SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

[(Amendment No.     )]

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¨ Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-11(c) or §240.14a-12

CEDAR REALTY TRUST, INC.

(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

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

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CEDAR REALTY TRUST, INC.

 

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD MAY 2, 2014

 

 

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Cedar Realty Trust, Inc. (the “Company”) will be held at the offices of the Company, 44 South Bayles Avenue, Port Washington, NY 11050, on Friday, May 2, 2014 at 10:00 in the morning for the following purposes:

1. To elect six directors.

2. To vote upon an advisory (non-binding) resolution to approve executive compensation.

3. To approve the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014.

4. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting, or any adjournment thereof.

Stockholders of record at the close of business on March 14, 2014, shall be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS

FOR THE STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON MAY 2, 2014. THE PROXY

STATEMENT AND OUR 2013 ANNUAL REPORT ARE AVAILABLE AT

HTTP://WWW.CEDARREALTYTRUST.COM.

 

By order of the Board of Directors
 
BRUCE J. SCHANZER
President and CEO

Dated: March 18, 2014

Port Washington, NY

 

 

IMPORTANT: PLEASE FILL IN, DATE, SIGN AND MAIL PROMPTLY THE ENCLOSED PROXY IN THE POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE PROVIDED TO ENSURE THAT YOUR SHARES ARE REPRESENTED AT THE MEETING.

 


CEDAR REALTY TRUST, INC.

44 SOUTH BAYLES AVENUE

PORT WASHINGTON, NEW YORK 11050

 

 

PROXY STATEMENT

 

 

The accompanying Proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors of Cedar Realty Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 2, 2014, at 10:00 in the morning, or any adjournment thereof, at which stockholders of record at the close of business on March 14, 2014 shall be entitled to vote. The cost of solicitation of proxies will be borne by the Company. The Company has retained AST Phoenix Advisors to assist in the solicitation of proxies for a fee of $10,500, plus out-of-pocket expenses. The Company may use the services of its directors, officers, employees and others to solicit proxies, personally or by telephone; arrangements may also be made with brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees, fiduciaries and stockholders of record to forward solicitation material to the beneficial owners of stock held of record by such persons. The Company may reimburse such solicitors for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in soliciting, but no compensation will be paid for their services.

Each proxy executed and returned by a stockholder may be revoked at any time before it is voted by timely submission of written notice of revocation or by submission of a duly executed proxy bearing a later date (in either case directed to the Secretary of the Company) or, if a stockholder is present at the meeting, he may elect to revoke his proxy and vote his shares personally.

The Company’s Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 is being mailed herewith to each stockholder of record. Stockholders may obtain a copy of the Company’s Form 10-K, without charge, by writing to the Company at 44 South Bayles Avenue, Port Washington, New York 11050, attention Investor Relations. The Form 10-K is also available on the Company’s website, www.cedarrealtytrust.com. It is intended that this Proxy Statement and form of Proxy will first be sent or given to stockholders on or about March 18, 2014.

On March 14, 2014, the Company had outstanding and entitled to vote with respect to all matters to be acted upon at the meeting, 79,233,726 shares of common stock. Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by such holder. The presence of holders representing a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting will constitute a quorum at the meeting. In accordance with Maryland law, abstentions, but not broker non-votes, are counted for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum for the transaction of business. Each item on the agenda must receive the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of Common Stock cast at the meeting in order to pass. Abstentions and broker non-votes are not counted in determining the votes cast with respect to any of the matters submitted to a vote of stockholders.

Broker Discretionary Voting

Brokers do not have discretionary authority to vote with respect to the election of directors or on proposal 2. If your shares are held by a broker, the broker will ask you how you want to vote your shares. If you provide the broker with instructions, your shares will be voted in accordance with your instructions. If you do not give any instruction on any of the proposals, then with respect to the election of directors and the vote on proposal 2, your shares will not be voted. Therefore, it is important that you give instructions to your broker as to how to vote your shares.

It is expected that the following business will be considered at the meeting and action taken thereon:

1.  ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Pursuant to the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, as amended, the director nominees elected at this meeting will be elected to serve one-year terms that expire upon the date of the next annual meeting or until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified.


It is intended that the accompanying form of Proxy will be voted for the nominees set forth below, each of whom is presently a director of the Company. If some unexpected occurrence should make necessary, in the Board of Directors’ judgment, the substitution of some other person or persons for these nominees, shares will be voted for such other persons as the Board of Directors may select.

The Board of Directors is not aware that any nominee may be unable or unwilling to serve as a director. The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the nominees.

NOMINEES FOR ELECTION

 

Name

  Age    

Principal Occupation and Positions Held

  Served as a
Director Since
 

James J. Burns

    74      Mr. Burns, a director since 2001 and a member of the Audit (Chair) and Nominating/Corporate Governance Committees, was chief financial officer and senior vice president of Reis, Inc. (formerly Wellsford Real Properties, Inc.) from December 2000 until March 2006, and vice chairman from April 2006 until March 2009, when he entered into a consulting role at that company (where he continues to have primary responsibility for income tax reporting and compliance). He joined Reis in October 1999 as chief accounting officer upon his retirement from Ernst & Young LLP in September 1999. At Ernst & Young LLP, Mr. Burns was a senior audit partner in the E&Y Kenneth Leventhal Real Estate Group for 22 years. Since 2000, Mr. Burns has also served as a director of One Liberty Properties, Inc., a real estate investment trust listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Mr. Burns is a certified public accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Burns received a B.A. and M.B.A. from Baruch College of the City University of New York.     2001   

Pamela N. Hootkin

    66      Ms. Hootkin, a director since June 2008 and a member of the Audit and Compensation (Chair) Committees, retired at the end of April 2012 from her position as senior vice president at PVH Corp. (formerly Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation), a position she held since May 2010. She joined PVH Corp. in 1988 as vice president, treasurer and corporate secretary; in 1999 she became vice president, treasurer and director of investor relations, and in June 2007 she became senior vice president, treasurer and director of investor relations. From 1986 to 1988, Ms. Hootkin was vice president and chief financial officer of Yves Saint Laurent Parfums, Inc. From 1975 to 1986, she was employed by Squibb Corporation in various capacities, with her last position being vice president and treasurer of a division of Squibb. Ms. Hootkin is a board member of Safe Horizon, New York (a not-for-profit organization) where she also serves on the executive, finance (chair) and corporate advisory committees. Ms. Hootkin received a B.A. from the State University of New York at Binghamton and an M.A. from Boston University.     2008   

 

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Name

  Age    

Principal Occupation and Positions Held

  Served as a
Director Since
 

Paul G. Kirk, Jr.

    76      Mr. Kirk, a director from 2005 to September 2009 when he resigned to accept his appointment as a United States Senator for Massachusetts to succeed the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy, and re-elected to the Board in June 2010, is a member of the Compensation and Nominating/Corporate Governance (Chair) Committees, and is a retired partner of the law firm of Sullivan & Worcester, LLP of Boston, MA. He was a member of the firm from 1977 through 1990. He also serves as Chairman and CEO of Kirk & Associates, Inc., a business advisory and consulting firm, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. He has previously served on the Boards of Directors of Rayonier, Incorporated (a real estate investment trust listed on the New York Stock Exchange) (1994 to 2011), ITT Corporation (1989 to 1997) and Bradley Real Estate, Inc. (1991 to 2000), a real estate investment trust that was subsequently acquired by Heritage Property Investment Trust, Inc. Mr. Kirk was a founding Director of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation and served as its Chairman from 1992 to 2009. He was a founding Director of the Commission on Presidential Debates and served as its Co-Chairman from 1987 to 2009. From 1985 to 1989, Mr. Kirk served as Chairman of the Democratic Party of the U.S., and from 1983 to 1985 as its Treasurer. He is Chairman Emeritus of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs whose Board he chaired from 1990 to 2000. A graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, Mr. Kirk is past-Chairman of the Harvard Board of Overseers’ Nominating Committee and of the Harvard Board of Overseers’ Committee to Visit the Department of Athletics. He has received many awards for civic leadership and public service, including honorary doctors of law degrees from Stonehill College and the Southern New England School of Law.     2010   

Everett B. Miller, III

    68      Mr. Miller, a director since 1998 and a member of the Audit and Compensation Committees, has been since July 2012 the Director of the Real Estate Bureau for the New York State Common Retirement Fund. In July 2012, Mr. Miller resigned his position as a member of the Real Estate Advisory Committee of the New York State Common Retirement Fund, a position he had held since March 2003, in order to accept his current position. He retired at the end of 2011 from his position as vice president of alternative investments at the YMCA Retirement Fund, a position he had held since September 2003. Prior to his retirement in May 2002 from Commonfund Realty, Inc., a registered investment advisor, Mr. Miller was the chief operating officer of that company from 1997 until May 2002. From January 1995 through March 1997, Mr. Miller was the Principal Investment Officer for Real Estate and Alternative Investment at the Office of the Treasurer of the State of Connecticut. Prior thereto, Mr. Miller was employed for eighteen years at affiliates of Travelers Realty Investment Co., at which his last position was senior vice president. Mr. Miller received a B.S. from Yale University.     1998   

 

