UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.                )

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 Definitive Proxy Statement
 Definitive Additional Materials
 Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12§240.14a-12

Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

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Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc.

18500 Von Karman Avenue, Suite 550

Irvine, California 92612

 

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To Be Held On June 9, 202016, 2021

To the Stockholders of Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc.:

Notice is hereby given that the 20202021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”“company”), will be held in a virtual-only meeting format, via live audio webcast at the Company’s headquarters located at 18500 Von Karman Avenue, Suite 550, Irvine, California 92612www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SBRA2021, on Tuesday,Wednesday, June 9, 2020,16, 2021, at 9:00 a.m., Pacific time, to consider and vote on the following proposals:

 

 (1)

The election of nineeleven nominees to the Board of Directors to serve until the Company’s 2021company’s 2022 annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors are elected and qualified;

 

 (2)

The approval of amendments to the Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc. 2009 Performance Incentive Plan;

(3)

The approval of an amendment to the charter of the Company to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company from 250,000,000 to 500,000,000;

(4)

The ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’scompany’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020;2021; and

 

 (5)(3)

The approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of the Company’scompany’s named executive officers as described in the Proxy Statement.

In addition, at the Annual Meeting, we will transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.

Only stockholders of record of the Company’scompany’s common stock as of the close of business on April 20, 202019, 2021 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof.

You are cordially invited to attend the virtual Annual Meeting in person.Meeting. Your vote is important to us. Whether or not you expectplan to attend and participate in the Annual Meeting, please submit your proxy as soon as possible. If you attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person,electronically, your proxy will not be used.

Important Notice—Contingent Virtual Meeting: We are closely monitoring the developments regarding the coronavirus(COVID-19). Although we currently intend to hold our Annual Meeting in person, we are sensitive to the public health and travel concerns stockholders may have and the protocols that federal, state, and local governments are imposing. In the event we determine that we need to conduct our Annual Meeting solely by means of remote communication, we will make such a determination in advance and announce the change and provide instructions on how stockholders can attend and participate in the Annual Meeting remotely via press release and by filing additional soliciting materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The press release will also be available on the “Investors” section of our website atwww.sabrahealth.com. If you currently plan to attend the Annual Meeting in person, please check our website one week prior to the Annual Meeting.

 

  By Order of the Board of Directors,
  LOGO
  Harold W. Andrews, Jr.
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Secretary
Irvine, California
April 27, 202026, 2021
  


VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING

The Annual Meeting will be held in a virtual-only meeting format, via live video webcast that will provide stockholders with the ability to participate in the Annual Meeting, vote their shares and ask questions. We are implementing a virtual-only meeting format in order to leverage technology to enhance stockholder access to the Annual Meeting by enabling attendance and participation from any location around the world by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SBRA2021. We believe that the virtual-only meeting format will give stockholders the opportunity to exercise the same rights as if they had attended an in-person meeting and believe that these measures will enhance stockholder access and encourage participation and communication with our Board of Directors and management.

Benefits of a Virtual Annual Meeting

We believe a virtual-only meeting format facilitates stockholder attendance and participation by enabling all stockholders to participate fully, equally and without cost, using an Internet-connected device from any location around the world. In addition, the virtual-only meeting format increases our ability to engage with all stockholders, regardless of size, resources or physical location, and enables us to protect the health and safety of all attendees, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stockholders of record and beneficial owners as of the close of business on April 19, 2021, the record date, will have the ability to submit questions directly to our management and Board of Directors and vote electronically at the Annual Meeting via the virtual-only meeting platform.

Attendance at the Virtual Annual Meeting

Only stockholders of record and beneficial owners of shares of our common stock as of the close of business on April 19, 2021, the record date, may attend and participate in the Annual Meeting, including voting and asking questions during the Annual Meeting.

To be admitted to the virtual Annual Meeting, navigate to our Annual Meeting website located at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SBRA2021 at the appropriate time and enter your unique 16-digit control number, which may be found on your Notice of Internet Availability, proxy card or voting instruction form, as applicable.

On the day of the Annual Meeting, Wednesday, June 16, 2021, stockholders are encouraged to access the virtual-only Annual Meeting prior to its start time to allow ample time for online login. Online access will begin at 8:45 a.m., Pacific Time.

If you encounter any difficulties accessing the virtual Annual Meeting, or if you have any questions regarding how to use the virtual Annual Meeting platform, please call the Broadridge technical support number that will be posted on the Annual Meeting website.

Questions at the Virtual Annual Meeting

If you attend the virtual Annual Meeting as an eligible stockholder as of the record date, you may vote your shares and ask questions during the Annual Meeting by following the instructions available on the Annual Meeting website. Only questions related to the proposals to be voted upon at the Annual Meeting will be answered during the Annual Meeting, subject to time constraints. If you are unable to locate your control number, you may enter the site as a guest, but will not be able to vote or submit questions relating to meeting matters during the Annual Meeting.

If you have a question about one of the matters to be voted on by the stockholders at the Annual Meeting, such question may be submitted in the field provided on the Annual Meeting website at or before the time the matters are before the Annual Meeting for consideration. We will answer questions on any matters to be voted on by the stockholders at the Annual Meeting before the voting is closed.

To allow us to answer questions from as many stockholders as possible, we will limit each stockholder to two questions. It will help us if questions are succinct and cover only one topic per question.


Questions from multiple stockholders on the same topic or that are otherwise related may be grouped, summarized and answered together.

The views and comments of all stockholders are welcome. However, we will not respond to questions or discussions that are irrelevant to the purpose of the Annual Meeting, derogatory or otherwise not in good taste, unduly prolonged or substantially repetitious of statements made by other stockholders. Any appropriate questions that we are unable to address during the Annual Meeting will be answered on the “Investors” section of our website at www.sabrahealth.com following the Annual Meeting.

If there are any matters of individual concern to a stockholder and not of general concern to all stockholders, or if a question does not relate to the purpose of the Annual Meeting, or if a question posed was not otherwise answered, such matters may be raised separately after the Annual Meeting by contacting Investor Relations at investorrelations@sabrahealth.com.

Additional information regarding the rules and procedures for participating in the virtual Annual Meeting will be set forth in the rules of procedure, which stockholders can view at the Annual Meeting website. For technical support related to the virtual Annual Meeting, stockholders may contact Broadridge for assistance at the number that will be posted on the Annual Meeting website.

YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING IN PERSON


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

   Page 

Proxy Statement

   1 

Important Notice Regarding Internet Availability of Proxy Materials

   1 

Questions and Answers About the Annual Meeting

   1 

Security Ownership of Principal Stockholders, Directors and Management

   76 

Board of Directors and Executive Officers

   108 

Corporate Governance

   1716 

Environmental, Social and Governance Initiatives

   2526 

Director Compensation

   2729 

Executive Compensation

   2931 

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

   2931 

Compensation Committee Report

   46 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

   4647 

Summary Compensation Table—2017—20192018—2020

   4748 

Description of Employment Agreements—Salary and Incentive Bonus Payments

   4849 

Grants of Plan-Based Awards—20192020

   4849

Description of Annual Incentive Compensation Opportunity

50 

Description of Equity Awards

   4850 

Outstanding Equity Awards at End of 20192020

   4951 

Stock Vested—20192020

   5052 

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table—20192020

   5152 

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

   5153 

Pay Ratio Disclosure

   5455 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

   5557 

Transactions with Related Persons

   5658 

Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports

   5658 

Audit Committee Report

   5759 

Audit Information

   5860 

Election of Directors (Proposal No. 1)

   59

Approval of Amendments to Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc. 2009 Performance Incentive Plan (Proposal No. 2)

61

Approval of Amendment to Sabra’s Charter to Increase the Number of Authorized Shares of Common Stock (Proposal No. 3)

71 

Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (Proposal No. 4)2)

   7363 

Advisory Approval of Named Executive Officer Compensation (Proposal No. 5)3)

   7464 

Other Matters

   7565 

Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations for 20212022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

   7565 

Annual Report to Stockholders

   7666 

Delivery of Documents to Stockholders Sharing an Address

   7666 

Appendix A: Reconciliations ofNon-GAAP Financial Measures

   A-1

Appendix B: Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc. 2009 Performance Incentive Plan

B-1 


SABRA HEALTH CARE REIT, INC.

18500 Von Karman Avenue, Suite 550

Irvine, California 92612

 

 

PROXY STATEMENT

 

 

The Board of Directors of Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation (“Sabra,” “we,” “our” and “us”), solicits your proxy for the 20202021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held at 9:00 a.m., Pacific time, on Tuesday,Wednesday, June 9, 202016, 2021 in a virtual-only meeting format, via live audio webcast at our headquarters located at 18500 Von Karman Avenue, Suite 550, Irvine, California 92612 or, if determined necessary, via remote communication as set forth below,www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SBRA2021, and at any and all adjournments or postponements of the Annual Meeting. These proxy materials are first being sent or made available to our stockholders on or about April 27, 2020.26, 2021.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS

This Proxy Statement and our Annual Report onForm 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20192020 (“20192020 Annual Report”) are posted in the Investors—Financials section of our website atwww.sabrahealth.com. www.sabrahealth.com. You can also view these materials atwww.proxyvote.com by using the control number provided on your proxy card or Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice of Internet Availability”). References to our website in this Proxy Statement are provided for convenience only and the content on our website does not constitute part of this Proxy Statement.

Contingent Virtual Meeting

We are closely monitoring the developments regarding the coronavirus(COVID-19). Although we currently intend to hold our Annual Meeting in person, we are sensitive to the public health and travel concerns stockholders may have and the protocols that federal, state, and local governments are imposing. In the event we determine that we need to conduct our Annual Meeting solely by means of remote communication, we will make that determination in advance and announce the change and provide instructions on how stockholders can attend and participate in the Annual Meeting remotely via press release and by filing additional soliciting materials with the SEC. The press release will also be available on the “Investors” section of our website atwww.sabrahealth.com. If you currently plan to attend the Annual Meeting in person, please check our website one week prior to the Annual Meeting.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING

 

Q:

Why did I receive only a Notice of Internet Availability?

 

A:

As permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), Sabra is furnishing to stockholders its Notice of Annual Meeting, Proxy Statement and 20192020 Annual Report primarily over the Internet. On or about April 27, 2020,26, 2021, we mailed to each of our stockholders (other than those who previously requested electronic delivery or to whom we are mailing a paper copy of the proxy materials) a Notice of Internet Availability containing instructions on how to access and review the proxy materials via the Internet and how to submit a proxy electronically using the Internet. The Notice of Internet Availability also contains instructions on how to receive, free of charge, paper copies of the proxy materials. If you received the Notice of Internet Availability, you will not receive a paper copy of the proxy materials unless you request one.

We believe the delivery options that we have chosen will allow us to provide our stockholders with the proxy materials they need, while lowering the cost of the delivery of the materials and reducing the environmental impact of printing and mailing paper copies.

 

Q:

What items will be voted on at the Annual Meeting?

 

A:

The items of business scheduled to be voted on at the Annual Meeting are:

 

the election of nineeleven nominees to the Board of Directors to serve until the 20212022 annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors are elected and qualified (Proposal No. 1);

the approval of amendments to the Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc. 2009 Performance Incentive Plan (Proposal No. 2);

the approval of an amendment to our charter to increase the number of authorized shares of our common stock from 250,000,000 to 500,000,000 (Proposal No. 3);

 

the ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) as Sabra’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 20202021 (Proposal No. 4)2); and

the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of our Named Executive Officers (as hereinafter defined) (Proposal No. 5)3).

We will also consider any other business that properly comes before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof. See “—How will voting on any other business be conducted?” below.

 

Q:

How does the Board recommend I vote on these items?

 

A:

The Board of Directors recommends that you vote your shares:

 

FOR the election to the Board of Directors of each of the following nineeleven nominees: Craig A. Barbarosh, Robert A. Ettl,Katie Cusack, Michael J. Foster, Ronald G. Geary, Lynne S. Katzmann, Ann Kono, Raymond J. Lewis, Jeffrey A. Malehorn, Richard K. Matros, Clifton J. Porter II and Milton J. Walters (Proposal No. 1);

FOR the approval of amendments to the Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc. 2009 Performance Incentive Plan (Proposal No. 2);

FOR the approval of an amendment to our charter to increase the number of authorized shares of our common stock from 250,000,000 to 500,000,000 (Proposal No. 3);

 

FOR the ratification of the appointment of PwC as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 20202021 (Proposal No. 4)2); and

 

FOR the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of our Named Executive Officers (Proposal No. 5)3).

 

Q:

Who is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting?

 

A:

The record date for the Annual Meeting is the close of business on April 20, 2020.19, 2021. Stockholders of record of Sabra’s common stock as of the close of business on the record date are entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting.

Q:

What options are available to me to vote my shares?

 

A:

Whether you hold shares directly as the stockholder of record or through a bank, broker or other nominee (that is, in “street name”), your shares may be voted at the Annual Meeting by following any of the voting options available to you below:

You may authorize a proxy to vote via the Internet.

 

 (1)

If you received a Notice of Internet Availability or a copy of the proxy materials electronically by email, you can submit your proxy or voting instructions over the Internet by following the instructions provided in the Notice of Internet Availability or the electronic copy of the proxy materials you received; or

 

 (2)

If you received a printed set of the proxy materials by mail, including a paper copy of the proxy card or voting instruction form, you may submit your proxy or voting instructions over the Internet by following the instructions on the proxy card or voting instruction form, as applicable.

You may authorize a proxy to vote via telephone. If you are a stockholder of record, you can submit your proxy by calling the telephone number specified on the paper copy of the proxy card you received if you received a printed set of the proxy materials. You must have the control number that appears on your proxy card available when submitting your proxy over the telephone. Most stockholders who hold their shares in street name may submit voting instructions by calling the telephone number specified on the voting instruction form provided by their bank, broker or other nominee. Those stockholders should check the voting instruction form for telephone voting availability.

You may authorize a proxy to vote by mail. If you received a printed set of the proxy materials, you may submit your proxy or voting instructions by completing and signing the separate proxy card or voting instruction form you received and mailing it in the accompanying prepaid and addressed envelope.

You may vote in personelectronically at the virtual Annual Meeting. All stockholders of record may vote in person at the Annual Meeting. Written ballots will be passed out to anyone who wants to vote at the Annual Meeting. However, if you are the beneficial owner of shares held in street name through a bank, broker or other nominee, you may not vote your shareselectronically at the Annual Meeting unless you obtain a “legal proxy” fromby following the bank, broker or other nominee that holds your shares giving you the right to vote the shares atinstructions available on the Annual Meeting. Obtaining such a legal proxy may take several days.Meeting website.

Even if you plan to attend the virtual Annual Meeting, we recommend that you submit your proxy or voting instructions in advance to authorize the voting of your shares at the Annual Meeting so that your vote will be counted if you later are unable to attend the Annual Meeting.

 

Q:

What is the deadline for voting my shares?

 

A:

If you are a stockholder of record, your proxy must be received by telephone or the Internet by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on June 8, 202015, 2021 in order for your shares to be voted at the Annual Meeting. However, if you are a stockholder of record and you received a copy of the proxy materials by mail, you may instead mark, sign and date the proxy card you received and return it in the accompanying prepaid and addressed envelope so that it is received by Sabra before voting begins at the Annual Meeting in order for your shares to be voted at the Annual Meeting. If you hold your shares in street name, please provide your voting instructions by the deadline specified by the bank, broker or other nominee that holds your shares.

 

Q:

Once I have submitted my proxy, is it possible for me to change or revoke my proxy?

 

A:

Yes. Any stockholder of record has the power to change or revoke a previously submitted proxy at any time before it is voted at the Annual Meeting by:

 

submitting to our Secretary, before the voting begins at the Annual Meeting, a written notice of revocation bearing a later date than the proxy;

properly submitting a proxy on a later date prior to the deadlines specified in “—What is the deadline for voting my shares?” above (only the latest proxy submitted by a stockholder by Internet, telephone or mail will be counted); or

 

attending the virtual Annual Meeting and voting in person;electronically; attendance at the Annual Meeting will not by itself constitute a revocation of a proxy.

For shares held in street name, you may revoke any previous voting instructions by submitting new voting instructions to the bank, broker or other nominee holding your shares by the deadline for voting specified in the voting instruction form provided by your bank, broker or other nominee. Alternatively, if your shares are held in street name, and you have obtained a legal proxy frommay attend the bank, broker or other nominee giving you the right to vote the shares at thevirtual Annual Meeting and vote electronically, which will revoke any previous voting instructions will be revoked, and you may vote by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person.submitted.

 

Q:

How many shares are eligible to vote at the Annual Meeting?

 

A:

As of the close of business on the record date of April 20, 2020,19, 2021, there were 205,559,356215,930,202 shares of Sabra common stock outstanding and eligible to vote at the Annual Meeting. There is no other class of voting securities outstanding. Each share of common stock entitles its holder to one vote at the Annual Meeting.

 

Q:

How is a quorum determined?

 

A:

A quorum refers to the number of shares that must be in attendance at an annual meeting of stockholders to lawfully conduct business. The representation, in personat the virtual Annual Meeting or by proxy, of holders entitled to cast a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast at the Annual Meeting constitutes a quorum at the Annual Meeting. Your shares will be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum exists for the Annual Meeting if you returned a signed and dated proxy card or voting instruction form, if you submitted your proxy or voting instructions by telephone or the Internet, or if you vote in personelectronically at the Annual Meeting, even if you abstain from voting on any of the proposals. In addition, if you are a street name

holder, your shares may also be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum exists for the Annual Meeting even if you do not submit voting instructions to your broker. See “—How will votes be counted at the Annual Meeting?” below.

 

Q:

What is required to approve each proposal at the Annual Meeting?

 

A:

Election of Directors (Proposal No. 1).Our Amended and Restated Bylaws (“Bylaws”) provide for a majority voting standard for the election of directors. Under this majority voting standard, once a quorum has been established, each director nominee receiving a majority of the votes cast with respect to his or her election (that is, the number of votes cast FOR the nominee exceeds the number of votes cast AGAINST the nominee) will be elected as a director. As required by our Bylaws, each incumbent director has submitted an irrevocable letter of resignation that becomes effective if the director is not elected by stockholders in an uncontested election and the Board of Directors accepts the resignation. The majority voting standard does not apply, however, in a contested election where the number of director nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected. In such circumstances, directors will instead be elected by a plurality of the votes cast, meaning that the persons receiving the highest number of FOR votes, up to the total number of directors to be elected at the meeting, will be elected. The majority voting standard is discussed further under the section entitled “Election of Directors (Proposal No. 1)—Majority Voting Standard.”

The election of directors at the Annual Meeting is not contested. Therefore, in accordance with the majority voting standard, director nominees will be elected at the Annual Meeting by a majority of the votes cast. Stockholders are not permitted to cumulate their shares for the purpose of electing directors.

Other Items (Proposal Nos. 2 3, 4 and 5)3). Once a quorum has been established, pursuant to our Bylaws, approval of each of the other items to be submitted for a vote of stockholders at the Annual Meeting requires the affirmative vote of a majority of all of the votes cast on the proposal at the Annual Meeting.

Notwithstanding this vote standard required by our Bylaws, Proposal No. 42 (ratification of the appointment of PwC as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020)2021) and Proposal No. 53 (advisory approval of named executive officer compensation) are advisory only and are not binding on Sabra. In addition, stockholder approval is not required to amend our charter to increase the authorized number of shares of common stock (Proposal No. 3). However, the Board of Directors has determined to submit this amendment for stockholder approval. Our Board of Directors will consider the outcome of the vote on each of these items in considering what action, if any, should be taken in response to the vote by stockholders.

 

Q:

How will votes be counted at the Annual Meeting?

 

A:

In the election of directors (Proposal No. 1), you may vote FOR, AGAINST or ABSTAIN with respect to each director nominee. For the proposals to approve amendments to the Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc. 2009 Performance Incentive Plan (Proposal No. 2), to approve an amendment to our charter to increase the number of authorized shares of our common stock (Proposal No. 3), to ratify the appointment of PwC as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 20202021 (Proposal No. 4)2) and the advisory vote on executive compensation (Proposal No. 5)3), you may vote FOR, AGAINST or ABSTAIN. Abstentions with respect to any proposal at the Annual Meeting will be counted as present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum, but will not be counted as a vote cast on the proposal and therefore will not be counted in determining the outcome of the proposal.

If you hold your shares in street name through a brokerage account and you do not submit voting instructions to your broker, your broker may generally vote your shares in its discretion on routine matters. However, a broker cannot vote shares held in street name onnon-routine matters unless the broker receives voting instructions from the street name holder. The proposal to amend our charter to increase the number of authorized shares of our common stock (Proposal No. 3) and the proposal to ratify the appointment of PwC as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 20202021 (Proposal No. 4) are each2) is expected to be considered routine under applicable rules, while each of the other items to be submitted for a vote of stockholders at the Annual Meeting is considerednon-routine. Accordingly, if you hold your shares in street name through a brokerage account and you do not submit voting instructions to your broker, your broker may exercise its discretion to vote your shares on Proposal No. 3 and Proposal No. 4,2, but will not be permitted to vote your shares on any of the other items at the Annual Meeting. If your broker exercises this

discretion, your shares will be counted as present for the purpose of determining the presence of a quorum at the Annual Meeting and will be voted on Proposal No. 3 and Proposal No. 42 in the manner directed by your broker, but your shares will constitute “brokernon-votes” on each of the other proposals at the Annual Meeting. Brokernon-votes will not be counted as a vote cast with respect to these other proposals and therefore will not be counted in determining the outcome of those proposals. You should instruct your broker or nominee how to vote your shares by following the voting instructions provided by your broker or nominee.

 

Q:

How will my shares be voted if I do not give specific voting instructions in the proxy or voting instructions I submit?

 

A:

If you properly submit a proxy or voting instructions but do not indicate your specific voting instructions on one or more of the items listed above in the Notice of Annual Meeting, your shares will be voted as recommended by the Board of Directors on those items. See “—How does the Board recommend I vote on these items?” above.

 

Q:

How will voting on any other business be conducted?

 

A:

Although the Board of Directors does not know of any business to be considered at the Annual Meeting other than the items described in this Proxy Statement, if any other business properly comes before the Annual Meeting, a stockholder’s properly submitted proxy gives authority to the proxy holders named in the proxies solicited by the Board of Directors to vote on those matters in their discretion.

Q:

Who will bear the costs of the solicitation of proxies?

 

A:

The cost of preparing the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, this Proxy Statement, the Notice of Internet Availability and the form of proxy, the cost of mailing such materials to stockholders or making them available on the Internet and the cost of soliciting proxies will be paid by Sabra. In addition to solicitation by mail, certain officers, regular employees and directors of Sabra, without receiving any additional compensation, may solicit proxies personally or by telephone. Sabra will request brokerage houses, banks and other custodians or nominees holding stock in their names for others to forward proxy materials to their customers or principals who are the beneficial owners of shares of our common stock and will reimburse them for their expenses in doing so.

 

Q:

Where can I find the voting results of the Annual Meeting?

 

A:

We intend to announce preliminary voting results at the Annual Meeting and disclose final voting results in a Current Report on Form8-K to be filed with the SEC within four business days following the Annual Meeting.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS, DIRECTORS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of Sabra common stock as of March 31, 20202021 for the following: (i) each of Sabra’s directors and each executive officer of Sabra identified as a “Named Executive Officer” in this Proxy Statement, (ii) all persons who are directors and executive officers of Sabra as a group and (iii) any person who is known by Sabra to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of Sabra’s outstanding common stock. This table is based on information supplied to us by our executive officers, directors and principal stockholders or included in a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC.

 

Name of Beneficial Owner

  Sabra Shares
Beneficially Owned (1)
 Percent of
Sabra Shares (1)
    

Sabra Shares

Beneficially Owned (1)

 

 

  
Percent of
Sabra Shares (1)

 

Directors and Named Executive Officers:

      

Richard K. Matros

   1,070,280 (2)  *    1,095,336 (2)  * 

Harold W. Andrews, Jr.

   322,637 (3)  *    337,526   * 

Talya Nevo-Hacohen

   317,466 (3)  *    340,849   * 

Michael L. Costa

   77,945   * 

Craig A. Barbarosh

   78,226 (4)  *    86,991(3)  * 

Robert A. Ettl

   85,455 (5)  * 

Katie Cusack

   3,312(4)  * 

Michael J. Foster

   84,741 (6)  *    81,506(5)  * 

Ronald G. Geary

   33,656 (7)  *    42,433(6)  * 

Lynne S. Katzmann

   8,012 (8)  *    16,053(7)  * 

Ann Kono

   2,766(8)  * 

Raymond J. Lewis

   201,109 (7)  *    209,886 (6)  * 

Jeffrey A. Malehorn

   36,299 (7)  *    45,076(6)  * 

Clifton J. Porter II

   3,698(9)  * 

Milton J. Walters

   50,897 (9)  *    59,662 (10)  * 

All persons who are directors and executive officers of Sabra as a group (11 persons, each of whom is named above)

   2,288,778 (10)  1.1

All persons who are directors and executive officers of Sabra as a group (14 persons, each of whom is named above)

   2,403,039 (11)  1.1

5% Stockholders:

      

The Vanguard Group, Inc. and affiliates

100 Vanguard Blvd.

Malvern, PA 19355

   31,061,572 (11)   15.1   32,370,044 (12)   15.0

BlackRock, Inc.

55 East 52nd Street

New York, NY 10055

   27,721,095 (12)   13.5   29,149,535 (13)   13.5

Cohen & Steers, Inc. and affiliates

280 Park Avenue, 10th Floor

New York, NY 10017

   12,158,105 (13)   5.9

 

*

Less than 1.0%

(1)

Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC. Except as otherwise noted below, applicable percentage ownership is determined based on 205,559,356215,930,202 shares of Sabra common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2020.2021. Restricted stock units vesting within 60 days of March 31, 20202021 and shares of common stock subject to restricted stock units that have vested but the payment of which has been deferred until, (i) in the case of Named Executive Officers, the fifth calendar year following the grant date (subject to earlier payment in connection with the executive’s death, disability, termination of employment and certain change in control transactions) or (ii) in the case of directors, the earlier of the fifth anniversary of the grant date, a change in control or the director’s separation from service from the Board of Directors, are considered outstanding for purposes of computing the share amount and percentage ownership of the person holding such restricted stock units, but Sabra does not deem them outstanding for purposes of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. Except as indicated in the footnotes to this table and pursuant to applicable community property laws, the persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock beneficially owned.

(2)

Consists of shares held by the R&A Matros Revocable Trust, with respect to which Mr. Matros shares voting and investment power.

(3)

Consists of (i) 42,51639,257 vested restricted stock units, the payment of which has been deferred, that are payable in shares of common stock, (ii) 1,244 shares of common stock subject to restricted stock units that vest

within 60 days of March 31, 2021 and (iii) 46,490 shares that are held by the Barbarosh Family Trust, with respect to which Mr. Barbarosh shares voting and investment power.
(4)

Includes (i) 1,155 vested restricted stock units, the payment of which has been deferred, that are payable in shares of common stock and (ii) 1,027,764 shares held by the R&A Matros Revocable Trust, with respect to which Mr. Matros shares voting and investment power.

(3)

Includes 19,131 vested restricted stock units, the payment of which has been deferred, that are payable in shares of common stock.

(4)

Includes (i) 33,822 vested restricted stock units, the payment of which has been deferred, that are payable in shares of common stock, (ii) 1,0421,157 shares of common stock subject to restricted stock units that vest within 60 days of March 31, 2020 and (iii) 43,362 shares that are held by the Barbarosh Family Trust, with respect to which Mr. Barbarosh shares voting and investment power.2021.

(5)

Includes (i) 33,728 vested restricted stock units, the payment of which has been deferred, that are payable in shares of common stock, (ii) 1,042 shares of common stock subject to restricted stock units that vest within 60 days of March 31, 2020 and (iii) 50,685 shares that are held by the Ettl Family Trust, with respect to which Mr. Ettl shares voting and investment power.

(6)

Includes (i) 15,97224,535 vested restricted stock units, the payment of which has been deferred, that are payable in shares of common stock and (ii) 1,0421,244 shares of common stock subject to restricted stock units that vest within 60 days of March 31, 2020.2021.

(7)(6)

Includes (i) 16,13124,706 vested restricted stock units, the payment of which has been deferred, that are payable in shares of common stock and (ii) 1,0421,244 shares of common stock subject to restricted stock units that vest within 60 days of March 31, 2020.2021.

(8)(7)

Consists of (i) 6,97014,809 vested restricted stock units, the payment of which has been deferred, that are payable in shares of common stock and (ii) 1,0421,244 shares of common stock subject to restricted stock units that vest within 60 days of March 31, 2020.2021.

(8)

Consists of (i) 1,659 vested restricted stock units, the payment of which has been deferred, that are payable in shares of common stock and (ii) 1,107 shares of common stock subject to restricted stock units that vest within 60 days of March 31, 2021.

(9)

Includes (i) 15,9721,904 vested restricted stock units, the payment of which has been deferred, that are payable in shares of common stock and (ii) 1,270 shares of common stock subject to restricted stock units that vest within 60 days of March 31, 2021.

(10)

Includes (i) 24,535 vested restricted stock units, the payment of which has been deferred, that are payable in shares of common stock, (ii) 1,0421,244 shares of common stock subject to restricted stock units that vest within 60 days of March 31, 20202021 and (iii) 10,000 shares of common stock that are held by Tri-River Capital, an entity with respect to which Mr. Walters has sole voting and investment power.

(10)(11)

Includes (i) 1,121,8111,141,826 shares held by family trusts, with respect to which the officer or director shares voting and investment power, (ii) 235,635181,972 vested restricted stock units, the payment of which has been deferred, that are payable in shares of common stock, (iii) 8,33612,242 shares of common stock subject to restricted stock units that vest within 60 days of March 31, 20202021 and (iv) 10,000 shares held by an entity with respect to which the director has sole voting and investment power.

(11)(12)

Beneficial share ownership information is given as of December 31, 20192020 and was obtained from a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 11, 202010, 2021 by The Vanguard Group, Inc. (“Vanguard”). According to the Schedule 13G/A, Vanguard has sole voting power over 387,602 shares, shared voting power over 210,027655,920 shares, sole dispositive power over 30,689,83731,547,792 shares and shared dispositive power over 371,735822,252 shares of our common stock. The Schedule 13G/A states that Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Vanguard, is the beneficial owner of 161,708 shares as a result of serving as investment manager of collective trust accounts. The Schedule 13G/A also states that Vanguard Investments Australia, Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Vanguard, is the beneficial owner of 435,921 shares as a result of serving as investment manager of Australian investment offerings. Vanguard has represented to us that no Vanguard entity, trust or fund has a direct or indirect ownership in our common stock in excess of 9.9%.

(12)(13)

Beneficial share ownership information is given as of December 31, 20192020 and was obtained from a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 4, 2020January 26, 2021 by BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”). According to the Schedule 13G/A, BlackRock has sole voting power over 27,183,16128,629,574 shares and sole dispositive power over 27,721,09529,149,535 shares of our common stock. The Schedule 13G/A states that BlackRock is a parent holding company and that various persons have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from or the proceeds from the sale of Sabra’s common stock but that no one person’s interest in our common stock is more than five percent of the total outstanding common shares.

(13)

Beneficial share ownership information is given as of December 31, 2019 and was obtained from a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 14, 2020 by Cohen & Steers, Inc. (“Cohen & Steers”). According to the Schedule 13G/A, Cohen & Steers has sole voting power over 11,111,219 shares and sole dispositive power over 12,158,105 shares of our common stock. The Schedule 13G/A also states that Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc., awholly-owned subsidiary of Cohen & Steers, is the beneficial owner of 12,126,098 of these shares, representing 5.9% of our outstanding common stock, and has sole voting power over 11,111,219 of such shares and sole dispositive power over all 12,126,098 of such shares, and that Cohen & Steers UK Limited, awholly-owned subsidiary of Cohen & Steers, is the beneficial owner of 32,007 of these shares, with sole dispositive power over all of such shares.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Directors of the Company

Set forth below is a brief biographical description of each of our directors, all of whom have been nominated for election to the Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting. Sabra believes that its directors should be of high character and integrity, be accomplished in their respective fields, have relevant expertise and experience and collectively represent a diversity of backgrounds and experiences. The disclosure below identifies and describes the key experience, qualifications and skills that are important for persons who serve on the Board of Directors in light of its business and structure. The specific experiences, qualifications and skills that led to the conclusion that each of our directors should serve on the Board of Directors is also included in the table and in the biographical description for each director provided below.

 

  

Leadership experience. The Board of Directors believes that directors with experience in significant leadership positions, such as having served as chief executive officer of another entity, will provide the Board with special insights. These individuals generally possess extraordinary leadership qualities and the ability to identify and develop those qualities in others. They demonstrate a practical understanding of organizations, processes, strategy, risk management and the methods to drive change and growth.

 

  

Finance experience. The Board of Directors believes that an understanding of finance and financial reporting processes is important for its directors and therefore it seeks directors who are financially knowledgeable. Sabra measures its operating and strategic performance primarily by reference to financial measures. In addition, accurate financial reporting and robust auditing are critical to Sabra’s success.

 

  

Industry experience. Sabra seeks directors with experience as executives or directors or in other leadership positions in the industries in which it operates. The Board of Directors believes that such experience is important to the director’s understanding of Sabra’s operations, risks and opportunities.

 

  

Public company experience. The Board of Directors believes that directors with experience as executives or directors in publicly owned corporations, including as members of the key standing board committees of those corporations, will be more familiar with the securities laws and other issues faced by public companies that do not affect privately owned corporations.

 

  

Other experience. Sabra seeks directors who bring diverse, yet relevant experience to the Board of Directors.

 

   Matros  Barbarosh  EttlCusack  Foster  Geary  Katzmann  KonoLewis  MalehornPorter  Walters 
Leadership experience         
CEO / Business Head                    
Senior Management                            
Finance experience         
Financial Literacy / Accounting                           
Financial / Capital Markets              
Investment Expertise        
Investment Expertise                    
Industry experience         
REIT / Real Estate                   
Healthcare                           
Portfolio and Operations Management                              
Public company experience         
Executive  
Executive          
Board / Committee                            
Other experience         
Risk Oversight / Management                         
Legal / Regulatory             
Professional Accreditation / Education                              

In addition to the diversity of experiences illustrated above, our Board of Directors also represents a mix of tenures and ages and is highly independent, as illustrated below:

 

DIRECTOR TENURE  AGE  INDEPENDENCE
LOGOLOGO  LOGOLOGO  LOGOLOGO

Richard K. Matros. Mr. Matros, 67, has served as Sabra’s President and Chief Executive Officer and as a director since May 2010, and he has served as Chairman of the Board since November 2010. He was Chairman of the board of directors and Chief Executive Officer of the predecessor Sun Healthcare Group, Inc. (“Old Sun”) from 2001 until our 2010 separation from Old Sun (the “Separation”). Mr. Matros founded and served as Chief Executive Officer and President of Bright Now! Dental from 1998 to 2000 and as a director from 1998 until its sale in December 2010. From 1998 until the sale of its operations in 2006, Mr. Matros was also a member of, and served on the management committee of, CareMeridian, LLC (“CareMeridian”), a healthcare company that specialized in offering subacute and skilled nursing for patients suffering from traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury and other catastrophic injuries. Previously, from 1994 to 1997, he served Regency Health Services, Inc., a publicly held long-term care operator, holding the positions of Chief Executive Officer, President, director and Chief Operating Officer. Prior to that time, from 1988 to 1994, he served Care Enterprises, Inc., holding the positions of Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Operating Officer, director and Executive Vice President—Operations. Mr. Matros currently serves on the non-profit boards of IsraAID and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and is the Executive Producer of Sabra Films, LLC.

Director Qualifications:

Leadership experience—current and former chief executive officer;

Finance experience—experience in financing operations, including by accessing capital markets, as an executive of publicly held companies;

Industry experience—chief executive officer of Sabra since the Separation and executive of long-term care companies for over 25 years and experience in long-term care companies for 35 years; and

Public company experience—current and former chief executive officer of publicly held companies.

