Omnibus Plan Form of Performance-Based RSU Award Agreement
Contract Categories:
Human Resources
- Bonus & Incentive Agreements
EX-10.15 8 q42022ex1015.htm EX-10.15 q42022ex1015 All provisions of this Performance RSU Award The Performance RSUs day Unless otherwise provided in this Prior to a Performance RSU's settlement date, the The issuance and transfer of Shares shall be subject Any notice required to be delivered to the Company under this This Performance RSU Award Agreement may be amended It is the intent of the Company that all payments The value of the Performance RSUs is not This Performance RSU Award Agreement may be executed The Grantee hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the
Exhibit 10.15
Performance RSU Award (3-Year LTI Awards)
v. 2023.02.17
CROSSFIRST BANKSHARES, INC.
2018 OMNIBUS EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
PERFORMANCE-BASED RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT
Date of Grant: ________________________________
Number of Restricted Stock Units Granted: ________________________________
This Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (this "Performance RSU
Award Agreement"), is entered into on ___________________________, by and between
CrossFirst Bankshares, Inc., a Kansas Corporation (the "Company") and _________________ (the
"Grantee").
RECITALS:
A. Effective October 25, 2018, the Company adopted the CrossFirst Bankshares, Inc.
2018 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan") pursuant to which the Company may, from time
to time, grant Restricted Stock Units to eligible Service Providers of the Company and its
Affiliates.
B. The Grantee is a Service Provider of the Company or one of its Affiliates and the
Company desires to grant to the Grantee RSUs relating to the Company's Shares on the terms and
conditions reflected in this Performance RSU Award Agreement, the Plan, and as otherwise
established by the Committee.
AGREEMENT:
In consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
S
ection 1. Incorporation of the Plan.
Agreement and the rights of the Grantee hereunder are subject in all respects to the provisions of
the Plan, the terms of which are incorporated herein by reference, and the powers of the Committee
therein provided. Capitalized terms used in this Performance RSU Award Agreement but not
defined herein have the meanings set forth in Plan.
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ection 2. Grant of Performance RSUs.
As of the Date of Grant identified above,
the Company hereby grants to the Grantee and credits to a separate account maintained on the
books of the Company ("Account") that number of Restricted Stock Units identified above
opposite the heading "Number of Restricted Stock Units Granted" (the "Performance RSUs"). On
any date each Performance RSU shall represent a right to receive a percentage (which may be less
than 100%, 100%, or more than 100%) of a Share, if the applicable terms and conditions are
satisfied. The Grantee's interest in the Account shall make the Grantee only a general, unsecured
creditor of the Company. Unless otherwise provided for in the Plan, the Performance RSUs may
not be sold, transferred, gifted, bequeathed, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or
Exhibit 10.15
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hypothecated, voluntarily or involuntarily. The rights of the Grantee with respect to the
Performance RSUs shall remain forfeitable at all times prior to the date on which such rights are
vested (the date on which the Grantee's rights with respect to the Performance RSUs become
nonforfeitable in accordance with Section 3 below is the "Vesting Date").
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ection 3. Vesting and Settlement of Performance RSUs.
may be settled by delivering to the Grantee or his or her Beneficiary, as applicable, either, as
determined by the Company in its sole discretion, (a) an amount of cash equal to the Fair Market
Value of a Share as of the Vesting Date multiplied by the number of the Performance RSUs that
become vested on the Vesting Date, or (b) a number of Shares equal to the whole number of the
Performance RSUs that become vested on the Vesting Date. The date on which the Company pays
cash or issues Shares to the Grantee in connection with vesting of a Performance RSU is the
settlement date.
