[FORM OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS]

Contract Categories: Business Finance - Stock Agreements
EX-10.9 8 dex109.htm FORM OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT (NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS) Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (Non-employee Directors)

Exhibit 10.9

[FORM OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS]

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT UNDER THE DREAMWORKS ANIMATION SKG, INC., 2004 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN dated as of «Month» «Day», «Year», between DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (the “Company”), a Delaware Corporation, and «First» «Last».

This Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (the “Award Agreement”) sets forth the terms and conditions of an award of «Restricted_Shares» restricted stock units (the “Award”) that are subject to the terms and conditions specified herein (“RSUs”) and that are granted to you under the DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. 2004 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”). This Award constitutes an unfunded and unsecured promise of the Company to deliver (or cause to be delivered) to you, subject to the terms of this Award Agreement, a share of the Company’s Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value (“Share”), as set forth in Section 3 below.

THIS AWARD IS SUBJECT TO ALL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE PLAN AND THIS AWARD AGREEMENT, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROVISIONS SET FORTH IN SECTION 10. BY SIGNING YOUR NAME BELOW, YOU WILL HAVE CONFIRMED YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AWARD AGREEMENT.

SECTION 1. The Plan. This Award is made pursuant to the Plan, all the terms of which are hereby incorporated in this Award Agreement. In the event of any conflict between the terms of the Plan and the terms of this Award Agreement, the terms of this Award Agreement shall govern.

SECTION 2. Definitions. Capitalized terms used in this Award Agreement that are not defined in this Award Agreement have the meanings as used or defined in the Plan. As used in this Award Agreement, “Change of Control” means

(i) during any period of 14 consecutive calendar months, individuals who were directors of the Company on the first day of such period (the “Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”); provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the first day of such period whose election, or nomination for election, by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors shall be considered as though such individual were an Incumbent Director, but excluding, for purposes of this proviso, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened proxy contest with respect to election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a “person” (as such term is used in Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) (each, a “Person”), in each case other than the management of the Company, the Board or the holders of the Company’s Class B common stock par value $0.01;


(ii) the consummation of (A) a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving (x) the Company or (y) any of its subsidiaries, but in the case of this clause (y) only if Company Voting Securities (as defined below) are issued or issuable (each of the events referred to in this clause (A) being hereinafter referred to as a “Reorganization”) or (B) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all the assets of Company to an entity that is not an affiliate (a “Sale”), in each such case, if such Reorganization or Sale requires the approval of the Company’s stockholders under the law of the Company’s jurisdiction of organization (whether such approval is required for such Reorganization or Sale or for the issuance of securities of the Company in such Reorganization or Sale), unless, immediately following such Reorganization or Sale, (1) all or substantially all the individuals and entities who were the “beneficial owners” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act (or a successor rule thereto)) of the securities eligible to vote for the election of the Board (“Company Voting Securities”) outstanding immediately prior to the consummation of such Reorganization or Sale beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the corporation resulting from such Reorganization or Sale (including, without limitation, a corporation that as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) (the “Continuing Corporation”) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to the consummation of such Reorganization or Sale, of the outstanding Company Voting Securities (excluding any outstanding voting securities of the Continuing Corporation that such beneficial owners hold immediately following the consummation of the Reorganization or Sale as a result of their ownership prior to such consummation of voting securities of any company or other entity involved in or forming part of such Reorganization or Sale other than the Company), (2) no Person (excluding (x) any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Continuing Corporation or any corporation controlled by the Continuing Corporation, (y) Jeffrey Katzenberg and (z) David Geffen) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 40% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Continuing Corporation and (3) at least 50% of the members of the board of directors of the Continuing Corporation were Incumbent Directors at the time of the execution of the definitive agreement providing for such Reorganization or Sale or, in the absence of such an agreement, at the time at which approval of the Board was obtained for such Reorganization or Sale;

(iii) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of Company; or

(iv) any Person, corporation or other entity or “group” (as used in Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (other than (A) the Company, (B) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or an

 

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affiliate or (C) any company owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the voting power of Company Voting Securities) becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 40% or more of the combined voting power of Company Voting Securities but only if the percentage so owned exceeds the aggregate percentage of the combined voting power of Company Voting Securities then owned, directly or indirectly, by Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen; provided, however, that for purposes of this subparagraph (iv), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a change of control: (x) any acquisition directly from the Company or (y) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or an Affiliate.

