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. )
Filed by the Registrant ý | ||
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o |
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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 Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
Simon Property Group, Inc. |
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(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) |
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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) | Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
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(2) | Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: |
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(3) | 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) | Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
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(5) | 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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Amount Previously Paid: |
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(4) | Date Filed: |
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Persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number. |
PROXY STATEMENT
April 4, 2006
Simon Property Group, Inc.
115 West Washington Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
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10:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 11, 2006 |
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PLACE |
Hyatt Regency Indianapolis One South Capitol Avenue Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 |
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ITEMS OF BUSINESS |
(1) To elect a total of eleven (11) directors (seven (7) to be elected by the holders of all classes of voting securities and four (4) to be elected by the holders of Class B Common Stock) each to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders. |
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(2) To approve the proposed amendment to the Simon Property Group, L.P. 1998 Stock Incentive Plan (the "1998 Stock Incentive Plan") to implement our revised compensation program for non-employee directors. |
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(3) To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2006. |
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(4) To consider a stockholder proposal. |
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(5) To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting. |
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RECORD DATE |
You can vote if you are a stockholder of record on March 9, 2006. |
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ANNUAL REPORT |
Our 2005 Annual Report, which is not part of the proxy soliciting material, is enclosed. |
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PROXY VOTING |
We cordially invite you to attend the meeting, but regardless of whether you plan to be present, please vote in one of these ways: |
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(1) USE THE TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE NUMBER shown on the proxy card (this is a free call in the U.S.); |
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(2) VISIT THE WEB SITE noted on your proxy card to vote via the Internet; OR |
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(3) MARK, SIGN, DATE AND PROMPTLY RETURN the enclosed proxy card in the envelope provided, which requires no additional postage if mailed in the United States. Your vote is important, regardless of the number of shares you own. |
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Any proxy may be revoked at any time prior to its exercise at the meeting. |
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By order of the Board of Directors. |
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April 4, 2006 |
James M. Barkley Secretary |
Simon Property Group, Inc.
115 West Washington Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
PROXY STATEMENT
This Proxy Statement is being furnished to stockholders of Simon Property Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the solicitation of proxies by our Board of Directors for use at our 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and at any and all adjournments or postponements thereof (the "Meeting").
You are invited to attend the Meeting on May 11, 2006, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Indianapolis time. The Meeting will be held at the Hyatt Regency Indianapolis, One South Capitol Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana. Stockholders will be admitted beginning at 9:00 a.m.
The Hyatt Regency Indianapolis is accessible to disabled persons and, upon request, we will provide wireless headsets for hearing amplification. Sign interpretation will also be offered upon request. Please call us at least five days in advance at 317-685-7330 if you require either of these services or other special accommodations.
This Proxy Statement, form of proxy and voting instructions are being mailed starting April 4, 2006.
Voting Securities
Holders of record of shares of our Common Stock, par value $.0001 per share ("Common"); Class B Common Stock, par value $.0001 per share ("Class B Common"); and Class C Common Stock, par value $.0001 per share ("Class C Common") at the close of business on March 9, 2006 are entitled to receive this notice and to vote their shares on all matters presented to the stockholders at the Meeting. In addition, holders of record of our Series F Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock ("Series F Preferred") and Series G Cumulative Step-Up Premium Rate Preferred Stock ("Series G Preferred") on March 9, 2006 are entitled to receive this notice and vote their shares on the election of directors at the Meeting. On that date, there were outstanding 220,817,356 shares of Common, 8,000 shares of Class B Common, 4,000 shares of Class C Common, 8,000,000 shares of Series F Preferred and 3,000,000 shares of Series G Preferred. As a result, a total of 231,829,356 shares are entitled to vote (the "Voting Shares") on the election of directors at the Meeting and a total of 220,829,356 shares are entitled to vote on all other matters presented to stockholders at the Meeting. The presence at the Meeting in person or by proxy of a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at the Meeting, or 115,914,679 Voting Shares, will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
All of the Class B Common shares are held by a voting trust as to which Melvin Simon, Herbert Simon and David Simon are the voting trustees. All of the Class C Common shares are owned by NID Corporation (formerly known as The Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation). The Board is not soliciting proxies in respect of the Class B Common shares or the Class C Common shares, although we expect those shares will be represented at the Meeting.
The voting trustees have informed us that they intend to vote the Class B Common shares in favor of the seven nominees for director to be elected by holders of Voting Shares named below and the four nominees for Class B Director named below. Holders of the Class C Common shares have not yet informed us how they intend to vote their shares.
Required Vote
All shares entitled to vote at the Meeting are entitled to one vote per share. A plurality of the votes cast is required to elect directors. All other proposals must be approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of all the votes cast, in person or by proxy, at the Meeting. In addition, under New York Stock Exchange rules, the number of votes cast on the proposal to approve the proposed amendment to the 1998 Stock Incentive Plan must represent more than 50% of all the shares entitled to vote on such proposal. Abstentions will have the same effect as a vote against this proposal. Broker non-votes will not be counted. A broker non-vote occurs when a nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular proposal because the nominee does not have discretionary voting power
for that particular item and has not received instructions from the beneficial owner. The proposal to approve the proposed amendment to the 1998 Stock Incentive Plan is a non-discretionary item. Therefore, if you do not provide your broker with voting instructions on that proposal, your shares will not be voted on that proposal.
Proxies
Your vote is important. You may vote your proxy by telephone, Internet or mail. A toll-free telephone number and web site address are included on your proxy card. If you choose to vote by mail, simply mark your proxy, date and sign it, and return it in the envelope provided, which requires no additional postage if mailed in the United States. All shares that have been properly voted and not revoked will be voted at the Meeting. If you sign and return your proxy card but do not give voting instructions, your shares will be voted as recommended by the Board of Directors.
You may revoke your proxy at any time before it is exercised by:
You may save us the expense of a second mailing by voting promptly.
Voting now will not limit your right to vote at the Meeting if you decide to attend in person. If your shares are held in the name of a bank, broker or other holder of record, you must obtain a proxy, executed in your favor, from the holder of record to be able to vote at the Meeting.
Voting on Other Matters
We know of no other business to be transacted at the Meeting, but if other matters requiring a vote do arise, the persons named in the proxy will have the discretion to vote on those matters for you.
Costs of Proxy Solicitation
We will pay the cost of preparing, assembling, and mailing the proxy material. We expect to solicit proxies primarily by mail, but our employees or other representatives may also solicit proxies without additional compensation. We will also request banks, brokers and other holders of record to send the proxy material to, and obtain proxies from, beneficial owners, and will reimburse them for their reasonable expenses in doing so. In addition, we have hired MacKenzie Partners, Inc. to assist in the solicitation of proxies. We will pay MacKenzie a fee of $7,500 for its services. The telephone number of MacKenzie Partners, Inc's. proxy solicitation practice is (800) 322-2885. Their e-mail address is proxy@mackenziepartners.com.
List of Stockholders
A list of stockholders entitled to vote at the Meeting will be available at the Meeting and for ten days prior to the Meeting, between the hours of 8:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., at our offices at 115 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, Indiana, by contacting the Secretary of the Company.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), requires our directors, executive officers and beneficial owners of more than 10% of our capital stock to file reports of ownership and changes of ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange. Based on our records and other information, we believe that during the year ended December 31, 2005 all applicable Section 16(a) filing requirements were met.
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Incorporation by Reference
To the extent this Proxy Statement has been or will be specifically incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, the sections of this Proxy Statement entitled "COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION," "REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE" and "PERFORMANCE GRAPHTOTAL RETURN" should not be deemed to be so incorporated unless specifically otherwise provided in any such filing.
Our business, property and affairs are managed under the direction of our Board of Directors. Members of our Board of Directors are kept informed of our business through discussions with our Co-Chairmen and Chief Executive Officer and other officers, by reviewing materials provided to them, by visiting our offices and properties, and by participating in meetings of the Board and its committees. Directors are also expected to use reasonable efforts to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. All of our directors attended the 2005 Annual Meeting. During 2005, the Board of Directors met four times and had five standing committees. Those committees consisted of an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Governance Committee, a Nominating Committee and an Executive Committee. During 2005, all directors participated in 75% or more of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board and the committees on which they served.
Corporate Governance
Our Board has long believed that good corporate governance is important to ensure that the Company is managed for the long-term benefit of its stockholders. In recent years, we implemented and have continued to refine our corporate governance practices and procedures. During the past year, the Board reviewed the Company's Governance Principles, the written charters for each of the five standing committees of the Board and the Company's Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and amended them as appropriate to reflect new policies or practices. The current version of each of these documents is available on our internet website, www.simon.com, in the About Simon/Investor Relations/Corporate Governance section, and will be provided in print without charge upon written request to the Secretary of the Company, 115 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204. The Board expects these documents will continue to change as requirements or best practices in this area evolve.
We will also either disclose on Form 8-K or post on our internet website any substantive amendment to, or waiver from, a provision of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to any of our directors or executive officers.
Director Independence
As permitted by the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, the Board has adopted categorical standards to assist it in making determinations of director independence. These standards incorporate, and are consistent with, the definition of "independent" contained in the New York Stock Exchange listing rules. These standards are set forth in our Governance Principles and are included in this Proxy Statement as Appendix A. The Board has affirmatively determined that each of the seven nominees for director to be elected by the holders of Voting Shares, and Frederick W. Petri and M. Denise DeBartolo York, current directors appointed by the holder of Class C Common, meets these categorical standards and is independent.
Voting for Directors
On February 3, 2006, the Governance Committee adopted a new Governance Principle concerning the election of the Company's directors. The Governance Principle addresses the consequences if a director in an uncontested election receives a greater number of "withhold" votes than "for" votes. This Governance Principle is described in more detail in the Board's statement in opposition to the stockholder proposal to be considered at the Meeting on page 27.
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Executive Sessions of Independent Directors
The independent directors meet in executive session without management present following each regularly scheduled Board meeting. In addition, the Board has designated J. Albert Smith, Jr. as Lead Independent Director. In such capacity, Mr. Smith presides over the executive sessions and serves as a liaison between the independent directors and the senior management team.
Stockholder Communications with the Board
The Board has implemented a process whereby the Company's stockholders may send communications to the Board's attention. Any stockholder desiring to communicate with the Board, or one or more specifc directors, should communicate in a writing addressed to Simon Property Group, Inc., Board of Directors, c/o Secretary, 115 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204. The Secretary of the Company has been instructed by the Board to promptly forward all such communications to the specified addressees thereof.
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The table below provides membership and meeting information for each of the committees of the Board.
Name |
Audit |
Compensation |
Governance |
Nominating |
Executive |
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Birch Bayh |
X |
X |
* |
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Melvyn E. Bergstein | X | * | X | ||||||||
Linda Walker Bynoe | X | X | |||||||||
Karen N. Horn, Ph.D. | X | X | * | ||||||||
Reuben S. Leibowitz | X | X | |||||||||
Fredrick W. Petri | X | X | |||||||||
David Simon | X | ||||||||||
Herbert Simon | X | ||||||||||
Melvin Simon | X | * | |||||||||
J. Albert Smith, Jr.** | X | * | X | X | |||||||
Richard S. Sokolov | X | ||||||||||
Pieter S. van den Berg | X | ||||||||||
M. Denise DeBartolo York | X | ||||||||||
2005 Meetings | 6 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
*Chair
**Lead Independent Director.
The Audit Committee
The Audit Committee assists the Board in monitoring the integrity of our financial statements, the qualifications, independence and performance of our independent registered public accounting firm, the performance of our internal audit function and our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. The Audit Committee has sole authority to appoint, subject to stockholder ratification, or replace our independent registered public accounting firm and pre-approves the auditing services and permitted non-audit services to be performed by our independent registered public accounting firm, including the fees and terms thereof. The Audit Committee has authority to retain legal, accounting or other advisors. The Audit Committee reviews and discusses with management and our independent registered public accounting firm our annual audited financial statements, our quarterly earnings releases and financial statements, significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of our financial statements and any major issues regarding the adequacy of our internal controls. The charter of the Audit Committee requires that each member meet the independence and experience requirements of the New York Stock Exchange, the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Board of Directors has determined that all current members of the Audit Committee qualify as an "audit committee financial expert" as defined by rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. For a description of the relevant experience of those directors, see pages 13 and 16 of this Proxy Statement.
The Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee sets remuneration levels for our executive officers, reviews significant employee benefit programs and establishes and administers our executive compensation programs and our stock incentive plan. The Compensation Committee has authority to
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retain the advice and assistance of compensation consultants and legal, accounting or other advisors. Our Charter requires that the Compensation Committee have at least one member be elected by holders of the Class B Common shares and at least one member be elected by holders of the Class C Common shares. The charter of the Compensation Committee requires that each member meet the independence requirements of the New York Stock Exchange. The holders of Class B Common shares have waived their right to elect a member of the Compensation Committee.
The Governance Committee
The Governance Committee addresses a broad range of issues surrounding the composition and operation of the Board, develops and recommends to the Board the Governance Principles applicable to the Company and the Board, leads the Board in its annual evaluation of the Board's performance, oversees the assessment of the independence of each director and makes recommendations regarding compensation for non-employee directors. The Governance Committee has the authority to retain legal, accounting or other advisors, and has sole authority to approve the fees and other terms and conditions associated with retaining any such external advisors. The charter of the Governance Committee requires that each member meet the independence requirements of the New York Stock Exchange.
The Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee nominates persons to serve as directors and, in consultation with the Governance Committee and in accordance with our Governance Principles, proscribes appropriate qualifications for Board members. In considering persons to nominate, the Nominating Committee will consider persons recommended by stockholders. The Nominating Committee has the authority to retain legal, accounting or other advisors, and has sole authority to approve the fees and other terms and conditions associated with retaining any such external advisors.
A stockholder who wishes to recommend a director candidate for consideration by the Nominating Committee should send such recommendation to the Secretary of the Company, 115 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204, who will forward it to the Nominating Committee. Any such recommendation should include a description of the candidate's qualifications for Board service, the candidate's written consent to be considered for nomination and to serve if nominated and elected, and addresses and telephone numbers for contacting the stockholder and the candidate for more information. A stockholder who wishes to nominate an individual as a director candidate at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, rather than recommend the individual to the Nominating Committee as a nominee, must comply with the advance notice requirements set forth in the Company's By-Laws.
Our Governance Principles provide that all candidates for election as members of the Board should possess high personal and professional ethics, integrity and values and be committed to representing the long-term interests of our stockholders and otherwise fulfilling the responsibilities of directors as described in our Governance Principles. Our Governance Principles further provide that our directors should not serve on more than four boards of public companies, including our Board. In recommending candidates to the Board for election as directors, the Nominating Committee will consider the foregoing minimum qualifications as well as each candidate's credentials, keeping in mind our desire, as stated in our Governance Principles, to have a Board representing diverse experiences and backgrounds, as well as areas that are relevant to our business activities. Members of the Nominating Committee are responsible for screening director candidates, but may solicit advice from our Chief Executive Officer and other members of the Board.
Our Charter requires that the Nominating Committee have five members, with two members appointed by the Class B Common shares and one member appointed by the Class C Common shares. The members of the Nominating Committee who are appointed by the holders of the Class B Common and Class C Common shares have the sole right to nominate the directors to be elected by such
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holders. Each member of the Nominating Committee meets the independence requirements of the New York Stock Exchange.
The Executive Committee
The Executive Committee approves the acquisition and disposition of real property and authorizes the execution of certain contracts and agreements relating to transactions having an aggregate value of less than $100 million, including those related to the borrowing of money by the Company. The Executive Committee generally exercises all other powers of the Board of Directors except for matters specifically reserved to the Board, those involving more than $100 million and except where action by Independent Directors (as discussed more fully on page 40) is required. A full report of Executive Committee actions is rendered to the Board at each meeting.
At the meeting of directors to be held following the Meeting, the Board will reappoint members of the Board to the five standing committees.
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Compensation of Directors for 2005
Director |
Annual Retainer |
Board Meeting Fees |
Committee Meeting Fees |
Total Cash Compensation |
Restricted Stock Awards(1) |
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Birch Bayh |
$ |
20,000 |
$ |
4,000 |
$ |
4,000 |
$ |
28,000 |
$ |
88,556 |
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Melvyn E. Bergstein | 20,000 | 4,000 | 5,000 | 29,000 | 88,556 | ||||||||||
Linda Walker Bynoe | 20,000 | 4,000 | 7,000 | 31,000 | 68,120 | ||||||||||
Karen N. Horn Ph.D. | 20,000 | 4,000 | 7,000 | 31,000 | 88,556 | ||||||||||
Reuben S. Leibowitz | 12,802(2) | 2,000 | 3,000 | 17,802 | 68,120 | ||||||||||
Fredrick W. Petri | 20,000 | 4,000 | 11,000 | 35,000 | | ||||||||||
David Simon | | | | | | ||||||||||
Herbert Simon | | | | | | ||||||||||
Melvin Simon | | | | | | ||||||||||
J. Albert Smith, Jr. | 20,000 | 3,500 | 20,500 | 44,000 | 102,180 | ||||||||||
Richard S. Sokolov | | | | | | ||||||||||
Pieter S. van den Berg(3) | 20,000 | 4,000 | 6,000 | 30,000 | 68,120 | ||||||||||
M. Denise DeBartolo York | 20,000 | 4,000 | 1,000 | 25,000 | | ||||||||||
Cash Compensation in 2005
During 2005, we paid our non-employee directors annual compensation of $20,000 and attendance fees as follows: $1,000 per Board meeting for in-person attendance; $500 per Board meeting for telephonic attendance; and $1,000 per committee meeting (whether in-person or telephonic), with the exception of the chairperson of the Audit Committee who was paid $2,500 per Audit Committee meeting. Directors may elect to defer all or a portion of their cash compensation under our Director Deferred Compensation Plan. We do not pay directors who were our employees or employees of our affiliates any compensation for their services as directors. All directors were reimbursed for their expenses incurred in attending Board or committee meetings.
Non-Cash Compensation in 2005
Non-employee directors also received non-cash compensation under the Simon Property Group, L.P. 1998 Stock Incentive Plan (the "1998 Plan"). Each of our non-employee directors received 1,000 shares of restricted stock. In addition, the chairperson of our Audit Committee received an additional annual award in the amount of 500 shares of restricted stock and the chairpersons of the other standing committees of our Board of Directors received an additional annual award of 300 shares of restricted stock. These awards of restricted stock vest in four equal annual installments beginning on January 1 following the date of the award. The restricted stock is held in our Director Deferred Compensation Plan until the director retires, dies or becomes disabled or no longer serves as a director. Any dividends on this restricted stock must be reinvested in shares of Common and held in our Director Deferred Compensation Plan.
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Changes in Director Compensation
During 2005, the Governance Committee retained an independent compensation consultant to conduct a competitive assessment of our non-employee director compensation program and to suggest recommendations for strengthening the program going forward. This assessment included a review of the director compensation practices of fifteen comparable real estate investment trusts ("REITs"). As a result of its review, the Governance Committee recommended to the Board, and the Board approved, the following compensation program for our non-employee directors:
The changes to our annual cash retainer and the additional cash compensation payable to the Lead Director were effective as of January 1, 2006. The cash compensation payable to committee chairpersons will be effective as of May 11, 2006. The restricted stock portion of any compensation payable under this new program is subject to approval of the proposed amendment to the 1998 Stock Incentive Plan at the Meeting and if approved will become effective May 11, 2006.
Under the new compensation program, non-employee directors will continue to be reimbursed for their expenses incurred in attending Board and committee meetings and will be eligible for discretionary awards under the 1998 Stock Incentive Plan.
Equity Ownership Guidelines
Under equity ownership guidelines established for 2005, each of our non-employee directors was required to own not less than 3,000 Common shares or units of limited partnership interest ("Units") of our subsidiary operating partnership, Simon Property Group, L.P. (the "Operating Partnership") by March 1, 2005. Effective January 1, 2006, each new director will be required to own not less than 3,000 Common shares within two years after he or she is initially elected to the Board, and not less than 5,000 Common shares within three years from such date. Any director who is prohibited by law or by applicable regulation of his or her employer from having an ownership interest in securities of the Company will be exempt from this requirement until the restriction is lifted at which time he or she will have the following two and three year periods to comply with the ownership guidelines. Stock options and unvested shares of restricted stock do not count toward these goals.
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The holders of Voting Shares will elect seven directors, and the holders of Class B Common shares will elect four directors. The holders of Class C Common shares have the right to elect two directors; however, they have not yet nominated persons for the two Class C Director positions. Each director will serve until the 2007 annual meeting of stockholders and until his or her successor has been elected.
Pursuant to our Governance Principles, any director who receives a greater number of "withhold" votes than "for" votes is required to promptly tender his or her resignation. See "Board of DirectorsVoting for Directors" above for more details of this Governance Principle.
The shares of Class B Common are held by a voting trust that is obligated to elect Melvin Simon, Herbert Simon and David Simon as directors.
Our employment agreement with Richard S. Sokolov contemplates that he will be elected to the Board of Directors and holders of Class B Common shares have agreed to elect Mr. Sokolov to the Board.
The persons named in the enclosed proxy intend to vote the proxy for the election of each of the nominees, unless you indicate on the proxy card that your vote should be withheld from any or all such nominees.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that stockholders vote FOR the election of the nominees named below.
We expect each nominee for election as a director to be able to serve if elected. If any nominee is not able to serve, proxies will be voted in favor of the remainder of those nominated and may be voted for substitute nominees, unless the Board of Directors chooses to reduce the number of directors serving on the Board.
The names, principal occupations and certain other information about the nominees for director are set forth on the following pages.
Security Ownership of Directors and Officers
As of March 9, 2006, the nominees and the named executive officers of the Company:
Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes, Shares or Units are owned directly, and the indicated person has sole voting and investment power.
No nominee or named executive officer of the Company beneficially owns any shares of a series of preferred stock of the Company that has the right to vote on any matter presented to stockholders at the Meeting.
