EQT CORPORATION [INSERT YEAR] RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT (STANDARD) Non-transferable G R A N T T O _______________________________ (Grantee) DATE OF GRANT: [Insert Grant Date] (Grant Date)
EX-10.9(A) 6 ex109aeqtrsu.htm EXHIBIT 10.9(A) Exhibit
Exhibit 10.9(a)
EQT CORPORATION
[INSERT YEAR] RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT (STANDARD)
Non-transferable
G R A N T T O
_______________________________
(“Grantee”)
DATE OF GRANT: [Insert Grant Date]
(“Grant Date”)
by EQT Corporation (the “Company”) of [_______] restricted stock units, which vest and convert into the right to receive a cash payment equal to the value of an equivalent number of shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Common Stock”), pursuant to and subject to the provisions of the EQT Corporation 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan (as amended from time to time, the “Plan”), and the terms and conditions set forth on the following pages of this award agreement (this “Agreement”).
The restricted stock units awarded under this Agreement shall not be effective unless, no later than 45 days after the Grant Date, (i) Grantee accepts the restricted stock units through the Fidelity NetBenefits website, which can be found at www.netbenefits.fidelity.com, and (ii) to the extent Grantee is not already subject to a confidentiality, non-solicitation and non-competition agreement with the Company, Grantee executes a confidentiality, non-solicitation and non-competition agreement acceptable to the Company.
When Grantee accepts the restricted stock units awarded under this Agreement through the Fidelity NetBenefits website, Grantee shall be deemed to have (i) acknowledged receipt of the restricted stock units granted on the Grant Date (the terms of which are subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Plan) and copies of this Agreement and the Plan, and (ii) agreed to be bound by all the provisions of this Agreement and the Plan.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. Defined Terms. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Plan. In addition, and notwithstanding any contrary definition in the Plan, for purposes of this Agreement:
(a) | “Good Reason” means Grantee’s resignation within 90 days after: (i) a reduction in Grantee’s base salary of 10% or more (unless the reduction is applicable to all similarly situated employees); (ii) a reduction in Grantee’s annual short-term bonus target of 10% or more (unless the reduction is applicable to all similarly situated employees); (iii) a significant diminution in Grantee’s job responsibilities, duties or authority; (iv) a change in the geographic location of Grantee’s primary reporting location of more than 50 miles; and/or (v) any other action or inaction that constitutes a material breach by the Company of this Agreement. |
A termination by Grantee shall not constitute termination for Good Reason unless Grantee first delivers to the General Counsel of the Company written notice: (i) stating that Grantee intends to resign for Good Reason pursuant to this Agreement; and (ii) setting forth with specificity the occurrence deemed to give rise to a right to terminate for Good Reason (which notice must be given no later than 90 days after the initial occurrence of such event). The Company shall have a reasonable period of time (not less than 30 days) to take action to correct, rescind or substantially reverse the occurrence supporting termination for Good Reason as identified by Grantee. Failure by the Company to act or respond to the written notice shall not be deemed to be an admission that Good Reason exists.
(b) | “Payment Date” is defined in Section 4 of this Agreement. |
(c) | “Pro Rata Amount” is defined in Section 3 of this Agreement. |
(d) | “Qualifying Change of Control” means a Change of Control (as then defined in the Plan) unless (i) Grantee’s Restricted Stock Units are assumed by the surviving entity of the Change of Control (or otherwise equitably converted or substituted in connection with the Change of Control in a manner approved by the Committee) or (ii) the Company is the surviving entity of the Change of Control. |
(e) | “Qualifying Termination” means the involuntary termination by the Company (or, as applicable, its successor) of Grantee’s employment as a result of (i) the sale, consolidation or full or partial shutdown of a facility, department or business unit; (ii) a position elimination because of a reorganization or lack of work; or (iii) Grantee’s death or Disability. |
(f) | “Restricted Stock Units” means collectively, the original number of restricted stock units awarded to Grantee on the Grant Date as designated in the first paragraph of this Agreement together with any additional restricted stock units accumulated from dividend equivalents in accordance with Section 5 of this Agreement. |
(g) | “Vesting Date” is defined in Section 2 of this Agreement. |
2. Vesting of Restricted Stock Units. The Restricted Stock Units have been credited to a bookkeeping account on behalf of Grantee and do not represent actual shares of Common Stock. Grantee shall have no right to exchange the Restricted Stock Units for cash, stock or any other benefit and shall be a mere unsecured creditor of the Company with respect to such Restricted Stock Units and any future rights to benefits.
