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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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Filed by the Registrant
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Filed by a Party other than the Registrant
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Check the appropriate box:
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Preliminary Proxy Statement
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
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Definitive Proxy Statement
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Definitive Additional Materials
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Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12
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EQUITY COMMONWEALTH
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(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
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N/A
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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No fee required.
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
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(1)
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Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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(3)
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Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
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(4)
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Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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(5)
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Total fee paid:
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration
statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
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(1)
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Amount Previously Paid:
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(2)
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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Filing Party:
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Date Filed:
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EQUITY COMMONWEALTH
Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 2100
Chicago, IL 60606
April 21, 2016
Dear
Shareholder:
You
are cordially invited to the 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Equity Commonwealth to be held on Wednesday, June 15, 2016, at 8:00 a.m., Central Time, at Two North
Riverside Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60606.
At
the Annual Meeting, you will be asked to (i) elect 11 trustees to the Board of Trustees, (ii) approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation of our named
executive officers, (iii) ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31,
2016, and (iv) transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting. The accompanying Notice of the Annual Meeting describes these matters.
We
have elected to provide access to our proxy materials on the Internet under the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's "notice and access" rules, instead of mailing printed copies
of those materials to each stockholder. Our proxy materials are available at www.proxyvote.com. We have sent to our stockholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials that provides
instructions on how to access our proxy materials on the Internet. Please read the enclosed information carefully before submitting your proxy.
The
Board of Trustees appreciates and encourages your participation in the Annual Meeting. Regardless of whether you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, it is important that your shares
be represented. Accordingly, please vote your shares by following the instructions contained in our proxy materials. If you do attend the Annual Meeting, you may withdraw your proxy and vote in
person.
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Sincerely,
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Sam Zell
Chairman of the Board of Trustees
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EQUITY COMMONWEALTH
Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 2100
Chicago, IL 60606
NOTICE OF 2016 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To be Held on June 15, 2016
To the Shareholders of Equity Commonwealth:
NOTICE
IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and any adjournments or postponements thereof (the "Annual Meeting"), of Equity Commonwealth, a Maryland real estate
investment trust (the "Company"), will be held on Wednesday, June 15, 2016, at 8:00 a.m., Central Time, at Two North Riverside Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60606 for the following
purposes:
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1.
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to
elect 11 trustees to the Board of Trustees (the "Board");
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2.
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to
approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers;
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3.
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to
ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2016; and
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4.
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to
transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting.
We
know of no other matters to come before the Annual Meeting. Only holders of record of common shares at the close of business on April 15, 2016 are entitled to notice of and to
vote at the Annual Meeting or at any adjournments or postponements thereof.
Regardless
of the number of shares you hold, as a shareholder your role is very important, and the Board strongly encourages you to exercise your right to vote. Pursuant to the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission's "notice and access" rules, our Proxy Statement, proxy card and 2015 Annual Report to Shareholders are available online at www.proxyvote.com.
We
encourage you to contact the firm assisting us in the solicitation of proxies, D.F. King & Co., Inc. ("D.F. King"), if you have any questions or
need assistance in voting your shares. Banks and brokers may call D.F. King collect at (212) 269-5550. Shareholders may call D.F. King toll-free at (866) 751-6317.
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By Order of the Board of Trustees,
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Orrin S. Shifrin
Executive Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary
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April 21, 2016
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Chicago, Illinois 60606
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REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, YOU ARE URGED TO VOTE AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE. IF YOU ATTEND THE MEETING, YOU MAY WITHDRAW YOUR PROXY AND VOTE IN
PERSON.
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EQUITY COMMONWEALTH
Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 2100
Chicago, IL 60606
PROXY STATEMENT
ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING
Why am I receiving this Proxy Statement?
This Proxy Statement is furnished by the Board of Trustees (the "Board") of Equity Commonwealth, a Maryland real estate investment
trust, in connection with the Board's solicitation of proxies for the 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and any adjournments or postponements thereof (the "Annual Meeting"), to be held Wednesday,
June 15, 2016, at 8:00 a.m., Central Time, at Two North Riverside Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60606. This Proxy Statement is first being made available to shareholders on or about
April 21, 2016. Unless the context requires otherwise, references in this Proxy Statement to "Equity Commonwealth," "we," "our," "us" and the "Company" refer to Equity Commonwealth, a Maryland
real estate investment trust, together with its consolidated subsidiaries.
Why didn't I automatically receive a paper copy of the Proxy Statement, proxy card and Annual Report?
Pursuant to rules adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), we have elected to provide access to our proxy
materials via the Internet. Accordingly, rather than paper copies of our proxy materials, we are sending a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the "Proxy Notice") to our shareholders.
How can I receive electronic access to the proxy materials?
The Proxy Notice includes instructions on how to access our proxy materials over the Internet at www.proxyvote.com and how to request a
printed set of the proxy materials by mail or an electronic set of materials by e-mail.
In
addition, shareholders may request to receive future proxy materials in printed form, by mail or electronically by e-mail on an ongoing basis. Choosing to receive future proxy
materials by e-mail will save us the cost of printing and mailing documents to you and will reduce the environmental impact of our annual meetings. If you choose to receive future proxy materials by
e-mail, you will receive an e-mail next year with instructions containing a link to those materials and the proxy voting site. Your election to receive future proxy materials by e-mail will remain in
effect until you terminate it.
What am I being asked to vote on?
You are being asked to vote on the following proposals:
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Proposal 1 (Election of
Trustees):
the election of 11 trustees to our Board;
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Proposal 2 (Advisory Vote on Executive
Compensation):
the approval, on a non-binding advisory basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers; and
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Proposal 3 (Ratification of the Appointment of Ernst &
Young LLP):
the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public
accounting firm for our fiscal year ending December 31, 2016.
Our
Board knows of no other matters to be brought before the Annual Meeting.
What are the Board's voting recommendations?
The Board recommends that you vote as follows:
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Proposal 1 (Election of Trustees):
"FOR"
each of
the Board's nominees for election as trustee;
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Proposal 2 (Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation):
"FOR"
approval, on a non-binding advisory basis, of the
compensation of our named executive officers; and
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Proposal 3 (Ratification of the Appointment of Ernst & Young LLP):
"FOR"
ratification of the
appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for our fiscal year ending
December 31, 2016.
Who is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting?
The close of business on April 15, 2016 has been fixed as the record date (the "Record Date") for the Annual Meeting. Only
shareholders of record of our common shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share ("common shares"), at the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to notice of, to attend, and
to vote at the Annual Meeting. On April 15, 2016, we had approximately 125,502,748 common shares outstanding.
What are the voting rights of shareholders?
Each common share is entitled to one vote on each matter to be voted on.
How do I vote?
If your shares are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, you are considered
the shareholder of record with respect to those shares and the Proxy Notice was sent directly to you by us. In that case, you may instruct the
proxy holders named in the proxy card (the "Proxy Agents") how to vote your common shares in one of the following ways:
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Vote online.
You can access proxy materials and vote at
www.proxyvote.com. To vote online, you must have the shareholder identification number provided in the Proxy Notice.
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Vote by telephone.
If you received printed materials, you
also have the option to vote by telephone by following the "Vote by Phone" instructions on the proxy card.
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Vote by regular mail.
If you received printed materials
and would like to vote by mail, please mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it promptly in the postage-paid envelope provided.
Proxies
submitted over the internet, by telephone or by mail must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, June 14, 2016.
If
your shares are held in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, broker-dealer, or other similar organization, then you are the beneficial owner of shares held in "street name," and the
Proxy Notice was forwarded to you by that organization. As a beneficial owner, you have the right to instruct that organization on how to vote the shares held in your account. You should instruct your
broker or nominee how to vote your shares by following the voting instructions provided by your broker or nominee.
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How are proxy card votes counted?
Proxies submitted properly via one of the methods discussed above will be voted in accordance with the instructions contained therein.
If the proxy is submitted but voting instructions are not made, the proxy will be voted "FOR" each of the 11 trustee nominees, "FOR" approval, on a non-binding advisory basis, of the compensation of
our named executive officers and "FOR" the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2016, and in such manner as the Proxy Agents, in their discretion, determine upon such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting. If the proxy is submitted and
voting instructions are made for some, but not all, of the proposals, as to matters in which instructions are given, the proxy will be voted in accordance with those instructions, and for all other
proposals, the proxy will be voted as described in the prior sentence.
If
your common shares are held in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, broker-dealer, or other similar organization, under applicable rules of the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE")
(the exchange on which our common shares are traded), the brokers will vote your shares according to the specific instructions they receive from you. If brokers that hold common shares for a
beneficial owner do not receive voting instructions from that owner at least 10 days prior to the Annual Meeting, the broker may vote only on the proposal if it is considered a "routine" matter
under the NYSE's rules. On non-routine matters, nominees do not have discretionary voting power and cannot vote without instructions from the beneficial owners, resulting in a so-called "broker
non-vote." Pursuant to the rules of the NYSE, the election of trustees and the approval of the compensation of our named executive officers are each a "non-routine" matter and brokerage firms may not
vote without instructions from their client on these matters, resulting in a broker non-vote. In contrast, ratification of the appointment of an independent registered public accounting firm is
considered a "routine" matter under NYSE's rules, which means that brokers have discretionary voting authority to the extent they have not received voting instructions from their client on the matter.
How many votes are needed for each of the proposals to pass?
The proposals to be voted on at the Annual Meeting have the following voting requirements:
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Proposal 1 (Election of
Trustees):
You may vote "FOR" all nominees, "WITHHOLD" your vote as to all nominees, or vote "FOR" all nominees except those specific
nominees from whom you "WITHHOLD" your vote. Pursuant to our declaration of trust (our "Charter"), in an uncontested election, a majority of votes cast at the Annual Meeting is required to elect each
trustee. "Majority of votes cast" means that the number of shares voted "FOR" a trustee's election exceeds 50% of the total number of votes cast with respect to that trustee's election, with votes
"cast" including all votes "FOR" and "WITHHOLD." There is no cumulative voting in the election of trustees. For purposes of the election of trustees, abstentions and other shares not voted (whether by
broker non-vote or otherwise) will not be counted as votes cast and will have no effect on the result of the vote, although they will be considered present for the purpose of determining the presence
of a quorum.
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Proposal 2 (Advisory Vote on Executive
Compensation):
You may vote "FOR," "AGAINST" or "ABSTAIN" on Proposal 2. The affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast at the Annual
Meeting is required to adopt a resolution approving, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers described in this Proxy Statement. For purposes of the vote on
Proposal 2, abstentions and other shares not voted (whether by broker non-vote or otherwise) will not be counted as votes cast and will have no effect on the result of the vote, although abstentions
and broker non-votes will count toward the presence of a quorum. While the vote on Proposal 2 is advisory in nature and non-binding, the Board will review the voting
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What will constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting?
A quorum of shareholders is required for shareholders to take action at the Annual Meeting, except that the Annual Meeting may be
adjourned if less than a quorum is present. The presence, in person or by proxy, of holders of common shares entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at the Annual Meeting on
any matter will constitute a quorum. Shares that are voted "FOR," "AGAINST," "WITHHOLD," or "ABSTAIN" will be treated as being present at the Annual Meeting for purposes of establishing a quorum.
Accordingly, if you have returned a valid proxy or attend the Annual Meeting in person, your shares will be counted for the purpose of determining whether there is a quorum, even if you wish to
abstain from voting on some or all matters. Broker non-votes will also be counted as present for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum.
Who can attend the Annual Meeting?
Only shareholders as of the Record Date, or their duly appointed proxies, may attend the Annual Meeting. Shareholders may be asked to
present valid picture identification such as a driver's license or passport and proof of stock ownership as of the Record Date. If you are not a shareholder of record but hold shares through a broker
or nominee (i.e., in street name), you should provide proof of beneficial ownership on the Record Date, such as your most recent account statement, a copy of the voting instruction card
provided by your broker, trustee or nominee, or other similar evidence of ownership. The use of cell phones, smartphones, pagers, recording and photographic equipment and/or computers is not permitted
at the Annual Meeting. For directions to the Annual Meeting, contact our Investor Relations department at (312) 646-2801 or ir@eqcre.com.
If I plan to attend the Annual Meeting, should I still vote by proxy?
Yes. Voting in advance does not affect your right to attend the Annual Meeting. If you send in your proxy card and also attend the
Annual Meeting, you do not need to vote again at the Annual Meeting unless you want to change your vote. Written ballots will be available at the meeting for shareholders of record. If you are not a
shareholder of record but hold shares through
a broker or nominee (i.e., in street name), you may vote your shares in person only if you obtain a legal proxy from the broker, trustee or nominee that holds your shares giving you the right
to vote the shares. Even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we recommend that you also submit your proxy or voting instructions prior to the meeting as described above so that your vote will be
counted if you later decide not to attend the Annual Meeting.
Will any other matters be voted on?
The proposals set forth in this Proxy Statement constitute the only business that the Board intends to present at the Annual Meeting.
The proxy does, however, confer discretionary authority upon the Proxy Agents or their substitutes, to vote on any other business that may properly come before the
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meeting.
If the Annual Meeting is postponed or adjourned, the Proxy Agents can vote your shares on the new meeting date as well, unless you have revoked your proxy.
May I change my vote after I have voted?
You may revoke your proxy at any time prior to its use by (i) delivering a written notice of revocation to our Secretary at Two
North Riverside Plaza, Suite 2100, Chicago, Illinois 60606, (ii) filing a duly executed proxy bearing a later date with us or (iii) attending the Annual Meeting and voting in
person. If your common shares are held by a broker, bank or any other persons holding common shares on your behalf, you must contact that institution to revoke a previously authorized proxy.
Who is soliciting the proxies and who pays the costs?
The enclosed proxy for the Annual Meeting is being solicited by the Board. Proxies also may be solicited, without additional
compensation, by our trustees and officers by mail, telephone or other electronic means or in person. We are paying the costs of this solicitation, including the preparation, printing, mailing and
website hosting of proxy materials. We will request banks, brokers and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward proxy materials to the beneficial owners of our common shares and to obtain
their voting instructions. We will reimburse those firms for their expenses. In addition, we have retained D.F. King & Co., Inc. ("D.F. King") to assist in the solicitation of
proxies for a fee of $7,500 plus reimbursement of expenses. We have agreed to indemnify D.F. King against certain liabilities arising out of our agreement with D.F. King.
No
person is authorized to give any information or to make any representation not contained in this Proxy Statement, and, if given or made, you should not rely on that information or
representation as having been authorized by us. The delivery of this Proxy Statement does not imply that the information herein has remained unchanged since the date of this Proxy Statement.
Whom should I call if I have questions or need assistance voting my shares?
Please call the firm assisting us in the solicitation of proxies, D.F. King, if you have any questions or need assistance in voting
your shares. Banks and brokers may call D.F. King collect at (212) 269-5550. Shareholders may call D.F. King toll-free at (866) 751-6317.
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PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF TRUSTEES
The Board has set the number of trustees at 11. The 11 individuals named below, each of whom currently serves on our Board, have been
recommended by our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and nominated by our Board to serve on the Board until our 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their respective successors
are elected and qualify. Based on its review of the relationships between the trustee nominees and the Company, the Board has determined that all of our trustees, other than Sam Zell and David
Helfand, are independent under applicable SEC and NYSE rules.
The
Board has no reason to believe that any of the persons named below as a nominee for our Board will be unable, or will decline, to serve as a member of the Board if elected. If any
nominee is unavailable for election or service, the Board may designate a substitute nominee and the persons designated as proxy holders on the proxy card will vote for the substitute nominee
recommended by the
Board. Under these circumstances, the Board also may, as permitted by our bylaws, decrease the size of the Board.
The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has set forth in a written policy minimum qualifications that a trustee candidate must possess. See "Corporate Governance and Board
MattersTrustee Nominee Selection Process."
Trustee Nominees
The table below sets forth the names and ages of each of the trustees nominated for election at the Annual Meeting, as well as the
positions and offices held.
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Name
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Position With the Company
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Age as of
the Annual
Meeting
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Sam Zell
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Chairman of the Board
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74
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James S. Corl
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Trustee
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50
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Martin L. Edelman
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Trustee
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74
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Edward A. Glickman
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Trustee
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59
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David Helfand
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Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer
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51
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Peter Linneman
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Trustee
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65
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James L. Lozier, Jr.
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Trustee
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60
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Mary Jane Robertson
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Trustee
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62
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Kenneth Shea
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Trustee
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58
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Gerald A. Spector
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Trustee
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69
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James A. Star
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Trustee
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55
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Set
forth below is certain biographical information of our trustee nominees.
Sam Zell
has been our trustee and Chairman of the Board since May 2014. Mr. Zell is also the founder and has served as the Chairman
of Equity Residential (NYSE: EQR), a multifamily real estate investment trust, and Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. (NYSE: ELS), a real estate investment trust focused on manufactured home
communities, since 1993. Mr. Zell is also the Chief Executive Officer and the Chairman of Equity Group Investments ("Equity Group"), a private entrepreneurial investment firm he founded more
than 45 years ago. He is also founder and Chairman of Equity International, a private investment firm focused on real estate-related companies outside the U.S., which introduced the first
Brazilian and Mexican real estate companies, respectively, to the New York Stock Exchange. Mr. Zell has also served as Chairman of Anixter International, Inc. (NYSE: AXE) since 1985 and
Chairman of Covanta Holding Corporation (NYSE: CVA) since 2005. Previously,
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Mr. Zell
founded and served as Chairman of Equity Office Properties Trust, which was sold in February 2007 for $39 billion in the largest private equity transaction at the time.
Mr. Zell served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Tribune Company from December 2007 to December 2008 and Chairman of the Tribune Company from December 2007 to December 2012, at which time
the Tribune Company emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Mr. Zell served as Chairman of Capital Trust, Inc., a real estate finance company, from 2003 to 2012. He serves on the
President's Advisory Board at the University of Michigan, and with the combined efforts of the University of Michigan Business School, established the Zell/Lurie Entrepreneurial Center.
Mr. Zell is also a long-standing supporter of the University of Pennsylvania Wharton Real Estate Center, where he endowed the Samuel Zell and Robert Lurie Real Estate Center. He also endowed
Northwestern University's Center for Risk Management and led the sponsorship for both the Zell Scholars Program at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and the Zell Entrepreneurship
Center at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya (IDC). Mr. Zell holds a J.D. and a B.A. from the University of Michigan.
Our
Board determined that Mr. Zell should serve on our Board based on his experience of over 40 years as a chairman, director and executive of various companies, his
management of billions of dollars in global investments, his strong track record of stewarding companies towards the maximization of their potential and being recognized as a founder of the modern
REIT industry and a leading driver for increased transparency and disclosure by public companies.