Except as specifically provided elsewhere under the Plan or in this RSU Award Agreement, the
restrictions on the Performance RSUs subject to this Performance RSU Award Agreement will
lapse and the Performance RSUs will become vested in accordance with the following
performance vesting terms and conditions:
[Insert Applicable Vesting Terms]
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) the Committee may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the
Vesting Date for any or all of the Performance RSUs, if in its judgment the performance of the
Grantee has warranted such acceleration and/or such acceleration is in the best interests of the
Company, provided that, except with respect to the Performance RSUs granted to a nonemployee
Director, the Vesting Date may not be accelerated with respect to the Performance RSUs held by
the Grantee for less than a year from the Date of Grant; (b) if the Grantee's position as a Service
Provider with the Company or any of its Affiliates is terminated by reason of the Grantee's death
or Disability, the Vesting Date for all of the Performance RSUs automatically will be accelerated
to the date of the Grantee 's termination as a Service Provider and such Performance RSUs will
vest at the Target level of performance identified above; and (c) if the Grantee resigns his or her
position as a Service Provider with the Company or any of its Affiliates due to "Retirement" after
the first anniversary of the Date of Grant, the Grantee will not forfeit any of the Performance RSUs
and instead shall vest, on the Vesting Date, in a pro rata portion of the Performance RSUs to which
the Grantee would have been entitled had the Grantee not resigned on account of Retirement. For
purposes of this Performance RSU Award Agreement, the pro rata portion of the Performance
RSUs to which the Grantee is entitled to if the Grantee retires during the Performance Period after
the first anniversary of the Grant Date shall be determined by multiplying the number of the
Performance RSUs that would have vested had the Grantee remained a Service Provider for the
entire Performance Period by a fraction, the numerator of which is the total number of days during
the Performance Period for which the Grantee was a Service Provider and the denominator of
which is the total number of days in the Performance Period. Furthermore, for purposes of this
Performance RSU Award Agreement, "Retirement" means the Grantee resigning his or her
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position as a Service Provider (other than a resignation in connection with the Grantee's
employment being terminated by the Company for Cause) after (i) attaining age 55, (ii) providing
10 years of service to the Company or its Affiliates (for purposes of this Performance RSU Award
Agreement, a "year of service" is a consecutive 365 day period during which the Grantee served
as a Service Provider), and (iii) six months have elapsed from the date the Grantee provided the
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of the Company, or his or her designee(s), with advance
written notice of the Grantee's intent to resign due to Retirement.
Payment of the cash and/or Shares following the Vesting Date shall be made by the Company to
the Grantee as soon as administratively practicable thereafter, but no later than the 60
th
following the Vesting Date.
Section 4. Cancellation of Performance RSUs.
Section 4 or in the Plan, if, prior to the Vesting Date, the Grantee's position as a Service Provider
to the Company or any of its Affiliates is terminated for any reason (other than the Grantee's death,
Disability, or Retirement) or no reason, the Grantee shall thereupon immediately forfeit any and
all unvested Performance RSUs, all such unvested Performance RSUs shall be cancelled and the
Grantee shall have no further rights under this Performance RSU Award Agreement. For purposes
of this Performance RSU Award Agreement, the transfer of employment between the Company
and any of its Affiliates (or between Affiliates) shall not constitute a termination of the Grantee's
position as a Service Provider.
Section 5. Dividends and Voting.
Grantee shall be entitled to receive Dividend Equivalent payments for any dividends paid by the
Company on Shares, whether payable in Stock, in cash or in kind, or other distributions, declared
as of a record date that occurs on or after the Date of Grant hereunder and prior to any cancellation
of such Performance RSUs, provided that any such Dividend Equivalent payments shall be held
in escrow by the Company and, be subject to the same rights, restrictions on transfer and conditions
applicable to the underlying Performance RSUs. In the event of cancellation of any or all of the
Performance RSUs, the Grantee will forfeit all Dividend Equivalent payments held in escrow and
relating to the underlying cancelled Performance RSUs. The Grantee will have no voting rights
with respect to any of the Performance RSUs.
Section 6. Tax Withholding.
The Grantee shall be required to pay to the Company,
and the Company shall have the right to deduct from any compensation paid to the Grantee
pursuant to the Plan, or from any other compensation otherwise due to the Grantee, the amount of
any federal, state, and local withholding obligations of the Company with respect to the
Performance RSUs. The Company will not deliver Shares to the Grantee under this Performance
RSU Award Agreement unless the Grantee has remitted (or in appropriate cases agrees to remit)
or otherwise provided for the satisfaction of any withholding obligation. Unless specifically
denied by the Committee, the Grantee may elect to satisfy any such withholding obligations by
one or a combination of the following methods:
(a) payment of an amount in cash equal to the amount to be withheld;
(b) payment by tendering previously acquired Shares (either actually or by attestation)
valued at the Share's then Fair Market Value and equal to the amount to be withheld; or
Exhibit 10.15
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(c) requesting that the Company withhold from the Shares otherwise issuable to the
Grantee Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to or less than the amount to be withheld.