Except as may be otherwise provided below or under any written employment-related agreement with Grantee (including any confidentiality, non-solicitation, non-competition, change of control or similar agreement), if any, the Restricted Stock Units will vest and become non-forfeitable on the earliest to occur of the following (the “Vesting Date”):
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(a) | as to 100% of the Restricted Stock Units, on the third anniversary of the Grant Date, provided Grantee has continued in the employment of the Company and/or its Affiliates through such date, or |
(b) | as to 100% of the Restricted Stock Units, upon the occurrence of a Qualifying Change of Control, provided Grantee has continued in the employment of the Company and/or its Affiliates through such date, or |
(c) | as to 100% of the Restricted Stock Units, upon (i) the termination of Grantee’s employment under the circumstances described in clause (i) under Section 3(a) below or (ii) Grantee’s qualifying resignation under the circumstances described in clause (ii) under Section 3(a) below, or |
(d) | as to the Pro Rata Amount only, upon the termination of Grantee’s employment under the circumstances described in Section 3(b) below. |
3. Change in Status.
(a) | Notwithstanding Section 9 of the Plan, in the event that following a Change of Control that is not a Qualifying Change of Control, (i) Grantee’s employment is terminated and such termination is a Qualifying Termination or (ii) Grantee resigns for Good Reason, in each case prior to the second anniversary of the effective date of the Change of Control, the Restricted Stock Units will vest. |
As a condition to the vesting of any Restricted Stock Units in connection with a Qualifying Termination pursuant to Section 3(a)(i) above, or Grantee’s resignation for Good Reason pursuant to Section 3(a)(ii) above, Grantee will be required to execute and not revoke a full release of claims in a form acceptable to the Company within 30 days of the Qualifying Termination or resignation, as applicable. Failure to satisfy this condition will result in forfeiture of such Restricted Stock Units.
(b) | Except as provided in Section 3(a) above, if Grantee’s employment is terminated and such termination is a Qualifying Termination, the Restricted Stock Units will vest as follows (such percentage of Restricted Stock Units then vesting is defined as the “Pro Rata Amount”): |
Termination Date | Percent Vesting | |
Prior to the first anniversary of the Grant Date | 0% | |
On or after the first anniversary of the Grant Date and prior to the second anniversary of the Grant Date | 25% | |
On or after the second anniversary of the Grant Date and prior to the third anniversary of the Grant Date | 50% | |
As a condition to the vesting of any Restricted Stock Units in connection with a Qualifying Termination pursuant to Section 3(b) above, Grantee will be required to execute and not revoke a full release of claims in a form acceptable to the Company within 30 days of the Qualifying Termination. Failure to satisfy this condition will result in forfeiture of such Restricted Stock Units.
Except as may be otherwise provided under any written employment-related agreement with Grantee, if any, in the event Grantee’s employment terminates for any other reason, including retirement, at any time prior to the applicable Vesting Date, all of Grantee’s Restricted Stock Units will immediately be forfeited without further consideration or any act or action by Grantee. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 3, if Grantee’s employment is terminated and such termination is voluntary (including retirement) or such termination is a Qualifying Termination and Grantee remains on the board of directors of the Company, EQT Midstream Services, LLC or EQT GP Services, LLC following such termination of employment, Grantee’s Restricted Stock Units shall not be forfeited but shall continue to vest in accordance
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with the above provisions for as long as Grantee remains on such board of directors, in which case any references herein to Grantee’s employment shall be deemed to include his or her continued service on such board.