James S. Corl
has been our trustee since May 2014. Mr. Corl has served as a Managing Director at Siguler Guff & Company, a
private equity investment firm ("Siguler Guff"), since 2009, and is the Head of Real Estate. Mr. Corl oversees the firm's real estate investment team, which has originated and closed on over
$2 billion of real estate commitments since 2009. Prior to joining Siguler Guff, Mr. Corl spent 13 years in the REIT investment industry, most recently as Chief Investment Officer
for all of the real estate activities of Cohen & Steers, Inc. (NYSE: CNS), a leading investor in global real estate securities. While at Cohen & Steers, Inc.,
Mr. Corl was directly responsible for over $30 billion of client assets invested in mutual funds and institutional separate accounts around the world. From 1993 to 1994, Mr. Corl
was an associate with the Real Estate Investment Banking group at Credit Suisse First Boston ("CSFB") (NYSE: CS), an international investment bank, where he was involved in acquiring portfolios of
non-performing loans and distressed real estate assets for CSFB's Praedium Real Estate Recovery Fund, as well as restructuring troubled real estate companies as publicly traded REITs. Mr. Corl
holds a B.A. from Stanford University and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of Business, the University of Pennsylvania.
Our
Board determined that Mr. Corl should serve on our Board based on his experience in the real estate investment industry and his experience overseeing investment activities and
his 19 years of experience analyzing the effectiveness of business and investment strategies in the commercial real estate industry with a long term focus on REIT governance and shareholder
alignment.
Martin L. Edelman
has been our trustee since July 2014. Mr. Edelman has served as Of Counsel in the Real Estate practice of Paul
Hastings LLP, an international law firm, since 2000. Mr. Edelman has been a real estate advisor to Grove Investors and is a partner at Fisher Brothers, a real estate partnership.
Mr. Edelman is a Director of Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. (NYSE: BXMT), Aldar Properties PJSC (ADX: ALDAR) and Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NYSE: AMD). He served as a Director
of Morgans Hotel Group Co. (NASDAQ: MHGC) from 2014 to 2015, as a Director of Avis Budget Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: CAR) from 1997 until his resignation in February 2013, which became
effective on March 15, 2013, and also served on the Board of Directors of Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. (NYSE: AHT) from 2003 to 2014. He also currently serves on the boards of various
nongovernmental organizations. Mr. Edelman has more than 40 years of experience and concentrates his practice on real estate and corporate mergers and acquisitions transactions. The
focus of Mr. Edelman's practice has been large, complex transactions, including cross-border transactions. He has been involved in all stages of legal development of pioneering financial
structures, including
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participating
debt instruments, institutional joint ventures in real estate, and joint ventures between U.S. financial sources and European real estate companies. He has also done extensive work in
Europe, Canada, Mexico, Japan, the Middle East, and Latin America. Mr. Edelman holds an A.B. from Princeton University and an LL.B. from Columbia Law School.
Our
Board determined that Mr. Edelman should serve on our Board based on his experience advising companies in complex real estate and corporate transactions as he brings an
extensive legal and financial background to the board of directors with over 40 years of experience in the legal profession and has considerable experience in complex negotiations involving
acquisitions, dispositions and financing.
Edward A. Glickman
has been our trustee since May 2014. Mr. Glickman has served as the Executive Chairman of FG Asset Management US
since 2013. Mr. Glickman has served as an Investment Professional, with a focus on real estate investments, at Miller Investment Management, LP since 2015. Mr. Glickman served as
the Executive Director of the Center for Real Estate Finance Research and Clinical Professor of Finance at New York University Stern School of Business from 2012 until 2015. He currently holds an
Adjunct appointment at Drexel University's LeBow College of Business. Mr. Glickman was President, Chief Operating Officer, and Trustee of the Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust ("PREIT")
(NYSE: PEI), a real estate investment trust focused on shopping malls, from 2004 until 2012 and was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of PREIT from 1997 to 2004. Mr. Glickman
joined PREIT after it acquired The Rubin Organization, a closely held shopping center company, where he had served as Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Glickman served as Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer of Presidential Realty Corporation (OTCQB: PDNLP), a real estate investment trust focused on apartment units, from 1989 to 1993. Prior to this, Mr. Glickman was an
investment banker with Shearson Lehman Brothers and Smith Barney. Mr. Glickman is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, a Certified Treasury Professional and a Registered
Securities Principal. He serves as a senior advisor to Econsult Solutions, Inc. He serves on the Board of the Temple University Health System, The Fox Chase Cancer Center and was formerly
Chairman of The Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson University. He was formerly a member of the Real Estate Roundtable where he was the Co-Chair of the Homeland Security Committee. Mr. Glickman
received a B.S. from the Wharton School of Business, the University of Pennsylvania, a Bachelor of Applied Science from the College of Engineering and Applied Science, the University of Pennsylvania,
and an M.B.A. from the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration.
Our
Board determined that Mr. Glickman should serve on our Board based on his more than 30 years of experience in the real estate and financial services industry and his
deep understanding of public and private capital markets.
David Helfand
has been our trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer since May 2014. Mr. Helfand has served as Co-President of
Equity Group, a private investment firm, since January 2012 where he has overseen Equity Group's real estate activities. Prior to rejoining Equity Group in 2012, Mr. Helfand was Founder and
President of Helix Funds LLC, a private real estate investment management company ("Helix Funds"), where he oversaw the acquisition, management and disposition of more than $2.2 billion
of real estate assets. While at Helix Funds, he also served as Chief Executive Officer for American Residential Communities LLC ("ARC"), a Helix Funds portfolio company. Before founding Helix
Funds, Mr. Helfand served as Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer for Equity Office Properties Trust ("EOP"), the largest REIT in the U.S. at the time, where he led
approximately $12 billion of mergers and acquisitions activity. Prior to working with EOP, Mr. Helfand served as a Managing Director and participated in the formation of Equity
International, a private investment firm focused on real estate-related companies outside the U.S. He also held the role of President and Chief Executive Officer of Equity LifeStyle Properties, an
operator of manufactured home communities, and served as Chairman of the board's audit committee. His earlier career included
8
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investment
activity in a variety of asset classes, including retail, office, parking and multifamily. He serves as a Director of the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, as a
Director of the Ounce of Prevention Fund, on the Executive Committee of the Samuel Zell and Robert Lurie Real Estate Center at the Wharton School of Business, the University of Pennsylvania, and on
the Board of Visitors at the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences at Northwestern University. Mr. Helfand holds an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and a B.A.
from Northwestern University.
Mr. Helfand
is expected to have limited involvement in the activities of Equity Group and Helix Funds. Mr. Helfand has been an employee of or otherwise involved in the
operation of Equity Group and Helix Funds and is involved in the oversight of certain Equity Group and Helix Funds assets.
Our
Board determined that Mr. Helfand should serve on our Board based on his over 25 years of extensive experience managing real estate investments and his executive
leadership of domestic and international real estate-related companies in the residential and commercial space.
Dr. Peter Linneman
has been our trustee since May 2014. Dr. Linneman has been the Founding Principal of Linneman Associates,
a real estate advisory firm, since 1979. Dr. Linneman has served as the Chief Executive Officer of American Land Funds and KL Realty Fund, private real estate acquisition firms, since 2010.
Dr. Linneman previously served as Senior Managing Director of Equity International, a private investment firm focused on real estate-related companies outside the U.S., from 1998 to1999, and
Vice Chairman of Amerimar Realty, a private real estate investment company, from 1996 to 1997. Dr. Linneman has served on over 20 public and private company boards, including serving as
Chairman of the Board of Rockefeller Center Properties, Inc., a real estate investment trust, where he led the successful restructuring and sale of Rockefeller Center in the mid-1990s.
Dr. Linneman currently serves on the Board of Directors of Equity One, Inc. (NYSE: EQY), AG Mortgage Investment Trust, Inc. (NYSE: MITT) and Paramount Group Inc. (NYSE:
PGRE), each of which is a public real estate investment trust, and serves on the Board of Directors of Atrium European Real Estate, a public European real estate company. He has experience as a
financial consultant and has served on numerous audit committees. He is the author of the Linneman Letter,
Real Estate Finance and Investments: Risks and
Opportunities
and over 100 scholarly publications. Dr. Linneman is also the Emeritus Albert Sussman Professor of Real Estate, Finance and Public Policy at the Wharton
School of Business, the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a professor of Real Estate, Finance and Public Policy from 1979 to 2011 and was the founding co-editor of The Wharton Real Estate
Review. He also served as the Director of Wharton's Samuel Zell and Robert Lurie Real Estate Center for 13 years. Dr. Linneman holds both Masters and Doctorate degrees in economics from
the University of Chicago and a B.A. from Ashland University.
Our
Board determined that Dr. Linneman should serve on our Board based on his active involvement in real estate investment, strategy and operation for nearly 30 years and
his extensive experience serving on the boards of public companies.
James L. Lozier, Jr.
has been our trustee since May 2014. Mr. Lozier has been a private consultant since 2012. Mr. Lozier
served as co-founder and CEO of Archon Group L.P., a diversified international real estate services and advisory company, from its formation in 1996 until 2012. Under Mr. Lozier's
leadership, the Archon Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), managed 36,000 assets with a gross value of approximately $59 billion and had over 8,500 employees in
offices located in Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Dallas, Boston, Asia and Europe. Prior to the formation of Archon Group, Mr. Lozier was an employee of the J.E. Robert Company, a global real
estate investment management company, and was responsible for managing the Goldman Sachs/J.E. Robert joint venture for two years. Mr. Lozier directed the acquisition efforts of the joint
venture between Goldman Sachs and J.E. Robert from 1991 to 1995. Mr. Lozier serves as a Director for Hunt
9
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Companies, Inc.,
a private full-service real estate company that develops, invests, manages and finances real estate assets in the public and private sectors. Mr. Lozier received his
B.A. from Baylor University.
Our
Board determined that Mr. Lozier should serve on our Board based on his experience managing large portfolios of real estate assets and his leadership experience.
Mary Jane Robertson
has been our trustee since July 2014. Ms. Robertson was the Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer of Crum & Forster Holdings Corp. ("C&F"), an insurance holding company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited (TSX:FFH), from 1999 to 2014. C&F was an
SEC reporting company from 2004 to 2010. Prior to joining C&F, from 1998 to 1999, Ms. Robertson was Managing Principal, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Global Markets
Access Ltd. (Bermuda), a company that was formed to act as a financial guaranty reinsurer. Ms. Robertson also served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Capsure
Holdings Corp. ("Capsure"), a former NYSE-traded insurance holding company, from 1993 to 1997 and was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of United Capitol Insurance Company, a
specialty excess and surplus lines insurer in Atlanta acquired by Capsure in 2010, from its founding in 1986 to 1993. She is a Certified Public Accountant with 10 years of public accounting
experience at Coopers & Lybrand. From 2009 to 2014, Ms. Robertson served as a Director of C&F and, from 1999 to 2014, she served as a Director of substantially all of C&F's direct and
indirect wholly owned subsidiaries. Ms. Robertson previously served on the Board of Directors of Russell Corporation, a former NYSE-listed public company, from July 2000 to August 2006 and was
Chair of its audit committee from 2002 to 2006. Ms. Robertson holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Toronto. She is currently engaged in charitable activities and serves on
not-for-profit boards.
Our
Board determined that Ms. Robertson should serve on our Board based on her 28 years of experience as Chief Financial Officer of public and private companies and her
accounting background.
Kenneth Shea
has been our trustee since May 2014. Since September 2014, Mr. Shea has been employed as a Senior Managing Director at
Guggenheim Securities, LLC, where he manages the real estate, gaming and leisure investment banking practice. From September 2009 until September 2014, Mr. Shea was the President of
Coastal Capital Management LLC ("Coastal"), an affiliate of Coastal Development, LLC, a private developer of resort destinations, luxury hotels and casino gaming facilities, since 2009.
Prior to joining Coastal, from 2008 to 2009, Mr. Shea was a Managing Director for Icahn Capital LP, an investment fund company, where Mr. Shea was responsible for principal
investments in the gaming and leisure industries. From 1996 to 2008, Mr. Shea was employed by Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc., a global investment bank, where he was a Senior
Managing Director and global head of the Gaming and Leisure investment banking department. At Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc., Mr. Shea played an active role on over
$55 billion of mergers and acquisitions and capital raising transactions for many of the leading public companies in the gaming and leisure sectors. Mr. Shea currently serves on the
Board of Directors, audit committee and conflicts committee of CVR Refining, LP (NYSE: CVRR), a publicly-traded energy company. Mr. Shea also serves on the Board of Directors of Hydra
Industries Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company. Mr. Shea received his M.B.A. from the University of Virginia and his B.A. from Boston College.
Our
Board determined that Mr. Shea should serve on our Board based on his significant experience in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions and investing and his knowledge of
the capital markets.
Gerald A. Spector
has been our trustee since July 2014. Mr. Spector has served as the Vice Chairman of Equity Residential, a real
estate investment and management company focusing on apartment communities, and also serves on Equity Residential's audit committee. Mr. Spector was the Chief Operating Officer of the Tribune
Company from December 2009 through December 2010, and served as its Chief Administrative Officer from December 2007 through December 2009, following the Tribune's 2008 Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Mr. Spector was Executive Vice President of Equity Residential
10
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from
March 1993 and was Chief Operating Officer of Equity Residential from February 1995 until his retirement in December 2007. He began his real estate career in the early 1970's and has extensive
prior public and private board experience as well. Mr. Spector holds a B.S.B.A. from Roosevelt University. Mr. Spector is a Certified Public Accountant.
Our
Board determined that Mr. Spector should serve on our Board based on his extensive management and financial experience acquired through 40 years of managing and
operating real estate companies
through various business cycles, his experience in driving operational excellence and development of strategic changes in portfolio focus and his demonstrated leadership skills at the corporate board
and executive levels.
James A. Star
has been our trustee since July 2014. Mr. Star has served, since 2003, as President and Chief Executive Officer of
Longview Asset Management ("Longview"), a multi-strategy investment firm which assesses, implements and oversees a wide variety of publicly traded and private equity investments across multiple
industries and countries, for which he has been a portfolio manager since 1998. He has also served since 1994 as a Vice President of Henry Crown and Company, a private family investment firm
affiliated with Longview. From 1998 to 2002, Mr. Star was President and Chief Investment Officer of Star Partners, Inc., a private securities partnership focused on common equities.
Mr. Star began his investment career in 1991 as a securities analyst at Harris Associates, a Chicago investment firm. Prior thereto, he practiced corporate and securities law in Illinois, where
he was a member of the bar from 1987 to 2011. Mr. Star has been a member of the investment committees for the retirement plans of Henry Crown and Company since 1995, Great Dane Limited
Partnership since 1997 and, since 2014, Gillig LLC Provisur Technologies, Inc. and Trail King Industries, Inc. He has also served as a manager of Longview Trust Company since
2006. Mr. Star is a Director of Teaching Strategies, a software company focused on the education market, as well as the holding companies of Petsmart, Inc., a leading provider of
merchandise and services to pet owners, and eBay Enterprise, an e-commerce logistics provider. Mr. Star has been nominated to serve on the Board of Directors of Allison Transmission
Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ALSN) beginning, if elected, at the 2016 annual meeting of shareholders. Mr. Star has also been a member of limited partner advisory boards for the Kabouter Funds
since 2004 and Valor Equity Partners II since 2007. In prior years, Mr. Star has served on the Board of Trustees of Columbia Acorn Trust and Wanger Advisor Trust, which are registered mutual
funds, and a number of private company boards. Mr. Star is a member of the Global Advisory Board of the Kellogg Graduate School of Business at Northwestern University and the Chicago chapter of
World Presidents Organization. Mr. Star received a B.A. from Harvard University and holds a J.D. from Yale Law School and a Masters of Management from Kellogg Graduate School of Management at
Northwestern University.
Our
Board determined that Mr. Star should serve on our Board based on his significant investment management experience and his experience serving on boards of trustees.
Vote Required and Recommendation
Trustees are elected by a majority of votes cast in an uncontested election (meaning an election in which the number of nominees for
election equals or is less than the number of trustees to be elected). The current election is uncontested and therefore, a majority of votes cast for each trustee nominee is required to elect a
trustee nominee. For purposes of this proposal, "a majority of votes cast" means that the number of shares voted "FOR" a trustee's election exceeds 50% of the total number of votes cast with respect
to that trustee's election, and votes "cast" means votes
"FOR" and "WITHHOLD." There is no cumulative voting in the election of trustees. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes cast and will have no effect on the result of the vote.
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT
SHAREHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" ELECTION OF EACH OF THE NOMINEES SET FORTH ABOVE.
11
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PROPOSAL 2: ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
In accordance with the requirements of Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), we are
presenting this proposal, commonly known as a "say-on-pay" proposal, to provide shareholders the opportunity to vote to approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation of our named
executive officers as described in this Proxy Statement.
We
believe our executive compensation policies and procedures are centered on pay-for-performance principles and are closely aligned with the long-term interests of our shareholders. As
described under the heading "Compensation Discussion and Analysis," our executive compensation program is designed to attract and retain outstanding executives, to reward them for superior performance
and to ensure that compensation provided to them remains competitive. We seek to align the interests of our executives and shareholders by tying compensation to the achievement of key operating
objectives that we believe enhance shareholder value over the long term and by encouraging executive share ownership so that a portion of each executive's compensation is tied directly to shareholder
value.
For
these reasons, we are recommending that our shareholders vote "FOR" the following resolution:
"RESOLVED,
that the shareholders hereby approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation of the Company's named executive officers for 2015, as disclosed in the Compensation Discussion and
Analysis, the compensation tables and the related narrative executive compensation disclosure contained in the Proxy Statement."
While
the vote on this resolution is advisory in nature and therefore will not bind us to take any particular action, our Board of Trustees intends to carefully consider the shareholder
vote resulting from the proposal in making future decisions regarding the compensation of our named executive officers.
Vote Required and Recommendation
The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting with respect to the matter is required to endorse (on a
non-binding advisory basis) the compensation of the Company's named executive officers. For purposes of the vote on this proposal, abstentions and other shares not voted (whether by broker non-vote or
otherwise) will not be counted as votes cast and will have no effect on the result of the vote.
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS
VOTE "FOR" APPROVAL OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.
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PROPOSAL 3: RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Audit Committee of our Board, which is composed entirely of independent trustees, has appointed Ernst & Young LLP as
our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2015. Although shareholder approval is not required, we desire to obtain from our shareholders an
indication of their approval of the Audit Committee's selection of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2016. Even if the appointment of
Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm is ratified, the Audit Committee may, in its discretion, change that appointment at any time during the year should
it determine such a change would be in our and our shareholders' best interests. If our shareholders do not ratify this appointment, the Audit Committee may consider the appointment of another
independent registered public accounting firm, but will not be required to appoint a different firm.
A
representative of Ernst & Young LLP is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting and is expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions.
Vote Required and Recommendation
The affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast at the Annual Meeting is required to ratify the appointment of Ernst &
Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016. Therefore, for purposes of this proposal, abstentions and other shares not
voted will not be counted as votes cast and will have no effect on the result of the vote, although abstentions will count toward the presence of a quorum.
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE
"FOR" THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP AS OUR
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING
DECEMBER 31, 2016.
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Ernst & Young LLP acted as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2015 and 2014. As previously disclosed
in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, the fees and expenses for services provided by Ernst & Young LLP to us for the last two fiscal years are listed in the table below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2015
|
|
2014
|
|
Audit fees
|
|
$
|
1,321,000
|
|
$
|
1,781,300
|
|
Audit related fees(1)
|
|
|
140,000
|
|
|
360,000
|
|
Tax fees(2)
|
|
|
183,295
|
|
|
74,900
|
|
Subtotal
|
|
|
1,644,295
|
|
|
2,216,200
|
|
All other fees
|
|
|
1,995
|
|
|
1,995
|
|
Total fees
|
|
$
|
1,646,290
|
|
$
|
2,218,195
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
(1)
-
Audit
related fees in 2015 and 2014 related to services provided with respect to our leases.
