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BRT APARTMENTS CORP. 2020 INCENTIVE PLAN 
(PROPOSAL 3)
Highlights of the Plan

Set forth below are some of the highlights of the Plan:

•Options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, dividend equivalent rights and performance based awards may be granted;

•A non-management director may not be granted awards with respect to more than 10,000 shares in any year;

•Options may not be granted at an exercise price per share that is less than 100% of the fair market value per share on the date of the grant;

•Participants may not be granted more than 100,000 shares in any year pursuant to each type of award other than with respect to stock options as to which no more than 50,000 shares may be granted in each year;

•Without stockholder approval, we will not (i) reprice, replace or regrant, an outstanding option either in connection with the cancellation of such option or by amending an award agreement to lower the exercise price of such option, (ii) cancel outstanding options in exchange for cash or other awards; and (iii) repurchase outstanding unvested restricted stock or unvested RSUs in exchange for cash.

General

The Board has approved, subject to stockholder approval, the adoption of the BRT Apartment Corp. 2020 Incentive Plan. The Board believes that granting equity based compensation is an important component of our compensation structure. The purpose of the Plan is to motivate, retain and attract employees, officers and directors of experience and ability and to further the financial success of our company by aligning the interests of participants in the Plan, through the ownership of shares of common stock, with the interests of our stockholders.

As of the close of business on the record date, an aggregate of 1,194,145 shares of restricted stock and shares subject to RSUs (i.e., 744,145 shares of restricted stock and 450,000 shares subject to RSUs) issued pursuant to all of our equity incentive plans are outstanding. The outstanding restricted stock vests annually in approximately equal amounts from 2020 through 2025 and, subject to satisfaction of performance and market based conditions, the shares subject to RSUs vest in 2021. See “Executive Compensation – Long-Term Equity and Long-Term Equity Incentive Awards” and “Executive Compensation – Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End.” There are 140,605 shares available to be awarded pursuant to our 2018 Incentive Plan, which we refer to as the 2018 Plan, and we propose the adoption of the Plan pursuant to which up to 1,000,000 shares may be awarded. If stockholders adopt the Plan, no further awards will be made under the 2018 Plan. Generally, the awards granted each year have represented approximately 1% of our outstanding shares at the time of grant. The closing price of a share of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on May 15, 2020 was $8.91.

The following summary of major features of the Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual text of the Plan, set forth as Annex A.

Shares Subject to the Plan

The total number of shares available for grant under the Plan will not exceed 1,000,000 shares. The Plan authorizes the discretionary grant of (i) incentive stock options intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which we refer to as the “Code”, (ii) non-qualified stock options, (iii) restricted stock, (iv) restricted stock units, (v) dividend equivalent rights and (vi) performance-based awards. The shares available for issuance under the Plan will be authorized but unissued common shares. Shares related to awards that are forfeited, cancelled, terminated or expire unexercised will be available for grant under the Plan. Neither shares tendered by a participant to pay the exercise price of an award, nor any shares withheld by us for taxes, will be available for future grants under the Plan. In the event of a stock dividend or stock split affecting our shares, the number of shares issuable and issued under the Plan and the number of shares covered by and the exercise price and other terms of outstanding awards will be adjusted to reflect such event to prevent dilution or diminution of awards.

Administration of the Plan

The Plan will be administered by our compensation committee which, to the extent deemed necessary by the Board, will consist of two or more persons who satisfy the requirements for a “non-employee director” under Rule 16(b) under the Exchange Act. The compensation committee has authority to administer and construe the Plan in accordance with its provisions, including the power to (a) determine persons eligible for awards, (b) prescribe the terms and conditions of awards granted under the Plan, (c) adopt rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan which are consistent with the Plan and (d) establish, interpret, amend or revoke any such rules. A non-management director may not be granted awards with respect to more than 10,000 shares in any calendar year.

Options

Stock options entitle the holder to purchase a specified number of shares at a specified exercise price subject to the terms and conditions of the option grant. The purchase price per share for each stock option is determined by the compensation committee, but must be at least 100% of the fair market value per share on the date of grant. The aggregate fair market value of shares with respect to which incentive stock options are exercisable for the first time by an individual during any calendar year cannot exceed $100,000. To the extent that the fair market value of shares with respect to which incentive stock options become exercisable for the first time during any calendar year exceeds $100,000, the portion in excess of $100,000 will be treated as a non-qualified option. Options granted under the Plan may be exercisable for a term up to ten years. If a participant owns more than 10% of the total voting power of all classes of our shares at the time the participant is granted an incentive stock option, the purchase price per share for such option cannot be less than 110% of the fair market value per share on the date of grant and the term of such option cannot exceed five years. 

Restricted Stock and RSUs

Restricted stock are shares that may not be sold, transferred, gifted, bequeathed, pledged, assigned or otherwise disposed of until the end of a specified restriction period. Restricted stock units, or RSUs, represent the right, upon satisfaction of specified conditions, to receive shares and are subject to the same restrictions on transferability applicable to restricted stock. RSUs and shares of restricted stock will be issued at the beginning of the restriction period and the compensation committee shall set restrictions and other conditions applicable to the vesting of such award, including restrictions based on the achievement of specific performance goals, time based restrictions or any other basis determined by the compensation committee.

Generally, recipients of restricted stock have the right to vote such shares and to receive and retain cash dividends and other distributions, if any, paid thereon, even if such restricted stock is later forfeited. Recipients of RSUs are not entitled to dividends (except to the extent a dividend equivalent right is granted in tandem with an RSU) or vote with respect to the underlying shares until such units vest. Recipients of these awards will not be entitled to delivery of the stock certificate (or its equivalent) representing the shares until the applicable restrictions have been satisfied. The Plan provides that except as otherwise determined by the compensation committee, RSUs and shares of restricted stock for which the vesting and other applicable conditions have not been met will be forfeited upon the death, disability or retirement of such participant; it is anticipated that to the extent permitted by law, the compensation committee will, as it has in the past, provide that (i) shares of restricted stock vest upon such occurrence and (ii) with respect to RSUs, subject to the satisfaction of the applicable market and/or performance conditions, a pro-rata portion (based on the time elapsed between the grant and the triggering event) of the RSUs will vest. See “Executive Compensation –Components of Executive Compensation – Employment and Severance Agreements; Post-Employment Benefits; Change of Control.”

Generally, restricted stock or RSUs that do not vest as provided in the applicable award agreement will be forfeited and the recipient of such award will not have any rights after such forfeiture with respect to such award other than to retain dividends paid prior thereto.

Dividend Equivalent Rights

The Plan allows the compensation committee to grant dividend equivalents rights in tandem with the grant of RSUs and performance based awards (other than restricted stock and options). These rights entitle the holder to 

receive an amount of cash equal to the cash distributions that would have been paid on shares underlying the award to which such right relates, as if such shares were outstanding during the period beginning with the grant date (or if otherwise determined by the compensation committee, the beginning of the performance cycle) of the award to which such dividend equivalent right relates through the vesting date (or if otherwise determined by the compensation committee, the conclusion of the performance cycle) of such award. Dividend equivalents rights will only vest to the extent the related award vests.

