PROFITS INTEREST UNIT AGREEMENT - DIRECTORS
This Profits Interest Unit Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated as of _________ (the “Grant Date”), is made by and between Digital Realty Trust, L.P., a Maryland limited partnership (the “Partnership”), and _____________ (the “Participant”).
WHEREAS, Digital Realty Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and the Partnership maintain the Digital Realty Trust, Inc., Digital Services, Inc. and Digital Realty Trust, L.P. 2014 Incentive Award Plan (as amended from time to time, the “Plan”);
WHEREAS, the Company and the Partnership wish to carry out the Plan (the terms of which are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this Agreement);
WHEREAS, Section 9.7 of the Plan provides for the issuance of Profits Interest Units to Eligible Individuals, including Non-Employee Directors, for the performance of services to or for the benefit of the Partnership in the Eligible Individual’s capacity as a partner of the Partnership;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Company’s equity election program for director cash retainers and fees (the “Equity Election Program”), the Participant has elected to receive some or all of the Participant’s director cash retainer and/or fees in the form of fully-vested Profits Interest Units; and
WHEREAS, the Board, which administers the Plan with respect to awards granted to Non-Employee Directors of the Company, has determined that it would be to the advantage and in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders to issue the Award (as defined below) to the Participant in order to effectuate the Participant’s election under the Equity Election Program and as an inducement for the Participant to enter into or remain in the service of the Company, the Partnership, the Services Company or any Subsidiary, and as an additional incentive during such service, and has advised the Company thereof.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto do hereby agree as follows:
1.Issuance of Award. Pursuant to the Plan, in consideration of the Participant’s agreement to provide services to or for the benefit of the Partnership, the Partnership hereby (a) issues to the Participant an award of [______] Profits Interest Units (the “Award”) and (b) if not already a Partner, admits the Participant as a Partner of the Partnership on the terms and conditions set forth herein, in the Plan and in the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership (as amended from time to time, the “Partnership Agreement”). The Partnership and the Participant acknowledge and agree that the Profits Interest Units are hereby issued to the Participant for the performance of services to or for the benefit of the Partnership in his or her capacity as a Partner or in anticipation of the Participant becoming a Partner. Upon receipt of the Award, the Participant shall, automatically and without further action on his or her part, be deemed to be a party to, signatory of and bound by the Partnership Agreement. At the request of the Partnership, the Participant shall execute the Partnership Agreement or a joinder or counterpart signature page thereto. The Participant acknowledges that the Partnership may from time to time issue or cancel (or otherwise modify) Profits Interest Units in accordance with the terms of the Partnership Agreement. The Award shall have the rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption and conversion set forth herein, in the Plan and in the Partnership Agreement.
2.Definitions. All capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Plan and/or the Partnership Agreement, as applicable.
3.Profits Interest Units Subject to the Plan and Partnership Agreement. The Award is subject to the terms of the Plan and the terms of the Partnership Agreement, including, without limitation, the restrictions on transfer of Units (including, without limitation, Profits Interest Units) set forth in Article 11 of the Partnership Agreement. Any permitted transferee of the Award shall take such Award subject to the terms of the Plan, this Agreement, and the Partnership Agreement. Any such permitted transferee must, upon the request of the Partnership, agree to be bound by the Plan, the Partnership Agreement, and this Agreement, and shall execute the same on request, and must agree to such other waivers, limitations, and restrictions as the Partnership or the Company may reasonably require. Any Transfer of the Award which is not made in compliance with the Plan, the Partnership Agreement and this Agreement shall be null and void and of no effect.
4.Vesting. The Award shall be fully vested as of the Grant Date.