-
(2)
-
The
tax fees in 2015 and 2014 were for services involved in reviewing our tax reporting and tax compliance procedures related to our income tax returns for
the fiscal years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
13
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Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
The Audit Committee has established policies and procedures to review and approve, either pursuant to the Audit Committee's Policy
Regarding Pre-Approval of Audit and Non-Audit Services (the "Pre-Approval Policy") or through a separate pre-approval by the Audit Committee, the engagement of the Company's independent auditor to
provide any audit or non-audit services to the Company, which policies and procedures are intended to control the services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm and to monitor
their continuing independence.
Under
these policies and procedures, no services may be undertaken by the independent registered public accounting firm unless the engagement is specifically approved by the Audit
Committee or the services are included within a category that has been pre-approved in the Pre-Approval Policy. The maximum charge for services is established by the Pre-Approval Policy or by the
Audit Committee when the specific engagement or the category of services is approved.
All
services for which we engaged our independent registered public accounting firm in 2015 and 2014 were approved by the Audit Committee. The total fees for audit and non-audit services
provided by Ernst & Young LLP in 2015 and 2014 are set forth above. The Audit Committee approved the engagement of Ernst & Young LLP to provide the non-audit services
because it determined that Ernst & Young LLP providing these services would not compromise its independence and that its familiarity with our record keeping and accounting systems would
permit it to provide these services with equal or higher quality, more quickly and at a lower cost than we could obtain these services from other providers.
14
Table of Contents
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
The Audit Committee is currently composed of Ms. Robertson and Messrs. Glickman and Linneman. The members of the Audit
Committee are appointed by and serve at the discretion of the Board.
One
of the principal purposes of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board in the oversight of the integrity of the Company's financial statements. The Company's management team has the
primary responsibility for the financial statements and the reporting process, including the Company's accounting policies, internal audit function, system of internal controls and disclosure controls
and procedures. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2015 with our management.
The
Audit Committee also is responsible for assisting the Board in the oversight of the qualification, independence and performance of the Company's independent auditors. The Audit
Committee reviewed the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2015 with the independent auditors, which are responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of
those audited financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles, their judgments as to the quality, not just the acceptability, of the Company's accounting principles and such other
matters as are required to be discussed with the Audit Committee under generally accepted auditing standards and those matters required to be discussed by applicable standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board ("PCAOB") Auditing Standard No. 16,
Communications with Audit Committees
.
The
independent auditors have provided to the Audit Committee the written disclosures regarding the independent auditor's independence required by PCAOB Ethics and Independence
Rule 3526,
Communication with Audit Committees Concerning Independence,
and the Audit Committee has discussed with the independent auditors their
independence.
In
reliance on the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board the inclusion of the Company's audited consolidated financial statements in its
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, for filing with the SEC.
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Respectfully submitted,
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THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
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Mary Jane Robertson, Chairman
Edward A. Glickman
Peter Linneman
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND BOARD MATTERS
Corporate Governance Profile
Our corporate governance is structured in a manner that the Board believes closely aligns our interests with those of our shareholders.
Notable features of our corporate governance structure include the following:
-
-
our Board is not staggered, with each of our trustees subject to re-election annually;
-
-
our Charter requires that in uncontested trustee elections, each trustee must be elected by at least a majority of votes cast in his
or her election;
-
-
of the 11 persons who currently serve on our Board, 9, or 82% of our trustees, have been determined by us to be independent for
purposes of the NYSE's corporate governance listing standards and Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act;
-
-
we have determined that at least one of our trustees qualifies as an "audit committee financial expert" as defined by the SEC;
-
-
we have opted out of the Maryland business combination and control share acquisition statutes; and
-
-
we do not have a shareholder rights plan (commonly known as a "poison pill").
Our
Charter and bylaws provide that the number of trustees constituting the Board may be increased or decreased by a majority vote of the entire Board, provided the number of trustees
may not be greater than 13 and may not be decreased to fewer than three.
There
are no family relationships among our executive officers and trustees. The Board has affirmatively determined that all of our trustee nominees except Mr. Zell, the Chairman
of the Board, and Mr. Helfand, our President and Chief Executive Officer, are independent under applicable NYSE and SEC rules.
Board Leadership Structure
Sam Zell has served as Chairman and David Helfand has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer since May 2014. The Board
does not have a policy regarding separation of the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. However, it evaluates the combined role of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer as part
of the succession planning process, and the Board has determined that, based on Messrs. Zell and Helfand's combined experience, it is in our best interests and the best interests of our
shareholders at this time to separate the roles.
To
strengthen the role of our independent trustees and encourage independent Board leadership, the Board has established the position of lead independent trustee. Currently,
Mr. Linneman serves as our lead independent trustee. In accordance with our Corporate Governance Guidelines, the responsibilities of the lead independent trustee include, among
others:
-
-
serving as liaison among (i) management, including the Chief Executive Officer, (ii) our other independent trustees,
(iii) employees reporting misconduct that by their nature cannot be brought to management and (iv) interested third parties and the Board;
-
-
presiding at executive sessions of the independent trustees;
-
-
serving as the focal point of communication to the Board regarding management plans and initiatives;
-
-
ensuring that the role between Board oversight and management operations is respected;
16
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-
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providing the medium for informal dialogue with and among independent trustees, allowing for free and open communication within that
group; and
-
-
serving as the communication conduit for third parties who wish to communicate with the Board.
Our
lead independent trustee will be selected on an annual basis by a majority of the independent trustees then serving on the Board.
Executive Sessions
Pursuant to our Corporate Governance Guidelines and the NYSE listing standards, in order to promote open discussion among
non-management trustees, our Board devotes a portion of each regularly scheduled board meeting to executive sessions without management participation. In addition, our Corporate Governance Guidelines
provide that if the group of non-management trustees includes trustees who are not independent, as defined in the NYSE's listing standards, at least one such executive session convened per year shall
include only independent trustees, at which the lead trustee presides.
Attendance of Trustees at 2015 Board Meetings and Annual Meeting of Shareholders
During the year ended December 31, 2015, our Board held five meetings and took twelve actions by unanimous written consent. In
2015, each trustee attended 75% or more of the aggregate of all meetings of the Board and the committees on which he or she served. Seven of our current trustees attended our 2015 annual meeting of
shareholders. In accordance with our Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Company's policy is for trustees to attend the annual meeting of shareholders.
Committees of the Board
Our Board has a standing Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Each of these
committees must have at least three members who are each independent trustees, as that term is defined in the NYSE listing standards. Our Board may from time to time establish other committees to
facilitate the management of our Company.
The
table below provides membership information for each of the Board committees as of the date of this Proxy Statement:
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Trustee
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Audit
Committee
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Compensation
Committee
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Nominating and
Corporate
Governance
Committee
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James S. Corl
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X
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Martin L. Edelman
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X (Chair)
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Edward A. Glickman
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X*
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Peter Linneman
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X*
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James L. Lozier, Jr.
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X
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Mary Jane Robertson
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X* (Chair)
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Kenneth Shea
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X (Chair)
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Gerald A. Spector
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X
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James A. Star
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X
|
-
*
-
Audit
committee financial expert
17
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The
Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee each operate under written charters adopted by the Board. These charters are available on
our website at www.eqcre.com.
The Audit Committee consists of Ms. Robertson and Messrs. Glickman and Linneman, with Ms. Robertson serving as its
Chairman. The Audit Committee Charter requires that all members of the committee meet the independence, experience, financial literacy and expertise requirements of the NYSE, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002, the Exchange Act and applicable rules and regulations of the SEC. Our Board has determined that all of the members of the Audit Committee meet the foregoing requirements. The Board also has
determined that Ms. Robertson, Mr. Glickman and
Mr. Linneman each qualify as an "audit committee financial expert," as defined by the applicable SEC regulations and NYSE corporate governance listing standards.
The
Audit Committee Charter sets forth the principal functions of the Audit Committee, which include overseeing:
-
-
our accounting and financial reporting processes;
-
-
the integrity and audits of our consolidated financial statements and financial reporting process;
-
-
our systems of disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting;
-
-
our compliance with financial, legal and regulatory requirements;
-
-
the evaluation of the qualifications, independence and performance of our independent registered public accounting firm;
-
-
the performance of our internal audit function;
-
-
the review of all related party transactions in accordance with our related party transactions policy; and
-
-
our overall risk profile.
The
Audit Committee also is responsible for engaging an independent registered public accounting firm, reviewing with the independent registered public accounting firm the plans and
results of the audit engagement, approving professional services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm, including all audit and non-audit services, reviewing the independence
of the independent registered public accounting firm, considering the range of audit and non-audit fees and reviewing the adequacy of our internal accounting controls. The Audit Committee also
approves the audit committee report required by SEC regulations to be included in our annual proxy statement.
During
the year ended December 31, 2015, our Audit Committee held eight meetings and took no actions by unanimous written consent.
The Compensation Committee consists of Messrs. Shea, Lozier and Spector, with Mr. Shea serving as its Chairman. The
Compensation Committee Charter requires that all members of the committee meet the independence requirements of the NYSE, applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, any other applicable rules
relating to independence, qualify as a "non-employee director" for purposes of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and qualify as an "outside director" for purposes of Section 162(m) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Our Board has determined that all of the members of the Compensation Committee meet the foregoing requirements.
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The
Compensation Committee Charter sets forth the principal functions of the Compensation Committee, which include:
-
-
reviewing and approving on an annual basis the corporate goals and objectives relevant to our Chief Executive Officer's compensation,
evaluating our Chief Executive Officer's performance in light of such goals and objectives and determining and approving the remuneration of our Chief Executive Officer based on such evaluation;
-
-
reviewing and approving the compensation of our other executive officers;
-
-
reviewing our executive compensation policies and plans;
-
-
determining the number of shares underlying, and the terms of, stock option and restricted stock awards to be granted to our trustees,
executive officers and other employees pursuant to these plans;
-
-
assisting management in complying with our proxy statement and annual report disclosure requirements;
-
-
producing a report on executive compensation to be included in our annual proxy statement; and
-
-
reviewing, evaluating and recommending changes, if appropriate, to the remuneration for trustees.
The
Compensation Committee Charter permits the committee to delegate its authority to its members as the committee deems appropriate, provided that any delegate must report any actions
taken by the delegate to the full committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting. The Compensation Committee has not delegated its authority to any member of the committee.
During
the year ended December 31, 2015, our Compensation Committee held six meetings and took no actions by unanimous written consent.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee consists of Messrs. Edelman, Corl and Star, with Mr. Edelman serving as
its Chairman. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter requires that all members of the committee meet the independence requirements of the NYSE, applicable rules and regulations of
the SEC and any other applicable rules relating to independence. Our Board has determined that all of the members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee meet the foregoing requirements.
The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee sets forth the principal functions of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, which
include:
-
-
identifying, recruiting and recommending to the full Board qualified candidates for election as trustees and recommending a slate of
nominees for election as trustees at each annual meeting of shareholders;
-
-
developing and recommending to the Board Corporate Governance Guidelines, including the committee's selection criteria for trustee
nominees, and implementing and monitoring such guidelines;
-
-
reviewing and making recommendations on matters involving the general operation of the Board, including board size and composition,
and committee composition and structure;
-
-
recommending to the Board nominees for each committee of the Board;
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-
-
annually facilitating the assessment of the Board's performance as a whole and of the individual trustees, as required by applicable
law, regulations and the NYSE corporate governance listing standards; and
-
-
overseeing the Board's evaluation of management.
During
the year ended December 31, 2015, our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee held three meetings and took no actions by unanimous written consent.
Trustee Nominee Selection Process
Our Corporate Governance Guidelines set forth minimum qualifications that trustee candidates must possess. At a minimum, a trustee
candidate must possess:
-
-
integrity;
-
-
an ability to exercise sound judgment;
-
-
an ability to make independent analytical inquiries;
-
-
an ability and willingness to devote adequate time and resources to diligently perform Board duties;
-
-
appropriate and relevant business experience and acumen; and
-
-
a reputation, both personal and professional, consistent with our image and reputation.
The
Board does not have a formal policy specifying how diversity of background and personal experience should be applied in identifying or evaluating trustee candidates. A trustee
candidate's background and personal experience, however, will be significant in the Board's candidate identification and evaluation process to help ensure that the Board remains aware of and
responsive to the needs and interests of our customers, shareholders, employees and other stakeholders.
The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will seek to identify trustee candidates based on input provided by a number of sources, including (a) members of the Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee, (b) our trustees, and (c) our shareholders. The Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee also has the authority to consult with or retain advisors or search firms to assist in the identification of qualified trustee candidates; however, we do not currently employ a
search firm, or pay a fee to any other third party, to locate qualified trustee candidates.
As
part of the candidate identification process, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will evaluate the skills, expertise and diversity possessed by the current Board, and
whether there are additional skills, expertise or diversity that should be added to complement the composition of the existing Board. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also will take
into account whether existing trustees have indicated a willingness to continue to serve as trustees if re-nominated. Once trustee candidates have been identified, the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee then will evaluate each candidate in light of his or her qualifications and credentials, and any additional factors that the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee deems
necessary or appropriate. Existing trustees who are being considered for re-nomination will be re-evaluated as part of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee's process of recommending
trustee candidates. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee evaluates the performance of each current trustee and considers the results of such evaluation when determining whether to
recommend the nomination of such trustee for an additional term. All candidates submitted by shareholders will be evaluated in the same manner as all other trustee candidates, provided that the
advance notice and other requirements set forth in our bylaws have been followed. At an appropriate time prior to each annual meeting at which trustees are to be elected or re-elected, the Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee recommends to the Board for nomination by the Board such
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candidates
as the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, in the exercise of its judgment, has found to be well-qualified and willing and available to serve.
At
an appropriate time after a vacancy arises on the Board or a trustee advises the Board of his or her intention to resign, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will
recommend to the Board for election by the Board to fill such vacancy, such prospective member of the Board as the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, in the exercise of its judgment, has
found to be well-qualified and willing and available to serve. In determining whether a prospective member is qualified to serve, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider the
factors listed above.
Pursuant
to our bylaws, any nominee for trustee that is not elected by the vote required by our bylaws and who is an incumbent trustee will promptly tender his or her resignation to the
Board for consideration. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will recommend to the Board whether to accept or reject the resignation, or whether other action should be taken.
Board Oversight of Risk Management
One of the key functions of our Board is informed oversight of our risk management process. Our Board will administer this oversight
function directly, with support from its three standing committees, the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, each of which addresses risks
specific to their respective areas of oversight as follows:
-
-
Audit Committee:
The Audit Committee, which meets at
least quarterly and reports its findings to the Board, will perform a lead role in helping our Board fulfill its responsibilities for oversight of our financial reporting, internal audit function,
risk management and our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. Our Audit Committee will review periodic reports from our independent registered public accounting firm regarding potential
risks, including risks related to our internal controls. Our Audit Committee also will annually review, approve and oversee an internal audit plan developed by our internal auditor with the goal of
helping us systematically evaluate the effectiveness of our risk management, control and governance processes, and periodically meet with our internal auditing personnel to review the results of our
internal audits, and direct or recommend to the Board actions or changes it determines appropriate to enhance or improve the effectiveness of our risk management.
-
-
Compensation Committee:
The Compensation Committee, in
consultation with the Company's executive officers, reviews the Company's policies and procedures with respect to risk assessment and risk management for compensating all employees of the Company,
including non-executive employees, on an annual basis and periodically reports its findings to the Board. The Compensation Committee does not believe there are any risks from the Company's
compensation policies and practices for its employees that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.
-
-
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee:
The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will monitor the general operations of the Board and the effectiveness of our Corporate Governance Guidelines, including whether they are successful in
assuring adherence to good corporate governance principles.
The
Board believes that the composition of its committees, and the distribution of the particular expertise of each committee's members, makes this an appropriate structure to
effectively monitor the risks discussed above.
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Corporate Governance Guidelines
Our Corporate Governance Guidelines reflect the Board's commitment to monitoring the effectiveness of decision-making at the Board and
management level and ensuring adherence to good corporate governance principles, all with the goal of enhancing shareholder value over the long term. The Corporate Governance Guidelines address, among
other things:
-
-
the responsibilities and qualifications of trustees, including trustee independence;
-
-
the functioning of the Board;
-
-
the responsibilities, composition and functioning of the Board committees;
-
-
the appointment and role of the lead independent trustee;
-
-
principles of trustee compensation; and
-
-
management succession and review.
A
copy of the Corporate Governance Guidelines is available on our website at www.eqcre.com.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applies to trustees, officers and employees. Among other matters, the code is intended to deter
wrongdoing and promote:
-
-
honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and
professional relationships;
-
-
full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in our SEC reports and other public communications;
-
-
compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations;
-
-
prompt internal reporting of violations of the code to appropriate persons identified in the code; and
-
-
accountability for adherence to the code.
Any
waiver of any provision of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for our executive officers or trustees may be made only by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee or
another committee of our Board comprised solely of independent trustees or a majority of our independent trustees. Any such waiver for our executive officers or trustee will be disclosed to
shareholders within four business days of such waiver. We intend to disclose any changes in or waivers from the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics by posting such information on our website.
A
copy of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is available on our website at www.eqcre.com.
Communications with the Board
As described in our Corporate Governance Guidelines, shareholders and other interested parties may communicate with the Board by
communicating directly with our lead independent trustee by sending written correspondence to the "Lead Trustee" c/o the Chief Financial Officer of Equity Commonwealth, Two North Riverside Plaza,
Suite 2100, Chicago, Illinois 60606, who will then directly forward such correspondence to the lead independent trustee. The lead independent trustee will decide what action should be taken
with respect to the communication, including whether such communication should be reported to the full Board.
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Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
No member of the Compensation Committee is or has ever been an officer or employee of the Company, and no member of the Compensation
Committee had any relationships requiring disclosure by us under the SEC's rules requiring disclosure of certain relationships and related-party transactions. No executive officer serves as a member
of a board of directors or compensation committee, or other committee serving an equivalent function, of any other entity that has one or more of its executive officers serving as a member of the
Board or Compensation Committee. Accordingly, during 2015 there were no interlocks with other companies within the meaning of the SEC's proxy rules.
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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following are the ages and the positions and offices held by each of our executive officers. Unless otherwise specified, the
business address of the executive officers is c/o Equity Commonwealth, Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 2100, Chicago, Illinois 60606.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name
|
|
Position With the Company
|
|
Age as of
the Annual
Meeting
|
|
David Helfand
|
|
Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
51
|
|
David S. Weinberg
|
|
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
|
|
|
47
|
|
Adam S. Markman
|
|
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
|
|
|
51
|
|
Orrin S. Shifrin
|
|
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
|
|
|
49
|
|
Our
executive officers serve at the discretion of the Board. Please see "Proposal 1: Election of TrusteesBiographies of Trustee Nominees" for the biography of David Helfand.
