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

Filed by the Registrant  ☒                            Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  ☐

Check the appropriate box:

 

☐	Preliminary Proxy Statement

 

☐	Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

 

☒	Definitive Proxy Statement

 

☐	Definitive Additional Materials

 

☐	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)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

 

☒		No fee required
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☐		Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
		(1)		Amount Previously Paid:
		(2)		Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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		(4)		Date Filed:

 

 

 

April 27, 2020

To my fellow shareholders:

I write this letter while the country is in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic with our employees all working remotely, more than half our tenant businesses closed and the economy essentially frozen. While managing through this surreal time, Team Cedar continues to work with seriousness of purpose and heightened focus as we endeavor to navigate the company through this incredibly challenging time. In thinking of how to contextualize this unprecedented situation, I have looked to the 1918 flu pandemic and resulting economic and cultural prosperity.

The flu pandemic of 1918 started in January 1918 and lasted until December 1920 during which time it infected 500 million people, a quarter of the world’s population at the time, killing up to 100 million. Between 500,000 and 675,000 Americans died as a result of this pandemic (more than double the current projections for COVID-19) at a time when the US population was less than 1/3 of what it is today. This period was followed immediately by what is known as the roaring 20s or the Jazz Age.

The roaring 20s was one of our country’s greatest periods of advancement in terms of economic prosperity, gender equality, ingenuity and invention (major advances in the automobile, aviation, radio and cinema were all made in this era). America of the 1920s was remarkably carefree and alive. The country was recovering from World War I and was ready to start living again.

Although the term pandemic is not new to our language, I will concede prior to March 2020, I think I had only used it in connection with a movie I didn’t particularly want to see. Writing this shareholder letter one month removed from the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic into our lives, we are suddenly living in a world that feels like it is right out of a movie with people quarantined in their homes and hospitals overrun with casualties. There are days when it is difficult to separate our present surreal existence from Hollywood fantasy.

As a retail landlord, Cedar is at the epicenter of the business correction that has resulted from this national health crisis, with roughly half of our tenants closed at this time or operating a strictly take-out business. We are, of course, gratified that our grocery-anchored model has proven its resilience with our grocer anchors providing a critical resource to the community and experiencing a corresponding spike in sales. Nonetheless, the overall operating environment for us, like that of most retail landlords, is stressed.

Many of our smaller tenants are closed due to governmental directives and will find it difficult to pay rent until they are permitted to reopen. This in turn creates uncertainty for us in terms of our cash flow and earnings. That said, our commitment to our tenants and our communities is one of our core principles, and our mission is to preserve as much of our tenant base as possible during this challenging time.

At Cedar, there has been a silver lining in all of this which is that a business scenario I could never have simulated has allowed me to observe the mettle and professionalism of my colleagues. From our C-suite executives to our

asset management analysts to our property managers and throughout the organization, our team has rolled up their sleeves and attacked this challenge with impressive gusto, energy and creativity. The can-do attitude of my Team Cedar colleagues truly exemplifies the best of the American spirit of resilience and optimism.

I imagine this resembles the mindset of our forebears of 100 years ago as they picked themselves up from the scourge of the 1918 flu pandemic to dance and swing to the new Jazz Age music that was to define their generation. Just as the flu pandemic of 1918 gave way to a period of dramatic growth and innovation in our country, we can derive strength from the lesson of history that better times lie ahead.

Our country is one of fighters and survivors. We are optimists and innovators. We live in the greatest country in the world because of its fearless people and growth-oriented culture. I, for one, am excited to see how we take the lessons of this experience to grow, adapt and come out even stronger.

At Cedar, I have had the opportunity to observe the American spirit shine bright in my colleagues. As the leader of this outstanding group of people, I have been humbled to see how they have risen up in the face of adversity. As a shareholder, I am excited to see what the next chapter holds with this outstanding group giving their all for our success.

 

 

CEDAR REALTY TRUST, INC.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD MAY 27, 2020

The annual meeting of stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) 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 Wednesday, May 27, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Depending on developments surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and to support the health and well-being of our stockholders, employees and partners, we might choose to hold a virtual Annual Meeting instead of a physical Annual Meeting. If that were to happen, we will publicly announce the decision to hold a virtual Annual Meeting in a press release available at www.cedarrealtytrust.com as soon as practicable before the Annual Meeting. In that event, the Annual Meeting will be conducted solely virtually, on the above date and time, via live audio webcast. You or your proxyholder can participate and vote at the virtual Annual Meeting by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CDR2020 and using your 16-digit control number.

The Annual Meeting will be held for the following purposes:

 

1.	To elect the seven directors named in the Proxy Statement to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualify.

 

2.	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, 2020.

 

3.	To vote on an advisory (non-binding) resolution to approve the compensation of our named executive officers.

In addition, stockholders will transact any other business that properly comes before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

The Company and the Board of Directors of the Company recommend a vote “FOR” proposals 1, 2 and 3. You should carefully review the accompanying Proxy Statement which contains additional information.

Only holders of record of our common stock at the close of business on April 20, 2020 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting.

THE PROXY STATEMENT AND OUR 2019 ANNUAL REPORT ARE AVAILABLE AT

HTTP://WWW.CEDARREALTYTRUST.COM.

 

Dated: April 27, 2020

Port Washington, NY

 

 

		IMPORTANT: WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, PLEASE FILL IN, DATE, SIGN AND PROMPTLY MAIL THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE TO ENSURE THAT YOUR SHARES ARE COUNTED AT THE MEETING.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

		Page
PROXY STATEMENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY			1
ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING			7
PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS			11
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE OVERVIEW			16
Commitment to Stockholder Engagement			18
Corporate Governance Guidelines and Principles			19
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics			19
Board of Directors			19
Independent Directors			19
Leadership Structure of the Board			20
Board Composition			20
Corporate Governance Documents			21
Share Ownership Guidelines			21
Anti-Hedging and Anti-Pledging Policy			21
Risk Management			22
No Director Overboarding			22
Audit Committee			22
Compensation Committee			23
Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee			24
Board and Committee Performance Self-Evaluation			24
Nomination of Directors			24
New Director Orientation			26
Board Meetings			26
Communications with the Board			26
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS			27
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION			29
Compensation Discussion and Analysis			29
Executive Summary			29
Compensation Philosophy			32
Annual Advisory Vote on Named Executive Officer Compensation and Engagement with Stockholders			32
Compensation Objectives			33
Market Comparison			34
Implementation			34
Base Salary			34
Annual Cash Incentive Bonus			35
Long-Term Compensation			36
Employment Agreements			37
Perquisites			38
Retirement Benefits			38
Clawback Policy			38
Anti-Hedging and Anti-Pledging Policy			38
Share Ownership Guidelines			38
Risk Mitigation			39
Tax Deductibility of Compensation			39
Summary Compensation Table			40
Employment Agreements With Named Executive Officers			43
CEO Pay Ratio			48
Compensation of Non-Employee Directors			48

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

		Page
AUDIT MATTERS			50
Audit Committee Report			50
Audit and Non-Audit Fees			51
Audit Committee Consideration of these Fees			52
PROPOSAL 2: APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM			53
PROPOSAL 3: ADVISORY (NON-BINDING) VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION			54
SECURITY OWNERSHIP; OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS			55
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management			55
Transactions with Related Persons			56
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance			56
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY			57
OTHER MATTERS			59
Solicitation of Proxies			59
Stockholder Proposals			59
Householding			59
Other Business			59

 

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PROXY STATEMENT

 

CEDAR REALTY TRUST, INC.

44 SOUTH BAYLES AVENUE

PORT WASHINGTON, NEW YORK 11050

PROXY STATEMENT

We are sending you this Proxy Statement in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Company, for use at the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (“Annual Meeting”) or any adjournment thereof. The Company’s Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 is being mailed herewith to each stockholder of record. Stockholders may obtain a copy of the Company’s 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K, without charge, by writing to the Company at 44 South Bayles Avenue, Port Washington, New York 11050, Attention: Investor Relations. The 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K is also available on the Company’s website, www.cedarrealtytrust.com.

We intend to first send this Proxy Statement and accompanying materials to stockholders on or about April 27, 2020.

ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING

When and where is the Annual Meeting?

If the Annual Meeting is held as a physical meeting:

The Annual Meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time at 44 South Bayles Avenue, Port Washington, New York 11050.

If the Annual Meeting is held as a virtual meeting:

Depending on developments surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and to support the health and well-being of our stockholders, employees and partners, we might choose to hold a virtual annual meeting instead of a physical annual meeting. If that were to happen, the Annual Meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time via live audio webcast at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CDR2020.

To attend the virtual Annual Meeting, log in at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CDR2020 by using your unique 16-digit control number, which appears on the Notice and the proxy card, voting instruction form, or e-mail transmitting proxy materials, or, if you are a beneficial owner who did not receive a control number, may be obtained upon request to the broker, bank or other nominee that holds your shares. You will also need your 16-digit control number to vote at the virtual Annual Meeting.

As part of the virtual Annual Meeting, we will hold a live question and answer session, during which we intend to answer questions submitted during the Annual Meeting that are pertinent to the Company and the Annual Meeting matters, as time permits. Questions and answers will be grouped by topic and substantially similar questions will be grouped and answered once.

What is the purpose of the Annual Meeting?

At the Annual Meeting, stockholders will consider and vote on the following proposals:

 

1.	To elect the seven directors named in the Proxy Statement to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders or until their successors are duly elected and qualify.

 

2.	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, 2020.

 

3.	To vote on an advisory (non-binding) resolution to approve the compensation of our named executive officers.

 

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PROXY STATEMENT

 

In addition, stockholders will transact any other business that properly comes before the Annual Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof.

Who is entitled to vote?

Only stockholders of record at the close of business on the record date (April 20, 2020) are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. Stockholders are entitled to cast one vote for each share held by them on each matter to be voted upon.

Who can attend the Annual Meeting?

All holders of common shares of the Company at the close of business on April 20, 2020, the record date for the Annual Meeting, or their duly appointed proxies, are authorized to attend the Annual Meeting. Cameras, recording devices and other electronic devices will not be permitted for use at the Annual Meeting other than by the Company.

Please also note that if you hold your shares in “street name” (that is, through a bank, broker or other nominee), you will need to present a copy of the brokerage statement reflecting your share ownership as of April 20, 2020, or other proof of ownership.

What constitutes a quorum?

On the record date of April 20, 2020, the Company had 89,327,100 shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote with respect to all matters to be acted upon at the meeting. 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 Annual Meeting will constitute a quorum at the Annual 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.

How do I vote?

If your shares are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, you are considered the stockholder of record with respect to those shares and the proxy notice was sent directly to you by us. In that case, you may instruct the proxy holders named in the enclosed proxy card (the “Proxy Agents”) how to vote your common shares in one of the following ways:

 

•

Vote via the Internet: You can vote via Internet by following the instructions on the enclosed proxy card or voting instruction form.

 

•

Vote by Telephone: You can vote by telephone by following the instructions on the enclosed proxy card or voting instruction form.