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Name and Age as of the May 11, 2006 Meeting Date |
Position, Principal Occupation, Business Experience and Directorships(1) |
Number of Shares(2)(3)(4) and Units, and Percent of Shares(5) and Units(6) Beneficially Owned |
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NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR TO BE ELECTED BY HOLDERS OF VOTING SHARES |
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Birch Bayh |
78 |
Partner in the Washington, D.C. law firm of Venable LLP (or its predecessor) since 2001. Mr. Bayh was a partner in the law firm of Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP from 1998 to 2001 and served as a United States Senator from Indiana from 1963 to 1981. A director of the Company or its predecessor since 1993. Member of our Governance and Nominating Committees. |
Shares: 27,830 Percent of Shares: * Units: 0 Percent of Units: |
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Melvyn E. Bergstein |
64 |
Chairman of DiamondCluster International, Inc. or its predecessor, Diamond Technology Partners, since 1994 and Chief Executive Officer from 1994 to March 31, 2006. Prior to co-founding Diamond, Mr. Bergstein served in several capacities throughout a 22-year career with Arthur Andersen LLP's consulting division. Our director since 2001. Member of our Compensation and Nominating Committees. |
Shares: 21,820 Percent of Shares: * Units: 0 Percent of Units: |
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NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR TO BE ELECTED BY HOLDERS OF VOTING SHARES (continued) |
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Linda Walker Bynoe |
53 |
President and Chief Executive Officer of Telemat Ltd., a management consulting firm, since 1995 and prior to that Chief Operating Officer since 1989. Ms. Bynoe served as a Vice President-Capital Markets for Morgan Stanley from 1985 to 1989, joining the firm in 1978. Ms. Bynoe serves as a director of Dynegy Inc., Fidelity Life Association, Prudential Retail Mutual Funds and Anixter International, Inc. Our director since 2003. Member of our Compensation and Governance Committees. |
Shares: 7,447 Percent of Shares: * Units: 0 Percent of Units: |
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Karen N. Horn, Ph.D. |
62 |
Retired President, Global Private Client Services and Managing Director, Marsh, Inc., a subsidiary of MMC, having served in these positions from 1999 to 2003. Prior to joining Marsh, she was Senior Managing Director and Head of International Private Banking at Bankers Trust Company; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Bank One, Cleveland, N.A.; President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland; Treasurer of Bell of Pennsylvania; and Vice President of First National Bank of Boston. Ms. Horn serves as a director of Eli Lilly and Company and T. Rowe Price Mutual Funds. She is also a director of the U.S. Russia Investment Fund, a presidential appointment, a senior managing director of Brock Capital and a member of the Executive Committee of the National Bureau of Economic Research. Our director since 2004. Member of our Compensation and Governance Committees. |
Shares: 5,373 Percent of Shares: * Units: 0 Percent of Units: |
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NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR TO BE ELECTED BY HOLDERS OF VOTING SHARES (continued) |
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Reuben S. Leibowitz |
58 |
Managing Director of JEN Partners and Advisor to Warburg Pincus, both private equity firms, since 2005. Mr. Leibowitz was Managing Director of Warburg Pincus from 1984 to 2005. He was a director of Chelsea Property Group, Inc. from 1993 until it was acquired by the Company in 2004. Our director since 2005. Member of our Audit and Compensation Committees. |
Shares: 8,517(7) Percent of Shares: * Units: 0 Percent of Units: |
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J. Albert Smith, Jr. |
65 |
President of Chase Bank in Central Indiana and Managing Director of JPMorgan Private Bank since November 2005. Mr. Smith was President of Bank One Central Indiana from 2001 to 2005; Managing Director of Bank One Corporation from 1998 to 2001; President of Bank One, Indiana, NA from 1994 to 1998; and President of Banc One Mortgage Corporation from 1974 to 1994. A director of the Company or its predecessor since 1993. Lead Independent Director and member of our Audit, Governance and Nominating Committees. |
Shares: 37,795 Percent of Shares: * Units: 0 Percent of Units: |
|||
Pieter S. van den Berg |
60 |
Advisor to the Board of Managing Directors of PGGM, the pension fund of the healthcare and social work sector in the Netherlands, from 1999 to January 31, 2006. Mr. van den Berg was Director of Controlling of PGGM from 1991 to 1999. Our director since 1998. Member of our Audit Committee. |
Shares: 0(8) Percent of Shares: Units: 0 Percent of Units: |
|||
13
NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR TO BE ELECTED BY HOLDERS OF CLASS B COMMON |
||||||
Melvin Simon |
79 |
Co-Chairman of the Board of the Company or its predecessor since 1995. Chairman of the Board of the Company's predecessor from its incorporation until 1995. Co-Chairman of the Board of Melvin Simon & Associates, Inc. ("MSA"), a company Mr. Simon founded in 1960 with his brother, Herbert Simon. Member of our Executive Committee. |
Shares: 34,923,440(9) Percent of Shares: 13.9% Units: 30,091,879(10) Percent of Units: 10.8% |
|||
Herbert Simon |
71 |
Co-Chairman of the Board of the Company or its predecessor since 1995. Mr. Simon was Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company from 1993 to 1995. Mr. Simon serves on the Board of Governors for the National Basketball Association and as Co-Chairman of the Board of MSA. Member of our Executive Committee. |
Shares: 34,923,440(9) Percent of Shares: 13.9% Units: 30,091,879(10) Percent of Units: 10.8% |
|||
14
NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR TO BE ELECTED BY HOLDERS OF CLASS B COMMON (continued) |
||||||
David Simon |
44 |
Chief Executive Officer of the Company or its predecessor since 1995 and a director of the Company or its predecessor since incorporation. President of the Company's predecessor from its incorporation until 1996. Executive Vice President of MSA from 1990 to 1993. From 1988 to 1990, Mr. Simon was Vice President of Wasserstein Perella & Company. The son of Melvin Simon and the nephew of Herbert Simon. Member of our Executive Committee. |
Shares: 34,923,440(9) Percent of Shares: 13.9% Units: 30,091,879(10) Percent of Units: 10.8% |
|||
Richard S. Sokolov |
56 |
President and Chief Operating Officer and a director of the Company or its predecessor since 1996. President and Chief Executive Officer of DeBartolo Realty Corporation from its incorporation until it merged with our predecessor in 1996. Mr. Sokolov joined its predecessor, The Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation, in 1982 as Vice President and General Counsel and was named Senior Vice President, Development and General Counsel in 1986. Member of our Executive Committee. |
Shares: 667,149 Percent of Shares: * Units: 60,835 Percent of Units: * |
|||
15
CURRENT DIRECTORS WHO ARE NOT NOMINEES |
||||||
Fredrick W. Petri |
59 |
Mr. Petri is currently a Class C Director. President and an officer of Housing Capital Company since its formation in 1994. Prior to that, an Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo Bank, where for over 20 years he held various real estate positions. A director of the Company or its predecessor since 1996. Member of our Audit and Compensation Committees. |
Shares: 40,460 Percent of Shares: * Units: 0 Percent of Units: |
|||
M. Denise DeBartolo York |
55 |
Ms. York is currently a Class C Director. Chairman of The DeBartolo Corporation, owner of the San Francisco 49ers. Ms. York was Chairman of The Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation from 1994 to 2001, also serving in other executive capacities. A director of the Company or its predecessor since 1996. Member of our Nominating Committee. |
Shares: 30,000(11) Percent of Shares: * Units: 30,000 Percent of Units: * |
|||
16
NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS WHO ARE NOT DIRECTORS |
||||||
David C. Bloom |
49 |
Chairman of the Board of Chelsea Property Group, Inc. ("Chelsea"), a subsidiary of the Company since 2004 and our Advisory Director. Mr. Bloom also served as Chief Executive Officer of Chelsea from 1993 to January 1, 2006, was founder and principal of The Chelsea Group, a predecessor of Chelsea, and President of The Chelsea Group from 1985 until the formation of Chelsea. |
Shares: 1,140,081(12) Percent of Shares: * Units: 1,089,695 Percent of Units: * |
|||
James M. Barkley |
54 |
Our General Counsel and Secretary. Mr. Barkley joined MSA in 1978 as a staff attorney and was named Assistant General Counsel in 1984. He was named General Counsel in 1992 and Secretary in 1993. |
Shares: 118,955 Percent of Shares: * Units: 0 Percent of Units: |
|||
Stephen E. Sterrett |
50 |
Our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Sterrett joined MSA in 1988 and held various positions with MSA until 1993 when he became our Senior Vice President and Treasurer. He was named Chief Financial Officer in 2001. |
Shares: 109,440 Percent of Shares: * Units: 0 Percent of Units: |
|||
17
ALL DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AS A GROUP(7),(11),(12),(13) |
||||||
20 Persons |
Shares: 37,354,692 Percent of Shares: 14.8% Units: 31,272,409 Percent of Units: 11.2% |
|||||
18
The following table sets forth certain information concerning each person (including any group) known to us to beneficially own more than five percent (5%) of any class of voting securities of the Company as of March 9, 2006. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes, shares are owned directly, and the indicated person has sole voting and investment power.
|
Shares(1) |
Series G Preferred |
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner |
Number of Shares |
%(2) |
Number of Shares |
% |
|||||
Melvin Simon & Associates, Inc., et al.(3) 115 W. Washington Street Indianapolis, IN 46204 |
34,923,440(4) | 13.9 | % | n/a | |||||
Edward J. DeBartolo, Jr., et al.(5) 15436 North Florida Avenue, Suite 200 Tampa, FL 33613 |
15,583,438(6) |
6.6 |
% |
n/a |
|||||
Adelante Capital Management LLC(7) 1995 University Avenue, Suite 225 Berkeley, CA 94704 |
n/a |
280,800 |
9.4 |
% |
19
ITEM 2APPROVAL OF AMENDMENTS TO 1998 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
General
The Board of Directors has adopted an amendment to the 1998 Stock Incentive Plan (the "1998 Plan") and directed that the amendment be submitted to the stockholders for consideration and approval at the Meeting. The amendment would effect the changes to our compensation program for non-employee directors that are more fully discussed under the heading "Compensation of Directors for 2005Changes in Director Compensation."
The following is a summary of the proposed amendment and certain other principal features of the 1998 Plan. The summary is qualified in its entirety by express reference to the complete text of the 1998 Plan, as proposed to be amended, set forth as Appendix B to this Proxy Statement. Stockholders are urged to read the actual text of the 1998 Plan, as proposed to be amended, as set forth in Appendix B.
Purpose And Eligibility
The primary purpose of the 1998 Plan is to attract and retain the best available officers, key employees, "Eligible Directors" (as defined below), advisors and consultants for positions of substantial responsibilities with the Company and our affiliates and to provide an additional incentive to such officers, key employees, Eligible Directors, advisors and consultants to exert their maximum efforts toward the success of the Company and our affiliates. "Eligible Directors" are directors of the Company who are not employees of the Company or our affiliates. All officers, key employees, advisors and consultants of the Company and our affiliates (except for Melvin Simon and Herbert Simon) and all Eligible Directors are eligible to be granted awards under and participate in the 1998 Plan. In addition, Eligible Directors receive automatic grants, as described below. The number of individuals currently eligible to participate in the 1998 Plan is approximately 200.
Administration
The 1998 Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board (the "Committee"). The Committee, in its sole discretion, determines which eligible individuals may participate in the 1998 Plan ("Participants") and the type, extent and terms of the awards to be granted to them. In addition, the Committee interprets the 1998 Plan and makes all other determinations deemed advisable for the administration of the 1998 Plan.
Awards
The 1998 Plan provides for the grant of the following types of equity-based awards (collectively, "Awards") during the ten-year period following its adoption: incentive stock options ("ISOs") within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), nonqualified stock options ("NQSOs" and together with the ISOs, "Options"), stock appreciation rights ("SARs"), performance units and restricted stock. As of March 9, 2006, an aggregate of 7,044,445 Common shares were covered by Awards made under the 1998 Plan.
The aggregate number of Common shares that may be issued under the 1998 Plan is 11,300,000. No more than 600,000 shares may be issued to any one individual pursuant to Awards during any one year.
The closing price of the Common as reported by the New York Stock Exchange on March 9, 2006 was $82.55.
The Proposed Amendment
The 1998 Plan provides for automatic awards of restricted stock to Eligible Directors which are the only provisions that will be affected by the proposed amendment. The 1998 Plan currently provides that upon the first day of the first calendar month following the month in which any person first becomes an Eligible Director, such person is
20
automatically awarded without further action 1,000 shares of restricted stock (an "Initial Award"). Thereafter, as of the date of each annual meeting of stockholders, each Eligible Director who is re-elected as a director is automatically awarded each year, without further action, 1,000 shares of restricted stock (the "Annual Award"); provided, however, that if any person becomes an Eligible Director during the 60-day period prior to the annual meeting of stockholders in any year, then such Eligible Director will not receive the Annual Award. In addition, Eligible Directors who serve as chairpersons of the standing committees of the Board of Directors receive an additional annual award in the amount of 500 shares of restricted stock (in the case of the Audit Committee) or 300 shares of restricted stock (in the case of all other standing committees). Awards of restricted stock under the 1998 Plan currently vest in four equal annual installments on January 1 of each year, beginning in the year following the year in which the award occurred.
Pursuant to the proposed amendment to the 1998 plan, each Eligible Director will receive on the first day of the first calendar month following his or her initial election as a director, an award of restricted stock with a value of $82,500 (pro-rated for partial years of service). Thereafter, as of the date of each annual meeting of the Company's stockholders, Eligible Directors who are re-elected as directors will receive an award of restricted stock having a value of $82,500. In addition, Eligible Directors who serve as chairpersons of the standing committees of the Board of Directors (excluding the Executive Committee) will receive an additional annual award of restricted stock having a value of $10,000 (in the case of the Audit Committee) or $7,500 (in the case of all other standing committees). The Lead Director will also receive an annual restricted stock award having a value of $12,500. The number of shares included in any award of restricted stock will be determined by dividing the cash value of such award by the 20 trading day average closing price of the Common ending on the trading day immediately preceding the date of any such award. The restricted stock will vest in full after one year.
