Document:

Document

Exhibit 10.3
SEVERANCE AND CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT

AGREEMENT by and between EastGroup Properties, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), with offices at 400 W Parkway Place, Suite 100, Ridgeland, Mississippi, and ___________ (the “Executive”), effective as of _______ __, 2020 (the “Effective Date”), which amends in its entirety and completely restates that certain Change in Control Agreement (the “Prior Agreement”) between the Company and the Executive dated as of ____________.
WHEREAS, the Company recognizes that the current business environment makes it difficult to attract and retain highly qualified executives unless a certain degree of security can be offered to such individuals against organizational and personnel changes that frequently follow changes in control of an organization; and
WHEREAS, even rumors of acquisitions or mergers may cause executives to consider major career changes in an effort to assure financial security for themselves and their families; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to assure fair treatment of its executives in the event of a Change in Control (as defined below) and to allow them to make critical career decisions without undue time pressure and financial uncertainty, thereby increasing their willingness to remain with the Company notwithstanding the outcome of a possible Change in Control transaction; and
WHEREAS, the Company recognizes that its executives will be involved in evaluating or negotiating any offers, proposals, or other transactions that could result in Changes in Control of the Company and believes that it is in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders for such executives to be in a position, free from personal financial and employment considerations, to be able to assess objectively and pursue aggressively the interests of the Company’s security holders in making these evaluations and carrying on such negotiations; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Company believes it is essential to provide the Executive with compensation arrangements upon a Change in Control that provide the Executive with individual financial security and that are competitive with those of other corporations, and, to accomplish these objectives, the Compensation Committee has caused the Company to enter into this Agreement.
NOW THEREFORE, the parties, for good and valuable consideration and intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:
1.Operation and Term of Agreement.  This Agreement shall be effective immediately upon its execution.  This Agreement may be terminated by the Company upon 24 months’ advance written notice to the Executive; provided, however, that after a Change in Control of the Company during the term of this Agreement, this Agreement shall remain in effect until all of the obligations of the parties under the Agreement are satisfied and the Protection 