5.Covenants, Representations and Warranties. The Participant hereby represents, warrants, covenants, acknowledges and agrees on behalf of the Participant and his or her spouse, if applicable, that:
a.Investment. The Participant is holding the Award for the Participant’s own account, and not for the account of any other Person. The Participant is holding the Award for investment and not with a view to distribution or resale thereof except in compliance with applicable laws regulating securities.
b.Relation to the Partnership. The Participant is presently a director of the general partner of the Partnership, or is otherwise providing services to or for the benefit of the Partnership, and in such capacity has become personally familiar with the business of the Partnership.
c.Access to Information. The Participant has had the opportunity to ask questions of, and to receive answers from, the Partnership with respect to the terms and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and with respect to the business, affairs, financial conditions, and results of operations of the Partnership.
d.Registration. The Participant understands that the Profits Interest Units have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the Profits Interest Units cannot be transferred by the Participant unless such transfer is registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration is available. The Partnership has made no agreements, covenants or undertakings whatsoever to register the transfer of the Profits Interest Units under the Securities Act. The Partnership has made no representations, warranties, or covenants whatsoever as to whether any exemption from the Securities Act, including, without limitation, any exemption for limited sales in routine brokers’ transactions pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act, will be available. If an exemption under Rule 144 is available at all, it will not be available until at least six (6) months from issuance of the Award and then not unless the terms and conditions of Rule 144 have been satisfied.
e.Public Trading. None of the Partnership’s securities is presently publicly traded, and the Partnership has made no representations, covenants or agreements as to whether there will be a public market for any of its securities.
f.Tax Advice. The Partnership has made no warranties or representations to the Participant with respect to the income tax consequences of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and the Participant is in no manner relying on the Partnership or its representatives for an assessment of such tax consequences. The Participant is advised to consult with his or her own tax advisor with respect to such tax consequences and his or her ownership of the Profits Interest Units.
6.Capital Account. The Participant shall make no contribution of capital to the Partnership in connection with the Award and, as a result, the Participant’s Capital Account balance in the Partnership immediately after its receipt of the Profits Interest Units shall be equal to zero, unless the Participant was a Partner in the Partnership prior to such issuance, in which case the Participant’s Capital Account balance shall not be increased as a result of its receipt of the Profits Interest Units.
7.Redemption Rights. The Profits Interest Units and any Partnership Units which are acquired upon the conversion of the Profits Interest Units shall be subject to the redemption provisions set forth in the Partnership Agreement, including, without limitation, the General Partner’s redemption rights under Section 8.9 thereof. Notwithstanding the contrary terms in the Partnership Agreement, Partnership Units which are acquired upon the conversion of the Profits Interest Units shall not, without the consent of the Partnership (which may be given or withheld in its sole discretion), be redeemed pursuant to Section 8.6 of the Partnership Agreement within two (2) years of the date of the issuance of such Profits Interest Units.
8.Ownership Information. The Participant hereby covenants that so long as the Participant holds any Profits Interest Units, at the request of the Partnership, the Participant shall disclose to the Partnership in writing such information relating to the Participant’s ownership of the Profits Interest Units as the Partnership reasonably believes to be necessary or desirable to ascertain in order to comply with the Code or the requirements of any other appropriate taxing authority.
9.Taxes. The Partnership and the Participant intend that (i) the Profits Interest Units be treated as a “profits interest” as defined in Internal Revenue Service Revenue Procedure 93-27, as clarified by Revenue Procedure 2001-43, (ii) the issuance of such units not be a taxable event to the Partnership or the Participant as provided in such revenue procedure, and (iii) the Partnership Agreement, the Plan and this Agreement be interpreted consistently with such intent. In furtherance of such intent, effective immediately prior to the issuance of the Profits Interest Units, the Partnership will cause the “Gross Asset Value” (as defined in the Partnership Agreement) of all Partnership assets to be adjusted to equal their respective gross fair market values, and make the resulting adjustments to the “Capital Accounts” (as defined in the Partnership Agreement) of the partners, in each case as set forth in the Partnership Agreement and based upon a “Fair Market Value” (as defined in the Partnership Agreement) at the time of such adjustment, based on the trading price on the New York Stock Exchange of the common stock of the Company. The Partnership may withhold from the Participant’s wages, or require the Participant to pay to the Partnership, any applicable withholding or employment taxes resulting from the issuance of the Award hereunder, from the vesting or lapse of any restrictions imposed on the Award, or from the ownership or disposition of the Profits Interest Units.