The shares of Common underlying a restricted stock award (including reinvested dividends) must be held in our Director Deferred Compensation Plan until the director retires, dies or becomes disabled or otherwise no longer serves as a director. The Eligible Directors may vote and are entitled to receive dividends on the Common shares underlying the restricted stock awards; however, any dividends on the shares of Common underlying restricted stock awards must be reinvested in shares of Common and held in the Director Deferred Compensation Plan until the shares of Common underlying a restricted stock award are delivered to the former director.
Termination Or Amendment
The 1998 Plan will terminate on September 23, 2008. We may at any time suspend, discontinue or amend the 1998 Plan in any respect whatsoever, except that no such amendment shall impair any rights under any Award theretofore made under the 1998 Plan without the consent of the grantee of such Award. Stockholder approval of any such amendment shall be obtained in such a manner and to such a degree as is required by applicable law or regulation.
Federal Income Tax Consequences
The following is a brief discussion of the federal income tax consequences applicable to awards of restricted stock under the 1998 Plan based on the Code, as in effect as of the date of this summary. This discussion is not intended to be exhaustive and does not describe the state or local tax consequences.
A Participant acquiring restricted stock generally will recognize ordinary income equal to the fair market value of the shares on the "determination date." The "determination date" is the date on which the Participant acquires the shares unless the shares are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture and are not transferable, in which case the determination date is the earlier of (1) the date on which the shares become transferable or (2) the date on which the shares are no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. If the determination date is after the date on which the Participant acquires the shares, the Participant may elect, pursuant to Section 83(b)
21
of the Code, to have the date of acquisition be the determination date by filing an election with the Internal Revenue Service no later than 30 days after the date on which the shares are acquired. The Company generally should be entitled to a deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the Participant on the determination date. Upon the sale of shares acquired pursuant to a restricted stock award, any gain or loss, based on the difference between the sale price and the fair market value on the determination date, will be taxed as capital gain or loss.
Plan Benefits
If the amendment is approved, Eligible Directors will receive awards of restricted stock having the value set forth above. The actual number of shares of restricted stock that Eligible Directors will receive is not determinable until the date of the award. Other than the automatic awards to Eligible Directors, future Awards to Participants in the 1998 Plan are entirely within the discretion of the Committee and cannot be determined.
22
The following table sets forth the Awards granted to the persons listed through March 9, 2006 under the 1998 Plan.
|
Number of Securities underlying NQSOs Granted |
Number of Securities underlying ISOs Granted |
Number of Shares of Restricted Stock Granted |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
David Simon Chief Executive Officer |
550,000 |
|
190,920 |
|||
David C. Bloom Chairman of Board of Chelsea |
|
|
|
|||
Richard S. Sokolov President and Chief Operating Officer |
150,000 |
|
272,894 |
|||
James M. Barkley General Counsel and Secretary |
115,000 |
|
78,640 |
|||
Stephen E. Sterrett Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
51,250 |
|
67,700 |
|||
Birch Bayh, Director |
28,070 |
|
3,900 |
|||
Melvyn E. Bergstein, Director |
8,000 |
|
3,600 |
|||
Linda Walker Bynoe, Director |
|
|
3,000 |
|||
Karen N. Horn, Ph.D., Director |
|
|
2,300 |
|||
Reuben S. Leibowitz, Director |
|
|
1,000 |
|||
Fredrick W. Petri, Director |
24,360 |
|
|
|||
Melvin Simon, Director |
|
|
|
|||
Herbert Simon, Director |
|
|
|
|||
J. Albert Smith, Jr., Director |
32,000 |
|
4,500 |
|||
Pieter S. van den Berg, Director |
17,000 |
|
3,000 |
|||
M. Denise DeBartolo York, Director |
18,000 |
|
|
|||
All current executive officers as a group |
1,016,875 |
|
849,194 |
|||
All current directors who are not executive officers as a group |
127,430 |
|
21,300 |
|||
All employees, including all current officers who are not executive officers, as a group |
2,927,025 |
9,876 |
2,092,745 |
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that stockholders vote FOR approval of the amendments to the 1998 Stock Incentive Plan
23
ITEM 3RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Audit Committee has selected Ernst & Young LLP ("E&Y") as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2006, subject to the approval of our stockholders.
The Report of the Audit Committee (which begins on the following page) contains information on the amount of fees paid to E&Y during 2005 and 2004. We expect that representatives of E&Y will be present at the Meeting and will be available to respond to appropriate questions. They will also have an opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so.
If a majority of stockholders voting on this matter do not ratify the selection, the Audit Committee will reconsider its choice taking into consideration the views of the stockholders and may, but will not be required to, appoint a different independent registered public accounting firm.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that stockholders vote FOR ratification of E&Y as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for 2006.
24
The Audit Committee is responsible for monitoring the integrity of the Company's consolidated financial statements, the qualifications, performance and independence of the Company's independent registered public accounting firm, the performance of the Company's internal auditor and the Company's compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. We have the sole authority to appoint or replace the Company's independent registered public accounting firm. The Committee has four independent directors and operates under a written charter adopted by the Board. The Board has determined that each Committee member is independent under the standards of director independence established under our Governance Principles, New York Stock Exchange listing standards and applicable securities laws.
Management is responsible for the financial reporting process, including the system of internal control, for the preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and for management's report on internal control over financial reporting. The Company's independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for auditing the consolidated financial statements and expressing an opinion as to their conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States as well as rendering an opinion on management's report on internal control over financial reporting and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to oversee and review the financial reporting process and to review and discuss management's report on internal control over financial reporting. We are not, however, professionally engaged in the practice of accounting or auditing and do not provide any expert or other special assurance as to such financial statements concerning compliance with laws, regulations or accounting principles generally accepted in the United States or as to the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm. We rely, without independent verification, on the information provided to us and on the representations made by management and the independent registered public accounting firm.
We held five meetings during 2005. The meetings were designed, among other things, to facilitate and encourage communication among the Committee, management, the Company's internal auditor and the independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst & Young LLP ("E&Y").
We discussed with the Company's internal auditor and E&Y the overall scope and plans for their respective audits. We met with the internal auditor and E&Y, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examinations and their evaluations of the Company's internal control. We reviewed and discussed the Company's compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, including consideration of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board's (PCAOB) Auditing Standard No. 2, An Audit of Internal Control over Financial Reporting Performed in Conjunction With an Audit of Financial Statements.
We discussed with management the Company's major financial risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures, including the Company's risk assessment and risk management processes.
We reviewed and discussed the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2005 with management, the internal auditor and E&Y. We reviewed and discussed with management, the internal auditor and E&Y management's report on internal control over financial reporting and E&Y's report thereon. We also discussed with management, the internal auditor and E&Y the process used to support certifications by the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer that are required by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to accompany the Company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the processes used to support management's report on internal control over financial reporting.
We also discussed with E&Y matters required to be discussed by their professional standards, including, among other things, matters related to the conduct of the audit of the Company's consolidated
25
financial statements and the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended (Communication with Audit Committees).
E&Y also provided to us the written disclosures and the letter required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit Committees) and represented that E&Y is independent from the Company. We also discussed with E&Y their independence from the Company. When considering E&Y's independence, we considered if services they provided to the Company beyond those rendered in connection with their audit of the Company's consolidated financial statements and reviews of the Company's quarterly unaudited consolidated financial statements and attestation on management's annual report on internal control over financial reporting and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, were compatible with maintaining their independence. We concluded that the provision of such services by E&Y has not jeopardized E&Y's independence.
Based on our review and these meetings, discussions and reports, and subject to the limitations on our role and responsibilities referred to above and in the Audit Committee Charter, we recommended to the Board that the Company's audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2005 be included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Committee has also selected E&Y as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the year ended December 31, 2006 and will present the selection to the stockholders for ratification at the Meeting.
We pre-approve all audit and permissible non-audit services to be provided to the Company by E&Y prior to commencement of services. We have delegated to Mr. Smith, as Chairman of the Audit Committee, authority to pre-approve specific services up to specified individual and aggregate fee amounts. These pre-approval decisions are presented to the full Audit Committee at the next scheduled meeting after such approvals are made.
The Company has incurred fees as shown below for services from E&Y. E&Y has advised us that it has billed or will bill the Company the below indicated amounts for the following categories of services for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively:
|
2005 |
2004 |
||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Audit Fees(1) | $ | 2,797,000 | $ | 2,754,500 | ||
Audit-Related Fees(2) | 3,575,450 | 3,361,900 | ||||
Tax Fees(3) | 58,520 | 143,220 | ||||
All Other Fees | 0 | 0 |
The Audit Committee:
J. Albert Smith, Jr., Chairman
Fredrick W. Petri
Pieter S. van den Berg
Reuben S. Leibowitz
26
ITEM 4STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL TO IMPLEMENT A MAJORITY
VOTING STANDARD FOR THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
SEIU Master Trust (the "Trust"), 1313 L Street, NW, Washington DC 20005, which holds 700 shares of Common, has informed the Company that the Trust intends to submit the following proposal at the Meeting:
Resolved:
That the shareholders of Simon Property Group, Inc. (the "Company") hereby request that the Board of Directors initiate the appropriate process to amend the Company's governance documents (certificates of incorporation or bylaws) to provide that director nominees shall be elected by the affirmative vote of the majority of votes cast at an annual meeting of shareholders.
Supporting Statement:
Our Company is incorporated in Delaware, where state corporate law provides that a company's certificate of incorporation or bylaws may specify the number of votes necessary for the transaction of any business, including the election of corporate directors (DGCL, Title 8, Chapter 1, Subchapter VII, Section 216). The law provides that if the level of voting support necessary for a specific action is not specified in a corporation's certificate or bylaws, directors "shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy."
Our Company presently uses the plurality voting standard for the election of directors. We feel that it is appropriate and timely for our Board to initiate a change in the Company's voting standard for such elections. Specifically, this proposal urges the Board of Directors to change the present standard to provide that in director elections, a majority vote standard will be used. The new standard should provide that nominees for the Board of Directors must receive a majority of the votes cast in order to be elected or re-elected to the Board.
Under the Company's current plurality vote standard, a nominee in a director election can be elected or re-elected with as little as a single affirmative vote, even while a substantial majority of the votes cast are "withheld" from that director nominee. So even if 99.99% of shares "withhold" authority to vote for a candidate or all of the candidates, a 0.01% "for" vote results in the candidate's election to the Board.
We believe the proposed majority voting standard for Board elections is fair, will strengthen the Company's governance, and will improve Board accountability. This proposal does not limit the judgment of the Board in crafting the requested governance change. For instance, the Board might need to address the status of incumbent directors who fail to receive a majority vote when standing for re-election under a majority vote standard, or whether a plurality standard is appropriate in contested elections or for our Company's Class B or C Shares.
At least a dozen U.S. companies have adopted voluntary measures recently to begin addressing majority vote standard concerns, including Automatic Data Processing (bylaw change), Microsoft, Pfizer Inc., (Walt) Disney Co., Wells Fargo and Co., and United Technologies.
We urge your support for this important director election reform.
Statement in Opposition
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote "AGAINST" adoption of this proposal for the following reasons:
The Company believes that adherence to sound corporate governance policies and practices is important in ensuring that it is governed and managed to high standards of responsibility, ethics and integrity and in the best interests of stockholders. The Company also believes that stockholders should have a meaningful role in the
27
director election process. However, under current law, majority voting creates legal and practical complications that make its adoption inadvisable at this time. As an alternative, effective February 3, 2006, the Board of Directors amended the Company's Governance Principles to give stockholders influence in the director election process similar to majority voting while avoiding the legal problems inherent in majority voting under current law.
The Company currently elects its directors by a plurality standard, meaning that the nominees who receive the most affirmative votes are elected. This method of voting, which the proponent seeks to replace, has long been the accepted system among U.S. public companies and is the default system under Delaware corporate law. The rules governing plurality voting are well understood and have served the Company well for years. In fact, in no instance can it be found that plurality voting prevented our stockholders from either electing the directors they wanted to elect or otherwise expressing their dissatisfaction with any particular director or the board as a whole. For the reasons described more fully below, the Board believes it would not be in the best interests of our stockholders to change the method by which directors are elected at this time.