Period (as defined below) has expired.  Prior to a Change in Control this Agreement shall immediately terminate upon Termination of the Executive’s employment or upon the Executive’s ceasing to be an elected officer of the Company, except in the case of such Termination under circumstances set forth in Section 2(g), 3, or 4 below.
2.Certain Definitions.  The following words and phrases shall have the meanings given for the purposes of this Agreement:
(a)“Average Annual Compensation” shall mean an amount equal to the annual average of the sums of (i) the Executive’s annual base salary from the Company plus (ii) the amount of cash bonus paid by the Company to the Executive, in each case for the three calendar years that ended immediately before (or, if applicable, coincident with) a specified date, provided that:  (A) any such year in which the Executive was not employed by the Company shall be excluded from the averaging period; and (B) the base salary and cash bonus for any such year that reflects a partial year of employment shall be annualized.
(b)“Breach of Duty” shall mean (i) the Executive’s willful misconduct in the performance of his duties toward the Company; or (ii) the commission or omission of any act by the Executive that constitutes on the part of the Executive fraud or dishonesty toward the Company; provided, however, that “Breach of Duty” shall not include the Executive’s lack of professional qualifications.  For purposes of this Agreement, an act, or failure to act, on the Executive’s part shall be considered “willful” only if done, or omitted, by him not in good faith and without reasonable belief that his action or omission was in the best interest of the Company.  The Executive’s employment shall not be deemed to have been Terminated for “Breach of Duty” unless the Company shall have given or delivered to the Executive (A) reasonable notice setting forth the reasons for the Company’s intention to Terminate the Executive’s employment for “Breach of Duty”; (B) a reasonable opportunity, at any time during the 30-day period after the Executive’s receipt of such notice, for the Executive, together with his counsel, to be heard before the Board; and (C) a Notice of Termination (as defined in Section 13 below) stating that, in the good faith opinion of not less than a majority of the entire membership of the Board, the Executive was guilty of the conduct set forth in clauses (i) or (ii) of the first sentence of this Section 2(b).
(c)“Cause” shall mean (i) the continued failure by the Executive to perform his material responsibilities and duties toward the Company (other than any such failure resulting from the Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness); (ii) the engaging by the Executive in willful or reckless conduct that is demonstrably injurious to the Company monetarily or otherwise; (iii) the Executive’s conviction, entry of a plea of nolo contendere, or admission of guilt, for any felony or any lesser crime if such lesser crime involves fraud or dishonesty, moral turpitude, or any conduct that adversely affects the business or reputation of the Company, (iv) the commission or omission of any act by the Executive that constitutes on the part of the Executive fraud, dishonesty, or malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance of duty toward the Company; or (v) any other action or conduct by the Executive that is injurious to the Company, its business, or its reputation; provided, however, that “Cause” shall not include the Executive’s lack of professional qualifications.  For purposes of this Agreement, an act, or failure 
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to act, on the Executive’s part shall be considered “willful” or “reckless” only if done, or omitted, by him not in good faith and without reasonable belief that his action or omission was in the best interest of the Company.
(d)“Change in Control” shall mean a change in control of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirements; provided that, without limitation, a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred if (i) any person (as such term is used in section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 30 percent or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities; or (ii) during any period of two consecutive years, the following persons (the “Continuing Directors”) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board:  individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board and new directors each of whose election to the Board or nomination for election to the Board by the Company’s security holders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved; or (iii) the security holders of the Company approve a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation, other than (A) a merger or consolidation that would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately before the merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of such surviving entity) a majority of the voting securities of the Company or of such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation or (B) a merger of consolidation that is approved by a Board having a majority of its members persons who are Continuing Directors, of which Continuing Directors not less than two-thirds have approved the merger or consolidation; or (iv) the security holders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets.
(e)“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(f)“Disability,” for purposes of this Agreement, shall mean total disability as defined in any long-term disability plan sponsored by the Company in which the Executive participates, or, if there is no such plan or it does not define such term, then Disability shall mean the physical or mental incapacity of the Executive that prevents the Executive from substantially performing the duties of the office or position to which the Executive was elected or appointed by the Board for a period of at least 180 days, which incapacity is expected to be permanent and continuous through the Executive’s 65th birthday.
(g)The “Change in Control Date” shall be any date during the term of this Agreement on which a Change in Control occurs.  Notwithstanding any contrary provision in this Agreement, if the Executive’s employment or status as an elected officer with the Company is Terminated by the Company within six months before the date on which a Change in Control occurs, and it is reasonably demonstrated that such Termination (i) was at the request of a third 
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party who has taken steps reasonably calculated or intended to effect a Change in Control or (ii) otherwise arose in connection with or anticipation of a Change in Control, then for the purposes of this Agreement the “Change in Control Date” shall mean the date immediately before the date of such Termination.
(h)“Good Reason” means:
(i)the assignment to the Executive within the Protection Period of any duties materially inconsistent with the Executive’s position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements, authority, duties, or responsibilities) or any other action that results in a material diminution in such position, authority, duties, or responsibilities;
(ii)a material reduction by the Company in the Executive’s base salary in effect immediately before the beginning of the Protection Period or as increased from time to time after the beginning of the Protection Period;
(iii)a material reduction by the Company in the Executive’s annual bonus opportunity or in the target level for such bonus or in the level of the Executive’s long term bonus opportunity or equity incentive opportunity, as compared to such opportunity or level in effect immediately before the beginning of the Protection Period;