4. Form and Time of Payment. The Restricted Stock Units shall be payable on the applicable payment date (each, a “Payment Date”) as provided in this Section 4:
• | The Payment Date for Restricted Stock Units vesting pursuant to Section 2(a) shall be a date selected by the Company that is no later than five business days after the third anniversary of the Grant Date. Except as set forth below, such awards shall be paid on the Payment Date in cash, equal to (i) the Fair Market Value per share of the Company’s Common Stock as of the business day immediately preceding the third anniversary of the Grant Date, times (ii) the number of Restricted Stock Units then vesting. |
• | The Payment Date for Restricted Stock Units vesting pursuant to Section 2(b) shall be the closing date of the Qualifying Change of Control. Except as set forth below, such awards shall be paid on the Payment Date in cash, equal to (i) the Fair Market Value per share of the Company’s Common Stock as of the business day immediately preceding the closing date of the Qualifying Change of Control, times (ii) the number of Restricted Stock Units then vesting. |
• | The Payment Date for Restricted Stock Units vesting pursuant to Sections 2(c) and 2(d) shall be a date selected by the Company that is: (i) if a Qualifying Termination under the circumstances described in clause (i) of Section 3(a) above, no later than five business days after such Qualifying Termination (or no later than five business days after any release of claims required under Section 3(a) becomes effective), or (ii) if a qualifying resignation under the circumstances described in clause (ii) of Section 3(a) above, as soon as reasonably practicable after such qualifying resignation (or no later than five business days after any release of claims required under Section 3(a) becomes effective), or (iii) if a Qualifying Termination under the circumstances described Section 3(b) above, no later than five business days after the release of claims becomes effective. Except as set forth below, such awards shall be paid on the Payment Date in cash, equal to (i) the Fair Market Value per share of the Company’s Common Stock as of the last business day of the month preceding the date of the applicable employment termination, times (ii) the number of Restricted Stock Units then vesting. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may determine, in its discretion and for any reason, that the Restricted Stock Units will be paid in whole or in part in shares of Common Stock. If Grantee receives payment in the form of Common Stock, such awards shall be paid on the Payment Date, in whole or in part, in shares of Common Stock, equal to one share of Common Stock times the number of Restricted Stock Units then vesting (or portion thereof determined by the Committee).
Except as provided in Section 3(a), if Grantee’s position within the Company or an Affiliate changes to a position which is not eligible for long-term incentive awards, as determined by the Company’s Chief Human Resources Officer (or if Grantee is an executive officer of the Company, as determined by the Committee), all unvested Restricted Stock Units will immediately be forfeited without further consideration or any act or action by Grantee.
5. Dividend Equivalents. If the Restricted Stock Units are outstanding on the record date for dividends or other distributions with respect to the Common Stock, then (i) if such dividends or distributions are paid on or before the Payment Date, the dollar amount or fair market value of such dividends or distributions with respect to the number of shares of Common Stock then underlying the Restricted Stock Units shall be converted into additional Restricted Stock Units in Grantee’s name, based on the Fair Market Value of the
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Common Stock as of the date such dividends or distributions are paid, or (ii) if such dividends or distributions are paid after the Payment Date, Grantee shall receive a cash payment in respect of such dividends or distributions. Any additional restricted stock units pursuant to this Section 5 shall be subject to the same time-vesting conditions and transfer restrictions as apply to the Restricted Stock Units with respect to which they relate.
6. Restrictions on Transfer and Pledge. No right or interest of Grantee in the Restricted Stock Units may be pledged, encumbered, or hypothecated or be made subject to any lien, obligation, or liability of Grantee to any other party other than the Company or an Affiliate. Except as provided in the Plan, the Restricted Stock Units may not be sold, assigned, transferred, or otherwise disposed of by Grantee other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. The designation of a beneficiary shall not constitute a transfer.
7. Limitation of Rights. The Restricted Stock Units do not confer to Grantee or Grantee’s beneficiary, executors or administrators any rights of a shareholder of the Company. Grantee shall not have voting or any other rights as a shareholder of the Company with respect to the Restricted Stock Units.
8. Payment of Taxes. The Company or any Affiliate employing Grantee has the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or require Grantee to remit to the employer, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, and local taxes (including Grantee’s FICA obligation) required by law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising as a result of this award. With respect to withholding required upon any taxable event arising as a result of this award, to the extent the Committee determines that the Restricted Stock Units will be paid in shares of Common Stock, the employer shall satisfy the tax withholding required by withholding shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value as of the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined as nearly equal as possible to (but no more than) the total minimum statutory tax required to be withheld. The obligations of the Company under this Agreement will be conditional on such payment or arrangements, and the Company and, where applicable, its Affiliates will, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to Grantee.