Performance Based Awards

Performance based awards will be made by the issuance of restricted stock units or other awards, or a combination thereof, contingent upon the attainment, as established by the compensation committee, of one or more performance goals (described below) over a specified period. The maximum number of shares with respect to which a participant may be granted performance based awards in any calendar year is 100,000 shares.
The terms and conditions of a performance based award will provide for the vesting of the award to be contingent upon the achievement of one or more specified performance goals that the compensation committee establishes. For this purpose, “performance goals” means for a performance cycle, the specific goals that the compensation committee establishes that may be based on one or more of the following performance criteria:

•pre-tax income,

•after-tax income,

•net income (meaning net income as reflected in our financial reports for the applicable period), 

•operating income (including net operating income),

•any one or more of cash flow, cash flow from operations, and free cash flow,

•return on any one or more of equity, capital, invested capital and assets,

•funds available for distribution,

•occupancy rate at any one or more of our properties,

•total stockholder return,

•funds from operations (“FFO”), as computed in accordance with standards established by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts Inc.,

•adjusted FFO (i.e., adjusting FFO to give effect to any one or more of the following: straight-line rent, amortization of lease tangibles, lease termination fee income, amortization of restricted stock or other non-cash compensation expense, amortization and/or write-off of deferred financing costs, deferred mortgage and debt prepayment costs),

•stock appreciation (meaning an increase in the price or value of the Shares after the date of grant of an award and during the applicable period),

•revenues,

•assets,

•earnings before any one or more of the following items: interest, taxes, impairment charges, depreciation or amortization for the applicable period, as reflected in our financial reports for the applicable perio

•reduction in expense levels,

•operating cost management and employee productivity,

•strategic business criteria consisting of one or more objectives based on meeting specified revenue, market share, market penetration, geographic business expansion goals, objectively identified project milestones, cost targets and goals relating to acquisition or divestitures,

•achievement of business or operational goals such as market share and/or business development; and

•such other metrics or criteria as the Committee may establish or select.

The performance goals need not be the same with respect to all participants and may be established for the Company in the aggregate or on a per share basis (whether diluted or undiluted), may be based on an absolute or relative basis, may be based on our performance compared to the performance of businesses or indices specified by the compensation committee, may be compared to any prior period, may be based on a company-wide basis or in respect of any one or more business units, may be adjusted for non-controlling interests, and any one or more of the foregoing.

Amendment and Termination of the Plan

No awards may be made under the Plan on or after the tenth anniversary of the Plan’s effective date. Our Board may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time for any reason provided that no amendment, suspension or termination may impair rights or obligations under any outstanding award without the participant’s consent or violate the Plan’s prohibition on repricing (i.e., the replacing or regranting of an option in connection with the cancellation of the option or by amending an award agreement to lower the exercise price of an option or the cancellation of any award in exchange for cash). The stockholders must approve any amendment: (i) if such approval is required under applicable law or stock exchange requirements; or (ii) that changes the no-repricing provisions of the Plan.

Clawbacks; Compliance with Laws; Compliance with REIT Requirements

The grant of awards and the issuance of shares under the Plan is subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations, approvals by governmental and quasi-governmental authorities and the applicable provisions of any claw-back policy implemented by us, whether implemented prior to or after the grant of such award.

If a recipient’s relationship with us is terminated for cause (e.g., insubordination, dishonesty, incompetence, moral turpitude, the refusal to perform such person’s duties and responsibilities and other misconduct, as determined by the compensation committee), then (i) all options (except to the extent exercised) immediately terminate and (ii) the recipient’s rights to all restricted stock, RSUs and performance share awards (except to the extent such awards have vested) are forfeited immediately.

Awards are not exercisable if such award or its exercise could cause the participant to be in violation of any restrictions on ownership and transfer of our securities, or if, in the discretion of the Committee, such award could otherwise impair our status as a real estate investment trust under the Code.

Change in Control

Awards granted under the Plan that are outstanding and not then exercisable or subject to restrictions at the time of a change in control (as described below and in the Plan) become immediately exercisable and all restrictions are removed effective as of such change in control, except as otherwise provided in the award agreement. Our RSUs limit the vesting of such awards upon a change of control. See “Executive Compensation – Employment and Severance Agreements; Post-Employment Benefits; Change of Control.” The Plan defines a change in control as follows:

a.the acquisition (other than from us) in one or more transactions by any person (as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) of the beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of 25% or more of the outstanding shares or the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities entitled to vote in the election of directors (provided that this provision is not applicable to acquisitions made individually, or as a group, by Fredric H. Gould, Matthew J. Gould and Jeffrey A. Gould and their respective spouses, lineal descendants and affiliates);

b.individuals who, at the date of the award, constitute our board (the “Incumbent Board”), cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the board; provided, however, that an individual becoming a director subsequent to the date of an award whose election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individuals were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding any individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result either of an actual or threatened election contest or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consent by and behalf of a person other than the Incumbent Board;
i.
c.the closing of a sale or other conveyance of all or substantially all of our assets;

d.the effective time of any merger or other business combination involving us if immediately after such transactions persons who hold a majority of outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of the directors of the surviving entity are not persons who, immediately prior to such transaction, held our voting stock.

Federal Income Tax Consequences

The federal tax rules applicable to awards under the Plan under the Code are summarized below. This summary omits the tax laws of any municipality, state, or foreign country in which a participant resides.

Stock option grants under the Plan may be intended to qualify as incentive stock options under Section 422 of the Code or may be non-qualified stock options governed by Section 83 of the Code. Generally, federal income tax is not due from a participant upon the grant of a stock option, and a deduction is not taken by us. Under current tax laws, if a participant exercises a non-qualified stock option, he or she will have taxable income equal to the difference between the market price of the common shares on the exercise date and the stock option grant price. We are entitled to a corresponding deduction on our income tax return.

A participant will not have any taxable income upon exercising an incentive stock option after the applicable holding periods have been satisfied (except that the alternative minimum tax may apply), and we will not receive a deduction when an incentive stock option is exercised. The treatment of a disposition of shares acquired through the exercise of a stock option depends on how long the shares were held and whether the shares were acquired by exercising an incentive stock option or a non-qualified stock option. We may be entitled to a deduction in the case of a disposition of shares acquired under an incentive stock option before the applicable holding periods have been satisfied.

Generally, taxes are not due from the participant or owed by us when a grant of restricted stock, RSUs or performance based awards is initially made (unless the recipient of a restricted stock award makes an election under Section 83(b) of the Code in which case it is taxed at the time of grant), but the award becomes taxable when it is no longer subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture” (i.e., it becomes vested or transferable), in the case of restricted stock, or when shares are issuable in connection with vesting, in the case of an RSU or performance based award. Except with respect to awards for which a Section 83(b) election is made, income tax is paid on the value of the stock units or awards at ordinary rates when the restrictions lapse, and then at capital gain rates when the shares are sold. Generally, we will be entitled to a deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the participant at the time the participant recognizes such income for tax purposes.

The grant of dividend equivalents rights generally will have no federal income tax consequences for the participant. Generally, the participant will recognize ordinary income and/or capital gain, depending on the characterization of such distribution as ordinary income and/or capital gain, on the amount distributed to the participant pursuant to such dividend equivalent rights. Generally, we will be entitled to a dividend paid deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income and/or capital gain recognized by the participant at the time the participant recognizes such income for tax purposes.

Section 409A of the Code affects taxation of awards to employees but does not affect our ability to deduct deferred compensation. Section 409A applies to RSUs, performance units, and performance shares. Such grants are taxed at vesting but will be subject to new limits on plan terms governing when vesting may occur. If grants under such plans do not allow employees to elect further deferral on vesting or on distribution, under the regulations, a negative impact should not attach to the grants.

Section 409A of the Code does not apply to incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options (that are not discounted), and restricted stock, provided that there is no deferral of income beyond the vesting date.

See “Executive Compensation – Deductibility of Executive Compensation” for information regarding Section 162(m) of the Code.