(iv)the Company’s requiring the Executive, without the Executive’s written consent, to be based at any office or location materially distant from his office location immediately before the beginning of the Protection Period, except for travel reasonably required in the performance of the Executive’s responsibilities;
(v)any purported Termination by the Company of the Executive’s employment for Breach of Duty otherwise than as referred to in Section 2(b) of this Agreement; or
(vi)any failure by the Company to obtain the assumption of the obligations contained in this Agreement by any successor as contemplated in Section 12 of this Agreement; provided, however, that Good Reason shall not exist unless the Executive gives notice to the Company of the existence of a condition described in paragraph (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), or (vi) within 90 days of the initial existence of the condition, and the Company does not remedy the condition within 30 days of receipt of notice from the Executive.
(i)“Parent” means any entity that directly or indirectly through one or more other entities owns or controls more than 50 percent of the voting securities or shares of beneficial interest of the Company.
(j)“Protection Period” means the period beginning on the Change in Control Date and ending on the last day of the 18-calendar month following the Change in Control Date.
(k)“Subsidiary” means a company 50 percent or more of the voting securities of which are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company.
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(l)The words “Terminate” or “Termination” with respect to the Executive’s employment shall refer to the Executive’s separation from service with the Company, as that term is defined in the regulations under section 409A of the Code.
3.Termination Without Cause, not During the Protection Period.  Should the Company Terminate the Executive’s employment without Cause (as defined in Section 2(c)), other than during the Protection Period described in Section 2(j), the Company shall pay the amount described in Section 3(a) to the Executive and, provided the Executive signs and does not revoke a waiver and release agreement as described in Section 3(c), the Company shall also pay the amount described in Section 3(b):
(a)The Executive’s base salary and vacation pay (for vacation not taken) accrued but unpaid through the date of Termination of employment, to be paid in cash upon the customary pay date.
(b)A lump sum severance payment in an amount equal to the product of 1.5 times the Executive’s Average Annual Compensation as of the date of Termination, to be paid in cash on the 60th day after the date of Termination.
(c)As a condition of the Company’s obligation to pay the amount described in Section 3(b), the Executive shall execute a waiver and release agreement, in a form satisfactory to the Company and by the time specified by the Company, that releases the Company and all affiliates from any and all claims of any nature whatsoever, including, without limit, any and all statutory claims, and shall not revoke the waiver and release within any revocation period required by law or permitted by the Company.
4.Death During Employment.  Should the Executive die while employed by the Company, the Company shall pay the following amounts to the Executive’s estate:
(a)The Executive’s base salary and vacation pay (for vacation not taken) accrued but unpaid through the date of the Executive’s death.
(b)A lump sum death benefit in an amount equal to the Executive’s Average Annual Compensation as of the date of death, to be paid in cash within 60 days of death, provided that, if the 60-day period straddles two calendar years, the Company shall designate the year of payment.
5.Disability.  During the first 90 days of a Disability, the Company shall continue to pay the Executive’s salary, and the Executive shall remain in the employ of the Company during that period.
6.Benefits upon Termination under Certain Circumstances During the Protection Period.  If the Executive’s employment is Terminated by the Company during the Protection Period other than for Breach of Duty or Disability and other than as a result of the Executive’s death, or if the Executive Terminates his employment during the Protection Period for Good Reason, the Company shall pay to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within ten days after the 
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date of Termination the aggregate of the amounts described in paragraphs (a) and (b) and shall provide the benefits described in paragraphs (c), (d), and (e).
(a)The Executive’s base salary and vacation pay (for vacation not taken) accrued but unpaid through the date of Termination of employment; and
(b)A lump sum severance payment in an amount equal to the product of 2.5 times the Executive’s Average Annual Compensation as of the Change in Control; and
(c)Upon the date of Termination, all outstanding options issued to the Executive by the Company to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock (“Common Shares”) shall become immediately exercisable, and all stock appreciation rights issued to the Executive by the Company with respect to Common Shares shall become immediately exercisable.
(d)The Company shall provide the Executive with life insurance coverage and health plan coverage substantially comparable to the coverage the Executive was receiving from the Company immediately before Termination of employment; the provision of such coverage will continue until the expiration of the 18- calendar month period following the date of the Termination of the Executive’s employment, or, if earlier, until the date on which the Executive becomes eligible for comparable coverage in connection with subsequent employment (the “Coverage Period”), subject to the following:
(i)For any portion of the Coverage Period (i) that coincides with a period during which COBRA continuation coverage is available to the Executive under the Company’s health plan and (ii) during which health plan coverage is not provided under an insured plan, the Executive shall duly elect and pay for COBRA continuation coverage.  The Company’s obligation with respect to health plan coverage is conditioned on the Executive’s duly electing, and then paying for, such COBRA coverage.  The Company shall reimburse the Executive for the cost of such COBRA coverage and shall pay such reimbursement upon receipt of reasonable substantiating documentation from the Executive, but in any event not later than the end of the calendar year following the year in which the COBRA expense was incurred.
(ii)For any portion of the Coverage Period during which health plan coverage or life insurance coverage, or both, is or are not available under insured plans covering employees of the Company, except, in the case of health plan coverage, the period covered by paragraph (i), the Company shall, rather than providing such coverage for the Executive, reimburse the Executive for the Executive’s expense of procuring comparable coverage, up to the amount that would be incurred for comparable coverage by an individual of the Executive’s age on a standard risk basis.  The Company shall pay such reimbursement promptly upon receipt of reasonable documentation from the Executive, but in any event not later than the end of the calendar year following the year in which the expense was incurred.
(iii)To the extent the Company’s cost of coverage under paragraph (i) or any reimbursement due under paragraph (ii) would be includable in the Executive’s gross income for 