SECTION 3. Vesting and Delivery. (a) Except as otherwise determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, your rights with respect to the RSUs subject to this Award Agreement shall become fully vested upon the earlier of (i) the first anniversary of the date of grant of the RSUs and (ii) a Change of Control (the earlier of such dates, the “Vesting Date”).

(b) Notwithstanding the occurrence of the Vesting Date, the Company shall not deliver the Shares with respect to the RSUs to you until the termination of your service as a director of the Company and its Affiliates, provided that (i) such termination occurs on or following the Vesting Date and (ii) such termination constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A. In such event, you will be entitled to delivery of one Share for each RSU awarded to you pursuant to this Award Agreement within 10 days following the termination of your service as of a director of the Company and its Affiliates.

SECTION 4. Forfeiture of RSUs. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, if your rights to the RSUs awarded to you pursuant to this Award Agreement have not vested prior to the date on which your service as a director terminates, your rights with respect to the RSUs awarded to you pursuant to this Award Agreement shall immediately terminate, and you will be entitled to no further payments or benefits with respect thereto.

SECTION 5. Voting Rights; Dividend Equivalents. Prior to the date on which your rights with respect to an RSU have become vested and Shares are delivered to you pursuant to this Award Agreement, you shall not be entitled to exercise any voting rights with respect to such RSUs and shall not be entitled to receive dividends or other distributions with respect to the Shares underlying such RSUs.

SECTION 6. Non-Transferability of RSUs. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in its sole discretion, RSUs may not be sold, assigned, alienated, transferred, pledged, attached or otherwise encumbered except as provided in Section 10(a) of the Plan. Any purported sale, assignment, alienation, transfer, pledge, attachment or other encumbrance of an RSU in violation of the provisions of this Section 6 and Section 10(a) of the Plan shall be void.

 

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SECTION 7. Withholding, Consents and Legends. (a) Withholding. The delivery of Shares or cash pursuant to Section 3 is conditioned on satisfaction of any applicable withholding taxes in accordance with Section 10(d) of the Plan.

(b) Consents. Your rights in respect of the RSUs are conditioned on the receipt to the full satisfaction of the Committee of any required consents that the Committee may determine to be necessary or advisable (including, without limitation, your consenting to the Company’s supplying to any third-party recordkeeper of the Plan such personal information as the Committee deems advisable to administer the Plan).

(c) Legends. The Company may affix to certificates for Shares issued pursuant to this Award Agreement any legend that the Committee determines to be necessary or advisable (including to reflect any restrictions to which you may be subject under any applicable securities laws). The Company may advise the transfer agent to place a stop order against any legended Shares.

SECTION 8. Successors and Assigns of the Company. The terms and conditions of this Award Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Company and its successors and assigns.

SECTION 9. Committee Discretion. The Committee shall have full and plenary discretion with respect to any actions to be taken or determinations to be made in connection with this Award Agreement, and its determinations shall be final, binding and conclusive.