New Plan Benefits Table

We have not determined the type, amount or recipients of awards under the 2020 Plan. Accordingly, we provide the following table which reflects the awards granted in 2019 pursuant to the 2018 Plan to the persons and groups indicated as if such grants were made pursuant to the 2020 Plan. These awards were in the form of restricted stock that vest on a “cliff-vesting” basis five years after grant. See “Executive Compensation –Grant of Plan Based Awards During 2019” for additional information regarding the equity awards granted in 2019.
																											
								
	Name and Position		Dollar
 Value(1)
		Number of 
Units
	
	Jeffrey A. Gould							
	President and Chief Executive Officer............................................................		243,927			14,374	
	Mitchell Gould						
	Executive Vice President................................................................................		183,276			10,800	
	David W. Kalish						
	Senior Vice President......................................................................................		118,790			7,000	
	George Zweier						
	Vice President and Chief Financial Officer....................................................		123,881			7,300	
	Steven Rosenzweig						
	Senior Vice President - Legal.........................................................................		56,120			3,307	
	Executive group (8 individuals)......................................................................		1,347,537			79,407	
	Non-executive director group (6 individuals).................................................		397,098			23,400	
	Non-executive officer and employee group (38 individuals).........................		726,061			42,785	
									

(1)   Reflects the number of units multiplied by $16.97, the closing price of our common stock on December 31, 2019.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSAL TO ADOPT THE BRT APARTMENTS CORP. 2020 INCENTIVE PLAN. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND NOTICE OF INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF
PROXY MATERIALS

As of the date of this proxy statement, we do not know of any business that will be presented for consideration at the meeting other than the items referred to in the Notice of the Meeting. Subject to applicable law, if any other matter is properly brought before the meeting for action by stockholders, the holders of the proxies will vote and act with respect to the business in accordance with their best judgment and discretionary authority to do so is conferred by the enclosed proxy. Our Conduct Code, corporate governance guidelines and the charters for our audit, compensation and nominating committees are available under the “Corporate Governance’’ tab at www.brtapartments.com.

This proxy statement (including the notice of meeting), the proxy card and our Annual Report are available at www.brtapartments.com/annualmeetingmaterials.pdf.

												
				By order of the Board of Directors
				 
				S. Asher Gaffney, Secretary

ANNEX A
BRT APARTMENTS CORP. 
2020 INCENTIVE PLAN

SECTION 1
 EFFECTIVE DATE AND PURPOSE

1.1 Effective Date. This Plan (as defined) shall become effective upon approval by the stockholders of the Company (as defined), as and to the extent required by the listing requirements of the New York Stock Exchange.

1.2 Purpose of the Plan. The Plan is designed to motivate, retain and attract Participants (as defined) of experience and ability and to further the financial success of the Company by aligning the interests of Participants through the ownership of Shares (as defined) with the interests of the Company’s stockholders.

SECTION 2 
DEFINITIONS

The following terms shall have the following meanings (whether used in the singular or plural) unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context:

“1934 Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Reference to a specific section of the 1934 Act or a regulation thereunder shall include any regulation promulgated under such section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.

“Affiliate” or “Affiliates” has the meaning ascribed to such term by Rule 501 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. 

“Award” means, individually or collectively, a grant under the Plan of Nonqualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Dividend Equivalent Rights and Performance Share Awards.

“Award Agreement” means either (1) the written agreement setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to each Award granted under the Plan or (2) a statement (including an electronic communication) issued by the Company to a Participant describing the terms and provisions of such Award.

“Board” or “Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company, or any analogous governing body of any successor to the Company.

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

“Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board or the committee of the Board appointed to administer the Plan.

“Company” means BRT Apartments Corp., a Maryland corporation.

“Company Voting Stock” has the meaning ascribed to such terms by Section 12.1(a). 

“Dividend Equivalent Right” means an Award granted pursuant to Section 9, entitling the Participant to receive an amount of cash equal to the cash distributions that would have been paid on the Shares specified in the Award to which such Dividend Equivalent Right relates, as if such Shares had been issued to and held by the Participant holding such Dividend Equivalent Right during the period beginning with the grant date (or if otherwise determined by the Committee, the beginning of the Performance Cycle) of the Award to which the Dividend Equivalent Right relates through the vesting date of such award (or if otherwise determined by the Committee, the conclusion of such Performance Cycle).

“Disability” or “Disabled” means the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.

“Exercise Price” means the price at which a Share may be purchased by a Participant pursuant to the exercise of an Option.

“Fair Market Value” means, as of any given date: (i) the closing sales price of the Shares on any national securities exchange on which the Shares are listed; (ii) the closing sales price if the Shares are listed on the OTCBB or other over the counter market; or (iii) if there is no regular public trading market for such Shares, the fair market value of the Shares as determined by the Committee.

“Grant Date” means, with respect to an Award, the effective date that such Award is granted to a Participant.

“Incentive Stock Option” means an Option to purchase Shares which is designated as an Incentive Stock Option and is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.

“Incumbent Board” has the meaning ascribed to such term by Section 12.1(b).

“Non-management director” means a director who, in the applicable calendar year, was not compensated, directly or indirectly, by the Company, any Subsidiary or any of their Affiliates, other than compensation for service as a director or as a member of any committee of the Board.

“Non-qualified Stock Option” means an Option to purchase Shares which is not an Incentive Stock Option.

“Option” means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option.

“Participant” means an officer, employee, director or consultant of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

“Performance Criteria” shall mean any, a combination of, or all of the following: (i) pre-tax income, (ii) after-tax income, (iii) net income (meaning net income as reflected in the Company’s financial reports for the applicable period), (iv) operating income (including net operating income), (v) cash flow, cash flow from operations, free cash flow and any one or more of the foregoing, (vi) return on any one or more of equity, capital, invested capital and assets, (vii) funds available for distribution, (viii) occupancy rate at any one or more of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ properties, (ix) total stockholder return, (x) funds from operations (“FFO”), as computed in accordance with standards established by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, Inc. (“NAREIT”), (xi) adjusted FFO (i.e., adjusting FFO to give effect to any one or more of the following: straight-line rent, amortization of lease intangibles, lease termination fee income, amortization of restricted stock or other non-cash compensation expense, amortization and/or write-off of deferred financing costs, deferred mortgage costs and debt prepayment costs), (xii) stock appreciation (meaning an increase in the price or value of the Shares after the date of grant of an award and during the applicable period), (xiii) revenues, (xiv) assets, (xv) earnings before any one or more of the following items: interest, taxes, impairment charges, depreciation or amortization for the applicable period, as reflected in the Company’s financial reports for the applicable period, (xvi) reduction in expense levels, (xvii) operating cost management and employee productivity, (xviii) strategic business criteria consisting of one or more objectives based on meeting specified revenue, market share, market penetration, geographic business expansion goals, objectively identified project milestones, cost targets and goals relating to acquisition or divestitures; (xix) achievement of business or operational goals such as market share and/or business development, and (xx) such other metrics or criteria as the Committee may establish or select. Performance Criteria need not be the same with respect to all Participants and may be established on an aggregate or per share basis (diluted or undiluted), may be based on performance compared to performance by businesses or indices specified by the Committee, may be compared to any prior period, may be based on a company-wide basis or in respect of any one or more business units, may be measured on an absolute or relative basis, may be adjusted for non-controlling interests, and any one or more of the foregoing. All calculations and financial accounting matters relevant to this Plan shall be determined in accordance with GAAP, except as otherwise directed by the Committee.

“Performance-Based Award” means an Award granted pursuant to Section 8 of the Plan.

“Performance Cycle” means one or more periods of time which may be of varying and overlapping durations, as the Committee may select, over which the attainment of one or more Performance Goals will be measured for the purpose of determining a Participants right to and the payment of a Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit, Option or Performance Share Award. 