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Name

  Age    

Principal Occupation and Positions Held

  Served as a
Director Since
 

Bruce J. Schanzer

    45      Mr. Schanzer has been president, chief executive officer and a director of the Company since June 2011. Prior thereto and since 2007, Mr. Schanzer had been employed by Goldman Sachs & Co., with his last position being a managing director in the real estate investment banking group. From 2001 to 2007, Mr. Schanzer was employed by Merrill Lynch, with his last position being vice president in their real estate investment banking group. Earlier in his career, Mr. Schanzer practiced real estate law for six years in New York. Mr. Schanzer received a B.A. from Yeshiva College, where he is now a member of its board of trustees, an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago, and a JD from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review.     2011   

Roger M. Widmann

    74      Mr. Widmann, a director since 2003, non-executive Chairman of the Board since June 2011, and a member of the Compensation and Nominating/Corporate Governance Committees, is an investment banker. He was a principal of the investment banking firm of Tanner & Co., Inc. from 1997 to 2004. From 1986 to 1995, Mr. Widmann was a senior managing director of Chemical Securities, Inc., a subsidiary of Chemical Banking Corporation (now JPMorgan Chase Corporation). Prior to joining Chemical Securities, Inc., Mr. Widmann was a founder and managing director of First Reserve Corporation, the largest independent energy investing firm in the U.S. Previously, he was senior vice president with the investment banking firm of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, responsible for the firm’s domestic and international investment banking business. He had also been a vice president with New Court Securities (now Rothschild, Inc.). He was a director of Lydall, Inc. (listed on the New York Stock Exchange), a manufacturer of thermal, acoustical and filtration materials, from 1974 to 2004, and its chairman from 1998 to 2004. He is a director of Standard Motor Products, Inc. (listed on the New York Stock Exchange), a manufacturer of automobile replacement parts, is Chairman of Keystone National Group, a fund of private equity funds, and is Chairman and CEO of Cutwater Associates LLC, a corporate advisory firm. He is also a senior moderator of the Aspen Seminar at The Aspen Institute, and a director of Oxfam America. Mr. Widmann received a B.A. from Brown University and a J.D. from Columbia University.     2003   

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLES

Independent Directors

Pursuant to rules of the New York Stock Exchange and applicable law, a majority of the Company’s directors must be independent as specified therein. As a result, the Board undertook a review of the independence of the Company’s directors. During this review, the Board considered transactions and relationships between each director, or any member of his or her immediate family, and the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates, including those reported under “Transactions with Related Persons” below. The Board also examined

 

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transactions and relationships between directors or their affiliates and members of the Company’s senior management or their affiliates. The purpose of this review was to determine whether any such relationship or transaction was inconsistent with a determination that the director is independent.

As the result of this review, the Board affirmatively determined that each of Messrs. Burns, Kirk, Miller and Widmann and Ms. Hootkin is independent of the Company and its management. The Board determined that none of these independent directors had any material relationships with the Company. Mr. Schanzer is the only director who is not independent.

Corporate Governance Principles and Committee Charters

Our Board of Directors has adopted a comprehensive set of corporate governance principles to reflect its commitment to corporate governance and the role of such principles in building and sustaining stockholder value. These principles are discussed more fully below and are set forth in our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and the committee charters for our Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee. These documents are available on our website at www.cedarrealtytrust.com.

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

All of our employees, including our chief executive officer, chief financial officer and chief accounting officer, and our directors are required to comply with our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. Our Code is available on our website. It is our intention to disclose any amendments to, or waivers from, any provisions of this Code as it applies to our chief executive officer, chief financial officer and chief accounting officer on our website within three business days of such amendment or waiver. The Company does not consider it appropriate for any of its officers, directors or employees to enter into speculative transactions in the Company’s securities that are designed to hedge or offset any decrease in market value of the Company’s securities. As the result, the Company prohibits such persons from the purchase of puts, calls, options or other derivative securities based on the Company’s securities. The policy also prohibits hedging or monetization transactions, such as forward sale contracts, equity swaps, collars and exchange funds. Such persons may also not purchase securities of the Company on margin, borrow against any account in which the Company’s securities are held or otherwise pledge any securities of the Company.

Audit Committee

The Board of Directors has established an Audit Committee consisting of James J. Burns, Pamela N. Hootkin and Everett B. Miller, III. The charter of the Audit Committee is available on the Company’s website. All the members of the Audit Committee are independent under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange and applicable law. Each of Mr. Burns and Ms. Hootkin is qualified as an audit committee financial expert within the meaning of applicable law and the Board has determined that each of them has accounting and related financial management expertise under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange. The principal functions of this committee are as follows: employs the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, subject to stockholder ratification, to audit the Company’s consolidated financial statements; pre-approves all services performed by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm; provides oversight on the internal reporting process and the adequacy of the Company’s internal controls; reviews the scope of the audit of the independent registered public accounting firm and the firm performing the Company’s internal audit procedures; reviews services provided by the Company’s independent public registered accounting firm and other disclosed relationships as they bear on the independence of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm; and monitors the process for the receipt, retention and resolution of complaints regarding accounting, internal controls or auditing matters.

Compensation Committee

The Board of Directors has established a Compensation Committee consisting of Pamela N. Hootkin, Paul G. Kirk, Jr., Everett B. Miller, III and Roger M. Widmann, all of whom are independent. This committee reviews

 

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and approves the compensation and benefits of executive officers and directors, administers and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding executive and director compensation and stock incentive plans, and approves an annual report on executive compensation for inclusion in the proxy statement.

Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee

The Board of Directors has established a Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee consisting of James J. Burns, Paul G. Kirk, Jr. and Roger M. Widmann, all of whom are independent. This committee develops and recommends to the Board of Directors a set of corporate governance principles, adopts a code of ethics, adopts policies with respect to conflicts of interest, monitors compliance with corporate governance requirements of state and federal law and the rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange, establishes criteria for prospective members of the Board of Directors, conducts candidate searches and interviews, oversees and evaluates the Board of Directors and management, evaluates from time to time the appropriate size and composition of the Board of Directors, and formally proposes the slate of directors to be elected at each Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Company does not have any retirement policy for directors.

Nomination of Directors

The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for the selection and nomination of directors and considers candidates for Board membership suggested by its members and other Board members, as well as management and stockholders. Stockholders who wish to recommend a nominee should send nominations directly to the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee, at the principal executive offices of the Company, that include all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for the election of directors, including the nominee’s name, business experience and consent to be nominated for membership on our Board of Directors and to serve if elected by the stockholders. We did not receive any recommended nominees for director from any of our stockholders, other than from our directors, for this meeting. We do not currently pay any fees to third parties to identify or evaluate or assist in identifying or evaluating potential nominees for director.

Once the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee has identified a prospective nominee, the Committee makes an initial determination as to whether to conduct a full evaluation of the candidate. This initial determination is based on whatever information is provided to the Committee with the recommendation of the prospective candidate, as well as the Committee’s own knowledge of the prospective candidate, which may be supplemented by inquiries to the person making the recommendation or others. The preliminary determination is based primarily on the need for additional Board members to fill vacancies, provide for succession or expand the size of the Board and the likelihood that the prospective nominee can satisfy the evaluation factors described below. If the Committee determines, in consultation with the Chairman of the Board and other Board members as appropriate, that additional consideration is warranted, it may request additional information about the prospective nominee’s background and experience and report its findings to the Board. The Committee then evaluates the prospective nominee against the standards and qualifications set out in the Company’s guidelines, including:

 

   

the ability of the prospective nominee to represent the interests of the stockholders of the Company;

 

   

the prospective nominee’s standards of integrity, commitment and independence of thought and judgment;

 

   

the prospective nominee’s ability to dedicate sufficient time, energy and attention to the diligent performance of his or her duties, including the prospective nominee’s service on other public company boards and other professional experience to enhance the Board’s effectiveness;

 

   

the extent to which the prospective nominee contributes to the range of talent, skill and expertise appropriate for the business of the Company; and

 

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the extent to which the prospective nominee provides the Board with diversity in experience and background.

The Committee also considers such other relevant factors as it deems appropriate, including the current composition of the Board, the balance of management and independent directors, the need for Audit Committee expertise and the evaluations of other prospective nominees. In connection with this evaluation, the Committee determines whether the person should be considered for a Board position, and one or more members of the Committee, and others as appropriate, interview prospective nominees in person or by telephone. After completing this evaluation and interview, the Committee makes a recommendation to the full Board as to the persons who should be nominated by the Board, and the Board determines the nominees after considering the recommendation and report of the Committee.

There would be no differences in the manner in which the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee evaluates nominees for director based on whether the nominee is recommended by a stockholder or the Committee.

