, directly or indirectly solicit, entice, or recruit employees of the Company to leave its employ, or offer or cause to be offered employment to any person who was employed by the Company at any time during the twelve (12) months prior to the termination of Grantee’s Continued Service.  General mass solicitations of employment that are not directed at the Company or any employee(s) of the Company shall not be prohibited by this Paragraph 14. For purposes of this Paragraph 14 (and the preceding Paragraph 13, the “Company” shall include the Company and its Subsidiaries).
15.    Successors and Assigns.  The Company may assign any of its rights under the Agreement to single or multiple assignees, and this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company.  The rights and obligations of the Grantee under this Agreement may be assigned only with the prior written consent of the Company.
16.    Restrictions on Sale of Securities.  The Shares issued as payment for vested PSUs awarded under this Agreement will be registered under the federal securities laws and will be freely tradable upon receipt.  However, the Grantee’s subsequent sale of the Shares will be subject to any market blackout-period that may be imposed by the Company and must comply with the Company’s insider trading policies, and any other applicable securities laws.
17.    Binding Agreement.  Subject to the limitation on the transferability of this grant contained herein, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs, legatees, legal representatives, successors and assigns of the parties hereto.
18.    Conditions for Issuance of Stock.  The shares of stock deliverable to the Grantee may be either previously authorized but unissued shares or issued shares which have been reacquired by the Company.  The Company shall not be required to transfer on its books or list in street name with a brokerage company or otherwise issue any certificate or certificates for Shares hereunder prior to fulfillment of all the following conditions:  (a) the admission of such Shares to listing on all stock exchanges on which such class of stock is then listed; and (b) the completion of any registration or other qualification of such Shares under any state or federal law or under the rulings or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other governmental regulatory body, which the Committee shall, in its absolute discretion, deem necessary or advisable; and (c) the obtaining of any approval or other clearance from any state or federal governmental agency, which the Committee shall, in its absolute discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable; and (d) the lapse of such reasonable period of time following the date of vesting of the PSUs as the Committee may establish from time to time for reasons of administrative convenience.
19.    Plan Governs.  This Agreement is subject to all terms and provisions of the Plan.  In the event of a conflict between one or more provisions of this Agreement and one or more provisions of the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall govern.  Capitalized terms used and not defined in this Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in the Plan.
20.    Committee Authority.  The Committee shall have the power to interpret the Plan and this Agreement and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith and to interpret or revoke any such rules (including, but not limited to, the determination of whether or not any PSUs have vested).  All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Committee shall be final and binding upon the Grantee, the Company and all other persons, and shall be given the maximum deference permitted by law.  No member of the Committee shall be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan or this Agreement.
21.    Electronic Delivery and Acceptance.  The Company, in its sole discretion, may decide to deliver any documents related to Performance Stock Units awarded under the Plan or future Performance Stock Units that may be awarded under the Plan by electronic means.  The Grantee hereby consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery and agrees to participate in the Plan through any on‐line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or another third party designated by the Company.
22.    Captions.  Captions provided herein are for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Agreement.
23.    Agreement Severable.  In the event that any provision in this Agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be severable from, and such invalidity or unenforceability shall not be construed to have any effect on, the remaining provisions of this Agreement.
24.    Entire Agreement.  This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding of the parties on the subjects covered.  The Grantee expressly warrants that he or she is not executing this Agreement in reliance on any promises, representations, or inducements other than those contained herein.
25.    Modifications to the Agreement; Clawback.  The Plan and this Agreement together the entire understanding of the parties on the subjects covered.  The Grantee expressly warrants that he or she is not accepting this Agreement in reliance on any promises, representations, or inducements other than those contained herein.  Modifications to this Agreement or the Plan can be made only in an express written contract executed by a duly authorized officer of the Company.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or this Agreement, the Company reserves the right to revise this Agreement as it deems necessary or advisable, in its sole discretion and without the consent of the Grantee, to avoid imposition of any additional tax or income recognition under Section 409A prior to the actual payment of Shares pursuant to this award of PSUs, provided that such revision would not materially reduce the economic benefits provided or intended to be provided under this Agreement.  Additionally, this Agreement and the award made hereunder shall be subject to any clawback policy which the Company may adopt from time to time as required by law or otherwise.
26.    Amendment, Suspension or Termination of the Plan.  By accepting this award, the Grantee expressly warrants that he or she has received an award under the Plan, and has received, read and understood a description of the Plan.  The Grantee understands that the Plan is discretionary in nature and may be modified, suspended or terminated by the Company at any time.
27.    Governing Law.  This Agreement and the grant of PSUs shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflicts of law provisions; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, Sections 13 and 14 of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Connecticut, without regard to its conflicts of law provisions.
28.    Defined Terms:  Capitalized terms used in this Agreement without definition will have the meanings provided for in the Plan.  When used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms will have the following meanings:
“Confidential Information” means all information related to the operation of the Company's business and knowledge of the Company's assets, including, but not limited to, (i) financial information, (ii) products, (iii) product and services costs, prices, profits and sales, (iv) forecasts, (v) computer programs, (vi) data bases (and the documentation and information contained therein), (vii) computer access codes and similar information, (viii) software ideas, (ix) know-how, technologies, concepts and designs, (x) research projects and all information connected with research and development efforts, (xi) records, (xii) business relationships, methods and recommendations, (xiii) client lists (including identities of clients and prospective clients, identities of individual contracts at business entities which are clients or prospective clients, client spending, preferences, business or habits), (xiv) subscription or consultant termination dates, (xv) personnel files, (xvi) competitive analyses, (xvii) other confidential or proprietary information or trade secrets that have not been made available to the general public by the Company's senior management, and (xviii) non-public information provided to the Company by its clients, and other tangible or intangible assets and other information obtained by the Grantee in the course of his or her employment with the Company.
“Continued Service” means that the Grantee’s employment relationship is not interrupted or terminated by the Grantee, the Company, or any parent or Subsidiary of the Company.  The Grantee’s employment relationship will not be considered interrupted in the case of:  (i) any leave of absence approved in accordance with the Company’s written personnel policies, including sick leave, family leave, military leave, or any other personal leave; or (ii) transfers between locations of the Company or between the Company and any parent, Subsidiary or successor; provided, however, that, unless otherwise provided in the Company’s written personnel policies, in this Agreement or under applicable laws, rules or regulations, or unless the Committee has otherwise expressly provided for different treatment with respect to this Agreement, (x) no such leave may exceed ninety (90) days, and (y) any vesting shall cease on the ninety-first (91st) consecutive date of any leave of absence during which the Grantee’s employment relationship is deemed to continue and will not recommence until such date, if any, upon which the Grantee resumes service with the Company, its parent, Subsidiary or successor.  If the Grantee resumes such service in accordance with the terms of the Company’s military leave policy, upon resumption of service, the Grantee will be given vesting credit for the full duration of the Grantee’s leave of absence.  Continuous employment will be deemed interrupted and terminated for the Grantee if the Grantee’s weekly work hours change from full time to part time.  Part-time status for the purpose of vesting continuation will be determined in accordance with policies adopted by the Company from time to time, which policies, if any, shall supersede the determination of part-time status set forth in the Company’s posted “employee status definitions”.
“Disability” means total and permanent disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