To the extent the Committee permits withholding through either the payment of previously
acquired Shares or withholding from Shares otherwise issuable to the Grantee, any such
withholding shall be in accordance with any rules or established procedures for election by
Participants, including any rules or restrictions relating to the period of time any previously
acquired Shares have been held or owned, including any elections, the irrevocability of any
election, or any special rules relating to a Grantee who is an officer of the Company within the
meaning of Section 16 of the 1934 Act.
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ection 7. No Right to Continue as a Service Provider.
Neither the Plan nor this
Performance RSU Award Agreement confers upon the Grantee any right to be retained in any
position as an Employee, Consultant, or Director of the Company. Further, nothing in the Plan or
this Performance RSU Award Agreement shall be construed to limit the discretion of the Company
to terminate the Grantee as a Service Provider at any time, with or without Cause.
S
ection 8. Restrictive Covenants.
In consideration for the granting of the
Performance RSUs and in addition to any other restrictive agreements that the Grantee may have
entered into with the Company or an Affiliate, the Grantee accepts and agrees to be bound (except
in cases in which the following covenants conflict with the terms of any employment agreement
between the Company or an Affiliate and the Grantee; in such cases the terms of such an
employment agreement shall control) in accordance with the provisions set forth in Exhibit A.
Section 9.
Compliance with Law.
to compliance by the Company and the Grantee with all applicable requirements of federal and
state securities laws and with all applicable requirements of any stock exchange on which the
Company's Shares may be listed. No Shares shall be issued with respect to the Performance RSUs
unless and until any then applicable requirements of state or federal laws and regulatory agencies
have been fully complied with to the satisfaction of the Company and its counsel. The Grantee
understands that the Company is under no obligation to register the Shares with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, any state securities commission or any stock exchange to effect such
compliance.
S
ection 10. Notices.
Performance RSU Award Agreement shall be in writing and addressed to the General Counsel and
Corporate Secretary of the Company at the Company's principal corporate office. Any notice
required to be delivered to the Grantee under this Performance RSU Award Agreement shall be in
writing and addressed to the Grantee at the Grantee's address as shown in the records of the
Company. Either party may designate another address in writing (or such other method approved
by the Company) from time to time.
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ection 11. Governing Law.
This Performance RSU Award Agreement will be
construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Kansas without regard to
conflict of law principles.
Exhibit 10.15
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S
ection 12. Adjustments.
If any change is made to the outstanding Stock or capital
structure of the Company, if required, the Performance RSUs shall be adjusted or terminated in
any manner as contemplated by the Plan.
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ection 13. Amendment.
in a manner that is materially adverse to the Grantee only by a writing executed by the parties
hereto which specifically states that it is amending this Performance RSU Award Agreement.
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ection 14. Clawback Policy.
The Performance RSUs will be subject to certain
provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (“Dodd-
Frank”) and any other compensation clawback policy that the Committee has adopted or is
required to adopt pursuant to the listing standatds of any national securities exchange on which the
Company's securities are listed or as is otherwise required by Dodd Frank or any other applicable
law, including without limitation the CrossFirst Bankshares, Inc. Incentive Compensation
Clawback Policy. Grantee acknowledges that the Performance RSUs may be clawed back by the
Company in accordance with any policies and procedures adopted by the Committee in order to
comply with Dodd Frank or as set forth in this Performance RSU Award Agreement.
Section 15. Interpretation.
Any dispute regarding the interpretation of this
Performance RSU Award Agreement shall be submitted by the Grantee or the Company to the
Committee for review. The resolution of such dispute by the Committee shall be final and binding
on the Grantee and the Company.
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ection 16. Titles.
Titles are provided herein for convenience only and are not to serve
as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Performance RSU Award Agreement.
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ection 17.Section 409A Compliance.
made under this Performance RSU Award Agreement will be exempt from Section 409A of the
Code and the Treasury regulations and guidance issued thereunder ("Section 409A") pursuant to
the “short-term deferral” exemption. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or this
Performance RSU Award Agreement to the contrary, (i) this Performance RSU Award Agreement
shall not be amended in any manner that would cause any amounts payable hereunder that are not
subject to Section 409A to become subject thereto (unless they also are in compliance therewith),
and the provisions of any purported amendment that may reasonably be expected to result in such
non-compliance shall be of no force or effect with respect to this Performance RSU Award
Agreement and (ii) the Company, to the extent it deems necessary or advisable in its sole
discretion, reserves the right, but shall not be required, to unilaterally amend or modify this
Performance RSU Award Agreement to reflect the intention that the Plan qualifies for exemption
from or complies with Section 409A in a manner that as closely as practicable achieves the original
intent of this Performance RSU Award Agreement and with the least reduction, if any, in overall
benefit to a Grantee to comply with Section 409A on a timely basis, which may be made on a
retroactive basis, in accordance with regulations and other guidance issued under Section 409A.