Craig A. Barbarosh. Mr. Barbarosh, 52,53, has served on our Board of Directors since November 2010. Mr. Barbarosh also currently serves as a director, as Vice Chairman of the Board, as chair of the compensation committee and as a member of the special transaction and the nominating and governance committees, of NextGen Healthcare, Inc. (formerly known as Quality Systems, Inc.), a developer and marketer of healthcare information systems, and as a director and a memberChairman of the compensation committeeBoard of Landec Corporation, a diversified health and wellness company.company, and as a director and member of the compensation and strategy committees of Evolent Health, Inc., a provider of healthcare information systems. From January 2016 until October 2016, Mr. Barbarosh served as a director, and as chair of the nominating and governance committee and member of the audit and compensation committees, of BioPharmX, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company. From September 2017 until its sale in February 2018, Mr. Barbarosh served as a director, and as a member of the compensation committee, of Bazaarvoice, Inc., a SaaS-based provider of consumer engagement software to the retail sector. From May 2018 until its sale in July 2019, Mr. Barbarosh served as a director, and as a member of the compensation committee and as chair of the strategic review committee, of Aratana Therapeutics, Inc., a specialty

pharmaceutical company. Mr. Barbarosh has been a partner at the law firm of Katten Muchin Rosenman (“Katten”) since June 2012 and is a nationally recognized restructuring expert. Mr. Barbarosh servespreviously served on Katten’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors. From 1999 until joining Katten, Mr. Barbarosh was a partner at the law firm of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP where he served in several leadership positions including on the firm’s Board of Directors, as the Chair of the firm’s Board Strategy Committee, as aco-leader of the firm’s national Insolvency & Restructuring practice section and as the Managing Partner of the firm’s Orange County office. Additionally, Mr. Barbarosh has completed certificated executive education programs at University of Pennsylvania, The Wharton School, in Corporate Valuation (2019), Harvard Business School in Effective Corporate Boards (2015), Strategic Business Valuation (2010) and Private Equity/Venture Capital (2007) and Carnegie Mellon University in Cybersecurity Oversight (2019).

Director Qualifications:

 

Public company experience—current and former director of several public companies, including as a chair and member of various board committees;

Finance experience—nearly 30 years of experience in financial restructuring and chairman of the audit committee of a public company; and

 

Other experience as a experience—practicing attorney specializing in the area of financial and operational restructuring and related mergers and acquisitions, including in the real estate industry, and through completion of certificated executive education programs.

Robert A. Ettl.Katie Cusack. Mr. Ettl, 60,Ms. Cusack, 54, has served on our Board of Directors since November 2010. HeJanuary 2021. Ms. Cusack currently serves as chief operating officer of Cornell Capital LLC, a $4 billion private investment firm with offices in New York and Hong Kong. From 2007 to 2020, Ms. Cusack served as Chief Operating Officer of Harvard Management Company (HMC) from October 2008 to June 2019 and continued to serve as an advisor until December 2019. HMC manages the endowment for Harvard University. Previously, he was a Managing Director with Allianz Global Investors from 2001 to 2008, where he was most recently Chief Executive Officerin various capacities at Credit Suisse, including chief operating officer for the Alpha Vision hedge fund subsidiary from 2003 to 2007Investment Banking Division in both Asia Pacific and servedEurope, Middle East and Africa, and as an

internal management consultant from 2007 to 2008. He was also the firm’s Global Chief Technology and Operations Officer from 2001 to 2003.head of Ultra-High Net Worth Coverage. Prior to its acquisition by Allianz, Mr. Ettl held various roles at Pacific Investment Management Co. (“PIMCO”) from 1995 to 2000. He joined PIMCO in 1995 as Chief Operations Officer, later focusing on PIMCO’s international expansion as Chief Operating Officer of PIMCO’s Global unit in 1998 and became Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer in 1999. Mr. Ettl has previously held management positions in Salomon Brothers’ government arbitrage trading analytics, technology and operations divisions. He also was associated with Arthur Andersen & Co. (now Accenture) as a senior consultant. Mr. Ettljoining Credit Suisse, Ms. Cusack served as a managing director at MTS Health Partners LP, where she provided strategic advisory services to corporate clients in the health care services industry. She began her banking career at Goldman Sachs in the Mergers & Acquisitions group and Principal Investing Area. Ms. Cusack serves in a volunteer capacity as a trustee of Advent Software, Inc.,Hudson Guild, a formerly publicly traded provider of software andChelsea-based settlement house providing social services for the investment management industry, from November 2007 until November 2009.to over 14,000 New Yorkers.

Director Qualifications:

 

Leadership experience—expertise managing operations of financial services companies in a variety of officer positions including chief executive officer,current chief operating officer and chief technology officer;of a private investment firm;

 

Finance experience—former chief operating officerover 20 years of Harvard Management Company responsible for managing Harvard University’s endowment and related assets and previously chief executive officer of a hedge fund;experience in the investment banking industry;

 

Industry experience—management consultingformer managing director in the healthcare field;industry; and

 

Public company experience—former director and a member of the audit committeeexecutive officer of a public company.

Michael J. Foster. Mr. Foster, 66,67, has served on our Board of Directors since November 2010. He served as a member of the predecessor Sun Healthcare Group, Inc.’s (“Old Sun”)Sun’s board of directors from 2005 until our 2010 separation from Old Sun (the “Separation”)the Separation and as a member of Sun Healthcare Group, Inc.’s (“Sun”) board of directors from the Separation until Sun’s acquisition by Genesis HealthCare LLC in December 2012. Mr. Foster is a managing director of RFE Management Corp. of New Canaan, Connecticut, where he has been employed since 1989. RFE Management Corp. is the investment manager for RFE Investment Partners VII L.P., RFE Investment Partners VIII, L.P. and RFE Investment Partners IX L.P. (collectively referred to as “RFE”) and other private equity investment funds. Mr. Foster was a director of several publicly held healthcare companies more than five years ago, includingRes-Care, Inc.(“Res-Care”), a formerly publicly held provider of residential training and support services for persons with developmental disabilities and certain vocational training services, from 2001 to 2005. Mr. Foster is also, and has been previously, a director of several privately held portfolio companies of RFE, including Peak Medical Corporation, an operator of long-term care inpatient centers, from 1998 to 2005.

Director Qualifications:

 

Leadership experience—managing director of a financial services company;

 

Finance experience—managing director of a financial services company;

 

Industry experience—former director of a long-term care company;

 

Public company experience—former director of several public companies; and

 

Other experience as experience—director of multiple privately held companies.

Ronald G. Geary. Mr. Geary, 72,73, has served on our Board of Directors since our August 2017 acquisition of Care Capital Properties, Inc. (“CCP”). He served as a member of CCP’s board of directors from 2015 until the closing of our acquisition of CCP, as the chairman of CCP’s audit committee and as a member of its investment committee. Previously, he served as a member of the board of directors of Ventas, Inc. (“Ventas”) from 1998 until thespin-off of CCP from Ventas in 2015. Mr. Geary served as President of Ellis Park Race Course, Inc., a thoroughbred racetrack in Henderson, Kentucky from 2006 until July 2018. He previously served as President ofRes-Care, a formerly publicly held provider of residential training and support services for persons with

developmental disabilities and certain vocational training services, from 1990 to 2006 and as Chief Executive Officer of Res-Care from 1993 to 2006. Before that, Mr. Geary was Chief Operating Officer of Res-Care from 1990 to 1993.

Director Qualifications:

 

Leadership experience—former president of a private company and former president, chief executive officer and chief operating officer of a publicly traded provider of residential training and support services;

 

Finance experience—certified public accountant (inactive) and former chairman of audit committee of a public company;

 

Industry experience—former executive in the healthcare industry;

 

Public company experience—former director, committee chair and committee member of public companies and former executive officer of a public company; and

 

Other experience as a experience—practicing attorney with strong skills in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, strategic planning, government relations, and corporate governance.

Lynne S. Katzmann.Ms. Katzmann, 63,64, has served on our Board of Directors since March 2019. She currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Juniper Communities (“Juniper”), a national seniors housing company that Ms. Katzmann founded in 1988 and that invests in, develops and operates senior living and long-term care communities. Prior to founding Juniper, Ms. Katzmann was a Vice President of JMK Associates, Inc. from 1986 to 1987 and held positions at Metrocare, Inc. from 1984 to 1986 and at HealthChoice, Inc. in 1983. Ms. Katzmann has held memberships and leadership roles in various professional and community organizations, including currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Elder Care Alliance, the Executive Board of the American Seniors Housing Association, the Advisory Board of Senior Living 100, the Board of Trustees of Partners for Health, the Board of Advisors of Tufts University Medical School, and as the Secretary and Treasurer on the Board of Trustees of Naropa University. Ms. Katzmann holds a doctorate in health policy from the London School of Economics. In March 2019, Ms. Katzmann was selected as the inaugural recipient of theMcKnight’s Women of Distinction Lifetime Achievement Award for her outstanding contributions to senior living and skilled care. In January 2020, Ms. Katzmann was inducted into the American Senior Housing Hall of Fame, Class of 2020.

Director Qualifications:

 

Leadership experience—current president and chief executive officer of a national seniors housing company; and

Industry experience—founder and current president and chief executive officer of a national seniors housing company that is spearheading an industry-wide initiative in managed care to improve outcomes and drive new revenues to seniors housing for preventative care and lifestyle management.

Ann Kono. Ms. Kono, 45, has served on our Board of Directors since December 2020. Ms. Kono currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Leda Advisory Group, a management consulting firm she founded in January 2019 that partners with startup companies to advise on growth and scale. Prior to founding Leda, Ms. Kono spent 11 years at Ares Management Corporation, where she held the position of Chief Information and Risk Officer and oversaw Operational, Investment and Enterprise Risks. Ms. Kono also serves on the board of directors of Stable Road Acquisition Company, a position she has held since 2019. Ms. Kono has over 20 years of experience in the finance industry focused on operational scale and digital transformation. She also serves as the diversity and inclusion committee chair for CFA Society of Los Angeles.

Director Qualifications:

Leadership experience—current Chief Executive Officer and former Chief Information and Risk Officer;

Finance experience—20 years of experience in the finance industry focused on operational scale and digital transformation; and

Public company experience—current director of publicly held company.

Raymond J. Lewis. Mr. Lewis, 55,56, has served on our Board of Directors since our August 2017 acquisition of CCP. He was CCP’s Chief Executive Officer and a member of its board of directors from the August 2015spin-off of CCP from Ventas until the closing of our acquisition of CCP, and was a member of its executive committee and investment committee. Mr. Lewis has served as President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of Aventine Property Group, Inc. (“Aventine”) since January of 2021 and President and member of the board of directors of Treehouse REIT, Inc., a (“Treehouse”) since September of 2019. Aventine and Treehouse are both privately held real estate investment trusttrusts (“REIT”REITs”) that owns aown net leased portfolioportfolios of cannabis-related real estate, since September 2019.estate.From 2002 to 2015, he held various executive positions of increasing responsibility at Ventas, most recently serving as President from 2010 to 2015. Before that, he was Managing Director of Business Development for GE Capital Healthcare Financial Services, a division of General Electric Capital Corporation (“GECC”), where he led a team focused on mergers and portfolio acquisitions of healthcare assets, and Executive Vice President of Healthcare Finance for

Heller Financial, Inc., which was acquired by GECC in 2001, where he had primary responsibility for healthcare lending. He is Chairman Emeritus of the National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing & Care Industry, a former member of the Advisory Board of Governors of Nareit, and former Vice Chairman of the American Seniors Housing Association.

Director Qualifications:

 

Leadership experience—former executive of publicly traded healthcare REITs and current chief executive officer of a privately held REIT;

 

Finance experience—former executive of financial services companies with responsibility for healthcare lending and mergers and portfolio acquisitions, and experience in financing operations, including by accessing capital markets, as an executive of publicly traded healthcare REITs;

 

Industry experience—former director and executive of publicly traded healthcare REITs with strong skills in real estate finance, mergers and acquisitions, portfolio management, capital markets, and strategic planning; and

 

Public company experience—former director and executive of publicly traded healthcare REITs.

Jeffrey A. Malehorn. Mr. Malehorn, 59,60, has served on our Board of Directors since our August 2017 acquisition of CCP. He served as a member of CCP’s board of directors from 2015 until the closing of our

acquisition of CCP, and as a member of its compensation, executive and investment committees. Mr. Malehorn has served as Principal at L3.0 Ventures, LLC since January 2019. Mr. Malehorn was the President and Chief Executive Officer of World Business Chicago, a public-private,non-profit, partnership between the City of Chicago and the business community focused on economic development, from 2013 until November 2017 and now serves as a board member. He previously spent 28 years in various capacities at General Electric Corporation, most recently serving as President and CEO of GE Capital, Commercial Distribution Finance, from 2009 to 2012, President and CEO of GE Capital Healthcare Financial Services from 2004 to 2008, and President and CEO of GE Commercial Finance’s Global Financial Restructuring Business from 2002 to 2004. Additionally, Mr. Malehorn was Corporate Citizenship Leader for GE Chicago and theCo-Leader for GE Capital America’s Commercial Council. He was named a GE Company Officer in 2001. From 1991 through 2001, Mr. Malehorn was a Leader at GE Capital Real Estate, where he founded and led the Senior Living & Hospitality Financing business unit from 1993 to 1995, led the debt and equity origination business nationally from 1997 to 1998, and was the European Platform Leader from 1999 to early 2002. Mr. Malehorn is the former Chairman of the Board of the Metropolitan Chicago American Heart Association, serves as a Board member of mHub and the Greater Chicago Food DepositoryWalking Mountains Science Center and was a founding Midwest Board member for BuildOn.

Director Qualifications:

 

Leadership experience—variety of officer positions including president and chief executive officer;

 

Finance experience—variety of officer and other positions in the financial services industry;

 

Industry experience—executive experience and strong skills in portfolio and operations management and other areas; and

 

Public company experience—former director and committee member of a publicly traded healthcare REIT.

Richard K. Matros.Clifton J. Porter II. Mr. Matros, 66,Porter, 54, has served as Sabra’son our Board of Directors since December 2020. Mr. Porter is the Senior Vice President, Government Affairs, of the American Healthcare Association and Chief Executive Officer and asthe National Center for Assisted Living, a director since May 2010, andposition he has servedheld since 2013. He previously held various management roles at HCR ManorCare from 1997 to 2013, most recently as Chairman of the Board since November 2010. He was Chairman ofVice President, Government Relations. Mr. Porter currently serves on the board of directors and Chief Executive Officer of Old Sun from 2001 until the Separation. Mr. Matros foundedHealth Quality Innovators and served as Chief Executive Officer and President of Bright Now! Dental from 1998 to 2000 and as a director from 1998 until its sale in December 2010. From 1998 until the sale of its operations in 2006, Mr. Matros was also a member of, and served on the management committee of, CareMeridian, LLC

(“CareMeridian”), a healthcare company that specialized in offering subacute and skilled nursing for patients suffering from traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury and other catastrophic injuries. Previously, from 1994 to 1997, he served Regency Health Services, Inc., a publicly held long-term care operator, holding the positions of Chief Executive Officer, President, director and Chief Operating Officer. Prior to that time, from 1988 to 1994, he served Care Enterprises, Inc., holding the positions of Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Operating Officer, director and Executive Vice President—Operations. Mr. Matros currently serves on the executive committee of the Washington Heads of Office. He has also previously served in board for RFE Investment Partners and iscommittee roles at various trade associations and nonprofit organizations, including the Executive ProducerHealth Facilities Association of Sabra Films, LLC.Maryland and the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Director Qualifications:

 

Leadership experience—current vice president of a trade association representing long-term and former chief executive officer;post-acute care providers;

 

FinanceFinancial experience—experience in financingoversight of regional budget and operations including by accessing capital markets, as an executive of publicly held companies;at a post-acute care provider;

 

Industry experience—chief executive officer31 years of Sabra since the Separationoperational and executive ofexperience in the long-term care companies for over 25 years and experience in long-term care companies for 35 years;sector; and

 

Public companyOther experience—current15 years of experience overseeing policy and former chief executive officer of publicly held companies.regulatory strategy for the long-term care sector.

Milton J. Walters. Mr. Walters, 77,78, has served on our Board of Directors since November 2010. He served as a member of Old Sun’s board of directors from 2001 until the Separation and as a member of Sun’s board of directors, the chairman of Sun’s audit committee and a member of its compensation committee from the Separation until Sun’s acquisition by Genesis HealthCare LLC in December 2012. Mr. Walters’s background includes 25 years of investment banking in leadership roles primarily focused on financial company clients. Included were specialty finance, bank, thrift, leasing company, and captive finance companies of major industrial

and energy companies. Services provided included commercial paper issuance, debt and equity financing, both public and private, mutual to stock conversions, strategy consulting and merger and acquisition advice. He led banking professions at Warburg Paribas Becker, formerly A.G. Becker, from 1968 to August 1984, rising to Managing Director, and Smith Barney, as Managing Director, from October 1984 to May 1988. With both organizations, his responsibilities encompassed all operations including staffing, P&L management, transaction management, client maintenance, new business development, and strategy. Since then, with the exception of 1997 to 1999 when he served in a senior new business role of Managing Director at Prudential Securities, Mr. Walters has provided financial consulting services to corporate clients as President through his wholly owned company, Tri-River Capital. Additionally, from 2008 until its sale in June 2014, Mr. Walters served as a director, as chair of the audit committee, and as a member of the nominating and governance committee of Frederick’s of Hollywood Group, Inc., a former publicly held company that designed, manufactured and sold women’s clothing. Leading into its sale, he also served as the lead director and sole member of the independent Board committee. Mr. Walters also serves on the board of directors and as the vice president and a member of the executive committee of Lyme Land Conservation Trust, anon-profit organization, and formerly served as chairman of the board of directors of the Southeast Connecticut World Affairs Council, also anon-profit organization.

Director Qualifications:

 

Leadership experience—current president of a financial consulting firm, former managing director and group leader at investment banking companies and former chairman of anon-profit organization;

 

Finance experience—former audit committee chairman of public companies and extensive experience from 40 years of financial consulting and investment banking positions; and

 

Public company experience—director, audit committee chairman, lead director and sole independent committee chairman of public companies.

Executive Officers of the Company

The following sets forth biographical information regarding our executive officers, other than Mr. Matros, whose biographical information is set forth above.

Harold W. Andrews, Jr. Mr. Andrews, 55,56, served as Sabra’s Treasurer and Secretary from May 2010 to November 2010 and has served as Sabra’s Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary since November 2010. From 1997 to 2017, Mr. Andrews was a member of, and served on the management committee of, Journey Health Properties, LLC and Journey Lane 5, LLC, two real estate holding entities he organized to own and lease specialized healthcare facilities and a commercial office building. From 1997 to May 2008, Mr. Andrews was also a member, served on the management committee and served as Chief Financial Officer of CareMeridian. Previously, from 1996 to 1997, Mr. Andrews served as the Vice President of Finance for Regency Health Services, Inc., a provider of post-acute care services. Prior to that time, he spent 10 years in public accounting at Arthur Andersen LLP, including serving as senior manager for publicly traded healthcare and real estate companies. Mr. Andrews is also a certified public accountant and a member of the AICPA and Financial Executives International. He also serves on the board of directors of Links Players International, anon-profit organization.

Talya Nevo-Hacohen.Ms. Nevo-Hacohen, 60,61, has served as Sabra’s Executive Vice President, Chief Investment Officer and Treasurer since November 2010. From September 2006 to August 2008 and from February 2009 to November 2010, Ms. Nevo-Hacohen served as an advisor to private real estate developers and operators regarding property acquisitions and dispositions, corporate capitalization, and equity and debt capital raising. From August 2008 to February 2009, Ms. Nevo-Hacohen was a Managing Director with Cerberus Real Estate Capital Management, LLC, an affiliate of Cerberus Capital Management, L.P., a private investment firm. From 2003 to 2006, Ms. Nevo-Hacohen served as Senior Vice President—Capital Markets and Treasurer for HCP, Inc., a healthcare REIT. Previously, from 1993 to 2003, Ms. Nevo-Hacohen worked for Goldman, Sachs &

Co. where she was a Vice President in the investment banking and finance, operations and administration divisions. Prior to her affiliation with Goldman Sachs, she practiced architecture and was associated with several architectural firms in New York.

Michael L. Costa. Mr. Costa, 42, has served as Sabra’s Executive Vice President—Finance since August 2017 and as Sabra’s Chief Accounting Officer and Principal Accounting Officer since January 2021. Mr. Costa previously held various leadership positions overseeing Sabra’s accounting and finance functions since Sabra’s inception in November 2010. He has more than 15 years of experience in commercial real estate finance and accounting, having previously worked for KBS Realty Advisors and Ernst & Young’s Real Estate Assurance practice. Michael is a Certified Public Accountant and licensed real estate broker in California.

There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

We are committed to effective corporate governance that promotes the long-term interests of our stockholders and strengthens Board and management accountability.

Governance Highlights

 

✓  Annual Election of Directors

  

✓  Active Stockholder Engagement Practices

✓  Highly Independent Board (8(10 of 911 Directors) and Fully Independent Committees

  

✓  Policies and Practices to Align Executive Compensation with Long-Term Stockholder Interests

✓  Four New Independent Directors in Last Three Years

  

✓  Lead Independent Director with a Well-Defined Role and Robust Responsibilities

✓  Comprehensive New Director Orientation Process

  

✓  Annual Review of CEO and Management Succession Plans

✓  Majority Voting for Directors in Uncontested Elections, with a Director Resignation Policy

  

✓  Commitment to Consider Qualified Female and Minority Director Candidates

✓  No Supermajority Vote Requirements

  

✓  Written Related Person Transaction Policy

✓  Robust Stock Ownership Requirements for Executives and Directors

  

✓  Anti-Hedging and Anti-Pledging Policies

✓  Annual Board and Committee Evaluations

  

✓  Clawback Policy

✓  Regular Executive Sessions of Independent Directors

  

✓  Stockholder Proxy Access Right Reflecting Market Standard Terms

✓  Stockholder Right to Amend Bylaws by Majority Vote

  

✓  No Stockholder Rights Plan

Corporate Governance Guidelines

The Board of Directors has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines, which provide the framework for the governance of our company and represent the Board’s current views with respect to selected corporate governance issues considered to be of significance to our stockholders. The Corporate Governance Guidelines direct our Board’s actions with respect to, among other things, Board composition and director qualifications, selection of the Chairman of the Board and the Lead Independent Director, composition of the Board’s standing committees, stockholder communications with the Board, succession planning and the Board’s annual performance evaluation.

Our Corporate Governance Guidelines underscore our focus on diversity, by explicitly stating that the Board of Directors and the Nominating and Governance Committee are committed to actively seeking qualified women and individuals from minority groups to include in the pool from which new Board members or director nominees are selected.

A current copy of the Corporate Governance Guidelines is posted in the Investors—Corporate Governance section of our website at www.sabrahealth.comwww.sabrahealth.com..

Stockholder Engagement

Our management and our Board of Directors and management value the input of our stockholders and prioritize engaging with our stockholders to directly receive their feedback. Over the past year, we engagedwere able to engage directly, virtually or telephonically, with stockholders representing 51% of our stockholders by various methods, outstanding shares as of December 31, 2020,

including meetings with stockholders at the 1413 investor conferences we attended, direct outreachparticipated in during 2020. Our Board and management considers and evaluates the feedback and insights from these meetings, in addition to stockholdersemerging best practices, policies at other companies and in connection with stockholder-initiated matters, onmarket standards, to enhance the evolution of our disclosures and practices.

During the meetings, we discussed a variety of topics, including updates on our business, corporate strategy, industry feedback, corporate governance, executive compensation practices, and ESG issues. Across many of the engagements, our stockholders encouraged us to begin focusing our ESG disclosures on factors that are business-relevant for our company which are aligned with their long-term interests. Our Lead Independent Director participated in certain of these discussions as well. Stockholder feedback is shared with our Board of Directors and its committees, which enhances our corporate governance practices and facilitates future dialogue with our stockholders.

What We Heard

Our Response

Stockholders said they are pleased with our progress on board diversity in response to stockholder feedback, but also recommended that we provide more metrics on the company’s overall progress to promote diversity, equity and inclusion across the company.Aside from our diverse Board, we are focused on creating a diverse and inclusive culture, and have embarked on internal programs to promote diversity, equity and inclusion throughout our company. Details of these efforts are described in the “Environmental, Social and Governance Initiatives” section of this Proxy Statement.

Stockholders encouraged us to enhance our ESG disclosure practices to focus on issues material to our business.

Our efforts on our ESG progress are described in the “Environmental, Social and Governance Initiatives” section of this Proxy Statement. We are actively evaluating our ESG initiatives and opportunities to enhance our disclosures. More information regarding our ESG initiatives can be found in our inaugural sustainability report that we expect to publish and post on the “Investors” section of our website at www.sabrahealth.com before the Annual Meeting.
Stockholders shared human capital management is a focus area, and wanted to understand how the Board oversees the corporate culture.We shared how our Board views itself as a part of the fabric of our culture, including participating in interactions not only with the management team but with our team members regularly. Our Board and Compensation Committee are responsible for overseeing our human capital management.
Stockholders asked about Board composition and refreshment process, and what skillsets the Board was seeking.We shared our philosophy of proactively refreshing our Board. In the last several months we welcomed three new directors to the Board, each of whom brings additional expertise relevant to our business to the Board.

Our stockholder engagement is a collaborative process and we regularly seek feedback on whether the information we report, as well as our corporate governance practices and other topics described above, are responsive to investor needs. As examples of this collaborative approach, in recent years, we have made substantial revisions to our quarterly supplemental disclosure package to reflect input from our stockholders and received very positive feedback on those revisions; we amended our Bylaws to provide our stockholders, to the same extent as the Board, the power to amend our Bylaws; we amended our Corporate Governance Guidelines to underscore our commitment to diversity as part of our engagement with our stockholders regarding governance matters; and we upheld that commitment to diversity in the most recent search for a new Board membermembers and resulting appointmentappointments of Ms. KatzmannMses. Cusack and Kono and Mr. Porter as a new director.directors. In addition, in 2019 we amended our Bylaws to implement proxy access following engagement on this topic with our stockholders.

Director Independence

Our Corporate Governance Guidelines require that a substantial majority of our Board of Directors qualify as “independent directors” under applicable rules of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (the “Nasdaq rules”) and the rules and regulations of the SEC. In considering the independence of each director, the Board of Directors reviews information provided by each director and considers whether any director has a relationship that would interfere with the director’s exercise of independent judgment in carrying out his responsibilities as a director. Our Board of Directors has affirmatively determined that none of Messrs. Barbarosh, Ettl, Foster, Geary, Lewis, Malehorn, Porter or Walters nor Ms.Mses. Cusack, Katzmann or Kono has a relationship that, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, would interfere with the director’s exercise of independent judgment in carrying out his or her responsibilities as a director and that each such director is an independent director under the Nasdaq rules. Mr. Matros does not qualify as an independent director because he is employed as our President and Chief Executive Officer.

Proxy Access

Our Board of Directors has implemented a proxy access provision in our Bylaws, which permits a stockholder, or group of up to 20 stockholders, owning 3% or more of our outstanding common stock continuously for at least three years, to nominate and require us to include in our proxy materials for an annual meeting of stockholders director candidates constituting up to 25% of the Board of Directors (rounded down to the nearest whole number, but not less than two), provided that the stockholder(s) and the nominee(s) satisfy the eligibility and procedural requirements described in our Bylaws. For more information on using proxy access to nominate directors, see “Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations for 20212022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.”

Committees of the Board of Directors

The standing committees of our Board of Directors include: Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Governance. The members of these standing committees are appointed by and serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Current copies of the charters for each of these committees are posted in the Investors—Corporate Governance section of our website atwww.sabrahealth.com. www.sabrahealth.com. Our Board of Directors encourages each of our new directors to attend all committee meetings as invited guests for their first year of board service, after which our Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of our Nominating and Governance Committee and the input of the new directors, appoints the new directors to one or more committees. Our Board of Directors is currently engaging in this new director orientation process with each of Ms. Cusack, Ms. Kono and Mr. Porter.

Our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer and Secretary regularly attend meetings of our Board committees when they are not in executive session and report on matters that are not addressed by other officers. In addition, our directors are encouraged to communicate directly with members of management regarding matters of interest, including matters related to risk, at times when meetings are not being held.

The following table presents the composition of the committees of our Board of Directors as of the date of this Proxy Statement and the number of meetings held by each committee in 2019:2020:

 

Name

  Audit Committee  Compensation Committee  Nominating and Governance
Committee
  Audit Committee  Compensation Committee  Nominating and Governance
Committee

Craig A. Barbarosh

  Chair      Chair    

Robert A. Ettl

    Chair  Chair

Katie Cusack

      

Michael J. Foster

            

Ronald G. Geary

            

Lynne S. Katzmann

            Chair

Ann Kono

      

Raymond J. Lewis

            

Jeffrey A. Malehorn

          Chair  

Clifton J. Porter II

      

Milton J. Walters

            

Total Meetings in 2019

  5  4  2

Total Meetings in 2020

  5  5  3

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee consists of Messrs. Barbarosh (Chair), Foster, Geary, Malehorn and Walters. The Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Audit Committee is an “independent director” under the Nasdaq rules. In addition, each member of the Audit Committee is also “independent” under Rule10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and satisfies the additional financial literacy requirements of the Nasdaq rules. The Board has designated two members of the Audit Committee, Messrs. Foster and Geary, as “audit committee financial experts” as defined by SEC rules. The Board based its determination on the qualifications and business experience of each of Messrs. Foster and Geary described above under “Board of Directors and Executive Officers—Directors of the Company.”

The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing Sabra’s accounting and financial reporting processes and the audit of Sabra’s financial statements, including the integrity of Sabra’s financial statements, the qualifications and independence of Sabra’s independent registered public accounting firm and the performance of Sabra’s independent registered public accounting firm and internal auditors. Among other things, the Audit Committee is responsible for the appointment, compensation and retention of Sabra’s independent registered public accounting firm;pre-approval of all audit andnon-audit services to be performed by the independent registered public accounting firm; review of Sabra’s internal controls and disclosure controls and procedures; oversight of Sabra’s internal audit function; oversight of Sabra’s legal and regulatory compliance and risk assessment and risk management policies; and review and approval of any related party transactions. The Audit Committee is also responsible for preparing the Audit Committee Report included in this Proxy Statement. In performing its responsibilities, the Audit Committee meets regularly with management, Sabra’s independent registered public accounting firm and Sabra’s internal auditors.

Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee consists of Messrs. EttlMalehorn (Chair), Barbarosh Malehorn and Walters.Walters and Ms. Katzmann. The Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Compensation Committee is an “independent director” under the Nasdaq rules. In making the determination regarding the independence of each member of the Compensation Committee, the Board of Directors considered whether the director has a relationship with Sabra that is material to the director’s ability to be independent from management in connection with the duties of a member of the Compensation Committee.

The Compensation Committee oversees and determines the compensation of Sabra’s Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers, including salaries, bonuses and awards of equity-based compensation,

approves all employment and severance agreements for executive officers, makes recommendations to the Board with respect to the adoption or amendment of incentive compensation plans and stock-based benefit plans,

administers Sabra’s stock-based benefit plans and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors concerning the compensation of directors. The Compensation Committee is also responsible for reviewing the Compensation Discussion and Analysis included in this Proxy Statement and for preparing the Compensation Committee Report included in this Proxy Statement.

The Compensation Committee is solely responsible for making the final decisions on compensation for Sabra’s executive officers. However, the Compensation Committee takes into account recommendations of Sabra’s Chief Executive Officer in determining the compensation (including stock awards) of executive officers other than the Chief Executive Officer. Otherwise, Sabra’s officers do not have any role in determining the form or amount of compensation paid to the executive officers of Sabra. In addition, the Compensation Committee retains the power to appoint and delegate matters to a subcommittee comprised of at least one member of the Compensation Committee, except that the Compensation Committee may not delegate to a subcommittee any power or authority required by any law, regulation or listing standard to be exercised by the Compensation Committee as a whole. The Compensation Committee does not currently intend to delegate any of its responsibilities to a subcommittee.

Pursuant to its charter, the Compensation Committee is authorized to retain compensation consultants to assist in the evaluation of compensation to Sabra’s executive officers. As further described under “Executive Compensation—Compensation Discussion and Analysis” below, since our becoming a separate publicly traded company, the Compensation Committee has retained Frederic W. Cook & Company, Inc. (“FW Cook”) as its independent compensation consultant to assist the Compensation Committee with the design and structure of our executive compensation program and the amounts payable thereunder. The Compensation Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of FW Cook’s work, and does not believe FW Cook’s work has raised any conflicts of interest. FW Cook reports only to the Compensation Committee and does not perform services for us, except for executive compensation-related services on behalf of, and as instructed by, the Compensation Committee. All compensation decisions were made solely by our Compensation Committee.

Nominating and Governance Committee

The Nominating and Governance Committee consists of Ms. Katzmann (Chair) and Messrs. Ettl (Chair), Foster, Geary and Walters. The Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Nominating and Governance Committee is an “independent director” under the Nasdaq rules.

As further described below under “—Director Nomination Process,” the Nominating and Governance Committee assists our Board of Directors in identifying individuals qualified to become Board members and selecting the director nominees for each annual meeting of stockholders. The Nominating and Governance Committee also makes recommendations to the Board of Directors concerning the structure and operations of the Board and its committees and is responsible for overseeing the Corporate Governance Guidelines, for developing and recommending to the Board of Directors any changes to the Corporate Governance Guidelines, for overseeing new director orientation and director continuing education and for receiving reports annually from the Chief Executive Officer concerning senior management development and succession plans.

Meetings and Attendance

During 2019,2020, our Board of Directors held fourseven meetings. Each of our directors attended at least 75% of the aggregate meetings of the Board and the committees of the Board on which the director served during 2019.2020. In addition, the independent directors meet regularly in executive session without the presence of management. Mr. Foster, who has been designated by the independent directors as Lead Independent Director, chairs these executive sessions of the independent directors.

Our Board of Directors encourages each director to attend the annual meeting of stockholders. All of our directors attended the 2019virtual-only 2020 annual meeting of stockholders in person or by telephone.via live audio webcast.

Board Leadership Structure

Our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that the Board is free to make its choice for Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in any way that the Board of Directors considers best for Sabra at a given point in time. Accordingly, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer positions may be filled by one individual or by two different individuals. The Board believes that the most effective leadership structure for Sabra at this time is for Mr. Matros to serve as both our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, in concert with an independent director serving as our Lead Independent Director.

Our Board of Directors believes that Mr. Matros, our Chief Executive Officer, is best suited to serve as our Chairman because he is the director most familiar with Sabra’s business and industry and most capable of identifying strategic priorities. In the Board’s view, combining the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer facilitates the flow of information between management and the Board, and helps assure that the strategies adopted by the Board will be best positioned for execution by management.

To promote the independence of the Board and appropriate oversight of management and to demonstrate our commitment to strong corporate governance, the independent directors designate annually an independent,non-employee director to serve as our Lead Independent Director. As noted above, the independent directors have currently designated Mr. Foster to serve as our Lead Independent Director. The Lead Independent Director helps to facilitate free and open discussion and communication among the independent directors of the Board. The duties of the Lead Independent Director include chairing all meetings of the independent directors when they meet in executive session and chairing all meetings of the full Board in the absence of the Chairman; representing the Board in meetings with third parties, as appropriate; and working with the Chairman to finalize meeting agendas, meeting schedules and other information provided to the Board. The Lead Independent Director also sets the agenda for the meetings held in executive session, and discusses issues that arise from these meetings with the Chief Executive Officer. Thenon-employee members of the Board meet in executive session during each regularly scheduled Board meeting and during special meetings of the Board as appropriate.

Risk Oversight

One of the principal functions of our Board of Directors is to provide oversight concerning the assessment and management of risk related to our business. The Board of Directors is involved in risk oversight through approval authority with respect to fundamental financial and business strategies and major corporate activities, including material acquisitions and financings, as well as through its oversight of management and the committees of the Board of Directors. As part of overseeing our corporate strategy and our enterprise risk management program, our Board of Directors also monitors our environmental practices, sustainability, including climate-related risks, and human capital management. Management is responsible for identifying the material risks facing Sabra, implementing appropriate risk management strategies and ensuring that information with respect to material risks is shared with the Board of Directors or the appropriate Board committee. In connection with this responsibility, members of management provide regular reports to the Board of Directors regarding business operations and strategic planning, financial planning and budgeting, regulatory matters and information systems and cybersecurity, including any material risk to Sabra relating to such matters. Where appropriate, the Board of Directors also receives input on these topics from third party experts.

The Board of Directors has delegated oversight for specific areas of risk exposure to committees of the Board of Directors as follows:

 

The Audit Committee is responsible for periodically discussing Sabra’s overall risk assessment and risk management policies as well as Sabra’s plans to monitor, control and minimize any risk exposure

 

with management, our internal auditors and our independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee is also responsible for primary risk oversight related to our financial reporting, accounting and internal controls and oversees risks related to our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.

 

The Compensation Committee oversees, among other things, the assessment and management of risks related to Sabra’s compensation plans, policies and overall philosophy and equity-based incentive plans.

 

The Nominating and Governance Committee oversees the assessment and management of risks related to our governance structure, including our Board leadership structure and management and director succession.

At each regular meeting of our Board of Directors, the chairperson of each committee reports to the full Board regarding the matters reported and discussed at any committee meetings, including any matters relating to risk assessment or risk management. Our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and outside legal counsel regularly attend meetings of these committees when they are not in executive session, and often report on matters that may not be otherwise addressed at these meetings. In addition, our directors are encouraged to communicate directly with members of management regarding matters of interest, including matters related to risk, at times when meetings are not being held.