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federal income tax purposes, then the Company’s payment of such cost or reimbursement shall be subject to the provisions of Section 7 (regarding a six-month delay).
(e)All of the Executive’s benefits accrued under any supplemental retirement plans, excess retirement plans, and deferred compensation plans maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall become immediately vested in full.
7.Specified Employee - Section 409A Six Month Delay.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, this Section 7 shall apply if the Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code upon the Termination of his employment with the Company.  If this Section 7 is applicable, any payment that is deferred compensation for the purposes of section 409A payable on account of separation from service (within the meaning of section 409A) and that is otherwise due the Executive under this Agreement or any other arrangement during the six-month period following the Executive’s separation from service with the Company shall be accumulated and paid to the Executive, with interest at the rate payable on three-month Treasury bills, on the first day of the seventh full calendar month following such separation from service.
The cost of coverage and reimbursements described in Section 6(d)(iii) shall be considered a payment for the purposes of this Section 7; and accordingly:
(a)The Company shall not provide such coverage for the six-month period following the Executive’s separation from service, if the Executive is then a specified employee, unless and only for so long as the Executive advances to the Company amounts equal to the premiums for such coverage, before the premiums’ due dates.  Provided the Executive does so, the Company shall repay the amount of such advances back to the Executive, as if the repayment were accumulated payments under the first paragraph of this section.
(b)If the Executive is a specified employee, the Company shall not pay any reimbursement described in Section 6(d)(iii) during the first six months following the Executive’s separation from service, but shall pay those reimbursements as if they were accumulated payments under the first paragraph of this section.
8.Non-exclusivity of Rights.  Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or limit the Executive’s continuing or future participation in any benefit, bonus, incentive, or other plans, practices, policies, or programs provided by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and for which the Executive may qualify, nor shall anything in this Agreement limit or otherwise affect such rights as the Executive may have under any stock option or other agreements with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.  Any amount of vested benefit or any amount to which the Executive is otherwise entitled under any plan, practice, policy, or program of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall be payable in accordance with the plan, practice, policy, or program; provided, however, that if the Executive is entitled to benefits under Section 3 or 6, the Executive shall not be entitled to severance pay, or benefits similar to severance pay, under any plan, practice, policy, or program generally applicable to employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.  The provision of severance pay or other benefits pursuant to Section 3 or 6 shall not be deemed to be a continuance of the Executive’s employment for any purposes.
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9.Full Settlement; No Obligation to Seek Other Employment; Legal Expenses.  The Company’s obligation to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations under this Agreement shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense, or other claim, right, or action the Company may have against the Executive or others.  The Executive shall not be obligated to seek other employment or take any action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement.  The Company agrees to pay all legal fees and expenses the Executive may reasonably incur as a result of any dispute or contest by or with the Company or others regarding the validity or enforceability of, or liability under, any provision of this Agreement, and the Executive agrees that, if the Executive does not obtain a recovery or other relief from the Company as a result of such dispute or contest, the Executive shall repay to the Company 100 percent of the amount paid by the Company toward the Executive’s legal fees and expenses.  The Company shall pay or reimburse the Executive for such legal fees and expenses not later than December 31 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Executive incurred such legal fees and expenses, provided that the Company’s obligation shall be contingent upon the Executive’s provision to the Company, at least 30 days before such date, of
(a)documentation of the fees and expenses incurred and
(b)the Executive’s note, in a form satisfactory to the Company, promising to pay the Company, on demand, if the Executive does not obtain such recovery or relief against the Company, 100 percent of the amount paid by the Company, with interest at the rate payable on three-month Treasury bills.
In any such action brought by the Executive for damages or to enforce any provisions of this Agreement, the Executive shall be entitled to seek both legal and equitable relief and remedies, including, without limitation, specific performance of the Company’s obligations under this Agreement, in the Executive’s sole discretion.
10.Cut Back in Benefits.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the cash lump sum payment and other benefits otherwise to be provided pursuant to Section 3 or 6 of this Agreement (the “Severance Benefit”) shall be reduced as described below if the Net After-Tax Benefit (as defined below) the Executive would realize would be greater with the reduction than without the reduction.  The Net After-Tax Benefit is the sum of the parachute payments (within the meaning of section 280G of the Code) payable to the Executive under this Agreement and all other plans, practices, policies, or programs of the Company, reduced by the federal, state, and local income taxes payable with respect to the parachute payments and any excise tax imposed on the Executive with respect to the parachute payments under section 4999 of the Code.  If the Net After-Tax Benefit would be greater with the reduction, then the Severance Benefit shall be reduced, but only to the extent required to avoid the imposition on the Executive of any excise tax under section 4999 of the Code.  Tax counsel designated in the manner described below shall make all determinations required for the purposes of this Section 10, including the determination of which payments or benefits are parachute payments, the value of the parachute payments, the amount of Net After-Tax Benefit realizable with and without a reduction, and the amount of the reduction required to avoid the excise tax.  All determinations 
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shall be made in accordance with sections 280G and 4999 and other relevant provisions of the Code.  Tax counsel shall be designated as follows:  the Executive and the Company shall each designate a party to serve as co-tax counsel.  The co-tax counsel shall endeavor to agree upon the determinations required for the purposes of this Section 10, but if they have not done so by the end of the tenth business day following the change in control, the accounting firm that was the independent auditor of the Company immediately before the change in control shall designate a third party to serve as successor tax counsel, and all of its determinations shall prevail.  To the extent this section requires a reduction in the Severance Benefit, the Company shall apply the reduction in the following order:  first to any cash payments that are parachute payments but not deferred compensation for purposes of section 409A of the Code; next to any cash payments that are parachute payments and deferred compensation for purposes of section 409A; next to the vesting of any stock options, beginning with those granted most recently; and then to the vesting of any stock appreciation rights, beginning with those granted most recently.  The Company shall be responsible for payment of the fees charged by all parties serving as tax counsel (whether as co-tax counsel or otherwise) and by the accounting firm for services rendered in connection with this Section.