David S. Weinberg
has been our Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since May 2014. Prior to joining us,
Mr. Weinberg served as the Chief Investment Officer of EQX Real Estate Partners, L.P., a private investment firm ("EQX"), from January 2014 and worked on real estate and real
estate-related investments for Equity Group from January 2012 to December 2013. Prior to joining Equity Group, from 2007 through 2011, Mr. Weinberg was responsible for investments in the
multifamily and office sectors at Helix Funds and oversaw Helix Funds' dispositions for ARC. Mr. Weinberg also served as Vice President of Investments and Asset Management at EOP where he
worked from 2003 to 2007. In this role, he participated in over $6 billion of investment activity and oversaw EOP's 16 million-square-foot office portfolio in Southern California.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Weinberg was Vice President of acquisitions at LaSalle Investment Management and an attorney at the law firm of Sidley Austin LLP. Mr. Weinberg received
his J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law and graduated with highest honors with a B.S. from the University of Illinois.
Adam S. Markman
has been our Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since July 2014. Mr. Markman served as
Managing Director of Green Street Advisors, Inc., a real estate research firm ("Green Street"), where he worked from 1994 to 2014. While at Green Street, Mr. Markman was in charge of the
firm's consulting and advisory practice, played a key role in the firm's investment arm for real estate investment trusts and previously led the firm's retail and lodging research efforts.
Mr. Markman has also served as a real estate consultant at Kenneth Leventhal & Co. Mr. Markman was a member of Green Street's Board of Directors, and currently sits on Mark
IV Capital's Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of UC Irvine's Center for Real Estate. He is
also a member of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT) and the Urban Land Institute (ULI). Mr. Markman earned his M.B.A. in Finance/Real Estate from Columbia
University and a B.A. from U.C. Berkeley.
Orrin S. Shifrin
has been our Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary since May 2014. Prior to joining us,
Mr. Shifrin served as General Counsel, Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer of EQX from January 2014 and handled legal matters for Equity Group's real estate investment activity.
Mr. Shifrin currently serves as the General Counsel and Secretary for Helix Funds where he has participated in the acquisition, management and disposition of over $2.2 billion in real
estate assets. Mr. Shifrin also previously served as the General Counsel for ARC. Prior to joining Helix Funds, Mr. Shifrin served as a Principal at Terrapin Properties, LLC, a
privately-held real estate investment and development company ("Terrapin"), where he worked from October 2002 to April 2005 and where his role involved general counsel duties, business development and
operations. While at Terrapin, Mr. Shifrin was involved in over $200 million of residential and commercial real estate-related transactions. Prior to joining Terrapin, Mr. Shifrin
was a Partner at the law firm of Katten Muchin
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Rosenman,
where he worked for over 10 years. Mr. Shifrin received his J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law and graduated with highest honors with a B.S. from the University of
Illinois.
Messrs. Weinberg
and Shifrin are expected to have limited involvement in the activities of Equity Group and Helix Funds. Messrs. Weinberg and Shifrin have each been an
employee of or otherwise involved in the operation of Equity Group and Helix Funds.
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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Compensation Overview
This Compensation Discussion and Analysis provides a detailed description of the Company's executive compensation philosophy and
programs, the compensation decisions the Compensation Committee has made under those programs and the factors considered in making those decisions. This Compensation Discussion and Analysis discusses
the compensation of the following individuals, who are the Company's named executive officers for 2015:
|
|
|
Name
|
|
Title
|
David A. Helfand
|
|
President and Chief Executive Officer
|
David S. Weinberg
|
|
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
|
Adam S. Markman
|
|
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
|
Orrin S. Shifrin
|
|
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
|
Overview of Company Performance during 2015
2015 was another year of significant accomplishment for our Company. We completed our transition to being an internally managed REIT, a
process that began in May 2014. We also made significant progress on our business strategy to reshape our portfolio, continued to strengthen our balance sheet, improve leasing and operations and build
a cohesive culture to set the foundation for long-term value creation for our shareholders. More specifically, we accomplished the following during 2015:
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Our
Company's total return in 2015 was 8.0%, ranking it fourth among the 21 companies that currently comprise the NAREIT Office Index that were also in that Index at the beginning of the
year. The NAREIT Office Index returned 0.3% in 2015.
Compensation Objectives and Philosophy
Our compensation program, as approved by the Compensation Committee for 2015, is designed generally to accomplish four key principal
objectives:
-
1.
-
attract,
retain and reward effective executive officers who create long-term value for the Company's shareholders;
-
2.
-
align
the long-term interests of our executive officers with the interests of the Company and the Company's shareholders;
-
3.
-
reward
financial and operating performance and leadership excellence; and
-
4.
-
motivate
executives to remain at the Company for the long-term.
To
align with these objectives, we compensate our named executive officers using a combination of the following components: (1) base salary, (2) annual cash incentive
compensation, (3) long-term at-risk time and performance-based equity compensation, and (4) broad-based health and welfare benefits that are made available to all of our employees.
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Compensation Snapshot: What We Pay and Why
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OBJECTIVES
|
|
KEY FEATURES
|
Base Salary
|
|
Recognize ongoing performance of job
responsibilities and leadership excellence
Provide a regular source of income so employees can focus on day-to-day responsibilities
|
|
Fixed compensation paid in cash
Based on competitive pay, taking into account job scope,
position, knowledge, skills and experience
|
Short-Term Annual Incentive Program (STIP)
|
|
Motivate the achievement of Company and
individual strategic objectives on an annual basis
|
|
Variable cash compensation based on
achievement of pre-defined annual performance goals
|
|
|
Reward financial and operating performance
and leadership excellence
|
|
Funded upon achievement of corporate goals
(33%) and individual goals (67%)
|
|
|
Balances objectivity with subjectivity in an
effort to support the Company's business plan
|
|
|
Long-Term Incentive Program (LTIP)
|
|
Encourages executives to achieve multi-year
strategic and financial objectives to create shareholder value
Aligns the long-term interests of executives with the interests of the Company and the Company's shareholders
Provides a retention mechanism with vesting over a multi-year period to motivate our
executives to remain at the Company for the long-term
|
|
Performance-based equity compensation with a
majority (67%) based on achievement of pre-defined forward looking performance-goals and the remainder (33%) based on service with the Company
Performance is based on relative TSR over a three-year performance period (vs. the TSRs
of the companies that comprise the NAREIT Office Index) with a modifier (reduction) applied for absolute TSR performance that is negative
For the time-based awards, vesting is back-end loaded (50% vests on the fourth anniversary)
|
We
believe that the structure of our executive compensation program, as outlined above, will contribute to our achievements and strikes an appropriate balance between the need to attract
and retain executives while enabling our executives to execute the Company's strategy. With a majority of each executive's compensation opportunity "at risk", we believe the interests of the
executives are appropriately aligned with the interests of stockholders and linked with Company performance.
The
following charts illustrate the target mix between compensation elements for our Chief Executive Officer and the average target mix of our other named executive officers. For our
Chief Executive Officer and other named executive officers, the majority (65% and 60%, respectively) of their total target compensation is at-risk, performance-based compensation (i.e., the
annual cash bonus and restricted share units). For our Chief Executive Officer and other named executive officers, the
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majority
(67% and 57%, respectively) of their total target compensation is allocated to long-term incentive (equity) pay subject to various additional performance and vesting criteria while a minority
portion is cash-based, further enhancing our named executive officers' alignment with our shareholders.
|
|
|
Target Pay MixCEO
|
|
Target Pay MixAvg. Other NEOs*
|
|
|
|
-
*
-
The
totals in the charts may not equal the sum of the components due to rounding.
The
following chart illustrates that with respect to the LTIP portion of at-risk pay, a significant portion is subject to future performance requirements based on relative total
shareholder return vs. our peers while a limited portion is based on continued service with the Company. The allocation of performance-based and time-based awards is consistent between our Chief
Executive Officer and other named executive officers. We believe this structure encourages performance yet promotes retention in a period whereby we have recently undergone significant change at our
organization.
LTIP Target Pay Allocation
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Executive Compensation Program Highlights
The table below highlights certain practices that we have utilized and others that we have avoided because we believe doing so is in
the best interests of our shareholders:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pay for Performance.
Compensation paid under our annual short-term incentive program and our LTIP is based on a mixture of performance metrics that span both annual
(short-term) and multi-year (long-term) performance periods. The leading metric is our relative total shareholder return compared to the total shareholder returns of the companies that comprise the NAREIT Office Index, with a reduction modifier
applied if our return is negative.
|
|
|
|
No Single Trigger Change in Control Provisions.
Upon a change in control, a qualified termination must occur for award acceleration to occur (12-month window
period).
|
|
|
Pay for Performance Compensation Mix.
The overall compensation opportunity that is fixed is limited while a significant portion is at-risk and can only be earned
based on the achievement of certain criteria.
|
|
|
|
No Perquisites and No Gross-Ups.
We do not provide any supplemental executive retirement plans, company cars, club memberships or other
perquisites.
|
|
|
Stock Ownership Guidelines.
We have ownership guidelines in place for the CEO and other named executive officers, as well as for our non-employee
trustees.
|
|
|
|
Limited Retirement and Health Benefits.
We do not have a defined benefit plan.
|
|
|
Clawback Policy.
Our clawback policy applies to the CEO/CFO in the event of a material restatement of the Company's financials as a result of
misconduct.
|
|
|
|
No Hedging or Pledging of Company Stock.
Our Insider Trading Policy prohibits our trustees and employees from engaging in hedging and pledging
activities.
|
|
|
Independent Compensation Consultant.
The Compensation Committee retained an independent compensation consulting firm, FPL Associates, with expertise in the REIT
industry.
|
|
|
|
No Gross-Ups for Excess Parachute Payments.
We do not have any arrangements requiring us to gross-up compensation to cover taxes owed by the executives, including
excise taxes payable by the executive in connection with a change in control.
|
|
|
Compensation Risk Assessment.
The Compensation Committee conducted a compensation risk assessment to ensure that the executive compensation program does not
encourage excessively risky behaviors.
|
|
|
|
No Dividends on Unearned Performance Awards.
We will not pay dividend equivalents with respect to performance-based awards unless and until the awards are earned,
at which time each holder of an earned award will receive an amount in cash equal to the aggregate amount of ordinary cash dividends that would have been paid in respect of the common shares underlying the award had such shares been issued to the
holder on the first day of the performance period. Thereafter, dividend equivalents will be paid currently on earned awards.
|
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Compensation Determination Process
The Compensation Committee reviews and approves the corporate goals and objectives with respect to the compensation of the Company's
named executive officers on an annual basis. The Compensation Committee evaluates the performance of each named executive officer
in light of these goals and objectives and, on the basis of such evaluation, determines and approves the compensation for each named executive officer. Our Chief Executive Officer makes
recommendations to the Compensation Committee regarding the compensation of the named executive officers other than the Chief Executive Officer.
In
determining the appropriate compensation for the Company's named executive officers, the Compensation Committee considers the Company's performance and relative shareholder return,
the amount of compensation payable, including incentive awards, to similarly-situated officers at comparable companies, any shareholder vote on compensation and any other factors the Compensation
Committee deems necessary or appropriate in its discretion. The Compensation Committee seeks to ensure that our compensation plans are designed with an appropriate balance of risk and reward in
relation to the Company's overall business strategy and do not encourage excessive or unnecessary risk-taking behavior. In addition, the Compensation Committee seeks to ensure that our programs
encourage high performance, promote accountability and align our named executive officers' interests with those of our shareholders.
Our shareholders overwhelmingly approved the compensation of our named executive officers in the non-binding advisory vote that we
conducted at the 2015 annual meeting of shareholders, with approximately 92% of the votes cast in favor of this proposal. This was our first advisory vote on executive compensation since we
established a new executive compensation program in 2014 following the change of control of our Board and our transition to an internally managed REIT in 2014. The Compensation Committee considered
these voting results as supportive of our executive compensation philosophy and determined to continue our current compensation practices.
Under its charter, the Compensation Committee has the sole authority to retain and terminate outside legal or other advisors to the
Compensation Committee as it deems necessary and appropriate in its sole discretion, including compensation consultants. The Compensation Committee has engaged FPL Associates L.P.
("FPL") to advise it on matters related to the compensation of our executive officers and our compensation plans, including assisting it in developing a new executive compensation
program. FPL is engaged by, and reports directly to, the Compensation Committee, which has the sole authority to retain or terminate FPL and to approve the consultant's fees and other retention terms.
FPL provides no other services to the Company. The Compensation Committee has reviewed the independence of FPL in light of SEC rules and NYSE listing standards
regarding compensation consultants and has concluded that FPL's work for the Compensation Committee is independent and does not raise any conflict of interest.
The Compensation Committee uses peer group data as one tool in assessing and determining pay for our executive officers. Competitive
market data is intended to provide a framework for current market pay practices, trends, best practices, and overall industry performance. We believe this use of peer company data is consistent with
how shareholders and proxy advisory firms use such data. However, over reliance on market data can provide an incomplete picture, and therefore we also factor
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in
an individual's personal contributions to the organization, unique qualifications and skills sets, the particular circumstances of our Company at this time, and ultimately strive to create
compensation magnitudes that are appropriate for the risk profile of our Company today and over the longer-term. As an initial reference point, the market median (or a reasonable range above or below
the median) for each compensation element serves as an indicator of competitive market trends, and the Compensation Committee uses it as a starting point when setting each of our named executive
officer's compensation.
The
Compensation Committee retained FPL in the fall of 2015 to, among other things: (1) assist in benchmarking our executive compensation against our peers; (2) analyze
trends in compensation in the marketplace generally and specific compensation program design changes among our peers specifically; and (3) provide updates with respect to new legislative
matters related to compensation.
With
recommendations from FPL, the Compensation Committee selected the companies to be included in our peer group based on best market practices for peer group selection while
recognizing that our particular company circumstance is unique due to our recent transition to an internally managed company and our disposition strategy, and as such, direct peers are difficult to
find. Ultimately, a variety of factors were utilized to determine our peer groups, including: (1) REITs that are comparable to us based on size, (2) REITs that are comparable to us based
on asset class (office), and/or (3) REITs with a higher degree of complexity and management intensive operations. As a result, both a Public REIT Peer Group was utilized as well as an Office
REIT Subset Peer Group.
The
following table contains the names of each company within both peer groups. As of December 31, 2015, all of the peer companies (with the sole exception being Boston
Properties) rank between 0.5x and 2.0x our Company's equity market capitalization and total market capitalization.
|
|
|
Public REIT Peer Group
|
|
Office REIT Subset
|
Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.
|
|
Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.
|
Boston Properties, Inc.
|
|
Boston Properties, Inc.
|
Brandywine Realty Trust
|
|
Brandywine Realty Trust
|
Camden Property Trust
|
|
Columbia Property Trust, Inc.
|
Columbia Property Trust, Inc.
|
|
Douglas Emmett, Inc.
|
Douglas Emmett, Inc.
|
|
Highwoods Properties, Inc.
|
Highwoods Properties, Inc.
|
|
Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.
|
Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.
|
|
Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc.
|
Liberty Property Trust
|
|
|
Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc.
|
|
|
PS Business Parks, Inc.
|
|
|
Regency Centers Corporation
|
|
|
W.P. Carey, Inc.
|
|
|
Weingarten Realty Investors
|
|
|
Elements of Compensation
We pay our named executive officers base salaries to provide them with a predictable and stable source of cash income in order to
compensate them for performing the requirements of their respective positions and to retain and motivate them.
In
2014, the Compensation Committee approved interim annual base salaries for each of Messrs. Helfand, Weinberg, Markman and Shifrin in the amounts of $600,000, $450,000, $450,000
and $450,000, respectively. In determining the interim annual base salaries for each named executive officer, the Compensation Committee considered the base salaries of similarly-situated executives
at the
32
Table of Contents
companies
in the Company's peer group. The 2014 interim annual base salary of the named executive officers in the aggregate ranked in line with the median base salary of executives at companies in the
Company's peer group. In 2014, the Compensation Committee determined to leave these base salaries unchanged for 2015 as the Compensation Committee believed that these base salary levels continued to
be appropriate.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Named Executive Officer
|
|
2014 Base Salary
|
|
2015 Base Salary
|
|
Percent Change
|
|
David A. Helfand
|
|
$
|
600,000
|
|
$
|
600,000
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
David S. Weinberg
|
|
$
|
450,000
|
|
$
|
450,000
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
Adam S. Markman
|
|
$
|
450,000
|
|
$
|
450,000
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
Orrin S. Shifrin
|
|
$
|
450,000
|
|
$
|
450,000
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
The
Compensation Committee reviews each named executive officer's annual base salary on an annual basis, and any adjustments to an executive's base salary are based on the Compensation
Committee's evaluation of the executive's performance in light of the corporate goals and objectives established by the Compensation Committee each year with respect to the compensation of the
executive officers. In determining the appropriate annual base salary for each named executive officer, the Compensation Committee also considers the Company's performance and relative shareholder
return, the amount of compensation payable to similarly-situated officers at comparable companies, any shareholder vote on compensation and any other factors the Compensation Committee deems necessary
or appropriate in its discretion. See the section below entitled "
Compensation Discussion and Analysis2016 Compensation Actions2016 Base
Salaries
" for information on certain increases in the annual base salaries for the named executive officers that the Compensation Committee approved in 2016 for the 2016 fiscal
year.
The Company's named executive officers are eligible to receive annual bonuses under the Company's Short-Term Annual Incentive Program
(the "STIP") based on the achievement of certain performance criteria for the applicable fiscal year, as determined by the Compensation Committee. The purpose of the STIP is to encourage outstanding
Company and individual performance by motivating the Company's executives to achieve short-term Company and individual goals by rewarding performance measured against key annual strategic objectives.
STIP bonuses are paid 100% in cash.
In
January 2015, the Compensation Committee approved corporate and individual performance goals for determining the amount of cash bonuses to be awarded to our named executive officers
for the 2015 fiscal year under the STIP. The goals were based 33% on the achievement of the following objective corporate performance metrics, with threshold, target and maximum values established by
the Compensation Committee at what it believed to be appropriately rigorous and challenging levels for each metric, as the Company pursued its repositioning
strategy:
-
-
volume of property dispositions;
-
-
same property average occupancy; and
-
-
same property cash net operating income.
Specifically,
the Board approved a strategic plan to encourage the sale of up to $3 billion of assets. The Compensation Committee tied the Company's named executive officers'
annual bonuses to this objective by measuring the volume of property dispositions. Additionally, the Compensation Committee looked to quantify the effectiveness of our named executive officers in
retaining and attracting tenants to the Company's assets, which is captured in the measurement of same property average occupancy. Change in same property cash net operating income measures the named
executive officers' ability to impact the Company's earnings at our assets, which captures both changes in rents and whether
33
Table of Contents
expenses
are being properly controlled. The Compensation Committee selected these metrics as they believed that they are key indicators of whether we are successfully executing our business strategy.
For 2015, the Company achieved each of these objective metrics at the maximum value established by the Compensation Committee.
The
other 67% of award determinations under the STIP for fiscal year 2015 were based on the achievement of subjective individual performance goals that the Compensation Committee
established for each of our named executive officers. The Compensation Committee believes that in the near term, as the Company continues to implement its new strategic direction, the performance of
our named executive officers will be difficult to assess with purely objective, quantitative goals. In order to continue to motivate our named executive officers and reward their performance during
this time of transition, the Compensation Committee determined that it is appropriate for subjective individual performance goals to play a meaningful role in determining the named executive officers'
annual bonuses for the 2015 fiscal year. The Compensation Committee expects to shift to more objective, quantitative goals for the STIP following the completion of the Company's strategic
repositioning.