 

•

Vote by Regular Mail: You can vote by mail by signing and dating the enclosed proxy card or voting instruction form and returning it in the postage-paid envelope provided with this Proxy Statement.

 

•

Vote Online (if the Annual Meeting is held as a virtual meeting): You may vote online by attending the virtual Annual Meeting and following the instructions posted at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CDR2020. You will need your unique 16-digit control number, which appears on the Notice and the proxy card, voting instruction form, or e-mail transmitting proxy materials, or, if you are a beneficial owner who did not receive a control number, may be obtained upon request to the broker, bank or other nominee that holds your shares.

Proxies submitted over the Internet, by telephone or by mail must be received by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, May 26, 2020.

 

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PROXY STATEMENT

 

If you vote by telephone, via the Internet, or by signing, dating, and returning the enclosed proxy card, your shares will be voted at the Annual Meeting as you direct. If you sign the enclosed proxy card but do not specify how you want your shares to be voted, they will be voted as the Board recommends.

Can I revoke my proxy?

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 addressed to the Secretary of the Company at our corporate offices) or, if a stockholder is present at the Annual Meeting (whether held physically or virtually), he or she may elect to revoke his/her proxy and vote his/her shares personally. Votes for shares held by a bank, broker or other holder of record, may be revoked by a stockholder submitting new voting instructions to the bank, broker or other holder of record or, if a stockholder has obtained a legal proxy from the bank, broker or other holder of record giving him or her the right to vote the shares at the Annual Meeting, by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person.

What vote is required to approve each matter?

Assuming the presence of a quorum, each of Proposals 1, 2 and 3 must receive the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting in order to pass. The proposal to approve the compensation of our named executive officers is advisory only and is not binding on the Company or the Board. We treat abstentions as shares that are present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum but abstentions will not be counted as “votes cast.” Accordingly, abstentions will have no effect on Proposals 1, 2 and 3 or any other matter that may properly be brought before the Annual Meeting or at any adjournment or postponement thereof, assuming a quorum is present.

If the proxy is submitted and voting instructions are made for some, but not all, of the proposals, as to matters in which instructions are given, the proxy will be voted in accordance with those instructions, and for all other proposals, the proxy will be voted “FOR” as to all enumerated proposals in accordance with the Board’s recommendations.

What if I hold my shares in street name?

Brokers do not have discretionary authority to vote with respect to any of the proposals, except with respect to the ratification of Ernst & Young as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020. Under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) , the proposal to ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP is considered a routine item. Accordingly, if you hold your shares in street name and you do not submit voting instructions to your broker, your broker may exercise its discretion to vote your shares on this proposal. If your broker exercises this discretion, your shares will be counted as present for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum at our Annual Meeting and will be voted in the manner directed by your broker on the proposal to ratify Ernst & Young as our independent registered public accounting firm, but your shares will constitute broker non-votes on each of the other proposals at our Annual Meeting. On all other proposals, your broker is not permitted to vote your shares without your instructions and uninstructed shares are considered broker non-votes. Accordingly, a broker non-vote will not be counted in determining the outcome of the vote on these matters. 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 advisory vote to approve the compensation of our named executive officers, your shares will not be voted. Therefore, it is important that you give instructions to your broker as to how to vote your shares.

 

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PROXY STATEMENT

 

Even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we recommend that you submit the enclosed proxy to vote your shares in advance so that your vote will be counted if you later are unable to attend the Annual Meeting.

If I plan to attend the Annual Meeting, should I still vote by proxy?

Yes. Voting in advance does not affect your right to attend the Annual Meeting. If you submit the enclosed proxy card and also attend the Annual Meeting, you do not need to vote again at the Annual Meeting unless you want to change your vote. If the Annual Meeting is held as a physical meeting, written ballots will be available at the Annual Meeting for stockholders of record. If you are not a stockholder of record but hold the shares through a broker or nominee (i.e., in street name), you may vote your shares in person only if you obtain a legal proxy from the broker, trustee or nominee that holds your shares giving you the right to vote the shares. If the Annual Meeting is held as a virtual meeting, you may vote online at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CDR2020. You will need your unique 16-digit control number, which appears on the Notice and the proxy card, voting instruction form, or e-mail transmitting proxy materials, or, if you are a beneficial owner who did not receive a control number, may be obtained upon request to the broker, bank or other nominee that holds your shares. Even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, whether held physically or virtually, we recommend that you also submit your proxy or voting instructions prior to the Annual Meeting as described above so that your vote will be counted if you later decide not to attend the Annual Meeting.

Who is soliciting the proxies and who pays the costs?

The enclosed proxy for the Annual Meeting is being solicited by the Board. Proxies also may be solicited, without annual compensation, by our trustees and officers by mail, telephone or other electronic means or in person. We are paying the costs of this solicitation, including the preparation, printing, mailing and website hosting of proxy materials. It is anticipated that banks, brokers and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries will forward proxy materials to the beneficial owners of our common shares to obtain their voting instructions and that we will reimburse such persons for their out-of-pocket expenses.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Proxy Statement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. When used in this Proxy Statement, the words “estimated”, “anticipated”, “expect”, “believe”, “intend” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include discussions of strategy, plans or intentions of management. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions about the Company and future events, and actual results, financial and otherwise, may differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Proxy Statement. While forward-looking statements reflect our good faith beliefs, they are not guarantees of future performance. We undertake no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this Proxy Statement or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

 

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PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

 

PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Pursuant to the Company’s 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 of Stockholders or earlier death, resignation or removal.

Director Nominees

Biographical information with respect to our seven director-nominees is set forth below. Each nominee has consented to being nominated for director and has agreed to serve if elected. All of the nominees for election to the Board were unanimously recommended by the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee and were unanimously nominated by the Board.

 

Abraham Eisenstat		Principal Occupation and Positions Held   •  Age: 50 •  Year in which First Elected a Director: 2015 •  Committee(s) Served: Chair of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee and a member of the Audit Committee •  Principal Occupation and Other Information: Mr. Eisenstat is a co-founder of Eisenstat Capital Partners LP, formerly Dabroes Management LP, which was a European long/short equity fund founded in 2008 that now operates as a family investment office. Prior to starting the firm, Mr. Eisenstat was a managing director at Caxton International where for five years he co-ran a European long/short equity fund. Prior thereto, Mr. Eisenstat ran a similar fund at S.A.C. Capital. Mr. Eisenstat covered European equities as a generalist analyst for over six years at Noble Partners, Chestnut Hill Management and Teton Partners. Prior to joining the investment management industry, Mr. Eisenstat acted as research assistant to historian Sir Martin Gilbert and studied international relations at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in Boston, and Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at Oxford University. He graduated with honors from Baruch College of the City University of New York.
Mr. Eisenstat’s qualifications for Board membership include his extensive knowledge of and success in the investment management industry, which, among other things, qualifies him as a financial expert on the Audit Committee.

 

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PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

 

Gregg A. Gonsalves		Principal Occupation and Positions Held   •  Age: 52 •  Year in which First Elected a Director: 2017 •  Committee(s) Served: Member of the Audit and Compensation Committees •  Principal Occupation and Other Information: Mr. Gonsalves has been an advisory partner with Integrated Capital LLC, a leading, hotel-focused, private real estate advisory and investment firm since 2013. Prior to joining Integrated Capital LLC, Mr. Gonsalves was a managing director in Goldman, Sachs & Co.’s Real Estate Mergers & Acquisition Business, where he was the partner responsible for this business unit. In his 20-year career at Goldman Sachs, Mr. Gonsalves completed over 50 M&A transactions worth approximately $100 billion in deal value, working with a variety of companies in a wide range of industries. Mr. Gonsalves has served on the board of POP Tracker LLC, a private LLC based in the U.S., since 2013. He also worked at Mobil Oil Corporation as a sales engineer from 1989 to 1991. Mr. Gonsalves is presently chairman of the board of directors of the Jackie Robinson Foundation, where he has served as a board member for approximately the past twelve years. Mr. Gonsalves received a B.S. from Columbia University and received an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Mr. Gonsalves’ qualifications for Board membership include his extensive experience in real estate and finance, having had a distinguished career in real estate investment banking, which, among other things, qualifies him as a financial expert on the Audit Committee.
Pamela N. Hootkin		Principal Occupation and Positions Held   •  Age: 72 •  Year in which First Elected a Director: 2008 •  Committee(s) Served: Chair of the Compensation Committee and a member of the Audit Committee •  Principal Occupation and Other Information: Ms. Hootkin, a director since June 2008, 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 vice chair of the board of Safe Horizon, New York (a not-for-profit organization) where she also serves on the executive, finance (chair) and investment committees. Ms. Hootkin received a B.A. from the State University of New York at Binghamton and an M.A. from Boston University.
Ms. Hootkin brings to the Board expertise in finance, investor relations and the retail industry. She serves as a financial expert on the Audit Committee, while also bringing gender diversity to the Board.

 

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PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

 

Sabrina L. Kanner		Principal Occupation and Positions Held   •  Age: 62 •  Year in which First Elected a Director: 2018 •  Committee(s) Served: Member of the Compensation and Nominating/Corporate Governance Committees •  Principal Occupation and Other Information: Ms. Kanner joined the Board in June 2018, and currently serves as Executive Vice President, Design & Construction at Brookfield Properties, where she has held various positions, including at Brookfield’s predecessor company, over the past 36 years. Ms. Kanner also serves on the board of Opus Holding LLC, a privately held company that provides development, design and construction services across asset classes to clients with operations in the Midwest and Southwest. Ms. Kanner is a cum laude graduate of Union College, from which she holds a B.A. degree.
Ms. Kanner has extensive experience in large-scale real estate construction and development spanning multiple decades, and brings to the Board both experiential and gender diversity.
Steven G. Rogers		Principal Occupation and Positions Held   •  Age: 65 •  Year in which First Elected a Director: 2016 •  Committee(s) Served: Chair of the Audit Committee and a member of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee •  Principal Occupation and Other Information: Mr. Rogers is currently the managing member of Rogers & Associates, LLC, a provider of specialized solutions and board level advisory work for principals and institutional owners in the real estate industry. Mr. Rogers serves as chairman of the board of RREEF America REIT II, chairman of the board of Net Lease Alliance, a founding director of First Commercial Bank and executive-in-residence for Millsaps College Else School of Management. Prior to founding Rogers & Associates, LLC, Mr. Rogers led Parkway Properties, Inc., a NYSE listed REIT, for 25 years, most recently as its president and chief executive officer, and served on its board of directors. Mr. Rogers also served on the board of governors of NAREIT for six years, including two terms as audit chair. He graduated from the University of Mississippi magna cum laude, served in the U.S. Army as an infantry officer ultimately earning the rank of captain, and received an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Mr. Rogers brings to the Board specialized knowledge of the REIT industry and corporate governance having served as president and CEO of another NYSE-listed REIT for 25 years and having served on the NAREIT board of governors, including as its audit committee chair. Mr. Rogers’ prior executive and audit experience qualifies him as a financial expert on the Audit Committee.