In 2020, our Board of Directors met seven times, including three times in March and April 2020, during which it received current reports from our management to ensure our Board of Directors was adequately informed and able to provide oversight to management as the company addressed the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our Board of Directors believes that the processes it has established to administer the Board’s risk oversight function would be effective under a variety of leadership frameworks and therefore do not have a material effect on Sabra’s leadership structure described under “—Board Leadership Structure” above.

Compensation Risk Assessment

Consistent with the Compensation Committee’s responsibilities described above, the Compensation Committee takes risk into consideration when reviewing and approving executive compensation, including when it approved our executive compensation program. The Compensation Committee has concluded that the current executive compensation program does not encourage inappropriate or excessive risk-taking. In making its determination, the Compensation Committee noted that each Named Executive Officer’s direct compensation under our executive compensation program consists primarily of a fixed base salary, an annual incentive bonus opportunity and long-term equity incentive awards. Long-term incentive awards granted under our long-term equity award program are generally subject to a multi-year vesting schedule, a deferral feature for Named Executive Officers and performance conditions that are not solely dependent on stock price.

Director Nomination Process

Identifying and Evaluating Director Nominee Candidates

In identifying, evaluating and selecting potential director nominees for election at each annual meeting of stockholders and nominees for directors to be appointed by the Board of Directors to fill vacancies and newly created directorships, the Nominating and Governance Committee will consider as potential director nominees candidates recommended by various sources, including any member of the Board, any stockholder of Sabra, senior management or an outside search firm engaged by the Nominating and Governance Committee if determined appropriate. All potential director nominees, other than potential incumbent director nominees, will be initially reviewed by the Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee or, in the Chairman’s

absence, any other member of the committee delegated to initially review director candidates. If it is determined appropriate to proceed, a prospective director candidate may be interviewed by one or more of the other members of the Nominating and Governance Committee, other members of the Board of Directors and by the Chief Executive Officer. The Nominating and Governance Committee will provide informal progress updates to the Board of Directors and will meet to consider and recommend any final director candidates to the full Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is responsible for determining the final director candidates to be nominated for election at each annual meeting of stockholders and for appointing directors to fill vacancies on the Board.

The Nominating and Governance Committee considers all potential director nominees without regard to race, color, religion, gender, ancestry, national origin or disability. In considering whether to nominate a potential director candidate for election to the Board of Directors, the Nominating and Governance Committee considers whether the director candidate would meet the definition of independence required by the Nasdaq rules and applicable rules and regulations of the SEC. As set forth in Sabra’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Nominating and Governance Committee also seeks to elect directors who: (i) are of high character and integrity; (ii) are accomplished in their respective fields; (iii) have relevant expertise and experience, and are able to offer advice and guidance to management based on that expertise and experience; (iv) have sufficient time available to devote to Sabra’s affairs; (v) will represent the long-term interests of Sabra’s stockholders as a whole; (vi) are not age 80 or older at the time of election; and (vii) will collectively represent a diversity of backgrounds and experiences, including diversity with respect to gender, age and ethnicity. Our Board of Directors and the Nominating and Governance Committee are committed to actively seeking qualified women and individuals from minority groups to include in the pool from which new Board members or director nominees are selected. The Board of Directors and the Nominating and Governance Committee evaluate each individual in the context of the Board as a whole, with the objective of building a Board that is effective, collegial and can best represent the interests of Sabra and its stockholders, using its diversity of backgrounds and experiences. On an annual basis, as part of the performance evaluation of the Board of Directors, the Nominating and Governance Committee seeks feedback from members of the Board of Directors concerning whether the overall mix and diversity of Board members is appropriate for our company.

Stockholder Recommendations

As described above, the Nominating and Governance Committee will consider director candidates recommended by stockholders. Properly communicated stockholder recommendations will be considered in the same manner as recommendations received from other sources. To be properly communicated, stockholders desiring to recommend candidates for nomination or election to the Board of Directors should submit their recommendations in writing to the attention of the Secretary, Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc., 18500 Von Karman Avenue, Suite 550, Irvine, California 92612, together with the following information: (i) all information about the stockholder and the candidate that would be required pursuant to Article II, Section 11 of our Bylaws if the stockholder was nominating the candidate for election to the Board of Directors, (ii) a statement of the proposed director candidate’s qualifications, taking into account the principles used by the Nominating and Governance Committee in evaluating possible candidates as described above, (iii) a statement detailing any relationship between the proposed director candidate and any tenant or competitor of Sabra, and (iv) detailed information about any relationship or understanding between the recommending stockholder and the director candidate. The Nominating and Governance Committee may request additional information concerning the director candidate as it deems reasonably necessary to determine the eligibility and qualification of the director candidate to serve as a member of our Board of Directors. Stockholders who are recommending candidates for consideration by the Board of Directors in connection with the next annual meeting of stockholders should submit their written recommendation no later than January 1 of the year of that meeting.

Please note that stockholders who wish to nominate a person for election as a director in connection with an annual meeting of stockholders (as opposed to making a recommendation to the Nominating and Governance Committee as described above) must follow the procedures described under “Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations for 20212022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.”

Management Succession Planning

Pursuant to our Corporate Governance Guidelines and the charter of the Nominating and Governance Committee, the Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for reviewing the Company’scompany’s succession plan for the Chief Executive Officer and senior management. In performing these functions, the Chief Executive Officer annually reports to the Nominating and Governance Committee about developments of senior management personnel and succession plans.

Annual Board Evaluations

Pursuant to our Corporate Governance Guidelines and the charter of the Nominating and Governance Committee, the Nominating and Governance Committee oversees an annual evaluation of the performance of the Board and each committee of the Board. The evaluation process is facilitated by outside legal counsel and is designed to assess the overall effectiveness of the Board and its committees and to identify opportunities for improving Board and Board committee operations and procedures. The annual evaluations are generally conducted in the first quarter of each calendar year and the results of the annual evaluation are reviewed and discussed by the Board.

Policy on Hedging and Pledging of Sabra Shares

Sabra recognizes that hedging against losses in Sabra securities may disturb the alignment between stockholders and executives that Sabra’s Stock Ownership Policy (as described in the “Executive Compensation—Compensation Discussion and Analysis” below) and equity awards are intended to facilitate. Accordingly, our Board has incorporated prohibitions on various hedging activities within Sabra’s Insider Trading Policy, which applies to all directors, executive officers and employees. The policy prohibits short sales of Sabra common stock and trading in “puts” and “calls” or other derivative securities that relate to Sabra common stock. The policy also prohibits hedging or monetization transactions (such as prepaid variable forwards, equity swaps, collars and exchange funds) that are designed to hedge or offset any decrease in the market value of Sabra securities.

In addition, because a margin call or foreclosure sale may occur at a time when a director, executive officer or employee is aware of materialnon-public information concerning Sabra, directors, executive officers and employees are prohibited from holding Sabra securities in a margin account or pledging Sabra securities as collateral for a loan. Accordingly, none of our directors or executive officers have pledged any shares of Sabra common stock.

Code of Conduct and Ethics

We have adopted a Code of Conduct and Ethics that applies to all of our directors, officers and employees. Our Code of Conduct and Ethics can be found in the Investors—Corporate Governance section of our website atwww.sabrahealth.com. www.sabrahealth.com. Waivers from, and amendments to, our Code of Conduct and Ethics that apply to our directors and executive officers, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer and persons performing similar functions, will be timely posted in the Investors—Corporate Governance section of our website atwww.sabrahealth.com as required by applicable law.

Stockholder Communications with the Board

Stockholders may send written communications to the Board of Directors or to specified individuals on the Board, c/o Sabra’s Secretary at 18500 Von Karman Avenue, Suite 550, Irvine, California 92612. All mail received will be opened and communications from verified stockholders that relate to matters that are within the scope of the responsibilities of the Board of Directors, other than solicitations, junk mail and frivolous or inappropriate communications, will be forwarded to the Chairman of the Board of Directors or any specified

individual director, as applicable. If the correspondence is addressed to the Board of Directors, the Chairman will distribute it to the other Board members if he determines it is appropriate for the full Board to review. In addition, if requested by stockholders, when appropriate, the Lead Independent Director or other directors will also be available for direct communication with stockholders.

ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE INITIATIVES

Purpose of Environmental, Social and Governance Initiatives

Corporate responsibility promotes the long-term interests of our stockholders and strengthens Board and management accountability. Our Board of Directors’ primary duty of overseeing our corporate strategy includes the Board’s oversight of how environmental and social issues may impact the long-term interests of our stockholders and other stakeholders. CorporateAt Sabra, corporate responsibility at Sabra is governed from the most senior levels down to every one of our employeesteam members because we believe that achieving operational excellence is intrinsically tied to how responsibly we run our business.

As part of overseeing our corporate strategy and our enterprise risk management program, our Board of Directors monitors our environmental and social practices. We believe that environmentally and socially responsible operating practices go hand in hand with generating value for our stockholders, being good partners with our operators, providing goodefficiency and efficient economic resourcescomfort for our operators,operators’ patients, being good neighbors within our communities, and being a good employer to our employees.

To further support our efforts in this area, we created a sustainability working group in 2019, consisting of dedicated internal resources and external advisors to address environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) factors that are material to our business. Our sustainability working group evaluated potential ESG risks and opportunities relevant for our company based on the views held by our stockholders, leading ESG frameworks, and ESG rating agencies. We utilized aspects of the Sustainability Accounting Standard Board (“SASB”), the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (“GRESB”), and the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (“TCFD”) to evaluate our practices. This working group reports to the Board of Directors on a quarterly basis.

We expect to provide moreMore information regarding our environmental, social and governance initiatives can be found in a future publishedour inaugural sustainability report that aligns with leading ESG reporting frameworks.

Environmental Stewardship

At Sabra, we are focusedexpect to publish and post on ESG factors that are connected to our strategic business initiatives. Within eachthe “Investors” section of our target markets, we engage in sustainable practices that we believe drive value, efficiency, and quality of environment for our stakeholders. We require our property management teams to practice responsible property management as well as energy and water conservation and encourage our tenants to dowebsite at www.sabrahealth.com before the same.Annual Meeting.

As the substantial majority of Sabra’s properties are leased under long-term,triple-net operating leases, energy usage, water usage and waste at these properties are managed by our tenants. We regularly engage with our vendors in order to improve their environmental and social impact, and we have partnered with a third party consultant to identify and evaluate energy and water management opportunities, such as transitioning to LED lights to significantly reduce electricity consumption.

We also monitor environmental risk factors in order to assess the climate resiliency for the properties in our portfolio, such as exposure to floods or other natural disasters. We assess these climate-related risks as a part of our enterprise risk assessment, which is overseen by our Board of Directors.

Human Capital Management and Stakeholder Engagement

We recognize that attracting and retaining talent at all levels is vital to continuing our success.success and, in many ways, is our most critical asset. We ensure our team members receive competitive salaries and benefits, and we aim to attract professionals who will uphold our values of social and environmental stewardship. We promote the work-life balance of our employees,team members, we invest in our employeesteam members through high-quality benefits and variousmeaningful health and wellness initiatives, and we have created a healthy work environment in our office including throughto incentivize and engage our team members. The health and safety of our team members is an important consideration for us, and in light of the useCOVID-19 pandemic, we have accommodated flexible work from home arrangements, extended hardship benefits and provided assistance for dependent care costs to preserve the health and well-being of regular team-building exercises, movieour team members and dinner nights,their families.

We believe that when we create a workplace where our team members are engaged, committed and an annual tripempowered for the long-term, we are better positioned to create value for our employeescompany, as well as for our stockholders. We gauge our team members’ level of engagement and their families.satisfaction through annual surveys as well as subject-driven focus surveys regarding topics including company culture and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and working from home. Based on the feedback we receive, we identify areas for improvement and action items to be implemented. Our performance management initiative helps us proactively plan for our team members’ evolving roles and address the current and future needs of our business. The initiative employs 360-degree assessments as of 2020 and focuses on aligning our talent strategy with our business strategy and identifies skills that may be required to meet our future business needs. We also seek to ensure that our team members have opportunities to interact with our accomplished Board of Directors and accordingly invite all of our team members to our quarterly Board of Directors’ dinner events.

OurIn order to support engagement efforts extendand team building, various company events, including life event celebrations, dinners and other social outings, are held regularly throughout the year, as well as an annual all team member retreat. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these events were adapted to virtual platforms with a focus on company business, education and entertainment, including biweekly all-team member Zoom meetings in which our other important stakeholders, the operators who manage our properties. Through our Sabra Operator Conference, we measure tenant satisfaction through surveysChief Executive Officer provided business and closely monitor the results. The feedback from these surveys validates our philosophy of open lines of communication between our senior managementoperational updates and our operators. In addition, we use operator feedback to drive content and topics for each subsequent conference, to ensure that operators are receiving timely, relatable, and quality information.led team-building activities.

Diversity & Inclusion

We believe that a diverse workforce is essential to our continued success, and we strive to maintain a diversefair, healthy and inclusive workforce at all levels. As of December 31, 2019, women comprised approximately 56% ofsafe workplace, while creating a work environment that promotes diversity, equality and inclusion for our workforce.team members. Our workforce reflects diverse gender, ethnicity, age and cultural backgrounds. As of December 31, 2020, women comprised 55% of our workforce and 65% of our management level/leadership roles. As of December 31, 2020, 21% of our team members self-identified as being members of one or more ethnic minorities. We believe our ethnic diversity is higher than this reported percentage as another 21% of our team members chose not to self-identify.

As underscored by our Corporate Governance Guidelines, our Board of Directors and the Nominating and Governance Committee are committed to proactively consider a diverse collection of backgrounds and relevant experiences in our director candidates to best ensure the continued success of our business and represent stockholder interests. As a part of this commitment, our Board of Directors and the Nominating and Governance Committee continue to actively seek qualified women and individuals from minorityunderrepresented groups as director nominees. InSince March 2019, we have appointed Ms. Katzmann tofour new directors with a diverse range of skills, expertise and backgrounds, all of whom are diverse by gender or race and/or ethnicity. The current board composition is 27% diverse by gender and 18% by race and/or ethnicity. One of our Boardfemale directors is also Chair of Directors.our Nominating and Governance Committee.

Community Service

The mission to advance the quality of care lies at the core of Sabra’s business strategy. We believe that serving the communities in which we operate not only promotes our business success, but also further engages our employeesteam members and other stakeholders in our corporate mission. We support volunteerism, organizing opportunities for our team members as a group to volunteer within the community. In addition to donating funds to rehabilitate properties impacted by the hurricane in Texas in 2019,2020, we donated funds to Nye Health to help provide relief toFrontline Worker Meals and Amica Helping Hands Charity, and we sponsored a scholarship fund with the staff impacted by flooding in Nebraska. We also donated to a Canadian entity that is focused on improving the livesUniversity of senior citizens in Canada.Southern California. In addition, we organize an annual volunteer day in our community for our employees which in 2019 was at a local children’s hospital that works withdonate to our tenants’ employees, patients during recovery from complex medical issues. We are proud to report that more than half of our employees participated in this volunteer day.and residents every holiday season. Through both volunteerism and philanthropic efforts, Sabra is dedicated to contributing to the communities in which we operate.

Environmental Stewardship

As a socially and environmentally responsible company, we believe in implementing healthy, sustainable and energy efficient measures. We also believe that reducing our environmental footprint is beneficial to our stakeholders and to the world at large. As the substantial majority of Sabra’s properties are leased under long-term, triple-net operating leases, the implementation of environmental measures at these properties are managed by our operators. Within each of our target markets, we regularly engage in and discuss sustainable practices with our operators. To enhance these efforts, we have partnered with a third party consultant to identify and evaluate healthy, sustainable and energy efficient opportunities, such as transitioning to LED lights to significantly reduce electricity consumption. We also require our operator teams to practice responsible property management that emphasizes health, safety, energy and water conservation, and we encourage their tenants to do the same.

We also monitor environmental risk factors in order to assess the climate resiliency for the properties in our portfolio, such as exposure to floods or other natural disasters. We assess these climate-related risks as a part of our enterprise risk assessment, which is overseen by our Board of Directors.

Our COVID-19 Response

The global pandemic created challenges for our employees, our operators, their tenants, our communities and everyone around the world. It is through our resiliency and proactive approach that we were able to effectively adapt to the rapidly changing conditions throughout the year. Our highest priority was, and continues to be, ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone within the Sabra community.

For our employees, we immediately closed our offices and enabled work-from-home procedures for seamless continuity of our business operations. We established a COVID-19 action team to monitor updates on the pandemic, to oversee compliance with regulations and to develop safety and protection measures and protocols. We also actively engaged our employees to better understand the innate challenges each of them were facing, and expanded our employee benefits to cover costs for child and elder care as well as education, tutoring and school supplies.

For our operators, we focused our efforts on health, safety and wellness measures to identify, source and deploy practical and affordable technologies to support COVID-19 operating protocols. These included preventative access measures, enhanced monitoring, cleaning, sanitation and disinfection procedures, social distancing guidelines and implementation of air quality and purification systems. We also engaged our operators and tenants through awareness opportunities on the pandemic developments, personal protective equipment sourcing and financial assistance programs. Additionally, we hosted three webinars that covered the CARES Act, patient payment opportunities, and the epidemiology of COVID-19.    

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

Director Compensation—20192020

The following table provides information on the compensation of the members of our Board of Directors who are not also our employees(“Non-Employee Directors”) for the year ended December 31, 2019.2020. The compensation paid to Mr. Matros, who is also one of our employees, is presented in the Summary Compensation Table and the related tables included below under “Executive Compensation.” Mr. Matros is not entitled to receive additional compensation for his service as a director.

 

Name

  Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash ($)
 Stock Awards
($)(1)(2)(3)
   Total
($)
   Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash ($)
   Stock Awards
($)(1)(2)(3)
   Total
($)
 

Craig A. Barbarosh

   109,000 (4)  114,993    223,993    108,000    114,997    222,997 

Robert A. Ettl(4)

   106,000 (4)  114,993    220,993    78,000    114,997    192,997 

Michael J. Foster

   112,000  114,993    226,993    111,000    114,997    225,997 

Ronald G. Geary

   82,000  114,993    196,993    81,000    114,997    195,997 

Lynne S. Katzmann

   59,879  153,315    213,194    78,679    114,997    193,676 

Ann Kono(5)

   2,853    57,497    60,350 

Raymond J. Lewis

   75,000  114,993    189,993    75,000    114,997    189,997 

Jeffrey A. Malehorn

   80,000  114,993    194,993    83,019    114,997    198,016 

Clifton J. Porter(6)

   5,095    67,073    72,168 

Milton J. Walters

   86,000  114,993    200,993    84,500    114,997    199,497 

 

(1)

Amounts reported represent the aggregate grant date fair value of the annual equity awards granted to theNon-Employee Directors in 2019.2020. The aggregate grant date fair value of these awards was computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 718, and excludes the effects of estimated forfeitures. The reported award values have been determined using the assumptions described in Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Sabra’s 20192020 Annual Report.

(2)

On March 14, 2019 (the date on which Ms. Katzmann became a director), Ms. Katzmann received a prorated annual equity award for our prior calendar year of 2,085 stock units. The grant date fair value of such director’s annual equity award was $38,322. On June 21, 2019,9, 2020, each then-serving Non-Employee Director received an annual equity award of 5,8767,055 stock units. The grant date fair value of each such director’s annual equity award was $114,993.$114,997. On December 7, 2020 (the date on which Mr. Porter became a director), Mr. Porter received a prorated annual equity award for 2020 of 3,745 stock units. The grant date fair value of such director’s annual equity award was $67,073. On December 18, 2020 (the date on which Ms. Kono became a director), Ms. Kono received a prorated annual equity award for 2020 of 3,265 stock units. The grant date fair value of such director’s annual equity award was $57,497.

(3)

AsThe following chart sets forth the number of unvested stock units held by each Non-Employee Director as of December 31, 2019, each2020. None of the Non-Employee Directors held option awards as of December 31, 2020.

Non-Employee Director held 3,058 unvested stock units.

Number of Unvested
Stock Units

Craig A. Barbarosh

3,666

Robert A. Ettl

—  

Michael J. Foster

3,666

Ronald G. Geary

3,666

Lynne S. Katzmann

3,666

Ann Kono

3,265

Raymond J. Lewis

3,666

Jeffrey A. Malehorn

3,666

Clifton J. Porter

3,745

Milton J. Walters

3,666

(4)

Mr. Ettl’s service on our Board of Directors ended with his death on November 10, 2020.

(4)(5)

Messrs. Barbarosh and Ettl each electedMs. Kono was appointed to receive allour Board of their annual retainers and additional retainers in the form of stock units instead of cash. Accordingly, Messrs. Barbarosh and Ettl each received 4,812 fully vested stock units for their service during 2019. However, the retainers that eachNon-Employee Director elected to receive in units are reported as though they had been paid in cash and not converted to units.Directors on December 18, 2020.

(6)

Mr. Porter was appointed to our Board of Directors on December 7, 2020.

Directors’ Compensation Policy

Under our Directors’ Compensation Policy, eachNon-Employee Director is entitled to receive the following as cash compensation: (1) an annual retainer of $75,000, payable in four equal quarterly installments, and (2) $1,000 for each committee (but not Board of Directors) meeting attended, with the meeting fee reduced to $500 for telephonic meetings lasting less than 30 minutes or forin-person meetings which the director attends other than in person. AnyNon-Employee Director serving as Chair of the Board or as the Lead Independent Director and each Chairperson of a committee of the Board of Directors is entitled to receive an additional annual retainer, payable in four equal quarterly installments, as follows: $30,000 for Chair or Lead Independent Director, $25,000 for Audit Committee Chair, $15,000 for Compensation Committee Chair, and $10,000 for Nominating and Governance.Governance Committee Chair. The annual retainer and any additional retainers are eachpro-rated for partial years of service.

TheNon-Employee Directors have the right to elect to receive their annual retainers and any additional annual retainers in the form of stock units in lieu of cash, which units would be issued as of the last day of the quarter in which the retainers relate and would be valued as of the award date. Under our current Directors’

Compensation Policy, each of theNon-Employee Directors is entitled to receive an annual award of restricted stock units valued at $115,000 on the date of the award. EachNon-Employee Director’s annual award of restricted stock units vests monthly over a period of one year (and will in all events become vested in connection with the annual meeting of stockholders occurring in the year following the date of grant), is not distributable as shares of our common stock until the earlier of the fifth anniversary of the grant date, a change in control or theNon-Employee Director’s separation from service from the Board of Directors, and any unvested restricted stock units shall accelerate and vest in full on the occurrence of a change in control or theNon-Employee Director’s death or disability. All stock units are entitled to receive dividend equivalent payments, which are either paid in cash on a current basis (if the underlying units have vested)or reinvested into additional stock units. EachNon-Employee Director’s annual award of restricted stock units ispro-rated for partial years of service.

Each of ourNon-Employee Directors is reimbursed forout-of-pocket expenses for attendance at Board of Directors and committee meetings.

Stock Ownership Policy Applicable toNon-Employee Directors

Our Board of Directors has adopted a Stock Ownership Policy that requires eachNon-Employee Director to own shares of our common stock equal in value to five times the annual Board cash retainer. Shares of our common stock subject to stock unit awards that have vested but the payment of which has been deferred count toward satisfaction of the required ownership level, but shares subject to stock options or unvested stock unit awards are not considered owned by theNon-Employee Director for purposes of this policy. TheNon-Employee Directors are required to be in compliance with the required ownership level within five years from the date such person is first appointed or elected as aNon-Employee Director and are required to retain 50% of the netafter-tax shares received in respect of equity awards until they are in compliance. Each of theNon-Employee Directors is currently in compliance with the required ownership levels or is within the five-year transition period for new directors.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Introduction

Our “Named Executive Officers” for 20192020 are: Richard K. Matros, our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer; Harold W. Andrews, Jr., our Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary; and Talya Nevo-Hacohen, our Executive Vice President, Chief Investment Officer and Treasurer. In 2019,2020, under the direction of our Board, our Named Executive Officers focused on completingmanaging the repositioningimpacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our portfoliobusiness and worked to provide the support our tenants and operators needed to manage through the pandemic, while at the same time the Named Executive Officers remained focused on maintaining the strength of assets and enhancing our balance sheet strength to better position our Companyso that we remain poised for future growth.

Key highlights from 20192020 include:

 

We completedFrom the sale of 39 skilled nursing/transitional care facilities and seven senior housing communities for aggregate consideration, net of closing costs, of $323.6 million. The net carrying valuebeginning of the assetsCOVID-19 pandemic through February 2021, we collected 99.9% of our forecasted rents.

Despite the challenges of the pandemic, we have remained vigilant in maintaining a strong balance sheet and liabilitiesstrong net debt to adjusted EBITDA of these facilities was $321.3 million,4.88x (5.49x including the unconsolidated joint venture) as of December 31, 2020. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. See Appendix A for an explanation and reconciliation to net income, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

Subsequent to December 31, 2020, Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”) revised its rating outlook for Sabra to Stable from Negative and both Fitch and S&P Global Ratings affirmed the ratings for Sabra’s debt as ‘BBB-’.

Our liquidity increased during 2020 to $1.1 billion as of December 31, 2020, which resulted in an aggregate $2.3 million net gain on sale. These sales includedincludes the sale of 29 facilities previously operated by Senior Care Centers; and eight other facilities previously operated by Senior Care Centers were transitioned to a current operator in the Sabra portfolio. We sold and transitioned the facilities previously operated by Senior Care Centers to proactively reduce our exposure to Senior Care Centers, which filed for bankruptcy in December 2018. The net proceeds from these sales were used, among other things, to repay borrowings outstandingfull $1.0 billion availability under our revolving line of credit, facility and other indebtedness.we have no material debt maturities until 2024.

 

During 2019,While we completed an aggregate $51.1successfully invested $168.4 million during 2020, the impact of acquisitions, consistingthe pandemic on investment opportunities and our cost of one senior housing community, three specialty hospitals/other facilities and one senior housing community operated by third-party property managers pursuantcapital affected the level of investment we had hoped to property management agreements (“Senior Housing - Managed”).

accomplish. We also engaged in significant capital markets transactions in 2019 that enhanced ourcontinue to focus on maintaining a strong balance sheet by lowering our leveragewith ample liquidity and cost of debt, and extending our debt maturities:

In February 2019, we established anat-the-market equity offering program (the “Prior ATM Program”) to sell shares of our common stock from time to time through a consortium of banks actinga well-covered dividend, as sales agents. During the year ended December 31, 2019, we sold 23.9 million shares under the Prior ATM Program at an average price of $20.92 per share, generating gross proceeds of $500.0 million, before $7.5 million of commissions. On December 5, 2019, the Prior ATM Program automatically terminated in accordance with its terms upon the issuance and sale of the maximum aggregate amount of the shares subject to the Prior ATM Program.

In May 2019, we completed an underwritten public offering of $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of 4.80% senior unsecured notes due 2024, resulting in net proceeds of $295.3 million after deducting underwriting discounts and other offering expenses.

In June 2019, we redeemed all $500.0 million aggregate principal amount outstanding of the 5.5% senior unsecured notes due 2021 at a premium of 101.375%, plus accrued and unpaid interest.

In September 2019, we amended and restated our credit agreement to lower interest rate spreads on our revolver borrowings (by 15 basis points) and on our term loan borrowings (by 20 basis points) and to improve our debt maturities laddering by extending the maturity for the revolver to September 2023 (compared to the previous maturity date in August 2021) and creating additional laddering of our term loans with various maturities through September 2024 (compared to the prior maturity dates through August 2022). The borrowing capacity of our credit facility was unchanged and includes a $1.0 billion revolving credit facility, $1.1 billion in U.S. dollar term loans and a CAD $125.0 million Canadian dollar term loan.

In October 2019, we completed an underwritten public offering of $350.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.90% senior unsecured notes due 2029, resulting in net proceeds of $340.5 million after deducting underwriting discounts and other offering expenses.

Also in October 2019, we redeemed all $200.0 million aggregate principal amount outstanding of the 5.375% senior unsecured notes due 2023 at a premium of 101.792%, plus accrued and unpaid interest.

In December 2019, we established a new ATM program (the “New ATM Program”) pursuant to which shares of our common stock having an aggregate gross sales price of up to $400.0 million may be sold from time to time (i) by us through a consortium of banks acting as sales agents or directly to the banks acting as principals or (ii) by a consortium of banks acting as forward sellers on behalf of any forward purchasers pursuant to a forward sale agreement. During December 2019, we sold 2.9 million shares under the New ATM Program at an average price of $20.86 per share, generating gross proceeds of $60.0 million, before $0.2 million of commissions.

The net proceeds from the Prior ATM Program and the New ATM Program were used, among other things, to repay borrowings outstanding under our revolving credit facility.

Due primarily to the financing transactions completed throughout 2019, we have continued to improve the following key credit metrics compared to the fourth quarter of 2018:

Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA (including our unconsolidated joint venture) improved 0.74x, decreasing to 5.38x;

Interest Coverage improved 1.10x, increasing to 5.28x;

Fixed Charge Coverage improved 1.03x, increasing to 5.08x; and

Total Debt/Asset Value improved 700 basis points, decreasing to 36%.

(Each of the credit statistics described above (except Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA) is calculated in the accordance with our credit agreement and our senior notes indentures. Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA (including our unconsolidated joint venture) is calculated based on Annualized Adjusted EBITDA, which is Adjusted EBITDA, as adjusted for annualizing adjustments that give effect to the acquisitions and dispositions completed during the respective period as though such acquisitions and dispositions were completed as of the beginning of the period presented, and is further adjusted to include our share of the unconsolidated joint venture interest expense. See Appendix A to this Proxy Statement for a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA and Annualized Adjusted EBITDA to net income attributable to Sabra.)

While we took these actions to position our companypursue opportunities for accretive growth in 2020 and beyond, these actions have also better positioned us to support our operators as they seek to address the challenges resulting2021, which we believe can primarily come from the world health pandemic brought on byCOVID-19.skilled nursing, behavioral, and addiction asset classes in the near term.

Summary of 20192020 Compensation Decisions

The Compensation Committee continues to believe that the executive compensation program objective is to reward our executives for successfully creating long-term stockholder value by executing on our strategic plan, while at the same time penalizing our executives and requiring forfeiture of compensation if they are not able to successfully execute our strategic plan and grow stockholder value.

 

Primary objective of 20192020 compensation decisions

 

Motivate Named Executive Officers to create long-term stockholder value

The Compensation Committee’s actions to incentivize the Named Executive Officers to create long-term value included the following highlights:

 

Continued 50th Percentile Compensation Philosophy. The Compensation Committee’s philosophy is to target our Named Executive Officers’ total direct compensation (base salary + target bonus amount + target grant date value of long-term equity awards) at approximately the 50th percentile of target total direct

compensation provided by our peer companies to similarly situated executives.

This is a guideline and compensation is not formulaically set at the 50th percentile. 2020 CEO compensation was slightly below the median and the compensation of the other Named Executive Officers was slightly above the median, though all were within 5% of the guideline.

 

Utilize 50th percentile compensation philosophy for
target total direct compensation

 

Continued with Increased Weighting of TSR Units. Since becoming an independent, publicly traded company, approximatelytwo-thirds of the grant date value of our annual equity awards has been subject to performance-vesting conditions. Beginning in 2017, the Compensation Committee decided to increase the weighting of the relative total stockholder return-based awards (“TSR Units”) so that the TSR Units compriseare approximately 70% of the grant date value of the performance-based annual equity awards, withFFO-based awards (“FFO Units”) making up the remaining approximately 30% of the performance-based annual equity awards. The 2019 annual equity awards were granted with the same weighting between TSR Units and FFO Units. Our TSR Units require above-median performance in order for the target shares to be earned, supporting alignment between management and long-term stockholders.

 

65% of grant date value of annual equity awards is
performance-based, with TSR Units making up
approximately 70% of performance-based awards

 

Equity Election for Executive Bonuses for 2019 Awarded 100% in Equity. In 2019,2020, we continued with our historical practice of structuring our annual bonus plan to permit executives to elect, prior to the start of the 20192020 calendar year, to receive their annual bonus in the form of equity awardsawards. The purpose is to tie the value of any annual bonus payment becoming earned to the increase or decrease in the trading price of our common stock over the performance year. This was viewed as a way toyear, which further alignaligns the interests of our executives with our stockholders by permitting executives to improve their payout if they created stockholder value, and to have downside risk if the trading pricestockholders. Two of our common stock declined. All of thethree Named Executive Officers elected to receive all or a portion of their 20192020 annual bonus opportunity in a performance-based equity awards thataward (which we refer to as “Bonus Units.”Units”).

 

2019 Equity election for annual bonuses to further link
Named Executive Officer annual bonusesinterests with those of
awarded as performance-based Bonus Units; no cash
bonus opportunitiesstockholders

 

Continued Mandatory Deferral and Holding Period for Annual Equity Awards. In 2016, we introduced a mandatory deferral feature for the Named Executive Officers’ long-term equity awards, which requires that vested awards be held and not become payable until the fifth calendar year following the grant date (subject to earlier payment in connection with the executive’s death, disability, termination of employment and certain change in control transactions). This deferral feature is in addition to aone-year post-vesting holding period requirement that also applies to the awards and is described in more detail below. All long-term equity awards granted to the Named Executive Officers during 20192020 (but not any Bonus Units) are subject to a mandatory five-year deferral andone-year post-vesting holding period, which helps ensure that the interests of the Named Executive Officers remain aligned with our stockholders.

 

All 20192020 executive long-term equity awards are
subject
to a mandatory five-year deferral andone-yearone-

year post-vesting holding period

Continued Robust Stock Ownership Requirements. Our Stock Ownership Policy requires our Chief Executive Officer to have direct ownership of shares of our common stock having a value equal to at least

10 times his annual base salary, and for the other Named Executive Officers to have direct ownership of shares of our common stock having a value equal to at least 5 times his or her annual base salary.

 

Robust stock ownership requirements (10x for CEO
and 5x for other executives) further align executive
interests with stockholders

 

Entered into New Employment Agreements withContinued to Reinforce Importance of Performance for Prior Year Equity Award Payouts. Both the FFO unit and the TSR unit payouts were made according to their original performance funding schedules, without any discretion or adjustment by the Compensation Committee. The FFO Units originally granted in 2017 were eligible to vest based on our adjusted normalized FFO performance for calendar 2020. Our adjusted normalized FFO performance per share for 2020 relative to a pre-established objective target for 2020 resulted in actual performance that was below the threshold under the 2017 FFO Unit funding schedule. The Compensation Committee determined not to make any adjustments to the original 2020 target for the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and continued to measure FFO performance against the original pre-COVID goal. The Named Executive Officers. forfeited their entire 2017 FFO Units without any payment as a result of ending 2020 below the FFO threshold. The employment agreements with allforfeited 2017 FFO Units held by our Chief Executive Officer had a grant date value of $651,660 and the forfeited 2017 FFO Units held by our other Named Executive Officers were scheduledhad a total grant date value of $579,250. In contrast to expire in 2020. At the end2017 FFO Units, the 2017 TSR Units paid out at approximately 147% of 2019, we entered into new employment agreements with alltarget as a result of our Named Executive Officers in order to retain our executive leadership team.strong relative total stockholder return performance over the 2018-2020 calendar year performance period.

 

New employment agreements entered into withNo COVID-19 adjustments for 2017 FFO Units and
100% of 2017 FFO Units forfeited

Named Executive Officers to replace

expiring agreements and retain executive team

 

Continued to Reinforce Importance of Long-Term Growth Through Equity Award Forfeitures. Approximately 33% of the grant date value of each Named Executive Officer’s 2017annual equity award was granted Strong 2018-2020 relative TSR performance resulted
in TSR Units that could vest for the 2017-2019 performance period. As a result147% of our three-year relative total stockholder return over this period, our Named Executive Officers earned a below target payout of theirfor 2017 TSR Units for this performance period and forfeited approximately 36% of their target number of TSR Units for this period. This was the first TSR Unit earnout in three years as all of the TSR Units for the 2015-2017 and 2016-2018 performance periods were forfeited without any payment being made. As a result of the forfeitures of the 2017-2019, 2016-2018 and 2015-2017 TSR Units, our Chief Executive Officer forfeited TSR Units having a total grant date value of $1,456,049, while each of the other Named Executive Officers forfeited TSR Units having a total grant date value of $661,858. As a result of the increased weighting of TSR Units granted beginning in 2017, the economic impact of a forfeiture or below-target payout of TSR Units will be magnified, which will penalize the executives if they are not able to successfully execute our strategic vision and grow stockholder value.

Over the past three years, our CEO forfeited TSR
Units having an aggregate grant date value of
$1,456,049, and each of our other executives forfeited
TSR Units having an aggregate grant date value of
$661,858 as a result of our below-target relative total
stockholder returns over the applicable performance periods

The remainder of this section describes our executive compensation program and the material elements of compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to the Named Executive Officers during 2019.2020.

Compensation Program and Objectives

Our compensation program for executives is intended to:

 

motivate our executive officers to create long-term stockholder value;

 

align the interests of our executive officers with the interests of our stockholders;

 

attract and retain quality executive officers;

 

motivate and reward high performance levels; and

 

inspire teamwork and collaboration among the executives.

