Aircastle (AYR)

otherwise determined by the plan administrator and evidenced in an award agreement, if a change in control transaction occurs that includes a continuation, assumption or substitution with respect to share options and other awards under the Plan, and a plan participant’s employment is terminated by the employer other than for cause within the 12 months following the change in control, and, in the case of participants who are entitled to receive severance under an employment agreement upon termination by the participant for good reason (as defined in the participant’s employment agreement), upon such a termination for good reason within the 12 months following a change in control, then the participant’s outstanding and unvested options will become fully vested and exercisable as of the date of such termination and the restrictions will lapse (or performance goals will be deemed to be achieved) with respect to the shares covered by any other award. The term “change in control” generally means: (i) any person or entity (other than (a) an affiliate of Fortress or any managing director, general partner, director, limited partner, officer or employee of any such affiliate of Fortress or (b) any investment fund or other entity managed directly or indirectly by Fortress or any general partner, limited partner, managing member or person occupying a similar role of or with respect to any such fund or entity) becoming the beneficial owner of our securities representing 50% or more of our then outstanding voting power; (ii) a change in the majority of the membership of the board of directors without approval of two-thirds of the directors who constituted the board of directors on January 17, 2006, or whose election was previously so approved; (iii) the consummation of an amalgamation or a merger of Aircastle or any subsidiary of ours with any other corporation, other than an amalgamation or merger immediately following which our board of directors immediately prior to the amalgamation or merger constitute at least a majority of the board of directors of the company surviving or continuing after an amalgamation or merger or, if the surviving company is a subsidiary, the ultimate parent; or (iv) our shareholders approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of Aircastle or there is consummated an agreement for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of our assets, other than (a) a sale of such assets to an entity, at least 50% of the voting power of which is held by our shareholders following the transaction in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of Aircastle immediately prior to the transaction or (b) a sale or disposition of such assets immediately following which our board of directors immediately prior to such sale constitute at least a majority of the board of directors of the entity to which the assets are sold or disposed, or, if that entity is a subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof.

 

Rights of Participants.  Participants with restricted common shares generally have all of the rights of a shareholder, including the right to vote the shares and the right to receive dividends at the same rate paid to other holders of common shares. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and applicable award agreement, the plan administrator has sole discretion to provide for the lapse of restrictions in installments or the acceleration or waiver of restrictions (in whole or part) under certain circumstances, including, but not limited to, the attainment of certain performance goals, a participant’s termination of employment or service or a participant’s death or disability.

 

Adjustments.  In the event of a merger, amalgamation, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, bonus issue, share dividend or other change in corporate structure affecting the common shares, the plan administrator may, subject to certain limitations, make an equitable substitution or proportionate adjustment in, among other things, the kind, number and purchase price of common shares subject to outstanding awards of restricted shares or other share-based awards granted under the Plan. In addition, the plan administrator, in its discretion, may terminate all awards (other than fully vested restricted shares, deferred shares and performance shares) with the payment of cash or in-kind consideration.

 

Repurchase of Shares for Withholding Taxes upon Vesting.  The Plan gives the plan administrator the authority to permit a participant to satisfy any federal, state or local withholding taxes due upon vesting of restricted shares by electing to have the Company repurchase a sufficient number of Common Shares, at “Fair Market Value”, as defined in the Plan, on the day of vesting. In February 2008, Mr. Wainshal made such an election of a sufficient number of shares vesting in May 2008 and the plan administrator granted its approval to such elections. Additionally, in November 2008, four named executive officers, Mr. Inglese, Mr. Platt, Mr. Walton and Mr. Schreiner, and one director, Mr. Merriman, made such an election of a sufficient number of shares and the plan administrator granted its approval to such elections.