 

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PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

 

Bruce J. Schanzer President and CEO		Principal Occupation and Positions Held   •  Age: 51 •  Year in which First Elected a Director: 2011 •  Committee(s) Served: None •  Principal Occupation and Other Information: Mr. Schanzer has been President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company since June 2011. Prior thereto and since 2007, Mr. Schanzer was 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 the 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 J.D. from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review.
Mr. Schanzer has been involved in real estate as an attorney and investment banker and presently is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Mr. Schanzer has extensive knowledge about the Company, its operations and the retail shopping center industry.
Roger M. Widmann Chairman of the Board		Principal Occupation and Positions Held   •  Age: 80 •  Year in which First Elected a Director: 2003 •  Committee(s) Served: Member of the Compensation Committee and the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee •  Principal Occupation and Other Information: Mr. Widmann, an investment banker, has served as a director since 2003 and has been non-executive Chairman of the Board since June 2011. 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 United States. 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 NYSE), 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 NYSE), a manufacturer of automobile replacement parts. He is also a board member of the Committee to Protect Journalists. Mr. Widmann received a B.A. from Brown University and a J.D. from the Columbia University School of Law.
Mr. Widmann, who has spent most of his career in the investment banking industry and has served as chairman of another public company, brings investment banking expertise and business acumen to the Company. His knowledge has assisted the Company in its capital raising and other finance-related activities.

 

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PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

 

The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares cast at the Annual Meeting either in person or by proxy is required to elect each of the nominees listed above. It is intended that the accompanying form of proxy will be voted for the nominees set forth above. If, in the Board’s judgment, some unexpected occurrence should make necessary the substitution of some other person or persons for one or more of these nominees, shares will be voted for such other persons as the Board may select.

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” the election of each of the nominees listed above.

 

    2020 Proxy Statement  |  15

 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE OVERVIEW

 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE OVERVIEW

The business and affairs of the Company are managed under the direction of our Board, as provided by Maryland law, and the Company conducts its business through meetings of the Board and its three standing committees: the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee.

We structure our corporate governance in a manner we believe closely aligns our interests with those of our stockholders. In 2018, based on our study of positive trends and best practices in corporate governance, we adopted an important stockholder-friendly governance measure approved with 99.9% support by our stockholders, which amended our charter and by-laws to give stockholders the right to act to amend our by-laws, as opposed to reserving this right exclusively to the Board. Our adoption of this change, among other stockholder-favored governance measures, is indicative of the Company’s commitment to stockholder enfranchisement and evidences the importance management and the Board place on open dialogue with our valued investors.

Other notable features of our corporate governance are summarized as follows:

 

WHAT WE DO:		WHAT WE DON’T DO:
✓ All Independent Directors Other than CEO. All of the current seven directors who served on our Board in 2019 other than our CEO are “independent” as defined by the NYSE listing standards.		X No Hedging of Our Securities. Our anti-hedging policy prohibits our directors, executives and employees from engaging in transactions designed to hedge against losses from their ownership of our shares.
✓ Continuously Improve Board Diversity. All of our new director appointments in recent years have enhanced our Board’s diversity, in terms of gender, ethnicity, age, and skill set.		X No Pledging of Our Securities. Our anti-pledging policy prohibits our directors, executives and employees from pledging any securities of the Company.
✓ Extend Important Rights to Shareholders, Such as Ability to Amend Our By-Laws. In 2018, we amended our charter and by-laws to give stockholders the right to act to amend our by-laws.		X No Related Party Transactions. We do not currently have any related party transactions and have stringent related party transaction review procedures.
✓ Caps on Director Pay. Our 2017 Stock Incentive Plan includes a cap on director pay.		X No Poison Pill. The Company does not have a “poison pill” or a stockholder rights plan in place.
✓ Independent Chairman and Committees. Our Board Chairman is an independent director, which strengthens the role of our independent directors and encourages independent Board leadership. All of the members of our Audit, Compensation, and Nominating/Corporate Governance Committees are entirely independent.		X No Excessive Perquisites, No Tax Gross-Ups on Perquisites and No Contractual Tax Gross-Ups on Golden Parachutes. We do not provide any excessive perquisites to our named executive officers or directors and they are not entitled to U.S. federal income tax gross-ups on the perquisites they do receive, nor do our executive employment agreements provide for golden parachute tax gross-ups.
✓ Majority Voting for Directors in Annual Uncontested Elections. Our directors must be elected by a majority of votes cast in uncontested elections.		X No Classified Board. All of our directors are elected annually for one-year terms and require a minimum majority vote to be reelected.

 

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE OVERVIEW

 

WHAT WE DO:		WHAT WE DON’T DO:
✓ Regular Board Refreshment. The Company has nominated a new independent director in four of the last five years to assume the seat of a long-standing director upon his retirement. Currently, 67% of our independent directors have served for less than five years.		X No Undue Restrictions on Stockholder Rights. There are no material restrictions on our stockholders’ right to call special meetings and, stockholder approval is required to materially modify the Company’s capital structure.
✓ Frequent Stockholder Engagement. We engage in regular dialogue with our stockholders, having communicated directly with holders of approximately 44 million, or over 48%, of our outstanding common shares. We have also provided our shareholders with direct access to our directors, including Committee chairs.		X No Overboarded Directors. We are the only public company board on which six of our seven directors serve. Mr. Widmann serves on one other public company board in addition to our Company.
✓ Share Ownership Guidelines for Directors and Executives. Our share ownership guidelines require that our CEO and other named executive officers own shares or limited partnership units with an aggregate value of 4x or 2x base salary, respectively. For each non-employee director who has served as a director for at least four years, such director is expected to own shares of our common stock, including restricted stock, totaling not less than the number of shares constituting the equity portion of his or her annual retainer for the previous four years.
✓ Risk Oversight by Full Board. Our full Board receives quarterly risk assessment presentations that are both quantitative and qualitative in nature, which enables our directors to focus their attention on mitigating the risks that are most significant to us and our business.
✓ Annual Board and Committee Self-Evaluations. The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee annually oversees a robust self-assessment of the Board and committees, including review of Board composition, structure, responsibilities, and meetings, among other criteria. Committees also conduct self-evaluations separately, including review of their respective roles and responsibilities, composition and conduct of meetings.
✓ Regular Executive Sessions of Independent Directors and Board Committees. Our non-executive Chairman and the other non-employee directors of our Board are actively involved in corporate governance matters and, as with each of the Board’s committees, routinely meet in executive session without management several times during the year.

 

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE OVERVIEW

 

Commitment to Stockholder Engagement

We appreciate and value the engagement of our stockholders and actively solicit stockholder feedback. Throughout the year, management communicated in meetings, property visits, telephone calls and/or written communications with several significant stockholders to better understand their perspectives on corporate governance, social responsibility and sustainability, performance, overall compensation, strategy, and business operations.

During 2019, as part of our stockholder engagement, we contacted stockholders accounting for close to 70% of our outstanding shares, and received acceptances from, and actively engaged with, stockholders representing over 48% of our outstanding common shares. During much of such outreach, we made available to our stockholders our CEO and independent directors, including the Chair of our Compensation Committee. Several shareholders declined our invitation to meet, indicating that they were satisfied with our current compensation and corporate governance practices and that they did not deem a meeting necessary at the time. Including our directors’ and executives’ outreach to shareholders, the Company conducted telephonic or in-person meetings with over 48% of our key stockholders during 2019 alone.

In addition, we have routine telephonic meetings with proxy advisors, such as ISS, to stay informed as to their views on best practices in governance and compensation trends, and to elicit meaningful feedback on initiatives the Company is considering.

We accord great weight and importance to our stockholders’ concerns. Feedback received from our stockholders during our outreach process was shared with the Board and its committees and taken into account when considering and, in many cases adopting, proposed changes to corporate governance and compensation practices.

Below is a summary of what we learned from our stockholders and the actions we took in direct response to our stockholder engagement and study of best practices:

 

Our Stockholders Expressed Concern About		How We Addressed Their Concerns
Compensation Structure
•  Triggering conditions for cash severance upon a Change in Control		•  Perpetuation of “double trigger” condition for payment of cash severance following a Change in Control in new COO employment agreement, a modification previously introduced in response to constructive stockholder feedback
•  Length of contract terms		•  Reduced the term and performance measurement period from seven to five years in recent CEO employment agreement renewal
•  Rationale for choice of performance metrics		•  Providing stockholders access to our Board and management on these issues has enabled us to clarify our rationale for the performance metrics chosen and their relationship with our compensation structure

 

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE OVERVIEW

 

Our Stockholders Expressed Concern About		How We Addressed Their Concerns
Governance
•  Stockholder ability to participate in corporate governance		•  Amended charter and by-laws to give stockholders right to act to amend our by-laws, as opposed to reserving this right exclusively with the Board
•  Board diversity		•  Two most recent Board appointments enhanced both gender and ethnic representation on our Board, as well as expanding skills diversity
•  Average director tenure		•  Appointed four new directors in the past five years to replace retiring, long-serving directors, resulting in increase in percentage of independent directors with relatively low tenure (< 5 years)

We believe that these compensation changes and governance enhancements demonstrate our commitment to stockholder engagement and responsiveness to stockholder feedback. In addition, we believe that providing stockholders access to our Board and management on these issues has enabled us to clarify our rationale for the performance metrics chosen and their relationship with our compensation structure. We will continue to actively engage with our investors on these and other topics and to provide transparent disclosure as to the evolution in our thinking and practices as a result of this important feedback.

Corporate Governance Guidelines and Principles

The Board has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines and Principles that address significant issues of corporate governance and set forth procedures by which the Board carries out its responsibilities. Among the areas addressed by the Corporate Governance Guidelines and Principles are director responsibilities, management responsibilities, director access to management, employees and advisors, management succession, annual performance evaluation of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, director compensation and meeting procedures. The Corporate Governance Guidelines and Principles are available on the Company’s website at www.cedarrealtytrust.com.

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

All of our employees, including our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Chief Investment Officer, and our directors are required to comply with our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. Our Code is available on our website at www.cedarrealtytrust.com. We intend to disclose any amendments we make to, or waivers of, certain provisions of our Code of Business Ethics applicable to our officers and directors on our website within three (3)  business days following such waiver or as otherwise required by the rules of the Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or the NYSE.

Board of Directors

Independent Directors

Pursuant to rules of the NYSE and applicable law, a majority of our directors must be “independent.” Each year, the Board reviews the independence of the Company’s directors, including a review of any transactions and relationships between each director, or any member of his or her immediate family, on the one hand, and the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates, on the other. The Board also

 

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE OVERVIEW

 

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

As a result of this year’s review, the Board affirmatively determined that each of Mses. Hootkin and Kanner and Messrs. Eisenstat, Gonsalves, Rogers and Widmann, 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, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, is the only director who is not independent by virtue of his employment with the Company. In addition, none of our directors’ family members are employed by the Company in any capacity. Therefore, following the election of our seven director-nominees at the Annual Meeting, we believe that 85.7% of our Board members will be independent under the NYSE rules.