The
2015 individual goals for our named executive officers included, among others:
-
-
for Mr. Helfand, providing leadership in developing our strategic direction, building a corporate culture that promotes
integrity and achievement, and cultivating relationships in the real estate and investment communities to maximize strategic opportunities;
-
-
for Mr. Weinberg, facilitating leasing by, among other things, implementing technology for the financial analysis and approval
of leases, developing processes for the review and approval of proposed capital projects, and refining asset valuations and enhancing relationships with brokers to support our disposition strategy;
-
-
for Mr. Markman, cultivating and enhancing relationships with institutional investors and analysts, developing a corporate
model for earnings and NAV, recasting our revolving facility and term loans, and improving access to capital; and
-
-
for Mr. Shifrin, providing valuable legal advice on real estate, public market and transactional related matters, promoting a
"best in class" corporate governance and compliance environment, and encouraging an effective risk management culture.
The
threshold, target and maximum annual bonus amounts for Messrs. Helfand, Weinberg, Markman and Shifrin under the STIP for fiscal year 2015, as a percentage of their respective
annual base salaries, were as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Named Executive Officer
|
|
Threshold
|
|
Target
|
|
Maximum
|
|
David A. Helfand
|
|
|
75
|
%
|
|
150
|
%
|
|
225
|
%
|
David S. Weinberg
|
|
|
50
|
%
|
|
100
|
%
|
|
150
|
%
|
Adam S. Markman
|
|
|
50
|
%
|
|
100
|
%
|
|
150
|
%
|
Orrin S. Shifrin
|
|
|
50
|
%
|
|
100
|
%
|
|
150
|
%
|
On
January 26, 2016, the Compensation Committee approved the following cash bonus awards under the STIP for the named executive officers for fiscal year 2015:
(i) Mr. Helfand, $1,250,000; (ii) Mr. Weinberg, $675,000; (iii) Mr. Markman, $650,000; and (iv) Mr. Shifrin, $650,000. The bonus amount awarded
to each of Messrs. Helfand, Markman and Shifrin is between the target and maximum bonus amounts that were established for the executive, and the bonus amount awarded to Mr. Weinberg is
the maximum bonus amount that was established for him. The Compensation Committee determined the bonus amounts based on the level of achievement of the applicable corporate performance metrics and its
subjective assessment of each executive's achievement of the applicable individual performance goals. The Compensation Committee determined that each corporate performance metric was achieved above
the maximum value that was established for such metric for
34
Table of Contents
fiscal
year 2015. In determining the bonus amounts for fiscal year 2015, the Compensation Committee also considered, among other things, each of the executive's contributions to our transition from
external management, improvement of the Company's capital structure, and the successful execution of the Company's disposition strategy, noting the absolute and relative performance of our stock
during 2015, when our Company's total return of 8.0% ranked fourth among the 21 companies that currently comprise the NAREIT Office Index that were also in that Index at the beginning of the year,
compared to the NAREIT Office Index 2015 return of 0.3%.
The Company's named executive officers are eligible to receive annual equity grants of time-vested restricted shares and restricted
share units ("RSUs") with a combination of time and performance-based vesting under our Long-Term Incentive Program (the "LTIP"). The purpose of the LTIP is to attract and retain talented executives
and key employees, to motivate future performance and to link compensation to performance of the Company's stock over a multi-year period. The Compensation Committee believes that it is appropriate to
use a combination of time and performance-based awards in order to attract and retain talented executives and key employees, and to link compensation to performance of the Company's stock over a
multi-year period. The Compensation Committee grants LTIP awards to our named executive officers in January of each fiscal year. The amount of awards granted to each executive is determined based on
his performance and the Company's performance during the prior fiscal year. Prior to obtaining shareholder approval of the Equity Commonwealth 2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the "2015 Omnibus Plan") at
our 2015 annual meeting of shareholders, we granted equity awards under the Equity Commonwealth 2012 Equity Compensation Plan, as amended (the "2012 Equity Plan"). We now grant equity awards under the
2015 Omnibus Plan.
LTIP Shares.
For each executive, 33% of the target LTIP award consists of restricted shares with time-based vesting requirements (the
"LTIP Shares").
In January 2015, the Compensation Committee granted 38,488 LTIP Shares to Mr. Helfand, 16,140 LTIP Shares to Mr. Weinberg, 16,140 LTIP Shares to Mr. Markman and 12,415 LTIP Shares
to Mr. Shifrin. Based on the closing price per share of our common shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share (the "Common Shares"), of $26.58 on January 28, 2015, the LTIP
Shares had a value on the grant date of $1,023,011, $429,001, $429,001 and $329,991 for Messrs. Helfand, Weinberg, Markman and Shifrin, respectively.
The
LTIP Shares will vest 25% on the second anniversary of the grant date, 25% on the third anniversary of the grant date and 50% on the fourth anniversary of the grant date, subject to
the executive's continued employment with the Company through the applicable vesting date. Each LTIP Share entitles the named executive officer to receive any dividends declared on the Common Shares
beginning on the grant date of the LTIP Share.
LTIP RSUs.
The other 67% of the target LTIP award for each executive consists of RSUs with time-based and performance-based vesting
requirements (the
"LTIP RSUs"). Each LTIP RSU represents the right to receive one Common Share. In January 2015, the Compensation Committee granted 194,771 LTIP RSUs to Mr. Helfand, 81,678 LTIP RSUs to
Mr. Weinberg, 81,678 LTIP RSUs to Mr. Markman and 62,829 LTIP RSUs to Mr. Shifrin, which is the maximum number of LTIP RSUs that each executive can earn based on achievement of
the applicable performance criteria. The actual number of LTIP RSUs that each executive will earn will be between 0% and 100% of the number of LTIP RSUs granted to him, depending on the achievement of
the applicable performance criteria. Although the Compensation Committee granted each executive the maximum number of LTIP RSUs that he can earn under the award, it considers the achievement of the
performance measure at the 50
th
percentile to be the target level of performance. Based on the closing price per Common Share of $26.58 on January 28, 2015, the number of
LTIP RSUs that will be earned by the executives if the Company's performance is at the target level had a value on the grant date of $2,077,014, $871,000, $871,000 and $670,002 for
Messrs. Helfand, Weinberg, Markman and Shifrin, respectively. Since the
35
Table of Contents
number
of LTIP RSUs that will be earned, if any, will not be determined until the end of the three-year performance period, the actual value of the LTIP RSUs could be higher or lower than the
foregoing target levels, depending on the Company's achievement of the applicable performance criteria.
The
performance measure for the LTIP RSUs is the TSR of the Company's Common Shares over a three-year performance period relative to the TSRs of the companies that comprise the NAREIT
Office Index over the same period of time, provided that only companies that are public throughout the entire performance period will be included for purposes of calculating the relative TSR
comparison. After the Company's TSR percentile is determined, the number of LTIP RSUs that will be earned by an executive will be determined by multiplying the number of LTIP RSUs that was granted to
the executive by the applicable percentage listed in the table below.
|
|
|
|
|
Company TSR Relative to NAREIT Office Index
TSRs over Performance Period
|
|
% of Granted RSUs Earned(1)
|
|
90th Percentile and Above
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
80th Percentile
|
|
|
85.0
|
%
|
70th Percentile
|
|
|
70.0
|
%
|
60th Percentile
|
|
|
55.0
|
%
|
50th Percentile (Target)
|
|
|
40.0
|
%
|
40th Percentile
|
|
|
27.5
|
%
|
30th Percentile
|
|
|
15.0
|
%
|
25th Percentile
|
|
|
10.0
|
%
|
Below 25th Percentile
|
|
|
0.0
|
%
|
-
(1)
-
The
actual number of LTIP RSUs earned will be the number of LTIP RSUs awarded to each executive, which is the maximum number of LTIP RSUs that can be
earned, multiplied by the applicable percentage listed in the table above. The actual value of the LTIP RSUs will be determined at the end of the three-year performance period. The percentages listed
in the table above are rounded to the nearest 0.5%.
If
the Company's total TSR for the performance period is negative, any LTIP RSUs deemed earned based on the table above will be reduced by 25%. To the extent performance falls between
two levels in the table above, linear interpolation will apply in determining the percentage of the LTIP RSUs that are earned. Any LTIP RSUs that do not become earned at the end of the performance
period will be forfeited.
The
LTIP RSUs will vest, if at all, as follows: (i) 50% following the conclusion of the performance period on the date that the Compensation Committee determines whether and to
what extent the performance criteria have been achieved, and (ii) 50% on the fourth anniversary of the grant date, subject in each case to the executive's continued employment with the Company
through such date. Earned LTIP RSUs, if any, will generally be paid out as soon as practicable following the applicable vesting date. The Compensation Committee believes that subjecting 50% of any
earned RSUs to an additional one-year vesting period further serves to motivate and retain our named executive officers and to align their interests with the interests of our shareholders.
The
named executive officers will not be entitled to receive any dividends with respect to the Common Shares underlying the LTIP RSUs unless and until the LTIP RSUs are earned, at which
time each executive will be entitled to receive an amount in cash equal to the aggregate amount of ordinary cash dividends that would have been paid in respect of the Common Shares underlying the
executive's earned LTIP RSUs had such Common Shares been issued to the executive on the first day of the performance period. Following the performance period, each executive will be entitled to
receive, in
36
Table of Contents
respect
of each earned LTIP RSU held by the executive, whether or not vested, an amount in cash equal to the per share amount of any ordinary cash dividend paid by the Company to the shareholders.
The
following illustrations show the performance periods and vesting schedules for the LTIP awards. The duration of the LTIP awards is four years from start to finish including
performance criteria and further vesting.
Performance-Based Awards (67% of LTIP Awards)
:
Time-Based Awards (33% of LTIP Awards):
The
treatment of the LTIP Shares and LTIP RSUs upon a termination of the executive's employment and/or a change in control of the Company is described below in the section entitled
"
Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control
."
Our named executive officers do not have employment agreements with the Company, and they are not entitled to receive any severance
payments or benefits upon a termination of employment, other than the acceleration of all or a portion of their outstanding equity awards upon certain terminations of employment or in connection with
a change in control of the Company, as described below in the section entitled "
Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control
."
We provide to all our employees, including our named executive officers, broad-based health and welfare benefits that are intended to
attract and retain employees while providing them with health and welfare security. Our named executive officers are eligible to receive the same benefits, including life
37
Table of Contents
and
health benefits and vacation, holiday and sick time, that are available to all employees. We do not provide perquisites to our named executive officers.
Other Compensation Practices and Policies
We believe that equity ownership by our officers helps align their interests with our shareholders' interests. To that end, we have
adopted formal stock ownership guidelines applicable to all of our named executive officers. On an annual basis, we evaluate the ownership status of the named executive officers.
Pursuant
to our Corporate Governance Guidelines, our Chief Executive Officer is required to own our securities equal in value to at least five times his base salary. Each of our other
named executive officers is required to own our securities equal to at least three times his base salary. Each named executive officer has five years to comply with the ownership requirement and is
required to hold shares at this level while serving in his position. Each named executive officer must retain all net securities (after payment of applicable taxes) earned from any equity award until
the applicable stock ownership requirement is achieved. See the section below entitled "
Trustee CompensationStock Ownership Guidelines
" for
a discussions of the stock ownership guidelines applicable to non-employee trustees.
Our Insider Trading Policy prohibits our trustees and employees, including our named executive officers, from engaging in the following
transactions: (i) trading in call or put options involving our securities and other derivative securities; (ii) engaging in short sales of our securities; (iii) holding our
securities in a margin account; and (iv) pledging our securities to secure margins or other loans, subject to limited exceptions.
Under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, a public company generally is limited to a $1 million deduction for
compensation paid to its chief executive officer or any of its three other most highly compensated executive officers (other than the chief financial officer). This limitation does not apply to
compensation that meets the requirements under Section 162(m) for qualifying performance-based compensation. The 2015 Omnibus Plan is intended to permit awards that comply with the
Section 162(m) exception for qualifying performance-based compensation. The
Company believes that because it qualifies as a real estate investment trust under the Code and pays dividends sufficient to minimize federal income taxes, the payment of compensation that may not
satisfy the requirements under Section 162(m) for qualified performance-based compensation generally will not materially affect the Company's net income. For these reasons, the Compensation
Committee's compensation policy and practices may not be directly guided by considerations relating to Section 162(m).
The Compensation Committee adopted a clawback policy in 2014, pursuant to which if the Company is required to restate its financial
results due to material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws as a result of misconduct, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer must
reimburse the Company for (i) any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation received during the 12 months following the public issuance of the non-compliant document,
and (ii) any profits realized from the sale of its securities during those 12 months. In connection with the requirement under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection
Act of 2010 that we implement a policy providing for the recovery of
38
Table of Contents
incentive-based
compensation subject to recoupment following a required accounting restatement, we intend to revise our clawback policy after final rules are issued by the Securities and Exchange
Commission to conform to such rules.
2016 Compensation Actions
On January 26, 2016, the Compensation Committee approved a 3% increase in the annual base salary for each of
Messrs. Helfand, Markman and Shifrin for the 2016 fiscal year. The Compensation Committee also approved a 22% increase in the annual base salary for Mr. Weinberg for the 2016 fiscal
year. The Compensation Committee approved these increases in recognition of each named executive officer's contribution to the Company, taking into consideration the base salary increases of
similarly-situated executives at the companies in the Company's peer group, and, with respect to Mr. Weinberg, in recognition of his increased contribution to the Company and to align his base
salary with the base salaries of such similarly-situated executives.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Named Executive Officer
|
|
2015 Base Salary
|
|
2016 Base Salary
|
|
Percent Change
|
|
David A. Helfand
|
|
$
|
600,000
|
|
$
|
618,000
|
|
|
3
|
%
|
David S. Weinberg
|
|
$
|
450,000
|
|
$
|
550,000
|
|
|
22
|
%
|
Adam S. Markman
|
|
$
|
450,000
|
|
$
|
463,500
|
|
|
3
|
%
|
Orrin S. Shifrin
|
|
$
|
450,000
|
|
$
|
463,500
|
|
|
3
|
%
|
On January 26, 2016, the Compensation Committee approved the grant of equity awards to our named executive officers for fiscal
year 2015 performance and to motivate future performance and further align the interests of our executive officers and our shareholders pursuant to the LTIP. These awards were granted under the 2015
Omnibus Plan. The potential economic benefit to the executive officers for the January 2016 LTIP awards is the same as the January 2015 LTIP awards. The only difference between the two grants is that
the January 2015 LTIP RSUs were awarded at the maximum potential number of LTIP RSUs that can be earned and the January 2016 LTIP RSUs were awarded at the target number of RSUs that can be earned.
(See tables on pp. 35 and 39). The actual value of the LTIP RSUs will be determined at the end of each respective three-year performance period.
LTIP Shares.
For each executive, 33% of the target LTIP award consists of LTIP Shares. In January 2016, the Compensation Committee
granted 37,987
LTIP Shares to Mr. Helfand, 19,606 LTIP Shares to Mr. Weinberg, 15,930 LTIP Shares to Mr. Markman and 12,254 LTIP Shares to Mr. Shifrin. Based on the closing price per
Common Share of $26.93 on January 26, 2016, the LTIP Shares had a value on the grant date of $1,022,990, $527,990, $428,995 and $330,000 for Messrs. Helfand, Weinberg, Markman and
Shifrin, respectively.
The
LTIP Shares will vest 25% on the second anniversary of the grant date, 25% on the third anniversary of the grant date and 50% on the fourth anniversary of the grant date, subject to
the executive's continued employment with the Company through the applicable vesting date. Each LTIP Share entitles the named executive officer to receive any dividends declared on the Common Shares
beginning on the grant date of the LTIP Share.
LTIP RSUs.
The other 67% of the target LTIP award for each executive consists of LTIP RSUs. Each LTIP RSU represents the right to
receive one Common
Share. In January 2016, the Compensation Committee granted 77,126 LTIP RSUs to Mr. Helfand, 39,807 LTIP RSUs to Mr. Weinberg, 32,343 LTIP RSUs to Mr. Markman and 24,879 LTIP RSUs
to Mr. Shifrin, which is the number of LTIP RSUs that each executive will earn if the applicable performance measure is achieved
39
Table of Contents
at
the target level. The actual number of LTIP RSUs that each executive will earn will be between 0% and 249.25% of the number of LTIP RSUs granted to him, depending on the achievement of the
applicable performance criteria. Based on the closing price per Common Share of $26.93 on January 26, 2016, the number of LTIP RSUs that will be earned by the executives if the Company's
performance is at the target level had a value on the grant date of $2,077,003, $1,072,003, $870,997 and $669,991 for Messrs. Helfand, Weinberg, Markman and Shifrin, respectively. Since the
number of LTIP RSUs that will be earned, if any, will not be determined until the end of the three-year performance period, the actual value of the LTIP RSUs could be higher or lower than the
foregoing target levels, depending on the Company's achievement of the applicable performance criteria.
The
performance measure for the LTIP RSUs is the TSR of the Company's Common Shares over a three-year performance period relative to the TSRs of the companies that comprise the NAREIT
Office Index over the same period of time, provided that only companies that are public throughout the entire performance period will be included for purposes of calculating the relative TSR
comparison. After the Company's TSR percentile is determined, the number of LTIP RSUs that will be earned by an executive will be determined by multiplying the number of LTIP RSUs that was granted to
the executive by the applicable percentage listed in the table below.
|
|
|
|
|
Company TSR Relative to NAREIT Office Index
TSRs over Performance Period
|
|
% of Granted RSUs Earned(1)
|
|
90th Percentile and Above
|
|
|
249.5
|
%
|
80th Percentile
|
|
|
212.0
|
%
|
70th Percentile
|
|
|
174.5
|
%
|
60th Percentile
|
|
|
137.0
|
%
|
50th Percentile (Target)
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
40th Percentile
|
|
|
68.5
|
%
|
30th Percentile
|
|
|
37.5
|
%
|
25th Percentile
|
|
|
25.5
|
%
|
Below 25th Percentile
|
|
|
0.0
|
%
|
-
(1)
-
The
potential economic benefit to the executive officers for the January 2016 LTIP awards is the same as the January 2015 LTIP awards. The only difference
between the two grants is that the January 2015 LTIP RSUs were awarded at the maximum potential number of LTIP RSUs that can be earned and the January 2016 LTIP RSUs were awarded at the target number
of RSUs that can be earned. (See tables on pp. 35 and 39). The actual value of the LTIP RSUs will be determined at the end of each respective three-year performance period. The actual number of LTIP
RSUs earned will be the number of LTIP RSUs awarded to each executive, which is the target number of LTIP RSUs that can be earned, multiplied by the applicable percentage listed in the table above.
The percentages listed in the table above are rounded to the nearest 0.5%.
If
the Company's total TSR for the performance period is negative, any LTIP RSUs deemed earned based on the table above will be reduced by 25%. To the extent performance falls between
two levels in the table above, linear interpolation will apply in determining the percentage of the LTIP RSUs that are earned. Any LTIP RSUs that do not become earned at the end of the performance
period will be forfeited.