First, this proposal is unnecessary to the achievement of sound corporate governance at the Company. Our directors have consistently received broad stockholder support, typically over 95% of the votes cast. Consequently, this proposal would have had no effect whatsoever on any Board election to date. Even without this proposal, our stockholders have been highly successful in electing responsible, objective directors who have consistently protected the best interests of the stockholders.
Second, we follow a director nomination and election process that gives due regard to stockholder nominees. The Nominating Committee is comprised entirely of independent directors. As described under "Board of DirectorsThe Nominating Committee" above, the Nominating Committee selects candidates for election to the board and considers candidates recommended by stockholders in the same manner as other candidates. Consequently, adoption of this stockholder proposal is not necessary in order to compel or encourage the Board to consider stockholder interests and desires.
Finally, the majority vote system suggested by the proponent is simple in concept, but in practice raises complications under current law. A "failed election"an uncontested election where a director nominee does not achieve a majority of the votes castcould create a variety of outcomes that would either frustrate the goal of providing stockholders a greater voice or cause unintended adverse consequences for the company.
Under Delaware law, a director whose term expires continues to serve as a "holdover director" until his or her successor is elected and qualified. Although not free from doubt, it appears that this holdover rule would apply in the event of a failed election under majority voting. Thus, if the unsuccessful candidate in a failed election is an incumbent, he or she could serve until the end of the next term despite the failed election. If the candidate is not an incumbent, the director position would become vacant and could be filled by the remaining directors acting alone. On the other hand, if the "holdover" rule did not apply, a failed election could create a large number of immediate board vacancies, resulting in unintended consequences such as:
A number of legal scholars, practicing attorneys, corporations, and investors are actively studying these and other issues with majority voting under current laws to determine if there are workable, practical solutions that appropriately balance the interests of the stockholders, corporations, and their board members. For example, in January 2006, a blue-ribbon study committee of the American Bar Association issued a preliminary report recommending against majority
28
voting, largely due to the problems noted above.(1) A study committee of the Delaware Bar Association which will also study this issue has not issued a report. The Board believes it is premature to adopt a majority voting standard until solutions to these problems have been identified and implemented.
In the meantime, the new Governance Principle gives real meaning to a majority "withhold" vote while avoiding the unintended consequences noted above. In an uncontested election, any director who receives a greater number of "withhold" votes than "for" votes is required to promptly tender his or her resignation. The Governance Committee will promptly consider the resignation and will recommend to the Board whether to accept or reject it. Both the Governance Committee and the Board will consider all factors they deem relevant in the exercise of their fiduciary duties, including, without limitation:
The Board will act on the recommendation within 90 days after the vote is certified, unless the action to be taken would cause the Company to fail to meet any applicable requirement of the Securities and Exchange Commission or the New York Stock Exchange. The affected director cannot participate in any part of the process. The Company will disclose the Board's decision on a Form 8-K furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission promptly after the decision, including a full explanation of the process by which the decision was reached and, if applicable, the reasons why the Board rejected the director's resignation.
Although the Board believes that this new approach is the right solution under current law to ensure a meaningful director election process, we will continue to monitor developments in the ongoing debate about majority voting. Accordingly, we recommend you vote against this stockholder proposal.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "AGAINST" THE ADOPTION OF THIS STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL. PROXIES SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL BE SO VOTED UNLESS STOCKHOLDERS SPECIFY OTHERWISE IN THEIR PROXIES.
29
The following table sets forth information regarding compensation we paid during each of the last three years to our Chief Executive Officer and each of our four other most highly compensated executive officers, based on salary and bonus earned during 2005 (the "Named Executives").
Summary Compensation Table
|
|
Annual Compensation |
Long-Term Compensation |
|
|||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name and Principal Position |
Year |
Salary |
Bonus(1) |
Other Annual Compensation |
Restricted Stock Awards(2) |
All Other Compensation(3) |
|||||||||||
David Simon Chief Executive Officer |
2005 2004 2003 |
$ |
800,000 800,000 800,000 |
$ |
|
(4) (4) (4) |
$ |
|
$ |
2,087,000 1,407,250 |
$ |
14,393 14,179 15,718 |
|||||
David C. Bloom(5) Chairman of the Board of Chelsea |
2005 2004 2003 |
$ |
1,000,000 230,769 |
$ |
2,000,000 2,000,000 |
$ |
|
$ |
|
$ |
14,000 812 |
||||||
Richard S. Sokolov President and Chief Operating Officer |
2005 2004 2003 |
$ |
700,000 684,615 600,000 |
$ |
700,000 700,000 500,000 |
$ |
|
$ |
1,669,600 1,211,400 1,125,800 |
$ |
13,385 12,302 23,405 |
||||||
James M. Barkley General Counsel and Secretary |
2005 2004 2003 |
$ |
475,000 465,923 414,154 |
$ |
500,000 450,000 300,000 |
$ |
|
$ |
1,043,500 878,265 562,900 |
$ |
16,445 16,752 23,469 |
||||||
Stephen E. Sterrett Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
2005 2004 2003 |
$ |
450,000 442,308 394,231 |
$ |
475,000 400,000 250,000 |
$ |
|
$ |
1,043,500 878,265 562,900 |
$ |
15,710 15,739 19,345 |
30
Option Exercises and Year-End Values
The following table sets forth information with respect to the unexercised stock options granted to Named Executives and held by them at December 31, 2005.
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN 2005 AND DECEMBER 31, 2005 OPTION VALUES
|
|
|
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options at December 31, 2005 |
Value of Unexercised In-the-Money Options at December 31, 2005 (1) |
|||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name |
Shares Acquired on Exercise |
Value Realized |
Exercisable |
Unexercisable |
Exercisable |
Unexercisable |
|||||||||
David Simon | | $ | | 350,000 | | $ | 18,041,528 | $ | | ||||||
David C. Bloom |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
||||||
Richard S. Sokolov |
|
$ |
|
150,000 |
|
$ |
7,770,185 |
$ |
|
||||||
James M. Barkley |
20,000 |
$ |
958,726 |
10,000 |
|
$ |
510,900 |
$ |
|
||||||
Stephen E. Sterrett |
10,000 |
$ |
511,224 |
10,000 |
|
$ |
510,900 |
$ |
|
Employment Agreements
Employment Agreement with David C. Bloom. In connection with our acquisition of Chelsea Property Group, Inc. ("Chelsea"), Chelsea entered into an employment agreement with David C. Bloom which was subsequently amended on November 1, 2004 and January 1, 2006. The agreement has a term which ends on December 31, 2006. The agreement provides for an annual base salary, beginning January 1, 2006, of $500,000, subject to increase at the discretion of Chelsea's board. For the 2006 calendar year, Mr. Bloom is also eligible to earn an annual bonus at the recommendation of our Chief Executive Officer. Prior to the January 1, 2006 amendment, the agreement provided for an annual base salary of $1,000,000, and entitled Mr. Bloom to receive a bonus of up to 200% of his base salary based upon the satisfaction of performance goals tied to Chelsea's five year performance plan. The agreement further provides that if Mr. Bloom's employment terminates for any reason, he will be entitled to receive any accrued but unpaid base salary, bonus, unused vacation and unreimbursed expenses. If Mr. Bloom's employment is terminated by Chelsea without cause or by Mr. Bloom for good reason at any time prior to December 31, 2006, he will be entitled to (a) continuation of his base salary until December 31, 2006, (b) three times his average annual bonus for the two calendar years prior to the year in which the termination of employment occurs reduced by any bonus actually paid to him with respect to calendar years 2004, 2005 and 2006 and (c) the continuation of health benefits for not more than two years.
Mr. Bloom has agreed not to compete with Chelsea in the management, operation or acquisition of shopping centers (including outlet malls) until (a) December 31, 2016, if (i) his employment is terminated by Chelsea without cause, by him for good reason, due to his disability or upon the expiration of the term of his employment agreement and (ii) he continues to receive the annuity payments described below or (b) two years following the termination of his employment by Chelsea for cause or by him without good reason. In partial consideration for the non-competition covenant of Mr. Bloom, Chelsea purchased a $15,000,000 annuity for Mr. Bloom, with amounts
31
payable in at least annual installments ratably over a period of 10 years beginning in 2007 as discussed below. The annuity is owned by Chelsea, with the Company as the primary beneficiary. If Mr. Bloom is terminated by Chelsea without cause or resigns for good reason or upon expiration of the term on December 31, 2006, he will be entitled to receive the payments under the annuity beginning in 2007 and the continuation of health benefits for not more than two years. If Mr. Bloom's employment is terminated by Chelsea for cause, by Mr. Bloom without good reason or due to death or disability (under certain circumstances) prior to December 31, 2006, he will forfeit his rights to any annuity payments, and Chelsea shall become entitled to payments under the annuity. In addition, if after payments begin under the annuity Mr. Bloom violates his non-competition covenant, Chelsea shall have the right to cause him to forfeit any remaining annuity payments.
Employment Agreement with Richard S. Sokolov. Richard S. Sokolov is a party to an employment agreement with us (the "Sokolov Agreement"). The Sokolov Agreement has an initial term which ended August 9, 1997 and provides for automatic one-year extensions of the term unless either party gives the other party notice that the term will not be extended. The Sokolov Agreement has been extended to August 9, 2006. Under the Sokolov Agreement, Mr. Sokolov receives an annual base salary currently of $700,000, subject to annual review and adjustment, and is eligible to receive a cash bonus of up to 150% of his base salary as determined by the Compensation Committee.
The severance provisions in the Sokolov Agreement provide that, in the event Mr. Sokolov is terminated by us other than for "Cause", death or disability, or by Mr. Sokolov for "Good Reason" (as those terms are defined in the Sokolov Agreement), we will pay Mr. Sokolov an amount equal to the sum of all accrued and unpaid base salary plus one-year's then current base salary and bonus, and accelerate the vesting of his earned restricted stock awards.
Stock Incentive Plan
Under the 1998 Plan, a maximum of 11,300,000 shares (subject to adjustment) are available for issuance to eligible officers, key employees, Eligible Directors, advisors and consultants for positions of substantial responsibilities with the Company. All officers, key employees, advisors and consultants of the Company and our affiliates (except for Melvin Simon and Herbert Simon) and all Eligible Directors are eligible to receive grants under and participate in the 1998 Plan. In addition, Eligible Directors receive automatic grants of restricted stock.
The 1998 Plan provides broad discretion to the Compensation Committee to determine recipients and amounts of awards which may take the form of Options, SARs, performance units and restricted stock. To date the Compensation Committee has only granted options and restricted stock. The Compensation Committee has not granted any Options since 2001.
As indicated in the Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation, for several years the Compensation Committee has created a stock incentive program under the 1998 Plan which consists of grants of restricted stock that are earned and awarded if performance-based goals established for that year's program are met.
During 2005 we created a one-year stock incentive program under the 1998 Plan in which shares of performance-based restricted stock were allocated to executive officers and employees. Restricted shares allocated under the 2005 stock incentive program were earned and awarded in February 2006 because the Company attained specified annual target and "stretch" goals for 2005 related to the following performance measures: Funds From Operations per share, the Morgan Stanley REIT Index (RMS) and the S&P 500 Index. 112,500 shares were awarded to 8 executive officers and employees on February 21, 2006. The earned and awarded restricted shares vest in four equal annual installments beginning January 1, 2007. The participant must continue to be employed on the day prior to the vesting date to receive the earned and awarded restricted shares. Participants are entitled to vote and receive distributions with respect to the earned and awarded restricted shares.
The terms and conditions of grants under the 1998 Plan are set out in written agreements which
32
contain such provisions as the Compensation Committee from time to time deems appropriate.
For more information regarding the 1998 Plan and the proposed amendment thereto to be considered at the Meeting, see "Item 2Approval of Amendment to 1998 Stock Incentive Plan."