We believe that our executive compensation program is appropriately structured to accomplish these objectives. Our executive compensation program consists of four material elements: base salaries, annual incentive compensation opportunities, long-term incentive awards and severance benefits. Each of these compensation elements is described in more detail below.

Role of the Compensation Committee

Pursuant to its charter, the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors has the authority to determine the amount of compensation given to each of the Named Executive Officers. The Compensation

Committee approves our executive compensation philosophy and procedures, and is responsible for administering our equity compensation plans, including approving grants of awards under the plans. The Compensation Committee is also responsible for approving employment agreements with the Named Executive Officers, including the new employment agreements that were entered into during 2019.Officers. In performing its duties, the Compensation Committee is authorized to consider the recommendations of our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer when determining the compensation of the other Named Executive Officers.

The elements of our executive compensation program were each approved by the Compensation Committee. None of the Named Executive Officers is a member of the Compensation Committee or, except for recommendations made by Mr. Matros with respect to the compensation of the other Named Executive Officers, had any role in determining the compensation of the Named Executive Officers.

Role of the Compensation Consultant

Since our becoming a separate publicly traded company, the Compensation Committee has retained FW Cook as its independent compensation consultant. The Compensation Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of FW Cook’s work and does not believe FW Cook’s work has raised any conflict of interest. FW Cook reports only to the Compensation Committee, and does not perform services for us, except for executive and director compensation-related services on behalf of, and as instructed by, the Compensation Committee.

At the end of 20182019 and in preparation for making base salary and bonus award decisions for 2019,2020, and again at the end of 20192020 in preparation for making 20192020 equity award grants and base salary and bonus award decisions for 2020,2021, the Compensation Committee engaged FW Cook to conduct an independent review of our executive compensation program to provide a competitive reference on pay levels, structure and performance alignment. As part of its review, FW Cook analyzed the salaries, target bonus opportunities, target cash compensation opportunities, equity award opportunities and targeted total direct compensation paid by our peer group of companies described below.

The Compensation Committee also requested advice from FW Cook on whether our executive compensation program was properly designed to motivate our Named Executive Officers to create long-term stockholder value. FW Cook recommended that we continue with our historic practice of awarding approximatelytwo-thirds of the grant date value of our annual equity awards in performance-based units, and that we also continue with the increased weighting of the TSR Units so that TSR Units make up approximately 70% of performance-based awards. FW Cook advised that continuing to make TSR Units the most heavily weighted long-term incentive vehicle would continue to align executive compensation amounts actually earned by the executives with their ability to create long-term value for our stockholders.

The Compensation Committee reviewed the reports prepared by FW Cook at the end of both 20182019 and 20192020 and used these reports, as applicable, when determining the amount and structure of each Named Executive Officer’s 20192020 cash base salary, bonus opportunity and equity award grants.

FW Cook also advised on other aspects of executive compensation as requested by the Compensation Committee during 2019.2020. For example, FW Cook provided the Compensation Committee with advice with respect to our peer group used for compensation comparison purposes described below and a proposal for an updated group of peer companies to use for TSR comparison purposes for the TSR Units that were granted in December 2019.2020. The Compensation Committee received advice from FW Cook advisedregarding the Compensation Committee on the amount and structure of our 2020 annual incentive plan and how to best structure the severance benefits containedincentive opportunity in our new employment agreements withlight of the Named Executive Officers.impacts and uncertainties created by the COVID-19 pandemic. FW Cook also provided the Compensation Committee with advice regarding the timing of our annual equity awards and advised that continuing to make annual equity awards during the fourth quarter of each calendar year better allows us to consider our performance for the year when determining the level of equity awards to be granted for that year. This, in turn, allows us to most closely match the value of our executive compensation program with internal performance and stockholder return during the year.

Peer Companies

When determining the amount of each Named Executive Officer’s 20192020 cash base salary and target bonus opportunity at the end of 2018,2019, the Compensation Committee, with the assistance of FW Cook, considered the compensation paid by the following peer companies, which we refer to as the 20182019 peer group of companies:

 

Acadia Realty Trust

Cousins Properties Incorporated

EPR Properties

Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc.

Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated

Healthcare Trust of America, Inc.

Healthpeak Properties, Inc.

iStar Inc.

Lexington Realty Trust

LTC Properties, Inc.

Medical Properties Trust, Inc.

MGM Growth Properties LLC

National Health Investors, Inc.

National Retail Properties, Inc.

New Senior Investment Group Inc.

Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc.

Physicians Realty Trust

Retail Properties of America, Inc.

Seritage Growth Properties

Spirit Realty Capital, Inc.

STAG Industrial, Inc.

STORE Capital Corporation

Sun Communities Inc.

VEREIT, Inc.

W. P. Carey Inc.

This is the sameWe added seven new companies to our 2019 peer group of peer companies we used during the prior year, with the exception of Education Realty Trust, which has been removed because it was acquired and was no longer a public company at the end of 2018.

When determining the amount of each Named Executive Officer’s 2019 long-term equity award grants at the end of 2019, we used the same group of peer companies listed above, except that iStar(iStar Inc., Lexington Realty Trust, New Senior Investment Group Inc., Retail Properties of America, Inc., Spirit Realty Capital, Inc., STAG Industrial, Inc., and STORE Capital Corporation were added to the peer group.Corporation). New Senior Investment Group Inc. was added because it is a healthcare REIT that meets our size criteria (described below), and the other companies were added to the peer group because they are similarly sized REITs with a net lease focus and an internalized management team.

When determining the amount of each Named Executive Officer’s 2020 long-term equity award grants at the end of 2020, we used the same group of peer companies listed above, except that VICI Properties Inc. was added because it is a similarly sized REIT with a net lease focus and internalized management team. Our 20192020 peer group of companies is listed in the table below:

 

Acadia Realty Trust

Cousins Properties Incorporated

EPR Properties

Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc.

Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated

Healthcare Trust of America, Inc.

Healthpeak Properties, Inc.

iStar Inc.

Lexington Realty Trust

LTC Properties, Inc.

Medical Properties Trust, Inc.

MGM Growth Properties LLC

National Health Investors, Inc.

  

National Retail Properties, Inc.

New Senior Investment Group Inc.

Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc.

Physicians Realty Trust

Retail Properties of America, Inc.

Seritage Growth Properties

Spirit Realty Capital, Inc.

STAG Industrial, Inc.

STORE Capital Corporation

Sun Communities Inc.

VEREIT, Inc.

VICI Properties Inc.

W. P. Carey Inc.

Our objective peer group selection methodology remained consistent with prior years. We selected publicly traded, internally managed, U.S. based REITs with total revenues and enterprise values between approximately 0.33x to 3.0x times ours, with a preference for including healthcare REITs where possible even if that required some adjustment to the normal size parameters. Our methodology also included a preference for continuity and continuing to include companies that were members of our prior peer group of companies where possible.

When determining the amount of each Named Executive Officer’s base salary, target bonus opportunity and long-term equity award grants, the Compensation Committee considered the compensation paid by the peer

group companies. The Compensation Committee believes that the peer group companies are a reasonable reference point for compensation decisions with respect to the Named Executive Officers based on each peer company’s similarity to Sabra taking into account their respective businesses, revenues, FFO, total assets, market capitalization, enterprise value, and the talent pool for which they compete. As of October 31, 2019,November 11, 2020, our trailing twelve month revenues, FFO and total assets were at the 49th percentile, 6151st percentile and 4944thpercentile, respectively, relative to the peer companies, and our market capitalization and enterprise value were at the 4634th percentile and 5137stth percentile, respectively, of the peer companies. We believe the relative size of the peer group companies aligns with our goal of placing Sabra at approximately the 50th percentile relative to the size of our peer companies.

In 2019,2020, the Compensation Committee applied a 50th percentile guideline compensation philosophy for target total direct compensation when making pay decisions. We believe that eachEach of our Named Executive Officers’ target total direct compensation for 20192020 approximated the 50th percentile of the targeted total direct compensation provided by our peer companies to similarly situated executives.executives, although compensation was not set precisely to the guideline.

Role of StockholderSay-on-Pay Votes

Sabra currently provides its stockholders with the opportunity to cast an annualnon-binding, advisory vote on the compensation of our Named Executive Officers, which we refer to as asay-on-pay proposal. At our 20192020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, approximately 97.8%95.6% of the votes cast supported oursay-on-pay proposal. The results at our 20192020 Annual Meeting were consistent with the results in prior years following our becoming a separate publicly traded REIT, where stockholders supported oursay-on-pay proposal by between 95.3% and 98.9% of the votes cast. The Compensation Committee believes this high degree of stockholder support for our 20192020 say-on-pay proposal, combined with similarly high degrees of support for oursay-on-pay proposals in prior years, affirms stockholders’ support of our executive compensation program.

The Compensation Committee will continue to consider the outcome of stockholders’ votes on oursay-on-pay proposals when making future compensation decisions for the Named Executive Officers.

Material Elements of Compensation

Base Salaries

We pay each Named Executive Officer a base salary to provide each executive with a minimum, fixed level of cash compensation.

The Compensation Committee reviewed each Named Executive Officer’sexecutive’s base salary at the end of 20182019 to determine whether any increases for 20192020 were warranted and determined to increase each executive’s base salary by $50,000$25,000 for 2019.2020. The Compensation Committee also reviewed each executive’s base salary at the end of 20192020 and determined not to increase eachmake any increases to any executive’s base salary by $25,000 for 2020.2021.

The base salary that was paid to each Named Executive Officer for the 20192020 calendar year is reported in the “Summary Compensation Table—2017—2019”2018—2020” below.

20192020 Annual Incentive Compensation Opportunity

Our annual incentive bonus program design for 20192020 continued our historical practice of permitting participants to elect to tie the value of any bonus payment becoming earned to the increase or decrease in the trading price of our common stock. This was viewed as a way for executives to improve their payout if they created stockholder value, and to have downside risk if the trading price of our common stock declined. The Named Executive Officers were each entitled to participate in the 20192020 bonus program pursuant to the terms of their employment agreements.

Under the terms of the 20192020 bonus program, prior to the start of the 20192020 calendar year, each Named Executive Officer was permitted to elect to receive his or her annual bonus in the form of an equity award or in the form of a cash payment. If an executive elected an equity award, the executive would receive a Bonus Unit award with respect to a targeted number of shares having a grant date value equal to the amount of the executive’s cash denominated target bonus divided by the opening price of a share of common stock on January 2, 20192020 (the first trading day of 2019)2020). This can be illustrated as follows:

Cash Target Bonus Amount ÷ $16.32$21.44 Opening Share Price = Target # of Bonus Units

If an executive elected a cash payment, any bonus becoming payable would be paid in cash using the same performance criteria applicable to the Bonus Units. AllMr. Matros elected to receive all of the Named Executive Officershis 2020 annual incentive opportunity in cash, Mr. Andrews elected an equity awardto receive 50% of his 2020 annual incentive opportunity in the form ofcash and 50% in Bonus Units, and Ms. Nevo-Hacohen elected to receive all of her 2020 annual incentive opportunity in Bonus Units. Bonus Units allow the executive officer to potentially improve theirhis or her payout by creating stockholder value and to increase theirhis or her ownership of our common stock.

2019 Named Executive Officer annual bonuses
granted 100% in Bonus Unit equity awards; no cash
bonus opportunities

The target bonus under the 20192020 bonus program for Mr. Matros was set at approximately 125% of his cash base salary. Mr. Matros’s 125% target bonus level was the same as his target bonus level for each year since 2014. The 20192020 target bonus for Mr. Andrews and Ms. Nevo-Hacohen was set at 100% of each executive’s base salary, amount, which was the same as each executive’s target bonus percentage inlevel for each year since 2018.

Each Named Executive Officer was eligible to earn a maximum bonus equal to 200% of the executive’s target bonus amount. The 200% maximum payout was the same maximum payout as under our 20182019 bonus program, and reflected a reduction from our historical plan design where a 250% maximum payout was used. The bonus payable for achieving the threshold performance level was set at 80%0% of the executive’s target bonus amount.

The following chart shows the amount of each Named Executive Officer’s target and maximum bonus opportunities, expressed in both dollars and number of Bonus Units.Units based on the form of payment elected by the Named Executive Officer.

 

Named Executive Officer

  2019 Target
Bonus Amount
($)
   2019 Target
Bonus Amount
(# of Units)
   2019 Maximum
Bonus Amount
($)
   2019 Maximum
Bonus Amount
(# of Units)
    

2020 Target Cash
Bonus Amount
($)
 

 
   

2020 Maximum Cash
Bonus Amount
($)
 

 
   

2020 Target Stock
Bonus Amount
(# of Units)
 

 
   

2020 Maximum Stock

Bonus Amount

(# of Units)

 

 

 

Richard K. Matros

  $1,125,000    68,933   $2,250,000    137,866    1,156,250    2,312,500    —      —   

Harold W. Andrews, Jr.

  $550,000    33,700   $1,100,000    67,400    287,500    575,000    13,409    26,819 

Talya Nevo-Hacohen

  $550,000    33,700   $1,100,000    67,400    —      —      26,819    53,638 

Bonus UnitsThe onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020 made structuring the 2020 bonus program particularly challenging. The skilled nursing and senior housing industries, which are the primary industries we serve, were directly affected by the pandemic more than many other industries during 2020. The shape of the pandemic and its financial impact has been (and continues to be) difficult to predict, and it has forced our Named Executive Officers to have to focus on ensuring the health and safety of our operators in addition to all of their other responsibilities. The pandemic has had an impact on our anticipated level of investment activity and has negatively impacted the average occupancy of our portfolio, and these financial effects are difficult to predict and model.

Given the uncertainty regarding the financial impacts of the pandemic, the Compensation Committee considered switching to a discretionary bonus program for 2020 as a result of the difficulty in establishing objective performance targets. However, the Compensation Committee ultimately determined that it was important to continue to have an objective bonus program with quantifiable financial performance targets. The rationale was that it was critical that performance targets should not be adjusted after being established. The

Compensation Committee therefore waited until July of 2020 to establish the 2020 bonus program and, as in prior years, awards under the 20192020 bonus program became earned based on our adjusted normalized FFO performance per share. The uncertainty of the pandemic was reflected in the bonus funding schedule. The Compensation Committee established the threshold performance level at 75% of the target FFO per share during 2019. performance level (rather than at 95% of the target performance level as in 2019) and reduced the payout for achieving the threshold performance level from 80% in 2019 to 0% for 2020. The Compensation Committee believed these changes would provide the executives with an opportunity to earn below target bonuses even if the financial impacts of the pandemic turned out to be worse than anticipated.

The Compensation Committee chose anFFO-based performance metric for two primary reasons. First, anFFO-based metric was used to motivate therewards executives to drivefor driving growth in our annual FFO performance, which the Compensation Committee believed would in turn benefitbelieves benefits stockholders in the

form of increased stockholder returns. Second, the Compensation Committee believes that FFO is a common performance metric used by investors to evaluate the performance of REITs, and the Compensation Committee wanted the Named Executive Officers to be focused on the same performance metric as our investors. FW Cook also advised that anAn FFO-based annual incentive program design is consistent with the annual incentive plan designs used by the majority of our peer companies.

As described in more detail below, Bonus Unitsawards under the 20192020 bonus program became earned based on our adjusted normalized FFO performance per share for 20192020 relative topre-established objective targets for 2019. Continuing the metric we introduced in 2018, our 2019 bonus program measures our adjusted normalized FFO performance against FFO per share targets established for the 2019 calendar year rather than against aggregate FFO performance targets.2020. We believe measuring our FFO performance against per share targets will motivate our executives to achieve not just absolute FFO growth, but growth on an FFO per share basis as well that takes into account the impact of capital raising transactions on our stockholders.

For purposes of our 20192020 bonus program, we define adjusted normalized FFO per share to mean (A) our FFO for 2019,2020, adjusted to eliminate the impact of(1) non-recurring items, including without limitation thewrite-off of deferred financing fees, contingent consideration adjustments, transitional expenses related to the CCP acquisition,non-RIDEA facility operating expenses, write-offs of above/below market rent adjustments, and other similar items as determined by the Compensation Committee,(2) non-cash compensation expense, (3) cash bonuses payable to our officers and employees, (4) transaction costs in connection with investment activity and capital markets activity, (5) any change in accounting policies or practices, (6) any gain or loss on lease or rental income restructurings to the extent included in FFO, (7) loan, preferred equity, direct financing lease, and unconsolidated joint venture investment impairments or loss reserves, and (8) deferred income tax expense, divided by (B) the weighted average number of shares of common stock and common stock equivalents outstanding. The same adjusted normalized FFO per share definition was also used for purposes of the FFO Units that were granted in the 20192020 calendar year.

The target level of adjusted normalized FFO per share was set at $1.9201. A key strategic objective for 2019$1.8784. As described above, this target was established in July, after the onset of the pandemic and its related financial impact on our business. Due to reduce our leverage and cost of debt in order to enhance our balance sheet and position us for future growth. In order to reduce our leverage and enhance our balance sheet,pandemic-related impacts, the Compensation Committee expected the amount of our asset dispositions and loan repayments during 2019 to exceed the amount of our new investments, meaning that the executives were expected to have a smaller asset base to generate FFO during 2019 when compared to 2018. The Compensation Committee also expected that we would issue additional equity capital in order to reduce our leverage, which has the effect of increasing the denominator for our adjusted normalized2020 FFO per share calculation When setting the per share adjusted normalized FFO target for 2019, the Compensation Committee took ourde-leveraging and balance sheet objectives into account, which is why the $1.9201 target for 2019 was lower than our actual2019 achieved adjusted normalized FFO per share of $2.4199 for 2018. This projection regarding our asset base and number of outstanding shares proved to be the case, as (1) our total assets of approximately $6.069 billion at the end of 2019 were lower than our total assets of approximately $6.665 billion at the end of 2018, and (2) we ended 2019 with a total of 205,208,018 outstanding shares as compared to 178,306,528 total shares that were outstanding at the end of 2018.$1.907.

Achievement of adjusted normalized FFO per share of $1.9777$1.9347 or greater was required in order for each Named Executive Officer to earn his or her maximum bonus opportunity, while achievement of adjusted normalized FFO per share of at least $1.8241greater than $1.4088 was required in order for each Named Executive Officer to earn his or her thresholdany bonus opportunity. The Compensation Committee believed that the maximum bonus opportunity was attainable only through exceptional performance relative to plan.

For the 2019 calendar year, Sabra achieved adjusted normalized FFO per share of $1.907,$1.820 in 2020, which resulted in each Named Executive Officer vestingreceiving a bonus payout (either in cash or Bonus Units) equal to approximately 97.2%87.6% of his or her target number of Bonus Units due to our performance in 2019. We believebonus opportunity.

The following table sets forth the fact that ourbonus earned for 2020 by each Named Executive Officers earned below target bonus payouts in a year where our executives accomplishedOfficer. For Mr. Andrews and Ms. Nevo-Hacohen, because the principal goals set for them by the Board, demonstrates the rigor of our performance targets.

Because each Named Executive Officer elected to receive all or a portion of

the executive officer’s 2020 bonus in Bonus Units instead of a cash denominated bonus, the value of each executive’s actual bonus payment for 20192020 that was paid in Bonus Units was, like our stockholders, dependent on the trading price of our common stock, as illustrated by the table below.

 

Named Executive Officer

  Cash Value of
Bonus Earned
for 2019

(97.2% of
Target)
   Value of
Shares Paid
at 2019
Year-End(1)

 

Price = $21.34

   Value of Shares
on 2/21/2020
Vesting Date(1)

 

Price = $21.99

    


Total Value of
Bonus Earned for
2020

(87.6% of Target)

($)

 
 
 

 

 

   


Portion of 2020
Bonus Paid in
Cash

($)

 
 
 

 

   


Number of Bonus
Units Paid for
2020(1)

(# of Units)

 
 
 

 

   


Value of Shares
Paid at 2020
Year-End(1)

Price = $17.37

($)

 
 
 

 

 

   


Value of Shares
on 2/26/2021
Vesting Date(1)

Price = $17.22

($)

 
 
 

 

 

Richard K. Matros

  $1,093,500   $1,597,576   $1,646,237    1,012,875    1,012,875    —      —      —   

Harold W. Andrews, Jr.

  $534,600   $781,023   $804,812    503,700    251,850    12,983    225,515    223,567 

Talya Nevo-Hacohen

  $534,600   $781,023   $804,812    503,700    —      25,967    451,047    447,152 

 

(1)

Includes shares credited as a dividend equivalent payment, which were subject to the same performance conditions as the Bonus Units.

We believe the 2019 Bonus Unit2020 bonus award payments are evidence of the performance contingent and equity-linked nature of our executive compensation program design at work.

The Named Executive Officers’ cash bonus payments are reported in the non-equity incentive plan compensation column of the “Summary Compensation Table—2018—2020” below and the Bonus Units are reported in the stock awards column of the “Summary Compensation Table—2017—2019”2018—2020” below, and the awards are also reported in the “Grants of Plan-Based Awards—2019”2020” table below.

Long-Term Incentives

Structure and Timing of 20192020 Equity Awards.

Structure of 20192020 Equity Awards. Since becoming a separate publicly traded company, a key feature of our executive compensation program has been our long-term equity award program. Approximatelytwo-thirds of the grant date value of our annual equity awards has been subject to performance-vesting conditions over a three-year performance period, and all awards are payable in shares of our common stock that may increase or decrease in value during the three-year performance period. Historically, the grant date value of performance-based annual equity awards has been split equally between FFO Units and TSR Units.

Beginning with the 2017 annual equity awards, the Compensation Committee decided to increase the weighting of the TSR Units so that the TSR Units comprise approximately 70% of the grant date value of the performance-based annual equity awards, with FFO Units making up the remaining approximately 30% of the performance-based annual equity awards. The Compensation Committee determined to increase the weighting of the TSR Units because it believes that the TSR Units are an effective vehicle to motivate our Named Executive Officers to create long-term stockholder value, while at the same time penalizing the executives and requiring forfeitures if they are not able to successfully execute our strategic vision and grow stockholder value at a greater rate than our TSR comparison peer companies listed below.

 

TSR Units used as the largest component of equity
awards granted to the Named Executive Officers in
20192020 to motivate achievement of above-median TSR

The table below summarizes the 20192020 equity award grants (with FFO Units and TSR Units shown at the target levels)levels and the grant date value based on the amount approved by the Compensation Committee):

 

  20192020 Annual Equity Award 

Name

  
Time-Based
Units

   FFO Units   TSR Units 

Richard K. Matros

  $

 

1,190,0771,225,245

61,75883,350 units

 

 

  $

 

680,038700,146

35,29047,629 units

 

 

  $

 

1,502,8231,592,067

71,87184,415 units

 

 

Harold W. Andrews, Jr.

  $

 

385,015385,081

19,98026,196 units

 

 

  $

 

220,006220,044

11,41714,969 units

 

 

  $

 

486,199500,356

23,25226,530 units

 

 

Talya Nevo-Hacohen

  $

 

385,015385,081

19,98026,196 units

 

 

  $

 

220,006220,044

11,41714,969 units

 

 

  $

 

486,199500,356

23,25226,530 units

 

 

Mandatory Holding Period and Deferral after Vesting. In 2015, we introduced a holding period requirement for stock units that become vested based on continued employment (“Time-Based Units”), FFO Units and TSR Units granted to the Named Executive Officers. For any Time-Based Units, FFO Units or TSR Units that vest, executives are required to wait a minimum of one year after the vesting date before receiving payment of the underlying vested shares. In 2016, we introduced a deferral feature for the Named Executive Officers’ Time-Based Units, FFO Units and TSR Units, which requires that vested awards be held and will not become payable until the fifth calendar year following the grant date. The only exceptions to theone-year holding requirement are if the executive dies or suffers a disability, or if there is a change in control. Similarly, the only exceptions to the deferral requirement are if the executive dies, suffers a disability or otherwise has a termination of employment, or if there is a change in control after the awards vest. The Compensation Committee believes theone-year holding requirement coupled with the deferral requirement further reinforces the long-term nature of the awards and serves to further align the executives’ interests with those of our long-term stockholders. All of the long-term equity awards granted to the Named Executive Officers during 20192020 (but not any Bonus Units) are subject to the same mandatory five-year deferral requirement andone-year post-vesting holding period.

Timing of 20192020 Equity Awards. The Compensation Committee determined the total grant date dollar value of each Named Executive Officer’s 20192020 equity awards in December 2019.2020. We convert the total grant date dollar value of each executive’s equity award into a number of Time-Based Units, FFO Units and TSR Units using the same accounting value of each award that is used in our financial statements. We utilize this conversion approach so that the grant date award value of each type of award reported in our proxy statement (such as in the “Grants of Plan-Based Awards—2019”2020” table below) is approximately equal to the grant date dollar value of the award that is approved by the Compensation Committee.

Since 2012, we have adopted a policy of awarding annual equity awards to the Named Executive Officers and our other employees in the fourth quarter of each calendar year. We believe that making annual equity awards in the fourth quarter of each calendar year (instead of during the first quarter of each calendar year) better allows us to consider our performance for the year when determining the level of equity awards to be granted for that year, as well as any feedback from stockholders on thesay-on-pay proposal for the year.

Time-Based Units: Time-Based Units are included as part of each executive’s annual long-term equity award to provide an equity incentive linked to the value realized by our stockholders that becomes earned based on the executive’s continued employment with us. Time-Based Units made up approximately 35% of the total grant date dollar value of each Named Executive Officer’s 20192020 annual equity award. Each executive’s Time-Based Units granted in 20192020 become vested in equal annual installments over a period of four years, with installments vesting on December 31 in each of 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2023,2024, with any vested units subject to theone-year post-vesting holding period requirement and deferral feature described above.

FFO Units: FFO Units are included as part of each executive’s long-term equity award to motivate them to execute our multi-year operating plan and increase our long-term FFO performance, which we believe also drives stockholder value creation. As a result of the increased weighting of the TSR Units described above, FFO Units

made up approximately 30% of the performance-based annual equity awards and 20% of the total grant date dollar value of each Named Executive Officer’s 20192020 annual equity award.

Each executive’s FFO Units granted at the end of 20192020 become vested based on our adjusted normalized FFO performance per share for the calendar year 20222023 relative to apre-established objective target for 20222023 determined by the Compensation Committee. Adjusted normalized FFO per share is defined for these purposes as (A) our FFO for 2022,2023, adjusted to eliminate the impact of(1) non-recurring items, including without limitation thewrite-off of deferred financing fees, contingent consideration adjustments, transitional expenses related to the CCP acquisition,non-RIDEA facility operating expenses, write-offs of above/below market rent adjustments, and other similar items as determined by the Compensation Committee,(2) non-cash compensation expense, (3) cash bonuses payable to our officers and employees, (4) transaction costs in connection with investment activity and capital markets activity, (5) any change in accounting policies or practices, (6) any gain or loss on lease or rental income restructurings to the extent included in FFO, (7) loan, preferred equity, direct financing lease, and unconsolidated joint venture investment impairments or loss reserves, and (8) deferred income tax expense, divided by (B) the weighted average number of shares of common stock and common stock equivalents outstanding.

We believe that the adjusted normalized FFO per share target for 20222023 is reasonably attainable if we are able to execute on our strategic objectives and achieve future growth. The decision to use the third calendar year in the performance period as the performance measurement year is intended to give the executives a period of time to execute on Sabra’s strategic objectives.

Although our Bonus Unitsannual incentive awards also become earned based on anFFO-based performance metric, the FFO Units granted in any year will have different adjusted normalized FFO targets than those established under the annual bonus program. While the FFO Units become payable based on our performance relative to thepre-established objective adjusted normalized FFO per share target for the third calendar year following the grant date, the Bonus Unitsannual incentive awards become payable based on our performance relative to the adjusted normalized FFO per share target for the year in which the Bonus Unitsawards are granted. For example, the FFO Units granted in the 20192020 calendar year become payable based on adjusted normalized FFO performance per share for the 20222023 calendar year, and the Bonus Unitsannual incentive awards granted under the bonus program approved in the 20192020 calendar year became payable based on adjusted normalized FFO performance per share for the 20192020 calendar year. As a result, we believe that the FFO Units incentivize long-term performance while Bonus Unitsannual incentive awards incentivize annual performance, and executives are not rewarded twice for achieving the same FFO results because the bonus program has aone-year FFO goal and the FFO Units have a three-year FFO goal.

100% of each executive’s target number of FFO Units will become vested if we achieve the targeted performance level. If we achieve 90.96% (the threshold level) or less than 90.96% of the targeted performance level, (the threshold level), 0% of each executive’s target number of FFO Units will become vested, while if we achieve 109.04% or more of the targeted performance level (the maximum level), 200% of each executive’s target number of FFO Units will become vested. Performance between the threshold level andup to the targeted performance level will result in between 0% and 100% of each executive’s target number of FFO Units becoming vested, with the percentage becoming vested generally decreasing 11% for each 1% decrease in the targeted performance level achieved (e.g., if we achieve approximately 97% of the targeted performance level, 67% of each executive’s target number of FFO Units will become vested). Performance between the targeted performance level and the maximum level will result in between 100% and 200% of each executive’s target number of FFO Units becoming vested, with the percentage becoming vested generally increasing 11% for each 1% increase in the targeted performance level achieved. This vesting schedule thus includes both an11-1 reduction for below-target performance and an11-1 increase for above-target performance so that the upside and downside leverage for the awards is symmetrical.

The vesting schedule for the FFO Units can be illustrated graphically as follows:

 

LOGO

LOGO

Any FFO Units that become eligible to vest based on our FFO performance are also subject to a vesting condition based on the executive’s continued employment through the last day of the applicable performance period, with any vested units subject to theone-year post-vesting holding period requirement and deferral feature described above.

TSR Units: In December 2017, the Compensation Committee determined to increase the weighting of the TSR Units because it believes the TSR Units are an effective vehicle to motivate our Named Executive Officers to create long-term stockholder value, while at the same time penalizing the executives and requiring forfeitures if they are not able to successfully execute our strategic vision and grow stockholder value. As a result of the increased weighting of the TSR Units, TSR Units made up approximately 70% of the performance-based annual equity awards and 45% of the total grant date dollar value of each Named Executive Officer’s 20192020 annual equity award. As in 2018, TSR Units were the most heavily weighted long-term incentive vehicle.

The TSR Units granted in 20192020 become vested based on our relative total stockholder return over a three-year performance period consisting of calendar years 2020-20222021-2023 measured against the following publicly traded REITs:

 

Acadia Realty Trust

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.

Americold Realty Trust

Boston Properties, Inc.

Brandywine Realty Trust

CareTrust REIT, Inc.

CIM Commercial Trust Corporation

City Office REIT, Inc.

Columbia Property Trust, Inc.

Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated

Corporate Office Properties Trust

Cousins Properties Incorporated

Diversified Healthcare Trust

Douglas Emmett, Inc.

Duke Realty Corporation

Easterly Government Properties, Inc.

EastGroup Properties, Inc.

Embassy Office Parks REIT

  

Global Medical REIT Inc.

Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc.

Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated

Healthcare Trust of America, Inc.

Healthpeak Properties, Inc.

Highwoods Properties, Inc.

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

Industrial Logistics Properties Trust

Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc.

iStar Inc.

JBG Smith Properties

Kilroy Realty Corporation

Lexington Realty Trust

LTC Properties, Inc.

Mack-Cali Realty Corporation

Medical Properties Trust, Inc.

  

Office Properties Income Trust

Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc.

Paramount Group, Inc.

Physicians Realty Trust

Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc.

Prologis, Inc.

Retail Properties of America, Inc.

Rexford Industrial Realty, Inc.

Senior Housing Properties Trust

Seritage Growth Properties

SL Green Realty Corp.

Spirit Realty Capital, Inc.

STAG Industrial, Inc.

STORE Capital Corporation

Sun Communities Inc.

Terreno Realty Corporation

Universal Health Realty Income Trust

Ventas, Inc.

VEREIT, Inc.

Embassy Office Parks REIT

EPR Properties

Equity Commonwealth

First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.

Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc.

Global Medical REIT Inc.

Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc.

  

Medical Properties Trust, Inc.

MGM Growth Properties LLC

Monmouth Real Estate Investment Corporation

National Health Investors, Inc.

National Retail Properties, Inc.

New Senior Investment Group Inc.

Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc.

Office Properties Income Trust

  

VEREIT, Inc.

Vornado Realty Trust

W. P. Carey Inc.

Welltower, Inc.

This group of TSR comparison companies includes all publicly traded U.S. based industrial, office and healthcare REITs with market capitalization values above $100,000,000 as of November 30, 2019,2020, as well as those companies included in our 20192020 peer group of companies used for compensation comparison purposes, other than VICI Properties Inc. (64 companies in total). Although all of the compensation peers are included in the TSR comparison peer group, the TSR comparison peer group is a different, broader set of companies. The companies in our compensation peer group (25(26 companies in total in the 20192020 peer group of companies) were selected based on their similarity to Sabra, taking into account their respective businesses, revenues, FFO, total assets, market capitalization, enterprise value and the talent pool for which they compete. The Compensation Committee believes that the selection criteria for relative TSR performance comparison can be different than for compensation comparison because REIT sectors are affected by similar economic forces (with REIT size playing a relatively small role in stockholder return), while compensation amounts correlate with each of the REIT sector, Sabra’s size and the talent pool for which Sabra is competing.

100% of each executive’s target number of TSR Units granted in 2020 will become vested if we achieve a total stockholder return percentile ranking at the 55th percentile relative to the applicable TSR peer companies. If our total stockholder return percentile ranking relative to the applicable TSR peer companies is less than the 25th percentile (the threshold level), 0% of each executive’s target number of TSR Units will become vested, while if we achieve a total stockholder return percentile ranking relative to the applicable TSR peer companies at or above the 80th percentile (the maximum level), 200% of each executive’s target number of TSR Units will become vested. Performance up to the maximum level will result in between 0% and 200% of each executive’s target number of TSR Units becoming vested, with the vesting schedule having a 2-1 percentage reduction for performance below the 50th percentile performance and a 4-1 percentage increase for above-target performance to provide additional upside leverage to incentivize the executives to exceed the 55th percentile target level. If we achieve a negative absolute total stockholder return over the performance period, the maximum percentage of each executive’s target number of TSR Units eligible to become vested is in all events capped at 100%, in recognition that in such event, while our total stockholder return may have exceeded that of our peers, our stockholders would not have realized a positive total stockholder return on an absolute basis for this period. 100% of each executive’s target number of TSR Units granted in 2019 will become vested if we achieve a total stockholder return percentile ranking at the 55th percentile relative to the applicable TSR peer companies. If our total stockholder return percentile ranking relative to the applicable TSR peer companies is less than the 30th percentile (the threshold level), 0% of each executive’s target number of TSR Units will become vested, while if we achieve a total stockholder return percentile ranking relative to the applicable TSR peer companies at or above the 80th percentile (the maximum level), 200% of each executive’s target number of TSR Units will become vested. Performance between the threshold level and the maximum level will result in between 0% and 200% of each executive’s target number of TSR Units becoming vested, with the vesting schedule retaining the more punitive2-1 percentage reduction introduced in 2017 for below-target performance and a4-1 percentage increase for above-target performance to provide additional upside leverage to incentivize the executives to exceed the 55th percentile target level.

The vesting schedule for the TSR Units can be illustrated graphically as follows:

 

LOGO

LOGO

Like the FFO Units, any TSR Units becoming eligible to vest based on our relative total stockholder return performance are also subject to a vesting condition based on the executive’s continued employment through the last day of the applicable performance period, with any vested units subject to theone-year post-vesting holding period requirement and deferral feature described above.

Dividend Equivalents: Time-Based Units, FFO Units and TSR Units granted under our long-term equity award program entitle the executive to receive an additional credit of stock units having a value equal to the amount of the ordinary cash dividends paid on the shares of common stock underlying the award (i.e., dividend equivalents are reinvested in additional units). Any additional stock units credited as a dividend equivalent payment will not be paid unless they vest and are subject to the same vesting requirements as the stock unit awards to which they relate (including the applicable performance conditions).

Clawback: Time-Based Units, FFO Units and TSR Units granted under our long-term equity award program are each subject to the terms of our clawback policy described below.

Payouts of Previously Granted Performance-Based Awards. The performance period applicable to certain previously granted awards of TSR Units and FFO Units ended on December 31, 2019.2020.

2017-20192018-2020 TSR Units. For the 2017-20192018-2020 TSR Unit performance period, we achieved a total stockholder return ranking equal to the 3466.67th percentile. As a result of our three-year relative total stockholder return over this period, our Named Executive Officers earned a belowan above target payout of their TSR Units for this performance period and forfeitedearned approximately 36%147% of their target number of TSR Units for this period.period (including 147% of the target number of TSR Units subject to the special award of TSR Units that was granted to each Named Executive Officer in relation to the CCP transaction). We believe this 64% TSR Unit payout is evidence of the performance contingent nature of our executive compensation program design at work — as a result ofwork. This is the first time in four years that the Named Executive Officers’ TSR Units have paid out at or above target, and we believe the Named Executive Officers earned this TSR Unit payout based on our below targetstrong relative total stockholder return ranking forperformance during the performance period, each Named Executive Officer effectively forfeited 12% of the grant date award value of his or her 2017 long-term annual equity awards.period.