SECTION 10. Dispute Resolution. (a) Jurisdiction and Venue. You and the Company irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of (i) the United States District Court for the District of Delaware and (ii) the courts of the State of Delaware for the purposes of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of this Award Agreement or the Plan. You and the Company agree to commence any such action, suit or proceeding either in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware or, if such suit, action or other proceeding may not be brought in such court for jurisdictional reasons, in the courts of the State of Delaware. You and the Company further agree that service of any process, summons, notice or document by U.S. registered mail to the other party’s address set forth below shall be effective service of process for any action, suit or proceeding in Delaware with respect to any matters to which you have submitted to jurisdiction in this Section 10(a). You and the Company irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any action, suit or proceeding arising out of this Award Agreement or the Plan in (A) the United States District Court for the District of Delaware or (B) the courts of the State of Delaware, and hereby and thereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action, suit or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

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(b) Waiver of Jury Trial. You and the Company hereby waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right either of you may have to a trial by jury in respect to any litigation directly or indirectly arising out of, under or in connection with this Award Agreement or the Plan.

(c) Confidentiality. You hereby agree to keep confidential the existence of, and any information concerning, a dispute described in this Section 10, except that you may disclose information concerning such dispute to the court that is considering such dispute or to your legal counsel (provided that such counsel agrees not to disclose any such information other than as necessary to the prosecution or defense of the dispute).

SECTION 11. Notice. All notices, requests, demands and other communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Award Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered by hand or overnight courier or three business days (meaning a day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions are legally permitted to be closed in the City of New York) after they have been mailed by U.S. registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the other party as set forth below:

 

If to the Company:   

DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc.

1000 Flower Street

Glendale, CA 91201

Attention: General Counsel

Telecopy :

If to you:   

«First» «Last»

«Street» «Unit»

«City», «State» «Postal_Code»

The parties may change the address to which notices under this Award Agreement shall be sent by providing written notice to the other in the manner specified above.

SECTION 12. Headings. Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of this Award Agreement solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of this Award Agreement or any provision thereof.

SECTION 13. Amendment of this Award Agreement. The Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or alter, suspend, discontinue, cancel or terminate this Award Agreement prospectively or retroactively; provided, however, that, except as set forth in Section 14(d) of this Award Agreement, any such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancelation or termination that would materially and adversely impair your rights under this Award Agreement shall not to that extent be effective without your consent (it being understood, notwithstanding the foregoing proviso, that this Award Agreement and the RSUs shall be subject to the provisions of Section 7(c) of the Plan).

 

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SECTION 14. Section 409A. (a) It is intended that the provisions of this Award Agreement comply with Section 409A, and all provisions of this Award Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in a manner consistent with the requirements for avoiding taxes or penalties under Section 409A.

(b) Neither you nor any of your creditors or beneficiaries shall have the right to subject any deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A) payable under this Award Agreement to any anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, attachment or garnishment. Except as permitted under Section 409A, any deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A) payable to you or for your benefit under this Award Agreement may not be reduced by, or offset against, any amount owing by you to the Company or any of its Affiliates.

(c) If, at the time of your separation from service (within the meaning of Section 409A), (i) you shall be a specified employee (within the meaning of Section 409A and using the identification methodology selected by the Company from time to time) and (ii) the Company shall make a good faith determination that an amount payable hereunder constitutes deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A) the payment of which is required to be delayed pursuant to the six-month delay rule set forth in Section 409A in order to avoid taxes or penalties under Section 409A, then the Company shall not pay such amount on the otherwise scheduled payment date but shall instead pay it, without interest, on the first business day after such six-month period.

(d) Notwithstanding any provision of this Award Agreement to the contrary, in light of the uncertainty with respect to the proper application of Section 409A, the Company reserves the right to make amendments to this Award Agreement as the Company deems necessary or desirable to avoid the imposition of taxes or penalties under Section 409A. In any case, you shall be solely responsible and liable for the satisfaction of all taxes and penalties that may be imposed on you or for your account in connection with this Award Agreement (including any taxes and penalties under Section 409A), and neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates shall have any obligation to indemnify or otherwise hold you harmless from any or all of such taxes or penalties.

SECTION 15. Counterparts. This Award Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

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

 

DREAMWORKS ANIMATION SKG, INC.,
by  

 

Name:  
Title:  
«FIRST» «LAST»
 

 

 

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