“Performance Goals” means for a Performance Cycle, the applicable Performance Criteria.

“Period of Restriction” means the period during which an Award granted hereunder is subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. Such restrictions may be based on the passage of time, the achievement of Performance Goals or the occurrence of other events as determined by the Committee.

“Plan” means the BRT Apartments Corp. 2020 Incentive Plan, as set forth in this instrument, and as hereafter amended from time to time.

“Restricted Stock” means an Award of Shares, the grant, issuance, retention and/or vesting of which is subject to such conditions as are expressed in the Award Agreement and as contemplated herein.

“Restricted Stock Unit” or “RSU” means an Award of a right to receive one Share, the grant, issuance, retention and/or vesting of which is subject to such conditions as are expressed in the Award Agreement and as contemplated herein.

“Retirement” means (i) a director who has attained the age of 65 years who resigns or retires from the Board or does not stand for re-election to the Board and has served continuously as a director of the Company for not less than six consecutive years, and (ii) an officer or employee of, or consultant to, the Company or one of its Subsidiaries who has attained the age of 65 years who resigns or retires from the Company or one of its Subsidiaries and has served in any such capacity with the Company or one of its Subsidiaries for not less than ten consecutive years at the time of retirement or resignation.

“Shares” means the shares of common stock, $0.01 par value, of the Company, or any other security of the Company determined by the Committee pursuant to Section 5.3.

“Subsidiary” means (i) a corporation, association or other business entity of which 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of capital stock is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more Subsidiaries of the Company or by the Company and one or more Subsidiaries of the Company, (ii) any partnership or limited liability company of which 50% or more of the capital and profit interests is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more Subsidiaries of the Company or by the Company and one or more Subsidiaries of the Company, or (iii) any other entity not described in clauses (i) or (ii) above of which 50% or more of the ownership and the power, pursuant to a written contract or agreement, to direct the policies and management or the financial and the other affairs thereof, are owned or controlled by the Company or by one or more Subsidiaries of the Company or by the Company and one or more Subsidiaries of the Company.

SECTION 3 
ELIGIBILITY

3.1 Participants. Awards may be granted in the discretion of the Committee to officers, employees, directors of, or consultants to the Company or its Subsidiaries.

3.2 Non-Uniformity. Awards granted hereunder need not be uniform among eligible Participants and may reflect distinctions based on title, compensation, responsibility or any other factor the Committee deems appropriate.

SECTION 4
 ADMINISTRATION

4.1 The Committee. The Plan will be administered by the Committee, which, to the extent deemed necessary by the Board, will consist of two or more persons who satisfy the requirements for a “non-employee director” under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the 1934 Act. The members of the Committee shall be appointed from time to time by, and shall serve at the pleasure of, the Board of Directors. In the absence of such appointment, the Board of 

Directors shall serve as the Committee and shall have all of the responsibilities, duties, and authority of the Committee set forth herein.

4.2 Authority of the Committee. Subject to applicable law, the Committee shall have the exclusive authority to administer and construe the Plan in accordance with its provisions. The Committee’s authority shall include, without limitation, the power to (a) determine persons eligible for Awards, (b) prescribe the terms and conditions of the Awards, (c) construe and interpret the Plan, the Awards and any Award Agreement, (d) adopt rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith and (e) establish, interpret, amend or revoke any such rules. The Committee, in its sole discretion and on such terms and conditions as it may provide, may delegate all or any part of its authority and powers under the Plan to one or more officers of the Company to the extent permitted by law.

4.3 Decisions Binding. All determinations and decisions made by the Committee and any of its delegatees pursuant to Section 4.2 shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons, and shall be given the maximum deference permitted by law.

4.4 Limitation on Awards Granted to Non-management directors. The maximum number of Shares issuable pursuant to Awards that may be granted to a Non-management director in any calendar year shall not exceed 10,000 Shares.

SECTION 5 
SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

5.1 Number of Shares. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5.3, the total number of Shares available for grant under the Plan shall not exceed 1,000,000 Shares. The Shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be authorized but unissued Shares of the Company.

5.2 Lapsed Awards. Unless determined otherwise by the Committee, Shares related to Awards that are forfeited, cancelled, terminated or expire unexercised, shall be available for grant under the Plan. Shares that are tendered by a Participant to the Company in connection with the exercise of an Award, withheld from issuance in connection with a Participant’s payment of tax withholding liability, or settled in such other manner so that a portion or all of the Shares included in an Award are not issued to a Participant shall not be available for grant under the Plan.

5.3 Adjustments in Awards and Authorized Shares. In the event of a stock dividend or stock split, the number of Shares subject to the Plan, outstanding Awards and the numerical amounts set forth in Sections 5, 6, 7 and 8 shall automatically be adjusted proportionally to prevent the dilution or diminution of such Awards, except to the extent directed otherwise by the Committee. In the event of a merger, reorganization, consolidation, recapitalization, separation, liquidation, combination or other similar change in the structure of the Company affecting the Shares, the Committee shall adjust the number and class of Shares which may be delivered under the Plan, the number, class and price of Shares subject to outstanding Awards, and the numerical limits of Sections 5, 6, 7 and 8 in such manner as the Committee shall determine to be advisable or appropriate to prevent the dilution or diminution of such Awards. Any such numerical limitations shall be subject to adjustment under this Section only to the extent such adjustment will not affect the ability to grant or the qualification of Incentive Stock Options under the Plan or subject the Participant to taxes, penalties and interest imposed under section 409A(a)(1) of the Code. 

5.4 Restrictions on Transferability. The Committee may impose such restrictions on any Award, Award of Shares or Shares acquired pursuant to an Award as it deems advisable or appropriate, including, but not limited to, restrictions related to applicable Federal securities laws, the requirements of any national securities exchange or system upon which Shares are then listed or traded, and any blue sky or state securities laws.

SECTION 6 
STOCK OPTIONS

6.1 Grant of Options. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, Options may be granted to Participants at any time and from time to time as determined by the Committee. The Committee shall determine the number of Shares subject to each Option. The Committee may grant Incentive Stock Options, Nonqualified Stock Options, or 

any combination thereof. The maximum aggregate number of Shares underlying Options granted in any one calendar year to an individual Participant is 50,000.

6.2 Award Agreement. Each Option shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Exercise Price, the expiration date of the Option, the number of Shares to which the Option pertains, whether the Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option, any conditions on exercise of the Option and such other terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine, including terms regarding forfeiture of Awards or continued exercisability of Awards in the event of termination of employment by the Participant.

6.3 Exercise Price. The Exercise Price for each Option shall be determined by the Committee and shall be provided in each Award Agreement; provided, however, the Exercise Price for each Option may not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Grant Date. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the Exercise Price shall be not less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share if the Participant (together with persons whose stock ownership is attributed to the Participant pursuant to section 424(d) of the Code) owns on the Grant Date stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

6.4 Expiration of Options. Except as provided in Section 6.7(c) regarding Incentive Stock Options, each Option shall terminate upon the earliest to occur of (i) the date(s) for termination of the Option set forth in the Award Agreement or (ii) the expiration of ten (10) years from the Grant Date. Subject to such limits, the Committee shall provide in each Award Agreement when each Option expires and becomes un-exercisable. Except as set forth in an Award Agreement or as provided by the Committee, upon Retirement of a Participant, an Option may be exercised by such Participant to the extent it was exercisable on the effective date of the Retirement and shall be exercisable for a period of six months from the effective date of such Retirement, but not later than the expiration of the maximum term such Option. The Committee may not, after an Option is granted, extend the maximum term of the Option.