All of the TSR Units for the 2016-2018 and 2015-2017 performance periods were forfeited without any payment being made. As a result of the forfeitures of the 2017-2019, 2016-2018 and 2015-2017 TSR Units, our Chief Executive Officer forfeited TSR Units having a total grant date value of $1,456,049, while each of the other Named Executive Officers forfeited TSR Units having a total grant date value of $661,858. As a result of

the increased weighting of TSR Units granted beginning in 2017, the economic impact of a forfeiture or below-target payout of TSR Units will be magnified, which will penalize the executives if they are not able to successfully execute our strategic vision and grow stockholder value.

Over the past three years, our CEO forfeited TSR
Units having an aggregate grant date value of
$1,456,049 and each of our other executives forfeited
TSR Units having an aggregate grant date value of
$661,858 as a result of our below-target relative total
stockholder returns over the applicable performance periods

2017-20192018-2020 FFO Units. For the 2017-20192018-2020 FFO Unit performance period, the target adjusted normalized FFO per share amount was set at $187,750,000for$2.53 per sharefor the 20192020 calendar year. We achieved adjustedAdjusted normalized FFO after taking into account appropriate adjustments to eliminate the impact of the CCP acquisition, of approximately $145,200,000, which was slightly above the threshold amount but below the target performance level. Adjusted normalized FFOper share is defined for these purposes substantially the same as described above in the discussion of our 20192020 FFO Units, althoughUnits.

We achieved adjusted normalized FFO was measured on an absolute basis (rather than on a per share basis)of approximately $1.817 per share. This was below the threshold amount for the 2017-20192018-2020 FFO Unit award, thus the award was forfeited in full.

Our Compensation Committee determined not to make any adjustments to the original 2020 FFO per share target for the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, as it decided that it was important that performance period. Our adjusted normalized FFO performance resulted in a payout for each Named Executive Officer that was equal to just 8% of his or her target number of FFO Units. We believe this nominal payout demonstratesbe measured based on the rigor of our performance targets and the performance contingent nature of our executive compensation program design at work.original target.

The grant-date fair value of the Time-Based Units, FFO Units and TSR Units granted to the Named Executive Officers in 20192020 as determined under the accounting principles used in our financial reporting are reported in the “Summary Compensation Table—2017—2019”2018—2020” and the “Grants of Plan-Based Awards—2019”2020” tables below.

Severance Benefits

We believe that severance protections, particularly in the context of the uncertainty surrounding any potential change in control transaction, play a valuable role in attracting and retaining quality executive officers. We provide severance protections to each of the Named Executive Officers under their employment agreements. The employment agreements with all of our Named Executive Officers were scheduled to expire in 2020. At the end of 2019, we entered into new employment agreements with all of our Named Executive Officers to replace the expiring agreements in order to retain our executive leadership team.

As described in more detail below under the heading “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control,” each of the Named Executive Officers would be entitled to severance benefits in the event of a termination of employment by us without “good cause” or by the executive for “good reason” (as those terms are defined in each executive’s employment agreement). The severance benefits for Mr. Matros are based on a 2.25x multiple, while the severance benefits for Mr. Andrews and Ms. Nevo-Hacohen are based on a 1.5x multiple. We do not believe that the Named Executive Officers should be entitled to receive their cash severance benefits merely because a change in control transaction occurs, and a change in control does not, in and of itself, entitle any Named Executive Officer to receive severance benefits (i.e., these severance benefits are “double-trigger” benefits). The amount of severance benefits for Mr. Andrews and Ms. Nevo-Hacohen will increase and be based on a 2x multiple in connection with a qualifying termination in connection with or following a change in control. The severance benefit multiple for Mr. Matros will not increase for a qualifying termination in connection with or following a change in control. No Named Executive Officer is entitled to receive a“gross-up” or similar payment for any excise taxes that may become payable in connection with a change in control pursuant to Sections 280G and 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and, depending on what results in the bestafter-tax benefit for the executive, benefits may be “cut back” instead in such circumstances.

The terms of Time-Based Units, FFO Units and TSR Units each provide for accelerated vesting in connection with certain terminations of the Named Executive Officers’ employment with us, including a termination due to death, disability or a termination by us without good cause or by the executive for good reason but in general only if such termination occurs in connection with or following a change in control. Please see the “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control” section below for a discussion of the termination of employment-based vesting provisions of these equity awards.

Stock Ownership Policy Applicable to Executive Officers

We believe that in order to align the interests of our executive officers with those of our stockholders, executive officers should have direct ownership in shares of our common stock. Accordingly, our Board of Directors has adopted a Stock Ownership Policy. Our Stock Ownership Policy requires our Chief Executive Officer to own shares of our common stock having a value equal to at least ten times his annual base salary and each of our other executive officers to own shares of our common stock having a value equal to at least five times the executive’s annual base salary. Shares subject to stock options and unvested stock unit awards are not considered owned by the executive for purposes of the policy. The executive officers are required to be in compliance with the required ownership level within four years from the date such person is first appointed as an

executive officer and are required to retain 50% of the netafter-tax shares received in respect of equity awards until they are in compliance. Each of the Named Executive Officers is currently in compliance with the required ownership levels.

 

Robust stock ownership requirements (10x for CEO
and 5x for other executives) align executive interests
with stockholders

Clawback Policy

Our Board of Directors has adopted a compensation recoupment policy whereby in the event of a material restatement of Sabra’s financial results (whether due to mistake, fraud or other misconduct, or any other material noncompliance with applicable financial reporting requirements), the Compensation Committee is required to review our cash and equity incentive compensation awards and may, if it determines appropriate after considering all relevant facts and circumstances, require the reimbursement of the incremental incentive compensation that an executive officer received as a result of the incorrect financial results. Time-Based Units, FFO Units, TSR Units and payouts under our bonus program are each subject to the terms of this clawback policy.

Policy with Respect to Section 162(m)

Section 162(m) of the Code generally prohibits a publicly-held company from deducting compensation paid to a current or former NEONamed Executive Officer that exceeds $1.0 million during the tax year. Certain awards granted before November 2, 2017 that were based upon attainingpre-established performance measures that were set by the Compensation Committee under a plan approved by our stockholders, as well as amounts payable to former executives pursuant to a written binding contract that was in effect on November 2, 2017, may qualify for an exception to the $1.0 million deductibility limit.

As one of the factors in its consideration of compensation matters, the Compensation Committee notes this deductibility limitation. However, the Compensation Committee has the flexibility to take any compensation-related actions that it determines are in the best interests of Sabra and our stockholders, including awarding compensation that may not be deductible for tax purposes. Because we are taxed as a REIT, Section 162(m) considerations are not as significant for us as for other publicly-traded companies that are not taxed as REITs. There can be no assurance that any compensation will in fact be deductible as a result of the limitations under Section 162(m).

Compensation Committee Report

The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors has reviewed and discussed with management the disclosures contained in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this Proxy Statement. Based upon this review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section be included in this Proxy Statement.

Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors

RobertJeffrey A. EttlMalehorn (Chair)

Craig A. Barbarosh

Jeffrey A. MalehornLynne S. Katzmann

Milton J. Walters

The foregoing report of the Compensation Committee does not constitute soliciting material and shall not be deemed filed, incorporated by reference into or a part of any other filing by Sabra (including any future filings) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the Exchange Act, except to the extent Sabra specifically incorporates such report by reference therein.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

Messrs. Ettl, Malehorn, Barbarosh Malehorn and Walters and Ms. Katzmann each served as members of the Compensation Committee during 2019.2020. No member of the Compensation Committee is a past or present officer or employee of Sabra or had any relationship with us requiring disclosure under SEC rules requiring disclosure of certain transactions with related persons. In addition, none of our executive officers served as a director or a member of a compensation committee (or other committee serving an equivalent function) of any other entity, the executive officer of which served as a director or member of the Compensation Committee during 2019.2020.

Summary Compensation Table—2017—20192018—2020

The following table provides information on the compensation of the Named Executive Officers for 2020, 2019 2018 and 2017.2018. Because only three individuals served as our executive officers during 2019,2020, we have only three Named Executive Officers for 2019.2020.

 

Name and

Principal Position

  Year   
Salary
($)

  Bonus
($)
  

Stock
Awards
($)(1)


  Option
Awards
($)
  


Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)



  



All
Other
Compen-
sation
($)(2)




   Total ($) 
Richard K. Matros
Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer
   

20192020

20182019

20172018

 

 

 

   

900,000925,000

850,000900,000

850,000

 

 

 

  

 

—  3,517,458

—  4,843,968

—  3,825,510

 

 

 

  

4,843,968

3,825,510

3,979,775


   

—  1,012,875

—  

—  

 

 

 

   

—  

—  

—  

 

 

 

   

—  5,455,333

—  5,743,968

—  4,675,510

 

 



5,743,968

4,675,510
4,829,775



 

Harold W. Andrews, Jr.
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Secretary
   

20192020

20182019

20172018

 

 

 

   

550,000575,000

500,000550,000

500,000

 

 

 

  

 

1,306,750

1,810,378

1,499,778




251,850

—  

—  

 

 

 

   

1,810,37811,400

1,499,77811,200

1,932,44411,000

 

 

 

   

—  2,145,000

—  2,371,578

—  2,010,778

 

 


—  

—  

—  



11,200

11,000

10,800




2,371,578

2,010,778
2,443,244



 

Talya Nevo-Hacohen
Executive Vice President, Chief Investment Officer & Treasurer
   

20192020

20182019

20172018

 

 

 

   

550,000575,000

500,000550,000

500,000

 

 

 



1,508,034

1,810,378

1,499,778



   

—  

—  

—  

 

 

 

   

1,810,37811,400

1,499,77811,200

1,932,44411,000

 

 

 

   

—  2,094,434

—  2,371,578

—  2,010,778

 

 


—  

—  

—  



11,200

11,000

10,800




2,371,578

2,010,778
2,443,244



 

 

(1)

Annual Equity Awards. The amounts reported for 20192020 include the aggregate grant date fair value of the time-based stock units (“Time-Based Units”),Units, theFFO-based stock units (“FFO Units”)Units and the relative total stockholder return-based stock units (“TSR Units”)Units granted to the Named Executive Officers during 2019.2020.

The aggregate grant date fair value of these awards was computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, and excludes the effects of estimated forfeitures. The reported award values have been determined using the assumptions described in Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Sabra’s 20192020 Annual Report. The FFO Units are valued based on the probable outcome of the applicable performance conditions as determined on the grant date, which results in a grant date fair value for the FFO Units as follows: Mr. Matros ($680,038)700,146); Mr. Andrews ($220,006)220,044); and Ms. Nevo-Hacohen ($220,006)220,044). If we achieve the highest level of performance under the FFO Units, the grant date fair value for the FFO Units would increase to the following amounts: Mr. Matros ($1,360,077)1,400,293); Mr. Andrews ($440,011)440,089); and Ms. Nevo-Hacohen ($440,011)440,089).

20192020 Bonus Units. The amounts reported for 20192020 also include the aggregate grant date fair value of the bonus performance stock units (the “Bonus Units”)Bonus Units granted to the Named Executive OfficersMr. Andrews and Ms. Nevo-Hacohen under our 20192020 annual bonus program pursuant to an election by eachthe Named Executive Officer to receive all or a portion of his or her annual bonus in the form of an equity award rather than in the form of a cash payment.

The aggregate grant date fair value of the Bonus Units was computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 and excludes the effects of estimated forfeitures. The reported award values have been determined using the assumptions described in Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Sabra’s 20192020 Annual Report. The Bonus Units are valued based on the probable outcome of the applicable performance conditions as determined on the grant date, which results in a grant date fair value for the Bonus Units as follows: Mr. Matros ($1,471,030); Mr. Andrews ($719,158);201,269) and Ms. Nevo-Hacohen ($719,158)402,553). If we had achieved the highest level of performance under the Bonus Units, the grant date fair value for the Bonus Units would have increased to the following amounts: Mr. Matros ($2,942,060); Mr. Andrews ($1,438,316);402,538) and Ms. Nevo-Hacohen ($1,438,316)805,106).

Please see “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Material Elements of Compensation” above for a discussion of the components of our 20192020 equity awards and how these awards were determined.

 

(2)

Amount reported for 20192020 represents 401(k) plan matching contributions.

Description of Employment Agreements—Salary and Incentive Bonus Payments

At the end of 2019, we entered into new employment agreements with each of the Named Executive Officers. Each executive’s agreement has an initial three-year term. The initial term is extended for a new three-year term on each anniversary of the effective date, unless either party provides 60 days’ notice prior to the applicable anniversary of the effective date, in which case the agreement will terminate on the anniversary of the effective date occurring in the second year following the year in which such notice was provided. Each agreement is also subject to earlier termination in connection with an executive’s termination of employment.

Each executive’s employment agreement provides for an initial annual base salary to the executive that is subject to annual merit increases. Each executive’s agreement entitles the executive to an annual incentive bonus pursuant to the terms of our executive bonus plan, which for 20192020 was our 20192020 bonus program described above in “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Material Elements of Compensation—20192020 Annual Incentive Compensation.” Each executive’s agreement also provides that the executive is entitled to participate in our usual benefit programs for our senior executives, to accrue paid time off in accordance with our policy for senior executives and to be reimbursed for the executive’s business expenses.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards—20192020

The following table sets forth certain information concerning the cash bonus opportunities, Bonus Units, Time-Based Units, FFO Units and TSR Units that were granted to the Named Executive Officers during 2019.2020. All of these awards were granted under our 2009 Performance Incentive Plan.

 

Name

  Grant Date   Estimated Future Payouts
Under Equity Incentive
Plan Awards
   All Other
Stock
Awards;
Number
of Shares
of Stock
or Units
(#)
   Grant
Date
Fair Value
of Stock
and
Option
Awards
($)(1)
   Grant Date  

 

 

 

Estimated Future Payouts
Under Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Awards

 



 

 

 

 

 

Estimated Future Payouts
Under Equity Incentive
Plan Awards

 



 

  






All Other
Stock
Awards;
Number
of Shares
of Stock
or Units
(#)







 
  






Grant
Date
Fair Value
of Stock
and
Option
Awards
($)(1)







 
Threshold
(#)
   Target
(#)
   Maximum
(#)
   
Threshold
($)

 
  
Target
($)

 
  
Maximum
($)

 
  
Threshold
(#)

 
  
Target
(#)

 
  
Maximum
(#)

 

Richard K. Matros

                     

Bonus Units

   4/24/2019    55,146    68,933    137,866    —      1,471,030 

Cash Bonus

     1,156,250  2,312,500   —     —     —     —     —   

Time-Based Units

   12/24/2019    —      —      —      61,758    1,190,077  12/24/2020      —     —     —     —     —    83,350  1,225,245 

FFO Units

   12/24/2019    28,232    35,290    70,580    —      680,038  12/24/2020      —     —    15,717  47,629  95,258   —    700,146 

TSR Units

   12/24/2019    35,935    71,871    143,742    —      1,502,823  12/24/2020      —     —    37,986  84,415  168,830   —    1,592,067 

Harold W. Andrews, Jr.

                     

Bonus Units

   4/24/2019    26,960    33,700    67,400    —      719,158 

Cash Bonus/ Bonus Units

 7/29/2020     287,500  575,000   —    13,409  26,819   —    201,269 

Time-Based Units

   12/24/2019    —      —      —      19,980    385,015  12/24/2020      —     —     —     —     —    26,196  385,081 

FFO Units

   12/24/2019    9,133    11,417    22,834    —      220,006  12/24/2020      —     —    4,939  14,969  29,938   —    220,044 

TSR Units

   12/24/2019    11,626    23,252    46,504    —      486,199  12/24/2020      —     —    11,938  26,530  53,060   —    500,356 

Talya Nevo-Hacohen

                     

Bonus Units

   4/24/2019    26,960    33,700    67,400    —      719,158  7/29/2020      —     —     —    26,819  53,638   —    402,553 

Time-Based Units

   12/24/2019    —      —      —      19,980    385,015  12/24/2020      —     —     —     —     —    26,196  385,081 

FFO Units

   12/24/2019    9,133    11,417    22,834    —      220,006  12/24/2020      —     —    4,939  14,969  29,938   —    220,044 

TSR Units

   12/24/2019    11,626    23,252    46,504    —      486,199  12/24/2020      —     —    11,938  26,530  53,060   —    500,356 

 

(1)

For all equity awards reported above, amounts reported reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of these awards computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 based on the assumptions and methodologies referenced in footnote (1) of the “Summary Compensation Table—2017—2019,2018—2020,” and, in the case of the Bonus Units and FFO Units, the probable outcome of the applicable performance conditions. The amounts reported for these awards do not reflect whether the Named Executive Officer has actually realized or will realize a financial benefit from the awards (such as by vesting in an award).

Description of Annual Incentive Compensation Opportunity

During 2020, we granted each Named Executive Officer an annual incentive bonus opportunity and each Named Executive Officer elected before the start of 2020 whether to receive such bonus in the form of cash or as Bonus Units, or in a combination of cash and Bonus Units. Our annual incentive bonus plan is described in more detail above in “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Material Elements of Compensation—2020 Annual Incentive Compensation Opportunity.”

Description of Equity Awards

During 2019,2020, we granted each Named Executive Officer annual equity awards in the form of Time-Based Units, FFO Units and TSR Units, as well asand certain Named Executive Officers also elected to receive Bonus Units. Each stock unit subject to an award of Bonus Units,

Time-Based Units, FFO Units and TSR Units represents the contractual right to receive one share of Sabra’s common stock. All of these awards were granted under, and are subject to the terms of, our 2009 Performance Incentive Plan. Certain of the terms of these awards are briefly described above in “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Material Elements of Compensation—Long-Term Incentives.Incentives” and “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Material Elements of Compensation—2020 Annual Incentive Compensation Opportunity.

Outstanding Equity Awards at End of 20192020

The following table presents information regarding the outstanding equity awards held by each of our Named Executive Officers as of December 31, 2019,2020, including the vesting dates for the portions of these awards that had not vested as of that date. As described under “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis” above, these awards are also subject to a mandatory five-year deferral andone-year post-vesting holding period. For outstanding stock units that are entitled to receive dividend equivalents that are reinvested in an additional number of units that are subject to the same vesting requirements (including the applicable performance conditions) as the underlying units, the amounts reported include the additional units credited in respect of dividend equivalents as of December 31, 2019.2020.

 

   Stock Awards 

Name

  Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested
(#)
  Market
Value
of Shares
or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested
($)(1)
   Equity
Incentive Plan Awards:
Number of
Unearned Shares,
Units or
Other Rights That
Have Not
Vested
(#)
  Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards:
Market or Payout Value
of
Unearned Shares,
Units or
Other Rights That
Have Not
Vested
($)(1)
 

Richard K. Matros

   14,051 (2)   299,848    9,006 (7)   192,188 
   11,392 (3)   243,105    44,617 (8)   952,127 
   39,392 (4)   840,625    22,951 (9)   489,774 
   58,776 (5)   1,254,280    14,778 (10)   315,363��
   61,758 (6)   1,317,916    43,487 (11)   928,013 
      28,232 (12)   602,471 
      35,935 (13)   766,853 
  

 

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

  

 

 

 

Totals

   185,369   3,955,774    199,006   4,246,789 
  

 

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

  

 

 

 

Harold W. Andrews, Jr.

   6,386 (2)   136,277    4,002 (7)   85,403 
   5,174 (3)   110,413    19,829 (8)   423,151 
   17,504 (4)   373,535    15,300 (9)   326,502 
   21,549 (5)   459,856    5,418 (10)   115,620 
   19,980 (6)   426,373    15,945 (11)   340,266 
      9,133 (12)   194,898 
      11,626 (13)   248,099 
  

 

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

  

 

 

 

Totals

   70,593   1,506,454    81,253   1,733,939 
  

 

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

  

 

 

 

Talya Nevo-Hacohen

   6,386 (2)   136,277    4,002 (7)   85,403 
   5,174 (3)   110,413    19,829 (8)   423,151 
   17,504 (4)   373,535    15,300 (9)   326,502 
   21,549 (5)   459,856    5,418 (10)   115,620 
   19,980 (6)   426,373    15,945 (11)   340,266 
      9,133 (12)   194,898 
      11,626 (13)   248,099 
  

 

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

  

 

 

 

Totals

   70,593   1,506,454    81,253   1,733,939 
  

 

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

  

 

 

 

   Stock Awards 

Name

   





Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested
(#)






 
  







Market
Value
of Shares
or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested
($)(1)








 
   







Equity
Incentive Plan Awards:
Number of
Unearned Shares,
Units or
Other Rights That
Have Not
Vested
(#)








 
  









Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards:
Market or Payout Value
of
Unearned Shares,
Units or
Other Rights That
Have Not
Vested
($)(1)










 

Richard K. Matros

   21,397 (2)   371,666    16,055 (6)   278,875 
   42,565 (3)   739,354    188,980 (7)   3,282,583 
   50,320 (4)   874,058    12,651 (8)   219,748 
   83,350 (5)   1,447,790    156,160 (9)   2,712,499 
      15,717 (10)   273,004 
      168,830 (11)   2,932,577 
  

 

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

  

 

 

 

Totals

   197,632   3,432,868    558,393   9,699,286 
  

 

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

  

 

 

 

Harold W. Andrews, Jr.

   9,507 (2)   165,137    5,886 (6)   102,240 
   15,605 (3)   271,059    69,292 (7)   1,203,602 
   16,279 (4)   282,766    4,092 (8)   71,078 
   26,196 (5)   455,025    50,520 (9)   877,532 
      4,939 (10)   85,790 
      53,060 (11)   921,652 
  

 

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

  

 

 

 

Totals

   67,587   1,173,987    187,789   3,261,894 
  

 

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

  

 

 

 

Talya Nevo-Hacohen

   9,507 (2)   165,137    5,886 (6)   102,240 
   15,605 (3)   271,059    69,292 (7)   1,203,602 
   16,279 (4)   282,766    4,092 (8)   71,078 
   26,196 (5)   455,025    50,520 (9)   877,532 
      4,939 (10)   85,790 
      53,060 (11)   921,652 
  

 

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

  

 

 

 

Totals

   67,587   1,173,987    187,789   3,261,894 
  

 

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

(1)

The dollar amounts shown are determined by multiplying the number of shares or units reported by the closing price of our common stock of $21.34$17.37 on December 31, 2019,2020, which was the last trading day in 2019.2020.

(2)

Represents Time-Based Units that wereare scheduled to vest on January 10, 2020.December 31, 2021.

(3)

Represents Time-Based Units that are scheduled to vest in substantially equal installments on December 31, 2020.2021 and December 31, 2022.

(4)

Represents Time-Based Units that are scheduled to vest in substantially equal installments on December 31, 20202021, December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021.2023.

(5)

Represents Time-Based Units that are scheduled to vest in substantially equal installments on December 31, 2020, December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2022.

(6)

Represents Time-Based Units that are scheduled to vest in substantially equal installments on December 31, 2020, December 31, 2021, December 31, 2022, December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2023.2024.

(7)

Represents FFO Units that, subject to the satisfaction of the applicable performance vesting requirements, are scheduled to vest on December 31, 2020. Amount shown is the threshold vesting level.

(8)

Represents TSR Units that, subject to the satisfaction of the applicable performance vesting requirements, are scheduled to vest on December 31, 2020. Amount shown is the threshold vesting level.

(9)

Represents TSR Units with respect to the special TSR Unit award granted in December 2017 that, subject to the satisfaction of the applicable performance vesting requirements, are scheduled to vest on December 31, 2020. Amount shown is the threshold vesting level.

(10)(6)

Represents FFO Units that, subject to the satisfaction of the applicable performance vesting requirements, are scheduled to vest on December 31, 2021. Amount shown is the threshold vesting level.

(11)(7)

Represents TSR Units that, subject to the satisfaction of the applicable performance vesting requirements, are scheduled to vest on December 31, 2021. Amount shown is the thresholdmaximum vesting level.

(12)(8)

Represents FFO Units that, subject to the satisfaction of the applicable performance vesting requirements, are scheduled to vest on December 31, 2022. Amount shown is the threshold vesting level.

(13)(9)

Represents TSR Units that, subject to the satisfaction of the applicable performance vesting requirements, are scheduled to vest on December 31, 2022. Amount shown is the maximum vesting level.

(10)

Represents FFO Units that, subject to the satisfaction of the applicable performance vesting requirements, are scheduled to vest on December 31, 2023. Amount shown is the threshold vesting level.

(11)

Represents TSR Units that, subject to the satisfaction of the applicable performance vesting requirements, are scheduled to vest on December 31, 2023. Amount shown is the maximum vesting level.

Stock Vested—20192020

The following table provides information concerning shares of our common stock acquired by the Named Executive Officers upon the vesting of stock awards during the 20192020 calendar year.

 

  Stock Awards    Stock Awards 

Name

  Number of Shares
Acquired on
Vesting (#)
   Value Realized on
Vesting ($)(1)(2)
    

Number of Shares
Acquired on
Vesting (#)


 
   
Value Realized on
Vesting ($)(1)(2)

 

Richard K. Matros

   174,954    3,691,043    246,538    4,326,353 

Harold W. Andrews, Jr.

   80,100    1,690,041    130,008    2,278,581 

Talya Nevo-Hacohen

   80,100    1,690,041    142,770    2,500,264 

 

(1)

The dollar amounts are determined by multiplying the number of shares subject to the stock award that vested by theper-share closing price of our common stock on the vesting date.

(2)

Includes the following amounts relating to stock awards that vested but the payment of which was deferred pursuant to the mandatory five-year deferral feature on the Named Executive Officers’ long-term equity awards described under “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis” above: Mr. Matros, $2,129,383;$3,671,497; Mr. Andrews, $926,594;$1,536,330; and Ms. Nevo-Hacohen, $926,594.$1,314,646.

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table—20192020

The following table provides information concerning stock units granted to the Named Executive Officers that are vested but have not yet converted to shares of Sabra common stock in accordance with the terms of the award. The stock units included in the following table remain subject to the mandatory five-year deferral, as described under “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis” above.

 

Name

 Executive
Contributions
in Last FY
($)(1)
 Registrant
Contributions in
Last FY ($)
 Aggregate
Earnings in Last
FY ($)(2)
 Aggregate
Withdrawals/
Distributions
($)(3)
 Aggregate
Balance at Last
FYE ($)(4)
    


Executive
Contributions
in Last FY
($)(1)
 
 
 
 
 Registrant
Contributions in
Last FY ($)
  

Aggregate
Earnings in Last
FY ($)(2)
 
 
 
  


Aggregate
Withdrawals/
Distributions
($)(3)
 
 
 
 
  

Aggregate
Balance at Last
FYE ($)(4)
 
 
 

Richard K. Matros

 Stock Units 3,046,221   —    301,293   —    3,988,965  Stock Units 4,647,674   (122,823 (86,201 8,427,615 

Harold W. Andrews, Jr.

 Stock Units 1,343,716   —    135,759   —    1,768,057  Stock Units 630,818   (51,386 (39,150 2,308,339 

Talya Nevo-Hacohen

 Stock Units 1,343,716   —    135,759   —    1,768,057  Stock Units 630,818   (51,386 (39,150 2,308,339 

 

(1)

Stock unit contributions represent the portion of the stock units granted to the Named Executive Officers that vestvested in 20192020 but that remainremained subject to the mandatory five-year deferral. The amounts included in this column have previously been reported in the Summary Compensation Table.

(2)

Represents (i) the amount of the dividend equivalents in the form of additional stock units credited in 20192020 with respect to the award (which are paid to the award holder at the time that the underlying award converts to shares, subject to the same cancellation provisions as the underlying award) and (ii) the change in the

closing price of our common stock on December 31, 20192020 compared to December 29, 2018.31, 2019. The amounts included in this column have not previously been reported in the Summary Compensation Table because the earnings are not preferential.

(3)

Stock unit withdrawals/distributions represent the portion of the stock units granted to the Named Executive Officers that had vested and were distributed to the Named Executive Officers upon satisfaction of the mandatory five-year deferral.

(4)

Represents the number of vested stock units held by the Named Executive Officer on December 31, 20192020 multiplied by the closing price of our common stock on December 31, 2019.2020.

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

The following section describes the benefits that may become payable to the Named Executive Officers in connection with a termination of their employment with us and/or a change in control of Sabra. These benefits are generally provided under the Named Executive Officers’ employment agreements or under the terms governing outstanding equity-based awards. For each Named Executive Officer, payment of the severance benefits provided for under his or her employment agreement is conditioned upon the executive’s execution and delivery of (and not revoking) a general release in favor of us. All of the benefits described below would be provided by us. Please see “—Compensation Discussion and Analysis” above for a discussion of how the level of these benefits was determined.

Severance Benefits—Employment Agreements. In the event that a Named Executive Officer’s employment is terminated by us without “good cause” or by the executive for “good reason” (as those terms are defined in each executive’s employment agreement), each executive will be entitled to receive the following benefits under his or her employment agreement:

 

a lump sum cash severance payment equal to his or her annual base salary then in effect plus his or her average bonus actually earned (which includes the value of Bonus Units on the vesting date) for the prior three calendar years multiplied by a severance multiplier (equal to 2.25 for Mr. Matros and 1.5 for each of Mr. Andrews and Ms. Nevo-Hacohen);

 

any accrued and unpaid bonus for any prior fiscal year;

 

a prorated bonus payment for the year in which the termination occurs based on actual performance, with any bonus earned becoming payable within seventy-four days after the completion of the year in which the executive’s termination occurs; and

continued coverage for the executive and his or her family members under our health plans or, at the executive’s option, a monthly cash payment equal to the applicable COBRA premium for such continued coverage, for up to 24 months for Mr. Matros and up to 18 months for each of Mr. Andrews and Ms. Nevo-Hacohen.

Under the employment agreements, if a Named Executive Officer’s employment is terminated by us without good cause or by the executive for good reason on or within two years following a change in control of Sabra (including a termination by us without good cause that occurs up to six months prior to a change in control at the request of the party seeking to effect the change in control), each executive will be entitled to receive the following benefits under his or her employment agreementin lieu of the benefits described above:

 

a lump sum cash severance payment equal to his or her annual base salary plus his or her average bonus actually earned (which includes the value of Bonus Units on the vesting date) for the prior three calendar years multiplied by a severance multiplier (equal to 2.25 for Mr. Matros and two for each of Mr. Andrews and Ms. Nevo-Hacohen);

 

any accrued and unpaid bonus for any prior fiscal year;

 

a prorated target bonus payment for the year in which the termination occurs calculated assuming we achieve 100% of the applicable financial performance target(s), with any bonus earned becoming payable within seventy-four days after the completion of the year in which the executive’s termination occurs; and

payable within seventy-four days after the completion of the year in which the executive’s termination occurs; and

 

continued coverage for the executive and his or her family members under our health plans or, at the executive’s option, a monthly cash payment equal to the applicable COBRA premium for such continued coverage, for up to 24 months.

However, the benefits described above may be limited—if any payments under an executive’s employment agreement or otherwise trigger the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, payments to the executive will be reduced as provided in the agreement to a level that does not trigger the excise tax if the total aftertax-benefit of such reduction exceeds the total aftertax-benefit if such reduction is not made.

If a Named Executive Officer’s employment terminates due to his or her death or disability, the executive will be paid any accrued and unpaid bonus for any prior fiscal year, and a prorated bonus payment for the year in which the termination occurs.

Restrictive Covenants. The employment agreements with the Named Executive Officers include each executive’s agreement that he or she will not disclose any of our confidential information at any time during or after employment. In addition, each executive has agreed that, for a period of 18 months following a termination of employment for Mr. Matros and for a period of one year following a termination of employment for each of Mr. Andrews and Ms. Nevo-Hacohen, he or she will not solicit our employees or customers or materially interfere with any of our business relationships. Each agreement also includes mutualnon-disparagement covenants by the Named Executive Officer and us. If a Named Executive Officer breaches any of these restrictive covenants, we may generally cease further payment of the executive’s severance benefits and recover any severance benefits that were paid to the executive before the breach.

Accelerated Vesting – Equity Awards. Outstanding equity awards granted to the Named Executive Officers under our 2009 Performance Incentive Plan will be subject to accelerated vesting in connection with certain types of terminations of employment, as described below:

 

Time-Based Units. If an executive’s employment terminates due to death or disability, or as a result of a termination by us without good cause or by the executive for good reason within 30 days prior to or 18 months after a change in control of Sabra, any unvested Time-Based Units and other stock-units granted by Sabra that vest based on continued employment will become fully vested. In addition to becoming vested in connection with a termination of employment by us without good cause or by the executive for good reason related to a change in control, the Time-Based Units granted in 2017 will also become fully vested upon such an involuntary termination prior to a change in control.

executive for good reason related to a change in control, the Time-Based Units granted in 2017 will also become fully vested upon such an involuntary termination prior to a change in control.

 

FFO Units. If an executive’s employment terminates due to death or disability, or as a result of a termination by us without good cause or by the executive for good reason within 30 days prior to or 18 months after a change in control of Sabra, the executive’s target number of FFO Units will become fully vested.

 

TSR Units. If an executive’s employment terminates due to death or disability, the executive’s target number of TSR Units will become fully vested. If an executive’s employment terminates as a result of a termination by us without good cause or by the executive for good reason within 30 days prior to or 18 months after a change in control of Sabra, then any TSR Units earned based on actual performance will become fully vested.

The following table provides information concerning the potential termination or change in control payments that would be made to each Named Executive Officer under the circumstances described above. As prescribed by the SEC’s disclosure rules, in calculating the amount of any potential payments to the Named Executive Officers, we have assumed that the applicable triggering event (i.e., termination of employment and/or change in control) occurred on December 31, 2019.2020. In the following table, we use the term “involuntary termination” to refer to a termination by us without good cause or by the executive for good reason.

 

  Cash
Severance
($)(1)
   Equity
Acceleration
Value
($)(2)(3)
   Health
Benefits
($)
   Total
($)(4)
    

Cash
Severance
($)(1)


 
   


Equity
Acceleration
Value
($)(2)(3)



 
   

Health
Benefits
($)


 
   
Total
($)(4)

 

Richard K. Matros

                

Death or Disability

   —      12,899,048    —      12,899,048    —      13,634,912    —      13,634,912 

Involuntary Termination

   4,120,520    840,625    64,064    5,025,209    4,903,949    371,666    70,587    5,346,202 

Involuntary Termination in Connection with Change in Control

   4,120,520    12,899,048    64,064    17,083,632    4,903,949    13,634,912    70,587    18,609,448 

Harold W. Andrews, Jr.

                

Death or Disability

   —      5,203,652    —      5,203,652    —      5,164,205    —      5,164,205 

Involuntary Termination

   1,444,095    373,535    49,659    1,867,289    1,762,491    165,137    56,052    1,983,680 

Involuntary Termination in Connection with Change in Control

   1,925,460    5,203,652    66,212    7,195,324    2,349,988    5,164,205    74,736    7,588,929 

Talya Nevo-Hacohen

                

Death or Disability

   —      5,203,652    —      5,203,652    —      5,164,205    —      5,164,205 

Involuntary Termination

   1,444,095    373,535    43,083    1,860,713    1,748,360    165,137    49,037    1,962,534 

Involuntary Termination in Connection with Change in Control

   1,925,460    5,203,652    57,444    7,186,556    2,331,146    5,164,205    65,383    7,560,734 

 

(1)

None of the Named Executive Officers would have been entitled to an additionalpro-rated bonus payment from us for a termination of employment occurring at the end of the 20192020 calendar year, so thepro-rated bonus-based severance provisions contained in each executive’s employment agreement would not result in any additional severance amounts for a termination occurring at year end.

(2)

Based upon the closing price of our common stock ($21.34)17.37) on December 31, 2019,2020, which was the last trading day in 2019.2020.

(3)

For TSR Units, we have assumed that the target number of units would become vested in connection with a change in control, although the actual number of TSR Units that would become vested in connection with a change in control is based on actual performance, and could be higher or lower than the target number of units.

(4)

We have assumed that no Named Executive Officer’s severance benefits would be “cut back” under his or her employment agreement in order to obtain the greatest aftertax-benefit after giving effect to the excise

tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code. The actual severance benefits payable to the Named Executive Officers may be less than the amounts reported above as a result of the application of this“cut-back.”

Pay Ratio Disclosure

Pursuant to the Exchange Act, we are required to disclose in this Proxy Statement the ratio of the annual total compensation of our Chief Executive Officer to the median of the annual total compensation of all of our employees (excluding our Chief Executive Officer). Based on SEC rules for this disclosure and applying the methodology described below, we have determined that our Chief Executive Officer’s total compensation for 20192020 was $5,743,968,$5,455,333, and the median of the total 20192020 compensation of all of our employees (excluding our Chief Executive Officer) was $176,917.$204,370. Accordingly, we estimate the ratio of our Chief Executive Officer’s total compensation for 20192020 to the median of the total 20192020 compensation of all of our employees (excluding our Chief Executive Officer) to be 32.526.7 to 1.