Neither the Company nor the Committee makes any representation that this Performance RSU
Award Agreement shall be exempt from or comply with Section 409A and makes no undertaking
to preclude Section 409A from applying to this Performance RSU Award Agreement.
Exhibit 10.15
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Performance RSU Award (3-Year LTI Awards)
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S
ection 18.Successors and Assigns.
The Company may assign any of its rights under this
Performance RSU Award Agreement. This Performance RSU Award Agreement will be binding
upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the
restrictions on transfer set forth herein, this Performance RSU Award Agreement will be binding
upon the Grantee and the Grantee's beneficiaries, executors, administrators and the person(s) to
whom the Performance RSUs may be transferred by will or the laws of descent or distribution.
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ection 19.Severability.
The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of the Plan
or this Performance RSU Award Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any
other provision of the Plan or this Performance RSU Award Agreement, and each provision of the
Plan and this Performance RSU Award Agreement shall be severable and enforceable to the extent
permitted by law.
Section 20. No Impact on Other Benefits.
part of the Grantee's normal or expected compensation for purposes of calculating any severance,
retirement, welfare, insurance or similar employee benefit.
Section 21.
Counterparts.
in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together will constitute
one and the same instrument. Counterpart signature pages to this Performance RSU Award
Agreement transmitted by facsimile transmission, by electronic mail in portable document format
(.pdf), or by any other electronic means intended to preserve the original graphic and pictorial
appearance of a document, will have the same effect as physical delivery of the paper document
bearing an original signature.
Section 22. Acceptance.
Plan and this Agreement. The Grantee has read and understands the terms and provisions thereof,
and accepts the Performance RSUs subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Plan and this
Performance RSU Award Agreement.
Section 23. Entire Agreement and Binding Effect.
This Performance RSU Award
Agreement and the Plan constitute the entire contract between the parties hereto with regard to the
subject matter hereof. They supersede any other agreements, representations or understandings
(whether oral or written and whether express or implied) that relate to the subject matter hereof.
Except as expressly stated herein to the contrary, this Performance RSU Award Agreement will
be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the respective heirs, legal representatives, successors
and assigns of the parties hereto.
[Signature Page Follows]
Exhibit 10.15
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The parties to this Performance RSU Award Agreement have executed this Performance
RSU Award Agreement as of the date provided in the preamble to this agreement.
CROSSFIRST BANKSHARES, INC.
By: _____________________
Name:___________________
Title:____________________
[GRANTEE NAME]
By: _____________________
Name:___________________
Exhibit 10.15
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Exhibit A
Restrictive Covenants for Grantee Employed in Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Missouri, Texas
or New Mexico
1.
NONCOMPETITION. For a period of one year following the date of Grantee's
termination as a Service Provider ("
Termination Date")
, Grantee
will not
contribute his or her knowledge, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, as an employee,
officer, owner, manager, advisor, consultant, agent, partner, director, shareholder,
volunteer, intern or in any other similar capacity to an entity engaged in the same or
similar business as the Company or one of its Affiliates within the state, region or
metropolitan statistical area (as appropriate) for which Grantee had responsibility for, or
conducted business on behalf of, the Company or one of its Affiliates during the two years
prior to the Termination Date.
2.
NONSOLICITATION OF EMPLOYEES. For a period of
one year following
the
Termination Date , Grantee will not directly or indirectly, solicit, hire, recruit, attempt
to hire or recruit, or induce the termination of employment of any employee of the
Company or one of its Affiliates.
3.
NONSOLICITATIO N OF COMPANY CUSTOMERS. For a period of
one year
following
the Termination Date , Grantee will not directly or indirectly, solicit, contact
(including, but not limited to, e-mail, regular mail, express mail, telephone, fax, and
instant message), attempt to contact or meet with the current, former or prospective
customers of the Company or one of its Affiliates with whom Grantee had material
contact during Grantee's employment, for purposes of offering or accepting goods or
services similar to or competitive with those offered by the Company or one of its
Affiliates.
