11.  EMPLOYEE BENEFIT 401(k) PLANS AND DEFERRED RETIREMENT COMPENSATION AGREEMENTS

Employees of the Company, who meet certain minimum age and service requirements, are eligible to participate in the Mack-Cali Realty Corporation 401(k) Savings/Retirement Plan (the “401(k) Plan”).  Eligible employees may elect to defer from one percent up to 60 percent of their annual compensation on a pre-tax basis to the 401(k) Plan, subject to certain limitations imposed by federal law.  The amounts contributed by employees are immediately vested and non-forfeitable.  The Company may make discretionary matching or profit sharing contributions to the 401(k) Plan on behalf of eligible participants in any plan year.  Participants are always 100 percent vested in their pre-tax contributions and will begin vesting in any matching or profit sharing contributions made on their behalf after two years of service with the Company at a rate of 20 percent per year, becoming 100 percent vested after a total of six years of service with the Company.  All contributions are allocated as a percentage of compensation of the eligible participants for the Plan year.  The assets of the 401(k) Plan are held in trust and a separate account is established for each participant.  A participant may receive a distribution of his or her vested account balance in the 401(k) Plan in a single sum or in installment payments upon his or her termination of service with the Company.  Total expense recognized by the Company for the 401(k) Plan for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was zero,  $117,000 and $7,000,  respectively. 

On September 12, 2012, the Board of Directors of the Company approved multi-year deferred retirement compensation agreements for those executive officers in place on such date (the “Deferred Retirement Compensation Agreements”).  Pursuant to the Deferred Retirement Compensation Agreements, the Company was to make annual contributions of stock units (“Stock Units”) representing shares of the Company’s common stock on January 1 of each year from 2013 through 2017 into a deferred compensation account maintained on behalf of each Messrs. Hersh, Lefkowitz and Thomas.  In connection with Messrs. Lefkowitz and Thomas’ separation from service to the Company effective March 31, 2014, the Company agreed to make cash payments totaling $1.2 million for all vested and unvested Stock Units and future cash contributions pursuant to their respective Deferred Retirement Compensation Agreements (see Note 13: Commitments and Contingencies – Departure of Executive Officers).  The annual contribution for Mr. Hersh was in an amount of Stock Units equal to $500,000.  Vesting of each annual contribution of Stock Units was to occur on December 31 of each year, subject to continued employment.  Upon the payment of dividends on the Company’s common stock, Mr. Hersh was entitled to dividend equivalent payments in respect of both vested and unvested Stock Units payable in the form of additional Stock Units.  The Stock Units were to become payable to Mr. Hersh within 30 days after the earliest of any of the following triggering events: (a) Mr. Hersh’s death or disability; (b) the date of Mr. Hersh’s separation from service to the Company; and (c) the effective date of a change in control, in each case as such terms are defined in Mr. Hersh’s employment agreement.  Upon the occurrence of a triggering event, the Stock Units were to be paid in cash based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of such triggering event. In connection with the announcement of Mr. Hersh’s separation from service to the Company effective May 11, 2015, the Company agreed to make cash payments of $2.3 million on the separation date for all vested and unvested Stock Units and future cash contributions pursuant to his Deferred Retirement Compensation Agreement (See Note 13: Commitments and Contingencies – Departure of Executive Officers). The Company granted 36,347 Stock Units, including 966 additional Stock Units on accrued dividends, in the year ended December 31, 2014.  Total expense recognized by the Company under the Deferred Retirement Compensation Agreements for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $2,957,000,  $595,000 and zero,  respectively.  See Note 13: Commitments and Contingencies– Departure of Executive Officers related to the amount for the year ended December 31, 2014.