9. Plan Controls. This Agreement and Grantee’s rights hereunder are subject to all the terms and conditions of the Plan and such rules and regulations as the Committee may adopt for administration of the Plan. It is expressly understood that the Committee is authorized to interpret and administer the Plan and this Agreement, and to make all decisions and determinations as it may deem to be necessary or advisable for the administration thereof, all of which shall be final and binding upon Grantee and the Company. In the event of any actual or alleged conflict between the provisions of the Plan and the provisions of this Agreement, the provisions of the Plan shall be controlling and determinative. Any conflict between this Agreement and the terms of a written employment-related agreement with Grantee effective on or prior to the Grant Date shall be decided in favor of the provisions of such employment-related agreement.
10. Recoupment Policy. Amounts paid to Grantee hereunder shall be subject to the terms and conditions of any compensation recoupment policy adopted from time to time by the Company’s board of directors or any committee of such board, to the extent such policy is applicable to Grantee and the Restricted Stock Units.
11. Relationship to Other Benefits. The Restricted Stock Units shall not affect the calculation of benefits under the Company’s or its Affiliates’ qualified retirement plans or any other retirement, compensation or benefit plan or program of the Company or its Affiliates, except to the extent specifically provided in such other plan or program. Nothing herein shall prevent the Company or its Affiliates from maintaining additional compensation plans and arrangements.
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12. Amendment. Subject to the terms of the Plan, this Agreement may be modified or amended by the Committee; provided that no such amendment shall materially and adversely affect the rights of Grantee hereunder without the consent of Grantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Grantee hereby expressly agrees to any amendment to the Plan and this Agreement to the extent necessary to comply with applicable law or changes to applicable law (including, but not limited to, Code Section 409A) and related regulations or other guidance and federal securities laws.
13. Successor. All obligations of the Company under the Plan and this Agreement, with respect to the Restricted Stock Units, shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company.
14. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania without regard to its conflict of law provisions.
15. Notice. Except as may be otherwise provided by the Plan or determined by the Committee and communicated to Grantee, notices and communications hereunder must be in writing and shall be deemed sufficiently given if either hand-delivered or if sent by fax or overnight courier, or by postage paid first class mail. Notices sent by mail shall be deemed received five business days after mailed, but in no event later than the date of actual receipt. Notices shall be directed, if to Grantee, at Grantee’s address indicated by the Company’s records or, if to the Company, at the Company’s principal executive office, Attention: Corporate Director, Compensation and Benefits.
16. Dispute Resolution. Any dispute regarding the payment of benefits under this Agreement or the Plan shall be resolved in accordance with the EQT Corporation Long-Term Incentive Dispute Resolution Procedures as in effect at the time of such dispute. A copy of such procedures is available on the Fidelity NetBenefits website, which can be found at www.netbenefits.fidelity.com.
17. Tax Consequences to Grantee. It is intended that: (i) until the applicable Vesting Date occurs, Grantee’s right to payment for an award under this Agreement shall be considered to be subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture in accordance with those terms as defined or referenced in Sections 83(a), 409A and 3121(v)(2) of the Code; and (ii) until the award is paid on the applicable Payment Date, Grantee shall have merely an unfunded, unsecured promise to receive such award, and such unfunded promise shall not consist of a transfer of “property” within the meaning of Section 83 of the Code.
18. Plan and Company Information. Grantee may access important information about the Company and the Plan through the Company’s website. Copies of the Plan and Plan Prospectus can be found by logging into the Fidelity NetBenefits website, which can be found at www.netbenefits.fidelity.com, and clicking on the “Stock Plans” tab and then following the prompts to the Plan documents. Copies of the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Proxy Statement and other information generally delivered to the Company’s shareholders can be found at www.eqt.com by clicking on the “Investors” link on the main page and then “SEC Filings.” Paper copies of such documents are available upon request made to the Company’s Corporate Secretary.
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