Leadership Structure of the Board

The Board has a non-executive Chairman to ensure independent oversight of management. 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 meetings of the Board. Mr. Widmann and the other non-management directors of our Board are actively involved in corporate governance matters and meet in executive session several times during the year, generally on the same day as regularly scheduled meetings of the Board or its committees (or as otherwise considered necessary or appropriate).

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 and consideration.

Board Composition

At Cedar, we believe that healthy counterpoint catalyzes good decision making. We cultivate cognitive diversity not only at our Board and management levels, but throughout our organizational ranks, because we believe, among other benefits, that such diversity of viewpoint fosters productive exchange of ideas that ultimately drives long-term value.

Our director nominees represent a broad panoply of perspectives, including with respect to gender, age, race, tenure, skills, and experience, as illustrated below:⁽¹⁾

Composition

 

 

 

(1)	As of April 20, 2020.

(2)	Percentages rounded to total 100%.

 

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE OVERVIEW

 

Experience						No. of Directors(1)
		Industry/Retail Experience		●    ●    ●    ●    ●    ●		6 of 7
		Financial, Audit and Accounting Expertise		●    ●    ●    ●    ●    ●		6 of 7
		Management/Executive Leadership Experience		●    ●    ●    ●		4 of 7
		Investment Expertise		●    ●    ●    ●		4 of 7

(1)	As of April 20, 2020.

Corporate Governance Documents

We maintain a corporate governance page on our website that includes key documents relating to our corporate governance, including our:

 

•

Corporate Governance Guidelines and Principles;

 

•

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics;

 

•

Gift Policy;

 

•

Charter of the Audit Committee;

 

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Charter of the Compensation Committee; and

 

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Charter of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee.

All of these documents can be found by accessing the “Investors” tab on our website at www.cedarrealtytrust.com and clicking on “Corporate Governance.” The documents noted above will also be provided without charge to any stockholder who requests them. We periodically review our corporate governance policies, monitor emerging developments in corporate governance, and enhance our policies and procedures when our Board determines that it would benefit our Company and our stockholders to do so.

Share Ownership Guidelines

Our share ownership guidelines require that our CEO and other named executive officers own shares or limited partnership units with an aggregate value of 4x and 2x base salary, respectively, in each case with a four-year phase-in period. For each non-employee director who has served as a director for four years or more, such director is expected to own shares of our common stock, including restricted stock, totaling not less than the number of shares constituting the equity portion of his or her annual retainer in the aggregate over the previous four years. We believe these stockholding requirements reaffirm the Company’s alignment between its strategic decision-makers and its stockholders.

Anti-Hedging and Anti-Pledging Policy

We do not consider it appropriate for any of the Company’s 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 a result, we have adopted a policy that prohibits officers, directors or employees from purchasing 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. Officers, directors and employees also are not permitted to 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.

 

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE OVERVIEW

 

Risk Management

Management has primary responsibility for identifying, monitoring, mitigating, and managing our exposure to risk, subject to active oversight by our Board. The Board, directly and through its committees, discusses with management any significant enterprise risks and reviews the guidelines, policies and procedures we have in place to address those risks, such as our approval process for significant acquisitions, dispositions and other investments. The Board receives quarterly risk assessment presentations that are both quantitative and qualitative in nature. This process enables our Board to focus on the strategic, financial, operational, legal, regulatory and other risks that are most significant to us and our business in terms of risk likelihood and potential impact and ensures that our enterprise risks are well understood, mitigated to the extent reasonable and consistent with the Board’s view of our risk profile and risk tolerance.

Each of our Audit, Compensation, and Nominating/Corporate Governance Committees exercises its own oversight related to the risks associated with the particular responsibilities of that committee:

 

•

Our Audit Committee reviews financial, accounting and internal control risks and the mechanisms through which we assess and manage risk, in accordance with NYSE requirements, and has certain responsibilities with respect to our compliance programs.

 

•

Our Compensation Committee evaluates whether our compensation policies and practices, as they relate to both executive officers and employees generally, encourage excessive risk-taking.

 

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Our Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee focuses on risks related to corporate governance, Board effectiveness and succession planning.

No Director Overboarding

In order to stay aligned with best practices and to ensure the appropriate level of commitment, we endeavor to ensure that our Board members are not overboarded. For six of our seven directors, ours is the only public company board on which they serve. Our non-executive chairman, Mr. Widmann, serves on one other public company board in addition to our Company.

Audit Committee

The Board has established an Audit Committee consisting of Steven G. Rogers (Chair), Abraham Eisenstat, Gregg A. Gonsalves and Pamela N. Hootkin, all of whom are independent within the meaning of the rules of the NYSE and applicable law. All members of our Audit Committee are qualified as audit committee financial experts 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 NYSE. The designation of “audit committee financial expert” does not impose upon such persons any duties, obligations or liabilities that are greater than are generally imposed on such persons as members of the Audit Committee and the Board, and such designation does not affect the duties, obligations or liabilities of any other member of the Board.

The principal functions of the Audit Committee are as follows:

 

•

employ the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, subject to stockholder ratification, to audit the Company’s consolidated financial statements;

 

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approve or pre-approve all services performed by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, including fees and terms;

 

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provide oversight on the internal reporting process and the adequacy of the Company’s internal controls;

 

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review the scope of the audit of the independent registered public accounting firm and the firm performing the Company’s internal audit procedures;

 

•

appoint, retain, evaluate, approve compensation for, and oversee the Company’s internal auditors;

 

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE OVERVIEW

 

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review 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

 

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monitor the process for the receipt, retention and resolution of complaints regarding accounting, internal controls or auditing matters, among others, that could materially impact the Company’s financial statements.

The charter of the Audit Committee is available on the Company’s website at www.cedarrealtytrust.com.

Compensation Committee

The Board has established a Compensation Committee consisting of Pamela N. Hootkin (Chair), Gregg A. Gonsalves, Sabrina L. Kanner and Roger M. Widmann, all of whom are independent within the meaning of the rules of the NYSE and applicable law. The principal functions of the Compensation Committee are as follows:

 

•

review and approve the compensation and benefits of executive officers, as well as administer and make recommendations to the Board regarding director compensation;

 

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develop and recommend to the Board cash incentive and equity-based compensation programs and plans;

 

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review and discuss with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis (the “CD&A”) required to be included in the Company’s proxy statement and annual report; and

 

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review the relationship between the Company’s compensation practices and effective risk management.

The charter of the Compensation Committee is available on the Company’s website at www.cedarrealtytrust.com.

Under its charter, the Compensation Committee has the authority to engage independent compensation consultants or other advisors to assist it in formulating the Company’s total compensation plan. In designing the 2019 executive compensation plan, our Compensation Committee retained Mercer, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MMC, as its compensation consultant. The consultant provided to the Compensation Committee relevant survey and market compensation data and compared the Company’s compensation to the survey data. The Compensation Committee has relied on the guidance of the consultant in formulating and refining the Company’s executive compensation practices. In selecting Mercer, the Compensation Committee evaluated Mercer’s independence and considered the following factors:

 

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Mercer does not provide any other services to the Company;

 

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The amount of fees to be received by Mercer from the Company as a percentage of total revenues of MMC;

 

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The policies and procedures of Mercer, the Company and the Compensation Committee that are designed to prevent conflicts of interest;

 

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The lack of any business or personal relationships of Mercer with any member of the Compensation Committee;

 

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Stock of the Company owned by Mercer or any of the key Mercer employees servicing the Company; and

 

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The lack of any business or personal relationships between Mercer and any executive officer of the Company.

After considering the foregoing, the Compensation Committee determined that (i) Mercer was not engaged by the Company to perform any other services apart from those detailed above; (ii) Mercer was independent of the Company and management of the Company in performing the above services; and (iii) that the engagement of Mercer did not raise any conflicts of interest.

 

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE OVERVIEW

 

Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee

The Board has established a Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee consisting of Abraham Eisenstat (Chair), Sabrina L. Kanner, Steven G. Rogers, and Roger M. Widmann, all of whom are independent within the meaning of the rules of the NYSE and applicable law. The principal functions of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee are as follows:

 

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develop and recommend to the Board a set of corporate governance principles;

 

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adopt a code of ethics;

 

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adopt policies with respect to conflicts of interest;

 

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monitor compliance with corporate governance requirements of state and federal law and the rules and regulations of the NYSE;

 

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establish criteria for prospective members of the Board;

 

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conduct candidate searches and interviews;

 

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oversee and annually evaluate the Board, its standing committees and management;

 

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annually evaluate the appropriate organization, size and composition of the Board; and

 

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formally propose the slate of directors to be elected at each Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

The charter of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee is available on the Company’s website at www.cedarrealtytrust.com.

Board and Committee Performance Self-Evaluation

To optimize the performance of the Board and its committees each year, the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee oversees a robust self-assessment of the Board and each of its committees that elicits candid feedback on the performance and effectiveness of the Board and its committees, as well as on the efficacy of the self-evaluation process itself. As part of this self-assessment, directors are asked to consider the Board’s composition and structure, key responsibilities, and meetings, among other criteria. Each committee separately conducts its own assessment, and in assessing its structure and performance, considers its role and the responsibilities articulated in the committee charter, the composition of the committee and the conduct of committee meetings. We believe that a thorough Board and committee evaluation process that is focused on the assessment and alignment of director skills with company strategy is more effective than solely relying on strict tenure limits. Throughout the year, the Board and each of its committees routinely use a portion of their regularly scheduled executive sessions to reflect upon and discuss how their oversight performance on behalf of stockholders might be improved.

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, other Board members, management, stockholders and nationally recognized search firms. 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 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, in connection with the Annual Meeting.

The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee has a carefully designed protocol for identifying and selecting nominees for Board positions, which was enhanced in 2019 to refine the desired attributes identified for potential Board nominees.

 

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE OVERVIEW

 

Once the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee has identified a prospective nominee, it makes an initial determination as to whether to conduct a full evaluation of the candidate. This initial determination is based on information provided to the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee with the recommendation of the prospective candidate, as well as the Nominating/Corporate Governance 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 Nominating/Corporate Governance 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 Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee then evaluates the prospective nominee against the standards and qualifications set out in the Company’s guidelines, including:

 

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for non-management directors, independence;

 

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personal and professional ethics, integrity, values and judgment;

 

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leadership skills;

 

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strategic thinking;

 

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ability and willingness to devote sufficient time to carrying out the duties and responsibilities of the Board;

 

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breadth of knowledge about matters affecting real estate industry;

 

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diversity of viewpoints, backgrounds and experience;

 

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experience in real estate, business, finance, accounting rules and practices, law and public relations;

 

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judgment, skill and experience with businesses and organizations comparable to that of the Company;

 

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management experience;

 

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

The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee may also consider such other relevant factors as it deems appropriate, including the current composition of the Board, the balance of management and independent directors, the appropriate size and diversity of the Company’s Board of Directors, and the needs of the Company with respect to the particular talents and experience of its directors and the interplay of the candidate’s experience with that of other Board members. In connection with this evaluation, the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee determines whether the person should be considered for a Board position, and one or more members of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee, and others as appropriate, interview prospective nominees in person or by telephone. The candidate is then required to complete a series of compliance and vetting questionnaires, submit to a background check, establish qualification for service and fitness to serve, as well as identify potential conflicts of interest. Upon satisfactory completion of the interview, vetting process and evaluation, the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee makes a recommendation to the full Board as to the person(s) who should be nominated by the Board, and the Board determines the nominee(s) after considering the recommendation and report of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee.