“Retirement” means termination of the Grantee’s employment in accordance with the Company’s retirement policies, as in effect from time to time, if on the date of such termination, (i) the Grantee is at least 55 years old, (ii) his or her Continued Service has extended for at least five (5) years, and (iii) the combination of the Grantee’s age and years of Continued Service total at least 65. Partial years will be counted solely to determine whether the Grantee satisfies the total of 65 or more, but will not be rounded.  
By way of illustration, if a Grantee terminates his or her employment in accordance with the Company’s retirement policies when he or she is (i) 58 years and eight months old, after (ii) six years and five months of Continued Service, (iii) the Grantee’s total would be 65 (65 years and one month). Because the Grantee in this example would meet the age requirement (55+) and the years of Continued Service requirement (5+), and his or her total is 65, the Grantee’s termination would be treated as a Retirement. If a Grantee terminates his or her employment in accordance with the Company’s retirement policies when he or she is (i) 63 years and six months old, after (ii) four years and six months of Continued Service, (iii) the Grantee’s total would be 68. This Grantee would meet the age requirement (55+) and would have a total of 65 or more, but his or her termination would not be treated as a Retirement, since the Grantee has not met the years of Continued Service requirement. For the avoidance of doubt, if a Grantee’s Continued Service is terminated for Cause and the Grantee is eligible for a Retirement, such termination of Continued Service shall not be treated as a Retirement for any purpose hereunder.
Your acceptance of this grant indicates your agreement and understanding that this grant is subject to all of the terms and conditions contained in the Plan and this Award Agreement, which includes the notice of grant and this Agreement.

As a condition to receiving this Performance Stock Unit grant and in consideration of such grant, you accept and agree to abide by the Agreement Regarding Certain Conditions of Employment provided to you in connection with such grant, including but not limited to the confidentiality and post-employment restrictions on competition set forth therein.  You hereby ratify, affirm and consent to those terms and conditions.  

1ex_134356.htm

Exhibit 10-F-18

OTTER TAIL CORPORATION

2014 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

2018 RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT

FOR DIRECTORS

 

This Restricted Stock Award Agreement is between Otter Tail Corporation, a Minnesota corporation (the “Corporation”), and the person named in the attached Restricted Stock Award Certificate for Directors who is a Non-employee Director (“Director”) of the Corporation effective as of the date of grant (the “Grant Date”) set forth in the attached Restricted Stock Award Certificate for Directors.