Qualification of Directors

The Company selects directors in compliance with the Company’s corporate governance guidelines and the charter of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee, using the standards and qualifications discussed under “Nomination of Directors.” The Company is also mindful that a majority of the directors must be independent. The existing directors were selected for a variety of reasons and to attempt to reflect the diverse business needs of the Company and diversity in experience and background. Mr. Burns’ qualifications for election to the Company’s Board include his extensive financial and accounting expertise, particularly with public companies in the real estate industry, including real estate investment trusts. He is currently the audit committee chairman of another REIT. Mr. Burns qualifies as an audit committee financial expert. Ms. Hootkin brings to the Board expertise in finance, investor relations and the retail industry. She serves as a second financial expert on the Audit Committee, while also bringing gender diversity to the Board. Mr. Kirk has extensive legal experience and experience in government and public affairs. He also has had experience as a director of two other REITs, as well as several other public companies. Mr. Miller has been involved in commercial real estate since 1974, with extensive knowledge about the industry in which the Company operates. Mr. Schanzer has been involved in real estate as an attorney and investment banker and presently is chief executive officer and president of the Company. In such positions, he has obtained extensive knowledge about the Company, its operations and the retail shopping center industry. Investment banking expertise is provided to the Company by Mr. Widmann, who has spent most of his career in the investment banking world. His knowledge has assisted the Company in its capital raising and other finance related activities.

Board Meetings

In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, there were 14 meetings of the Board of Directors, five meetings of the Audit Committee, three meetings of the Compensation Committee and four meetings of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee. Each director of the Company attended in excess of 75% of the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors and committees on which he or she served. Board members are encouraged to attend our Annual Meeting of Stockholders. All of our directors attended our 2013 Annual Meeting.

Communications with the Board

The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee of the Board approved a process for handling letters received by the Company and addressed to non-management members of the Board. Stockholders and other parties interested in communicating with any of the directors of the Company (or the Board as a group), may do so by writing to the Secretary of the Company, at the Company’s principal executive offices. The Secretary will

 

7


review all such correspondence and regularly forward to the Board a summary of all such correspondence and copies of all correspondence that, in the Secretary’s opinion, deals with the functions of the Board or committees thereof or that he otherwise determines requires the Board’s attention. The Board, or any member thereof, may at any time request that copies of all such correspondence be forwarded to the Board.

Correspondence relating to accounting, internal controls or auditing matters is handled by the Audit Committee in accordance with its procedures.

Leadership Structure of the Board

The non-management directors of our Board meet in executive session several times during the year, generally on the same day as regularly scheduled meetings of the Board of Directors or as considered necessary or appropriate. Roger M. Widmann, an independent director of the Company since 2003, has been chosen by the directors to be the non-executive Chairman of the Board and to preside at each such meeting.

In June 2011, the Company separated the role of Chairman of the Board from the Chief Executive Officer. The Board believes this creates effective leadership and an effective decision-making process. The Chairman of the Board is actively involved in corporate governance matters and on at least a quarterly basis leads an executive session of independent directors. In addition, the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee annually conducts an evaluation of the performance of the Board and its committees and of the Chief Executive Officer. A key responsibility of the Board and Chief Executive Officer is to ensure continuity of leadership of the Company. Each year, the Chief Executive Officer presents a succession plan to the Board for its review.

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

Overview of Compensation Program

The Compensation Committee’s compensation philosophy is as follows:

 

   

to align executive compensation with the interests of stockholders;

 

   

to attract, retain and motivate a highly competent team of executives;

 

   

to link pay to performance;

 

   

to achieve a balance between short-term and long-term results, teamwork and individual contributions; and

 

   

to utilize equity as a significant reward for performance.

This is achieved through a combination of base salary, annual bonuses and long-term equity, with a significant portion of compensation being at risk and dependent on the performance of the Company and the executive. The discussion under this Compensation Discussion and Analysis relates to the CEO and the other named executive officers included in the Summary Compensation Table.

The Committee has utilized the services of outside independent consultants to assist the Committee in formulating our total compensation plan. For setting compensation for 2013, our Compensation Committee retained Mercer (US) Inc. (“Mercer”) as its compensation consulting firm to assist our Committee in assessing the Company’s compensation for its executive officers. The consultant provided to our Committee relevant market data about our peer companies and compared the Company’s compensation to such market data. The Committee has relied on the guidance of the consultant in formulating and refining our executive compensation practices. In selecting Mercer, the Committee evaluated the independence of Mercer and considered the following factors: Mercer does not provide any other services to the Company; the amount of fees to be received by Mercer from the Company as a percentage of total revenues of the Company; the policies and procedures of

 

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the Company and the Committee that are designed to prevent conflicts of interest; the lack of any business or personal relationships of Mercer with any member of the Committee; stock of the Company owned by Mercer; and the lack of any business or personal relationships of Mercer with any executive officer of the Company. After considering the foregoing, the Committee determined that Mercer was independent of the Company and management of the Company and that the engagement of Mercer did not raise any conflicts of interest.

The Board of Directors of the Company holds an advisory vote on executive compensation once every year. At the Company’s 2013 annual meeting, the advisory vote with respect to the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers for 2012 was overwhelmingly approved by our stockholders, with over 96% of the stockholders voting in favor of such compensation. In setting annual bonuses and long-term equity grants for 2013 and salaries for 2014, the Compensation Committee considered the results of the advisory vote, together with the advice of the Committee’s consultant.

Our Compensation Committee values constructive feedback from our stockholders about executive compensation and will continue to actively consider the views of our stockholders, including the results of our annual advisory vote, when making future executive compensation decisions.

The Compensation Committee regularly reviews all elements of compensation to ensure that we remain competitive in the market and to ensure that overall compensation, including the mix of stock and cash, is aligned with our business objectives, our performance and the interests of our stockholders. The Committee conducts an annual review of our CEO’s performance and takes these results into consideration when recommending the CEO’s compensation to the independent members of the full Board of Directors for their approval. Our CEO plays a significant role in setting the compensation for our other named executive officers by providing the Committee with an evaluation of their performance, together with recommendations for the amount of the annual bonus and long-term equity. The Committee also obtained input from its compensation consultant and has the discretion to accept, reject or modify the CEO’s recommendations.

Compensation Objectives

The Committee uses three components in establishing executive compensation, namely base salary, annual bonuses and long-term equity compensation. As a result, two key elements of compensation depend upon the performance of the executive, including (a) an annual bonus that is based on an assessment of the executive’s performance, both individually as well as achievement of Company performance targets; and (b) long-term equity compensation in the form of shares, which are subject to meeting stockholder return goals and continued service. Thus, a significant portion of compensation is at risk and variable depending on both our short-term financial performance and long-term creation of stockholder value, with the largest portion of this at-risk compensation designed to incentivize our executives to create long-term stockholder value. Since a significant portion of each executive’s total compensation is equity-based, we require our executives to maintain a meaningful ownership position in our company. Salary is intended to attract and retain executives and to provide compensation that is commensurate with the executive’s scope of responsibility and effectiveness. Bonuses are designed to align the executive’s compensation with the Company’s short-term business goals. Long-term equity compensation focuses on our Company achieving its long-term business goal of total stockholder return (“TSR”). We attempt to retain our executives by rewarding the executives with long-term equity only if the executive remains with us for a substantial period of time. The policy for allocating between either cash and non-cash compensation or short-term or long-term compensation is established on an annual basis. The Committee determines the appropriate level and mix of compensation. The Committee also considers the individual components of compensation, as well as the total compensation received by each named executive officer, relative to such officer’s performance, the peer group and each other (i.e., internal equity) in making its determination. The amount each executive actually earns varies based on the executive’s performance, contribution and overall value to the Company. The Company does not provide material perquisites or supplemental retirement benefits. The Committee has not utilized tally sheets or wealth accumulation in evaluating compensation, but it may do so in the future. The Company does not currently have any clawback or

 

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other compensation recovery policy with respect to compensation that may have been paid on the basis of incorrect financial results. The Company is considering adopting such a policy in advance of the enactment of new regulations under the Dodd-Frank Act.

Implementation

For use in assessing compensation for 2013, Mercer used a peer group of ten equity REITs approved by the Compensation Committee with a business focus similar to ours and within a reasonable size range relative to us. Our revenues and market cap are at the lower end of the peer group. The peer group was not changed from the prior year. The data that was obtained for these companies was for the 2012 or 2013 fiscal year (depending on the company’s fiscal year end). The peer group approved by the Compensation Committee consists of the following companies:

 

Acadia Realty Trust

American Assets Trust Inc.

Cousins Properties Inc.

Equity One Inc.

Glimcher Realty Trust

  

Kite Realty Group Trust

National Retail Properties

Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust

Ramco-Gershenson Properties Trust

Urstadt Biddle Properties Inc.

Although comparisons of compensation paid to our named executive officers relative to compensation paid to similarly situated executives in our peer group assists the Committee in determining compensation, the Committee evaluates compensation based on the corporate objectives discussed above, with a comparison to peers being one of the factors considered. As a result, the peer group was not used to benchmark compensation.

For 2013, Mercer compared the Company’s compensation to that of the peer group and against a compensation survey compiled by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”). Mercer believes the data for the peer group is more reflective of actual market competitive pay levels since it more directly reflects the Company’s competitive market for executive talent. Mercer furnished to the Committee a report that compared the Company’s compensation of its executive officers to the market. This report was considered by the Committee in setting total compensation for 2013, including the annual bonus and long-term equity awards.