Incentive Bonus Program
The incentive bonus program is intended to provide senior executives and key employees with opportunities to earn cash incentives based upon the performance of the Company, the participant's business unit and the individual participant. The Company budgets bonus dollars each year based upon its targeted performance and the Company's overall budget is approved each year by the Board. Certain "stretch" levels of performance are also identified at the beginning of each year which may justify higher payments under the bonus program, but those will only be paid out to the extent the Company's performance exceeds its budget. Each participant's bonus award for the year is expressed as a percentage of base salary, a fixed dollar amount, or a percentage of the available incentive pool. The bonus opportunities for some senior executives are based upon objective performance criteria such as achievement of certain levels of EBITDA and/or specific performance objectives relative to their primary areas of responsibility. The bonus criteria for other senior executives are discretionary in nature. Where an executive's bonus criteria are objective and based upon clearly identified formulas, the calculation of that executive's bonus is reviewed with the Committee each year. Where the bonus opportunities of a senior executive are determined on a discretionary basis, the Committee makes the final determination of any bonus dollars paid to that executive. Bonus amounts for each year are determined in the following February with disbursement in March. The incentive bonus program is not set forth in a formal document.
Deferred Compensation Plan
We have a non-qualified deferred compensation plan (the "Deferred Compensation Plan") that provides deferred compensation to certain executives and key employees. Under the Deferred Compensation Plan, a participant may defer all or a part of his compensation. We, at our discretion, may contribute a matching amount equal to a rate selected by us, and an additional incentive contribution amount on such terms as we may specify; although, to date, the Company has made no discretionary contributions to the Deferred Compensation Plan. All participant deferrals and matching and incentive contributions are credited to a participant's account. A participant's elective deferrals are fully vested. Except in the case of death or disability of the participant or insolvency or a change in control of the Company, a participant becomes vested in matching and incentive contributions 20% after one year of service and an additional 20% for each year thereafter. Upon death or disability of the participant or insolvency or a change in control of the Company, a participant becomes 100% vested in his account.
All contributions under the Deferred Compensation Plan are deposited in what is commonly referred to as a "rabbi trust" arrangement pursuant to which the assets of the trust are subject to the claims of our general creditors in the event of our insolvency. The trust assets are invested by the trustee in its sole discretion. Payments of a participant's elective deferrals and vested matching contributions are made as elected by the participant. These amounts would be paid earlier in the event of termination of employment or death of the participant, an unforeseen emergency affecting the participant or a change in control of the Company. During 2005, the following Named Executives participated in, but did not receive distributions from, the Deferred Compensation Plan: David Simon, James M. Barkley and Stephen E. Sterrett.
33
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
General Principles
In setting compensation of executive officers, the Compensation Committee employs a pay-for-performance philosophy. We intend to link executive compensation with the Company's performance and stockholder return and to reward executives for results that meet or exceed key goals set for the Company. This is described further below under "2005 Executive Officer Compensation."
We establish base salaries of executive officers at levels which are competitive in relation to comparable real estate investment trusts ("REITs"). In addition, we provide executive officers with opportunities for significant additional compensation through programs which are linked directly to Company performance.
In making compensation decisions, we consider all elements of executive compensation in total rather than any one element in isolation. We compare these compensation elements to those of comparable REITs which we consider to be the Company's peer group. In establishing the peer group, we do not base our decisions on quantitative relative weights of various factors or any mathematical formula. Rather, we exercise our discretion and make our judgments after considering the factors described above and elsewhere in this report.
In 2005, we retained an independent compensation consultant to provide advice on executive compensation matters. The consultant assessed the competitiveness of the Company's executive compensation program compared to a peer group of fifteen REITs and information from third party surveys including base salaries, annual bonuses and the present value of long-term incentives. The consultant continues to assist us in evaluating existing and developing new programs and approaches to executive compensation.
2005 CEO Compensation
David Simon, the CEO of the Company, is not a party to any employment agreement, change in control benefit or other severance arrangement. David Simon was paid a base salary of $800,000 for 2005. In addition, Mr. Simon was awarded 25,000 shares of restricted common stock under the Company's 2005 stock incentive program. We provided Mr. Simon with a cash bonus opportunity tied to his and the Company's performance in 2005. Based on the criteria we approved, he would have been entitled to receive a cash bonus of up to 150% of his base salary. Notwithstanding his and the Company's 2005 performance, Mr. Simon requested that he receive no cash bonus.
Based on information provided by our consultant, we believe that David Simon's total compensation in 2005, without a cash bonus, was in the 19th percentile for (or lower than 81% of chief executive officers of) our peer group of 15 REITs.
We reviewed all of the elements of Mr. Simon's compensation for 2005, including base salary, bonus opportunities, and realized gains and accumulated unrealized values on stock-based awards. Based on that review, we agreed to Mr. Simon's request that he not receive a cash bonus, and determined that his compensation, in the aggregate, was reasonable.
2005 Executive Officer Compensation
The Company compensates executive officers through four principal elements, the third and fourth of which are intended to link additional compensation directly to Company stock performance.
34
Officer. We determined that no adjustments to executive base salaries were necessary.
We believe that each element of the Company's executive compensation program assists the Company in attracting and retaining results-oriented individuals and motivating them to achieve levels of performance which are consistent with the performance goals of the Company and its stockholders.
Executive Equity Ownership Guidelines
The Company believes that the financial interests of its executives should be aligned with those of its stockholders. Accordingly, the Board of Directors has established equity ownership guidelines for certain key executives, including the Named Executives. The current ownership guidelines are as follows:
Position |
Value as a Multiple of Base Salary |
|
---|---|---|
Chief Executive Officer | 4.0 | |
President and/or Chief Operating Officer | 3.0 | |
Executive Vice Presidents who are heads of significant disciplines within the Company | 2.0 | |
Chief Financial Officer | 2.0 | |
General Counsel/Secretary | 2.0 | |
Treasurer | 2.0 |
In addition, these executive officers are required to retain ownership of a sufficient number of shares received from restricted stock awards under the 1998 Plan which represents at least 50% of the after-tax value of such award or 25% of the pre-tax value of such award until such executive retires, dies, becomes disabled or is no longer employed by the Company.
Ownership of any class of equity securities of the Company or the Operating Partnership counts toward fulfillment of these guidelines, including securities held directly, securities held indirectly by or for the benefit of immediate family members, shares of restricted stock that have been earned and awarded, even if not vested, and shares held following the exercise of stock options. Unexercised stock options do not count toward these goals. Each
35
of the Named Executives meets or exceeds these guidelines.
Compliance with Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code
Section 162(m) of the Code disallows a federal income tax deduction to publicly held companies for certain compensation paid to its named executive officers to the extent the compensation exceeds $1 million per executive officer covered by Section 162(m) in any fiscal year. The limitation applies only to compensation that is not considered "performance-based" as defined in Section 162(m) rules. Historically, compensation paid to the Named Executives has not been subject to any Section 162(m) limitations on deductibility.
In designing the Company's compensation programs and practices, we will carefully consider the effect of Section 162(m) together with other factors relevant to the Company's business needs. To the extent that compensation is required to and does not qualify for deduction under Section 162(m), a larger portion of stockholder distributions may be subject to federal income tax as ordinary income rather than return of capital, and any such compensation allocated to the Company's taxable REIT subsidiaries whose income is subject to federal income tax would result in an increase in income taxes due to the inability to deduct such compensation.
In 2005, the only impact of 162(m) was to make that portion of Mr. Sokolov's base salary and bonus in excess of $1 million non-deductible.
We intend to engage our consultant to develop a cash bonus plan for certain executive officers with appropriate performance criteria so that bonuses paid to such executive officers will qualify for deduction under 162(m). We will also to take any other actions, to the extent we believe desirable, to preserve the deductibility of future compensation. However, we have not adopted a policy that all compensation paid must be tax-deductible and qualified under Section 162(m).
The Compensation Committee:
Melvyn E. Bergstein, Chairman
Linda Walker Bynoe
Karen N. Horn, Ph.D.
Reuben S. Leibowitz
Fredrick W. Petri
36
PERFORMANCE GRAPHTOTAL RETURN
The following line graph compares the percentage change in the cumulative total shareholder return on our Common shares from December 31, 2000 through December 31, 2005 as compared to the cumulative total return of the S&P 500 Index and the NAREIT Equity REIT Index for the period December 31, 2000 through December 31, 2005. The graph assumes an investment of $100 on December 31, 2000, a reinvestment of dividends and actual increase in the market value of the Common shares relative to an initial investment of $100. The comparisons in this table are required by the SEC and are not intended to forecast or be indicative of possible future performance of the Common shares.
37
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
The following table gives information about the Common that may be issued upon the exercise of options, warrants and rights under our existing equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2005.
Plan Category |
A Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights (#) |
B Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights ($) |
C Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (A)) (#) |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders (1) | 1,565,422 | (2) | $ | 30.33 | 4,682,305 | (3) | ||
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders | | | | |||||
Total | 1,565,422 | $ | 30.33 | 4,682,305 |
38
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
No member of the Compensation Committee during 2005 was an officer, employee or former officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or had any relationship requiring disclosure herein pursuant to SEC regulations. No executive officer of the Company served as a member of a compensation committee or a director of another entity under circumstances requiring disclosure herein pursuant to SEC regulations.
Transactions with the Simons
In 1993, we entered into noncompetition agreements with Melvin Simon, Herbert Simon and David Simon (collectively, the "Simons"), all of whom are our executive officers. Pursuant to such agreements and except as set forth below, Melvin Simon and Herbert Simon are prohibited from engaging in the shopping center business in North America other than through the Company or as passive investors until the date that they are no longer our directors or officers, and David Simon is prohibited from engaging in the shopping center business in North America other than through the Company and, with certain exceptions, for two years thereafter if he resigns or is terminated for cause. These restrictions will not prohibit Melvin Simon, Herbert Simon or David Simon from owning an interest in the properties in which the Simons previously owned an interest that were not contributed to our predecessor in 1993 (the "Excluded Properties"). It is anticipated that such commitments will not, in the aggregate, involve a material amount of time, but no assurance can be given in this regard. In addition, Melvin Simon and Herbert Simon may pursue other investment activities in which they are currently engaged.
The Simons continue to own, in whole or in part, the Excluded Properties. M.S. Management Associates, Inc. (the "Management Company") has entered into management agreements with the partnerships that hold the Excluded Properties, some of which agreements were not negotiated on an arms-length basis. Management believes, however, that the terms of such management agreements are fair to the Company.
Companies owned by MSA and David Simon, respectively, are reimbursed by the Company for business use of aircraft owned and operated by such entities. In addition, the Company provides MSA with office space and other support services in exchange for MSA's payment to the Company for the cost of those services. In 2005, MSA paid the Company $750,000 as MSA's share of the cost of services provided by the Company which includes a credit for the cost of the Company's use of aircraft owned by MSA's subsidiaries during the same period. David Simon's company was reimbursed $373,160 for Company business use of that aircraft in 2005. The Company's reimbursement for aircraft use is based upon a below market hourly cost of operating each of the aircraft in question and the verified number of hours of Company use, plus reimbursement for certain out-of-pocket expenses. These payments and reimbursements were reviewed and approved by the Audit Committee.
During January 2006, we resolved certain aspects of the litigation commenced by Triple Five of Minnesota, Inc. ("Triple Five") against, among others, the Simons and entities controlled by them and Simon Property Group L.P. Pursuant to the original court order, in August 2004 Triple Five purchased from us one-half of the partnership interest in Mall of America that we had purchased in October 1999 from a third party. On appeal, the appellate court required that this partnership interest whichTriple Five acquired from us must instead be offered, for the same price, to Mall of America Associates, a general partnership in which Triple Five and an entity affiliated with the Simon family are 50/50 partners ("MOAA"). On January 18, 2006, Triple Five transferred to MOAA the partnership interest it acquired from us in August 2004, for a purchase price of approximately $23.1 million. The purchase price was financed with a new credit facility secured by distributions payable to MOAA's partners. In connection with the resolution of this matter, the Simon family transferred, under certain circumstances, the right to receive cash flow distributions and capital transaction proceeds attributable to one-half of the partnership interest that MOAA acquired from Triple Five, subject to the new credit facility, to Simon Property Group, L.P.
39
The Simon family did not transfer its partnership interest in MOAA to Simon Property Group, L.P., and the Simon family retains the right to make all decisions regarding that partnership interest. This transaction was approved by our Independent Directors (as defined below).