The
LTIP RSUs will vest, if at all, as follows: (i) 50% following the conclusion of the performance period on the date that the Compensation Committee determines whether and to
what extent the performance criteria have been achieved, and (ii) 50% on the fourth anniversary of the grant date, subject in each case to the executive's continued employment with the Company
through such date. Earned LTIP RSUs, if any, will generally be paid out as soon as practicable following the applicable vesting date.
40
Table of Contents
The
named executive officers will not be entitled to receive any dividends with respect to the Common Shares underlying the LTIP RSUs unless and until the LTIP RSUs are earned, at which
time each executive will be entitled to receive an amount in cash equal to the aggregate amount of dividends that would have been paid in respect of the Common Shares underlying the executive's earned
LTIP RSUs had such Common Shares been issued to the executive on the first day of the performance period.
Following the performance period, each executive will be entitled to receive, in respect of each earned LTIP RSU held by the executive, whether or not vested, an amount in cash equal to the per share
amount of any dividend paid by the Company to the shareholders.
The
treatment of the LTIP awards granted in 2016 upon a termination of the executive's employment and/or a change in control of the Company is the same as the treatment of the LTIP
awards granted in 2015 in such circumstances, as described below in the section entitled "
Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control
."
41
Table of Contents
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of
Regulation S-K with management. Based on such review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the
Company's proxy statement for the Company's 2016 annual meeting of shareholders, and incorporated by reference into the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2015.
|
|
|
|
|
Respectfully submitted,
|
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THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
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Kenneth Shea, Chairman
James L. Lozier, Jr.
Gerald A. Spector
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42
Table of Contents
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation Table
The following Summary Compensation Table includes the 2014 and 2015 compensation data for our named executive officers.
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Name and Principal Position
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Year
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Salary
($)
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Bonus
($)
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Stock
Awards
($)
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Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
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All Other
Compensation
($)
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Total
($)
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David A. Helfand
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2015
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600,000
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4,035,385
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(1)
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1,250,000
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(6)
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5,885,385
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President, Chief Executive
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2014
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346,154
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1,250,000
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9,218,525
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(2)
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10,814,679
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Officer and Trustee
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Adam S. Markman
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2015
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450,000
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1,692,246
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(3)
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650,000
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(6)
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2,792,246
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Executive Vice President, Chief
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2014
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207,692
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575,000
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3,072,838
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(4)
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43,648
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(7)
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3,899,178
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Financial Officer and Treasurer
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David S. Weinberg
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2015
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450,000
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1,692,246
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(3)
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675,000
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(6)
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2,817,246
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Executive Vice President, Chief
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2014
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259,616
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625,000
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3,072,838
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(4)
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3,957,454
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Operating Officer
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Orrin S. Shifrin
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2015
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450,000
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1,301,721
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(5)
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650,000
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(6)
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2,401,721
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Executive Vice President,
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2014
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259,616
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625,000
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3,072,838
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(4)
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3,957,454
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General Counsel and Secretary
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(1)
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Represents
the aggregate grant date fair value of the restricted shares and RSUs granted to Mr. Helfand on January 28, 2015, computed in
accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, excluding the effect of estimated forfeitures for purposes of computing the value of the RSUs, and based on the assumptions described in Note 14 of the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. The grant date fair value of the restricted shares ($1,023,011) is equal to the closing price per Common Share
on the date of grant, $26.58, multiplied by the number of shares granted (38,488). The grant date fair value of the RSUs ($3,012,374) is based on a Monte Carlo simulation model, representing the
number of RSUs that would be earned by the executive if the target level of performance is achieved (78,142), as such level of achievement represents the probable outcome as of the grant date. The
number of RSUs that would be earned by the executive if the maximum level of performance is achieved is 194,771.
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(2)
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Represents
the aggregate grant date fair value of the special awards of restricted shares and RSUs granted to Mr. Helfand on October 28, 2014,
computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, excluding the effect of estimated forfeitures for purposes of computing the value of the RSUs, and based on the assumptions described in Note 15
of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. The grant date fair value of the restricted shares ($4,156,747) is equal to the closing price per Common
Share on the date of grant, $26.66, multiplied by the number of shares granted (155,917). The grant date fair value of the RSUs ($5,061,778) is based on a Monte Carlo simulation model, representing
the number of RSUs that would be earned by the executive if the target level of performance is achieved (158,280), as such level of achievement represents the probable outcome as of the grant date.
The number of RSUs that would be earned by the executive if the maximum level of performance is achieved is 316,559.
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(3)
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Represents
the aggregate grant date fair value of the restricted shares and RSUs granted to each of Messrs. Markman and Weinberg on
January 28, 2015, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, excluding the effect of estimated forfeitures for purposes of computing the value of the RSUs, and based on the assumptions
described in Note 14 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. The grant date fair value of the restricted shares ($429,001) is equal to
the closing price per Common Share on the date of grant, $26.58, multiplied by the number of shares granted (16,140). The grant date fair value of the RSUs ($1,263,245) is based on a Monte Carlo
simulation model, representing the number of RSUs that would be earned by the executive if the target level of performance is achieved (32,769), as such level of achievement represents the probable
outcome as of the grant date. The number of RSUs that would be earned by the executive if the maximum level of performance is achieved is 81,678.
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(4)
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Represents
the aggregate grant date fair value of the special awards of restricted shares and RSUs granted to each of Messrs. Markman, Weinberg and
Shifrin on October 28, 2014, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, excluding the effect of estimated forfeitures for purposes of computing the value of the RSUs, and based on the
assumptions described in Note 15 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
43
Table of Contents
for
the year ended December 31, 2014. The grant date fair value of the restricted shares ($1,385,574) is equal to the closing price per Common Share on the date of grant, $26.66, multiplied by
the number of shares granted (51,972). The grant date fair value of the RSUs ($1,687,265) is based on a Monte Carlo simulation model, representing the number of RSUs that would be earned by the
executive if the target level of performance is achieved (52,760), as such level of achievement represents the probable outcome as of the grant date. The number of RSUs that would be earned by the
executive if the maximum level of performance is achieved is 105,520.
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(5)
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Represents
the aggregate grant date fair value of the restricted shares and RSUs granted to Mr. Shifrin on January 28, 2015, computed in
accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, excluding the effect of estimated forfeitures for purposes of computing the value of the RSUs, and based on the assumptions described in Note 14 of the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. The grant date fair value of the restricted shares ($329,991) is equal to the closing price per Common Share on
the date of grant, $26.58, multiplied by the number of shares granted (12,415). The grant date fair value of the RSUs ($971,730) is based on a Monte Carlo simulation model, representing the
number of RSUs that would be earned by the executive if the target level of performance is achieved (25,207), as such level of achievement represents the probable outcome as of the grant date. The
number of RSUs that would be earned by the executive if the maximum level of performance is achieved is 62,829.
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(6)
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Represents
the amount of the annual cash bonus earned by the executive under the STIP for fiscal year 2015. See the section above entitled
"
Compensation Discussion and AnalysisElements of CompensationAnnual Cash Incentive Compensation
" for additional information
about the STIP.
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(7)
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Represents
the amounts paid to or on behalf of Mr. Markman for relocation assistance pursuant to terms of his employment, including tax gross-ups
paid to or on behalf of Mr. Markman for those items that are taxable for payroll purposes.
Grants of Plan-Based Awards
The following table sets forth information with respect to grants of plan-based awards to the named executive officers during the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2015.
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Estimated Future Payouts
Under Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Awards(1)
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Estimated Future Payouts
Under Equity Incentive
Plan Awards(2)
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All Other
Stock Awards:
Number of
Shares of
Stock or Units
(#)
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Grant Date Fair
Value of Stock
Awards
($)
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Name
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Grant
Date
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Threshold
($)
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Target
($)
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Maximum
($)
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Threshold
(#)
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Target
(#)
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Maximum
(#)
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David A. Helfand
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450,000
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900,000
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1,350,000
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1/28/15
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19,828
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78,142
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194,771
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3,012,374
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(4)
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1/28/15
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38,488
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(3)
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1,023,011
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(5)
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Adam S. Markman
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225,000
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450,000
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675,000
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1/28/15
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8,315
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32,769
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81,678
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1,263,245
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(4)
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1/28/15
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16,140
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(3)
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429,001
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(5)
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David S. Weinberg
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225,000
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450,000
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675,000
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1/28/15
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8,315
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32,769
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81,678
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1,263,245
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(4)
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1/28/15
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16,140
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(3)
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429,001
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(5)
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Orrin S. Shifrin
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225,000
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450,000
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675,000
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1/28/15
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6,396
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25,207
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62,829
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971,730
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(4)
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1/28/15
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12,415
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(3)
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329,991
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(5)
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-
(1)
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These
amounts represent potential payouts under our STIP with respect to fiscal year 2015 performance. See the "
Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Compensation
" column of the "
Summary Compensation Table
" above for the amount of the annual cash bonus earned by each
executive under the STIP for fiscal year 2015.
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(2)
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The
amount in the "Maximum" column represents the number of RSUs granted to the executive on January 28, 2015, and is the maximum number of RSUs that
the executive may earn under the award. The RSUs are market-based grants that will be earned based upon the Company's TSR relative to the TSRs of the companies that comprise the NAREIT Office Index
over a three-year performance period, with any earned RSUs vesting 50% following the performance period and 50% on the fourth anniversary of the date of grant. The executive will earn
44
Table of Contents
between
0% and 100% of the number of the RSUs granted to him depending on the achievement of the performance criteria over the performance period. The executive will earn the maximum number of RSUs if
the Company's relative TSR performance over the three-year performance period is in the 90th percentile. The amount in the "
Target
" column
represents the number of RSUs that the executive will earn if the Company's relative TSR performance over the three-year performance period is in the 50
th
percentile, which is the
target level of performance. The amount in the "
Threshold
" column represents the number of RSUs that the executive will earn if the Company's relative TSR
performance over the three-year performance period is in the 25
th
percentile, which is the minimum level of performance that will still result in a portion of the RSUs being
earned by the executive (none of the RSUs will be earned if performance is below the 25
th
percentile).
-
(3)
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Reflects
the number of restricted shares granted to the executive on January 28, 2015. The restricted shares vest 25% on the second anniversary of
the grant date, 25% on the third anniversary of the grant date, and 50% on the fourth anniversary of the grant date.
-
(4)
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Represents
the aggregate grant date fair value of the RSUs granted during 2015 computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, excluding the effect of
estimated forfeitures, and based on the assumptions described in Note 14 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.
-
(5)
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Represents
the aggregate grant date fair value of the restricted shares granted during 2015 computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 and based on the
assumptions described in Note 14 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.
Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table and Grants off Plan-Based Awards Table
The Company provides long-term equity compensation to certain employees, consultants, advisors, trustees, officers and other service
providers of the Company and its subsidiaries pursuant to the 2012 Equity Plan and the 2015 Omnibus Plan. On March 18, 2015, the Board adopted the 2015 Omnibus Plan, subject to shareholder
approval. On June 16, 2015, at the 2015 annual meeting of shareholders, the Company's shareholders approved the 2015 Omnibus Plan. The 2015 Omnibus Plan replaces the 2012 Equity Plan, under
which no additional awards will be granted.
The
purpose of the 2015 Omnibus Plan is to provide eligible persons with an incentive to contribute to the success of the Company and to operate and manage the Company's business in a
manner that will provide for the Company's long-term growth and profitability to benefit its stockholders and other
important stakeholders, including its employees and customers, and provide a means of obtaining, rewarding and retaining key personnel. The 2015 Omnibus Plan is administered by the Compensation
Committee, which has the authority to select persons to whom awards will be granted and to determine the terms and conditions of such awards. The following types of awards may be granted under the
2015 Omnibus Plan, subject to the limitations set forth in the 2015 Omnibus Plan: stock options; stock appreciation rights; restricted stock, stock units, unrestricted stock, dividend equivalent
rights, performance shares and other performance-based awards; limited partnership interests in any partnership entity through which the Company may conduct its business in the future; other
equity-based awards; and cash bonus awards.
The
key terms of the restricted shares and RSUs granted to the named executive officers on January 28, 2015, which were granted under the 2012 Equity Plan, are described above in
the section entitled "
Compensation Discussion and AnalysisElements of CompensationLong-Term Equity Compensation
."
45
Table of Contents
Outstanding Equity Awards at 2015 Fiscal Year-End
The following table sets forth information with respect to each of the named executive officer's outstanding equity awards at
December 31, 2015.
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Name
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Date of
Grant
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Number of
Shares or Units
of Stock That
Have Not Vested
(#)(1)
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Market Value of
Shares or Units
of Stock That
Have Not Vested
($)(2)
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Equity Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Unearned Shares,
Units or Other
rights That Have
Not Vested
(#)(3)
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Equity Incentive
Plan Awards:
Market or
Payout Value of
Unearned Shares,
Units or Other
Rights That Have
Not Vested
($)(4)
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David A. Helfand
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1/28/15
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38,488
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1,067,272
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194,771
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5,401,000
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10/28/14
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155,917
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4,323,578
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158,280
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4,389,091
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Adam S. Markman
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1/28/15
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16,140
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447,562
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81,678
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2,264,931
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10/28/14
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51,972
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1,441,184
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52,760
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1,463,035
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David S. Weinberg
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1/28/15
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16,140
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447,562
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81,678
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2,264,931
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10/28/14
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51,972
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1,441,184
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52,760
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1,463,035
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Orrin Shifrin
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1/28/15
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12,415
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344,268
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62,829
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1,742,248
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10/28/14
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51,972
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1,441,184
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52,760
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1,463,035
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-
(1)
-
Reflects
the number of restricted shares granted to the executive on January 28, 2015 and October 28, 2014, respectively. The restricted
shares vest 25% on the second anniversary of the grant date, 25% on the third anniversary of the grant date, and 50% on the fourth anniversary of the grant date.
-
(2)
-
Amounts
reported are based on the closing market price of our common stock as of December 31, 2015 ($27.73).
-
(3)
-
Reflects
the number of RSUs that the executive would earn in respect of the RSUs granted to him on January 28, 2015 and October 28, 2014, as
applicable, based on achieving the maximum level of performance for the RSUs granted in 2015 and the target level of performance for the RSUs granted in 2014. The level of achievement assumed for each
grant is the next higher performance level (i.e., target or maximum) that exceeds the actual performance level achieved in respect of each award calculated as of December 31, 2015, in
accordance with SEC rules. The number of RSUs, if any, that will be earned by the executive will depend on the actual performance level achieved by the Company for the applicable three-year
performance period.
-
(4)
-
Amounts
reported are based on the closing market price of our common stock as of December 31, 2015 ($27.73).
Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control
The LTIP awards granted to the named executive officers on January 28, 2015, the key terms of which are described above in the
section entitled "
Compensation Discussion and AnalysisElements of CompensationLong-Term Equity Compensation
," provide for the
accelerated vesting of the awards in the event of certain terminations of employment or a change in control of the Company, as described below. The named executive officers are not entitled to receive
any other severance payments or benefits upon a termination of employment or a change in control of the Company.
46
Table of Contents
LTIP AwardsRestricted Shares
If a named executive officer's employment with the Company is terminated (i) by the Company without "Cause," (ii) by the
executive for "Good Reason," (iii) due to the executive's "Retirement," or (iv) due to the executive's death or "Disability" (as such terms are defined in the equity award agreements)
(any such termination, a "Qualified Termination"), then the executive's unvested restricted shares will vest as of the date of termination on a pro rata basis, determined based on the number of days
that the executive was employed by the Company during the four-year vesting period. If the executive's Qualified Termination occurs within twelve months after a "Change in Control" (as such term is
defined in the equity awards agreements), in which the restricted shares are assumed by the acquirer or surviving entity in the Change in Control transaction, then the executive's unvested restricted
shares will become fully vested on the date of termination.
If
a Change in Control occurs prior to the fourth anniversary of the grant date and while the executive is an employee of the Company, and the restricted shares are not assumed by the
acquirer or surviving entity in the Change in Control transaction, then the executive's unvested restricted shares will become fully vested as of the date of the Change in Control.
LTIP AwardsRSUs
If, during the performance period, the named executive officer's employment with the Company is terminated as a result of a Qualified
Termination, then the number of RSUs that are earned by the executive will be determined at the end of the three-year performance period based on the achievement of the performance criteria. The
executive's earned RSUs, if any, will become vested as of the date that the Compensation Committee determines the achievement of the performance criteria on a pro rata basis, determined based on the
number of days that the executive was employed by the Company during the four-year period commencing on the first day of the performance period. If the executive's Qualified Termination occurs during
the performance period and within twelve months after a "Change in Control" (as such term is defined in the equity award agreements) in which the RSUs are assumed by the acquirer or surviving entity
in the Change in Control transaction, then any RSUs that become earned after the end of the three-year performance period will become fully vested as of the date the Compensation Committee determines
the achievement of the performance criteria. With respect to any earned RSUs held by the named executive officer for which the performance period is complete but for which the additional vesting
period is incomplete prior to the executive's Qualified Termination, such earned RSUs will become fully vested as of the date of the executive's Qualified Termination. The named executive officer will
be issued one Common Share for each earned RSU that vests in accordance with the provisions described above, less applicable withholding taxes, as soon as practicable following the applicable vesting
date (but in no event later than 60 days after such vesting date).
If,
during the performance period, a Change in Control occurs while the named executive officer is an employee of the Company and the RSUs are not assumed by the acquirer or the
surviving entity in the Change in Control transaction, then the executive's RSUs will be deemed earned based on the actual level of achievement of the performance criteria measured as of the date of
the Change in Control, as determined by the Compensation Committee based on the 40-day trailing average price per Common Share. Any such earned RSUs will be fully vested. With respect to any earned
RSUs held by the executive for which the performance period is complete but for which the additional vesting period is incomplete, such earned RSUs will become fully vested as of the date of the
Change in Control. The named executive officer will be issued one Common Share for each earned RSU that vests in accordance with the provisions described above, less applicable withholding taxes, on
the date of the Change in Control.