6.5 Exercisability of Options. Options granted under the Plan shall be exercisable, in whole or in part, at such times and be subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Committee shall determine. After an Option is granted, the Committee may accelerate or waive any condition constituting a substantial risk of forfeiture applicable to the Option. 

6.6 Payment. Options shall be exercised by a Participant’s delivery of a written notice of exercise to the Secretary of the Company (or his or her designee), setting forth the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is to be exercised, accompanied by full payment for the Shares. Upon the exercise of an Option, the Exercise Price shall be payable to the Company in full in cash or its equivalent. The Committee may permit exercise (a) by the Participant tendering previously acquired Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value at the time of exercise equal to the total Exercise Price, (b) the Participant tendering a combination of cash and previously acquired Shares equal to total Exercise Price (the Shares tendered being valued at Fair Market Value at the time of exercise), or (c) by any other means which the Committee determines to provide legal consideration for the Shares, and to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan. As soon as practicable after receipt of a written notification of exercise and full payment for the Shares purchased, the Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Participant, evidence of such Participant’s ownership of such Shares. No right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a shareholder shall exist with respect to the Shares as to which the Option has been exercised until the records of the Company or its transfer agent reflect the issuance of such Shares. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other rights for which a record date is established prior to the date the records of the Company or its transfer agent reflect the issuance of the Shares upon exercise of the Options. 

6.7 Certain Additional Provisions for Incentive Stock Options.

(a) Exercisability. The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined on the Grant Date(s)) of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company, any parent and its Subsidiaries) shall not exceed $100,000. The portion of the Option which is in excess of the $100,000 limitation shall be treated as a Non-Qualified Option pursuant to Section 422(d)(1) of the Code.

(b) Company and Subsidiaries Only. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Participants who are officers or employees of the Company or a Subsidiary on the Grant Date.

(c) Expiration. No Incentive Stock Option may be exercised after the expiration of ten (10) years from the Grant Date. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option that is granted to a Participant who (together with persons whose stock ownership is attributed to the Participant pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) owns on the Grant Date stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the term of such Incentive Stock Option shall be no more than five years from the Grant Date.

6.8 Restriction on Transfer. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee or as set forth in the Award Agreement, no Option may be transferred, gifted, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, voluntarily or involuntarily. Upon the death or Disability of a Participant, an Option may be exercised by the duly appointed personal representative of the deceased Participant or in the event of a Disability by the Participant or the duly appointed attorney-in-fact, guardian or custodian of the Disabled Participant to the extent the Option was exercisable on the date of death or the date of Disability and shall be exercisable for a period of six months from the date of death or the date of Disability. 

6.9 Repricing of Options. Without stockholder approval, (i) the Company will not reprice, replace or regrant an outstanding Option either in connection with the cancellation of such Option or by amending an Award Agreement to lower the exercise price of such Option, and (ii) the Company will not cancel outstanding Options in exchange for cash or other Awards.

6.10 Voting Rights. A Participant shall have no voting rights with respect to any Options granted hereunder.

SECTION 7 
RESTRICTED STOCK AND RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

7.1 Grant of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Shares of Restricted Stock and/or RSUs to Participants in such amounts as the Committee shall determine. The Committee shall determine the number of Shares of Restricted Stock and/or RSUs to be granted to each Participant and the time when each Award shall be granted. No more than 100,000 Shares of each of Restricted Stock and Shares underlying RSUs may be granted to any individual Participant in any one calendar year.

7.2 Restricted Stock and RSU Agreements. Each Award of Restricted Stock and RSUs shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Period of Restriction, the number of Shares of Restricted Stock granted, the number of Shares subject to an RSU, any applicable Performance Goals and Performance Cycle, and such other terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine, including terms regarding forfeiture of Awards in the event of termination of employment by the Participant or termination of the Participant’s relationship with the Company as a director, officer or consultant.

7.3 Transferability. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee or as set forth in the Award Agreement, Shares of Restricted Stock and RSUs (including Shares underlying RSUs) may not be sold, transferred, gifted, bequeathed, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, voluntarily or involuntarily, until the end of the applicable Period of Restriction and the satisfaction, in whole or in part, of any applicable Performance Goals within the applicable Performance Cycle. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee or as set forth in the Award Agreement, in the event of the death, Disability or Retirement of a Participant, all unvested Restricted Stock and unvested RSUs will not vest on the date of death or Disability or the effective date of Retirement. Without stockholder approval, the Company will not, except as otherwise provided for in the Plan, repurchase outstanding unvested Restricted Stock or unvested RSUs in exchange for cash. 

7.4 Other Restrictions. The Committee may impose such other restrictions on Shares of Restricted Stock and RSUs (including Shares underlying RSUs) as it may deem advisable or appropriate in accordance with this Section 7.4.
(a) General Restrictions. The Committee may set one or more restrictions based upon (a) the achievement of specific Performance Goals, (b) applicable Federal or state securities laws, (c) time-based restrictions, or (d) any other restrictions determined by the Committee.

(b) Methods of Implementing Restrictions. The Committee may take such action as it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate to give notice to the Participant of, and implement, the restrictions imposed pursuant to Section 7. 

7.5 Removal of Restrictions. After the end of the Period of Restriction, the Shares (including the Shares underlying the RSUs) shall be freely transferable by the Participant, subject to any other restrictions on transfer (including without limitation, limitations imposed pursuant to the Company’s organizational documents) which may apply to such Shares. 

7.6 Voting Rights. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement, Participants holding (a) Shares of Restricted Stock shall have voting rights during the Period of Restriction and (b) RSUs shall not have voting rights during the Period of Restriction.

7.7 Dividends and Other Distributions. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement, Participants holding (a) Shares of Restricted Stock shall be entitled to receive all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to the Shares during the Period of Restriction and (b) except to the extent a Dividend Equivalent Right is granted in tandem with an RSU, RSUs shall not be entitled to receive any dividends or other distributions paid with respect to the underlying Shares during the Period of Restriction.

SECTION 8 
PERFORMANCE-BASED AWARDS

8.1 Performance-Based Awards. Participants selected by the Committee may be granted one or more Performance Awards in the form of Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Dividend Equivalent Rights or Performance Share Awards payable upon the attainment of Performance Goals that are established by the Committee and related to one or more of the Performance Criteria, in each case on a specified date or dates or over a Performance Cycle as determined by the Committee. The Committee shall define the manner of calculating the Performance Criteria it selects to use for any Performance Cycle. Depending on the Performance Criteria used to establish such Performance Goals, the Performance Goals may be expressed in terms of overall Company performance or the performance of an individual. The Committee, in its discretion, may adjust or modify the calculation of Performance Goals for such Performance Cycle in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of the rights of an individual (i) in the event of, or in anticipation of, any unusual or extraordinary corporate item, transaction, event or development, (ii) in recognition of, or in anticipation of, any other unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company, or the financial statements of the Company, or (iii) in response to, or in anticipation of, changes in applicable laws, regulations, accounting principles, or business conditions; provided, however, that the Committee may not exercise such discretion in a manner that would increase the Performance-Based Award granted to a Participant. Performance Awards, other than Dividend Equivalent Rights, shall be paid in Shares.

8.2 Grant of Performance-Based Awards. With respect to each Performance-Based Award granted to a Participant, the Committee shall select, within the first 180 days of the beginning of a Performance Cycle, the Performance Criteria for such grant, and the Performance Goals with respect to each Performance Criterion (including, if applicable, a threshold level of performance below which no amount will become payable with respect to such Award). Each Performance-Based Award will specify the amount payable, or the formula for determining the amount payable, upon achievement of the various applicable performance targets. The Performance Criteria established by the Committee may be (but need not be) different for each Performance Cycle and different Performance Goals may be applicable to Performance-Based Awards to different Participants.