Base Salary

Base salaries for our named executive officers depend on the scope of their responsibilities and their performance. Base salary, which is paid in cash, is designed to compensate the executives fairly for services rendered during the year. These salaries are compared to amounts paid to the executive’s peers outside our Company. Salary levels are typically considered annually as part of the Committee’s performance review process and increases are based, in part, on the Committee’s assessment of the performance of the executive. With respect to salaries to be paid for 2014 for each of the Company’s executive officers other than Mr. Schanzer, the Compensation Committee received from Mr. Schanzer his recommended amount of any salary increases. For 2014, the salary of Mr. Mays was increased by 2%, while the salaries for each of Mr. Schanzer and Ms. Walker remained unchanged.

Each of the named executive officers is employed under an employment agreement, with the employment agreements of Messrs. Schanzer and Mays having been entered into in 2011 when each of them joined the Company. For a description of these employment agreements, reference is made to “Compensation-Employment Agreements With Named Executive Officers.” In each of these employment agreements, the salary was fixed at the time the agreement was signed. At that time, the Company had conducted a search for a new chief executive officer and new chief financial officer and believed the compensation to be appropriate in light of the experience and responsibilities of each of Messrs. Schanzer and Mays. In addition, since each of them was leaving his existing employment and, as a result was forfeiting various benefits that had not yet vested, the Committee

 

10


determined it was appropriate to compensate them with equity awards for their lost benefits. The Board of Directors is required to review base salary annually and may increase, but not decrease, such salary. The role of the Compensation Committee is to determine whether an increase in such salary is justified and to compare base salaries with the peer group.

Annual Bonus

The Committee seeks to align the interests of the named executive officers by evaluating executive performance on the basis of individual performance and specified financial tests.

In setting bonuses for all the executive officers for 2013, the Committee, based on the advice of Mercer, determined that 70% of the bonus would be based on the Company meeting its targeted operating funds from operations (“Operating FFO”), and 30% to be based on a qualitative individual performance evaluation for each of the executives. Operating FFO is a key annual earnings measurement for the Company. The Operating FFO bonus ranges were established as follows:

 

     Threshold   Target   Maximum

Operating FFO

   $0.46 per share   $0.48 per share   $0.55 per share

Percentage of Bonus

   50%   100%   150%

Target Operating FFO for 2013 was set at $.48 per share. If Operating FFO was less than $.46 per share, the executives would not have the right to receive any bonus. The executives would have the right to receive 50% of their targeted bonus if Operating FFO was $.46 per share, 100% of their targeted bonus if Operating FFO was $.48 per share and up to 150% of their targeted bonus if Operating FFO was $.55 per share, with such maximum amount to be interpolative from the target bonus on a linear basis. Actual Operating FFO for 2013 was $0.50 per share, an amount in excess of the target, which would have entitled the executive officers to receive up to 114% of their targeted bonuses.

Based on information provided by Mercer, for each of Mr. Mays and Ms. Walker the target was set at approximately 95% and 70% of their base salaries, respectively. With respect to the bonuses to be paid for 2013 for each of the Company’s executive officers other than Mr. Schanzer, the Compensation Committee received from Mr. Schanzer his recommended dollar amounts of the annual bonuses. The Compensation Committee reviewed in detail each officer’s responsibilities and contributions and made its own assessment as to bonuses for each officer, but relied extensively upon the recommendations of Mr. Schanzer who was the ultimate supervisor for all the officers. Mr. Mays, the CFO, had overall responsibility for the Company’s financial activity role. Mr. Mays was a central person involved in all aspects of the Company and not just finance and accounting and is a significant overall contributor to the Company’s operations. Ms. Walker is the central administrator of the Company and played significant roles in all of the Company’s major operations. She is involved in property management and handles all property-level financing. Based on the Committee’s evaluation of the individual’s performance, including the fact that the Company exceeded targeted Operating FFO levels, the Committee determined to award Mr. Mays and Ms. Walker annual bonuses of $407,550 and $235,125, respectively, representing 114% and 104.5% of their targeted bonuses, respectively.

Under Mr. Schanzer’s employment agreement, his target bonus was set at up to 100% of his annual salary, subject to the Committee’s evaluation of his performance. The Committee evaluated his performance and concluded that he had effectively taken control of the Company’s CEO responsibilities and performed at an extremely high level. The Committee determined that his performance merited him a $880,000 cash bonus, representing 110% of his targeted bonus.

Long-Term Compensation

We believe that outstanding long-term performance is achieved through an ownership position that encourages a focus on the long-term performance of the Company. Through the use of equity-based awards,

 

11


long-term incentive awards are made annually to members of our senior management. Our long-term incentive plan is designed to align the long-term interests of the executives with stockholders, to deliver market competitive pay levels to the executives and to provide a strong retentive hook on the executives.

The Committee determined that long-term incentive compensation for 2011 would be in the form of a combination of time-based and performance-based restricted stock to be issued in accordance with the terms of our 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, with 25% to be time based and 75% to be performance based, with 37-1/2% based on absolute TSR and 37-1/2% based on relative TSR. The TSR for such three-year period was set at an average of 8% or more over such three years. It was determined that for purposes of comparing the TSR with that of the Company’s peers, for every one percent (or fraction thereof) above or below such level achieved by the Company, the percentage of equity awards would be increased or decreased by one percent (or fraction thereof); provided that the Company’s TSR above the median of the peer group would be capped at 20% and if the Company’s TSR was more than 20% below the median of the peer group, then no awards would be earned. With respect to the awards granted in 2011, the Company did not attain an average 8% TSR for the three-year period ended December 31, 2013, with the TSR being more than 20% below the median of the peer group. As the result, none of the performance-based restricted shares granted in 2011 would have vested and, therefore, the Committee determined that no performance-based restricted shares granted in 2011 were earned.

With respect to long-term equity awards for 2012 and beyond, based on information provided by Mercer, the Committee determined that 35% would be time based and 65% would be based on a three-year absolute TSR goal, with the target set at 6.5%, with all shares to be subject to an additional three-year vesting requirement based solely on time. The threshold was set at 4% resulting in a 50% payout of the target, with the maximum set at 10%, resulting in a payout of 150% of target. The Committee believed that absolute TSR was a better measure for the Company than relative TSR since (a) the CEO’s equity grant is based on absolute TSR, which would align the interests of the CEO and the executives, and (b) there are few other REITs with the Company’s business strategy, making construction of a suitable performance peer group problematic. Based on Mercer’s recommendation, the plan is being transitioned so that for 2012, the grant was solely time-based, with the 2013 grant based on a one-year TSR performance, 2014 to be based on a two-year TSR performance and 2015 and beyond to be based on a three-year TSR performance. For 2013, Ms. Walker was awarded a long-term grant of $300,000, with such grant issued all in stock that will vest on March 5, 2016. Ms. Walker has announced her intention to retire from the Company at the end of 2014. As the result, in lieu of awarding her a long-term grant of $300,000 of restricted stock for 2014, the Committee determined to award her this amount in cash, which was added to her annual bonus for 2013.

Mr. Mays was retained by the Company as its Chief Financial Officer in June 2011. Since his employment, in the opinion of Mr. Schanzer and the Committee, Mr. Mays has been performing at an extremely high level and has become invaluable to the Company. The Committee and Mr. Schanzer believe it is important to retain Mr. Mays for the long-term. In order to incentivize Mr. Mays to remain with the Company, the Committee determined to award a one-time grant of restricted stock to Mr. Mays that will vest in five years. As the result, for the year ended December 31, 2012, Mr. Mays was granted 369,718 shares of restricted stock that will vest March 5, 2018 only if he continues to be employed by the Company through that date. This grant is in lieu of any other grants to be made for the three year period ending December 31, 2014.

TSR was selected as the performance goal since it ties this portion of the compensation to stockholder value, with the total value of these awards corresponding to stock price appreciation and dividends. Dividends, if declared by the Board, are paid on the shares issued as restricted stock even though such stock has not vested. TSR is determined by adding dividends paid during the year to the change in stock price for such year, with the stock price to be measured over a 20 trading day average at the start and end of the performance period. Stock awards are based on both performance and continued service with us, subject to acceleration of vesting upon retirement, death or disability or upon a change in control. In order for the stock to be earned, the Company must achieve the performance goals and the employee must remain employed by us for such three years after such goals are met.

 

12


Our practice is to determine the dollar amount of long-term equity compensation to be granted and then to grant a number of shares that have a fair market value equal to the closing price of a share of common stock on the day the grant is made. Fair market value is determined by selecting the closing price of our common stock applicable to the relevant grant dates. Historically, our practice has been to issue restricted stock and not to grant stock options. Other than certain minor grants of stock options in 2001 that have expired, we have not granted any stock options.

Perquisites

The only perquisite provided to our named executive officers is either reimbursement for use of an automobile for business purposes or the leasing of automobiles directly by the Company for an executive’s benefit since the executives need such vehicles for frequent travel to and from many of the Company’s numerous shopping centers. No other material perquisites are provided. Since the perquisites are de minimus, the Committee does not focus on them.

Retirement Benefits

Named executive officers participate in the Company’s tax qualified 401(k) plan providing for employer and employee contributions.

We do not provide any supplemental retirement benefits for the named executive officers.