There are no differences in the manner in which the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee evaluates nominees for director based on whether the nominee is recommended by management, a stockholder, another Board member or an outside search firm.

 

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE OVERVIEW

 

New Director Orientation

The Board has a program for orienting new directors that is overseen by the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee. New directors receive materials with an overview of their duties and responsibilities, significant corporate governance documents of the Company, incorporation documents, regulatory filings, investor presentations, Company policies and committee calendars. They are also required to complete a series of annual compliance questionnaires, and financial disclosures. In addition, directors attend tours of our properties, as opportunities present, to familiarize themselves with the Company’s portfolio of assets.

Board Meetings

In the year ended December 31, 2019, regular meetings of the Board and its committees were as follows: four in-person meetings of the Board, four in-person meetings of the Audit Committee, five meetings (combination of in-person and telephonic) of the Compensation Committee and four in-person meetings of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee. Each incumbent director of the Company standing for reelection attended 100% of the total number of regular meetings held of the Board and committees on which he or she served during his or her tenure of service in 2019. Board members are encouraged to, and do, attend our Annual Meeting of Stockholders. All of our current directors were present at the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders in May 2019.

Communications with the Board

The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee of the Board has 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 44 South Bayles Avenue, Port Washington, NY 11050. The Secretary will 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 she 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 that could materially impact the Company’s financial statements is handled by the Audit Committee in accordance with its procedures.

 

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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

 

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

The Company’s named executive officers are as follows:

 

Bruce J. Schanzer   Age  51   Position:  President and Chief Executive Officer   Served as Named Executive Officer Since  2011		Biographical Information   Mr. Schanzer has been President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company since June 2011. Prior thereto and since 2007, Mr. Schanzer was 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 the 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 J.D. from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review.
Philip R. Mays   Age  52   Position:  Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer   Served as Named Executive Officer Since  2011		Biographical Information   Mr. Mays joined the Company in June 2011 after six years with Federal Realty Investment Trust, where he served in various positions including Controller, Chief Accounting Officer and most recently, Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer. Prior to joining Federal Realty, Mr. Mays was Vice President of Finance and Corporate Controller for CRIIMI MAE, Inc. Earlier in his career, Mr. Mays held various accounting and finance positions, including seven years as an accountant at Ernst & Young LLP, achieving senior manager status at its office in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas. At Ernst & Young LLP, he supervised audits and assisted clients in real estate, construction and hospitality, including public REITs. Mr. Mays has been a C.P.A. since 1993 and has a B.S. degree with a double major in accounting and finance from Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, Florida.

 

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Robin M. Zeigler   Age  47   Position:  Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer   Served as Named Executive Officer Since  2016		Biographical Information   Ms. Zeigler joined the Company in March 2016 after serving as Executive Vice President and Head of Operations at Penzance, a Washington, D.C.-based commercial real estate investment company, since January 2015. From 2005 to 2015, Ms. Zeigler worked at Federal Realty Investment Trust, most recently serving as Chief Operating Officer for the Mid-Atlantic Region. In that capacity, she was responsible for the operations of a portfolio of over 40 shopping centers and five mixed-use projects representing approximately 7.3 million square feet. Additionally, Ms. Zeigler provided oversight and strategic direction on mixed-use development and redevelopment projects. Ms. Zeigler holds a B.S. in Accounting from Florida A&M University and an M.B.A. from Georgia State University.

 

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

At the time of mailing this proxy statement, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has erupted with wide-reaching impact on the global economy, including our business operations. The health and safety of our employees and the communities in which we operate continues to be of paramount concern for the Company, and our Board, the Compensation Committee and executive leadership team will continue to monitor the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and operations.

The proxy statement speaks as of the date of mailing. However, the discussion about our financial, operational and strategic performance relates to 2019 and has not been edited to provide any update with respect to COVID-19 or our 2020 business activities or performance.

In early 2020, the Compensation Committee met to approve certain elements of 2020 compensation for our named executive officers, including base salary, annual cash incentive bonuses and long-term equity incentive awards. These decisions were based on performance during 2019 and comparisons to compensation in the market at the time. All compensation decisions discussed below in this Compensation Discussion and Analysis were made prior to the rapidly unfolding recent developments of the COVID-19 pandemic. While our compensation philosophy and objectives remain unchanged, the Compensation Committee aims to align our 2020 compensation program with the current environment by taking into account the current and anticipated future impacts of these events on the retail shopping center industry, financial markets and national economic activity. Additional information regarding our 2020 compensation program, including any changes to take into account recent events and the current market environment, if any, will be disclosed at the appropriate time.

Executive Summary

This section of our Proxy Statement discusses the principles underlying our executive compensation policies and decisions for our named executive officers. For 2019, the Company’s named executive officers were:

 

•

Mr. Bruce J. Schanzer, President and Chief Executive Officer;

 

•

Mr. Philip R. Mays, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer; and

 

•

Ms. Robin M. Zeigler, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

No other employees of the Company qualified as executive officers under the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC.

In June 2011, the Company hired Mr. Bruce J. Schanzer as CEO and Mr. Philip R. Mays as CFO as part of a long-term strategic plan for improving Company performance. At the time they were hired, the Company and the Compensation Committee affirmed that a core objective of the executive compensation program was to align management’s compensation with long-term stockholder value creation.

Beginning with the hiring of Messrs. Schanzer and Mays, the Company and the Compensation Committee, under the guidance of the Company’s independent compensation consultant, refined our compensation structure. This structure was designed to retain, compensate and incentivize Company executives, commensurate with their experience, responsibilities and accomplishments, and align executive pay with the Company’s long-term strategic objectives and achievement of enhanced stockholder value. Our executive compensation program includes three primary elements:

 

i.

base salary;

 

ii.

annual cash incentive bonus; and

 

iii.

long-term equity incentive compensation.

 

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A significant portion of executive 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 at-risk compensation designed to incentivize our executives to focus on long-term stockholder value creation.

Commencing in 2019, and consistent with a study of trends in executive pay, Mr. Schanzer’s base pay was decreased by $50,000 from $800,000 to $750,000 per annum. Mr. Mays’ base pay remained level from 2018, and Ms. Zeigler’s base pay was increased to $436,000 from $400,000 as of April 1, 2019, consistent with the terms of her new employment contract, and a study of competitive pay positioning in the industry.

In 2020, the base pay of Messrs. Schanzer and Mays, along with Ms. Zeigler, remained level at $750,000, $400,000, and $436,000 compared with 2019.

As explained more fully below on page 35 in the section entitled, “Annual Cash Incentive Bonus,” in setting performance criteria for 2019 bonuses for our named executive officers, our Compensation Committee determined that 70% of the bonus would be based on the Company’s achievement of its targeted Operating FFO, and 30% would be based on a qualitative individual performance evaluation for each of those executives. It was determined that 100% of the 70% portion of the annual bonus incentive based on Company performance would be awarded, based on the Company’s attainment of its Operating FFO target of $0.45, and 100% of the 30% portion of the annual bonus incentive based on individual performance would be awarded, based on a qualitative assessment of individual performance achievements for each of the NEOs. For 2019, the annual bonuses determined by the Compensation Committee to be awarded to our CEO, CFO and COO, respectively, amounted to $750,000, $380,000 and $414,200.

Long-term equity incentive compensation is awarded based on a combination of average TSR over a three-year historical period and individual performance assessment. Once granted, the vesting of such long-term equity incentive awards is based on continued service to the Company. For the CEO, half of his 2018 grant is time-based, contingent upon continuous employment with the Company, and half is performance-based, contingent upon attainment of certain TSR targets. We believe that awarding senior executives a significant amount of their compensation in the form of equity incentive awards aligns management’s incentives with long-term stockholder value creation and encourages retention.

Pay and Governance Practices

Our executive compensation program includes a number of features intended to reflect best practices in the market and to help ensure that the program reinforces our stockholders’ interests, including:

 

WHAT WE DO:		WHAT WE DON’T DO:
✓ Pay for Performance. We align our executive compensation with stockholder returns by providing a significant portion of our named executive officers’ compensation in the form of at-risk awards tied to our short- and long-term strategy and measurable performance.		X  No Excessive Perquisites, No Tax Gross-Ups on Perquisites and No Contractual Tax Gross-Ups on Golden Parachutes. We do not provide any excessive perquisites to our named executive officers or directors and they are generally not entitled to U.S. federal income tax gross-ups on the perquisites they do receive, nor do our executive employment agreements provide for golden parachute tax gross-ups.
✓ Caps on Individual Incentive Awards. We include caps on individual payouts in our annual and long-term incentive plan.		X  No Repricing of Stock Options. We do not permit repricing or buyouts of stock options granted by the Company without prior stockholder approval.

 

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WHAT WE DO:		WHAT WE DON’T DO:
✓ Share Ownership Guidelines. We implement and require compliance with meaningful share ownership guidelines for our directors and named executive officers.		X  No Liberal Share Recycling. Pursuant to the terms of the 2017 Stock Incentive Plan, shares tendered or held back for taxes or to cover the exercise price of an option will not be added back to the reserve pool under the 2017 Plan. Similarly, shares we reacquire in the open market, such as those repurchased pursuant to the Company’s recent buyback program, will not be added to the reserve pool.
✓ Annual Compensation Committee Assessments. Each year, the Compensation Committee assesses its: (i) structure, (ii) performance, (iii) role and responsibilities articulated in the committee charter, (iv) composition, and (v) meeting conduct.		X  No Supplemental Retirement Benefits for Executives. We do not have any supplemental executive retirement plans.
✓ Stockholder Engagement on Compensation Matters. We engage in regular dialogue with our stockholders, communicating with stockholders representing over 48% of our outstanding common shares, and, in certain instances, granted stockholders direct access to our independent directors and committee Chairs.		X  No Compensation or Incentives that Encourage Unnecessary or Excessive Risk. While our compensation program rewards our senior management for achievement of short- and long-term strategic and operational goals and, for the CEO, achievement of a TSR goal, our Compensation Committee reviews external market considerations, internal considerations and the long-term interests of our stockholders, to ensure that excessively risky behaviors are not incentivized.
✓ Independent Compensation Consultant. The Compensation Committee retains an independent compensation consultant to advise it.		X  No Recent Grants of Stock Options. The Company typically provides restricted stock awards with performance or time-based vesting requirements and has not granted any stock options since 2001.
✓ Double-Trigger Condition Upon Change in Control for Payment of Cash Severance to Named Executive Officers. The employment agreements of our named executive officers provide for satisfaction of “double trigger” conditions for payment of cash severance following a Change in Control.		X  No Dividends on Unearned Performance-Based Equity Awards. Under the new CEO employment agreement, dividend equivalent rights issued in connection with performance-based restricted stock units will not be earned or paid unless and until the performance targets are reached.
✓ Entirely Independent Compensation Committee. We have a Compensation Committee composed entirely of independent directors.
✓ Reduction in CEO Base Pay (and Correlated Bonus) in CEO Employment Agreement. Effective January 1, 2019, pursuant to his new employment agreement, Mr. Schanzer’s base pay was reduced from $800,000 to $750,000 and his target annual cash incentive opportunity was accordingly reduced from $800,000 to $750,000.
✓ Reduction in CFO Cash Severance in CFO Employment Agreement. In order to stay aligned with best market practices, the CFO voluntarily reduced his cash severance upon termination without cause or for good reason, other than incident to a Change in Control, from 250% of the sum of base salary and target annual bonus, to 150% of such sum.