11.Confidential Information.  The Executive shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company all secret or confidential information, knowledge, or data relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and their respective businesses, obtained by the Executive during the Executive’s employment by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and that has not become public knowledge (other than by acts of the Executive or his representatives in violation of this Agreement).  After the date of Termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge, or data to anyone other than the Company and those designated by it.  In no event shall an asserted violation of the provisions of this Section 11 constitute a basis for deferring or withholding any amounts otherwise payable to the Executive under this Agreement.
12.Successors.
(a)This Agreement is personal to the Executive and shall not be assignable by the Executive other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s legal representatives or successors in interest.  The Executive may designate a successor or successors in interest to receive any and all amounts due the Executive under this Agreement after the Executive’s death.  A designation of a successor in interest shall be made in writing, signed by the Executive, and delivered to the Company pursuant to Section 16(b).  This Section 12(a) shall not supersede any designation of beneficiary or successor in interest made by the Executive or provided for under any other plan, practice, policy, or program of the Company.
(b)This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns.
(c)The Company shall require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets 
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of the Company and any Parent of the Company or any successor and without regard to the form of transaction utilized to acquire the business or assets of the Company, to assume expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession or parentage had taken place.  As used in this Agreement, “Company” shall mean the Company as defined above and any successor to its business or assets as aforesaid (and any Parent of the Company or any successor) that is required by this clause to assume and agree to perform this Agreement or that otherwise assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement.
13.Notice of Termination.  Any Termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company for Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason shall be communicated by Notice of Termination to the other party given in accordance with Section 16(b) of this Agreement.  For purposes of this Agreement, a “Notice of Termination” means a written notice that (i) indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for Termination of the Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated, and (iii) if the date of Termination is other than the date of receipt of such notice, specifies the Termination date (which date shall be not more than fifteen days after the giving of such notice).  The failure by the Executive to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance that contributes to a showing of Good Reason shall not waive any right of the Executive under this Agreement or preclude the Executive from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing his rights
14.Requirements and Benefits if Executive Is Employee of Subsidiary of Company.  If the Executive is an employee of any Subsidiary of the Company, he shall be entitled to all of the rights and benefits of this Agreement as though he were an employee of the Company and the term “Company” shall be construed to include the Subsidiary by which the Executive is employed.  The Company guarantees the performance of its Subsidiary under this Agreement.
15.Dispute Resolution.  The Company and the Executive shall attempt to resolve between them any dispute that arises under this Agreement.  If they cannot agree within ten days after either party submits a demand for arbitration to the other party, then the issue shall be submitted to arbitration with each party having the right to appoint one arbitrator and those two arbitrators mutually selecting a third arbitrator.  The rules of the American Arbitration Association for the arbitration of commercial disputes shall apply and the decision of two of the three arbitrators shall be final.  The arbitrators must reach a decision within 60 days after the selection of the third arbitrator.  The arbitration shall take place in Jackson, Mississippi.  The arbitrators shall apply Mississippi law.  The costs of such arbitration shall be shared equally by the Executive and the Company.
16.Miscellaneous.
(a)This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Mississippi, without reference to principles of conflict of laws.  The captions of this Agreement are not part of the Agreement and shall have no force or effect.  This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a written agreement executed by the parties or their respective successors and legal representatives.
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(b)All notices and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to the addresses for each party as first written above or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in writing in accordance with this Section 16.  Notices and communications to the Company shall be addressed to the attention of the Company’s Corporate Secretary.  Notice and communications shall be effective when actually received by the addressee.
(c)Whenever reference is made in this Agreement to any specific plan or program of the Company, to the extent that the Executive is not a participant in the plan or program or has no benefit accrued under it, whether vested or contingent, as of the Change in Control Date, then such reference shall be null and void and the Executive shall acquire no additional benefit as a result of such reference.
(d)The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement.
(e)The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such federal, state, or local taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.
(f)The Company’s or the Executive’s failure to insist upon strict compliance with any provision of this Agreement shall not be construed to be a waiver of such provision or any other provision.
(g)Except in the case of Termination of employment or elected officer status under the circumstances set forth in Section 2(g), 3, or 4 above, upon a Termination of the Executive’s employment or upon the Executive’s ceasing to be an elected officer of the Company, in each case, prior to the Change in Control Date, there shall be no further rights under this Agreement.
[Intentionally Left Blank.]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has set his hand to this Agreement and, pursuant to the authorization from the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed as of the day and year first above written.