47
Table of Contents
Quantification of Payments
The following table sets forth quantitative information with respect to potential payments to each of the named executive officers or
their beneficiaries upon a termination of employment and/or a change in control of the Company in various circumstances as described above, assuming a termination of employment and/or a change in
control of the Company occurred, in each case, on December 31, 2015. The amounts reported are based on the closing market price of our common stock as of December 31, 2015 ($27.73). The
amounts included in the table below do not include amounts otherwise due and owing to each applicable named executive officer, such as salary or annual bonus earned to date, or payments or benefits
generally available to all salaried employees of the Company.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name
|
|
Qualified
Termination
Prior to Change
in Control
|
|
Qualified
Termination
After Change
in Control
(Awards
Assumed)(1)
|
|
Change in
Control
without
Termination
(Awards not
Assumed)(2)
|
|
Change in
Control
without
Termination
(Awards
Assumed)(3)
|
|
David A. Helfand
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Restricted SharesValue of Accelerated Vesting(4)
|
|
|
1,519,423
|
|
|
5,390,851
|
|
|
5,390,851
|
|
|
|
|
RSUsValue of Accelerated Vesting(5)
|
|
|
1,793,096
|
|
|
6,555,968
|
|
|
8,866,251
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
3,312,519
|
|
|
11,946,819
|
|
|
14,257,102
|
|
|
|
|
Adam S. Markman
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Restricted SharesValue of Accelerated Vesting(4)
|
|
|
527,710
|
|
|
1,888,746
|
|
|
1,888,746
|
|
|
|
|
RSUsValue of Accelerated Vesting(5)
|
|
|
640,822
|
|
|
2,371,719
|
|
|
3,363,004
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
1,168,532
|
|
|
4,260,465
|
|
|
5,251,750
|
|
|
|
|
David S. Weinberg
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Restricted SharesValue of Accelerated Vesting(4)
|
|
|
527,710
|
|
|
1,888,746
|
|
|
1,888,746
|
|
|
|
|
RSUsValue of Accelerated Vesting(5)
|
|
|
640,822
|
|
|
2,371,719
|
|
|
3,363,004
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
1,168,532
|
|
|
4,260,465
|
|
|
5,251,750
|
|
|
|
|
Orrin S. Shifrin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Restricted SharesValue of Accelerated Vesting(4)
|
|
|
503,813
|
|
|
1,785,452
|
|
|
1,785,452
|
|
|
|
|
RSUsValue of Accelerated Vesting(5)
|
|
|
592,309
|
|
|
2,162,025
|
|
|
2,904,466
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
1,096,123
|
|
|
3,947,476
|
|
|
4,689,917
|
|
|
|
|
-
(1)
-
With
respect to the amounts in the column entitled "
Qualified Termination After Change in Control (Awards
Assumed)
," we assumed that the restricted shares and RSUs were assumed by the acquirer or surviving entity in the Change in Control transaction.
-
(2)
-
With
respect to the amounts in the column entitled "
Change in Control without Termination (Awards not
Assumed)
," we assumed that the restricted shares and RSUs were not assumed by the acquirer or surviving entity in the Change in Control transaction.
-
(3)
-
With
respect to the amounts in the column entitled "
Change in Control without Termination (Awards Assumed)
,"
we assumed that the restricted shares and RSUs were assumed by the acquirer or surviving entity in the Change in Control transaction.
-
(4)
-
In
the circumstance of a Qualified Termination prior to a Change in Control, the restricted shares will vest on a pro rata basis. Accordingly, for purposes
of the "
Qualified Termination Prior to Change in Control
" column in the table above, we determined the number of restricted shares that will vest based
on (x) the number of days that have elapsed from the beginning of the applicable performance period (October 28, 2014 and January 28, 2015, respectively) through
December 31, 2015, compared to (y) the total number of days during the four-year period commencing on the first day of the performance period. The restricted shares constitute a
"double-trigger"
48
Table of Contents
arrangement
because the vesting of the restricted shares will not accelerate upon a Change in Control in which the restricted shares are assumed by the acquirer or surviving entity in the Change in
Control transaction unless and until the named executive officer experiences a Qualified Termination within twelve months after such Change in Control. In connection with such a Qualified Termination,
the restricted shares will become fully vested as of the date of termination. In the circumstance in which there is a Change in Control but no termination, and the restricted shares are not assumed by
the acquirer or surviving entity in the Change in Control transaction, the restricted shares will become fully vested as of the date of the Change in Control.
-
(5)
-
For
purposes of the "
Qualified Termination Prior to Change in Control
" and
"
Qualified Termination After Change in Control (Awards Assumed)
" columns in the table above, we assumed that 50% of the RSUs granted to the executives
on October 28, 2014 and 40% of the RSUs granted to the executives on January 28, 2015, respectively, will be earned at the end of the three-year performance period, which is the number
of RSUs that the executives will earn if the target level of performance is achieved. The actual number of RSUs that would be earned in either of these circumstances will be determined at the end of
the performance period based on the achievement of the performance criteria. The executives will earn between 0% and 100% of the RSUs depending on the achievement of the performance criteria. In the
circumstance of a Qualified Termination prior to a Change in Control, the earned RSUs will vest on a pro rata basis. Accordingly, for purposes of the "
Qualified Termination
Prior to Change in Control
" column, we determined the number of earned RSUs that will vest based on (x) the number of days that have elapsed from the beginning of the
applicable performance period (October 28, 2014 and January 28, 2015, respectively) through December 31, 2015, compared to (y) the total number of days during the four-year
period commencing on the first day of the performance period. The RSUs constitute a "double-trigger" arrangement because the vesting of the RSUs will not accelerate upon a Change in Control in which
the RSUs are assumed by the acquirer or surviving entity in the Change in Control transaction unless and until the named executive officer experiences a Qualified Termination within twelve months
after such Change in Control. In connection with such a Qualified Termination, earned RSUs will become fully vested. In the circumstance in which there is a Change in Control but no termination, and
the RSUs are not assumed by the acquirer or surviving entity in the Change in Control transaction, the RSUs will be deemed earned based on the actual level of achievement of the performance criteria
measured as of the date of the Change in Control and any earned RSUs will become fully vested. Assuming a Change in Control occurred on December 31, 2015 and performance was measured as of such
date, the RSUs granted in 2014 would be deemed earned between the threshold and target levels of performance and the RSUs granted in 2015 would be deemed earned between the target and maximum levels
of performance.
49
Table of Contents
TRUSTEE COMPENSATION
Overview of Trustee Compensation Program
The terms of the compensation program for trustees of the Company, excluding Messrs. Zell and Helfand (collectively, the
"Independent Trustees"), are as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
ANNUAL RETAINER
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
|
|
$
|
60,000
|
|
Equity (restricted shares)
|
|
$
|
100,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total:
|
|
$
|
160,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ADDITIONAL ANNUAL COMPENSATION
|
|
|
|
|
Lead Independent Trustee
|
|
$
|
30,000
|
|
Audit Committee Chair
|
|
$
|
20,000
|
|
Compensation Committee Chair
|
|
$
|
15,000
|
|
Governance Committee Chair
|
|
$
|
15,000
|
|
Audit Committee Member
|
|
$
|
8,000
|
|
Compensation Committee Member
|
|
$
|
6,000
|
|
Governance Committee Member
|
|
$
|
6,000
|
|
Independent Special Litigation Committee Member
|
|
$
|
6,000
|
|
We
will also reimburse Independent Trustees for travel expenses incurred in connection with their activities on our behalf.
In
lieu of the compensation for Independent Trustees described above, the Chairman of our Board of Trustees is entitled to receive an annual grant of equity awards that generally have
the same terms and conditions as the LTIP awards issued to the named executive officers pursuant to the LTIP. The equity awards consist 33% of restricted common shares subject to time-based vesting
restrictions and 67% of RSUs subject to time-based and performance-based vesting restrictions. The LTIP awards issued will have a threshold, target and maximum value of $1,000,000, $2,000,000 and
$4,000,000, respectively.
Members
of our Board who are also our employees do not receive any additional compensation for their services on the Board. Therefore, Mr. Helfand did not receive any additional
compensation for his service on the Board beyond his compensation as an executive officer, described earlier in this Proxy Statement under the heading "
Executive Officer
Compensation
."
Equity Awards Granted to Independent Trustees
On June 16, 2015, the Compensation Committee approved the grant of 3,843 restricted Common Shares to each Independent Trustee in
satisfaction of his or her annual equity retainer for fiscal year 2015. Each of these grants will vest on the first anniversary of the grant date of the award, subject to the Trustee's continued
service as a Trustee throughout such period. All such restricted shares will fully vest upon a "Change in Control" (as such term is defined in the equity award agreements) or the death of the Trustee.
Equity Awards Granted to Sam Zell
As noted above, in lieu of receiving the compensation paid to our Independent Trustees, Mr. Zell participates in the LTIP and is
entitled to receive an annual grant of equity awards that generally have the same terms and conditions as the LTIP awards issued to our named executive officers. The Compensation Committee believes
that Mr. Zell's participation in the LTIP is appropriate because it aligns his compensation with the long-term interests of our shareholders and in recognition of his
50
Table of Contents
ongoing
extraordinary contributions to the Company. Mr. Zell brings a well-recognized brand value to the Company that comes from his more than fifty years of experience in the real estate
business and his unparalleled role in the evolution of the REIT industry. In addition, Mr. Zell has a distinguished track record and reputation for successfully leading companies with a focus
on corporate governance and proper alignment of management and shareholder interests. Mr. Zell has played an integral role in guiding the Company during its transition to an internally managed
REIT, which we completed in 2015, and helping the Company achieve the accomplishments described above in the section entitled "
Compensation Discussion and
AnalysisOverview of Company Performance During 2015
." Mr. Zell has and will continue to play an instrumental role with the Company in the setting and
execution of its strategy.
On
January 28, 2015, as compensation for his service as Chairman of the Board for the 2014-2015 term, the Compensation Committee approved the grant of LTIP awards to
Mr. Zell consisting of 24,831 LTIP Shares and 125,658 LTIP RSUs, which is the maximum number of LTIP RSUs that Mr. Zell can earn based on achievement of the applicable performance
criteria. The LTIP Shares represent 33% of Mr. Zell's target LTIP award and the LTIP RSUs represent 67% of his target LTIP award. Mr. Zell's LTIP awards generally have the same terms and
conditions (including time and performance-based vesting conditions) as the LTIP awards granted to our named executive officers, as described above in the section entitled
"
Compensation Discussion and AnalysisElements of CompensationLong-Term Equity Compensation
," except that Mr. Zell's
LTIP Shares and any earned LTIP RSUs (i) vest on a pro-rata basis if Mr. Zell's service terminates due to his death and (ii) vest in full if Mr. Zell dies or is no longer
Chairman of the Board within 12 months of a "Change in Control" transaction (as such term is defined in Mr. Zell's equity award agreement) in which the awards are assumed by the acquirer
or surviving entity in such a transaction. Based on the closing price per Common Share of $26.58 on January 28, 2015, the LTIP Shares had a value on the grant date of $660,008 for
Mr. Zell. Based on the same closing price per Common Share, the number of LTIP RSUs that will be earned by Mr. Zell if the Company's performance is at the target level had a value on the
grant date of $1,340,004. Since the number of RSUs that will be earned by Mr. Zell, if any, will not be
determined until the end of the three-year performance period, the actual value of the LTIP RSUs could be higher or lower than the foregoing target levels, depending on the Company's achievement of
the applicable performance criteria.
All
of the equity grants to the trustees described above were made under the 2012 Equity Plan.
51
Table of Contents
The
table below sets forth information regarding trustee compensation for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name
|
|
Fees
Earned or
Paid in
Cash
($)
|
|
Stock
Awards
($)
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
Sam Zell
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,603,468
|
(1)
|
|
2,603,468
|
|
Peter Linneman
|
|
|
105,929
|
|
|
99,995
|
(2)
|
|
205,924
|
|
Kenneth Shea
|
|
|
75,000
|
|
|
99,995
|
(2)
|
|
174,995
|
|
Gerald Spector
|
|
|
66,000
|
|
|
99,995
|
(2)
|
|
165,995
|
|
James Lozier
|
|
|
66,000
|
|
|
99,995
|
(2)
|
|
165,995
|
|
Martin Edelman
|
|
|
75,000
|
|
|
99,995
|
(2)
|
|
174,995
|
|
James Star
|
|
|
66,000
|
|
|
99,995
|
(2)
|
|
165,995
|
|
James Corl
|
|
|
66,000
|
|
|
99,995
|
(2)
|
|
165,995
|
|
Mary Jane Robertson
|
|
|
80,000
|
|
|
99,995
|
(2)
|
|
179,995
|
|
Edward Glickman
|
|
|
68,000
|
|
|
99,995
|
(2)
|
|
167,995
|
|
-
(1)
-
Represents
the aggregate grant date fair value of the restricted shares and RSUs granted to Mr. Zell on January 28, 2015, computed in
accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, excluding the effect of estimated forfeitures for purposes of computing the value of the RSUs, and based on the assumptions described in Note 14 of the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. The grant date fair value of the restricted shares ($660,008) is equal to the closing price per Common Share on
the date of grant, $26.58, multiplied by the number of shares granted (24,831). The grant date fair value of the RSUs ($1,943,460) is based on a Monte Carlo simulation model, representing the number
of RSUs that would be earned by Mr. Zell if the target level of performance is achieved (50,414), as such level of achievement represents the probable outcome as of the grant date. The number
of RSUs that would be earned by Mr. Zell if the maximum level of performance is achieved is 125,658. The restricted shares represent 33% of Mr. Zell's target LTIP award and are subject
to time-based vesting conditions, and the RSUs represent 67% of his target LTIP award and are subject to both time-based and performance-based vesting conditions. The RSUs awarded to Mr. Zell
are fully at-risk, as he will earn between 0% and 100% of the RSUs based on the achievement of the applicable performance measure, as described above in the section entitled
"
Trustee CompensationEquity Awards Granted to Sam Zell
." As of December 31, 2015, Mr. Zell held 252,210 restricted shares and
587,307 RSUs in the aggregate.
-
(2)
-
Represents
the aggregate grant date fair value of the 3,843 restricted shares awarded to Messrs. Linneman, Shea, Spector, Lozier, Edelman, Star, Corl
and Glickman, and Ms. Robertson, on June 16, 2015, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 and based on the assumptions described in Note 14 of the Company's Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. The grant date fair value of the restricted shares is equal to the closing price per Common Share on the date of grant, $26.02,
multiplied by the number of shares granted. These restricted shares vest on the first anniversary of the grant date of the award. As of December 31, 2015, each Independent Trustee held 3,843
restricted shares in the aggregate.
Stock Ownership Guidelines
We believe that equity ownership by our trustees helps align their interests with our shareholders' interests. To that end, we have
adopted formal stock ownership guidelines applicable to all of our
52
Table of Contents
trustees.
On an annual basis, we evaluate the ownership status of the trustees. Pursuant to our Corporate Governance Guidelines, each non-employee trustee is required to own our securities equal in
value to at least four times his or her annual base cash retainer. Each non-employee trustee has five years to comply with the ownership requirement and is required to hold shares at this level while
serving in his or her position. Each non-employee trustee must retain all net securities (after payment of applicable taxes) earned from any equity award until the applicable stock ownership
requirement is achieved.
Equity Awards Granted to Sam Zell in 2016
On January 26, 2016, as compensation for his service as Chairman of the Board for the 2015-2016 term, the Compensation Committee
approved the grant of LTIP awards to Mr. Zell consisting of 24,508 LTIP Shares and 49,759 LTIP RSUs, which is the number of LTIP RSUs
that Mr. Zell will earn if the applicable performance measure is achieved at the target level. The actual number of LTIP RSUs that Mr. Zell will earn will be between 0% and 249.25% of
the number of LTIP RSUs granted to him, depending on the achievement of the applicable performance criteria. The LTIP Shares represent 33% of Mr. Zell's target LTIP award and the LTIP RSUs
represent 67% of his target LTIP award. Mr. Zell's LTIP awards generally have the same terms and conditions (including time and performance-based vesting conditions) as the LTIP awards granted
to our named executive officers, as described above in the section entitled "
Compensation Discussion and Analysis2016 Compensation Actions2015 LTIP
Awards
," except that Mr. Zell's LTIP Shares and any earned LTIP RSUs (i) vest on a pro-rata basis if Mr. Zell's service terminates due to his death and
(ii) vest in full if Mr. Zell dies or is no longer Chairman of the Board within 12 months of a "Change in Control" transaction (as such term is defined in Mr. Zell's equity
award agreement) in which the awards are assumed by the acquirer or surviving entity in such a transaction. Based on the closing price per Common Share of $26.93 on January 26, 2016, the LTIP
Shares had a value on the grant date of $660,000 for Mr. Zell. Based on the same closing price per Common Share, the number of LTIP RSUs that will be earned by Mr. Zell if the Company's
performance is at the target had a value on the grant date of $1,340,010. Since the number of RSUs that will be earned by Mr. Zell, if any, will not be determined until the end of the
three-year performance period, the actual value of the LTIP RSUs could be higher or lower than the foregoing target levels, depending on the Company's achievement of the applicable performance
criteria.
53
Table of Contents
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
Unless otherwise indicated, the information set forth below is as of April 15, 2016, the record date for the Annual Meeting. The
following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common shares (excluding any fractional shares that may be beneficially owned by such persons) by: (1) each
person or entity known to us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding common shares; and (2) each of our named executive officers, each of our trustees, and our executive
officers and trustees as a group. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each identified person or entity is: c/o Equity Commonwealth, Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 2100, Chicago,
Illinois 60606. Also, unless otherwise indicated, we believe that each owner named below has sole voting and investment power for all our common shares shown to be beneficially owned by that person or
entity. Except as set forth below, as of April 15, 2016, we do not know of any outstanding rights to acquire our shares of the type specified in Rule 13d-3(d)(1) under the Exchange Act
with respect to any of the beneficial owners set forth below.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner
|
|
Amount and
Nature of
Beneficial
Ownership(1)
|
|
Percent
of Share
Class(1)
|
|
Beneficial Owners of More Than 5% of Our Common Shares
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Vanguard Group(2)
|
|
|
17,626,536
|
|
|
14.04
|
%
|
Jackson Square Partners, LLC(3)
|
|
|
8,968,541
|
|
|
7.15
|
%
|
BlackRock, Inc.(4)
|
|
|
8,126,887
|
|
|
6.48
|
%
|
Executive Officers
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David Helfand
|
|
|
457,551
|
|
|
*
|
|
David S. Weinberg
|
|
|
98,961
|
|
|
*
|
|
Adam S. Markman
|
|
|
99,785
|
|
|
*
|
|
Orrin S. Shifrin
|
|
|
87,884
|
|
|
*
|
|
Trustees
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sam Zell(5)
|
|
|
276,718
|
|
|
*
|
|
James S. Corl
|
|
|
14,165
|
|
|
*
|
|
Martin L. Edelman
|
|
|
13,456
|
|
|
*
|
|
Edward A. Glickman
|
|
|
14,165
|
|
|
*
|
|
Peter Linneman
|
|
|
14,165
|
|
|
*
|
|
James L. Lozier, Jr.
|
|
|
14,165
|
|
|
*
|
|
Mary Jane Robertson
|
|
|
13,456
|
|
|
*
|
|
Kenneth Shea
|
|
|
14,165
|
|
|
*
|
|
Gerald A. Spector
|
|
|
13,456
|
|
|
*
|
|
James A. Star(6)
|
|
|
50,287
|
|
|
*
|
|
All Current Executive Officers And Trustees As A Group (fourteen persons)
|
|
|
1,182,379
|
|
|
*
|
|
-
*
-
Less
than 1% of our common shares.
-
(1)
-
Our
Charter and bylaws place restrictions on the ability of any person or group to acquire beneficial ownership of more than 9.8% of any class of our
shares. The percentages indicated are based upon the number of shares shown divided by the approximately 125,502,748 of our common shares outstanding as of April 15, 2016.