 

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

Compensation Philosophy

Our executive compensation program is designed to attract and retain talented senior executives, ensure that their compensation remains competitive relative to the compensation paid to similarly-situated senior executives at comparable publicly-traded REITs, and reward them for superior performance. The program is further designed to reward both short- and long-term performance and to align our senior executives’ and stockholders’ interests. To that end, we believe the compensation packages we provide to our named executive officers should include both cash and share-based incentive compensation that reward performance as measured, in large part, against corporate and individual goals that will enhance stockholder value over the long term.

We believe the overall compensation of our senior executives should primarily reflect their accomplishments as a management team in achieving established key objectives, including the execution of the strategic plan. We also believe the achievement of these key objectives will ultimately enhance stockholder value as reflected in an increased share price. We believe the compensation of our senior executives should not be based on short-term performance of our shares, whether favorable or unfavorable, but rather that the long-term price of our shares is a better reflection of the management of our Company by our senior executives. In this regard, the restricted stock historically granted to our senior executives has vesting periods ranging from three to seven years. Our senior executives are aligned with our shareholders in that they are also subject to the downside risk of a decrease in the value of their compensation in the event the price of our shares declines.

Consistent with this philosophy, our executive pay program uses a combination of base salary, annual cash incentive bonuses and long-term equity incentive awards, with a significant portion of compensation being at risk and dependent on the performance of the Company and the executive, to align executive interests with those of stockholders.

The Compensation Committee is responsible for establishing, implementing, and continually monitoring adherence to our compensation philosophy as applied to our named executive officers. For more information related to the processes and procedures of the Compensation Committee in determining the compensation of our named executive officers, see “Corporate Governance Overview–Compensation Committee” above.

Annual Advisory Vote on Named Executive Officer Compensation and Engagement with Stockholders

Our compensation philosophy is informed by input from our stockholders. We hold an annual stockholder advisory vote on executive compensation. While this vote is considered a non-binding advisory vote, our Compensation Committee and Board value the opinions of our stockholders and seriously consider the voting results when making future executive compensation decisions and in designing the executive compensation program more generally. At the Company’s 2019 Annual Meeting, 63.1% of our stockholders voted to approve the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers. This represented a substantial decrease over prior years, when the Company enjoyed relatively high levels of shareholder support.

Say-on-Pay Responsiveness

The Compensation Committee took seriously the Company’s relatively low 2019 say-on-pay vote in respect of 2018 executive compensation. In 2019, the Company engaged in a proactive outreach campaign to our major shareholders in an effort to better understand the concerns driving the opposition to our executive compensation. As part of that outreach campaign, we contacted stockholders accounting for close to 70% of our outstanding shares, and received acceptances from, and actively engaged with, stockholders representing over 48% of our outstanding shares. We made

 

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

certain, as part of this effort, to give shareholders unmediated access to our Board without the presence of management, to the extent the concerns related to executive compensation. In addition, consistent with the Company’s historical practice, we held telephone conferences with proxy advisory firms, such as ISS, to stay informed on trends in governance and executive compensation, and current thinking as to best practices, as well as to elicit meaningful feedback on initiatives the Company is considering.

Based on the constructive feedback received from our shareholders, the Compensation Committee undertook to make adjustments to our executive compensation principles within the bounds of the Company’s existing contractual commitments.

Below is a summary of what we learned from our stockholders in our 2019 outreach campaign and the actions we took in direct response:

 

Our Stockholders Expressed Concern About		How We Addressed Their Concerns
Compensation Structure
•  Triggering conditions for cash severance upon a Change in Control		•  Perpetuation of “double trigger” condition for payment of cash severance following a Change in Control in new COO employment agreement, a modification previously introduced in response to constructive stockholder feedback
•  Length of contract terms		•  Reduced the term and performance measurement period from seven to five years in recent CEO employment agreement renewal
•  Rationale for choice of performance metrics		•  Providing stockholders access to our Board and management on these issues has enabled us to clarify our rationale for the performance metrics chosen and their relationship with our compensation structure

We believe that these compensation changes demonstrate our commitment to stockholder engagement and responsiveness to stockholder feedback. We will continue to actively engage with our investors on these and other topics and to provide transparent disclosure as to the evolution in our thinking and practices as a result of the important feedback we received.

Compensation Objectives

The Compensation Committee uses three primary pay elements in its executive compensation program: base salary, annual cash incentive bonuses and long-term equity compensation.

Base salary is intended to attract and retain talented executives and to provide compensation that is commensurate with the executive’s scope of responsibility and effectiveness. Cash incentive bonuses are designed to align the executive’s compensation with our short-term business goals and individual performance goals. Long-term equity compensation focuses on achieving our long-term TSR goals and executive retention. We use long-term equity to retain our executives by rewarding them with equity

 

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

only if they remain with us for a substantial period of time and if the Company achieves specified average TSR goals over the preceding three-year period. The allocation between cash and non-cash compensation or short- and long-term compensation is reviewed periodically. A significant portion of compensation is at risk and variable depending on both short- and long-term financial performance, with the largest portion designed to incentivize executives to focus on long-term stockholder value creation.

Market Comparison

For 2019, Mercer used comparable data sets from a NAREIT survey to assess compensation levels for named executive officers. This approach is consistent with the one taken since 2015, when due to changes in both the size and comparability of the Company’s historical peers, the Compensation Committee determined to rely primarily on NAREIT survey data rather than peer group information in setting executive pay.

The NAREIT survey data for 2019 represented a total of 126 REITs. The Company referenced various cuts of data including a broad market reference of REITs with total capitalization under $1.5 billion, from $1.5 billion to $3 billion, as well as retail REITs of all sizes, many of which compete with the Company for executive talent. (As of December 31, 2019, the Company’s total capitalization was approximately $1.06 billion.) Mercer furnished the Compensation Committee with a report that compared the Company’s executive officer compensation to the relevant survey data. This report was considered by the Compensation Committee in setting total compensation for 2019.

Although comparisons of compensation paid to our senior management relative to compensation paid to similarly situated executives in the survey assists the Compensation Committee in determining compensation, the Compensation Committee does not benchmark pay to a specific targeted position and principally evaluates compensation based on the corporate business and strategic objectives and considerations discussed above.

Implementation

The Compensation Committee determines the appropriate level and mix of compensation. The Compensation Committee also considers the individual components of compensation, as well as the total compensation received by each named executive officer, relative to each officer’s performance, the market and the Company’s other named executive officers in making its determination. The amount each executive actually earns varies based on the Company’s performance and the executive’s performance, contribution and overall value to the Company. The Compensation Committee also conducts an annual review of our CEO’s performance and considers these results when determining the CEO’s compensation. Our CEO plays a significant role in setting the compensation for our other members of senior management, including named executive officers, by providing the Compensation Committee with an evaluation of their performance, together with recommendations for the amount of the annual cash incentive bonus and the size of long-term equity awards. The Compensation Committee also obtains input from Mercer and has discretion to accept, reject or modify the CEO’s recommendations.

Base Salary

Base salaries for our named executive officers depend on the scope of their responsibilities and performance. Base salary is designed to compensate the executives fairly for services rendered during the year. These salaries are compared to NAREIT executive compensation survey data. The Compensation Committee receives from Mr. Schanzer his recommended salary level for each executive officer (other than Mr. Schanzer) for its review. For 2019, the base salary of Mr. Mays was unchanged and Ms. Zeigler’s was increased by $36,000 as of April 1, 2019 pursuant to her contract renewal. Consistent with his 2018 contract renewal, the base salary of Mr. Schanzer was reduced by $50,000 beginning in January 2019.

 

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The Compensation Committee is required to review base salaries annually and may increase, but not further decrease, the salaries of Messrs. Schanzer and Mays and Ms. Zeigler pursuant to the terms of their respective employment agreements. In making decisions regarding executive officers’ base salaries, the Compensation Committee takes into account relevant factors, including individual performance and market compensation data.

Annual Cash Incentive Bonus

The Compensation Committee seeks to align the interests of the named executive officers with the interests of stockholders by linking executive pay to individual performance and specified financial objectives.

In setting objectives at the beginning of the year, the Compensation Committee determined that 70% of the bonus of named executive officers would be based on the Company’s attainment of its targeted operating FFO (after taking into account payment of bonuses), and 30% would be based on a qualitative evaluation of the individual performance of each of the executives. Operating FFO is a key annual earnings measurement for the Company, as is the case for other REITs. The Company considers Operating FFO to be a meaningful measure of financial performance because it excludes items the Company does not believe are indicative of its core operating performance, such as acquisition pursuit costs, amounts relating to early extinguishment of debt and preferred stock redemption costs, management transition costs and certain redevelopment costs. The Company believes Operating FFO also provides a consistent basis for comparing the Company’s performance across reporting periods. The Operating FFO bonus targets and actual Operating FFO for 2019 were as follows:

 

Threshold

Target

Maximum

Actual

Operating FFO

$0.40 per share

$0.45 per share

$0.50 per share

$0.45 per share

Percentage of Bonus

50%

100%

150%

100%

As indicated above, if Operating FFO for 2019 had been less than $0.40 per share, the CEO, CFO and COO would not have had the right to receive any bonus with respect to Company performance for that year. If earned, the Company performance bonus percentage is computed on a linear basis between the Threshold Operating FFO per share amount to the Target Operating FFO and, likewise from the Target Operating FFO to the Maximum Operating FFO per share that is attainable after taking into account the bonus expense for all of the Company’s employees at that Operating FFO level. Operating FFO for 2019 was $0.45 per share, which corresponded to a payout of 100% of target bonuses for each of the named executive officers after taking into account bonus payouts in the calculation of Operating FFO. For a reconciliation of FFO and Operating FFO to net (loss) attributable to common shareholders, see Item 7—“Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the Company’s 2019 Annual Report.

