Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors;
Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On June 12, 2009, the Board of Directors of Developers Diversified Realty
Corporation (the "Company") approved amendments to the Amended and Restated 2008
Developers Diversified Realty Corporation Equity-Based Award Plan (the "2008
Plan") and any other existing equity-based award plan pursuant to which equity
awards may be granted (collectively with the 2008 Plan, the "Plans") that will,
with respect to future grants under the Plans, revise the definition of the term
"Change in Control" in the Plans to provide that a Change in Control shall occur
upon the acquisition by any individual, entity or group of beneficial ownership
of 30% or more of the voting power of the Company's outstanding securities
without the prior consent of the Board of Directors (which represents an
increase from 20% or more). Additionally, the Board of Directors approved
amendments to the Plans to eliminate the automatic vesting of awards made
pursuant to the Plans solely upon the occurrence of a Change in Control or 409A
Change in Control (each as defined in each Plan, to the extent applicable). The
Board of Directors also authorized that new award agreements evidencing awards
made pursuant to the Plans ("Award Agreements") will provide that accelerated
vesting of awards made pursuant to the Plans in connection with a Change in
Control or a 409A Change in Control will only be triggered if, within two or
three years following the Change in Control or 409A Change in Control (as
applicable and consistent with the time periods provided in any employment
agreement or change in control agreement to which the participant is a party), a
participant's employment with the Company, any subsidiary or any affiliate
entity thereof is terminated without "cause" or, if the Award Agreement so
provides, the participant resigns for "good reason" (to be defined in the Award
Agreements).
The 2008 Plan is subject to approval of the Company's shareholders at its Annual
Meeting of Shareholders to be held on June 25, 2009.
The Board of Directors also authorized the Company to amend the existing
employment agreements and change in control agreements with the Company's
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Scott A. Wolstein, and President and Chief
Operating Officer, Daniel B. Hurwitz, to eliminate gross-up payments for any
excise taxes, penalties or interest otherwise payable in connection with (a) any
change in control, pursuant to Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
(the "Code") or otherwise, and (b) any violation of Section 409A of the Code.
Each of Mr. Wolstein and Mr. Hurwitz has agreed to eliminate such gross-up
payments from his employment agreement and change in control agreement. The
Company commits not to include gross-up payments for any excise taxes, penalties
or interest payable in connection with any change in control in any future
employment agreements or change in control agreements, or any amendments to any
existing employment agreements or change in control agreements, with executive
officers.
The Board of Directors also agreed to consider implementation of a policy
regarding the pledging of the Company's securities by its officers, directors
and other individuals who are subject to the Company's insider trading policy.
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