4.
NO DETRIMENTAL COMMUNICATIONS.
Grantee
agrees not to disclose or
cause to be disclosed at any time any untrue, negative, adverse or derogatory comments
or information about the Company or one of its Affiliates, any product or service provided
by the Company or one of its Affiliates , or prospects for the future of the Company or
one of its Affiliates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this provision does not in any way
limit, restrict or impede Grantee’s ability to provide truthful testimony or information in
response to a subpoena, court or arbitral order, or as otherwise required by law.
5.
CONFIDENTIALITY.
Grantee
acknowledges that it is the policy of the Company to
maintain as confidential all information about the Company’s and its Affiliates' business,
proprietary, and technical information that is not known to others, including without
limitation, customer lists, information relating to the Company's or one of its Affiliates'
customers, their businesses, operations, employees and customers, unique concepts,
lending practices, sales presentations, marketing programs, marketing strategies, business
practices, pricing information, employment handbooks, training materials/manuals, cost
information, customer leads, documents identifying past, present and future customers,
hiring and training methods, investment policies, financial and other confidential,
proprietary and/or trade secret information concerning the Company’s and its Affiliates'
Exhibit 10.15
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operations and growth plans ("Confidential Information"). Grantee recognizes that the
Confidential Information is the sole and exclusive property of the Company or one of its
Affiliates, and that disclosure of Confidential Information would cause damage to the
Company or one of its Affiliates. Grantee shall not at any time disclose or authorize the
disclosure of Confidential Information that (a) is disclosed to or known by Grantee as
result of as a consequence of or through the Grantee's performance of services for the
Company or one of its Affiliates, (b) is not publicly or generally known outside the
Company or one of its Affiliates and (c) relates in any manner to the Company's or one
of its Affiliates' business. This Section 5 shall apply in addition to, and not in derogation
of any other confidentiality agreements that may exist, now or in the future, between
Grantee and the Company or one of its Affiliates.
a)
On or before the Termination Date
,
Grantee shall return to the Company, all
records, lists, compositions, documents and other items which contain, disclose
and/or embody any Confidential Information (including, without limitation, all
copies, reproductions, summaries and notes of the contents thereof, expressly
including all electronically-stored data, wherever stored), regardless of the person
causing the same to be in such form, and Grantee will certify that the provisions of
this paragraph have been complied with.
b)
Notwithstanding the above or any provision of this Exhibit A or any other
agreement executed by the Grantee to the contrary, there shall be no restriction on
the Grantee's ability to (i) report violations of any law or regulation, (ii) provide
truthful testimony or information pursuant to subpoena, court order, or similar legal
process, (iii) provide truthful information to government or regulatory agencies, or
(iv) otherwise engage in whistleblower activity protected by the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer
Protection Act, or any rules or regulations issued thereunder, including, without
limitation, Rule 21F-17. In addition, 18 U.S.C. §1833(b) provides, in part: “(1) An
individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or State
trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that (A) is made (i) in confidence
to a Federal, State, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to
an attorney; and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected
violation of law; or (B) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit
or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. …. (2) An individual who
files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of
law may disclose the trade secret to the attorney of the individual and use the trade
secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual (A) files any document
containing the trade secret under seal; and (B) does not disclose the trade secret,
except pursuant to court order.” Nothing in this Exhibit A, any other agreement
executed by the Grantee is intended to conflict with the statutory protection in 18
U.S.C. §1833(b).
6.
BREACH OF COVENANTS.
In the event of a breach of any of the covenants
contained in this Exhibit A: (a) any unvested portion of the Performance RSUs shall be
forfeited effective as of the date of such breach, unless sooner terminated by operation of
another term of condition of the Performance RSU Award Agreement or the Plan; and
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(b) the Grantee hereby consents and agrees that the Company or one of its Affiliates shall
be entitled to seek, in addition to other available remedies, a temporary or permanent
injunction or other equitable relief against such breach or threatened breach from any
court of competent jurisdiction, without the necessity of showing any actual damages or
that money damages would not afford an adequate remedy, and without the necessity of
posting any bond or security. The aforementioned equitable relief shall be in addition to,
not in lieu of, legal remedies, monetary damages or other available forms of relief.
7.