In early February 2020, Mr. Schanzer recommended to the Compensation Committee annual cash incentive bonus targets for each of the senior executives (other than himself), including the CFO and the COO, based on performance over the prior year. The Compensation Committee reviewed the executive officers’ responsibilities and contributions and made its own assessment as to bonuses for the named executive officers, placing significant weight on the recommendations of Mr. Schanzer for Mr. Mays’ and Ms. Zeigler’s bonuses.

 

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

The Compensation Committee made the following qualitative assessments with respect to individual performance for 2019:

 

Executive		Individual performance for 2019
Mr. Schanzer		•      Guided the Company through strategic acquisition of Girard Plaza, a shopping center adjacent to its South Philadelphia Shopping Center, in connection with its Southquarter redevelopment project.   •      Seized on favorable market conditions to launch a stock repurchase program at the end of 2018, resulting in repurchase in the open market or through private transactions of approximately 2.8 million shares at a discount through the expiration of the program on December 18, 2019.   •      Guided the Company through strategic rollout of its various redevelopment projects, including Southquarter Crossing, Revelry and Northeast Heights.
Mr. Mays		•      Overall responsibility for the Company’s financial activity and an invaluable overall contributor to the Company’s strategy and business initiatives.   •      Successfully oversaw stock repurchase program at the end of 2018, resulting in repurchase in the open market or through private transactions of approximately 2.8 million shares at a discount through the expiration of the program on December 18, 2019.   •      Navigated Company’s transition to new revenue recognition lease accounting rules, effective as of January 1, 2019.
Ms. Zeigler		•      Overall responsibility for administration of Company operations and stewardship of Company’s redevelopment projects.   •      Drove achievement of milestones in key redevelopment projects.   •      Oversaw rebranding and community outreach campaigns to enlist support of critical constituencies.   •      Successfully drove occupancy, merchandising and proactive releasing of vacant anchors, hedging exposure to retail bankruptcies, throughout the Company’s portfolio.

The annual cash incentive bonuses awarded to the CEO, CFO and COO for 2019 are reflected in the “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column in the Summary Compensation Table. Based on a qualitative assessment of the above-listed performance achievements, the Compensation Committee determined to award each of the NEOs 100% of the 30% portion of the annual bonus incentive based on individual performance.

Long-Term Compensation

We believe that outstanding long-term performance is achieved when executives have an ownership position that encourages them to focus on the Company’s long-term success. Long-term equity awards are made to eligible employees to align their long-term interests with those of stockholders, deliver market competitive pay, provide a strong retentive hook, and aid in recruitment. At the same time, by incentivizing our senior management as stakeholders in our performance, the Company benefits on an operational level from improved productivity and efficiency gains, and the associated value creation.

 

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Recipients of awards under this program realize value typically over a three-year, and occasionally a five-year, vesting period. We believe that the combination of this extended vesting period with the requirement that our named executive officers continually hold a significant equity position in the Company creates a strong long-term alignment of interests between decision makers at the Company and our stockholders.

Stock awards vest based on either performance, continued service or both, subject to acceleration of vesting in certain circumstances, at the discretion of the Compensation Committee, and as further provided in the employment agreements and/or award agreements with the named executive officers.

With the exception of the CEO’s equity grants which are denominated in shares, our practice is for the Compensation Committee to approve grants of long-term equity compensation as dollar-denominated awards and then to grant a number of shares that have a fair market value equal to the aggregate dollar value of the award based on the closing price of a share of common stock on the day the grant is made.

The Compensation Committee continues to believe that TSR is the most proximate measure to align CEO pay with stockholder value creation. TSR was selected as the basis for the CEO’s performance-based long-term equity award as it ties this portion of the compensation to stockholder value, with the total value of this award corresponding to stock price appreciation and dividends. The Compensation Committee believed that absolute TSR was the appropriate measure for Company performance as: (a) it more directly aligns the interests of our CEO with our stockholders, and (b) there are few other REITs with the Company’s business strategy, making construction of a suitable performance peer group difficult.

Mr. Schanzer. Consistent with the terms of his employment agreement, Mr. Schanzer did not receive an equity grant in 2019. Half of his 2018 grant is time-based, contingent upon continuous employment with the Company, and half is performance-based, contingent upon attainment of certain TSR targets.

Mr. Mays. On January 2, 2019, the Compensation Committee awarded Mr. Mays a grant of 129,032 shares as a retention incentive that will vest in full on the fifth anniversary of the grant date, provided he continues to be employed by the Company through such date. On February 5, 2019, the Compensation Committee awarded Mr. Mays a grant of 60,000 shares of restricted stock pursuant to his annual long-term equity award that will vest in full on the third anniversary of the grant date, provided he continues to be employed by the Company through such date.

Ms. Zeigler. We did not grant any additional equity awards to Ms. Zeigler in 2019. In connection with her entry into her amended and restated employment agreement, Ms. Zeigler will be entitled to participate in the Company’s long-term incentive compensation plan pursuant to which she will be granted annual long-term restricted stock grants as determined in the reasonable discretion of the Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee. The terms of the annual LTIP grants for which Ms. Zeigler is eligible under the terms of her employment agreement are described more fully below on page 46 in the section entitled “Employment Agreements with Named Executive Officers — New COO Employment Agreement.”

Employment Agreements

During 2019, the Company had employment agreements with each of its named executive officers: Messrs. Schanzer and Mays, and Ms. Zeigler. Effective April 2019, upon the natural expiration of Ms. Zeigler’s employment agreement, the Company entered into a new employment agreement with Ms. Zeigler, taking into account current thinking as to best compensation practices and constructive input from our stockholders. The agreements are described in detail on page 43 in the section entitled “Employment Agreements With Named Executive Officers.”

 

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Perquisites

The only material perquisites provided to our named executive officers relate to automobile payments and reimbursement for certain expenses incurred. Our named executive officers are not entitled to U.S. Federal income tax gross-ups on any perquisites that are provided.

Retirement Benefits

Named executive officers are given the opportunity to participate in the Company’s tax-qualified 401(k) plans providing for employer and employee contributions. In 2019, the Company matched 100% of the first 3% of eligible employee compensation contributed and 50% of the next 2% of eligible employee compensation contributed up to the annual limit of 4% of eligible compensation, which amounts to $11,200 per recipient for 2019. The Company does not provide supplemental retirement benefits. Messrs. Schanzer and Mays and Ms. Zeigler each received the maximum match.

Several members of our senior management team, including Messrs. Schanzer and Mays and Ms. Zeigler, participate in the Company’s 2005 Cedar Realty Trust, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan (“Rabbi Trust Plan”). Under this deferred compensation plan, participants may defer a portion of their base salaries and cash bonuses on a pre-tax basis and receive a tax-deferred return on such amounts based on the performance of specific investments selected by the participants. Participants may also defer share awards made under the Company’s 2017 Stock Incentive Plan, as well as related dividends. In connection with this plan, the Company has established a “rabbi trust” overseen by an independent trustee (the “Rabbi Trust”) wherein the trustee is directed to make investments of the deferred cash amounts which track as closely as possible to those selected by each participant in order to generally match its liabilities to the participants under the deferred compensation plan with equivalent assets and thereby limit market risk.

Clawback Policy

The SEC has not yet issued final regulations regarding clawback policies under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”). We intend to adopt a clawback policy in conformity with the SEC’s final regulations once they have been promulgated. We have chosen to wait to adopt a formal policy until the SEC issues its regulations to ensure that our policy will be fully compliant with the regulations as finally adopted.

Anti-Hedging and Anti-Pledging Policy

We do not consider it appropriate for any of the Company’s 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 a result, the Company prohibits officers, directors or employees from purchasing puts, calls, options or other derivative securities based on the Company’s securities or its correlates. The policy also prohibits hedging or monetization transactions, such as forward sale contracts, equity swaps, collars and exchange funds. Officers, directors and employees 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.

Share Ownership Guidelines

The Compensation Committee believes that management should have a significant ownership interest and has implemented share ownership guidelines for the named executive officers to more closely align their interests with those of stockholders. The number of shares of our common stock that an executive must own is set as a multiple of the executive’s base salary. Unearned performance shares

 

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and restricted stock units and unvested restricted stock count toward an executive’s ownership of our common stock under the guidelines. For the CEO, the multiple is four times base salary, while for the other named executive officers, the multiple is two times base salary, in each case with a four-year phase-in period.

 

Named Executive Officer		Stock Ownership Target as a Multiple of Salary		In Compliance*   (Yes/No)
Bruce J. Schanzer		4x		Yes
Philip R. Mays		2x		Yes
Robin M. Zeigler		2x		Yes

*	As of December 31, 2019.

Risk Mitigation

The Compensation Committee assesses executive compensation, and particularly annual cash incentive bonuses and long-term incentive compensation, in light of corporate and operational risks facing the Company. Based on these assessments, our executive compensation program includes risk mitigating features, such as: balance between short- and long-term incentives, cash versus equity pay, fixed versus variable pay, multiple performance measures, and anti-hedging and anti-pledging policies.

The Company’s share ownership requirements for named executive officers further mitigates risk by reinforcing alignment of executives’ incentives with Company performance.

 

Compensation Risk Management Features

•  Mix of fixed and variable pay

•  Balanced, risk-adjusted performance measures

•  Pay-for-performance process that bases individual awards on Company financial results and stock performance

•  Deferral of a majority of variable compensation through equity-based awards

•  Substantial stock ownership for directors and executive officers ensuring alignment with stockholders

Tax Deductibility of Compensation

The financial reporting and income tax consequences to the Company of the compensation components for executive officers are considered by the Compensation Committee in analyzing the level and mix of compensation. Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) prohibits a publicly traded company from taking a tax deduction for compensation in excess of $1 million paid to the chief executive officer and certain of its other most highly compensated executive officers who are “covered employees” under Section 162(m). Certain “performance-based compensation” with respect to taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2017 or payable pursuant to a binding written agreement in effect on and not materially modified after November 2, 2017, is excluded from this $1 million cap. The Compensation Committee continues to evaluate the deductibility of executive compensation, while retaining the discretion it deems necessary to compensate the Company’s executive officers as it determines appropriate.

 

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Compensation Committee Report

The Compensation Committee and management of the Company reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Based on such review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement and incorporated by reference into our 2019 Annual Report.

The Compensation Committee

Gregg A. Gonsalves

Pamela N. Hootkin*

Sabrina L. Kanner

Roger M. Widmann

 

*	Compensation Committee Chair.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

Gregg A. Gonsalves, Pamela N. Hootkin., Sabrina L. Kanner, and Roger M. Widmann were members of the Compensation Committee during the year ended December 31, 2019. No member of the Compensation Committee during 2019 was an officer, employee or former officer of ours or any of our subsidiaries or had any relationship that would be considered a compensation committee interlock requiring disclosure in this Proxy Statement pursuant to SEC regulations. None of the executive officers of the Company have served on a 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 or Compensation Committee.