8.3 Payment of Performance-Based Awards. Following the completion of a Performance Cycle, the Committee shall meet to review and certify in writing whether, and to what extent, the Performance Goals for the Performance Cycle have been achieved and, if so, to calculate and certify in writing the amount of the Performance-Based Awards earned for the Performance Cycle. 

8.4 Maximum Award Payable. The maximum Performance-Based Award payable to any one Participant under the Plan for a Performance Cycle is 100,000 Shares (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5.3 hereof).

SECTION 9 
DIVIDEND EQUIVALENT RIGHTS

9.1 Dividend Equivalent-Rights. A Dividend Equivalent Right may be granted hereunder to any Participant only in tandem with an Award of RSUs or a Performance Based Award (other than an Award of Restricted Stock or Options). The terms and conditions of Dividend Equivalent Rights shall be specified in the Award Agreement which shall provide that such Dividend Equivalent Right, except to the extent otherwise provided in the related Award 

Agreement, shall (i) not be sold, transferred, gifted, bequeathed, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, voluntarily or involuntarily, until the end of the applicable Period of Restriction and the satisfaction, in whole or in part, of any applicable Performance Goals within the applicable Performance Cycle, and (ii) be settled upon settlement or payment of, or lapse of restrictions on, the Award to which it relates, and such Dividend Equivalent Right shall expire or be forfeited or annulled under the same conditions as such Award.

SECTION 10
 AMENDMENT, TERMINATION, AND DURATION

10.1 Amendment, Suspension, or Termination. The Board, in its sole discretion, may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan, or any part thereof, at any time and for any reason; provided, however, that if and to the extent required by law or to maintain the Plan’s compliance with the Code, the rules of any national securities exchange (if applicable), or any other applicable law, any such amendment shall be subject to stockholder approval. The amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan shall not, without the consent of the Participant, alter or impair any rights or obligations under any Award theretofore granted to such Participant. No Award may be granted during any period of suspension or after termination of the Plan.

10.2 Duration of the Plan. The Plan shall become effective in accordance with Section 1.1, and subject to Section 10.1, shall remain in effect until the tenth anniversary of the effective date of the Plan.

SECTION 11
 TAX WITHHOLDING

11.1 Withholding Requirements. Prior to the delivery of any Shares pursuant to an Award (or the exercise thereof), the Company shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold from any amounts due to the Participant from the Company, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy Federal, state and local taxes (including the Participant’s FICA obligation) required or appropriate to be withheld with respect to such Award (or the exercise or vesting thereof).

11.2 Withholding Arrangements. The Company, pursuant to such procedures as it may specify from time to time, may permit a Participant to satisfy such tax withholding obligation, in whole or in part, by (a) electing to have the Company withhold otherwise deliverable Shares, or (b) delivering to the Company, Shares then owned by the Participant. The amount of the withholding requirement shall be deemed to include any amount that the Company agrees may be withheld at the time any such election is made, not to exceed the amount determined by using the maximum federal, state and local marginal income tax rates applicable to the Participant with respect to the Award on the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined. The Fair Market Value of the Shares to be withheld or delivered shall be determined as of the date that the taxes are required to be withheld.

SECTION 12
 CHANGE IN CONTROL

12.1 Change in Control. For purposes of the Plan, a Change in Control means any of the following:

(a) the acquisition (other than from the Company) in one or more transactions by any person (as such term is used in Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act) of the beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act) of 25% or more of (i) the then outstanding Shares or (ii) the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Company Voting Stock”); provided, however, the provision of this Section 12.1(a) is not applicable to acquisitions made individually, or as a group, by Fredric H. Gould, Matthew J. Gould and Jeffrey A. Gould, and their respective spouses, lineal descendants and Affiliates;

(b) individuals who, as of the date of the Award, constitute the Board of Directors (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date of such Award whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest (as such terms are used in Regulation 14A promulgated under the 1934 Act) or 

other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Incumbent Board;

(c) the closing of a sale or other conveyance of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; or

(d) the effective time of any merger, share exchange, consolidation, or other business combination involving the Company if immediately after such transaction persons who hold a majority of the outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the surviving entity (or the entity owning 100% of such surviving entity) are not persons who, immediately prior to such transaction, held the Company’s voting Shares.

12.2 Effect of Change of Control. On the effective date of any Change in Control, unless the applicable Award Agreement provides otherwise: (i) in the case of an Option, each such outstanding Option shall become exercisable in full in respect of the aggregate number of Shares covered thereby; and (ii) in the case of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Dividend Equivalent Rights and Performance Share Awards, the Period of Restriction applicable to each such Award shall be deemed to have expired. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, the Committee may, in its discretion, determine that any or all outstanding Awards of any or all types granted pursuant to the Plan will not become exercisable on an accelerated basis nor will the Restriction Period expire in connection with a Change of Control if effective provision has been made for the taking of such action which, in the opinion of the Committee, is equitable and appropriate to substitute a new Award for such Award or for the assumption of such Award and to make such new or assumed Award, as nearly as may be practicable, equivalent to the old Award (before giving effect to any acceleration of the exercisability or the expiration of the Restriction Period), taking into account, to the extent applicable, the kind and amount of securities, cash, or other assets into or for which the Shares may be changed, converted, or exchanged in connection with such Change of Control.

SECTION 13
 MISCELLANEOUS

13.1 Deferrals. To the extent consistent with the requirements of section 409A of the Code, the Committee may provide in an Award Agreement or another document that a Participant is permitted or required to defer receipt of the delivery of Shares that would otherwise be due to such Participant under an Award, other than an Option, any such deferral shall be subject to such rules and procedures as shall be determined by the Committee.

13.2 Termination for Cause. If a Participant’s employment or relationship with the Company or a Subsidiary shall be terminated for cause by the Company or such Subsidiary during the Restriction Period or prior to the exercise of any Option (for these purposes, cause shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in any employment agreement or Award Agreement to which such Participant is a party or, in the absence thereof, shall include, but not be limited to, insubordination, dishonesty, incompetence, moral turpitude, the refusal to perform his duties and responsibilities for any reason (other than illness or incapacity) and other misconduct of any kind, as determined by the Committee), then, (i) all Options (whether or not then vested and exercisable) shall immediately terminate and (ii) such Participant’s rights to all Restricted Stock, RSUs, Dividend Equivalent Rights and Performance Share Awards shall be forfeited immediately.
 
13.3 No Effect on Employment or Service. Nothing in the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement, and no action of the Committee, shall confer or be construed to confer on any Participant any right to continue in the employ or service of the Company or any Subsidiary or shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to terminate any Participant’s employment or service at any time, with or without cause. Employment with the Company or any Subsidiary is on an at-will basis only, unless otherwise provided by an applicable employment or service agreement between the Participant and the Company or any Subsidiary, as the case may be.

13.4 Successors. All obligations of the Company under the Plan, with respect to Awards granted hereunder, shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect merger, consolidation or otherwise, or the purchase of all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company.

13.5 No Rights as Stockholder. Except to the limited extent provided in Sections 7.6 and 7.7, no Participant (nor any beneficiary thereof) shall have any of the rights or privileges of a stockholder of the Company with respect to any Shares issuable pursuant to an Award (or the exercise or vesting thereof), unless and until the issuance of such Shares shall have been recorded on the records of the Company or its transfer agents or registrars. 