                                                                            EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC.

By:___________________________________ 
                                                                                     Name:     
                                                                                     Title:    

By:___________________________________ 
                                                                                      Name:     
                                                                                      Title:    

EXECUTIVE

______________________________________ 
                                                                              Name:

Address:Exhibit

Exhibit 4.4

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
The following summary of the terms of the capital stock of The Simply Good Foods Company (“Simply Good Foods,” “we,” “our” or “us”) is based upon our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our second amended and restated bylaws. The summary is not complete, and is qualified by reference to our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our second amended and restated bylaws, each of which is filed as an exhibit to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and incorporated by reference herein. We encourage you to read our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our second amended and restated bylaws and the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law for additional information.
Authorized and Outstanding Stock
Our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes us to issue up to 600,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Common Stock”) and 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Preferred Stock”). No shares of Preferred Stock are issued and outstanding.
Common Stock
Voting Rights
Each holder of our Common Stock is entitled to one vote for each share on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders, including the election of directors. Simply Good Foods stockholders do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors. Accordingly, holders of a majority of the voting shares are able to elect all of the directors.
Dividend Rights
Holders of Common Stock will be entitled to receive such dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by our board of directors in its discretion out of funds legally available therefor. In no event will any stock dividends or stock splits or combinations of stock be declared or made on Common Stock unless the shares of Common Stock at the time outstanding are treated equally and identically.
Liquidation, Dissolution and Winding Up
In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, distribution of assets or winding-up, the holders of the Common Stock will be entitled to receive an equal amount per share of all of our assets of whatever kind available for distribution to stockholders, after the rights of the holders of the Preferred Stock have been satisfied.
Preemptive or Other Rights
Our stockholders have no preemptive or other subscription rights and there are no sinking fund or redemption provisions applicable to our Common Stock.
Election of Directors
Our board of directors is currently divided into three classes, Class I, Class II and Class III, with only one class of directors being elected in each year and each class (except for those directors appointed prior to our first annual meeting of stockholders) serving a three-year term. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, at each annual meeting of stockholders commencing with the 2021 annual meeting of stockholders, directors other than those in the 2022 Class and 2023 Class (each as defined below) shall be elected for a term of one year, expiring at the next succeeding annual meeting of stockholders. Each director who was elected at the 2019 annual meeting of stockholders for a three-year term expiring in 2022 (the “2022 Class”), and each director of the corporation who was elected at the 2020 annual meeting of stockholders for a three-year term expiring in 2023 (the “2023 Class”), including any person appointed to fill any vacancy occurring with respect to any director in the 2022 Class or the 2023 Class (each of whom shall be deemed to be a member of the class of directors in which the vacancy occurred), shall continue to hold office until the end of the term for which such director was elected or appointed, as applicable. Commencing with the 2022 annual meeting of stockholders, all directors other than those in the 2023 Class will be elected for a term of one year, and (b) commencing with the 2023 annual meeting of 