Employment Agreements

We have employment agreements with the named executive officers. Each of these agreements has change in control provisions that are designed to promote stability and continuity of senior management. These agreements, including change in control payments, were negotiated on an arm’s length basis and are more fully described in “Employment Agreements with Named Executive Officers.” The Committee does not believe these provisions will adversely affect the interests of our stockholders in the event of a change in control.

Stock Ownership Guidelines

In 2007, the Committee established target stock ownership guidelines for our named executive officers to more closely align their interests with those of our stockholders. The number of shares of our common stock that is targeted to be owned is set at a multiple of the executive’s base salary. For the chief executive officer, the multiple is four times base salary, while for the other named executive officers the multiple is two times base salary. All the named executive officers exceed these levels.

We also established target ownership guidelines for our directors. For each director who has served as a director for at least four years, such director is expected to own shares of our common stock totaling not less than the number of shares constituting the equity portion of his annual retainer for the previous four years. All such directors met such guidelines.

Tax Deductibility of Compensation

The financial reporting and income tax consequences to the Company of the compensation components for the executive officers are considered by the Committee in analyzing the level and mix of compensation. The Code was amended in 1993 with respect to the ability of publicly-held corporations such as the Company to deduct compensation in excess of $1,000,000 per individual, other than performance-based compensation. The Compensation Committee continues to evaluate the deductibility of executive compensation, while retaining the discretion it deems necessary to compensate executive officers.

 

13


COMPENSATION

Oversight of Risk

The Board is involved in the review of risks inherent in the operations of the Company’s business and the implementation of the annual budget for the Company. The Board reviews the annual budget of the Company at a meeting and actual results against the budget throughout the year at regular Board meetings as part of its review and evaluation of the direction of the Company. At Board meetings, various risks facing the Company are reviewed and discussed by the Board. In assessing compensation, in particular annual bonuses and long-term incentive compensation, the Compensation Committee reviewed the risks discussed at Board meetings. Based on its own evaluation, the Committee concluded that risks associated with compensation policies and practices are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Summary Compensation Table

The following table sets forth certain information regarding compensation paid by the Company to its chief executive officer, chief financial officer and to its other executive officer.

 

Name and Principal Position

   Year      Salary(3)
($)
     Bonus(3)(4)
($)
    Stock Awards(5)
($)
    All Other
Compensation(6)
($)
    Total
($)
 

Bruce J. Schanzer(1)

President and Chief Executive Officer

    
 
 
2013
2012
2011
  
  
  
    
 
 
800,000
800,000
446,154
  
  
  
    
 
 
880,000
500,000
500,000
  
  
  
   

 
 

0

0
10,860,000

  

  
(1) 

   
 
 
10,200
10,000
16,500
  
  
  
   
 
 
1,690,200
1,310,000
11,822,654
  
  
  

Philip R. Mays(2)

Chief Financial Officer

    
 
 
2013
2012
2011
  
  
  
    
 
 
373,750
373,750
186,250
  
  
  
    

 

 

407,550

325,000

525,000

  

  

(2) 

   

 

 

2,099,998

419,995

749,997

(2) 

  

(2) 

   
 
 
10,200
10,000
35,000
  
  
(2) 
   
 
 
2,891,498
1,128,745
1,496,247
  
  
  

Brenda J. Walker

Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

    
 
 
2013
2012
2011
  
  
  
    
 
 
315,000
315,000
315,000
  
  
  
    

 

 

535,125

225,000

250,000

(7) 

  

  

   
 
 
299,995
224,996
252,347
  
  
  
   
 
 
10,200
10,000
18,271
  
  
  
   
 
 
1,160,320
774,996
835,618
  
  
  

 

(1) Mr. Schanzer was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer on June 15, 2011. Upon his appointment, Mr. Schanzer was entitled to receive a grant of 2,500,000 shares of restricted stock, one-half of which to vest on the seventh anniversary of his hire if he is still employed by the Company, and the other one-half to vest on the seventh anniversary of his hire if he is still employed by the Company and the total shareholder return for such seven years averages 6.5% or more per year. As a result of restrictions in the Company’s 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, Mr. Schanzer was granted only 250,000 restricted shares upon his hire and 250,000 restricted shares on January 3, 2012. With the shareholder approval of the Company’s 2012 Stock Incentive Plan on June 15, 2012, the remaining 2,000,000 restricted shares were issued to him. As the Company’s Compensation Committee established this award arrangement in 2011, and the service inception date for all of these awards was Mr. Schanzer’s date of hire, the aggregate value for all 2,500,000 restricted shares, computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (“Topic 718”), is included in the Stock Awards column for 2011.

 

(2) Mr. Mays was appointed Chief Financial Officer in June 2011. Upon his appointment, Mr. Mays received a grant of 137,111 shares of restricted stock, which vest in four equal annual installments, commencing June 7, 2012. In addition, for 2011, his bonus included a $200,000 signing bonus, and all other compensation represented a $35,000 relocation payment. For the year ended December 31, 2012, Mr. Mays received a grant of 369,718 shares of restricted stock which were awarded on March 5, 2013 and which will vest on March 5, 2018. This grant is in lieu of any other grants to be made for the three year period ending December 31, 2014.

 

(3) Amounts shown include amounts deferred at the election of the named executive officers into the 2005 Cedar Realty Trust, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan and/or the Company’s 401(k) Savings Plan.

 

14


(4) For each of 2013 and 2012, this column represents the total bonus earned in 2013 and 2012, respectively, all of which was paid in cash. For 2011, this column represents the total bonus earned in 2011, all of which was paid in cash, except, with respect to Mr. Mays and Ms. Walker, $85,000 and $187,500, respectively, of their bonuses were paid in the form of restricted shares of common stock issued at the market price as of the close of business on January 3, 2012. The shares granted for 2011 vest in three equal annual installments commencing January 2, 2013.

 

(5) This column represents the grant date fair value of long-term equity awards granted under the Company’s 2004 and 2012 Stock Incentive Plans computed in accordance with Topic 718. A portion of the restricted share grants is subject to market conditions, i.e., they are tied to a measurement of total stockholder return, as described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CDA”). There is no assurance that this measurement will be met and that the restricted share grants will not be forfeited.

 

(6) Consists of matching contributions and other payments made by the Company related to its 401(k) plan, except as otherwise noted for Mr. Mays.

 

(7) In view of Ms. Walker’s intent to retire at the end of 2014, the bonus amount for 2013 includes the payment of her 2014 long-term incentive award in cash, instead of in stock.

Employment Agreements With Named Executive Officers

The Company has employment agreements with each of the named executive officers, Messrs. Schanzer and Mays and Ms. Walker. The annual base salary established for each of these officers for 2014 is $800,000, $381,225 and $315,000, respectively, which for each of Mr. Schanzer and Ms. Walker is unchanged from their 2013 base salaries and for Mr. Mays represents an increase of 2% from his base salary in 2013.

Effective June 15, 2011, Mr. Schanzer entered into a seven-year employment agreement to serve as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer at an annual salary of $800,000. Mr. Schanzer participates in the Company’s annual bonus plan for senior executive officers. Mr. Schanzer also received a long-term incentive compensation grant of 2,500,000 shares of restricted stock, one-half of which will vest on the seventh anniversary of the grant date (June 15, 2018) if Mr. Schanzer is still employed by the Company, with the other one-half to vest on the seventh anniversary of the date of grant (June 15, 2018) if Mr. Schanzer is still employed by the Company and the Company’s total stockholder return for such seven years averages 6.5% or more per year.

Effective June 7, 2011, Mr. Mays entered into a four-year employment agreement to serve as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer at an annual salary of $325,000. Upon signing the agreement, Mr. Mays received a $200,000 signing bonus. Mr. Mays participates in the Company’s annual bonus plan for senior executives, with his initial bonus for 2011 guaranteed in the amount of $240,000, which was paid in cash. Mr. Mays also received an initial grant of 137,111 shares of restricted stock under the Company’s 2004 Stock Incentive Plan.

In 2012, the employment agreement with Ms. Walker was amended and restated to extend the term thereof so that it will expire October 31, 2015.

Under each employment agreement, an executive’s employment agreement will terminate automatically upon the retirement, death or disability of such executive, without payment of any additional compensation, except that under the 2004 and 2012 Stock Incentive Plans all unvested Restricted Shares will immediately become fully vested. Upon the termination of employment by the Company with cause or by the executive without good reason, no additional compensation will be due to such executive. In the event of termination of an agreement by the Company without cause or by the executive for good reason, the executive is entitled to receive from the Company within five days following termination:

 

   

Any earned and unpaid base salary;

 

   

For each of Messrs. Schanzer and Mays, a lump sum cash payment of two and one-half times the sum of the executive’s annual base salary and average annual bonus for the preceding two years (the higher of the two annual bonuses in the case of Mr. Mays);

 

15


   

For Ms. Walker, a lump sum payment of one times the sum of her annual base salary and average bonus for the preceding two years (provided, however, upon a change in control Ms. Walker will be entitled to receive two and one-half times the sum of her annual base salary and average annual bonus for the preceding two years);

 

   

Continuation of health insurance benefits for 12 months (to be reduced to the extent the executive receives comparable benefits); and

 

   

Acceleration of vesting of all options, restricted shares and other awards.