13.6 Uncertificated Shares. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the ownership of Shares issued under the Plan may be evidenced in such a manner as the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate, including by book-entry or direct registration (including transaction advices) or the issuance of one or more share certificates, and to the extent that the Plan, applicable law or the Company’s organizational documents, require or contemplate the imposition of a legend or other notation on one or more certificates evidencing Shares or an Award, the Committee shall have the sole discretion to determine the manner in which such legend or notation is implemented.

13.7 Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award. The Committee shall determine whether cash, or Awards, or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.

13.8 Severability. In the event any provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.

13.9 Requirements of Law; Claw-Back Policies. The grant of Awards and the issuance of Shares under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required from time to time, and shall be subject to the applicable provisions of any claw-back policy implemented by the Company, whether implemented prior to or after the grant of such Award, including without limitation, any claw-back policy adopted to comply with the requirements of applicable law (including the requirements of a national securities exchange).

13.10 Securities Law Compliance. To the extent any provision of the Plan, Award Agreement or action by the Committee fails to comply with any applicable federal or state securities law, it shall be deemed null and void, to the extent permitted by law and deemed advisable or appropriate by the Committee.

13.11 Real Estate Investment Trust. No Award shall be granted or awarded and, with respect to any Award granted under the Plan, such Award shall not vest, be exercisable or be settled, to the extent that the grant, vesting, exercise or settlement of such Award could cause the Participant or any other person to be in violation of any restrictions on ownership and transfer of the Company’s securities set forth in its articles of incorporation or other governing instrument or organizational documents, as amended, and in effect from time to time, or if, in the discretion of the Committee, the grant, vesting, exercise or settlement of such award could otherwise impair the Company’s status as a real estate investment trust under the Code.

13.12 Governing Law. The Plan and all Award Agreements shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Maryland.

13.13 Captions. Captions are provided herein for convenience of reference only, and shall not serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of the Plan.pmt-ex106_78.htm

Exhibit 10.6

 ===================================================================

PMT ISSUER TRUST – FMSR, 

as Issuer

 

 

and

 

 

Citibank, N.A., 

as Indenture Trustee, Calculation Agent, Paying Agent and Securities Intermediary

 

 

and

 

 

PENNYMAC CORP.

as Servicer and Administrator

 

 

and

 

CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON MORTGAGE CAPITAL LLC

as Administrative Agent

 

__________

AMENDMENT NO. 3
Dated as of October 5, 2020

to the

Base Indenture
Dated as of December 20, 2017

===================================

 

 

This Amendment No. 3 (this “Amendment”) to the Base Indenture (as defined below) is entered into as of October 5, 2020, by and among PMT ISSUER TRUST – FMSR, a statutory trust organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Issuer”), CITIBANK, N.A. (“Citibank”), a national banking association, in its capacity as Indenture Trustee (the “Indenture Trustee”), and as calculation agent, paying agent and securities intermediary, PENNYMAC CORP., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“PMC”), as servicer and as administrator, and CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON MORTGAGE CAPITAL LLC (“CSFB”), a Delaware limited liability company, as an administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”), and is consented to by each of CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, as Buyer (in such capacity, “Buyer”) under the Series 2017-VF1 Master Repurchase Agreement (as defined below) and CITIBANK, N.A, as Buyer (in such capacity, “Buyer”) under the Series 2017-VF1 Master Repurchase Agreement (as defined below).  Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Base Indenture (as defined below).  

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, the Issuer, Citibank, as Indenture Trustee, as calculation agent (in such capacity, the “Calculation Agent”), as paying agent (in such capacity, the “Paying Agent”) and as securities intermediary (in such capacity, the “Securities Intermediary”), the Administrator, the Servicer and the Administrative Agent are parties to that certain Base Indenture, dated as of December 20, 2017 (the “Existing Base Indenture” and, as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Base Indenture”); 

WHEREAS, the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee, the Administrator, the Servicer and the Administrative Agent have agreed, subject to the terms and conditions of this Amendment, that the Existing Base Indenture be amended to reflect certain agreed upon revisions to the terms of the Existing Base Indenture;

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 12.1(b) of the Existing Base Indenture, the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee, the Administrator, the Servicer and the Administrative Agent (in its sole and absolute discretion) without the consent of any of the Noteholders or any other Person, upon delivery of an Issuer Tax Opinion unless such Issuer Tax Opinion is waived by the Series Required Noteholders of each Outstanding Series, for the purpose of adding any provisions to, or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of, the Existing Base Indenture or modifying in any manner the rights of the Noteholders of the Notes under the Existing Base Indenture or any other Transaction Document; provided, however, that (i) the Issuer shall deliver to the Indenture Trustee an Officer’s Certificate to the effect that the Issuer reasonably believes that such amendment could not have a material Adverse Effect on any Outstanding Notes and is not reasonably expected to have a material Adverse Effect at any time in the future, and (ii) if any Outstanding Notes are then rated by a Note Rating Agency, (1) each such Note Rating Agency confirms in writing to the Indenture Trustee that such amendment will not cause a Ratings Effect on any Outstanding Notes or (2) if the Administrator and the Administrative Agents determine in their reasonable judgment that an applicable Note Rating Agency no longer provides such written confirmation described in the foregoing clause (1), (a) the Administrator shall provide notice of such amendment to the related Note Rating Agency and (b) the Administrative Agent shall have provided their prior written consent to such amendment; 

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WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 12.3 of the Existing Base Indenture, the Issuer shall also deliver to the Indenture Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment to the Existing Base Indenture is authorized and permitted by the Existing Base Indenture and that all conditions precedent thereto have been satisfied (the “Authorization Opinion”), and pursuant to Section 1.3 of the Existing Base Indenture, the Issuer will furnish to the Indenture Trustee (1) an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in the Existing Base Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with, and (2) an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with; 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 11.1 of the Trust Agreement, prior to the execution of any amendment to any Transaction Documents to which the Trust is a party, the Owner Trustee is entitled to receive and rely upon an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment is authorized or permitted by the Trust Agreement and that all conditions precedent have been met; and 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 6.23 of the Amended and Restated Master Repurchase Agreement, dated as of June 29, 2018, by and among the Administrative Agent, PMC, as Seller and the Buyers (the “Series 2017-VF1 Master Repurchase Agreement”), PMC is required to receive the consent of the Buyers prior to the Seller consenting to any modification, amendment or termination of the Base Indenture. 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual agreements herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee, the Administrator, the Servicer and the Administrative Agent hereby agree as follows:

SECTION 1.  Amendments to the Existing Base Indenture.  

(a)Appendix A of the Existing Base Indenture is hereby amended by deleting the following paragraph in its entirety: 

 

Effective as of June 30, 2020, for purposes of calculating the Stop-Loss Cap, the Servicer SDQ Rate and the unpaid principal balance of SDQ Loans with respect to Mortgage Loans in the Servicer’s Fannie Mae portfolio, only 30% of the unpaid principal balance of Forbearance Loans will be multiplied by the applicable “SDQ Factor”, while the remaining 70% of the unpaid principal balance of Forbearance Loans will be considered Non SDQ Loans and multiplied by the applicable “Non SDQ Factor”.  For the avoidance of doubt, if a borrower reinstates or resolves any Forbearance Loan and such loan subsequently becomes 90 days or more delinquent, the full unpaid principal balance of such SDQ Loan will be multiplied by the applicable “SDQ Factor” and the 30% factor shall not be applicable unless additional forbearance of such loan under the CARES ACT or any replacement thereof is permitted by Fannie Mae.  