 

WHEREAS, the Corporation, pursuant to the Otter Tail Corporation 2014 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), wishes to award to the Director a number of the Corporation’s Common Shares, par value $5.00 per share (the “Common Shares”), subject to certain restrictions and on the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement and in the attached Restricted Stock Award Certificate for Directors, which is made a part hereof.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Corporation and the Director hereby agree as follows:

 

1.     Award of Restricted Stock. The Corporation hereby grants to the Director, effective as of the Grant Date, an award of restricted stock for that number of Common Shares set forth in the attached Restricted Stock Award Certificate for Directors (the “Shares”), on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Restricted Stock Award Certificate for Directors and the Plan.

 

2.     Rights of the Director with Respect to the Shares. With respect to the Shares, the Director shall be entitled at all times on and after the date of issuance of the Shares to exercise the rights of a shareholder of Common Shares of the Corporation, including the right to vote the Shares and the right to receive dividends thereon as provided in Section 8 hereof, unless and until the Shares are forfeited pursuant to Section 5(b) hereof. The rights of the Director with respect to the Shares shall remain forfeitable at all times prior to the date or dates on which such rights become vested, and the restrictions with respect to the Shares lapse, in accordance with Section 3, 4 or 5(a) hereof.

 

3.     Vesting. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Shares shall vest, and the restrictions with respect to the Shares shall lapse, in installments on the dates and in the amounts set forth in the attached Restricted Stock Award Certificate for Directors if the Director remains continuously a Director of the Corporation until the respective vesting dates.

 

4.     Change of Control. Notwithstanding the vesting provision contained in Section 3 above, but subject to the other terms and conditions set forth herein, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control (as defined in the Plan) prior to any termination of the Director’s service on the Board, the Director shall become immediately and unconditionally vested in all of the Shares, and the restrictions with respect to all of the Shares shall lapse.

 

 

 

 

5.     Early Vesting; Forfeiture.

 

(a)          If the Director’s service on the Corporation’s Board ceases for any of the following reasons:

 

	 	
			(i)

				
			Disability;

			

	 	
			(ii)

				
			Death;

			

	 	
			(iii)

				
			Retirement from the Board at the first Annual Shareholder meeting following the Director’s 72nd birthday; or

			

	 	
			(iv)

				
			Resignation from the Board at the end of a term prior to a Director’s 72nd birthday, with appropriate prior notice, and subject to the approval of the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion,

			

 

and such service ends prior to the vesting of the Shares pursuant to Section 3 or 4 hereof, then the Director (or the Director’s legal representatives, beneficiaries or heirs, as the case may be,) shall become immediately vested, as of the date of such disability, death, retirement or action by the Compensation Committee following the resignation of the Director, in all of the unvested Shares, and the restrictions with respect to all of such Shares shall lapse.

 

No transfer by will or the applicable laws of descent and distribution of any Shares which vest by reason of the Director’s death shall be effective to bind the Corporation unless the Committee shall have been furnished with written notice of such transfer and a copy of the will or such other evidence as the Committee may deem necessary to establish the validity of the transfer.

 

(b)     If the Director’s service on the Corporation’s Board ceases for reasons other than disability, death, retirement or resignation as set forth in Section 1(a)(iv) above prior to the vesting of the Shares pursuant to Section 3 or 4 hereof, the Director’s rights to all of the unvested Shares shall be immediately and irrevocably forfeited, including the right to vote such Shares and the right to receive cash dividends.

 

6.     Restriction on Transfer. Until the Shares vest pursuant to Section 3, 4 or 5(a) hereof, none of the Shares may be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of or encumbered, and no attempt to transfer the Shares, whether voluntary or involuntary, by operation of law or otherwise, shall vest the transferee with any interest or right in or with respect to the Shares.

 

 

 

 

7.     Issuance and Custody of Certificates.

 

(a)     The Corporation shall cause to be issued uncertificated book-entry shares, registered in the Director’s name, representing the Shares. These Shares shall be held as restricted Shares until the vesting dates, be subject to an appropriate stop-transfer order and shall bear the following restrictive legend:

 

“The Common Shares represented by book-entry are subject to forfeiture and are subject to the restrictions against transfer as contained in the Otter Tail Corporation 2014 Stock Incentive Plan and a Restricted Stock Award Agreement between Otter Tail Corporation and the registered owner of such shares. Release from such restrictions, terms and conditions shall be made only in accordance with the provisions of the Plan and the Agreement, copies of which are on file in the office of the Secretary of Otter Tail Corporation.”

 

(b)     Upon execution of this Agreement, the Director shall execute and deliver to the Corporation a stock power or stock powers relating to the Shares.