Our Charter requires that at least a majority of our directors be neither employees of the Company nor members or affiliates of members of the Simon family (including Melvin Simon, Herbert Simon, David Simon, members of the immediate family of any of the foregoing, other lineal descendants of any of the foregoing, estates of any of the foregoing, trusts established for the benefit of any of the foregoing or entities controlled by any of the foregoing) or the DeBartolo family (including the Estate of Edward J. DeBartolo, Sr., Edward J. DeBartolo, Jr., Marie Denise DeBartolo York, members of the immediate family of any of the foregoing, estates of any of the foregoing, trusts established for the benefit of any of the foregoing or entities controlled by any of the foregoing) ("Independent Directors"). Our Charter further requires that transactions involving the Company, individually or in its capacity as general partner of the Operating Partnership, in which any member or affiliate of any member of the Simon family or the DeBartolo family has an interest must, in addition to any other vote that may be required, be approved in advance by a majority of the Independent Directors.
Other Transactions
Some of the limited partners of the Operating Partnership guarantee a portion of the mortgage debt obligations on certain properties through foreclosure guarantees. In each case, the loans were made by unrelated third party institutional lenders and the guarantees are for the benefit of each lender. In the event of foreclosure of the mortgaged property, the proceeds from the sale of the property are first applied against the amount of the guarantee and also reduce the amount payable under the guarantee. To the extent the sale proceeds from the disposal of the property do not cover the amount of the guarantee, then the limited partner is liable to pay the difference between the sale proceeds and the amount of the guarantee so that the entire amount guaranteed to the lender is satisfied. The debt is non-recourse to the Operating Partnership and its affiliates. The following directors, executive officers and beneficial owners of more than 5% of any class of our voting securities have guaranteed the indicated amounts: Edward J. DeBartolo, Jr., NID Corporation, directly or indirectly, members of the DeBartolo family, trusts established for the benefit of members of the DeBartolo family or entities in which the foregoing persons hold interests$123,539,163; M. Denise DeBartolo York$12,000,000; and MSA, wholly owned subsidiaries of MSA, Melvin Simon, Herbert Simon, David Simon and members of the Simon family$163,150,613.
Birch Bayh is a partner in the law firm of Venerable LLP which provided legal services to the Company during 2005. We expect to engage Venerable LLP to provide services in 2006. The payments we have made and expect to make to this firm have not and are not expected to affect Mr. Bayh's status as "independent" as defined in our Governance Principles and the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange.
Our Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2005, including financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, and their report thereon, is being mailed with this Proxy Statement. In addition, a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, will be sent to any stockholder, without charge (except for exhibits, if requested, for which a reasonable fee will be charged), upon written request to Shelly J. Doran, Vice President of Investor Relations, Simon Property Group, Inc., P.O. Box 7033, Indianapolis, Indiana 46207. Our Form 10-K is also available and may be accessed free of charge through the About Simon/Investor Relations/Other Financial Reports section of our internet website, www.simon.com.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS AT
2007 ANNUAL MEETING
The date by which we must receive stockholder proposals for inclusion in the proxy materials
40
relating to the 2007 annual meeting of stockholders, or for presentation at such meeting, is December 4, 2006. In the event that the 2007 annual meeting of stockholders is called for a date that is not within 30 days before or after May 11, 2007, in order to be timely, we must receive notice by the stockholder not later than the close of business on the later of 120 calendar days in advance of the 2007 annual meeting of stockholders or ten calendar days following the date on which public announcement of the date of the meeting is first made. Stockholder proposals must comply with all of the applicable requirements set forth in the rules and regulations of the SEC, including Rule 14a-8, as well as the advance notification requirements set forth in our By-Laws. A copy of the advance notification requirements may be obtained from James M. Barkley, General Counsel and Secretary, Simon Property Group, Inc., 115 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204.
41
Appendix A
SIMON PROPERTY GROUP, INC.
CATEGORICAL STANDARDS OF DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
At least a majority of the Board of Directors shall be independent at all times, although it is the Board's goal that at least two-thirds of the Directors will be independent under the rules established by the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"). The NYSE rules define Director independence as requiring a board determination that a Director does not have any direct or indirect material relationship with the Company. In accordance with the NYSE rules, the Board has established the following guidelines to assist it in determining Director independence:
A-1
A-2
Appendix B
SIMON PROPERTY GROUP, L.P.
1998 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
(As Proposed to Be Amended May 11, 2006)
SIMON PROPERTY GROUP, L.P.
1998 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
(As Proposed to Be Amended May 11, 2006)
|
|
|
Page Number |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ARTICLE 1 GENERAL | B-1 | ||||
1.1 | Purpose | B-1 | |||
1.2 | Administration | B-1 | |||
1.3 | Persons Eligible for Awards | B-1 | |||
1.4 | Types of Awards Under Plan | B-1 | |||
1.5 | Shares Available for Awards | B-2 | |||
1.6 | Definitions of Certain Terms | B-3 | |||
1.7 | Agreements Evidencing Awards | B-3 | |||
ARTICLE 2 STOCK OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS |
B-4 |
||||
2.1 | Grants of Stock Options | B-4 | |||
2.2 | Grant of Reload Options | B-4 | |||
2.3 | Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights | B-4 | |||
2.4 | Exercise of Related Stock Appreciation Right Reduces Shares Subject to Option | B-5 | |||
2.5 | Exercisability of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights | B-5 | |||
2.6 | Payment of Option Price | B-6 | |||
2.7 | Termination of Service | B-7 | |||
2.8 | Special ISO Requirements | B-8 | |||
ARTICLE 3 AWARDS OTHER THAN STOCK OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS |
B-8 |
||||
3.1 | Restricted Stock Awards | B-8 | |||
3.2 | Common Stock Awards | B-9 | |||
3.3 | Performance Units | B-9 | |||
ARTICLE 4 GRANTS OF RESTRICTED STOCK TO ELIGIBLE DIRECTORS |
B-10 |
||||
4.1 | Grants to Eligible Directors | B-10 | |||
4.2 | Amount of Grants | B-10 | |||
4.3 | Terms of Restricted Stock Awards | B-11 | |||
4.4 | Change of Control | B-11 | |||
4.5 | Deferred Delivery; Reinvestment of Dividends | B-11 | |||
ARTICLE 5 MISCELLANEOUS |
B-11 |
||||
5.1 | Amendment of the Plan; Modification of Awards | B-11 | |||
5.2 | Limitation on Exercise | B-12 | |||
5.3 | Restrictions | B-12 | |||
5.4 | Nontransferability | B-12 | |||
5.5 | Withholding Taxes | B-12 | |||
5.6 | Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalizations | B-13 | |||
5.7 | Right of Discharge Reserved | B-13 | |||
5.8 | No Rights as a Stockholder | B-13 | |||
5.9 | Nature of Payments | B-13 | |||
5.10 | Non-Uniform Determinations | B-14 | |||
5.11 | Other Payments or Awards | B-14 | |||
5.12 | Reorganization | B-14 | |||
5.13 | Section Headings | B-14 | |||
5.14 | Effective Date and Term of Plan | B-15 | |||
5.15 | Governing Law | B-15 | |||
5.16 | Repricing of Options | B-15 |
ii
SIMON PROPERTY GROUP, L.P.
1998 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
(As Proposed to Be Amended May 11, 2006)
The purpose of this 1998 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan") is to provide for certain key personnel (as defined in Section 1.3) of Simon Property Group, L.P. (the "Partnership") and certain of its Affiliates (as defined in Section 1.6) an equity-based incentive to maintain and enhance the performance and profitability of the Partnership and Simon Property Group, Inc. (the "Company"). It is intended that awards granted under this Plan may provide performance-based compensation within the meaning of section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), to the extent applicable.
Awards under Articles 2 and 3 of the Plan may be made to such officers, employee-directors, Eligible Directors, executive, managerial, professional or other employees, advisors and consultants ("key personnel") of the Partnership or its Affiliates, other than Melvin Simon and Herbert Simon, as the Committee shall from time to time in its sole discretion select. Eligible Directors shall also receive awards as provided in Article 4 of the Plan.
B-1
B-2
B-3
STOCK OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
The Committee may grant options to purchase shares of Common Stock in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall from time to time in its sole discretion determine, subject to the terms of the Plan; provided, however, that the maximum number of shares subject to all awards granted to any Plan participant pursuant to the Plan shall not exceed 600,000 in any calendar year.
The Committee may, subject to Sections 1.5 and 2.1, grant a Reload Option to any grantee holding an unexercised option. For purposes of the Plan. a "Reload Option" shall mean an option to purchase a number of shares of Common Stock granted in connection with the exercise of the grantee's option (the "Exercised Options") upon the payment of the option exercise price for such Exercised Option with shares of Common Stock that have a fair market value equal to not less than 100% of the option exercise price for such Exercised Option. The Reload Option with respect to an Exercised Option shall be for a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of shares of Common Stock tendered to exercise the Exercised Option plus, if so provided by the Committee, the number of shares of Common Stock, if any, retained by the Partnership in connection with the exercise of the Exercised Option to satisfy any federal, state, or local tax withholding requirements. Reload options shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:
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Plan, but only to the extent that such option is then exercisable, and to be paid therefor an amount equal to the excess (if any) of (i) the aggregate fair market value of the shares of Common Stock subject to such option or portion thereof (determined as of the date of exercise of such stock appreciation right), over (ii) the aggregate appreciation base (determined pursuant to Section 1.7(e)) of the shares of Common Stock subject to such stock appreciation right or portion thereof.
Upon any exercise of a related stock appreciation right or any portion thereof, the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the related option shall be reduced by the number of shares of Common Stock in respect of which such stock appreciation right shall have been exercised.
Subject to the other provisions of the Plan:
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For purposes of the Plan, "termination of service" means, in the case of an employee, the termination of the employment relationship between the employee and the Partnership and all Affiliates; and in the case of an individual who is not an employee, the termination of the service relationship between the individual and the Partnership and all Affiliates. Subject to the other provisions of the Plan and unless the applicable Plan agreement otherwise provides:
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In order for a grantee to receive special tax treatment with respect to stock acquired under an option intended to be an incentive stock option, the grantee of such option must be, at all times during the period beginning on the date of grant and ending on the day three months before the date of exercise of such option, an employee of the Company or any of the Company's parent or subsidiary corporations (within the meaning of Code section 424), or of a corporation or a parent or subsidiary corporation of such corporation issuing or assuming a stock option in a transaction to which Code section 424(a) applies. The aggregate fair market value, determined as of the date an option is granted, of the Common Stock for which any grantee may be awarded incentive stock options which are first exercisable by the grantee during any calendar year under the Plan (and any other stock option plan to be taken into account under Code section 422(d)) shall not exceed $100,000. If an option granted under the Plan is intended to be an incentive stock option, and if the grantee, at the time of grant, owns stock possessing 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the grantee's employer corporation or of its parent or subsidiary corporation, then (i) the option exercise price per share shall in no event be less than 110% of the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of such grant and (ii) such option shall not be exercisable after the expiration of five years after the date such option is granted.
AWARDS OTHER THAN STOCK OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
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the Partnership or any Affiliate, upon the attainment of specified Performance Goals within specified Performance Cycles, and/or upon such other criteria as the Committee may determine in its sole discretion.
The Committee may issue awards under the Plan, payable in Common Stock, including, but not limited to awards of Common Stock equal to dividends declared on Common Stock, alone or in tandem with other awards, in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall from time to time in its sole discretion determine. Such Common Stock awards under the Plan shall relate to a specified maximum number of shares granted as, or in payment of, a bonus, or to provide incentives or recognize special achievements or contributions.
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in value thereto) in up to an amount equal to the fair market value of an equal number of unrestricted shares, at the end of a specified Performance Cycle as may be established by the Committee. The number of such shares which may be deliverable pursuant to such performance unit shall be based upon the degree of attainment of Performance Goals over a Performance Cycle as may be established by the Committee. The Committee may provide for full or partial credit, prior to completion of such Performance Cycle or achievement of the degree of attainment of the Performance Goals specified in connection with such performance unit, in the event of the participant's death, normal retirement, early retirement, or total or permanent disability, or in such other circumstances as the Committee may determine in its sole discretion to be fair and equitable to the participant or in the interest of the Partnership and its Affiliates.