We identified the median employee by taking into account the total gross wages as reported on FormW-2 paid in 20192020 to all individuals, excluding our Chief Executive Officer, who were employed by us on December 31, 2019.2020. We included all employees, whether employed on a full-time, part-time, or seasonal basis. We did not make any assumptions, adjustments or estimates with respect to their total gross wages for 2019,2020, although we did annualize the compensation for any permanent employees who were not employed by us for all of 2019.2020. We believe total gross wages for all employees is an appropriate measure.

Once the median employee was identified as described above, that employee’s annual total compensation for 20192020 was determined using the same rules that apply to reporting the compensation of our Named Executive Officers (including our Chief Executive Officer) in the “Total” column of the “Summary Compensation Table—2017—2019”2018—2020” above. The total compensation amounts included in the first paragraph of this pay ratio disclosure were determined based on that methodology.

We believe that the pay ratio disclosure presented above is a reasonable estimate. Because the SEC rules for identifying the median employee and calculating the pay ratio allow companies to use different methodologies, exemptions, estimates and assumptions, the pay ratio disclosure may not be comparable to the pay ratio reported by other REITs or other public companies.

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

The following table sets forth, for Sabra’s equity compensation plan, the number of shares of common stock subject to outstanding awards and the number of shares remaining available for future award grants as of December 31, 2019.2020. Sabra’s equity compensation plan is the 2009 Performance Incentive Plan.

 

Plan category

�� Number of
securities
to be issued upon
exercise of
outstanding
options, warrants
and rights

(a)
 Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding
options, warrants
and rights

(b)
   Number of securities
remaining available
for future issuance
under equity
compensation plans
(excluding securities
reflected in Column (a))

(c)
    






Number of
securities
to be issued upon
exercise of
outstanding
options, warrants
and rights

(a)






 
 

 

  




Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding
options, warrants
and rights

(b)



 
 
 

 

   






Number of securities
remaining available
for future issuance
under equity
compensation plans
(excluding securities
reflected in Column (a))

(c)







 

 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

   2,641,078 (1)(2)  N/A    487,152 (3)    3,000,696 (1)(2)  N/A    8,289,115 (3) 

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

   —     —      —      —     —      —   
  

 

  

 

   

 

   

 

  

 

   

 

 

Totals

   2,641,078   N/A    487,152    3,000,696   N/A    8,289,115 
  

 

  

 

   

 

   

 

  

 

   

 

 

 

(1)

All of these shares were subject to outstanding stock unit awards under the 2009 Performance Incentive Plan.

(2)

Reflects the maximum number of shares potentially issuable in connection with awards subject to performance-based vesting conditions.

(3)

Of the aggregate number of shares that remained available for future issuance, all were available under the 2009 Performance Incentive Plan and may be used for any type of award authorized under the 2009 Performance Incentive Plan, including stock options, stock units, restricted stock and stock bonuses. This table does not reflect the approximately 8,402,848 additional shares that will be available under the 2009 Performance Incentive Plan if stockholders approve the 2009 Performance Incentive Plan proposal.

TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS

Our Board of Directors has adopted a written Related Person Transaction Policy. The purpose of this policy is to describe the procedures used to identify, review, approve and disclose, if necessary, any transaction, arrangement or relationship (or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships) in which (x) Sabra was, is or will be a participant, (y) the aggregate amount involved exceeds $120,000 and (z) a related person has or will have a direct or indirect interest. For purposes of this policy, a related person is (i) any person who is, or at any time since the beginning of Sabra’s last fiscal year was, an executive officer, director or director nominee of Sabra, (ii) any person who is known to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of Sabra’s common stock, (iii) any immediate family member of any of the foregoing persons, or (iv) any firm, corporation or other entity in which any of the foregoing persons is employed or is a general partner or principal or in a similar position, or in which all the related persons, in the aggregate, have a 10% or greater beneficial interest.

Under this policy, Sabra’s Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving or ratifying each related person transaction or proposed transaction; provided, however, that if the transaction falls within one of certain specifiedpre-approved categories, it shall not require review by the Audit Committee and shall be deemed to have beenpre-approved by the Audit Committee. In determining whether to approve or ratify a related person transaction, the Audit Committee is required to consider all relevant facts and circumstances of the related person transaction available to the Audit Committee and to approve only those related person transactions that are in, or not inconsistent with, the best interests of Sabra and its stockholders, as the Audit Committee determines in good faith. No member of the Audit Committee is permitted to participate in any consideration of a related person transaction with respect to which that member or any of his or her immediate family is a related person.

DELINQUENT SECTION 16(a) REPORTS

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors and executive officers, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of our equity securities, to file with the SEC reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of our equity securities. To our knowledge, based solely on our review of Forms 3, 4 and 5 reports, including any amendments thereto, electronically filed with the SEC during or with respect to 20192020 and written responses to annual directors’ and officers’ questionnaires that no other reports were required, all Section 16(a) reports required to be filed during 20192020 were timely filed, with the exception of a Form 4 filed by each of Messrs. Barbarosh andMr. Ettl to report an award ofstock-for-fees granted on June 28, 2019 and a Form 4 filed by Mr. Foster to report athe sale of shares of our common stock on August 14, 2019.March 6, 2020.

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors is composed of Messrs. Barbarosh, Foster, Geary, Malehorn and Walters. All members of the Audit Committee are independent directors who satisfy the requirements of Section 10A(m)(3) of the Exchange Act and Rule10A-3(b)(1)(i) thereunder and the Nasdaq rules. The Audit Committee held five meetings during 2019.2020. The Audit Committee assists the Board in performing its oversight responsibilities for our financial reporting process, audit process and internal controls as more fully described in the written charter of the Audit Committee, a copy of which is available in the Investors—Corporate Governance section of our website atwww.sabrahealth.com. www.sabrahealth.com. Management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and the reporting process, including the system of internal controls. Our independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for performing an independent audit of our consolidated financial statements and internal control over financial reporting in accordance with the auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and to issue a report thereon.

In the performance of its oversight function, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 20192020 with management and with our independent registered public accounting firm. In addition, the Audit Committee discussed with our independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and the SEC, which includes, among other items, matters related to the conduct of the audit of our financial statements. The Audit Committee has also received and reviewed the written disclosures and the letter from our independent registered public accounting firm required by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the accounting firm’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence and has discussed with our independent registered public accounting firm that firm’s independence and considered whether thenon-audit services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm are compatible with maintaining its independence.

Based on the review and discussions with management and our independent registered public accounting firm described above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in our 20192020 Annual Report filed with the SEC.

Audit Committee of the Board of Directors

Craig A. Barbarosh (Chair)

Michael J. Foster

Ronald G. Geary

Jeffrey A. Malehorn

Milton J. Walters

The foregoing report of the Audit Committee does not constitute soliciting material and shall not be deemed filed, incorporated by reference into or a part of any other filing by Sabra (including any future filings) under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except to the extent Sabra specifically incorporates such report by reference therein.

AUDIT INFORMATION

Fees Paid to Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The table below shows the aggregate fees for services rendered by PwC for the fiscal years ended December 31, 20192020 and December 31, 2018.2019. PwC has served as Sabra’s independent registered public accounting firm since December 16, 2010.

 

Description of Professional Service

  2019   2018    2020    2019 

Audit Fees – professional services rendered for the audit of Sabra’s consolidated financial statements and review of the interim condensed consolidated financial statements included in quarterly filings and services that are normally provided by PwC in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements

  $1,296,559   $1,095,196   $1,175,650   $1,296,559 

Audit-Related Fees – assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of Sabra’s consolidated financial statements

   —      —      —      —   

Tax Fees – professional services rendered for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning (1)

   526,267    439,744    452,292    526,267 

All Other Fees – products and services other than those reported as “Audit Fees,” “Audited-Related Fees” or “Tax Fees”

   —      —      —      —   
  

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

 

Total

  $1,822,826   $1,534,940   $1,627,942   $1,822,826 
  

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

 

 

(1)

Tax fees in 20192020 and 20182019 consisted of acquisition related tax due diligence structuring and general consulting, as well asstructuring, general tax planning and restructuring, review ofconsulting regarding REIT status and qualification, state and local planning and consultations, other tax consultations and in 2019 also included review of private letter rulings.ruling implementations and requests.

Audit CommitteePre-Approval Policies and Procedures

Under its charter, the Audit Committee mustpre-approve all audit and permittednon-audit services to be performed by our independent registered public accounting firm. Suchpre-approval can be given as part of the Audit Committee’s approval of the scope of the engagement of the independent registered public accounting firm or on an individual basis. The Audit Committee is authorized to delegate thepre-approval of permittednon-audit services to one or more of its members and, pursuant to this authority, the Audit Committee has authorized the Chairman of the Audit Committee, Mr. Barbarosh, topre-approve interim requests fornon-audit services, provided that any decisions topre-approve anynon-audit services must be presented to the full Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting. The Audit Committeepre-approved all of thenon-audit services provided by PwC in 20192020 and 2018.2019.

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

(Proposal No. 1)

Nominees for Election

The Board of Directors currently consists of nineeleven members. Upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Governance Committee, the Board has nominated Craig A. Barbarosh, Robert A. Ettl,Katie Cusack, Michael J. Foster, Ronald G. Geary, Lynne S. Katzmann, Ann Kono, Raymond J. Lewis, Jeffrey A. Malehorn, Richard K. Matros, Clifton J. Porter II and Milton J. Walters for election to the Board. All of our director nominees are currently directors of Sabra. Information about each of our director nominees, including biographical summaries of their experience and qualifications, can be found in this Proxy Statement under the caption “Board of Directors and Executive Officers—Directors of the Company.”

In recommending director nominees for selection by the Board, the Nominating and Governance Committee considers a number of factors, which are described in more detail above under “Corporate Governance—Director Nomination Process.” In considering these factors, the Nominating and Governance Committee and the Board consider the fit of each individual’s skills with those of other directors to build a board of directors that is effective, collegial and responsive to the needs of our company.

Each of the nominees for election has consented to be named in this Proxy Statement and to serve as a director if elected. If any nominee becomes unable or unwilling for good cause to serve as a director for any reason (which is not anticipated), your proxy may be voted for such other person or persons as may be determined by the holders of such proxies or for the balance of the nominees, leaving a vacancy, unless our Board of Directors chooses to reduce the number of directors serving on the Board of Directors. Each of the directors who are elected will serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his successor is elected and qualified.

Majority Voting Standard

Our Bylaws provide for a majority voting standard for the election of directors. Under this majority voting standard, once a quorum has been established, each director nominee receiving a majority of the votes cast with respect to his or her election (that is, the number of votes cast FOR the nominee exceeds the number of votes cast AGAINST the nominee) will be elected as a director. The majority voting standard does not apply, however, in a contested election where the number of director nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected. In such circumstances, directors will instead be elected by a plurality of the votes cast, meaning that the persons receiving the highest number of FOR votes, up to the total number of directors to be elected at the meeting, will be elected.

In the case of an uncontested election where the number of director nominees does not exceed the number of directors to be elected, if a nominee who is then serving as a director is not elected at the meeting by the requisite majority of the votes cast, under Maryland law, the director would continue to serve on the Board of Directors as a “holdover director.” To address this holdover issue, as required by our Bylaws, each director has submitted an irrevocable letter of resignation that becomes effective if the director is not elected by stockholders and the Board of Directors accepts the resignation. If a director is not elected, the Nominating and Governance Committee will consider the facts and circumstances relating to the election and the resignation and recommend to the Board of Directors, within 60 days following certification of the election results, whether the resignation should be accepted or rejected or whether other action should be taken. The Board of Directors must decide whether to accept or reject the resignation within 90 days following certification of the election results, taking into account the recommendation of the Nominating and Governance Committee, and shall publicly disclose its decision. A nominee who was not already serving as a director and is not elected at the meeting by a majority of the votes cast with respect to such director’s election will not be elected to our Board of Directors.

The election of directors at the Annual Meeting is not contested. Therefore, in accordance with the majority voting standard, director nominees will be elected at the Annual Meeting by a majority of the votes cast. Stockholders are not permitted to cumulate their shares for the purpose of electing directors.

Recommendation of the Board

Our Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR each of the nineeleven nominees for director.

APPROVAL OF AMENDMENTS TO THE SABRA HEALTH CARE REIT, INC.

2009 PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE PLAN

(Proposal No. 2)

General

On April 14, 2020, our Board of Directors provided their approval for us to amend, subject to approval by our stockholders, the Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc. 2009 Performance Incentive Plan (the “2009 Plan”). As of December 31, 2019, only 487,152 shares of common stock remained available for new award grants under the 2009 Plan. We may not increase the 2009 Plan share limit without stockholder approval.

As of March 31, 2020, Sabra had a total of 37 employees. As discussed above in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this Proxy Statement, a key feature of our executive compensation program continues to be our long-term equity award program established under the 2009 Plan. The long-term equity award program is currently designed to reward performance – currently, 65% of the grant date equity award value for each participant’s annual award is performance-based, with 70% of the performance-based awards contingent on our relative TSR performance and 30% of the performance-based awards contingent on our FFO performance, and all awards are payable in shares of our common stock that may increase or decrease in value during the performance period. All 37 of our employees are eligible to participate in our long-term equity award program under the 2009 Plan as we believe it is important to align the interests of all of our employees with those of our stockholders.

At the Annual Meeting, our stockholders will be asked to approve the following amendments to the existing 2009 Plan:

Increase in Aggregate Share Limit. The 2009 Plan currently limits the aggregate number of shares of our common stock that may be delivered pursuant to awards granted under the 2009 Plan to (1) 3,350,000 shares, less (2) the number of any shares subject to awards granted under the 2009 Plan after December 31, 2016 and on or before June 20, 2017 (with any “full value awards” counting as 1.25 shares against the share limit), plus (3) any shares that become available as a result of forfeitures, cash settlements or otherwise pursuant to the share counting rules contained in the 2009 Plan. If our stockholders approve this 2009 Plan proposal, the share limit for new awards will equal (1) 8,890,000 shares, less (2) the number of any shares subject to awards granted under the 2009 Plan after December 31, 2019 and on or before the date of the Annual Meeting (with any “full value awards” counting as 1.25 shares against the share limit), plus (3) any shares that become available as a result of forfeitures, cash settlements or otherwise pursuant to the share counting rules contained in the 2009 Plan. The proposed amendments would also increase the limit on the number of shares that may be delivered pursuant to “incentive stock options” granted under the 2009 Plan by 8,000,000 shares.

Extension of Plan Term. The 2009 Plan is currently scheduled to expire on April 20, 2027. The proposed amendments would extend our ability to grant new awards under the 2009 Plan until April 13, 2030.

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017 removed the performance-based compensation deductibility exception under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”). The proposed amendments would remove certain provisions of the 2009 Plan that provided flexibility to grant performance-based compensation intended to satisfy the compensation deductibility exception under Section 162(m) of the Code since that deductibility exception is no longer applicable to any new award grant. Sabra may continue to grant performance-based awards under the 2009 Plan; only the provisions related to the performance-based compensation exception of Section 162(m) have been removed since that exception no longer applies to new award grants.

The proposed amendments to the 2009 Plan would increase the reserved shares of our common stock under the plan by approximately 8,402,848 shares (which is the 8,890,000 new total share authorization less the 487,152 shares that remained available under the 2009 Plan at December 31, 2019). Based solely on the closing price of our common stock as reported by Nasdaq on March 31, 2020, the maximum aggregate market value of the additional 8,402,848 new shares of common stock that could be issued under the 2009 Plan is approximately $91.8 million. All of the share numbers reported in this paragraph are actual share amounts, and do not give effect to the 1.25 to 1 fungible share counting ratio contained in the 2009 Plan that is described in more detail below.

The shares we issue under the amended 2009 Plan will be issued out of our authorized but unissued shares.

The long-term equity award program established under the 2009 Plan is designed to reward performance and to align the interests of all of our employees with those of our stockholders. Our Board of Directors approved the foregoing amendments based on a belief that the number of shares of our common stock available for new award grants under the 2009 Plan does not give us sufficient authority and flexibility to adequately provide for future incentives. Our Board of Directors believes that these amendments will allow us to continue to grant awards under the 2009 Plan that are payable in shares of common stock and will give us greater flexibility to structure future incentives.

If our stockholders do not approve this 2009 Plan proposal, the current share limits will continue in effect, the plan term will not be extended, and the other terms and conditions of the 2009 Plan will remain in effect.

Approval of this Proposal No. 2 by stockholders is not conditioned on stockholder approval of Proposal No. 3, and approval of Proposal No. 3 by stockholders is not conditioned on stockholder approval of this Proposal No. 2.

Summary Description of the 2009 Plan

The principal terms of the 2009 Plan, as proposed to be amended, are summarized below. The following summary is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the 2009 Plan, as proposed to be amended, which appears as Appendix B to this Proxy Statement.

Purpose. The purpose of the 2009 Plan is to promote the success of Sabra and the interests of our stockholders by providing an additional means for us to attract, motivate, retain and reward directors, officers, employees and other eligible persons through the grant of awards and incentives for high levels of individual performance and improved financial performance of Sabra. Equity-based awards are also intended to further align the interests of award recipients and our stockholders.

Administration. Our Board of Directors or one or more committees appointed by our Board of Directors will administer the 2009 Plan. Our Board of Directors has delegated general administrative authority for the 2009 Plan to the Compensation Committee. A committee may delegate some or all of its authority with respect to the 2009 Plan to another committee of directors, and certain limited authority to grant awards to employees may be delegated to one or more officers of Sabra. (The appropriate acting body, be it the Board of Directors, a committee within its delegated authority, or an officer within his or her delegated authority, is referred to in this proposal as the “Administrator.”)

The Administrator has broad authority under the 2009 Plan with respect to award grants including, without limitation, the authority:

to select participants and determine the type(s) of award(s) that they are to receive;

to grant awards and determine the terms and conditions of awards, including the price (if any) to be paid for the shares or the award and, in the case of share-based awards, the number of shares to be offered or awarded;

to determine any applicable vesting and exercise conditions for awards (including any applicable performance and/or time-based vesting or exercisability conditions) and the extent to which such conditions have been satisfied, or determine that no delayed vesting or exercise is required, to determine the circumstances in which any performance-based goals (or the applicable measure of performance) will be adjusted and the nature and impact of any such adjustment, to establish the events (if any) on which exercisability or vesting may accelerate (including specified terminations of employment or service or other circumstances), and to accelerate or extend the vesting or exercisability or extend the term of any or all outstanding awards (subject in the case of options and stock appreciation rights to the maximum term of the award);

to cancel, modify, or waive Sabra’s rights with respect to, or modify, discontinue, suspend, or terminate any or all outstanding awards, subject to any required consents;

subject to the other provisions of the 2009 Plan, to make certain adjustments to an outstanding award and to authorize the conversion, succession or substitution of an award;

to determine the method of payment of any purchase price for an award or shares of Sabra’s common stock delivered under the 2009 Plan, as well as anytax-related items with respect to an award, which may be in the form of cash, check, or electronic funds transfer, by the delivery of already-owned shares of Sabra’s common stock or by a reduction of the number of shares deliverable pursuant to the award, by services rendered by the recipient of the award, by notice and third party payment or cashless exercise on such terms as the Administrator may authorize, or any other form permitted by law;

to modify the terms and conditions of any award, establishsub-plans and agreements and determine different terms and conditions that the Administrator deems necessary or advisable to comply with laws in the countries where Sabra or one of its subsidiaries operates or where one or more eligible participants reside or provide services;

to approve the form of any award agreements used under the 2009 Plan; and

to construe and interpret the 2009 Plan, make rules for the administration of the 2009 Plan, and make all other determinations for the administration of the 2009 Plan.

No Repricing. In no case (except due to an adjustment to reflect a stock split or other event referred to under “Adjustments” below, or any repricing that may be approved by stockholders) will the Administrator (1) amend an outstanding stock option or stock appreciation right to reduce the exercise price or base price of the award, (2) cancel, exchange, or surrender an outstanding stock option or stock appreciation right in exchange for cash or other awards for the purpose of repricing the award, or (3) cancel, exchange, or surrender an outstanding stock option or stock appreciation right in exchange for an option or stock appreciation right with an exercise or base price that is less than the exercise or base price of the original award.

Eligibility. Persons eligible to receive awards under the 2009 Plan include officers or employees of Sabra or any of our subsidiaries, directors of Sabra, and certain consultants and advisors to Sabra or any of our subsidiaries. Currently, our 37 officers and employees (including all of the Named Executive Officers) and each of our 8non-employee directors are considered eligible under the 2009 Plan.

Authorized Shares; Limits on Awards.

The current maximum number of shares of our common stock that may be delivered pursuant to awards under the 2009 Plan (the “Share Limit”) equals (1) 3,350,000 shares, less (2) the number of any shares subject to awards granted under the 2009 Plan after December 31, 2016 and on or before June 20, 2017 (with any “full value awards” counting as 1.25 shares against the share limit), plus (3) any shares that become available as a result of forfeitures, cash settlements or otherwise pursuant to the share counting rules contained in the 2009 Plan.

If our stockholders approve this 2009 Plan proposal, the maximum number of shares of our common stock that may be delivered pursuant to new awards under the 2009 Plan will increase and equal (1) 8,890,000 shares, less (2) the number of any shares subject to awards granted under the 2009 Plan after December 31, 2019 and on or before the date of the Annual Meeting (with any “full value awards” counting as 1.25 shares against the share limit), plus (3) any shares that become available as a result of forfeitures, cash settlements or otherwise pursuant to the share counting rules contained in the 2009 Plan.

Shares issued in respect of any “full-value award” granted under the 2009 Plan will be counted against the Share Limit as 1.25 shares for every one share actually issued in connection with the award. For example, if Sabra granted 100 shares of its common stock under the 2009 Plan, 125 shares would be counted against the Share Limit with respect to that award. For this purpose, a “full-value award” generally means any award granted under the plan other than a stock option or stock appreciation right. Stockholders are not being asked to approve any change to this 1.25 to 1 fungible ratio as part of the proposed amendments to the 2009 Plan.

The following other limits are also contained in the 2009 Plan. These limits are in addition to, and not in lieu of, the Share Limit for the plan described above and, in the case of share-based limits, are applied on aone-for-one basis without applying the premium share-counting ratio for full-value awards discussed above.

The maximum number of shares that may be delivered pursuant to options qualified as incentive stock options granted under the plan is 5,000,000 shares. If stockholders approve this 2009 Plan proposal, the maximum number of shares that may be delivered pursuant to options qualified as incentive stock options granted under the plan will be 13,000,000so that the incentive stock option limit over the life of the 2009 Plan will be increased to reflect the new share increase.

The 2009 Plan provides that the maximum compensation that may be paid to anynon-employee director for the director’s service on the Board of Directors in any one calendar year is $600,000. This limit does not apply to any compensation paid to an individual for the individual’s service to us in any capacity (including, without limitation, as an officer, employee or consultant) other than as anon-employee director. For purposes of this limit, an equity award is counted against the limit in the year it is granted based on the grant date fair value of the award under applicable accounting rules, while cash compensation will be counted against the limit in the year that the services are rendered, whether or not payment is deferred. The director compensation limit does not apply to any payment or reimbursement of expenses, indemnification and similar payments, payments for directors and officers (or similar) insurance,non-compensatory payments, and earnings (including, without limitation, dividend equivalents) on compensation that is deferred. The director compensation limit applies on an individual basis and not on an aggregate basis to allnon-employee directors as a group.

Following are other rules under the 2009 Plan for counting shares against the applicable share limits of the 2009 Plan:

Except as described in the next bullet point, shares that are subject to or underlie awards that expire or for any reason are cancelled or terminated, are forfeited, fail to vest, or for any other reason are not paid or delivered under the 2009 Plan will not be counted against the Share Limit and will again be available for subsequent awards under the 2009 Plan.

Shares that are exchanged by a participant or withheld by Sabra to pay the exercise price of a stock option or stock appreciation right granted under the 2009 Plan, as well as any shares exchanged or withheld to satisfy the tax withholding obligations related to any such stock option or stock appreciation right, will not be available for subsequent awards under the 2009 Plan.

Shares that are exchanged by a participant or withheld by Sabra as full or partial payment in connection with any award granted under the 2009 Plan that is a full-value award, as well as any shares exchanged by a participant or withheld by Sabra or one of its subsidiaries to satisfy the statutory minimum tax withholding obligations (but not any additional tax withholding obligations) related to any full-value

award granted under the 2009 Plan, will not be counted against the Share Limit and will again be available for subsequent awards under the 2009 Plan. Any shares related to full-value awards becoming available pursuant to the preceding sentence will be added back as 1.25 shares for every 1 share that becomes available if the full value awards originally issued under the 2009 Plan counted as 1.25 shares for purposes of the 2009 Plan’s share limit.

To the extent that an award is settled in cash or a form other than shares, the shares that would have been delivered had there been no such cash or other settlement will not be counted against the Share Limit and will again be available for subsequent awards under the 2009 Plan.

As to stock appreciation rights and stock options granted under the 2009 Plan, to the extent that shares are delivered pursuant to the exercise of the stock appreciation right or stock option, the number of underlying shares as to which the exercise related shall be counted against the applicable share limits, as opposed to only counting the shares actually issued. (For purposes of clarity, if such a stock appreciation right relates to 100,000 shares and is exercised at a time when the payment due to the participant is 15,000 shares, 100,000 shares shall be charged against the applicable share limits with respect to such exercise.)

The 2009 Plan generally provides that shares issued in connection with awards that are granted by or become obligations of Sabra through the assumption of awards (or in substitution for awards) in connection with an acquisition of another company will not count against the shares available for issuance under the 2009 Plan.

Sabra may not increase the applicable share limits of the 2009 Plan by repurchasing shares of common stock on the market (by using cash received through the exercise of stock options or otherwise).

Types of Awards. The 2009 Plan authorizes stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, stock bonuses, stock units and other forms of awards granted or denominated in Sabra’s common stock or units of Sabra’s common stock, as well as cash bonus awards. The 2009 Plan retains flexibility to offer competitive incentives and to tailor benefits to specific needs and circumstances. Any award may be structured to be paid or settled in cash.

A stock option is the right to purchase shares of Sabra’s common stock at a future date at a specified price per share (the “exercise price”). The per share exercise price of an option generally may not be less than the fair market value of a share of Sabra’s common stock on the date of grant. The maximum term of an option is seven years from the date of grant. An option may either be an incentive stock option or a nonqualified stock option. Incentive stock option benefits are taxed differently from nonqualified stock options, as described under “Federal Income Tax Consequences of Awards Under the 2009 Plan” below. Incentive stock options are also subject to more restrictive terms and are limited in amount by the Code and the 2009 Plan. Incentive stock options may only be granted to employees of Sabra or a subsidiary. Options generally may not be transferred to third parties for value and do not include dividend equivalent rights.

A stock appreciation right is the right to receive payment of an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of a share of Sabra’s common stock on the date of exercise of the stock appreciation right over the base price of the stock appreciation right. The base price will be established by the Administrator at the time of grant of the stock appreciation right and generally may not be less than the fair market value of a share of Sabra’s common stock on the date of grant. Stock appreciation rights may be granted in connection with other awards or independently. The maximum term of a stock appreciation right is seven years from the date of grant.

The other types of awards that may be granted under the 2009 Plan include, without limitation, stock bonuses, restricted stock, performance stock, stock units, phantom stock, dividend equivalents, or similar rights to purchase or acquire shares, and cash awards. Any awards under the 2009 Plan (including awards of stock options and stock appreciation rights) may be fully-vested at grant or may be subject to time- and/or performance-based vesting requirements.

Dividend Equivalents; Deferrals. The Administrator may provide for the deferred payment of awards, and may determine the other terms applicable to deferrals. The Administrator may provide that awards under the 2009 Plan (other than options or stock appreciation rights), and/or deferrals, earn dividends or dividend equivalents based on the amount of dividends paid on outstanding shares of Sabra’s common stock, provided that any dividends and/or dividend equivalents as to the portion of an award that is subject to unsatisfied vesting requirements will be subject to termination and forfeiture to the same extent as the corresponding portion of the award to which they relate in the event the applicable vesting requirements are not satisfied (or, in the case of a restricted stock or similar award where the dividend must be paid as a matter of law, the dividend payment will be subject to forfeiture or repayment, as the case may be, if the related vesting conditions are not satisfied).

Assumption and Termination of Awards. If an event occurs in which Sabra does not survive (or does not survive as a public company in respect of its common stock), including, without limitation, a dissolution, merger, combination, consolidation, conversion, exchange of securities, or other reorganization, or a sale of all or substantially all of the business, stock or assets of Sabra, awards then-outstanding under the 2009 Plan will not automatically become fully vested pursuant to the provisions of the 2009 Plan so long as such awards are assumed, substituted for or otherwise continued. However, if awards then-outstanding under the 2009 Plan are to be terminated in such circumstances (without being assumed or substituted for), such awards would generally become fully vested (with any performance goals applicable to the award being deemed met at the “target” performance level), subject to any exceptions that the Administrator may provide for in an applicable award agreement. The Administrator also has the discretion to establish other change in control provisions with respect to awards granted under the 2009 Plan. For example, the Administrator could provide for the acceleration of vesting or payment of an award in connection with a corporate event or in connection with a termination of the award holder’s employment. For the treatment of outstanding equity awards held by the Named Executive Officers in connection with a termination of employment and/or a change in control of Sabra, please see “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control” above in this Proxy Statement.

Transfer Restrictions. Subject to certain exceptions contained in Section 5.6 of the 2009 Plan, awards under the 2009 Plan generally are not transferable by the recipient other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution and are generally exercisable, during the recipient’s lifetime, only by the recipient. Any amounts payable or shares issuable pursuant to an award generally will be paid only to the recipient or the recipient’s beneficiary or representative. The Administrator has discretion, however, to establish written conditions and procedures for the transfer of awards to other persons or entities, provided that such transfers comply with applicable federal and state securities laws and are not made for value (other than nominal consideration, settlement of marital property rights, or for interests in an entity in which more than 50% of the voting securities are held by the award recipient or by the recipient’s family members).

Adjustments. As is customary in incentive plans of this nature, each share limit and the number and kind of shares available under the 2009 Plan and any outstanding awards, as well as the exercise or purchase prices of awards, and performance targets and periods under certain types of performance-based awards, are subject to adjustment in the event of certain reorganizations, mergers, combinations, conversion, recapitalizations, stock splits, stock dividends, or other similar events that change the number or kind of shares outstanding, and extraordinary dividends or distributions of property to the stockholders.

Tax Withholding.Participants in the 2009 Plan are responsible for the payment of any federal, state or local taxes that we are required by law to withhold upon any option exercise or vesting or other tax event for other awards. Subject to approval by the Administrator, participants may elect to have any applicable tax withholding obligations satisfied by authorizing us to withhold shares of common stock to be issued pursuant to an option exercise or vesting of other awards, or through the delivery of previously acquired shares owned by the participant.

No Limit on Other Authority. The 2009 Plan does not limit the authority of the Board of Directors or any committee to grant awards or authorize any other compensation, with or without reference to Sabra’s common stock, under any other plan or authority.

Clawback Policy. Awards granted under the 2009 Plan are generally subject to the terms of Sabra’s clawback policy described above in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this Proxy Statement.

Termination of or Changes to the 2009 Plan. The Board of Directors may amend or terminate the 2009 Plan at any time and in any manner. Stockholder approval for an amendment will be required only to the extent then required by applicable law or deemed necessary or advisable by the Board of Directors. Unless terminated earlier by the Board of Directors and subject to any extension that may be approved by stockholders, the authority to grant new awards under the current version of the 2009 Plan will terminate on April 20, 2027. If stockholders approve this proposal, the authority to grant new awards under the 2009 Plan will terminate on April 13, 2030. Outstanding awards, as well as the Administrator’s authority with respect thereto, generally will continue following the expiration or termination of the plan. Generally speaking, outstanding awards may be amended by the Administrator (except for a repricing), but the consent of the award holder is required if the amendment (or any plan amendment) materially and adversely affects the holder.

U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of Awards under the 2009 Plan

The U.S. federal income tax consequences of the 2009 Plan under current federal law, which is subject to change, are summarized in the following discussion of the general tax principles applicable to the 2009 Plan. This summary is not intended to be exhaustive and, among other considerations, does not describe the deferred compensation provisions of Section 409A of the Code to the extent an award is subject to and does not satisfy those rules, nor does it describe state, local, or international tax consequences.

With respect to nonqualified stock options, we are generally entitled to deduct and the participant recognizes taxable income in an amount equal to the difference between the option exercise price and the fair market value of the shares at the time of exercise. With respect to incentive stock options, we are generally not entitled to a deduction nor does the participant recognize income at the time of exercise, although the participant may be subject to the U.S. federal alternative minimum tax.

The current federal income tax consequences of other awards authorized under the 2009 Plan generally follow certain basic patterns: nontransferable restricted stock subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture results in income recognition equal to the excess of the fair market value over the price paid (if any) only at the time the restrictions lapse (unless the recipient elects to accelerate recognition as of the date of grant); bonuses, stock appreciation rights, cash and stock-based performance awards, dividend equivalents, stock units, and other types of awards are generally subject to tax at the time of payment; and compensation otherwise effectively deferred is taxed when paid. In each of the foregoing cases, we will generally have a corresponding deduction at the time the participant recognizes income.

If an award is accelerated under the 2009 Plan in connection with a “change in control” (as this term is used under the Code), we may not be permitted to deduct the portion of the compensation attributable to the acceleration (“parachute payments”) if it exceeds certain threshold limits under the Code (and certain related excise taxes may be triggered). Furthermore, under Section 162(m) of the Code, the aggregate compensation in excess of $1,000,000 payable to current or former Named Executive Officers (including amounts attributable to equity-based and other incentive awards) may not be deductible by Sabra in certain circumstances.

Specific Benefits under the 2009 Plan

We have not approved any awards that are conditioned upon stockholder approval of the proposed amendments to the 2009 Plan. We are not currently considering any other specific award grants under the 2009 Plan except for the annual grants of restricted stock units tonon-employee directors described under “Director Compensation” above. Under our Directors’ Compensation Policy effective as of January 1, 2019, each of ournon-employee directors will receive an annual award of restricted stock units valued at $115,000 on the date of our Annual Meeting. The actual number of units will be determined by dividing $115,000 by the closing price of

our common stock on the date of grant. Assuming, for illustrative purposes only, that the price of the common stock used for the conversion of the applicable dollar amount set forth above into shares is $11, the number of units that would be allocated to our eightNon-Employee Directors as a group over the ten remaining years of the 2009 Plan (if our stockholders approve this proposal) pursuant to the annual grant formula is approximately 836,400. This amount represents the aggregate number of shares that would be subject to the annual grants under the director annual equity grant program for fiscal 2020 through fiscal 2029 based on that assumed stock price. This calculation also assumes that there are no new eligible directors, there continue to be eight eligible directors seated and there are no changes to the awards granted under the Directors’ Compensation Policy after January 1, 2019.

We cannot project the grants that may be made to our officers and employees because such grants are made at the discretion of the Compensation Committee. If the proposed amendments to the 2009 Plan had been in effect during 2019, we expect that our award grants for 2019 would not have been different from those actually made in that year under the 2009 Plan. For information regarding stock-based awards granted to our Named Executive Officers during 2019, see the material under the heading, “Executive Compensation” above. For information regarding past award grants under the 2009 Plan, see the “Aggregate Past Grants Under the 2009 Plan” table below.

Potential Dilution

The following paragraphs include additional information to help stockholders assess the potential dilutive impact of our equity awards and the proposed amendments to the 2009 Plan. The 2009 Plan is Sabra’s only equity compensation plan under which there are any outstanding equity awards or shares available for new equity awards.

“Overhang” refers to the number of shares of Sabra’s common stock that are subject to outstanding awards or remain available for new award grants. The following table shows the total number of shares of Sabra’s common stock that were subject to outstanding stock unit awards granted under the 2009 Plan and that were then available for new award grants under the 2009 Plan as of December 31, 2019. We did not have any outstanding stock option or stock appreciation right awards as of December 31, 2019.

In the table below, the number of shares subject to outstanding performance-based stock units and the number of shares available for new awards both assume that all outstanding performance-based stock units are paid out at the maximum performance level and reflect all additional stock units that have been credited as of December 31, 2019 in respect of dividend equivalent payments (these additional dividend equivalent units are subject to the sametime-and performance-based vesting requirements as the stock units to which they relate, and will only become payable if the applicable vesting requirements are satisfied). All of the share numbers reported in the table below are actual share amounts, and do not give effect to the 1.25 to 1 fungible share counting ratio contained in the 2009 Plan.