Good reason for each of Messrs. Schanzer and Mays means:

 

   

Material breach by the Company of the terms of their employment agreements;

 

   

A material reduction in the executive’s duties or responsibilities;

 

   

The relocation of the executive or the headquarters of the Company to any location outside of the New York City metropolitan area; or

 

   

A change in control of the Company.

Good reason for Ms. Walker means:

 

   

Material breach by the Company of the terms of her employment agreement; or

 

   

The relocation of the executive or the headquarters of the Company to any location outside of the New York City metropolitan area.

Each employment agreement also provides that each executive will not compete with the Company or hire any employees of the Company for a period of one year after the termination of the executive’s employment, unless employment is terminated by the Company without cause or by the executive for good reason.

If employment of any of our named executive officers is terminated by the Company without cause or by the executive for good reason in a situation not involving a change in control or involving a change in control, the tables below set forth the severance payments that would have been made based on a hypothetical termination date of December 31, 2013 and using the closing price of our stock on that date. These amounts are estimates and the actual amounts to be paid can only be determined at the time of the termination of the executive’s employment.

Termination of Employment Without Change In Control

 

Name

   Cash Compensation
(Salary and Bonus)
($)
     Value of  Stock
Awards

($)
     Medical and
Other Benefits
($)
     Total
($)
 

Bruce J. Schanzer

     3,725,000         15,650,000         21,180         19,396,180   

Philip R. Mays

     1,953,250         3,366,497         21,180         5,340,927   

Brenda J. Walker

     545,063         871,073         7,364         1,423,500   

Termination of Employment With Change In Control

 

Name

   Cash Compensation
(Salary and Bonus)
($)
     Value of  Stock
Awards

($)
     Medical and
Other Benefits
($)
     Total
($)
 

Bruce J. Schanzer

     3,725,000         15,650,000         21,180         19,396,180   

Philip R. Mays

     1,953,250         3,366,497         21,180         5,340,927   

Brenda J. Walker

     1,362,656         871,073         7,364         2,241,093   

 

16


Equity Awards

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the grant of equity awards for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards For Year Ended December 31, 2013

 

          Estimated Future Payouts
Under
Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Awards
  Estimated Future Payouts
Under Equity Incentive
Plan Awards
  All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number of
Shares of
Stock or
Units

(#)
    All Other
Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options

(#)
  Exercise
or Base
Price of
Option
Awards
($/Sh)
  Grant Date
Full Fair
Value

(3)($)
 

Name

  Grant
Date
    Threshold
($)
  Target
($)
  Maximum
($)
  Threshold
(#)
  Target
(#)
  Maximum
(#)
       

Bruce J. Schanzer

                     

Philip R. Mays

    3/5/13                    369,718(1)            2,099,998   

Brenda J. Walker

    3/5/13                    52,816(2)            299,995   

 

(1) These are restricted shares that vest March 5, 2018 if Mr. Mays is then employed by the Company.

 

(2) These are restricted shares that vest March 5, 2016 if Ms. Walker is then employed by the Company.

 

(3) This column shows the grant date fair value of restricted share grants to the named executives for 2013 under Topic 718. For restricted share grants, fair value is determined as the market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant.

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to outstanding equity awards at fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.

Outstanding Equity Awards At Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2013

 

    Option Awards   Stock Awards  

Name

  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options

(#)
Exercisable
 

Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options

(#)
Unexercisable

  Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options

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

Bruce J. Schanzer

              1,250,000(2)        7,825,000        1,250,000(2)        7,825,000   

Philip R. Mays

             

 

 

 

68,556(3)

12,908(4)

86,597(5)

369,718(6)

  

  

  

  

   

 

 

 

429,161

80,804

542,097

2,314,435

  

  

  

  

   

Brenda J. Walker

             

 

 

 

11,468(7)

28,474(4)

46,391(5)

52,816(8)

  

  

  

  

   

 

 
 

71,790

178,247

290,408
330,628

  

  

  
  

   

 

(1) Based on the closing price of a share of common stock as of December 31, 2013.

 

(2) These shares vest on June 15, 2018.

 

(3) These shares vest in two equal annual installments, commencing June 7, 2014.

 

17


(4) These shares vest in two equal installments, commencing January 2, 2014.

 

(5) These shares vest on May 9, 2015.

 

(6) These shares vest on March 5, 2018.

 

(7) These shares vested on January 2, 2014.

 

(8) These shares vest on March 5, 2016.

No options were granted by the Company or exercised during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013. The following table sets forth certain information with respect to option exercises and option values and restricted stock awards that vested during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.

Option Exercises and Stock Vested

 

     Option Awards    Stock Awards  

Name

   Number of
Shares Acquired
on Exercise

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

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

Bruce J. Schanzer

           

Philip R. Mays

           40,732         232,204   

Brenda J. Walker

           23,564         124,418   

 

(1) Value realized is calculated by multiplying the closing price of a share of common stock on the day prior to the date of vesting by the number of shares that vested.

 

(2) Includes shares that vested, but the receipt of which was deferred pursuant to a “rabbi trust” plan. Under this plan, each participant selects the period of time over which receipt of the shares will be deferred, subject to earlier receipt upon death, disability and other events specified in the plan. The amount deferred for Ms. Walker was 23,564 shares, having a value of $124,418.

Compensation of Directors

Non-management directors’ fees are $26,250 per year and meeting attendance fees are $1,500 and $1,000, respectively, for each Board and Committee meeting. Audit and Compensation Committee members also receive a flat fee of $4,000 per year, while Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee members receive a flat fee of $3,000 per year. The chairpersons of the Audit and Compensation Committees receive $15,000 per year and the chairman of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee receives $7,500 per year. The annual retainer for the non-executive Chairman of the Board is $80,000. The annual directors’ fees, at the option of each director, may be paid in cash or shares of the Company’s common stock. In 2013, each director (other than directors who are members of management) also received an annual grant of $55,000 of restricted stock that vests on the third anniversary of the date of grant.

 

18


The following table provides information regarding director compensation in 2013, which reflects the compensation described above. The table does not include reimbursement of travel expenses related to attending Board and Committee meetings. Mr. Schanzer does not receive additional compensation for serving as a director.

Director Compensation — 2013

 

Name

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

James J. Burns

     75,750         55,000         130,750   

Pamela N. Hootkin

     69,363         55,000         124,363   

Paul G. Kirk, Jr.

     68,750         55,000         123,750   

Everett B. Miller, III

     68,137         55,000         123,137   

Roger M. Widmann

     141,250         55,000         196,250   

 

(1) Each director received a grant of $55,000 of restricted stock that will vest on the third anniversary of the date of grant. This column represents the grant date fair value of restricted stock grants computed in accordance with Topic 718 with respect to all restricted stock grants. Each director has 30,181 restricted shares which have not yet vested. All these shares are included in the security ownership chart for directors and executive officers.

Stock Plans

The Company has in effect the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan under which a total of 4,500,000 shares of common stock may be issued and a 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended. As the result of the approval of the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan by our stockholders on June 15, 2012, no further awards will be granted under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan. The Plans are administered by the Compensation Committee which determines, among other things, the number of shares subject to each grant, the vesting period for each grant and the exercise price (subject to applicable regulations with respect to incentive stock options) for the awards.

The following table sets forth information at December 31, 2013 regarding the existing compensation plans and individual compensation arrangements pursuant to which the Company’s equity securities are authorized for issuance to employees or non-employees (such as directors, consultants, advisors, vendors, customers, suppliers, or lenders) in exchange for consideration in the form of goods and services.

Equity Compensation

 

     A      B      C  

Plan Category

   Number of Securities
to be Issued

Upon Exercise of
Outstanding Options,
Warrants and Rights
     Weighted-Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding Options,
Warrants and Rights
     Number of  Securities
Remaining Available
for Future Issuances
Under Equity
Compensation Plans

(Excluding Securities
in Column A)
 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

     0       $         1,771,937   

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

     0       $          
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total

     0            1,771,937   
        

 

 

 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

Pamela N. Hootkin, Paul J. Kirk, Jr., Everett B. Miller, III and Roger M. Widmann are members of the Compensation Committee. None of the executive officers of the Company has served on the Board of Directors or Compensation Committee of any other entity that has had any of such entity’s executive officers serve either on the Company’s Board of Directors or Compensation Committee.

 

19


MISCELLANEOUS

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

The following is a schedule of all persons who, to the knowledge of the Company, beneficially owned more than 5% of the outstanding common stock of the Company as of February 15, 2014:

 

Name and Address

   Number of Shares
Beneficially Owned
     Percent
of Stock
 

FMR LLC.

82 Devonshire Street

Boston, MA 02109

     10,842,971         13.70

BlackRock, Inc.

40 East 52nd Street

New York, NY 10022

     9,080,716         11.47

Inland American Real Estate Trust, Inc.

Inland Investment Advisors, Inc.

Inland Real Estate Investment Corporation

The Inland Group, Inc.

2901 Butterfield Road

Oak Brook, IL 60523

     6,136,088         7.75

The Vanguard Group, Inc.