Exhibit 4.4

stockholders, all directors will be elected for a term of one-year. In all cases, each director shall serve until such director’s successor has been duly elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation, or removal.  
There is no cumulative voting with respect to the election of directors, with the result that the holders of more than 50% of the shares of Common Stock outstanding are able to elect all of its directors.
Preferred Stock
Our board of directors has the authority, without further action by our stockholders, to issue up to 100,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series and to fix the rights, preferences, privileges, and restrictions thereof. No shares of Preferred Stock are outstanding, and we have no present plan to issue any shares of Preferred Stock.
Private Placement Warrants
In connection with Conyers Park’s initial public offering, Conyers Park Sponsor LLC (the “Sponsor”) purchased from Conyers Park an aggregate of 6,700,000 warrants (including warrants required to be purchased in connection with the over-allotment option) at a price of $1.50 per warrant in a private placement that occurred simultaneously with the closing of the initial public offering (the “Private Placement Warrants”). Each Private Placement Warrant is exercisable for one whole share of our Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share. The Private Placement Warrants are non-redeemable and exercisable on a cashless basis so long as they are held by the Sponsor or its permitted transferees.
Our Transfer Agent and Warrant Agent
The transfer agent and registrar for our Common Stock and the warrant agent for the Private Placement Warrants is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
Certain Anti-Takeover Provisions of Delaware Law and our Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
Pursuant to our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, we have elected to opt out of the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) regulating corporate takeovers and instead the second amended and restated certificate of incorporation includes a provision that is substantially similar to Section 203 of the DGCL but carves out certain of our affiliates and their transferees from the definition of “interested stockholder” and makes certain related changes. This provision prevents us, under certain circumstances, from engaging in a “business combination” with:
		
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	a stockholder (other than certain of our affiliates that are carved out of the provision pursuant to our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation) who owns 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock (otherwise known as an “interested stockholder”);

		
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	an affiliate of an interested stockholder; or

		
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	an associate of an interested stockholder, for three years following the date that the stockholder became an interested stockholder. A “business combination” includes a merger or sale of more than 10% of our assets.

However, the above provisions of Section 203 do not apply if:
		
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	our board of directors approves the transaction that made the stockholder an “interested stockholder,” prior to the date of the transaction;

		
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	after the completion of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, that stockholder owned at least 85% of our voting stock outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, other than statutorily excluded shares of Common Stock; or

		
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	on or subsequent to the date of the transaction, the business combination is approved by our board of directors and authorized at a meeting of our stockholders, and not by written consent, by an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock not owned by the interested stockholder.

Our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our board of directors is currently classified into three classes of directors. As a result, until our 2023 annual meeting of stockholders, in most circumstances, a person will be able to gain control of our board only by successfully engaging in a proxy contest at two or more annual meetings.
Our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not allow stockholders to act by written consent.

Exhibit 4.4

In addition, because the Board of Directors is currently classified, directors in a class that is serving out the remainder of a three-year term are removable only for cause, whereas Delaware law provides that directors serving on boards of directors that are not classified may be removed for or without cause. However, our stockholders are able to remove directors elected for one-year terms with or without cause.
Our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not provide for cumulative voting in the election of directors; our board of directors is empowered to elect a director to fill a vacancy created by the expansion of the board of directors or the resignation, death, or removal of a director in certain circumstances; and our advance notice procedures includes requirements that the stockholders must comply with in order to nominate candidates to our board of directors or to propose matters to be acted upon at a stockholders’ meeting.
Our authorized but unissued Common Stock and Preferred Stock are available for future issuances without stockholder approval and could be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future offerings to raise additional capital, acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued and unreserved Common Stock and Preferred Stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.
Exclusive Forum for Certain Lawsuits
Our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation requires, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that derivative actions brought in our name, actions against directors, officers and employees for breach of fiduciary duty and other similar actions may be brought only in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware and, if brought outside of Delaware, the stockholder bringing such suit will be deemed to have consented to service of process on such stockholder’s counsel. Although we believe this provision benefits us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law in the types of lawsuits to which it applies, the provision may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers.
Listing of Securities
Our Common Stock is listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “SMPL.”

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