(b)Appendix A of the Existing Base Indenture is hereby amended by deleting the following proviso in its entirety from the definition of “Servicer SDQ Rate”:  

 

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; provided, however, that in conformance with the amendment to the calculation of the Servicer SDQ Rate in the Acknowledgement Agreement, only 30% of the unpaid principal balance of Forbearance Loans will count in the calculation of “SDQ Loans” for purposes of calculating the “Servicer SDQ Rate”. 

(c)Appendix A of the Existing Base Indenture is hereby amended by deleting the following definitions in their entirety:  

 

“CARES Act” means the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act of 2020.

 

“Forbearance Loan” means any Mortgage Loan (i) for which the borrower has requested forbearance pursuant to §4022 of the CARES Act, (ii) for which one or more regular monthly payments have not been made, and (iii) which is still in the Forbearance Period (i.e., the Mortgage Loan has not been reinstated or resolved). 

 

“Forbearance Period” means the period of time during which the Forbearance Loan has not been reinstated as a result of (i) Servicer receiving the borrower’s full monthly contractual payments previously past due, (ii) Servicer confirming that the borrower (a) has resolved the hardship, (b) is able to continue making the full monthly contractual payment, and (c) is able to reinstate such Forbearance Loan; (iii) the borrower completing a trial period plan related to the Forbearance Loan or otherwise resolving the Forbearance Loan in accordance with the Fannie Mae Guide; (iv) the borrower completing a permitted workout option (i.e., flex modification, short sale, or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure), or (v) the borrower paying in full the Forbearance Loan.

 

SECTION 2.  Consent, Authorization and Direction.  Each of the Issuer, the Buyers, the Indenture Trustee, the Administrator, the Servicer, the Owner Trustee and the Administrative Agent hereby consents to this Amendment, with such consent being evidenced  by the execution and delivery of this Amendment. PMC hereby authorizes the Owner Trustee to execute and deliver, on behalf of the Issuer, this Amendment, with such authorization being evidenced by the execution and delivery of this Amendment by PMC. PMC hereby certifies that it is the sole Certificateholder under the Trust Agreement (in such capacity, the “Owner”) with the authority to instruct the Owner Trustee under Section 6.3 of the Trust Agreement and that the above referenced actions are duly authorized pursuant to the Trust Agreement and are not in violation of the terms of the documents to which the Trust is a party. In addition, the Owner agrees that all action taken by the Owner Trustee in connection with this instruction is covered by the fee and indemnification provisions set forth in the Trust Agreement and that the Owner Trustee shall be fully indemnified by the undersigned in connection with action taken pursuant to this instruction.

 

	
SECTION 3.  
	
Conditions to Effectiveness of this Amendment.  This Amendment shall be effective as of June 30, 2020, upon the occurrence of the following:

 

(a)the execution and delivery of this Amendment by all parties hereto; 

(b)prior notice to each Note Rating Agency that is presently rating any Outstanding Notes and each Note Rating Agency currently rating the Outstanding Notes confirms in writing to 

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the Indenture Trustee that this Amendment will not cause a Ratings Effect on any Outstanding Notes; 

(c)the delivery of an Authorization Opinion;

(d)the delivery of an Issuer Tax Opinion; 

(e)the Issuer shall have furnished to the Indenture Trustee (1) an Officer’s Certificate stating that (i) all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in the Base Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and (ii) the Issuer reasonably believes that this amendment could not have a material Adverse Effect on any Outstanding Notes and is not reasonably expected to have a material Adverse Effect at any time in the future and (2) an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with; and 

(f)the delivery of an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment is authorized or permitted by the Trust Agreement and that all conditions precedent have been met. 

SECTION 4.  No Default; Representations and Warranties. PMC and the Issuer hereby represents and warrants to the Indenture Trustee and the Administrative Agent that as of the date hereof it is in compliance with all the terms and provisions set forth in the Existing Base Indenture on its part to be observed or performed and remains bound by the terms thereof, and that no Event of Default has occurred or is continuing on the date hereof, and hereby confirms and reaffirms the representations and warranties contained in Section 9.1 of the Existing Base Indenture.

 

SECTION 5.  Single Agreement.  Except as expressly amended and modified by this Amendment, all of the terms and conditions of the Existing Base Indenture remain in full force and effect and are hereby reaffirmed.

 

SECTION 6.  Successors and Assigns.  This Amendment shall be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

 

SECTION 7.  Severability.  Each provision and agreement herein shall be treated as separate and independent from any other provision or agreement herein and shall be enforceable notwithstanding the unenforceability of any such other provision or agreement. 

SECTION 8.  GOVERNING LAW.  THIS AMENDMENT AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE BASE INDENTURE, THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE PARTIES HERETO, AND/OR THE INTERPRETATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF THE PARTIES HERETO WILL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (WITHOUT REFERENCE TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF OTHER THAN SECTIONS 5-1401 AND 5-1402 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW) AND THE OBLIGATIONS, RIGHTS AND REMEDIES OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH LAWS.

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SECTION 9.  Counterparts.  This Amendment may be executed simultaneously in any number of counterparts.  Each counterpart shall be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall constitute one and the same instrument.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page by facsimile or other electronic means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Amendment.

SECTION 10.  Owner Trustee Limitation of Liability. It is expressly understood and agreed by the parties hereto that (a) this Amendment is executed and delivered by Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB (formerly known as Christiana Trust) (“WSFS”), not individually or personally but solely as trustee of the Issuer, in the exercise of the powers and authority conferred and vested in it, (b) each of the representations, warranties, undertakings and agreements herein made on the part of the Issuer is made and intended not as personal representations, warranties, undertakings and agreements by WSFS but is made and intended for the purpose of binding only the Issuer, (c) nothing herein contained shall be construed as creating any liability on WSFS, individually or personally, to perform any covenant either expressed or implied contained herein, all such liability, if any, being expressly waived by the parties hereto and by any Person claiming by, through or under the parties hereto, (d) WSFS has made no investigation as to the accuracy or completeness of any representations or warranties made by the Issuer in this Amendment and (e) under no circumstances shall WSFS be personally liable for the payment of any indebtedness or expenses of the Issuer or be liable for the breach or failure of any obligation, representation, warranty or covenant made or undertaken by the Issuer under this Amendment or any other related documents.

 

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Amendment to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

PMT ISSUER TRUST - FMSR, as Issuer

 

By: Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, not in its individual capacity but solely as Owner Trustee

 

 

By:  /s/ Mary Emily Pagano

Name:  Mary Emily Pagano

Title:    Assistant Vice President

 

 

 

 

CITIBANK, N.A., as Indenture Trustee, Calculation Agent, Paying Agent and Securities Intermediary and not in its individual capacity

 

 

By:  /s/ Valerie Delgado

Name:  Valerie Delgado

Title:    Senior Trust Officer

 

 

 

 

PENNYMAC CORP.,

as Servicer and as Administrator

 

 

By:  /s/ Pamela Marsh

Name:  Pamela Marsh

Title:Senior Managing Director and Treasurer

 

 

 

 

CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON MORTGAGE CAPITAL LLC, as Administrative Agent

 

By:  /s/ Dominic Obaditch

Name:  Dominic Obaditch

Title:   Vice President

 

 

Consented By:

 

CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, as a Buyer under the Series 2017-VF1 Master Repurchase Agreement

 

 

By:  /s/ Dominic Obaditch

Name:  Dominic Obaditch

Title:    Authorized Signatory

 

 

By:  /s/ Margaret Dellafera

Name:

Title:

 

 

 

Consented By:

 

CITIBANK, N.A., as a Buyer under the Series 2017-VF1 Master Repurchase Agreement

 

 

By:  /s/ Arunthathi Theivakumaran

Name: Arunthathi Theivakumaran

Title: Vice President

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