GRANTS OF RESTRICTED STOCK TO ELIGIBLE DIRECTORS
Effective May 11, 2006, each Eligible Director of the Company shall be granted restricted stock awards in accordance with this Article 4.
Each person who serves as an Eligible Director shall receive the following awards of restricted stock:
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In the event of a Change of Control prior to the date a restricted stock award granted under this Article 4 fully vests, all shares of restricted stock not previously vested shall become immediately vested and deferred pursuant to Section 4.5. For this purpose, a "Change of Control" shall mean (i) a merger or consolidation of the Company with another corporation, whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation, where there is a change in the rights, preferences or control of outstanding shares of Common Stock by reason of such merger or consolidation, (ii) an acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company by another person, or (iii) a reorganization or liquidation of the Company.
Upon vesting, the delivery of the shares of Common Stock underlying any restricted stock awards shall be deferred in accordance with the terms of the Director Deferred Compensation Plan until an Eligible Director's service as a director of the Company terminates. During the deferral period, all cash dividends payable with respect to such shares of Common Stock shall be reinvested in shares of Common Stock pursuant to terms of the Company's Dividend Reinvestment Plan and delivery of any such shares shall also be deferred pursuant to the Director Deferred Compensation Plan.
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Furthermore, shareholder approval of any Plan amendment shall be obtained in such a manner and to such a degree as is required by applicable law or regulation.
No option or stock appreciation right shall be exercisable to the extent that such exercise will cause the Partnership or any Affiliate to pay any amount which would be nondeductible by the Partnership or such Affiliate by reason of Code section 162(m).
Except as expressly authorized by the Committee in the Plan agreement, no award granted to any grantee under the Plan shall be assignable or transferable by the grantee other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and during the lifetime of the grantee, all rights with respect to any option or stock appreciation right granted to the grantee under the Plan shall be exercisable only by the grantee.
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otherwise), the Partnership may, as a condition of its payment, deduct therefrom, or from any salary or other payments due to the grantee, an amount sufficient to satisfy all federal, state and other governmental withholding tax requirements related thereto or to the delivery of any shares of Common Stock under the Plan.
If and to the extent specified by the Committee, the number of shares of Common Stock which may be issued pursuant to awards under the Plan, the number of shares of Common Stock subject to awards, the option exercise price and appreciation base of options and stock appreciation rights theretofore granted under the Plan, and the amount payable by a grantee in respect of an award, shall be appropriately adjusted (as the Committee may determine) for any change in the number of issued shares of Common Stock resulting from the subdivision or combination of shares of Common Stock or other capital adjustments, or the payment of a stock dividend after the effective date of the Plan, or other change in such shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company; provided that any awards covering fractional shares of Common Stock resulting from any such adjustment shall be eliminated and provided further, that each incentive stock option granted under the Plan shall not be adjusted in a manner that causes such option to fail to continue to qualify as an "incentive stock option" within the meaning of Code section 422. Adjustments under this Section shall be made by the Committee, whose determination as to what adjustments shall be made, and the extent thereof, shall be final, binding and conclusive.
Nothing in the Plan or in any Plan agreement shall confer upon any person the right to continue in the service of the Partnership or any Affiliate or affect any right which the Partnership or any Affiliate may have to terminate the service of such person.
No grantee or other person shall have any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to shares subject to an award until the issuance of a stock certificate to him for such shares. Except as otherwise provided in Section 5.6, no adjustment shall be made for dividends, distributions or other rights (whether ordinary or extraordinary, and whether in cash, securities or other property) for which the record date is prior to the date such stock certificate is issued. In the case of a grantee of an award which has not yet vested, the grantee shall have the rights of a stockholder of the Company if and only to the extent provided in the applicable Plan agreement.
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The Committee's determinations under the Plan need not be uniform and may be made by it selectively among persons who receive, or are eligible to receive, awards under the Plan (whether or not such persons are similarly situated). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee shall be entitled, among other things, to make non-uniform and selective determinations, and to enter into non-uniform and selective Plan agreements, as to (a) the persons to receive awards under the Plan, (b) the terms and provisions of awards under the Plan, (c) the exercise by the Committee of its discretion in respect of the exercise of stock appreciation rights pursuant to the terms of the Plan, and (d) the treatment of leaves of absence pursuant to Section 2.7(c).
Nothing contained in the Plan shall be deemed in any way to limit or restrict the Partnership, any Affiliate or the Committee from making any award or payment to any person under any other plan, arrangement or understanding, whether now existing or hereafter in effect.
The section headings contained herein are for the purposes of convenience only and are not intended to define or limit the contents of said sections.
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THE PLAN SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN SUCH STATE.
Nothing in this Plan shall permit the repricing of any outstanding options other than (a) with the prior approval of the Company's stockholders, or (b) pursuant to Section 5.6. The foregoing restriction shall also apply to any other transaction which would be treated as a repricing of outstanding options under generally accepted accounting principles.
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Printed on recycled paper |
PROXY SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
SIMON PROPERTY GROUP, INC.
For use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be
Held on May 11, 2006
The undersigned holder of shares of common stock of Simon Property Group, Inc. hereby appoints Herbert Simon and David Simon, and each of them, with power of substitution to each, to vote all shares of common stock which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held at the Hyatt Regency Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana on May 11, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. (Indianapolis time) and at every adjournment or postponement thereof and otherwise to represent the undersigned at the meeting with all powers possessed by the undersigned if present at the meeting, hereby revoking all prior proxies on the matters set forth, as indicated on the reverse side. The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and of the accompanying Proxy Statement.
This proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned stockholder. If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted FOR the election of the nominees in proposal 1, FOR the proposed amendment to the Stock Incentive Plan in proposal 2, FOR the ratification of the appointment in proposal 3 and AGAINST proposal 4.
(Continued and to be marked, dated and signed, on the other side)
Address Change/Comments (Mark the corresponding box on the reverse side)
/*\ FOLD AND DETACH HERE /*\
You can now access your Simon Property Group, Inc. account online.
Access your Simon Property Group, Inc. shareholder account online via Investor ServiceDirect® (ISD).
Mellon Investor Services LLC, Transfer Agent for Simon Property Group, Inc. now makes it easy and convenient to get current information on your shareholder account.
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View account status |
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View payment history for dividends |
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| View certificate history | | Make address changes | |
| View book-entry information | | Obtain a duplicate 1099 tax form | |
| Establish/change your PIN |
Visit us on the web at http://www.melloninvestor.com
For Technical Assistance Call 1-877-978-7778 between 9am-7pm
Monday-Friday Eastern Time
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The Board of Directors recommends a vote "FOR" proposals 1, 2 and 3, and "AGAINST" proposal 4. | Please | |||||||||||||
Mark Here | o | |||||||||||||
for Address Change or Comments |
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SEE REVERSE SIDE | ||||||||||||||
FOR | WITHHOLD FOR ALL |
FOR | AGAINST | ABSTAIN | ||||||||||
1. Election of Directors | o | o | 2. Approval of proposed amendment to Stock Incentive Plan. | o | o | o | 5. In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other matters (none known at the time of this proxy) as may properly come before the annual meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. | |||||||
Nominees: (01) Birch Bayh (02) Melvyn E. Bergstein (03) Linda Walker Bynoe (04) Karen N. Horn (05) Reuben S. Leibowitz (06) J. Albert Smith, Jr. (07) Pieter S. van den Berg |
3. Ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for 2006. |
FOR o |
AGAINST o |
ABSTAIN o |
Choose MLinkSM for fast, easy and secure 24/7 online access to your future proxy materials, investment plan statements, tax documents and more. Simply log on to Investor ServiceDirect® at www.melloninvestor.com/isd where step-by-step instructions will prompt you through enrollment. |
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4. To consider and vote on a stockholder proposal. | FOR o |
AGAINST o |
ABSTAIN o |
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VOTE FOR, except withhold from the following numbered nominee(s): |
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SIGNATURE |
SIGNATURE |
DATE |
NOTE: Please sign as name appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such.
/*\ FOLD AND DETACH HERE /*\
Vote by Internet or Telephone or Mail
24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week
Internet and telephone voting is available through 11:59 PM Eastern Time
the day prior to annual meeting day.
Your Internet or telephone vote authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares in the same manner
as if you marked, signed and returned your proxy card.
Internet | Telephone | |||||||
http://www.proxyvoting.com/spg | 1-866-540-5760 | Mark, sign and date | ||||||
Use the internet to vote your proxy. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site. | OR | Use any touch-tone telephone to vote your proxy. Have your proxy card in hand when you call. | OR | your proxy card and return it in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. |
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If you vote your proxy by Internet or by telephone, you do NOT need to mail back your proxy card. |
You can view the Annual Report and Proxy Statement by
accessing the Financial Information section of the Company's
website at www.simon.com (Investor Relations tab)
PROXY SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
SIMON PROPERTY GROUP, INC.
For use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be
Held on May 11, 2006
For use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be Held on May 11, 2006 The undersigned holder of shares of preferred stock of Simon Property Group, Inc. hereby appoints Herbert Simon and David Simon, and each of them, with power of substitution to each, to vote all shares of preferred stock which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held at the Hyatt Regency Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana on May 11, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. (Indianapolis time) and at every adjournment or postponement thereof and otherwise to represent the undersigned at the meeting with all powers possessed by the undersigned if present at the meeting, hereby revoking all prior proxies on the matters set forth, as indicated on the reverse side. The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and of the accompanying Proxy Statement.
This proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned stockholder. If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted FOR the election of the nominees in proposal 1.
(Continued and to be marked, dated and signed, on the other side)
Address Change/Comments (Mark the corresponding box on the reverse side)
/*\ FOLD AND DETACH HERE /*\
You can now access your Simon Property Group, Inc. account online.
Access your Simon Property Group, Inc. shareholder account online via Investor ServiceDirect® (ISD).
Mellon Investor Services LLC, Transfer Agent for Simon Property Group, Inc. now makes it easy and convenient to get current information on your shareholder account.
|
View account status |
|
View payment history for dividends |
|
| View certificate history | | Make address changes | |
| View book-entry information | | Obtain a duplicate 1099 tax form | |
| Establish/change your PIN |
Visit us on the web at http://www.melloninvestor.com
For Technical Assistance Call 1-877-978-7778 between 9am-7pm
Monday-Friday Eastern Time
|
|
|
|
|
|
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The Board of Directors recommends a vote "FOR" proposal 1. | Please | |||||||||||||
Mark Here | o | |||||||||||||
for Address Change or Comments |
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SEE REVERSE SIDE | ||||||||||||||
FOR | WITHHOLD FOR ALL |
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1. Election of Directors | o | o | ||||||||||||
Nominees: (01) Birch Bayh (02) Melvyn E. Bergstein (03) Linda Walker Bynoe (04) Karen N. Horn (05) Reuben S. Leibowitz (06) J. Albert Smith, Jr. (07) Pieter S. van den Berg |
Choose MLinkSM for fast, easy and secure 24/7 online access to your future proxy materials, investment plan statements, tax documents and more. Simply log on to Investor ServiceDirect® at www.melloninvestor.com/isd where step-by-step instructions will prompt you through enrollment. |
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VOTE FOR, except withhold from the following numbered nominee(s): |
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SIGNATURE |
SIGNATURE |
DATE |
NOTE: Please sign as name appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such.
/*\ FOLD AND DETACH HERE /*\
Vote by Internet or Telephone or Mail
24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week
Internet and telephone voting is available through 11:59 PM Eastern Time
the day prior to annual meeting day.
Your Internet or telephone vote authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares in the same manner
as if you marked, signed and returned your proxy card.
Internet | Telephone | |||||||
http://www.proxyvoting.com/spg-pfd | 1-866-540-5760 | Mark, sign and date | ||||||
Use the internet to vote your proxy. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site. | OR | Use any touch-tone telephone to vote your proxy. Have your proxy card in hand when you call. | OR | your proxy card and return it in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. |
||||
If you vote your proxy by Internet or by telephone, you do NOT need to mail back your proxy card. |
You can view the Annual Report and Proxy Statement by
accessing the Financial Information section of the Company's
website at www.simon.com (Investor Relations tab)