As of December 31, 2019

Shares subject to outstanding stock unit awards (excluding performance-based vesting awards)

810,464

Shares subject to outstanding performance-based stock unit awards

1,830,614

Shares available for new award grants

487,152

The weighted-average number of shares of our common stock issued and outstanding in each of the last three fiscal years was 105,621,242 shares issued and outstanding in 2017; 178,305,738 shares issued and outstanding in 2018; and 187,172,210 shares issued and outstanding in 2019. The number of shares of our common stock issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2019 was 205,208,018 shares.

“Burn rate” refers to the number of shares that are subject to awards that we grant over a particular period of time. The total number of shares of Sabra’s common stock subject to awards that Sabra granted under the 2009 Plan in each of the last three fiscal years are reported below. All of the numbers reported below are actual share amounts, and do not give effect to the 1.25 to 1 fungible share counting ratio contained in the 2009 Plan. Dividend equivalent units are subject to the same time- and performance-based vesting requirements as the stock units to which they relate, and will only become payable if the applicable vesting requirements are satisfied. Sabra did not grant any stock options during the last three fiscal years, and there are no stock options currently outstanding.

Year

  Non
Performance-
Based Awards
Granted
   Performance
Awards Earned
During Year
   Dividend
Equivalent
Units
   Total   Weighted
Average
Common
Shares
Outstanding
   Burn Rate 

2019

   193,317    275,561    152,329    621,207    187,172,210    0.33

2018

   197,579    141,746    118,797    458,122    178,305,738    0.26

2017

   190,248    11,145    64,873    266,266    105,621,242    0.25

Three-Year Average

   193,715    142,817    112,000    448,532    157,033,063    0.29

The total number of shares of Sabra common stock that were subject to awards granted under the 2009 Plan that terminated or expired, and thus became available for new award grants under the 2009 Plan, in each of the last three fiscal years are as follows: 258,121 in 2017, 37,338 in 2018, 296,249 in 2019. The total number of shares of Sabra common stock that were subject to awards granted under the 2009 Plan that were exchanged by a participant or withheld by Sabra as full or partial payment, or to satisfy the tax withholding obligations, in connection with any award granted under the 2009 Plan that is a full-value award, and thus became available for new award grants under the 2009 Plan, in each of the last three fiscal years, are as follows: 118,842 in 2017, 21,460 in 2018, and 69,669 in 2019. Shares subject to 2009 Plan awards that became available for new award grants under the 2009 Plan as described above have been included when information is presented in this 2009 Plan proposal on the number of shares available for new award grants under the 2009 Plan.

The Compensation Committee anticipates that the share increase of approximately 8,402,848 shares (which is the 8,890,000 new total share authorization less the 487,152 shares that remained available under the 2009 Plan at December 31, 2019) requested for the 2009 Plan (assuming usual levels of shares becoming available for new awards as a result of forfeitures of outstanding awards and share withholding for full-value awards) will provide us with flexibility to continue to grant equity awards under the 2009 Plan through approximately the end of 2023(reserving sufficient shares to cover potential payment of performance-based awards at maximum payment levels and covering dividend equivalents that may be credited with respect to the awards based on Sabra’s recent dividend payments). However, this is only an estimate, in our judgment, based on current circumstances. The total number of shares that are awarded under the 2009 Plan in any one year or fromyear-to-year may change based on any number of variables, including, without limitation, the value of our common stock (since higher stock prices generally require that fewer shares be issued to produce awards of the same grant date fair value), whether the Named Executive Officers and our other employees are offered the opportunity to, and elect to, receive payment of their bonuses under our annual bonus program in shares of common stock instead of cash, changes in competitors’ compensation practices or changes in compensation practices in the market generally, changes in the number of our employees, changes in the number of directors and officers, whether and the extent to which vesting conditions applicable to equity-based awards are satisfied, acquisition activity and the need to grant awards to new employees in connection with acquisitions, the need to attract, retain and incentivize key talent, the amount and frequency of Sabra’s dividend payments, the type of awards we grant, and how we choose to balance total compensation between cash and equity-based awards.

As of March 31, 2020, the closing market price for a share of Sabra’s common stock was $10.92 per share.

Aggregate Past Grants under the 2009 Plan

As of March 31, 2020, awards covering 5,291,646 shares of our common stock had been granted under the 2009 Plan since our spinoff. The following table shows information regarding (1) the distribution of those awards among the persons and groups identified below, (2) stock units that have vested and become payable prior to that date, and (3) stock units that are outstanding as of that date. For purposes of this table, outstanding stock units that are subject to performance-based vesting conditions are reflected at the maximum payout level. No stock options have been granted under the 2009 Plan since our spinoff.

   Restricted Stock / Units 
   Number of
Shares/Units
Subject to
Past Awards
   Number of Shares/Units
Vested as of March 31,
2020
   Number of Shares/Units
Outstanding and
Unvested as of March 31,
2020
 

Named Executive Officers:

      
Richard K. Matros
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
   2,434,023    1,401,304    1,032,719 
Harold W. Andrews, Jr.
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Secretary
   952,940    532,780    420,160 
Talya Nevo-Hacohen
Executive Vice President, Chief Investment Officer & Treasurer
   952,940    532,780    420,160 

Total for All Current Executive Officers as a Group (3 persons):

   4,339,903    2,466,864    1,873,039 

Craig A. Barbarosh

   74,747    73,184    1,563 

Robert A. Ettl

   73,976    72,413    1,563 

Michael J. Foster

   43,604    42,041    1,563 

Ronald G. Geary

   17,694    16,131    1,563 

Lynne S. Katzmann

   8,533    6,970    1,563 

Raymond J. Lewis

   17,694    16,131    1,563 

Jeffrey A. Malehorn

   17,694    16,131    1,563 

Milton J. Walters

   43,604    42,041    1,563 

Total for all CurrentNon-Executive Directors as a Group (8 persons):

   297,546     285,042    12,504 

Each other person who has received 5% or more of the options, warrants or rights under the Plan

                  

All employees, including all current officers who are not executive officers or directors, as a group

   654,197    268,159    386,038 

Total

   5,291,646    3,020,065    2,271,581 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

For additional information on Sabra’s equity compensation plans, please see the “Equity Compensation Plan Information” section on page 55.

Recommendation of the Board

Our Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR approval of the proposed amendments to the 2009 Plan as described above.

All members of our Board of Directors and all of our executive officers are eligible for awards under the 2009 Plan and therefore have a personal interest in the approval of this proposal.

APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO SABRA’S CHARTER TO INCREASE

THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK

(Proposal No. 3)

Our Board of Directors has approved and determined advisable an amendment to our charter increasing from 250,000,000 to 500,000,000 the number of authorized shares of our common stock and has directed that this Proposal No. 3 be submitted for consideration at the Annual Meeting. The amendment will also increase from 260,000,000 to 510,000,000 the total number of authorized shares of our stock. This Proposal No. 3 does not change the number of authorized shares of preferred stock. More specifically, it is proposed that the first two sentences of Section 6.1 of our charter be amended to read as follows:

“The Corporation has authority to issue 510,000,000 shares of stock, consisting of (a) 500,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value per share (“Common Stock”), and (b) 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, $.01 par value per share (“Preferred Stock”). The aggregate par value of all authorized shares of stock having par value is five million one hundred thousand dollars ($5,100,000).”

Purpose of the Amendment and Factors to Consider

The proposed amendment to our charter will give us the flexibility we require to issue shares of common stock to meet future long-term corporate needs. At the present time, we have 250,000,000 shares of common stock authorized for issuance. As of March 31, 2020, (i) 205,559,356 shares of common stock had been issued and are outstanding, (ii) 2,696,876 shares of our common stock were subject to outstanding equity awards, assuming the maximum number of shares potentially issuable in connection with awards subject to performance-based vesting conditions, (ii) 592,708 shares of our common stock remained available for future issuance under the 2009 Performance Incentive Plan and (iv) 19,155,000 shares of our common stock were reserved for future issuance under our currentat-the-market equity offering program. After giving effect to these additional potential issuances, we would have 21,996,060 shares of common stock that remain authorized and available for issuance as of March 31, 2020.

Our Board of Directors believes that this number of shares is insufficient to meet the long-term needs of Sabra for common stock equity capital, which may include possible future equity financings, future opportunities for expanding our business through investments or acquisitions, management incentives and employee benefit plans, stock dividends or stock splits, and for other general corporate purposes. Therefore, our Board of Directors has determined that it is advisable and in the best interests of Sabra to amend the charter to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock by an additional 250,000,000 shares in order to make available additional authorized shares of common stock as Sabra approaches the limit of its current common stock share authorization. If we do not increase our authorized number of shares of common stock, we believe that we will be limited in our ability to advance our operational and future strategic plans, including our ability to access the capital markets, finance the acquisition and development of properties, complete corporate collaborations, partnerships or other strategic transactions, attract, retain and motivate employees, and pursue other business opportunities integral to our growth and success.

Although there are no present agreements, plans, arrangements, commitments or understandings with respect to the issuance of additional shares of common stock, the newly authorized shares of common stock could be issued at such times and for such corporate purposes as the Board of Directors may deem advisable without further action by our stockholders, except as may be required by applicable law or by the Nasdaq rules or the rules of any other stock exchange or national securities association trading system on which our common stock may be listed or traded. Subject to such stockholder approvals, the Board of Directors could authorize the issuance of these shares of common stock for any corporate purpose that the Board of Directors deems advisable.

The additional authorized shares of common stock, if and when issued, would be part of the existing class of common stock and would have the same rights and privileges as the shares of common stock currently

outstanding. Sabra’s stockholders do not have preemptive rights with respect to common stock issuances. Accordingly, any issuance of additional shares of common stock will reduce the current stockholders’ percentage ownership interest in the total outstanding shares of our common stock. The authorization and subsequent issuance of additional shares of common stock may, among other things, have a dilutive effect on earnings per share and on the equity and voting power of existing holders of our common stock.

In addition, other future issuances of shares of common stock or securities convertible into shares of common stock could, under certain circumstances, be construed as having an anti-takeover effect (for example, by diluting the stock ownership of a person seeking to effect a change in the composition of the Board of Directors or contemplating a tender offer or other transaction for the combination of our Company with another company). While we do not intend for the amendment to our charter to deter or to prevent a change in control, we could use the additional shares of common stock (as we could use the currently authorized but unissued shares of our common stock) to hinder persons seeking to acquire or take control of our company or to dilute voting power of the outstanding shares. We are not aware of any efforts to obtain control of our company and we have not made this Proposal No. 3 in response to any such efforts.

If approved, the proposed charter amendment will become effective upon its filing with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland. If approved, Sabra intends to make such filing promptly after the Annual Meeting, and the new amount of authorized common stock would be effective immediately.

Stockholder approval is not required to amend our charter to increase the authorized number of shares of common stock. However, the Board of Directors has determined to submit this amendment for stockholder approval as a matter of good corporate governance. Even if the proposed charter amendment is not approved at the Annual Meeting, our Board of Directors reserves the right, consistent with applicable Maryland law, to authorize an increase to the authorized number of shares of common stock if the Board of Directors determines that it is in the best interests of Sabra to do so.

Approval of this Proposal No. 3 by stockholders is not conditioned on stockholder approval of Proposal No. 2, and approval of Proposal No. 2 by stockholders is not conditioned on stockholder approval of this Proposal No. 3.

Recommendation of the Board

Our Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR the approval of an amendment to our charter to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock from 250,000,000 to 500,000,000.

RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

(Proposal No. 4)2)

The Audit Committee has appointed PwC to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020.2021. We are not required by our Bylaws or applicable law to submit the appointment of PwC for stockholder approval. However, as a matter of good corporate governance, the Board of Directors has chosen to submit the Audit Committee’s appointment of PwC as our independent registered public accounting firm to stockholders for ratification. If stockholders do not ratify the appointment of PwC, the Audit Committee will consider the appointment of another independent registered public accounting firm. In addition, even if stockholders ratify the Audit Committee’s selection, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may still appoint a different independent registered public accounting firm if it believes that such a change would be in the best interests of Sabra and its stockholders.

Additional information about PwC, including the fees we paid to PwC in 20192020 and 2018,2019, can be found in this Proxy Statement under the caption “Audit Information.” The report of the Audit Committee included in this Proxy Statement under the caption “Audit Committee Report” also contains information about the role of PwC with respect to the audit of our annual financial statements.

A representative of PwC is expected to attend the virtual Annual Meeting. The representative will have the opportunity to make a statement if he or she desires to do so, and is expected to be available to answer appropriate questions.

Recommendation of the Board

Our Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR ratification of the appointment of PwC as Sabra’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020.2021.

ADVISORY APPROVAL OF NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION

(Proposal No. 5)3)

Sabra is providing its stockholders with the opportunity to cast anon-binding, advisory vote on the compensation of our Named Executive Officers as disclosed pursuant to the SEC’s executive compensation disclosure rules and set forth in this Proxy Statement (including in the compensation tables and narratives accompanying those tables as well as in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis).

As described above in this Proxy Statement, in 2019,2020, Sabra focused on completingmanaging the repositioningimpacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and worked to ensure the health and safety of our portfoliooperators, while at the same time we remained focused on maintaining the strength of assets and enhancing our balance sheet strength to better position itselfso that we remain poised for future growth.growth and have adequate dividend coverage.

The Compensation Committee continues to believe that the executive compensation program objective is to reward our executives for successfully creating long-term stockholder value by executing on our strategic plan, while at the same time penalizing our executives and requiring forfeiture of compensation if they are not able to successfully execute our strategic plan and grow stockholder value.

As described in our Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the Compensation Committee took several actions in 20192020 to incentivize the Named Executive Officers to create long-term stockholder value. We urge stockholders to consider the Summary of 20192020 Compensation Decisions contained in the beginning of our Compensation Discussion and Analysis before voting on this proposal.

In accordance with the requirements of Section 14A of the Exchange Act and the related rules of the SEC, our Board of Directors will request your advisory vote on the following resolution at the Annual Meeting:

RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the Named Executive Officers, as disclosed in this Proxy Statement pursuant to the SEC’s executive compensation disclosure rules (which disclosure includes the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the compensation tables and the narrative discussion that accompanies the compensation tables), is hereby approved.

This proposal on the compensation paid to our Named Executive Officers is advisory only and will not be binding on Sabra, the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee, and will not be construed as overruling a decision by, or creating or implying any additional fiduciary duty for, Sabra, the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee. However, the Compensation Committee, which is responsible for designing and administering Sabra’s executive compensation program, values the opinions expressed by stockholders in their vote on this proposal and will consider the outcome of the vote when making future compensation decisions for Named Executive Officers.

Sabra’s current policy is to provide stockholders with an opportunity to vote on the compensation of the Named Executive Officers each year at the annual meeting of stockholders. It is expected that the next such advisory vote will occur at the 20212022 annual meeting of stockholders.

Recommendation of the Board

Our Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR the approval of the compensation of our Named Executive Officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement pursuant to the SEC’s executive compensation disclosure rules.

OTHER MATTERS

The Board of Directors knows of no matters that will be presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting other than as described in this Proxy Statement. If any other matter properly comes before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof and is voted upon, the proxyholders named in the proxies solicited by the Board of Directors will have the authority to vote all proxies received with respect to such matters in their discretion, and it is their intention to vote such proxies in accordance with the recommendation of the Board of Directors.

STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS AND DIRECTOR NOMINATIONS

FOR 20212022 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

Requirements for Proposals to be Considered for Inclusion in Proxy Materials. Stockholders interested in submitting a proposal for inclusion in the proxy materials for our 20212022 annual meeting of stockholders may do so by following the procedures prescribed in Rule14a-8 under the Exchange Act. To be eligible for inclusion in Sabra’s proxy statement, stockholder proposals must be received no later than December 28, 202027, 2021 and must comply with Rule14a-8 under the Exchange Act regarding the inclusion of stockholder proposals in company-sponsored proxy materials. If we change the date of the 20212022 annual meeting of stockholders by more than 30 days from the anniversary of this year’s Annual Meeting, stockholder proposals must be received a reasonable time before we begin to print and mail our proxy materials for the 20212022 annual meeting of stockholders. Proposals should be sent to the attention of the Secretary, Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc., 18500 Von Karman Avenue, Suite 550, Irvine, California 92612.

Requirements for Proxy Access Nominations. Any stockholder (or group of up to 20 stockholders) meeting our continuous ownership requirements set forth in our Bylaws that wishes to nominate candidates for election to our Board for inclusion in our proxy materials for our 20212022 annual meeting of stockholders must provide written notice to our Secretary no earlier than November 28, 2020,27, 2021, nor later than December 28, 2020.27, 2021. Other specifics regarding the foregoing proxy access right, including the required content of the notice and certain other eligibility and procedural requirements, can be found in Article II, Section 13 of our Bylaws. Proxy access nominations should be sent to the attention of the Secretary, Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc., 18500 Von Karman Avenue, Suite 550, Irvine, California 92612.

Requirements for Nominations of Director Candidates and Proposals Not Intended for Inclusion in Proxy Materials. Stockholders who wish to nominate persons for election to the Board of Directors at the 20212022 annual meeting of stockholders or who wish to present a proposal at the 20212022 annual meeting of stockholders, but whose nomination or stockholder proposal will not be included in the proxy materials Sabra distributes for such meeting, must deliver written notice of the nomination or proposal to Sabra’s Secretary no earlier than November 28, 202027, 2021 and no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on December 28, 202027, 2021 (provided, however, that if the 20212022 annual meeting of stockholders is advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from the first anniversary of this year’s Annual Meeting, nominations and proposals must be received no earlier than the 150th day prior to the date of the 20202022 annual meeting of stockholders and no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the later of the 120th day prior to the date of the 20212022 annual meeting of stockholders or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the 20212022 annual meeting of stockholders is first made). The stockholder’s written notice must include certain information concerning the stockholder and each nominee as specified in Article II, Section 11 of our Bylaws. A stockholder’s written notice should be sent to the attention of the Secretary, Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc., 18500 Von Karman Avenue, Suite 550, Irvine, California 92612.

Stockholder proposals or director nominations submitted to the Secretary that do not comply with the above requirements may be excluded from our proxy materials and/or may not be acted upon at the 20212022 annual meeting of stockholders, as applicable.

ANNUAL REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS

Our 20192020 Annual Report has been posted, and is available without charge, on our corporate website atwww.sabrahealth.com. www.sabrahealth.com. For stockholders receiving a Notice of Internet Availability, such Notice will contain instructions on how to request a printed copy of our 20192020 Annual Report. For stockholders receiving a printed copy of this Proxy Statement, a copy of our 20192020 Annual Report has also been provided to you.In addition, we will provide, without charge, a copy of our 20192020 Annual Report (including the financial statements and the financial statement schedules but excluding the exhibits thereto) to any stockholder of record or beneficial owner of our common stock. Requests can be made by writing to Investor Relations: Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc., 18500 Von Karman Avenue, Suite 550, Irvine, California 92612, or by telephone request to (888) 393-8248.

DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS TO STOCKHOLDERS SHARING AN ADDRESS

We have adopted a procedure, approved by the SEC, called “householding.” Under this procedure, stockholders of record who have the same address and last name and did not receive a Notice of Internet Availability or otherwise receive their proxy materials electronically will receive only one copy of this Proxy Statement and the 20192020 Annual Report, unless we are notified that one or more of these stockholders wishes to continue receiving individual copies. This procedure will reduce our printing costs and postage fees.

If you are eligible for householding, but you and other stockholders of record with whom you share an address currently receive multiple copies of this Proxy Statement and the 20192020 Annual Report, or if you hold Sabra stock in more than one account, and in either case you wish to receive only a single copy of each of these documents for your household, please contact Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. by writing to Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc., Attn: Householding Department, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, New York 11717 or by calling, toll-free in the United States,1-866-540-7095. If you participate in householding and wish to receive a separate copy of this Proxy Statement and the 20192020 Annual Report, or if you do not wish to continue to participate in householding and prefer to receive separate copies of these documents in the future, please contact Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. as indicated above.

If your shares are held in street name through a bank, broker or other nominee, please contact your bank, broker or other nominee directly if you have questions, require additional copies of this Proxy Statement or the 20192020 Annual Report or wish to receive a single copy of such materials in the future for all beneficial owners of shares of Sabra common stock sharing an address.

ALL STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO SUBMIT YOUR PROXY OR VOTING INSTRUCTIONS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND AND VOTE AT THE ANNUAL MEETING. IF YOU ATTEND THE VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTE IN PERSON. IF YOU ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTE IN PERSON,ELECTRONICALLY, YOUR PROXY WILL NOT BE USED.

 

  By Order of the Board of Directors,
  LOGO
Irvine, California
April 27, 202026, 2021
  

Harold W. Andrews, Jr.
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

and Secretary

APPENDIX A

RECONCILIATIONS OFNON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

We have disclosed in this Proxy Statement Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA (including our unconsolidated joint venture). Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA (including our unconsolidated joint venture) is calculated based on Annualized Adjusted EBITDA, which is Adjusted EBITDA, as adjusted for annualizing adjustments that give effect to the acquisitions and dispositions completed during the respective period as though such acquisitions and dispositions were completed as of the beginning of the period presented, and is further adjusted to include our share of the unconsolidated joint venture interest expense. Adjusted EBITDA and Annualized Adjusted EBITDA are financial measures that are defined asnon-GAAP financial measures by the SEC. These measures may be different thannon-GAAP financial measures used by other companies, and the presentation of these measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for financial information prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

The following table presents a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA and Annualized Adjusted EBITDA to net income attributable to Sabra:

(in thousands)

 

  Year Ended December 31,   Year Ended December 31, 
  2019 2018   2020 2019 

Net income attributable to Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc.

  $68,996  $279,082   $138,417  $68,996 

Interest

   126,610  147,106    100,424  126,610 

Income tax expense

   3,402  3,011    710  3,402 

Depreciation and amortization

   181,549  191,379    176,737  181,549 
  

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

 

EBITDA

  $380,557  $620,578   $416,288  $380,557 
  

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

 

Loss from unconsolidated joint venture

   6,796  5,431    16,599  6,796 

Distributions from unconsolidated joint venture

   13,865  8,910    12,795  13,865 

Stock-based compensation expense

   9,819  7,648    7,907  9,819 

Merger and acquisition costs

   424  636    483  424 

CCP transition costs

   197  1,461    91  197 

Provision for doubtful straight-line rental income, loan losses and other reserves

   1,238  33,281 

Provision for loan losses and other reserves

   1,855  1,238 

Impairment of real estate

   121,819  1,413    4,003  121,819 

Loss on extinguishment of debt

   16,340  2,917    531  16,340 

Other income

   2,482  239 

Other (loss) income

   (2,433 2,482 

Lease termination income

   (67,802  —      (300 (67,802

Net gain on sales of real estate

   (2,300 (128,198   (2,861 (2,300
  

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA(1)

  $483,435  $554,316   $454,958  $483,435 
  

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

 

Annualizing adjustments(2)

   2,640  (354   21,530  2,640 
  

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

 

Annualized Adjusted EBITDA(3)

  $486,075  $553,962   $476,488  $486,075 
  

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

 

Adjustment for:

      

Distributions from unconsolidated joint venture

   (13,865 (8,910   (12,795 (13,865

EBITDA from unconsolidated joint venture(4)

   39,132  35,960    27,635  39,132 
  

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

 

Annualized Adjusted EBITDA, as adjusted(5)

  $511,342  $581,012   $491,328  $511,342 
  

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

 

 

(1)

Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) excluding the impact of merger-related costs, stock-based compensation expense under the Company’scompany’s long-term equity award program and loan loss reserves.

(2)

Annualizing adjustments give effect to the acquisitions and dispositions completed during the twelve months ended for the respective period as though such acquisitions and dispositions were completed as of the beginning of the period.

(3)

Annualized Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as Adjusted EBITDA as adjusted to give effect to the adjustments described in footnote 2 above.

(4)

Represents Sabra’s pro rata share of unconsolidated joint venture EBITDA.

(5) 

Annualized Adjusted EBITDA, as adjusted is used in the calculation of Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA –IncludingEBITDA—Including Unconsolidated Joint Venture.

APPENDIX B

SABRA HEALTH CARE REIT, INC.

2009 PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE PLAN

(Effective April 14, 2020)

1. PURPOSE OF PLAN

The purpose of this Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc. 2009 Performance Incentive Plan (this “Plan”) of Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Corporation”), is to promote the success of the Corporation and to increase stockholder value by providing an additional means through the grant of awards to attract, motivate, retain and reward selected employees and other eligible persons.

2. ELIGIBILITY

The Administrator (as such term is defined in Section 3.1) may grant awards under this Plan only to those persons that the Administrator determines to be Eligible Persons. An “Eligible Person” is any person who is either: (a) an officer (whether or not a director) or employee of the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries; (b) a director of the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries; or (c) an individual consultant or advisor who renders or has rendered bona fide services (other than services in connection with the offering or sale of securities of the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries in a capital-raising transaction or as a market maker or promoter of securities of the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries) to the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries and who is selected to participate in this Plan by the Administrator; provided, however, that a person who is otherwise an Eligible Person under clause (c) above may participate in this Plan only if such participation would not adversely affect either the Corporation’s eligibility to use FormS-8 to register under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the offering and sale of shares issuable under this Plan by the Corporation or the Corporation’s compliance with any other applicable laws. An Eligible Person who has been granted an award (a “participant”) may, if otherwise eligible, be granted additional awards if the Administrator shall so determine. As used herein, “Subsidiary” means any corporation or other entity a majority of whose outstanding voting stock or voting power is beneficially owned directly or indirectly by the Corporation; and “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

3. PLAN ADMINISTRATION

3.1

The Administrator. This Plan shall be administered by and all awards under this Plan shall be authorized by the Administrator. The “Administrator” means the Board or one or more committees appointed by the Board or another committee (within its delegated authority) to administer all or certain aspects of this Plan. Any such committee shall be comprised solely of one or more directors or such number of directors as may be required under applicable law. A committee may delegate some or all of its authority to another committee so constituted. The Board or a committee comprised solely of directors may also delegate, to the extent permitted by the Maryland General Corporation Law and any other applicable law, to one or more officers of the Corporation, its powers under this Plan (a) to designate the officers and employees of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries who will receive grants of awards under this Plan, and (b) to determine the number of shares subject to, and the other terms and conditions of, such awards. The Board may delegate different levels of authority to different committees with administrative and grant authority under this Plan. Unless otherwise provided in the Bylaws of the Corporation or the applicable charter of any Administrator: (a) a majority of the members of the acting Administrator shall constitute a quorum, and (b) the vote of a majority of the members present assuming the presence of a quorum or the unanimous written consent of the members of the Administrator shall constitute action by the acting Administrator.

3.2

Powers of the Administrator. Subject to the express provisions of this Plan, the Administrator is authorized and empowered to do all things necessary or desirable in connection with the authorization of awards and the administration of this Plan (in the case of a committee or delegation

to one or more officers, within any express limits on the authority delegated to that committee or person(s)), including, without limitation, the authority to:

(a)

determine eligibility and, from among those persons determined to be eligible, the particular Eligible Persons who will receive an award under this Plan;

(b)

grant awards to Eligible Persons, determine the price (if any) at which securities will be offered or awarded and the number of securities to be offered or awarded to any of such persons (in the case of securities-based awards), determine the other specific terms and conditions of awards consistent with the express limits of this Plan, establish the installments (if any) in which such awards shall become exercisable or shall vest (which may include, without limitation, performance and/or time-based schedules), or determine that no delayed exercisability or vesting is required, establish any applicable performance-based exercisability or vesting requirements, determine the circumstances in which any performance-based goals (or the applicable measure of performance) will be adjusted and the nature and impact of any such adjustment, determine the extent (if any) to which any applicable exercise and vesting requirements have been satisfied, establish the events (if any) on which exercisability or vesting may accelerate (which may include, without limitation, retirement and other specified terminations of employment or services, or other circumstances), and establish the events (if any) of termination, expiration or reversion of such awards;

(c)

approve the forms of any award agreements (which need not be identical either as to type of award or among participants);

(d)

construe and interpret this Plan and any agreements defining the rights and obligations of the Corporation, its Subsidiaries, and participants under this Plan, make any and all determinations under this Plan and any such agreements, further define the terms used in this Plan, and prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the administration of this Plan or the awards granted under this Plan;

(e)

cancel, modify, or waive the Corporation’s rights with respect to, or modify, discontinue, suspend, or terminate any or all outstanding awards, subject to any required consent under Section 8.6.5;

(f)

accelerate, waive or extend the vesting or exercisability, or modify or extend the term of, any or all such outstanding awards (in the case of options or stock appreciation rights, within the maximum seven-year term of such awards) in such circumstances as the Administrator may deem appropriate (including, without limitation, in connection with a retirement or other termination of employment or services or other circumstances) subject to any required consent under Section 8.6.5;

(g)

adjust the number of shares of Common Stock subject to any award, adjust the price of any or all outstanding awards or otherwise waive or change previously imposed terms and conditions, in such circumstances as the Administrator may deem appropriate, in each case subject to Sections 4 and 8.6 (and subject to the no repricing provision below);

(h)

determine the date of grant of an award, which may be a designated date after but not before the date of the Administrator’s action to approve the award (unless otherwise designated by the Administrator, the date of grant of an award shall be the date upon which the Administrator took the action approving the award);

(i)

determine whether, and the extent to which, adjustments are required pursuant to Section 7 hereof and take any other actions contemplated by Section 7 in connection with the occurrence of an event of the type described in Section 7;

(j)

acquire or settle (subject to Sections 7 and 8.6) rights under awards in cash, stock of equivalent value, or other consideration (subject to the no repricing provision below); and

(k)

determine the fair market value of the Common Stock or awards under this Plan from time to time and/or the manner in which such value will be determined.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan and except for an adjustment pursuant to Section 7.1 or a repricing approved by stockholders, in no case may the Administrator (1) amend an outstanding stock option or SAR to reduce the exercise price or base price of the award, (2) cancel, exchange, or surrender an outstanding stock option or SAR in exchange for cash or other awards for the purpose of repricing the award, or (3) cancel, exchange, or surrender an outstanding stock option or SAR in exchange for an option or SAR with an exercise or base price that is less than the exercise or base price of the original award.

3.3

Binding Determinations. Any determination or other action taken by, or inaction of, the Corporation, any Subsidiary, or the Administrator relating or pursuant to this Plan (or any award made under this Plan) and within its authority hereunder or under applicable law shall be within the absolute discretion of that entity or body and shall be conclusive and binding upon all persons. Neither the Board nor any other Administrator, nor any member thereof or person acting at the direction thereof, shall be liable for any act, omission, interpretation, construction or determination made in good faith in connection with this Plan (or any award made under this Plan), and all such persons shall be entitled to indemnification and reimbursement by the Corporation in respect of any claim, loss, damage or expense (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees) arising or resulting therefrom to the fullest extent permitted by law and/or under any directors and officers liability insurance coverage that may be in effect from time to time. Neither the Board nor any other Administrator, nor any member thereof or person acting at the direction thereof, nor the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries, shall be liable for any damages of a participant should an option intended as an ISO (as defined below) fail to meet the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), applicable to ISOs, should any other award(s) fail to qualify for any intended tax treatment, should any award grant or other action with respect thereto not satisfy Rule16b-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise for any tax or other liability imposed on a participant with respect to an award.

3.4

Reliance on Experts. In making any determination or in taking or not taking any action under this Plan, the Administrator may obtain and may rely upon the advice of experts, including employees and professional advisors to the Corporation. No director, officer or agent of the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries shall be liable for any such action or determination taken or made or omitted in good faith.

3.5

Delegation. The Administrator may delegate ministerial,non-discretionary functions to individuals who are officers or employees of the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries or to third parties.

4. SHARES OF COMMON STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN; SHARE LIMITS

4.1

Shares Available. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, the capital stock that may be delivered under this Plan shall be shares of the Corporation’s authorized but unissued Common Stock and any shares of its Common Stock held as treasury shares. For purposes of this Plan, “Common Stock” shall mean the common stock of the Corporation and such other securities or property as may become the subject of awards under this Plan, or may become subject to such awards, pursuant to an adjustment made under Section 7.1.

4.2

Share Limits. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be delivered pursuant to new awards granted to Eligible Persons under this Plan on or after the Effective Date (the “Share Limit”) is equal to (1) 8,890,000 shares of Common Stock, less (2) the number of any shares subject to awards granted under this Plan after December 31, 2019 and on or before the date of stockholder approval of this Plan in 2020 (with any shares subject to such awards that are “Full-Value Awards” being counted against the Share Limit based on the 1.25 Full-Value Award ratio specified below), plus (3) any shares that become available pursuant to the share counting rules in Section 4.3.

Shares issued in respect of any “Full-Value Award” granted under this Plan shall be counted against the foregoing Share Limit as 1.25 shares for every one share actually issued in connection with such award. (For example, if a stock bonus of 100 shares of Common Stock is granted under this Plan, 125 shares shall be counted against the Share Limit in connection with that award.) For this purpose, a “Full-Value Award” means any award under this Plan that is not a stock option grant or a stock appreciation right grant.

The following limits also apply with respect to awards granted under this Plan:

(a)

The maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be delivered pursuant to options qualified as incentive stock options granted under this Plan is 13,000,000 shares.

(b)

Non-employee directors shall be subject to the limits of this Section 4.2(b). The aggregate compensation paid by the Corporation to anon-employee director for thenon-employee director’s service on the Board (including any committees of the Board) for a particular calendar year shall not exceed $600,000. For purposes of this Section 4.2(b), a“non-employee director” is an individual who is a member of the Board who is not then an officer or employee of the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries. The limit of this Section 4.2(b) does not apply to, and shall be determined without taking into account, any compensation paid to an individual for the individual’s service in any capacity (including, without limitation, as an officer, employee or consultant of the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries) other than as anon-employee director. For purposes of this Section 4.2(b), an equity award that the Corporation determines is subject to FASB ASC Topic 718 (or any replacement accounting rule(s)) that is granted to anon-employee director for thenon-employee director’s service on the Board shall count against the limit of this Section 4.2(b) in the year that the award is granted based on the grant date fair value of the award (as such grant date fair value is determined in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 or any replacement accounting rule(s)), and, for clarity, not when the award vests, is exercised, or is paid. For purposes of this Section 4.2(b), cash compensation for thenon-employee director’s service shall count against the limit of this Section 4.2(b) in the year that the services are rendered, whether or not payment is deferred or otherwise payable in a different year. The limit of this Section 4.2(b) does not apply to, and shall be determined without taking into account, any payment or reimbursement of expenses, indemnification and similar payments, payments for directors and officers (or similar) insurance,non-compensatory payments, and earnings (including, without limitation, dividend equivalents) on compensation that is deferred. The limit of this Section 4.2(b) applies on an individual basis and not on an aggregate basis to allnon-employee directors as a group.

The Full-Value Award premium counting ratio shall apply in determining the Share Limit, but shall not apply to any other share limits contained in this Plan. Each of the foregoing numerical limits is subject to adjustment as contemplated by Section 4.3, Section 7.1, and Section 8.10.

4.3

Awards Settled in Cash; Share Limit Counting Rules. Except as provided in the next sentence, shares that are subject to or underlie awards granted under this Plan which expire or for any reason are cancelled or terminated, are forfeited, fail to vest, or for any other reason are not paid or delivered under this Plan shall again be available for subsequent awards under this Plan. Shares that are exchanged by a participant or withheld by the Corporation as full or partial payment in connection with any stock option or stock appreciation right granted under this Plan, as well as any shares exchanged by a participant or withheld by the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries to satisfy the tax withholding obligations related to any stock option or stock appreciation right granted under this Plan, shall not be available for subsequent awards under this Plan. Shares that are exchanged by a participant or withheld by the Corporation as full or partial payment in connection with any Full-Value Award granted under this Plan, as well as any shares exchanged by a participant or withheld by the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries to satisfy the statutory minimum tax withholding obligations (but not any additional tax withholding obligations) related to any Full-Value Award

granted under this Plan, shall not be counted against the Share Limit and shall be available for subsequent awards under this Plan, provided that any one (1) share so exchanged or withheld in connection with any Full-Value Award shall be credited as 1.25 shares when determining the number of shares that shall again become available for subsequent awards under this Plan if, upon grant, the shares underlying the related Full-Value Award were counted as 1.25 shares against the Share Limit. To the extent that an award granted under this Plan is settled in cash or a form other than shares of Common Stock, the shares that would have been delivered had there been no such cash or other settlement shall not be counted against the Share Limit and shall be available for subsequent awards under this Plan. In the event that shares of Common Stock are delivered in respect of a dividend equivalent right granted under this Plan, the number of shares delivered with respect to the award shall be counted against the Share Limit. (For purposes of clarity, if 1,000 dividend equivalent rights are granted and outstanding when the Corporation pays a dividend, and 50 shares are delivered in payment of those rights with respect to that dividend, 62.5 shares (after giving effect to the Full-Value Award premium counting rules) shall be counted against the Share Limit). To the extent that shares of Common Stock are delivered pursuant to the exercise of a stock appreciation right or stock option granted under this Plan, the number of underlying shares as to which the exercise related shall be counted against the Share Limit, as opposed to only counting the shares actually issued. (For purposes of clarity, if a stock appreciation right relates to 100,000 shares and is exercised at a time when the payment due to the participant is 15,000 shares, 100,000 shares shall be counted against the Share Limit with respect to such exercise.) The Corporation may not increase the Share Limit by repurchasing shares of Common Stock on the market (by using cash received through the exercise of stock options or otherwise). Refer to Section 8.10 for application of the foregoing share limits with respect to assumed awards.