10.Remedies. The Participant shall be liable to the Partnership for all costs and damages, including incidental and consequential damages, resulting from a disposition of the Award which is in violation of the provisions of this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Participant agrees that the Partnership shall be entitled to obtain specific performance of the obligations of the Participant under this Agreement and immediate injunctive relief in the event any action or proceeding is brought in equity to enforce the same. The Participant will not urge as a defense that there is an adequate remedy at law.
11.Restrictive Legends. Certificates evidencing the Award, to the extent such certificates are issued, may bear such restrictive legends as the Partnership and/or the Partnership’s counsel may deem necessary or advisable under applicable law or pursuant to this Agreement, including, without limitation, the following legends or any legends similar thereto:
“The offering and sale of the securities represented hereby have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Any transfer of such securities will be invalid unless a Registration Statement under the Securities Act is in effect as to such transfer or in the opinion of counsel for the Partnership such registration is unnecessary in order for such transfer to comply with the Securities Act.”
“The securities represented hereby are subject to transferability and other restrictions as set forth in (i) a written agreement with the Partnership, (ii) the Digital Realty Trust, Inc., Digital Services, Inc. and Digital Realty Trust, L.P. 2014 Incentive Award Plan and (iii) the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Digital Realty Trust, L.P., in each case, as has been and as may in the future be amended (or amended and restated) from time to time, and such securities may not be sold or otherwise transferred except pursuant to the provisions of such documents.”
12.Restrictions on Public Sale by the Participant. To the extent not inconsistent with applicable law, the Participant agrees not to effect any sale or distribution of the Profits Interest Units or any similar security of the Company or the Partnership, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for such securities, including a sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, during the 14 days prior to, and during the up to 90-day period beginning on, the date of the pricing of any public or private debt or equity securities offering by the Company or the Partnership (except as part of such offering), if and to the extent requested in writing by the Partnership or the Company in the case of a non-underwritten public or private offering or if and to the extent requested in writing by the managing underwriter or underwriters (or initial purchaser or initial purchasers, as the case may be) and consented to by the Partnership or the Company, which consent may be given or withheld in the Partnership’s or the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, in the case of an underwritten public or private offering (such agreement to be in the form of a lock-up agreement provided by the Company, the Partnership, managing underwriter or underwriters, or initial purchaser or initial purchasers, as the case may be).
13.Conformity to Securities Laws. The Participant acknowledges that the Plan and this Agreement are intended to conform to the extent necessary with all provisions of all applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations (including, but not limited to the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and any and all regulations and rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, including without limitation the applicable exemptive conditions of Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act) and to such approvals by any listing, regulatory or other governmental authority as may, in the opinion of counsel for the Partnership or the Company, be necessary or advisable in connection therewith. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Plan shall be administered, and the Award is made, only in such a manner as to conform to such laws, rules and regulations. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Plan, this Agreement and the Award shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such laws, rules and regulations.
14.Code Section 409A. To the extent applicable, this Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the effective date of this Agreement. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that following the effective date of this Agreement, the Partnership determines that the Award may be subject to Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance (including such Department of Treasury guidance as may be issued after the effective date of this Agreement ), the Partnership may adopt such amendments to this Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect ), or take any other actions, that the Partnership determines are necessary or appropriate to (a) exempt the Award from Section 409A of the Code and/or preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided with respect to the Award, or (b) comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance; provided, however, that this Section 14 shall not create any obligation on the part of the Partnership or any Subsidiary to adopt any such amendment, policy or procedure or take any such other action.
15.No Right to Continued Service. Nothing in this Agreement shall confer upon the Participant any right to continue as a Service Provider of the Company, the Partnership or any Subsidiary, or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the Company, the Partnership or any Subsidiary, which rights are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge the Participant at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause.
16.Miscellaneous.
(a) Incorporation of the Plan. This Agreement is made under and subject to and governed by all of the terms and conditions of the Plan. In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistency between this Agreement and the Plan, the terms and conditions of the Plan shall control. By signing this Agreement, the Participant confirms that he or she has received access to a copy of the Plan and has had an opportunity to review the contents thereof.