SEVERABILITY. If any of the provisions of this Exhibit A shall otherwise contravene
or be invalid under the laws of any state, country or other jurisdiction where this Exhibit A
is applicable but for such contravention or invalidity, such contravention or invalidity shall
not invalidate all of the provisions of this Exhibit A but rather it shall be construed, insofar
as the laws of that state or other jurisdiction are concerned, as not containing the provision
or provisions contravening or invalid under the laws of that state or jurisdiction, or a court
of competent jurisdiction may reform any such invalid provision, and the rights and
obligations created hereby shall be construed and enforced accordingly.
Restrictive Covenants for Grantee Employed in Oklahoma
1.
NONSOLICITATION OF EMPLOYEES. For a period of one year following
the date of
Grantee's termination as a Service Provider ("
Termination Date "), Grantee will not
directly solicit, hire, recruit, attempt to hire or recruit, or induce the termination of
employment of any employee of the Company or one of its Affiliates during the two years
prior to the Termination Date.
2.
NONSOLICITATION OF COMPANY CUSTOMERS. For a period of one year following
the Termination Date, Grantee will not directly solicit, interfere with, or attempt to interfere
with any of the Company 's or one of its Affiliates' established customer relationships that
existed at Grantee's Termination Date for purposes of offering or accepting goods or
services similar to or competitive with those offered by the Company or one of its
Affiliates.
3.
NO DETRIMENTAL COMMUNICATIONS. Grantee agrees not to disclose or cause to
be disclosed at any time any untrue, negative, adverse or derogatory comments or
information about the Company or one of its Affiliates, any product or service provided by
the Company or one of its Affiliates, or prospects for the future of the Company or one of
its Affiliates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this provision does not in any way limit,
restrict or impede Grantee’s ability to provide truthful testimony or information in response
to a subpoena, court or arbitral order, or as otherwise required by law.
4.
CONFIDENTIALITY. Grantee acknowledges that it is the policy of the Company to
maintain as confidential all information about the Company’s and its Affiliates' business,
proprietary, and technical information that is not known to others, including without
limitation, customer lists, information relating to the Company's or one of its Affiliates'
customers, their businesses, operations, employees and customers, unique concepts,
lending practices, sales presentations, marketing programs, marketing strategies, business
practices, pricing information, employment handbooks, training materials/manuals, cost
Exhibit 10.15
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information, customer leads, documents identifying past, present and future customers,
hiring and training methods, investment policies, financial and other confidential,
proprietary and/or trade secret information concerning the Company’s and its Affiliates'
operations and growth plans ("Confidential Information"). Grantee recognizes that the
Confidential Information is the sole and exclusive property of the Company or one of its
Affiliates, and that disclosure of Confidential Information would cause damage to the
Company or one of its Affiliates. Grantee shall not at any time disclose or authorize the
disclosure of Confidential Information that (a) is disclosed to or known by Grantee as result
of as a consequence of or through the Grantee's performance of services for the Company
or one of its Affiliates, (b) is not publicly or generally known outside the Company or one
of its Affiliates and (c) relates in any manner to the Company's or one of its Affiliates
business. This Section 4 shall apply in addition to, and not in derogation of any other
confidentiality agreements that may exist, now or in the future, between Grantee and the
Company or one of its Affiliates.
a)
On or before the Termination Date, Grantee shall return to the Company, all
records, lists, compositions, documents and other items which contain, disclose
and/or embody any Confidential Information (including, without limitation, all
copies, reproductions, summaries and notes of the contents thereof, expressly
including all electronically-stored data, wherever stored), regardless of the person
causing the same to be in such form, and Grantee will certify that the provisions of
this paragraph have been complied with.
b)
Notwithstanding the above or any provision of this Exhibit A or any other
agreement executed by the Grantee to the contrary, there shall be no restriction on
the Grantee's ability to (i) report violations of any law or regulation, (ii) provide
truthful testimony or information pursuant to subpoena, court order, or similar legal
process, (iii) provide truthful information to government or regulatory agencies, or
(iv) otherwise engage in whistleblower activity protected by the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer
Protection Act, or any rules or regulations issued thereunder, including, without
limitation, Rule 21F-17. In addition, 18 U.S.C. §1833(b) provides, in part: “(1) An
individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or State
trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that (A) is made (i) in confidence
to a Federal, State, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to
an attorney; and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected
violation of law; or (B) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit
or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. …. (2) An individual who
files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of
law may disclose the trade secret to the attorney of the individual and use the trade
secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual (A) files any document
containing the trade secret under seal; and (B) does not disclose the trade secret,
except pursuant to court order.” Nothing in this Exhibit A, any other agreement
executed by the Grantee is intended to conflict with the statutory protection in 18
U.S.C. §1833(b).