100 Vanguard Blvd.

Malverne, PA 19355

     5,742,216         7.25

The following table sets forth information concerning the security ownership of directors, nominees for directors and named executive officers as of February 28, 2014:

 

Name

   Number of Shares
Beneficially Owned(1)
     Percent
of  Stock(2)
 

Bruce J. Schanzer(3)

     2,596,664         3.28

James J. Burns

     68,860         *   

Pamela N. Hootkin

     53,864         *   

Paul G. Kirk, Jr.

     60,304         *   

Everett B. Miller III

     68,893         *   

Roger M. Widmann

     80,870         *   

Philip R. Mays

     582,529         *   

Brenda J. Walker(4)

     375,334         *   

Directors, nominees and executive officers as a group (8 persons)(3)(4)

     3,887,318         4.90

 

* Less than 1%

 

(1) Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to securities.

 

(2) Percentage amount assumes the exchange of limited partnership interests in Cedar Realty Trust Partnership, L.P. for shares of common stock and no exchange by any other person.

 

(3) Includes 16,664 shares of common stock owned by Mr. Schanzer as custodian for his minor children under the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act. Mr. Schanzer disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares.

 

(4) Includes 69,333 limited partnership interests in Cedar Realty Trust Partnership, L.P. exchangeable for an equal number of shares of common stock of the Company.

Audit Committee Report

The Audit Committee is comprised of James J. Burns, Pamela N. Hootkin and Everett B. Miller, III, all of whom are independent directors as defined by Sections 303.01(B)(2)(a) and (3) of the New York Stock Exchange

 

20


Listing Standards and Rule 10A-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter, which was adopted by the Board of Directors. A copy of the charter is available on the Company’s website at www.cedarrealtytrust.com. The charter was last amended in February 2014. The Audit Committee appoints the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, presently Ernst & Young LLP (“Ernst & Young”).

The Audit Committee oversees the Company’s financial reporting on behalf of the Board of Directors. Company management has primary responsibility for preparing the Company’s financial statements and the financial reporting process, including establishing and maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and evaluating the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Ernst & Young is responsible for performing an independent audit of (i) the Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and (ii) the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, and issuing reports thereon.

In this context, during 2013 the Audit Committee met five times and held separate discussions with management, the accounting firm that provides internal audit services to the Company and Ernst & Young. The Committee met with the internal auditors and Ernst & Young, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examinations, their evaluations of the Company’s internal control, including the results of management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, and the overall quality of the Company’s financial reporting. The Committee also discussed with Ernst & Young the critical accounting policies and practices used in the preparation of the Company’s audited financial statements. Management and Ernst & Young represented to the Audit Committee that its consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Committee reviewed with Ernst & Young its judgments as to the quality, not just acceptability, of the Company’s accounting principles and such other matters as are required to be discussed with the Committee by the standards of the PCAOB, including PCAOB Auditing Standard No. 16, the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and other applicable regulations. In addition, the Committee discussed with Ernst & Young the firm’s independence from Company management and the Company, including the matters in the letter from Ernst & Young required by PCAOB Rule 3526, and considered the compatibility of non-audit services with Ernst & Young’s independence. The Audit Committee also discussed with Ernst & Young matters required to be discussed by the Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended, as adopted by the PCAOB in Rule 3200T.

The Committee received and reviewed a report from the internal auditors detailing the results of such firm’s internal audit procedures and the Company’s compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Committee discussed with Ernst & Young the Company’s internal quality control procedures and any material issues raised by Ernst & Young’s most recent internal quality control review.

The Audit Committee recognizes the importance of maintaining the independence of the Company’s independent public accountants, both in fact and appearance. Each year, the Committee evaluates the qualifications, performance and independence of the Company’s independent public accountants and determines whether to re-engage the current independent public accountants. In doing so, the Audit Committee considers the quality and efficiency of the services provided by the independent public accountants, their capabilities and their technical expertise and knowledge of the Company’s operations and industry. Based on this evaluation, the Audit Committee has retained Ernst & Young as the Company’s independent public accountants for 2014.

The members of the Audit Committee and the Board believe that, due to Ernst & Young’s knowledge of the Company and of the industry in which the Company operates, it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to continue the retention of Ernst & Young to serve as the Company’s independent public accountants. Although the Audit Committee has the sole authority to appoint the independent public accountants, the Audit Committee intends to continue to recommend that the Board of Directors ask the stockholders, at this Annual Meeting, to ratify the appointment of the independent public accountants.

 

21


Based on the review and discussions with management, the internal auditors and Ernst & Young, and subject to the limitations on the role and responsibilities of the Committee referred to above and in the Audit Committee Charter, the Committee has recommended to the Board of Directors the inclusion of the audited consolidated financial statements and related schedule, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.

The Audit Committee

James J. Burns

Pamela N. Hootkin

Everett B. Miller, III

Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation

The Compensation Committee and management of the Company reviewed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Based on such review, the Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement.

The Compensation Committee

Pamela N. Hootkin

Paul G. Kirk, Jr.

Everett B. Miller, III

Roger M. Widmann

Transactions With Related Persons

With respect to approval of transactions with related persons, we have a written policy to have the Audit Committee approve any transactions between the Company and any related person. In determining whether to approve a related person transaction, the Audit Committee takes into account, among other factors it deems appropriate, whether the related person transaction is on terms no less favorable than terms generally available to an unaffiliated third party under the same or similar circumstances and the extent of the related person’s interest in the transaction.

Our articles of incorporation generally prohibit any person or group from owning more than 9.9% of our outstanding shares of stock, subject to a waiver of the limit that may be granted by our Board of Directors. Inland American Real Estate Trust, Inland Investment Advisors, Inc., Inland Real Estate Corporation and The Inland Group, Inc. (collectively, “Inland”) requested a waiver of this provision to permit them to acquire up to 14% of our outstanding stock. Our Board of Directors agreed to this waiver, contingent on Inland agreeing to various voting and other restrictions. As the result, Inland entered into a voting agreement with us, dated as of February 13, 2008. We have granted a waiver of this provision to other stockholders.

Pursuant to the voting agreement, we have agreed to waive the 9.9% limit for Inland to permit purchases of additional shares by Inland such that they may acquire up to an additional 1,881,111 shares; provided, however, that they may not own collectively more than 14% of our issued and outstanding shares or voting securities. If the number of outstanding voting securities is reduced for any reason, Inland will not be required to dispose of any of their holdings even if their beneficial ownership exceeds 14% of the outstanding voting securities. If during the term of the voting agreement shares beneficially owned by Inland are sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of, then they may not reacquire any shares above the greater of (i) their then existing ownership percentage of the Company or (ii) the existing 9.9% ownership limit.

 

22


The voting agreement grants certain officers of the Company named in the voting agreement a proxy to vote all shares owned by Inland in excess of 9.9%, and Inland has agreed otherwise to cause such shares to be (a) voted in favor of any matters proposed by the Company’s Board of Directors and presented to the Company’s stockholders; (b) voted for all nominees for directors that have been nominated by the Company’s Board of Directors; (c) voted against any matters or nominees for directors not proposed by the Company’s Board of Directors and presented to the Company’s stockholders; and (d) duly represented, in person or by proxy, at each meeting of stockholders of the Company duly called by the Company’s Board of Directors.

Inland has also agreed under the voting agreement that it will not, without the prior consent of the Company’s Board of Directors, (w) directly or indirectly or through any other person or entity, solicit proxies with respect to voting securities under any circumstance or become a “participant” in any “election contest” relating to the election of directors of the Company (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934); (x) deposit any voting securities in a voting trust, or subject any voting securities to a voting or similar agreement; (y) directly or indirectly or through or in conjunction with any other person or entity, engage in a tender or exchange offer for the Company’s voting securities made by any other person or entity without the prior approval of the Company, or engage in any proxy solicitation or any other activity with any other person or entity relating to the Company without the prior approval of the Company; or (z) become a member of a Section 13(d) group that is seeking to obtain or take control of the Company.

Unless terminated earlier by the written agreement of the parties, the voting agreement will terminate upon the earlier of (i) the sale or other disposition by Inland of all its shares in excess of 9.9%, (ii) February 13, 2018 or (iii) any action by the Company’s Board of Directors to revoke the waiver of the ownership limit.

The Company has entered into agreements with BlackRock, Inc. that permit it to acquire in excess of 9.9% of the Company’s Common Stock, with Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc. that permit it to acquire in excess of 9.9% of each of the Company’s Common Stock and Series B Preferred Stock and with AllianceBernstein to permit it to acquire in excess of 9.9% of the Company’s Series B Preferred Stock.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

The Company believes that during 2013 its officers, directors and holders of more than 10% of its common stock complied with all filing requirements under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. In making this disclosure, the Company has relied solely on written representations of its directors, officers and holders of more than 10% of the Company’s common stock and on copies of reports that have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

2.  ADVISORY (NON-BINDING) VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, adopted in 2010, requires that we provide our stockholders with the opportunity to vote to approve, on a nonbinding, advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement in accordance with the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. At the Company’s 2013 annual meeting of stockholders, stockholders overwhelmingly approved the executive compensation of the Company.

As described in detail under the heading “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” we seek to closely align the interests of our named executive officers with the interests of our stockholders. Our compensation programs are designed to reward our named executive officers for the achievement of short-term and long-term strategic and operational goals and the achievement of increased total stockholder return, while at the same time avoiding the encouragement of unnecessary or excessive risk-taking.