 

(c)     After any Shares vest pursuant to Section 3, 4 or 5(a) hereof, and following payment of the applicable withholding taxes pursuant to Section 9 hereof, the Corporation shall promptly cause to be issued a certificate or certificates, registered in the Director’s name or in the name of the Director’s legal representatives, beneficiaries or heirs, as the case may be, representing such vested Shares (less any shares withheld to pay withholding taxes), free of the legend provided in Section 7(a) hereof and any stop-transfer order with respect to such Shares, and shall cause such certificate or certificates to be delivered to the Director or the Director’s legal representatives, beneficiaries or heirs, as the case may be.

 

8.        Distributions and Adjustments.

 

(a)     If any Shares vest in the Director subsequent to any change in the number or character of the Common Shares of the Corporation (through recapitalization, stock split, stock dividend, reorganization, merger, consolidation or otherwise), the Director shall then receive upon such vesting the number and type of securities or other consideration which the Director would have received if such Shares had vested prior to the event changing the number or character of the outstanding Common Shares.

 

(b)     Any additional Common Shares of the Corporation, any other securities of the Corporation and any other property (except for cash dividends or other cash distributions) distributed with respect to the Shares prior to the date or dates the Shares vest shall be subject to the same restrictions, terms and conditions as the Shares to which they relate and shall be promptly deposited with the Secretary of the Corporation or a custodian designated by the Secretary.

 

(c)     Any cash dividends or other cash distributions payable with respect to the Shares shall be distributed to the Director at the same time cash dividends or other cash distributions are distributed to shareholders of the Corporation generally.

 

9.        Income Tax Matters. The Director acknowledges that the Director will consult with the Director’s personal tax advisor regarding the income tax consequences of the grant of the Shares, or any other matters related to this Agreement. Income taxes will not be withheld in connection with the vesting of shares under this Agreement.

 

3

 

 

10.     Miscellaneous.

 

(a)      The Corporation shall reserve and keep available such number of Common Shares as will be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of this Agreement.

 

(b)     The Corporation shall not be required to deliver any Shares until the requirements of any federal or state securities laws, rules or regulations or other laws or rules (including the rules of any securities exchange) as may be determined by the Corporation to be applicable are satisfied.

 

(c)     If any of the shares covered by this Agreement are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 at the time of their issuance hereunder, the Director represents and agrees that all such shares purchased under this grant will be acquired for investment and not for resale.

 

(d)     As used in this Agreement, the term “Common Shares” shall mean the Common Shares of the Corporation as authorized at the Grant Date and “Fair Market Value” shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Plan.

 

(e)     This grant of Shares is granted pursuant to the Plan and is subject to all the terms and conditions contained therein. A copy of the Plan is available to the Director upon request.

 

(f)     This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Minnesota.

 

(g)     Headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed in any way to be material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

 

(h)     THIS RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT FOR DIRECTORS IS ATTACHED TO AND MADE A PART OF A RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD CERTIFICATE FOR DIRECTORS AND SHALL HAVE NO FORCE OR EFFECT UNLESS SUCH RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD CERTIFICATE FOR DIRECTORS IS DULY EXECUTED AND DELIVERED BY THE CORPORATION AND THE DIRECTOR.

 

* * * * * * * *

 

4

 

 

OTTER TAIL CORPORATION

2014 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

 

RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD CERTIFICATE FOR DIRECTORS

 

This certifies the award of restricted stock as specified below which has been granted under the Otter Tail Corporation 2014 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), the terms and conditions of which are incorporated by reference herein and made a part hereof. In addition, the award shown in this Certificate is nontransferable and is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the attached 2018 Restricted Stock Award Agreement for Directors of which this Certificate is a part.

 

[Name and address of recipient]

 

 

[Social Security Number of recipient]

 

You have been granted the following Award:

 

	
			Grant Type:

				
			Restricted Stock

			
	
			Number of Common Shares:

				
			              

			
	
			Grant Date:

				
			April 9, 2018

			

 

	
			Vesting Schedule:

			
	 
	
			 Date

				 	
			Number of

			Restricted Stock Vested

			
	
			April 8, 2019

				 	
			                                  

			
	
			April 8, 2020

				 	                                  
	
			April 8, 2021

				 	                                  
	
			 

				 	 

 

By the Corporation’s and your signature below, it is agreed that this award of restricted stock is governed by the terms and conditions of the 2018 Restricted Stock Award Agreement for Directors, a copy of which is attached and made a part of this document, and the Corporation’s 2014 Stock Incentive Plan, a copy of which is enclosed.

 

	
			 

				
			OTTER TAIL CORPORATION

				
			 

			
	
			 

				
			 

				
			 

				
			 

			
	
			 

				
			 

				
			 

				
			 

			
	
			 

				
			By: 

				
			 

				
			 

			
	
			 

				
			 

				
			Chuck MacFarlane

			Its:  President and CEO

				
			 

			
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	[Name of Recipient]	 

                     

5

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