Exhibit 10.15
12
Performance RSU Award (3-Year LTI Awards)
v. 2023.02.17
5.
BREACH OF COVENANTS. In the event of a breach of any of the covenants contained
in this Exhibit A: (a) any unvested portion of the Performance RSUs shall be forfeited
effective as of the date of such breach, unless sooner terminated by operation of another
term of condition of the Performance RSU Award Agreement or the Plan; and (b) the
Grantee hereby consents and agrees that the Company or one of its Affiliates shall be
entitled to seek, in addition to other available remedies, a temporary or permanent
injunction or other equitable relief against such breach or threatened breach from any court
of competent jurisdiction, without the necessity of showing any actual damages or that
money damages would not afford an adequate remedy, and without the necessity of posting
any bond or security. The aforementioned equitable relief shall be in addition to, not in lieu
of, legal remedies, monetary damages or other available forms of relief.
6.
SEVERABILITY. If any of the provisions of this Exhibit A shall otherwise contravene or
be invalid under the laws of any state, country or other jurisdiction where this Exhibit A is
applicable but for such contravention or invalidity, such contravention or invalidity shall
not invalidate all of the provisions of this Exhibit A but rather it shall be construed, insofar
as the laws of that state or other jurisdiction are concerned, as not containing the provision
or provisions contravening or invalid under the laws of that state or jurisdiction, and the
rights and obligations created hereby shall be construed and enforced accordingly.
Restrictive Covenants for Grantee Employed in Colorado
1.
The provisions in paragraphs 2 and 4 are for the protection of the Company's or one of its
Affiliates' trade secrets. The provisions in paragraphs 2 apply only to a Grantee whose
annualized cash compensation is equivalent to or greater than the threshold amount for
highly compensated workers established by the Division of Labor Standards and Statistics
in the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. The provisions in paragraphs 2
and 4 apply only to a Grantee whose annualized cash compensation is equivalent to or
greater than 60% of the threshold amount for highly compensated workers established by
the Division of Labor Standards and Statistics in the Colorado Department of Labor and
Employment.
2.
NONCOMPETITION. For a period of one year following the date of Grantee's
termination as a Service Provider ("
Termination Date")
, Grantee
will not contribute
his or her knowledge, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, as an employee, officer,
owner, manager, advisor, consultant, agent, partner, director, shareholder, volunteer, intern
or in any other similar capacity to an entity engaged in the same or similar business as the
Company or one of its Affiliates within the state, region or metropolitan statistical area (as
appropriate) for which Grantee had responsibility for, or conducted business on behalf of,
the Company or one of its Affiliates during the two years prior to the Termination Date.
3.
NONSOLICITATION OF EMPLOYEES. For a period of one year following the
Termination Date, Grantee will not directly solicit, hire, recruit, attempt to hire or recruit,
or induce the termination of employment of any employee of the Company or one of its
Affiliates.
Exhibit 10.15
13
Performance RSU Award (3-Year LTI Awards)
v. 2023.02.17
4.
NONSOLICITATIO N OF COMPANY CUSTOMERS. For a period of
one year
following
the Termination Date , Grantee will not directly or indirectly, solicit, contact
(including, but not limited to, e-mail, regular mail, express mail, telephone, fax, and instant
message), attempt to contact or meet with the current, former or prospective customers of
the Company or one of its Affiliates with whom Grantee had material contact during
Grantee's employment, for purposes of offering or accepting goods or services similar to
or competitive with those offered by the Company or one of its Affiliates.
5.
NO DETRIMENTAL COMMUNICATIONS. Grantee agrees not to disclose or cause to
be disclosed at any time any untrue, negative, adverse or derogatory comments or
information about the Company or one of its Affiliates, any product or service provided by
the Company or one of its Affiliates, or prospects for the future of the Company or one of
its Affiliates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this provision does not in any way limit,
restrict or impede Grantee's ability to provide truthful testimony or information in response
to a subpoena, court or arbitral order, or as otherwise required by law.
6.