(b) Clawback. This Award shall be subject to any clawback or recoupment policy currently in effect or as may be adopted by the Company or the Partnership, in each case, as may be amended from time to time.
(c) Successors and Assigns. Subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, this Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the executors, administrators, heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns of the parties hereto, including, without limitation, any business entity that succeeds to the business of the Partnership.
(d) Entire Agreement; Amendments and Waivers. This Agreement, together with the Plan and the Partnership Agreement, constitutes the entire agreement among the parties pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions, whether oral or written, of the parties. Except as set forth in Section 14 above, this Agreement may not be amended except in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto and approved by the Board. No amendment, supplement, modification or waiver of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the party to be bound thereby. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provision hereof (whether or not similar), nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver unless otherwise expressly provided.
(e) Survival of Representations and Warranties. The representations, warranties and covenants contained in Section 5 hereof shall survive the later of the date of execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance of the Award.
(f) Severability. If for any reason one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement or in any other instrument referred to herein, shall, for any reason, be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, then to the maximum extent permitted by law, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement or any other such instrument.
(g) Titles. The titles, captions or headings of the Sections herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be a part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
(h) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, any of which may be executed and transmitted by facsimile, and each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument.
(i) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California applicable to contracts entered into and wholly to be performed within the State of California by California residents, without regard to any otherwise governing principles of conflicts of law that would choose the law of any state other than the State of California.
(j) Notices. Any notice to be given by the Participant under the terms of this Agreement shall be addressed to the General Counsel of the Partnership at the Partnership’s address set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto. Any notice to be given to the Participant shall be addressed to him or her at the Participant’s then current address on the books and records of the Partnership. By a notice given pursuant to this Section 16(j), either party may hereafter designate a different address for notices to be given to such party. Any notice which is required to be given to the Participant shall, if the Participant is then deceased, be given to the Participant’s personal representative if such representative has previously informed the Partnership of his or her status and address by written notice under this Section 16(j) (and the Partnership shall be entitled to rely on any such notice provided to it that it in good faith believes to be true and correct, with no duty of inquiry). Any notice required or permitted hereunder shall be given in writing and shall be deemed effectively given upon personal delivery or upon deposit in the United States mail by certified mail, with postage and fees prepaid, addressed as set forth above or upon confirmation of delivery by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service.
(k) Spousal Consent. As a condition to the Partnership’s, the Company’s and their Subsidiaries’ obligations under this Agreement, the spouse of the Participant, if any, shall execute and deliver to the Partnership the Consent of Spouse attached hereto as Exhibit B.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
a Maryland limited partnership
By: Digital Realty Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation
Its: General Partner
By: __________________________________
Name:
Title:
The Participant hereby accepts and agrees to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
________________________________
Director
Director
Doc Control:
Exhibit A
Notice Address
Partnership Address
0 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Exhibit B
CONSENT OF SPOUSE
I, ____________________, spouse of [______], have read and approve the foregoing Profits Interest Unit Agreement (the “Agreement”) and all exhibits thereto, the Partnership Agreement and the Plan (each as defined in the Agreement). In consideration of the granting to my spouse of the profits interest units of Digital Realty Trust, L.P. (the “Partnership”) as set forth in the Agreement, I hereby appoint my spouse as my attorney-in-fact in respect to the exercise of any rights and taking of all actions under the Agreement and all exhibits thereto and agree to be bound by the provisions of the Agreement and all exhibits thereto insofar as I may have any rights in said Agreement or any exhibits thereto or any securities issued pursuant thereto under the community property laws or similar laws relating to marital property in effect in the state of our residence as of the date of the signing of the foregoing Agreement and exhibits thereto or otherwise. I understand that this Consent of Spouse may not be altered, amended, modified or revoked other than by a writing signed by me, the Partnership and Digital Realty Trust, Inc.
Grant Date: __________________
By: ________________________________
Print name:__________________________
Dated: ___________________
If applicable, you must print, complete and return this Consent of Spouse to xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx. Please only print and return this page.