The vote on this resolution is not intended to address any specific element of compensation; rather, the vote relates to the compensation of our named executive officers, as described in this proxy statement in accordance with the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The vote is advisory, which means that the vote is not binding on the Company, our Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee.

 

23


The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares cast at the meeting either in person or by proxy is required to approve this Proposal.

Accordingly, we ask our stockholders to vote on the following resolution at this meeting:

“RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables and narrative discussion, is hereby APPROVED”.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR approval of the compensation of our named executive officers, as disclosed in this proxy statement.

3.  APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Audit Committee of the Company has selected Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014. A representative of Ernst & Young LLP is expected to be present at the meeting with the opportunity to make a statement if such representative so desires and to respond to appropriate questions.

Audit and Non-Audit Fees

The following table presents fees for professional audit services rendered by Ernst & Young LLP for the audit of the Company’s financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2013 and fees billed for other services rendered by such firm during the periods:

 

     2012
Actual Fees
     2013
Actual Fees
 

Audit fees(1)

     

Audit of consolidated financial statements and internal controls

   $ 655,000       $ 570,000   

Quarterly reviews

     90,000         80,000   

SEC filings, including comfort letters and consents

     113,000         60,500   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Audit Fees

     858,000         710,500   

Audit-Related Fees(2)

     

Audits and accounting consultations relating to consolidated affiliates

     0         0  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Audit-Related Fees

     0         0  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Fees

   $ 858,000       $ 710,500   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Includes fees and expenses related to the annual audit and interim reviews, notwithstanding when the fees and expenses were billed or when the services were rendered.

 

(2) Includes fees and expenses for services rendered from January through December, notwithstanding when the fees and expenses were billed. Such fees include audits of certain consolidated joint ventures.

All audit-related services and each of the other services were pre-approved by the Audit Committee, which concluded that the provision of such services by the Company’s auditors was compatible with the maintenance of that firm’s independence in the conduct of its auditing functions. The policy of the Audit Committee provides for pre-approval of the yearly audits, quarterly reviews and tax compliance on an annual basis. As individual engagements arise, they are approved on a case-by-case basis. The Audit Committee may delegate to one or more of its members pre-approval authority with respect to permitted services.

 

24


Audit Committee Consideration of these Fees

The Company’s Audit Committee has considered whether the provisions of the services covered under the category of “Audit-Related Fees” are compatible with maintaining the independence of Ernst & Young LLP.

The Board of Directors of the Company recommends a vote FOR the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company.

4.  OTHER MATTERS

Stockholder Proposals

Proposals of stockholders intended to be presented at the Company’s 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must be received by the Company on or prior to November 19, 2014 to be eligible for inclusion in the Company’s Proxy Statement and form of Proxy to be used in connection with such meeting. Any notice of stockholder proposals received after this date will be considered untimely. In addition, proposed nominations by stockholders for persons to serve as directors at the 2015 Annual Meeting must be received by the Company between January 2, 2015 and February 2, 2015. Nominations not received within this time frame will not be considered timely.

OTHER BUSINESS

At the date of this Proxy Statement, the only business which the Board of Directors intends to present or knows that others will present at the meeting is that hereinabove set forth. If any other matter or matters are properly brought before the meeting, or any adjournment thereof, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying form of Proxy to vote the Proxy on such matters in accordance with their judgment.

 

BRUCE J. SCHANZER

President and Chief Executive Officer

Dated: March 18, 2014

 

25


0                                         ¢

CEDAR REALTY TRUST, INC.

2014 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS – May 2, 2014

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The undersigned stockholder of Cedar Realty Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation, hereby appoints Bruce J. Schanzer, Philip R. Mays and Brenda J. Walker and each of them the proxies of the undersigned with full power of substitution to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held at 10:00 AM on May 2, 2014, and at any adjournment or adjournments thereof (the “Meeting”), with all the power which the undersigned would have if personally present, hereby revoking any proxy heretofore given. The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the proxy statement for the Meeting and instructs the proxies to vote as directed on the reverse side.

(Continued and to be signed on the reverse side)

 

¢    14475  ¢


ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF

CEDAR REALTY TRUST, INC.

May 2, 2014

GO GREEN

e-Consent makes it easy to go paperless. With e-Consent, you can quickly access your proxy

material, statements and other eligible documents online, while reducing costs, clutter and

paper waste. Enroll today via www.amstock.com to enjoy online access.

NOTICE OF INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIAL:

The Notice of Meeting, Proxy Statement and Proxy Card

are available at www.cedarrealtytrust.com

Please sign, date and mail your proxy card in

the envelope provided as soon as possible.

i Please detach along perforated line and mail in the envelope provided. i

 

¢   00033333333000001000    3   

050214

 

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS AND “FOR” PROPOSALS 2 AND 3. PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN HERE  x

 

THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY SIGNED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED. IF NO SPECIFICATION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES SET FORTH HEREIN, FOR THE APPROVAL OF COMPENSATION FOR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, FOR THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2014, AND IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXY HOLDERS AS TO ANY OTHER MATTERS WHICH MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING.

 

PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.

 

                  1.   To elect 6 nominees for Directors:
                FOR   AGAINST   ABSTAIN
              James J. Burns   ¨   ¨   ¨
              Pamela N. Hootkin   ¨   ¨   ¨
              Paul G. Kirk, Jr.   ¨   ¨   ¨
              Everett B. Miller, III   ¨   ¨   ¨
              Bruce J. Schanzer   ¨   ¨   ¨
              Roger M. Widmann   ¨   ¨   ¨
           

 

2.

 

 

The approval (non-binding) of the compensation of the Company’s Named Executive Officers.

 

 

¨

 

 

¨

 

 

¨

           

 

3.

 

 

To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014.

 

 

¨

 

 

¨

 

 

¨

           

 

4.

 

 

With discretionary authority upon such other matters as may properly come before the Meeting.

         
           
 
            MARK HERE IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING.  ¨
To change the address on your account, please check the box at right and indicate your new address in the address space above. Please note that changes to the registered name(s) on the account may not be submitted via this method.   ¨   

 

Signature of Stockholder             Date:           Signature of Stockholder           Date:      

 

¢     Note:   Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this Proxy. When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.   ¢


ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF

CEDAR REALTY TRUST, INC.

May 2, 2014

 

  

 

PROXY VOTING INSTRUCTIONS

 

  

 

INTERNET – Access “www.voteproxy.com” and follow the on-screen instructions or scan the QR code with your smartphone. Have your proxy card available when you access the web page.      LOGO

 

TELEPHONE – Call toll-free 1-800-PROXIES (1-800-776-9437) in the United States or 1-718-921-8500 from foreign countries from any touch-tone telephone and follow the instructions. Have your proxy card available when you call.

    

 

Vote online/phone until 11:59 PM EST the day before the meeting.

     COMPANY NUMBER     

 

MAIL – Sign, date and mail your proxy card in the envelope provided as soon as possible.

       ACCOUNT NUMBER     

 

IN PERSON – You may vote your shares in person by attending the Annual Meeting.

           

 

GO GREEN – e-Consent makes it easy to go paperless. With e-Consent, you can quickly access your proxy material, statements and other eligible documents online, while reducing costs, clutter and paper waste. Enroll today via www.amstock.com to enjoy online access.

           

 

   

 

NOTICE OF INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIAL: The Notice of Meeting, Proxy Statement and

Proxy Card are available at www.cedarrealtytrust.com

 

   

i Please detach along perforated line and mail in the envelope provided IF you are not voting via telephone or the Internet. i

 

¢   00033333333000001000    3   050214

 

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS AND “FOR” PROPOSALS 2 AND 3. PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN HERE  x

 

THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY SIGNED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED. IF NO SPECIFICATION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES SET FORTH HEREIN, FOR THE APPROVAL OF COMPENSATION FOR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, FOR THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2014, AND IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXY HOLDERS AS TO ANY OTHER MATTERS WHICH MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING.

 

PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.

 

      1.   To elect 6 nominees for Directors:            
          FOR   AGAINST   ABSTAIN
        James J. Burns   ¨   ¨   ¨
        Pamela N. Hootkin   ¨   ¨   ¨
        Paul G. Kirk, Jr.   ¨   ¨   ¨
        Everett B. Miller, III   ¨   ¨   ¨
        Bruce J. Schanzer   ¨   ¨   ¨
        Roger M. Widmann   ¨   ¨   ¨
     

 

2.

 

 

The approval (non-binding) of the compensation of the Company’s Named Executive Officers.

 

 

¨

 

 

¨

 

 

¨

     

 

3.

 

 

To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014.

 

 

¨

 

 

¨

 

 

¨

     

 

4.

 

 

With discretionary authority upon such other matters as may properly come before the Meeting.

   
     
 
      MARK HERE IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING. ¨
             
To change the address on your account, please check the box at right and indicate your new address in the address space above. Please note that changes to the registered name(s) on the account may not be submitted via this method.   ¨   

 

Signature of Stockholder           Date:         Signature of Stockholder         Date:      

 

¢   Note:    Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this Proxy. When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.    ¢