4.4

Reservation of Shares; No Fractional Shares; Minimum Issue. The Corporation shall at all times reserve a number of shares of Common Stock sufficient to cover the Corporation’s obligations and contingent obligations to deliver shares with respect to awards then outstanding under this Plan (exclusive of any dividend equivalent obligations to the extent the Corporation has the right to settle such rights in cash). No fractional shares shall be delivered under this Plan. The Administrator may pay cash in lieu of any fractional shares in settlements of awards under this Plan. No fewer than 100 shares may be purchased on exercise of any award (or, in the case of stock appreciation or purchase rights, no fewer than 100 rights may be exercised at any one time) unless the total number purchased or exercised is the total number at the time available for purchase or exercise under the award.

5. AWARDS

5.1

Type and Form of Awards. The Administrator shall determine the type or types of award(s) to be made to each selected Eligible Person. Awards may be granted singly, in combination or in tandem. Awards also may be made in combination or in tandem with, in replacement of, as alternatives to, or as the payment form for grants or rights under any other employee or compensation plan of the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries. The types of awards that may be granted under this Plan are (subject, in each case, to the no repricing provisions of Section 3.2):

5.1.1

Stock Options. A stock option is the grant of a right to purchase a specified number of shares of Common Stock during a specified period as determined by the Administrator. An option may be intended as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code (an “ISO”) or a nonqualified stock option (an option not intended to be an ISO). The award or other agreement for an option will indicate if the option is intended as an ISO; otherwise it will be deemed to be a nonqualified stock option. The maximum term of each option (ISO or nonqualified) shall be seven (7) years. The per share exercise price for each option shall be not less than 100% of the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant of the option. When an option is exercised, the exercise price for the shares to be purchased shall be paid in full in cash or such other method permitted by the Administrator consistent with Section 5.4.

5.1.2

Additional Rules Applicable to ISOs. To the extent that the aggregate fair market value (determined at the time of grant of the applicable option) of stock with respect to which ISOs first become exercisable by a participant in any calendar year exceeds $100,000, taking into account both Common Stock subject to ISOs under this Plan and stock subject to ISOs under all other plans of the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries (or any parent or predecessor corporation to the extent required by and within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder), such options shall be treated as nonqualified stock options. In reducing the number of options treated as ISOs to meet the $100,000 limit, the most recently granted options shall be reduced first. To the extent a reduction of simultaneously granted options is necessary to meet the $100,000 limit, the Administrator may, in the manner and to the extent permitted by law, designate which shares of Common Stock are to be treated as shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an ISO. ISOs may only be granted to employees of the Corporation or one of its subsidiaries (for this purpose, the term “subsidiary” is used as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code, which generally requires an unbroken chain of ownership of at least 50% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of each subsidiary in the chain beginning with the Corporation and ending with the subsidiary in question). There shall be imposed in any award agreement relating to ISOs such other terms and conditions as from time to time are required in order that the option be an “incentive stock option” as that term is defined in Section 422 of the Code. No ISO may be granted to any person who, at the time the option is granted, owns (or is deemed to own under Section 424(d) of the Code) shares of outstanding Common Stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Corporation, unless the exercise price of such option is at least 110% of the fair market value of the stock subject to the option and such option by its terms is not exercisable after the expiration of five years from the date such option is granted. If an otherwise-intended ISO fails to meet the applicable requirements of Section 422 of the Code, the option shall be a nonqualified stock option.

5.1.3

Stock Appreciation Rights. A stock appreciation right or “SAR” is a right to receive a payment, in cash and/or Common Stock, equal to the excess of the fair market value of a specified number of shares of Common Stock on the date the SAR is exercised over the “base price” of the award, which base price shall be set forth in the applicable award agreement and shall be not less than 100% of the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant of the SAR. The maximum term of a SAR shall be seven (7) years.

5.1.4

Other Awards. The other types of awards that may be granted under this Plan include: (a) stock bonuses, restricted stock, performance stock, stock units, phantom stock, dividend equivalents, or similar rights to purchase or acquire shares, whether at a fixed or variable price (or no price) or ratio related to the Common Stock, and any of which may (but need not) be fully vested at grant or vest upon the passage of time, the occurrence of one or more events, or the satisfaction of performance criteria or other conditions, or any combination thereof; (b) any similar securities with a value derived from the value of or related to the Common Stock and/or returns thereon; or (c) cash awards. The types of cash awards that may be granted under this Plan include the opportunity to receive a payment for the achievement of one or more goals established by the Administrator, on such terms as the Administrator may provide, as well as discretionary cash awards. Dividend equivalent rights may be granted as a separate award or in connection with another award under this Plan; provided, however, that dividend equivalent rights may not be granted in connection with a stock option or SAR granted under this Plan. In addition, any dividends and/or dividend equivalents as to the portion of an award that is subject to unsatisfied vesting requirements will be subject to termination and forfeiture to the same extent as the corresponding portion of the award to which they relate in the event the applicable vesting requirements are not satisfied.

5.2

Award Agreements. Each award shall be evidenced by either (1) a written award agreement in a form approved by the Administrator and executed by the Corporation by an officer duly authorized to act on its behalf, or (2) an electronic notice of award grant in a form approved by the Administrator and recorded by the Corporation (or its designee) in an electronic recordkeeping system used for the purpose of tracking award grants under this Plan generally (in each case, an “award agreement”), as the Administrator may provide and, in each case and if required by the Administrator, executed or otherwise electronically accepted by the recipient of the award in such form and manner as the Administrator may require. The Administrator may authorize any officer of the Corporation (other than the particular award recipient) to execute any or all award agreements on behalf of the Corporation.

5.3

Deferrals and Settlements. Payment of awards may be in the form of cash, Common Stock, other awards or combinations thereof as the Administrator shall determine, and with such restrictions (if any) as it may impose. The Administrator may also require or permit participants to elect to defer the issuance of shares or the settlement of awards in cash under such rules and procedures as it may establish under this Plan. The Administrator may also provide that deferred settlements include the payment or crediting of interest or other earnings on the deferral amounts, or the payment or crediting of dividend equivalents where the deferred amounts are denominated in shares.

5.4

Consideration for Common Stock or Awards. The purchase price (if any) for any award granted under this Plan or the Common Stock to be delivered pursuant to an award, as applicable, may be paid by means of any lawful consideration as determined by the Administrator, including, without limitation, one or a combination of the following methods:

services rendered by the recipient of such award;

cash, check payable to the order of the Corporation, or electronic funds transfer;

notice and third party payment in such manner as may be authorized by the Administrator;

the delivery of previously owned shares of Common Stock;

by a reduction in the number of shares otherwise deliverable pursuant to the award; or

subject to such procedures as the Administrator may adopt, pursuant to a “cashless exercise” with a third party who provides financing for the purposes of (or who otherwise facilitates) the purchase or exercise of awards.

In no event shall any shares newly-issued by the Corporation be issued for less than the minimum lawful consideration for such shares or for consideration other than consideration permitted by applicable state law. Shares of Common Stock used to satisfy the exercise price of an option shall be valued at their fair market value on the date of exercise. The Corporation will not be obligated to deliver any shares unless and until it receives full payment of the exercise or purchase price therefor and any related withholding obligations under Section 8.5 and any other conditions to exercise or purchase have been satisfied. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the applicable award agreement, the Administrator may at any time eliminate or limit a participant’s ability to pay any purchase or exercise price of any award or shares by any method other than cash payment to the Corporation.

5.5

Definition of Fair Market Value. For purposes of this Plan, “fair market value” shall mean, unless otherwise determined or provided by the Administrator in the circumstances, the closing price (in regular trading) for a share of Common Stock as furnished by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the “NASD”) through the Nasdaq Global Market Reporting System (the “Global Market”) for the date in question or, if no sales of Common Stock were reported by the NASD on the Global Market on that date, the closing price (in regular trading) for a share of Common Stock as furnished by the NASD through the Global Market for the next preceding day on which sales of Common Stock were reported by the NASD. The Administrator may, however, provide with respect

to one or more awards that the fair market value shall equal the closing price (in regular trading) for a share of Common Stock as furnished by the NASD through the Global Market on the last trading day preceding the date in question or the average of the high and low trading prices of a share of Common Stock as furnished by the NASD through the Global Market for the date in question or the most recent trading day. If the Common Stock is no longer listed or is no longer actively traded on the Global Market as of the applicable date, the fair market value of the Common Stock shall be the value as reasonably determined by the Administrator for purposes of the award in the circumstances. The Administrator also may adopt a different methodology for determining fair market value with respect to one or more awards if a different methodology is necessary or advisable to secure any intended favorable tax, legal or other treatment for the particular award(s) (for example, and without limitation, the Administrator may provide that fair market value for purposes of one or more awards will be based on an average of closing prices (or the average of high and low daily trading prices) for a specified period preceding the relevant date).

5.6

Transfer Restrictions.

5.6.1

Limitations on Exercise and Transfer. Unless otherwise expressly provided in (or pursuant to) this Section 5.6 or required by applicable law: (a) all awards arenon-transferable and shall not be subject in any manner to sale, transfer, anticipation, alienation, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or charge; (b) awards shall be exercised only by the participant; and (c) amounts payable or shares issuable pursuant to any award shall be delivered only to (or for the account of) the participant.

5.6.2

Exceptions. The Administrator may permit awards to be exercised by and paid to, or otherwise transferred to, other persons or entities pursuant to such conditions and procedures, including limitations on subsequent transfers, as the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, establish in writing. Any permitted transfer shall be subject to compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and shall not be for value (other than nominal consideration, settlement of marital property rights, or for interests in an entity in which more than 50% of the voting interests are held by the Eligible Person or by the Eligible Person’s family members).

5.6.3

Further Exceptions to Limits on Transfer. The exercise and transfer restrictions in Section 5.6.1 shall not apply to:

(a)

transfers to the Corporation (for example, in connection with the expiration or termination of the award),

(b)

the designation of a beneficiary to receive benefits in the event of the participant’s death or, if the participant has died, transfers to or exercise by the participant’s beneficiary, or, in the absence of a validly designated beneficiary, transfers by will or the laws of descent and distribution,

(c)

subject to any applicable limitations on ISOs, transfers to a family member (or former family member) pursuant to a domestic relations order if received by the Administrator,

(d)

if the participant has suffered a disability, permitted transfers or exercises on behalf of the participant by his or her legal representative, or

(e)

the authorization by the Administrator of “cashless exercise” procedures with third parties who provide financing for the purpose of (or who otherwise facilitate) the exercise of awards consistent with applicable laws and the express authorization of the Administrator.

5.7

International Awards. One or more awards may be granted to Eligible Persons who provide services to the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries outside of the United States. Any awards granted to such persons may be granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of any applicablesub-plans, if any, appended to this Plan and approved by the Administrator from time to time. The awards so granted

need not comply with other specific terms of this Plan, provided that stockholder approval of any deviation from the specific terms of this Plan is not required by applicable law or any applicable listing agency.

6. EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICE ON AWARDS

6.1

General. The Administrator shall establish the effect (if any) of a termination of employment or service on the rights and benefits under each award under this Plan and in so doing may make distinctions based upon, inter alia, the cause of termination and type of award. If the participant is not an employee of the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries, is not a member of the Board, and provides other services to the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries, the Administrator shall be the sole judge for purposes of this Plan (unless a contract or the award otherwise provides) of whether the participant continues to render services to the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries and the date, if any, upon which such services shall be deemed to have terminated.

6.2

Events Not Deemed Terminations of Service. Unless the express policy of the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries, or the Administrator, otherwise provides, or except as otherwise required by applicable law, the employment relationship shall not be considered terminated in the case of (a) sick leave, (b) military leave, or (c) any other leave of absence authorized by the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries, or the Administrator; provided that, unless reemployment upon the expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or law or the Administrator otherwise provides, such leave is for a period of not more than three months. In the case of any employee of the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries on an approved leave of absence, continued vesting of the award while on leave from the employ of the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries may be suspended until the employee returns to service, unless the Administrator otherwise provides or applicable law otherwise requires. In no event shall an award be exercised after the expiration of the term set forth in the applicable award agreement.

6.3

Effect of Change of Subsidiary Status. For purposes of this Plan and any award, if an entity ceases to be a Subsidiary of the Corporation a termination of employment or service shall be deemed to have occurred with respect to each Eligible Person in respect of such Subsidiary who does not continue as an Eligible Person in respect of the Corporation or another Subsidiary that continues as such after giving effect to the transaction or other event giving rise to the change in status unless the Subsidiary that is sold,spun-off or otherwise divested (or its successor or a direct or indirect parent of such Subsidiary or successor) assumes the Eligible Person’s award(s) in connection with such transaction.

7. ADJUSTMENTS; ACCELERATION

7.1

Adjustments. Subject to Section 7.2, upon (or, as may be necessary to effect the adjustment, immediately prior to): any reclassification, recapitalization, stock split (including a stock split in the form of a stock dividend) or reverse stock split; any merger, combination, consolidation, conversion or other reorganization; anyspin-off,split-up, or similar extraordinary dividend distribution in respect of the Common Stock; or any exchange of Common Stock or other securities of the Corporation, or any similar, unusual or extraordinary corporate transaction in respect of the Common Stock; then the Administrator shall equitably and proportionately adjust (1) the number and type of shares of Common Stock (or other securities) that thereafter may be made the subject of awards (including the specific share limits, maximums and numbers of shares set forth elsewhere in this Plan), (2) the number, amount and type of shares of Common Stock (or other securities or property) subject to any outstanding awards, (3) the grant, purchase, or exercise price (which term includes the base price of any SAR or similar right) of any outstanding awards, and/or (4) the securities, cash or other property deliverable upon exercise or payment of any outstanding awards, in each case to the extent necessary to preserve (but not increase) the level of incentives intended by this Plan and the then-outstanding awards.

Without limiting the generality of Section 3.3, any good faith determination by the Administrator as to whether an adjustment is required in the circumstances pursuant to this Section 7.1, and the extent and nature of any such adjustment, shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.

7.2

Corporate Transactions - Assumption and Termination of Awards. Upon the occurrence of any of the following: any merger, combination, consolidation, or other reorganization in connection with which the Corporation does not survive (or does not survive as a public company in respect of its Common Stock); any exchange of Common Stock or other securities of the Corporation in connection with which the Corporation does not survive (or does not survive as a public company in respect of its Common Stock); a sale of all or substantially all the business, stock or assets of the Corporation in connection with which the Corporation does not survive (or does not survive as a public company in respect of its Common Stock); a dissolution of the Corporation; or any other event in which the Corporation does not survive (or does not survive as a public company in respect of its Common Stock); then the Administrator may make provision for a cash payment in settlement of, or for the termination, assumption, substitution or exchange of any or all outstanding awards or the cash, securities or property deliverable to the holder of any or all outstanding awards, based upon, to the extent relevant under the circumstances, the distribution or consideration payable to holders of the Common Stock upon or in respect of such event. Upon the occurrence of any event described in the preceding sentence, then, unless the Administrator has made a provision for the substitution, assumption, exchange or other continuation or settlement of the award or the award would otherwise continue in accordance with its terms in the circumstances: (1) unless otherwise provided in the applicable award agreement, each then-outstanding option and SAR shall become fully vested, all shares of restricted stock then outstanding shall fully vest free of restrictions, and each other award granted under this Plan that is then outstanding shall become payable to the holder of such award (with any performance goals applicable to the award in each case being deemed met, unless otherwise provided in the award agreement, at the “target” performance level); and (2) each award (including any award or portion thereof that, by its terms, does not accelerate and vest in the circumstances) shall terminate upon the related event; provided that the holder of an option or SAR shall be given reasonable advance notice of the impending termination and a reasonable opportunity to exercise his or her outstanding vested options and SARs (after giving effect to any accelerated vesting required in the circumstances) in accordance with their terms before the termination of such awards (except that in no case shall more than ten days’ notice of the impending termination be required and any acceleration of vesting and any exercise of any portion of an award that is so accelerated may be made contingent upon the actual occurrence of the event).

Without limiting the preceding paragraph, in connection with any event referred to in the preceding paragraph or any change in control event defined in any applicable award agreement, the Administrator may, in its discretion, provide for the accelerated vesting of any award or awards as and to the extent determined by the Administrator in the circumstances.

The Administrator may adopt such valuation methodologies for outstanding awards as it deems reasonable in the event of a cash or property settlement and, in the case of options, SARs or similar rights, but without limitation on other methodologies, may base such settlement solely upon the excess if any of the per share amount payable upon or in respect of such event over the exercise or base price of the award. In the case of an option, SAR or similar right as to which the per share amount payable upon or in respect of such event is less than or equal to the exercise or base price of the award, the Administrator may terminate such award in connection with an event referred to in this Section 7.2 without any payment in respect of such award.

In any of the events referred to in this Section 7.2, the Administrator may take such action contemplated by this Section 7.2 prior to such event (as opposed to on the occurrence of such event) to the extent that the Administrator deems the action necessary to permit the participant to realize the benefits intended to be conveyed with respect to the underlying shares. Without limiting the

generality of the foregoing, the Administrator may deem an acceleration and/or termination to occur immediately prior to the applicable event and, in such circumstances, will reinstate the original terms of the award if an event giving rise to an acceleration and/or termination does not occur.

Without limiting the generality of Section 3.3, any good faith determination by the Administrator pursuant to its authority under this Section 7.2 shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.

7.3

Other Acceleration Rules. The Administrator may override the provisions of Section 7.2 by express provision in the award agreement and may accord any Eligible Person a right to refuse any acceleration, whether pursuant to the award agreement or otherwise, in such circumstances as the Administrator may approve. The portion of any ISO accelerated in connection with an event referred to in Section 7.2 (or such other circumstances as may trigger accelerated vesting of the award) shall remain exercisable as an ISO only to the extent the applicable $100,000 limitation on ISOs is not exceeded. To the extent exceeded, the accelerated portion of the option shall be exercisable as a nonqualified stock option under the Code.

8. OTHER PROVISIONS

8.1

Compliance with Laws. This Plan, the granting and vesting of awards under this Plan, the offer, issuance and delivery of shares of Common Stock, and/or the payment of money under this Plan or under awards are subject to compliance with all applicable federal, state local and foreign laws, rules and regulations (including but not limited to state and federal securities law and federal margin requirements) and to such approvals by any listing, regulatory or governmental authority as may, in the opinion of counsel for the Corporation, be necessary or advisable in connection therewith. The person acquiring any securities under this Plan will, if requested by the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries, provide such assurances and representations to the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries as the Administrator may deem necessary or desirable to assure compliance with all applicable legal and accounting requirements.

8.2

No Rights to Award. No person shall have any claim or rights to be granted an award (or additional awards, as the case may be) under this Plan, subject to any express contractual rights (set forth in a document other than this Plan) to the contrary.

8.3

No Employment/Service Contract. Nothing contained in this Plan (or in any other documents under this Plan or in any award) shall confer upon any Eligible Person or other participant any right to continue in the employ or other service of the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries, constitute any contract or agreement of employment or other service or affect an employee’s status as an employee at will, nor shall interfere in any way with the right of the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries to change a person’s compensation or other benefits, or to terminate his or her employment or other service, with or without cause. Nothing in this Section 8.3, however, is intended to adversely affect any express independent right of such person under a separate employment or service contract other than an award agreement.

8.4

Plan Not Funded. Awards payable under this Plan shall be payable in shares or from the general assets of the Corporation, and no special or separate reserve, fund or deposit shall be made to assure payment of such awards. No participant, beneficiary or other person shall have any right, title or interest in any fund or in any specific asset (including shares of Common Stock, except as expressly otherwise provided) of the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries by reason of any award hereunder. Neither the provisions of this Plan (or of any related documents), nor the creation or adoption of this Plan, nor any action taken pursuant to the provisions of this Plan shall create, or be construed to create, a trust of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries and any participant, beneficiary or other person. To the extent that a participant, beneficiary or other person acquires a right to receive payment pursuant to any award hereunder, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Corporation.

8.5

Tax Withholding. Upon any exercise, vesting, or payment of any award or upon the disposition of shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an ISO prior to satisfaction of the holding period requirements of Section 422 of the Code, or upon any other tax withholding event with respect to any award, the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries shall have the right at its option to:

(a)

require the participant (or the participant’s personal representative or beneficiary, as the case may be) to pay or provide for payment of the amount of any taxes which the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries may be required or permitted to withhold with respect to such award event or payment; or

(b)

deduct from any amount otherwise payable in cash (whether related to the award or otherwise) to the participant (or the participant’s personal representative or beneficiary, as the case may be) the amount of any taxes which the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries may be required or permitted to withhold with respect to such award event or payment.

In any case where a tax is required to be withheld in connection with the delivery of shares of Common Stock under this Plan, the Administrator may in its sole discretion (subject to Section 8.1) require or grant (either at the time of the award or thereafter) to the participant the right to elect, pursuant to such rules and subject to such conditions as the Administrator may establish, that the Corporation reduce the number of shares to be delivered by (or otherwise reacquire) the appropriate number of shares, valued in a consistent manner at their fair market value or at the sales price in accordance with authorized procedures for cashless exercises, necessary to satisfy any applicable withholding obligation on exercise, vesting or payment.

8.6

Effective Date, Termination and Suspension, Amendments.

8.6.1

Effective Date. This version of the Plan is effective as of April 14, 2020, the date of its approval by the Board (the “Effective Date”). This Plan shall be submitted for and subject to stockholder approval no later than twelve months after the Effective Date. Unless earlier terminated by the Board and subject to any extension that may be approved by stockholders, this Plan shall terminate at the close of business on the day before the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date. After the termination of this Plan either upon such stated termination date or its earlier termination by the Board, no additional awards may be granted under this Plan, but previously granted awards (and the authority of the Administrator with respect thereto, including the authority to amend such awards) shall remain outstanding in accordance with their applicable terms and conditions and the terms and conditions of this Plan.

8.6.2

Board Authorization. The Board may, at any time, terminate or, from time to time, amend, modify or suspend this Plan, in whole or in part. No awards may be granted during any period that the Board suspends this Plan.

8.6.3

Stockholder Approval. To the extent then required by applicable law or deemed necessary or advisable by the Board, any amendment to this Plan shall be subject to stockholder approval. In addition, the no repricing provision included in Section 3.2 may not be amended without shareholder approval.

8.6.4

Amendments to Awards. Without limiting any other express authority of the Administrator under (but subject to) the express limits of this Plan, the Administrator by agreement or resolution may waive conditions of or limitations on awards to participants that the Administrator in the prior exercise of its discretion has imposed, without the consent of a participant, and (subject to the requirements of Sections 3.2 and 8.6.5) may make other changes to the terms and conditions of awards. Any amendment or other action that would constitute a repricing of an award is subject to theno-repricing provision of Section 3.2(g).

8.6.5

Limitations on Amendments to Plan and Awards. No amendment, suspension or termination of this Plan or amendment of any outstanding award agreement shall, without written consent of the participant, affect in any manner materially adverse to the participant any rights or benefits of the participant or obligations of the Corporation under any award granted under this Plan prior to the effective date of such change. Changes, settlements and other actions contemplated by Section 7 shall not be deemed to constitute changes or amendments for purposes of this Section 8.6.

8.7

Privileges of Stock Ownership. Except as otherwise expressly authorized by the Administrator, a participant shall not be entitled to any privilege of stock ownership as to any shares of Common Stock not actually delivered to and held of record by the participant. Except as expressly required by Section 7.1 or otherwise expressly provided by the Administrator, no adjustment will be made for dividends or other rights as a stockholder for which a record date is prior to such date of delivery.

8.8

Governing Law; Construction; Severability.

8.8.1

Choice of Law. This Plan, the awards, all documents evidencing awards and all other related documents shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland, notwithstanding any Maryland or other conflict of law provision to the contrary.

8.8.2

Severability. If a court of competent jurisdiction holds any provision invalid and unenforceable, the remaining provisions of this Plan shall continue in effect.

8.9

Captions. Captions and headings are given to the sections and subsections of this Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of this Plan or any provision thereof.

8.10

Stock-Based Awards in Substitution for Stock Options or Awards Granted by Other Corporation. Awards may be granted to Eligible Persons in substitution for or in connection with an assumption of employee stock options, SARs, restricted stock or other stock-based awards granted by other entities to persons who are or who will become Eligible Persons in respect of the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries, in connection with a distribution, merger or other reorganization by or with the granting entity or an affiliated entity, or the acquisition by the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, of all or a substantial part of the stock or assets of the employing entity. The awards so granted need not comply with other specific terms of this Plan, provided the awards reflect adjustments giving effect to the assumption or substitution consistent with any conversion applicable to the common stock (or the securities otherwise subject to the award) in the transaction and any change in the issuer of the security. Any shares that are delivered and any awards that are granted by, or become obligations of, the Corporation, as a result of the assumption by the Corporation of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted or assumed by an acquired company (or previously granted or assumed by a predecessor employer (or direct or indirect parent thereof) in the case of persons that become employed by the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries in connection with a business or asset acquisition or similar transaction) shall not be counted against the Share Limit or other limits on the number of shares available for issuance under this Plan.

8.11

Non-Exclusivity of Plan. Nothing in this Plan shall limit or be deemed to limit the authority of the Board or the Administrator to grant awards or authorize any other compensation, with or without reference to the Common Stock, under any other plan or authority.

8.12

No Corporate Action Restriction. The existence of this Plan, the award agreements and the awards granted hereunder shall not limit, affect or restrict in any way the right or power of the Corporation or any Subsidiary (or any of their respective shareholders, boards of directors or committees thereof (or any subcommittees), as the case may be) to make or authorize: (a) any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the capital structure or business of the Corporation or any Subsidiary, (b) any merger, amalgamation, consolidation or change in the ownership of the Corporation or any Subsidiary, (c) any issue of bonds, debentures, capital, preferred or prior

preference stock ahead of or affecting the capital stock (or the rights thereof) of the Corporation or any Subsidiary, (d) any dissolution or liquidation of the Corporation or any Subsidiary, (e) any sale or transfer of all or any part of the assets or business of the Corporation or any Subsidiary, (f) any other award, grant, or payment of incentives or other compensation under any other plan or authority (or any other action with respect to any benefit, incentive or compensation), or (g) any other corporate act or proceeding by the Corporation or any Subsidiary. No participant, beneficiary or any other person shall have any claim under any award or award agreement against any member of the Board or the Administrator, or the Corporation or any employees, officers or agents of the Corporation or any Subsidiary, as a result of any such action. Awards need not be structured so as to be deductible for tax purposes.

8.13

Other Company Benefit and Compensation Programs. Payments and other benefits received by a participant under an award made pursuant to this Plan shall not be deemed a part of a participant’s compensation for purposes of the determination of benefits under any other employee welfare or benefit plans or arrangements, if any, provided by the Corporation or any Subsidiary, except where the Administrator expressly otherwise provides or authorizes in writing. Awards under this Plan may be made in addition to, in combination with, as alternatives to or in payment of grants, awards or commitments under any other plans or arrangements of the Corporation or its Subsidiaries.

8.14

Clawback Policy. The awards granted under this Plan are subject to the terms of the Corporation’s recoupment, clawback or similar policy as it may be in effect from time to time, as well as any similar provisions of applicable law, any of which could in certain circumstances require repayment or forfeiture of awards or any shares of Common Stock or other cash or property received with respect to the awards (including any value received from a disposition of the shares acquired upon payment of the awards).

9. DEFINITIONS

Unless otherwise expressly provided in the applicable award agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth in this Section 9 for purposes of awards granted hereunder to the extent any such terms are used with respect to such an award:

A “Change in Control” of the Corporation shall be deemed to have occurred if any of the following events occurs:

(i)

Any “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act), other than a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Corporation (an “Acquiring Person”), is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 33 1/3% of the then outstanding voting stock of the Corporation;

(ii)

Consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Corporation outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) at least 51% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Corporation or surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation;

(iii)

Consummation of a sale or other disposition by the Corporation of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets;

(iv)

During any period of two (2) consecutive years (beginning on or after the Effective Date), individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board and any new director (other than a director who is a representative or nominee of an Acquiring Person) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Corporation’s shareholders was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the

directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination was previously so approved, no longer constitute a majority of the Board;

provided, however, in no event shall any acquisition of securities, a change in the composition of the Board or a merger or other consolidation pursuant to a plan of reorganization under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code with respect to the Corporation (“Chapter 11 Plan”), or a liquidation under the Bankruptcy Code constitute a Change in Control. In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to have occurred in the event of a sale or conveyance in which the Corporation continues as a holding company of an entity or entities that conduct the business or businesses formerly conducted by the Corporation, or any transaction undertaken for the purpose of reincorporating the Corporation under the laws of another jurisdiction, if such transaction does not materially affect the beneficial ownership of the Corporation’s capital stock.

Disability” with respect to a participant means that the participant has experienced one of the following: (1) the participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, or (2) the participant is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the participant’s employer.

Good Cause” with respect to a participant means (unless otherwise expressly provided in the applicable agreement setting forth the terms and conditions of the award, or another applicable contract with the participant that defines such term for purposes of determining the effect that a “for cause” termination has on the participant’s awards) any one of the following: (A) any criminal conviction of the participant under the laws of the United States or any state or other political subdivision thereof which, in the good faith determination of the Corporation renders the participant unsuitable as an employee or officer of the Corporation or any Subsidiary; (B) the participant’s continued failure to substantially perform the duties reasonably requested by the Corporation and commensurate with the participant’s position and within the participant’s control in such position (other than any such failure resulting from participant’s incapacity due to the participant’s Disability) after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to the participant by the Corporation, which demand specifically identifies the manner in which the Corporation believes that the participant has not substantially performed the participant’s duties, and which performance is not substantially corrected by the participant within ten (10) days of receipt of such demand; or (C) any material workplace misconduct or willful failure to comply with the Corporation’s general policies and procedures as they may exist from time to time by the Corporation which, in the good faith determination of the Corporation, renders the participant unsuitable as an employee or officer of Corporation.

Good Reason” with respect to a participant means (unless otherwise expressly provided in the applicable agreement setting forth the terms and conditions of the award, or another applicable contract with the participant that defines such term for purposes of determining the effect that a “good reason” termination has on the participant’s awards) a resignation of the participant’s employment with the Corporation as a result of and within sixty (60) days after the occurrence of any of the following without the participant’s written consent: (A) a meaningful and detrimental reduction in the participant’s authority, duties or responsibilities, or a meaningful and detrimental change in the participant’s reporting responsibilities, as in effect immediately prior to the participant’s termination of employment; (B) a material reduction in the participant’s annual base salary as in effect immediately prior to the participant’s delivery of notice to the Corporation stating the basis of the participant’s allegation that “Good Reason” exists (the “Good Reason Notice”), a material reduction in the participant’s target annual bonus (expressed as a percentage of base salary), if any, as in effect immediately prior to the circumstances described in the Good Reason Notice, or a material failure to provide the participant with any other form of compensation or material employment benefit being provided to the participant immediately prior to the circumstances described in the Good Reason Notice (excluding however, any reduction in the amount of any annual bonus or the granting or

withholding of incentive compensation (including without limitation options or restricted stock units) but including a material reduction to the target amount of the bonus as stated above); or (C) a relocation of the participant’s principal place of employment by more than fifty (50) miles (or the requirement that the participant be based at a different location), provided that such relocation results in a longer commute (measured by actual mileage) for the participant from his or her primary residence to such new location. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for any of the foregoing circumstances to constitute “Good Reason” hereunder, (x) the participant must deliver the Good Reason Notice to the Corporation within thirty (30) days of the date on which the circumstances creating “Good Reason” have first occurred, (y) such circumstances are not corrected by the Corporation in a manner that is reasonably satisfactory to the participant (including full retroactive correction with respect to any monetary matter) within thirty (30) days of the Corporation’s receipt of the Good Reason Notice from the participant and, (z) the participant thereafter resigns his or her employment within the sixty (60) day time period described above.

A “Separation from Service” shall mean a “separation from service” within the meaning of Treasury RegulationSection 1.409A-1(h)(1), without regard to the optional alternative definitions available thereunder.

An “Unforeseeable Emergency” means a severe financial hardship to the participant resulting from (i) an illness or accident of the participant, the participant’s spouse, or a dependent (as defined in Section 152(a) of the Code without regard to paragraphs (b)(1), (b)(2) and (d)(1)(b) thereof) of the participant, (ii) loss of the participant’s property due to casualty, or (iii) other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the participant, all as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion and in all events constituting an “unforeseeable emergency” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.

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SABRA HEALTH CARE REIT, INC. 18500 VON KARMAN AVE. SUITE 550 IRVINE, CA 92612 VOTE BY INTERNET Before The Meeting - Go to www.proxyvote.com Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time June 8th, 2020.15th, 2021. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form. ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE PROXY MATERIALS If you would likeDuring The Meeting - Go to reducewww.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SBRA2021 You may attend the costs incurred by our company in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronicallymeeting via e-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and when prompted, indicatevote during the meeting. Have the information that you agree to receive or access proxy materials electronicallyis printed in future years.the box marked by the arrow available and follow the instructions. VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903 Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time June 8th, 2020.15th, 2021. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions. VOTE BY MAIL Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: D14296-P39757D41665-P54278 KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY SABRA HEALTH CARE REIT, INC. The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following: 1. Election of Directors Nominees: For Against Abstain 1a. Craig A. Barbarosh 1b. Robert A. EttlKatie Cusack 1c. Michael J. Foster 1d. Ronald G. Geary 1e. Lynne S. Katzmann 1f. Ann Kono 1g. Raymond J. Lewis 1g.1h. Jeffrey A. Malehorn 1h.1i. Richard K. Matros 1i.For Against Abstain 1j. Clifton J. Porter II 1k. Milton J. Walters The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the For Against Abstain following proposals 2 3, 4 and 5.3. Abstain Against For 2. Approval of amendments to the Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc. 2009 Performance Incentive Plan. 3. Approval of an amendment to Sabra’s charter to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Sabra from 250,000,000 to 500,000,000. 4. Ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as Sabra’sSabra's independent registered public accounting formfirm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020. 5.2021. 3. Approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of Sabra’sSabra's named executive officers. NOTE: Such other business will be transacted at the meeting as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof. Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, or other fiduciary, please give full title as such. Joint owners should each sign personally. All holders must sign. If a corporation or partnership, please sign in full corporate or partnership name by authorized officer. Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] Date Signature (Joint Owners) Date


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Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting:The Notice of Annual Meeting, Proxy Statement and 20192020 Annual Report on Form 10-K are available at www.proxyvote.com. *We are closely monitoring the developments regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19). In the event we determine that we need to conduct our Annual Meeting solely by means of remote communication, we will make such a determination in advance and announce the change and provide instructions on how stockholders can attend and participate in the Annual Meeting remotely via press release and by filing additional soliciting materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The press release will also be available on the “Investors” section of our website at www.sabrahealth.com. D14297-P39757atwww.proxyvote.com. D41666-P54278 SABRA HEALTH CARE REIT, INC. AnnualINC.Annual Meeting of Stockholders June 9, 202016, 2021 at 9:00 AM Pacific Time This proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors The undersigned stockholder(s), hereby revoking any proxy previously given, hereby appoint(s) Richard K. Matros and HaroldandHarold W. Andrews, Jr., or either of them, as proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorize(s) each of them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse side of this proxy, all of the shares of common stock of SABRAofSABRA HEALTH CARE REIT, INC. that the stockholder(s) is/are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held virtually (www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SBRA2021) on June 9, 2020, at Sabra’s Headquarters, 18500 Von Karman Avenue, Suite 550, Irvine, California 92612 or, if determined necessary, via remote communication* as described in the Proxy Statement that is being delivered in connection with the Annual Meeting of Stockholders,16, 2021, and any adjournments or postponements thereof. The proposals referred to on the reverse side hereof are described in the Proxy Statement that is being delivered in connection with the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. This proxy, when properly executed and returned, will be voted in the manner directed herein. If no such direction is made, this proxy will be voted in accordance with the Board of Directors’Directors' recommendations included on the reverse side thereof. Whether or not direction is made, each of the named proxies is authorized to vote this proxy in his discretion on such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting of Stockholders or any adjournments or postponements thereof. PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. IF YOU CHOOSE TO VOTE THESE SHARES BY TELEPHONE OR INTERNET, YOU DO NOT NEED TO RETURN THIS PROXY. Continued and to be signed on reverse side