CONFIDENTIALITY. Grantee acknowledges that it is the policy of the Company to
maintain as confidential all information about the Company’s or one of its Affiliates'
business, proprietary, and technical information that is not known to others, including
without limitation, customer lists and information relating to the Company's or one of its
Affiliates' customers, their businesses, operations, employees and customers, unique
concepts, lending practices, sales presentations, marketing programs, marketing strategies,
business practices, pricing information, employment handbooks, training
materials/manuals, cost information, customer leads, documents identifying past, present
and future customers, hiring and training methods, investment policies, financial and other
confidential, proprietary and/or trade secret information concerning the Company’s or one
of its Affiliates' operations and growth plans ("Confidential Information"). Grantee
recognizes that the Confidential Information is the sole and exclusive property of the
Company or one of its Affiliates, and that disclosure of Confidential Information would
cause damage to the Company or one of its Affiliates. Grantee shall not at any time disclose
or authorize the disclosure of Confidential Information that (a) is disclosed to or known by
Grantee as result of as a consequence of or through the Grantee's performance of services
for the Company or one of its Affiliates, (b) is not publicly or generally known outside the
Company or one of its Affiliates and (c) relates in any manner to the Company's or one of
its Affiliates' business. This Section 6 shall apply in addition to, and not in derogation of
any other confidentiality agreements that may exist, now or in the future, between Grantee
and the Company or one of its Affiliates.
a)
On or before the Termination Date, Grantee shall return to the Company, all
records, lists, compositions, documents and other items which contain, disclose
and/or embody any Confidential Information (including, without limitation, all
copies, reproductions, summaries and notes of the contents thereof, expressly
including all electronically-stored data, wherever stored), regardless of the person
causing the same to be in such form, and Grantee will certify that the provisions of
this paragraph have been complied with.
Exhibit 10.15
14
Performance RSU Award (3-Year LTI Awards)
v. 2023.02.17
b)
Notwithstanding the above or any provision of this Exhibit A or any other
agreement executed by Grantee to the contrary, there shall be no restriction on the
Grantee’s ability to (i) report violations of any law or regulation, (ii) provide
truthful testimony or information pursuant to subpoena, court order, or similar legal
process, (iii) provide truthful information to government or regulatory agencies, or
(iv) otherwise engage in whistleblower activity protected by the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer
Protection Act, or any rules or regulations issued thereunder, including, without
limitation, Rule 21F-17. In addition, 18 U.S.C. §1833(b) provides, in part: “(1) An
individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or State
trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that (A) is made (i) in confidence
to a Federal, State, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to
an attorney; and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected
violation of law; or (B) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit
or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. …. (2) An individual who
files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of
law may disclose the trade secret to the attorney of the individual and use the trade
secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual (A) files any document
containing the trade secret under seal; and (B) does not disclose the trade secret,
except pursuant to court order.” Nothing in this Exhibit A, any other agreement
executed by the Grantee is intended to conflict with the statutory protection in 18
U.S.C. §1833(b).
7.
BREACH OF COVENANTS. In the event of a breach of any of the covenants contained
in this Exhibit A: (a) any unvested portion of the Performance RSUs shall be forfeited
effective as of the date of such breach, unless sooner terminated by operation of another
term of condition of the Performance RSU Award Agreement or the Plan; and (b) the
Grantee hereby consents and agrees that the Company or one of its Affiliates shall be
entitled to seek, in addition to other available remedies, a temporary or permanent
injunction or other equitable relief against such breach or threatened breach from any court
of competent jurisdiction, without the necessity of showing any actual damages or that
money damages would not afford an adequate remedy, and without the necessity of posting
any bond or security. The aforementioned equitable relief shall be in addition to, not in lieu
of, legal remedies, monetary damages or other available forms of relief.
8.
SEVERABILITY. If any of the provisions of this Exhibit A shall otherwise contravene or
be invalid under the laws of any state, country or other jurisdiction where this Exhibit A is
applicable but for such contravention or invalidity, such contravention or invalidity shall
not invalidate all of the provisions of this Exhibit A but rather it shall be construed,
insofar as the laws of that state or other jurisdiction are concerned, as not containing the
provision or provisions contravening or invalid under the laws of that state or jurisdiction, or
a court of competent jurisdiction may reform any such invalid provision, and the rights
and obligations created hereby shall be construed and enforced accordingly.