-
(2)
-
This
information is as of December 31, 2015, and is based on a Schedule 13G/A (the "Vanguard Group 13G") filed with the SEC on
February 10, 2016, by The Vanguard Group ("Vanguard Group") and a Schedule 13G/A (the "Vanguard REIT Fund 13G") filed with the SEC on February 9, 2016, by Vanguard Specialized
FundsVanguard REIT
54
Table of Contents
Index
Fund ("Vanguard REIT Fund"). According to the Vanguard Group 13G and the Vanguard REIT Fund 13G, the address of each of Vanguard Group and Vanguard REIT Fund is 100 Vanguard Boulevard, Malvern,
Pennsylvania 19355. Vanguard Group reports aggregate beneficial ownership of 17,626,536 common shares, with sole power to vote 278,982 common shares, shared power to vote 102,950 common shares, sole
power to dispose of 17,430,062 common shares and shared power to dispose of 196,474 common shares. Vanguard Group reports that it is the parent holding company for certain subsidiaries that have
acquired our common shares and that are listed in the Vanguard Group 13G. Vanguard REIT Fund reports aggregate beneficial ownership of 8,883,665 common shares, with sole power to vote all 8,883,665
common shares. However, the 8,883,665 common shares reported as
beneficially owned by Vanguard REIT Fund in the Vanguard REIT Fund 13G are also reported as beneficially owned by Vanguard Group in the Vanguard Group 13G and therefore are not separately listed in
this table of beneficial ownership.
-
(3)
-
This
information is as of December 31, 2015, and is based solely on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 16, 2016, by Jackson
Square Partners, LLC ("Jackson Square"). Based on the information provided in that Schedule 13G, the address of Jackson Square is 101 California Street, Suite 3750, San Francisco,
California 94111. Jackson Square reports beneficial ownership of 8,968,541 common shares, sole power to vote 2,525,195 common shares, shared power to vote 4,863,927 common shares and sole power to
dispose of 8,968,541 common shares.
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(4)
-
This
information is as of December 31, 2015, and is based solely on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on January 26, 2016, by
BlackRock, Inc. ("BlackRock"). Based on the information provided in that Schedule 13G/A, the address of BlackRock is 55 East 52nd Street, New York, New York 10055.
BlackRock reports beneficial ownership of 8,126,887 common shares, sole power to vote 7,567,007 common shares and sole power to dispose of 8,126,887 common shares. BlackRock reports that it is the
parent holding company for certain subsidiaries that have acquired our common shares and that are listed in that Schedule 13G/A.
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(5)
-
Excludes
2,584,300 shares that are held by EGI-CW Holdings, L.L.C. ("EGI-CW"), which is indirectly controlled by Chai Trust Company, LLC ("Chai").
Two entities, in which trusts established for the benefit of Mr. Zell's family, the trustee of each of which is Chai, indirectly own interests, are members of EGI-CW. Mr. Zell is not an
officer or a director of Chai and does not have voting or dispositive power over the shares, and therefore disclaims beneficial ownership thereof, except to the extent of any pecuniary interest
therein indirectly held by his family.
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(6)
-
Excludes
246,702 shares held by Crown Investment Series LLCSeries 45 ("Crown Series 45"), in which trusts established for
the benefit of Mr. Star's wife and children indirectly own interests. Crown Series 45 is indirectly controlled by Longview Asset Management LLC, of which Mr. Star is
President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Star disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.
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Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Executive officers, trustees and certain persons who own more than 10% of our outstanding common shares are required by
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act and related regulations:
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-
to file reports of their ownership of such common shares with the SEC; and
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-
to furnish us with copies of the reports.
Based
solely upon a review of Forms 3 and 4 and amendments thereto and written representations furnished to us during the most recent fiscal year, no person who at any time during
the fiscal year was a trustee, officer, or beneficial owner or more than 10% of any class of our equity securities failed to file on a timely basis, as disclosed in the above forms, reports required
by Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act during the most recent fiscal year.
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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS
Review and Approval or Ratification of Transactions with Related Persons
Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics prohibits trustees and executive officers from engaging in transactions that may result in a
conflict of interest with us. However, the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics allows exceptions to this prohibition, but only if a majority of the
disinterested trustees approves the transaction or the transaction has otherwise been approved pursuant to our Related Party Transaction Policy. According to our Related Party Transaction Policy and
our Audit Committee's charter, our Audit Committee must review any transaction involving a trustee, officer or 5% shareholder that may create a conflict of interest. The Audit Committee must either
approve or reject the transaction or refer the transaction to the full Board, excluding any interested trustees.
Our
Corporate Governance Guidelines and Code of Business Conduct and Ethics are available on our website, www.eqcre.com.
Related Person Transactions
Equity Group
Effective June 1, 2014, we entered into a one-year license agreement with Equity Group, a private investment firm, to use office
space on the sixth floor at Two North Riverside Plaza in Chicago, Illinois. The license fee was approximately $0.2 million for the initial term. The license fee includes the non-exclusive use
of additional areas on the sixth floor (such as conference rooms and common areas), certain administrative services (such as mail room services and reception desk staffing), office equipment, office
furniture, supplies, licensee's share of building operating expenses and real estate taxes and access to one parking space. Mr. Zell, our Chairman, is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
of Equity Group, and Mr. Helfand, our President and Chief Executive Officer, is the Co-President of Equity Group. This license agreement was approved by the Audit Committee and was scheduled to
expire on May 31, 2015. On May 4, 2015 and November 2, 2015, the Audit Committee approved agreements to extend the term of the license agreement through November 30, 2015
and January 31, 2016, respectively. The license fee payment is approximately $0.1 million for the extended term. The extension of the license agreement was terminated as of
December 30, 2015.
Effective
June 1, 2014, we entered into a one-year lease with one 3-month renewal option with Two North Riverside Plaza Joint Venture Limited Partnership, an entity associated
with Mr. Zell, our Chairman, to occupy office space on the fourteenth floor at Two North Riverside Plaza in Chicago, Illinois. The initial term of the lease expired on May 31, 2015. The
lease payment was approximately $0.2 million for the initial term. This lease was approved by the Audit Committee. We terminated this lease effective January 31, 2015 for a small
termination fee.
Effective
July 31, 2014, we entered into a sublease with Equity Residential Management, L.L.C. to occupy office space on the tenth floor of Two North Riverside Plaza in Chicago,
Illinois. Equity Residential Management, L.L.C. leases the space from Two North Riverside Plaza Joint Venture Limited Partnership, an entity associated with Mr. Zell, our Chairman. The initial
term of the sublease was approximately seven months commencing on or about October 22, 2014, expiring on May 31, 2015, with one 3-month renewal option. The sublease payment was
approximately $0.2 million for the initial term. This sublease was approved by the Audit Committee. On May 4, 2015, the Audit Committee approved an agreement to extend the term of the
sublease through November 30, 2015. The sublease payment was approximately $0.2 million for the extended term. On November 2, 2015, the Audit Committee of the Board of Trustees
approved an agreement to extend the term of the sublease through January 31, 2016, for a maximum sublease payment of approximately $0.1 million. The extension of the sublease was
terminated as of December 30, 2015.
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Effective
July 20, 2015, we entered into a lease with Two North Riverside Plaza Joint Venture Limited Partnership, an entity associated with Mr. Zell, our Chairman, to
occupy office space on the twentieth and twenty-first floors of Two North Riverside Plaza in Chicago, Illinois. The initial term of the lease is approximately five years, with one 5-year renewal
option. The lease payment is approximately $0.5 million for the initial year and $0.8-$0.9 million annually thereafter. This lease was approved by the Audit Committee on June 16,
2015. We recently completed improvements to the office space utilizing the $0.7 million tenant improvement allowance pursuant to the lease.
Effective
February 1, 2016, we entered into a lease with Two North Riverside Plaza Joint Venture Limited Partnership, an entity associated with Mr. Zell, our Chairman, for
storage space for a nominal amount.
Related and Corvex
On June 10, 2014, our Audit Committee and Board recommended to shareholders the reimbursement of $33.5 million of
expenses incurred by Related and Corvex since February 2013 in connection with their consent solicitations to remove our Former Trustees and elect our new Board of Trustees and to engage in related
litigation (the "Reimbursement Proposal"). At the time the Reimbursement Proposal was recommended by our Board for approval by our shareholders, Related and Corvex each owned approximately 4.4%, or
approximately 8.8% in the aggregate, of our common shares. Because the aggregate ownership of Related and Corvex was more than 5% of our
outstanding common shares at the time, approval of the payment of the requested reimbursement to them would constitute a "related party transaction" under our Related Party Transactions Policy and our
Audit Committee Charter, which require that the Audit Committee review any transaction involving an owner of more than 5% of our outstanding common shares and either approve or reject the transaction
or refer the transaction to the full Board. Both our Audit Committee and our Board reviewed the Reimbursement Proposal and reached the unanimous conclusion that the Reimbursement Proposal was
reasonable and fair to the Company's shareholders and recommended that shareholders approve the Reimbursement Proposal.
On
July 31, 2014, at our 2014 annual meeting of shareholders, our shareholders voted to approve the Reimbursement Proposal, subject to certain limitations. During 2014, in
accordance with our shareholders' approval, we paid approximately $16.7 million of the $33.5 million approved for reimbursement. Approximately $8.4 million was to be reimbursed
only if the average closing price of our common shares was at least $26.00 (as adjusted for any share splits or share dividends) during the one year period after the date on which the reimbursement
was approved by shareholders, and the remaining approximately $8.4 million will be reimbursed only if the average closing price of our common shares is at least $26.00 (as adjusted for any
share splits or share dividends) during the one year period between the first and second anniversaries of the date on which the reimbursement was approved by shareholders. The average closing price of
our common shares was at least $26.00 during the first one year period after the date on which the reimbursement was approved by shareholders, and in August 2015, we paid $8.4 million to
Related and Corvex.
Indemnification
The Maryland statute governing a REIT formed under the laws of Maryland, or the Maryland REIT law, permits a Maryland REIT to include
in its charter a provision limiting the liability of its trustees and officers to the trust and its shareholders for money damages except for (a) liability resulting from actual receipt of an
improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or (b) active and deliberate dishonesty established in a judgment or other final adjudication as being material to the cause of action.
Our Charter contains such a provision that allows us to eliminate the liability of our trustees and officers to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.
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The
Maryland REIT Law permits a Maryland REIT to indemnify and advance expenses to its trustees, officers, employees and agents to the same extent as permitted by the Maryland General
Corporation Law for directors and officers of Maryland corporations. The MGCL permits a corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments,
penalties,
fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be a party by reason of their service in those or other capacities unless it is
established that:
-
-
the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (1) was committed
in bad faith or (2) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty;
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-
the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or
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-
in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful.
However,
under the MGCL, a Maryland corporation may not indemnify a director or officer for an adverse judgment in a suit by or in the right of the corporation or if the director or
officer was adjudged to be liable to the corporation nor may a director be indemnified in circumstances in which the director is found liable for an improper personal benefit, unless in either case a
court orders indemnification and then only for expenses.
In
addition, the MGCL permits a corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon the corporation's receipt of:
-
-
a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct
necessary for indemnification by the corporation; and
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-
a written undertaking by the director or officer or on the director's or officer's behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by
the corporation if it is ultimately determined that the director or officer did not meet the standard of conduct.
Our
Charter and bylaws obligate us, to the fullest extent permitted by Maryland law, to indemnify and to pay, reimburse or advance reasonable expenses
to:
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-
any present or former trustee or officer who is made or threatened to be made a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her
service in that capacity; or
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-
any individual who, while a trustee or officer of our company and at our request, serves or has served as a trustee, officer or
partner of another corporation, REIT, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or any other enterprise and who is made or threatened to be made a party to
the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity.
Our
Charter and bylaws also permit us, with the approval of our Board, to indemnify and advance expenses to any person who served a predecessor of ours in any of the capacities described
above and to any employee or agent of our company or a predecessor of our company. Our bylaws specify that any indemnification or payment or reimbursement of the expenses as described above will be
made in accordance with the procedures provided by the MGCL for directors of Maryland corporations.
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MISCELLANEOUS
Other Matters to Come Before the Annual Meeting
No other matters are to be presented for action at the Annual Meeting other than as set forth in this Proxy Statement. If other matters
properly come before the meeting, however, the persons named in the proxy card will vote all proxies solicited by this Proxy Statement as recommended by the Board, or, if no such recommendation is
given, in their own discretion.
Shareholder Proposals and Nominations for the 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
Shareholder proposals intended to be presented pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act at our 2017 annual meeting of
shareholders must be received at our principal executive offices on or before December 22, 2016, in order to be considered for inclusion in our proxy statement for our 2017 annual meeting of
shareholders, provided that if we hold our 2017 annual meeting on a date that is more than 30 days before or after June 16, 2017, shareholders must submit proposals for inclusion in our
2017 proxy statement within a reasonable time before we begin to print our proxy materials. Under Rule 14a-8, we are not required to include shareholder proposals in our proxy materials unless
conditions specified in the rule are met.
In
addition, any shareholder who wishes to propose a nominee to the Board or propose any other business to be considered by the shareholders (other than a shareholder proposal included
in our proxy materials pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the rules promulgated under the Exchange Act) must comply with the advance notice provisions and other requirements of Article II,
Section 12 of our bylaws, which are on file with the SEC and may be obtained from Investor Relations upon request. These notice provisions require that nominations of persons for election to
the Board and the proposal of business to be considered by the shareholders for the 2017 annual meeting must be received no earlier than November 22, 2016 and no later than 5:00 p.m.,
Central Time, December 22, 2016. However, in the event that the 2017 annual meeting is advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from the first anniversary of the date of the Annual
Meeting, notice by the shareholder to be timely must be received no earlier
than the 150th day prior to the date of the meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Central Time, on the later of the 120th day prior to the date of the meeting or the tenth day
following the date of the first public announcement of the meeting.
Householding of Annual Meeting Materials
Some banks, brokers and other record holders of our common shares may participate in the practice of "householding" proxy statements,
annual reports and Notices of Internet Availability of those documents. This means that, unless shareholders give contrary instructions, only one copy of our proxy statement, annual report or Notice
of Internet Availability may be sent to multiple shareholders in each household. We will promptly deliver a separate copy of any of those documents to you if you write to us at Investor Relations,
Equity Commonwealth, Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 2100, Chicago, Illinois 60606, or call us at (312) 646-2801. If you want to receive separate copies of our proxy statement, annual
report or Notice of Internet Availability in the future, or if you are receiving multiple copies and would like to receive only one copy per household, you should contact your bank, broker or other
record holder, or you may contact us at the above address or telephone number.
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IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS
FOR THE SHAREHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON JUNE 15, 2016
This Proxy Statement and our 2015 Annual Report are available on our website at www.eqcre.com. In addition, our shareholders may access
this information, as well as transmit their voting instructions, at www.proxyvote.com by having their proxy card and related instructions in hand.
Additional
copies of this Proxy Statement and our Annual Report will be furnished to our shareholders upon written request to the Corporate Secretary at the mailing address for our
executive offices set
forth on the first page of this Proxy Statement. If requested by eligible shareholders, we will provide copies of exhibits to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2015, as amended, for a reasonable fee.
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By Order of the Board of Trustees
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Orrin S. Shifrin
Executive Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary
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Chicago,
Illinois
April 21, 2016
61
AUTHORIZE YOUR PROXY BY INTERNET - 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 on June 14, 2016. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the website and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form. EQUITY COMMONWEALTH TWO NORTH RIVERSIDE PLAZA SUITE 2100 CHICAGO, IL 60606 AUTHORIZE YOUR PROXY BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903 Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 14, 2016. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions. AUTHORIZE YOUR PROXY BY MAIL Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Equity Commonwealth, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS If you would like to reduce the costs incurred by Equity Commonwealth in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically by e-mail or over the internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access shareholder communications electronically in future years. TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: E08644-P78442 KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark For All Except and write the number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below. EQUITY COMMONWEALTH Our Board of Trustees Recommends You Vote FOR the Nominees for Trustee in Proposal 1 and FOR Proposals 2 and 3. For Withhold For All Except ! ! ! 1. To elect the nominees named in our proxy statement to our Board of Trustees 01) 02) 03) 04) 05) 06) Sam Zell James S. Corl Martin L. Edelmen Edward A. Glickman David Helfand Peter Linneman 07) 08) 09) 10) 11) James L. Lozier, Jr. Mary Jane Robertson Kenneth Shea Gerald A. Spector James A. Star Our Board recommends you vote "FOR" Proposal 1. For ! Against ! Abstain ! 2. To approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers. Our Board recommends you vote "FOR" Proposal 2. THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED OR, IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, WILL BE VOTED "FOR" THE NOMINEES FOR TRUSTEE IN PROPOSAL 1 AND "FOR" PROPOSALS 2 AND 3. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE PROXIES, IN THEIR DISCRETION, ARE AUTHORIZED TO VOTE AND OTHERWISE REPRESENT THE UNDERSIGNED ON SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING OR AT ANY POSTPONEMENT OR ADJOURNMENT THEREOF. 3. To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016. Our Board recommends you vote "FOR" Proposal 3. ! ! ! ! For address changes, please check this box and write them on the back where indicated. (NOTE: Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. All holders must sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator or other fiduciary, please give full title as such. Joint owners should each sign personally. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by authorized officer, indicating title. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person indicating title.) Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] Date Signature (Joint Owners) Date
EQUITY COMMONWEALTH ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS June 15, 2016, 8:00 a.m., Central Time Two North Riverside Plaza Chicago, IL 60606 E08645-P78442 EQUITY COMMONWEALTH Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 2100 Chicago, IL 60606 Proxy Important Notice Regarding Internet Availability of Proxy Materials: The proxy materials for the Equity Commonwealth annual meeting of shareholders, including our annual report and proxy statement are available on the internet. This proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Trustees of Equity Commonwealth. The undersigned shareholder of Equity Commonwealth, a Maryland real estate investment trust, or the Company, hereby appoints David Helfand and Orrin S. Shifrin, or any of them, as proxies for the undersigned, with full power of substitution in each of them, to attend the annual meeting of shareholders of the Company to be held at Two North Riverside Plaza, Chicago, IL 60606 on June 15, 2016, at 8:00 a.m. Central Time, and any postponement or adjournment thereof, to cast on behalf of the undersigned all the votes that the undersigned is entitled to cast at the meeting and otherwise to represent the undersigned at the meeting with all powers possessed by the undersigned if personally present at the meeting. The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the notice of annual meeting of shareholders and of the accompanying proxy statement, each of which is incorporated herein by reference, and revokes any proxy heretofore given with respect to the meeting. THE VOTES ENTITLED TO BE CAST BY THE UNDERSIGNED WILL BE CAST AS INSTRUCTED ON THE REVERSE SIDE HEREOF. IF THIS PROXY IS EXECUTED, BUT NO INSTRUCTION IS GIVEN, THE VOTES ENTITLED TO BE CAST BY THE UNDERSIGNED WILL BE CAST "FOR" THE NOMINEES FOR TRUSTEE IN PROPOSAL 1 AND FOR PROPOSALS 2 AND 3. ADDITIONALLY, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE VOTES ENTITLED TO BE CAST BY THE UNDERSIGNED WILL BE CAST BY THE PROXIES, IN THEIR DISCRETION, ON ANY OTHER MATTER THAT MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING OR ANY POSTPONEMENT OR ADJOURNMENT THEREOF. See reverse for voting instructions. (If you noted any Address Changes above, please mark the corresponding box on the reverse side.) Address Changes:
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