Summary Compensation Table

The following table sets forth information regarding compensation paid by the Company to Messrs. Schanzer and Mays and Ms. Zeigler, for fiscal years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, reflecting compensation decisions made prior to the rapidly unfolding COVID-19 pandemic:

 

Name and Principal Position		Year					Salary(1) ($)					Bonus ($)					Stock Awards(2) ($)					Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation(1)(3) ($)					All Other Compensation(4) ($)					Total ($)
Bruce J. Schanzer  President and Chief  Executive Officer				2019 2018 2017					750,000 800,000 800,000					— — —					— 9,082,500 —					720,000 720,000 640,000					33,630 33,430 29,388					1,503,630   10,635,930   1,469,388
Philip R. Mays  Executive Vice President  And Chief Financial Officer				2019 2018 2017					400,000 400,000 400,000					— — —					609,999 — —					342,000 342,000 304,000					17,200 17,000 16,800					1,369,199   759,000   720,800
Robin M. Zeigler  Executive Vice President  And Chief Operating  Officer				2019 2018 2017					436,000 400,000 400,000					— — —					— 1,800,000 560,000					342,000 342,000 304,000					17,200 17,000 16,800					795,200   2,559,000   1,280,000

(1)	Amounts shown include amounts deferred at the election of the named executive officers into the Company’s 401(k) plan, to the extent applicable.

 

(2)

This column represents the grant date fair value of long-term equity awards granted under the Company’s Stock Incentive Plans. The number of shares granted is calculated in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board, Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (“FASB ASC Topic 718”), not including any estimates of forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions. The amount reported for Mr. Schanzer in 2018 includes $4,702,500 for performance-based RSUs valued in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Assuming the highest level of performance conditions will be achieved, Mr. Schanzer’s performance-based

 

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RSU award had a value of $6,570,000 based on the share price on the grant date. See Notes 2 and 14 to the financial statements in our 2019 Annual Report regarding assumptions we made in determining the fair value of stock awards. Amounts shown include amounts deferred at the election of the named executive officers under the Rabbi Trust Plan described above. See section above entitled, “Executive Compensation — Long-Term Compensation” for a more complete description of the equity awards granted to Mr. Schanzer in connection his new employment agreement.

 

(3)

Represents cash incentive bonuses earned with respect to the years indicated based upon the achievement of corporate and individual performance goals. See the section above entitled, “Executive Compensation — Annual Cash Incentive Bonus” for a description of the performance goals and process for determining annual cash bonus amounts.

 

(4)	For 2019 and 2018, consists of matching contributions made by the Company on behalf of the named executive officers to its 401(k) plan and automobile allowances and related expenses.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards for Year Ended December 31, 2019

The following table presents the range of possible payouts of equity and non-equity incentive awards granted to the named executive officers in 2019:

 

				Estimated Possible Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards												Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards												All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock or Units (#)				Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards ($)
Name		Grant Date		Threshold ($)				Target ($)				Maximum ($)				Threshold (#)				Target (#)				Maximum (#)
Bruce J. Schanzer		N/A			375,000				750,000				1,125,000				—				—				—				—				—
Philip R. Mays		N/A 1/2/2019 2/5/2019			190,000 — —				380,000 — —				570,000 — —				— — —				— — —				— — —				— 129,032 60,000				— 399,999 210,000
Robin M. Zeigler		N/A			207,100				414,200				621,300				—				—				—				—				—

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2019

The following table sets forth outstanding equity awards held by our named executive officers as of December 31, 2019:

 

		Stock Awards
Name		Number of Shares or Units of Time-Based Stock That Have Not Vested (#)		Market Value of Shares or Units of Time-Based Stock That Have Not Vested ($)(1)		Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#)		Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($)(1)
Bruce J. Schanzer		1,000,000(2)		2,950,000		500,000(8)		1,475,000
Philip R. Mays		276,564(3)    129,032(4)      60,000(5)		815,864    380,644    177,000		—           —           —		—               —               —
Robin M. Zeigler		93,178(6)		274,875		—		—
		386,266(7)		1,139,485		—		—

(1)	Based on the $2.95 closing price of a share of the Company’s common stock on December 31, 2019.

 

(2)	These shares are scheduled to vest in full on June 15, 2023, the fifth anniversary of their date of grant, provided that Mr. Schanzer remains employed by us through such date.

 

(3)	These shares are scheduled to vest in full on February 17, 2021, the fifth anniversary of their date of grant, provided that Mr. Mays remains employed by us through such date.

 

(4)	These shares, awarded pursuant to a retention incentive, are scheduled to vest in full on January 2, 2024, the fifth anniversary of their date of grant, provided that Mr. Mays remains employed by us through such date.

 

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(5)	These shares, awarded pursuant to the annual long-term equity incentive program for senior executives, are scheduled to vest in full on February 5, 2022, the third anniversary of their date of grant, provided that Mr. Mays remains employed by us through such date.

 

(6)	These shares are scheduled to vest in full on February 22, 2020, the third anniversary of their date of grant, provided that Ms. Zeigler remains employed by us through such date.

 

(7)	These shares are scheduled to vest in full on February 7, 2023, the fifth anniversary of their date of grant, provided that Ms. Zeigler remains employed by us through such date. This grant is in lieu of any other grants to be made for the following three-year period.

 

(8)	Represents the threshold number of shares subject to the performance-based award under the terms of the CEO employment agreement.

Option Exercises and Stock Vested

No options were granted by the Company or exercised during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. None of the named executive officers have ever been granted stock options. The following table sets forth, for each of the named executive officers, information with respect to vesting of restricted stock awards during the year ended December 31, 2019:

 

		Stock Awards
Name		Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#)(1)		Value Realized on Vesting ($)(2)
Bruce J. Schanzer		—		—
Philip R. Mays		—		—
Robin M. Zeigler		13,831		47,025(3)

(1)

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. Zeigler was 13,831 shares, having a value of $47,025 at the time of vesting.

 

(2)	The value realized on vesting is based on the closing market price per share of our common stock on the NYSE on the day preceding the vesting date, multiplied by the number of restricted stock units that vested.

 

(3)	Based on a $3.40 closing price per share of common stock on March 29, 2019.

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

Several of our senior executives, including Messrs. Schanzer and Mays and Ms. Zeigler, participate in the Rabbi Trust Plan. Under this deferred compensation plan, participants may defer a portion of their cash salaries and bonuses on a pre-tax basis and receive a tax-deferred return on such amounts based on the performance of specific investments selected by the participants. Participants may also defer share awards made under the 2017 Stock Incentive Plan, as well as related dividends. In connection with this plan, the Company has established the “Rabbi Trust” wherein the trustee is directed to make investments of the deferred cash amounts which track as closely as possible to those selected by each participant in order to generally match its liabilities to the participants under the deferred compensation plan with equivalent assets and thereby limit market risk. Generally, cash deferrals will be distributed in a lump sum on the earlier of the first day of the 61^st month following the end of the calendar year to which such deferral relates, or as soon as practicable after the participant’s separation from service for any reason other than death or retirement (or six months thereafter, in the case of any participant who is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Code Section 409A), unless the participant elects to receive the distribution in installments, or to otherwise further defer the distribution, as provided in the Rabbi Trust Plan. Generally, share deferrals will be distributed in a lump sum on the later of (a) the first business day of the January next following the third anniversary date of the grant, or (b) the first business day of the January next following the date on which the share deferrals are scheduled to vest in their entirety based on the original vesting schedule, unless the participant elects to receive the distribution in installments, or to otherwise further defer the distribution, as provided in the Rabbi Trust Plan. In the event of a termination or constructive termination of the Rabbi Trust Plan, such plan provides for an income tax gross up on plan benefits distributed upon such termination or constructive termination.

 

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The following table represents nonqualified deferred compensation held by named executive officers in the Company’s Rabbi Trust as of December 31, 2019:

 

Name		Executive Contributions in 2019($)(1)					Registrant Contributions in 2019($)					Aggregate Earnings in 2019($)(2)					Cancellation/ Forfeitures in 2019($)					Aggregate Withdrawals/ Distributions in 2019($)					Aggregate Balance at December 31,  2019($)(3)
Bruce J. Schanzer				1,095,000			N/A							(690,000	)				—					(785,000	)				5,900,000
Philip R. Mays				399,999			N/A							(71,902	)				—					—					1,196,508
Robin M. Zeigler				—			N/A							(20,332	)				—					—					315,677

(1)

Named executive officer contributions are included in the “Stock Awards” column of the Summary Compensation Table.

 

(2)

The losses in this column represent loss in value due to decrease in share price during the calendar year 2019.

 

(3)

All holdings are in Company shares, with values based on the $2.95 closing price of a share of common stock on December 31, 2019.

Employment Agreements With Named Executive Officers

During 2018, the Company had employment agreements with each of its named executive officers: Messrs. Schanzer and Mays, and Ms. Zeigler. Effective April 2019, upon the natural expiration of Ms. Zeigler’s employment agreement, the Company entered into a new employment agreement with Ms. Zeigler, taking into account current thinking as to best compensation practices and constructive input from our stockholders.

CEO Employment Agreement

Effective June 15, 2018, the Company entered into an amended and restated employment agreement with Mr. Schanzer, pursuant to which Mr. Schanzer will continue to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Below is a summary of the material terms of the amended and restated employment agreement.

Base Salary

 

•

Reduction in base salary commencing January 1, 2019 from $800,000 to $750,000 per annum, subject to annual review and increase in the discretion of the full Board.

Bonus

 

•

Target annual bonus equal to 100% of base salary, subject to the achievement of performance criteria established by the Board or Compensation Committee.

Long-Term Incentive Compensation (Time- and Performance-Based)

 

•

Initial time-based grants of 750,000 restricted shares of common stock, and 250,000 restricted shares of common stock of the Company on June 15, 2018 and January 2, 2019, respectively, amounting in the aggregate to $4.38 million, which will vest in full on the fifth anniversary of the effective date of the agreement (June 15, 2023), subject to Mr. Schanzer’s continued employment by the Company through such date.

 

•

Grant of 1,500,000 performance-based RSUs and associated DERs of the Company on June 15, 2018, which will vest and be earned, if at all, based on the Company’s Average Annual TSR over a five-year performance period as set forth in the employment agreement, with the ability to earn up to 50% of such grant at the conclusion of an interim three-year measurement period. The target number of RSUs subject to the award is 1,000,000 and is based on achievement of 6.5% Average Annual TSR. In order for any portion of the RSUs to vest and be earned, our Average Annual TSR for the relevant performance period must be at least 4%. The associated DERs are not paid until the performance criteria are achieved and

 

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will be forfeited to the extent such criteria are not achieved. See the section entitled “Executive Compensation — Long-Term Compensation” above for additional information regarding the performance-based RSUs granted to Mr. Schanzer.

 

•

If the RSUs vest and if the Company’s Average Annual TSR return for the period between June 15, 2018 and the June 15, 2023 (or, if the RSUs vest earlier pursuant to the terms of Mr. Schanzer’s employment agreement, the date on which the RSUs vest) is greater than 10%, Mr. Schanzer shall be entitled to a cash amount equal to (i) (A) 500,000 multiplied by (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is the Company’s average annual total shareholder return minus 10% (expressed as a number rather than a percentage) and the denominator of which is ten, (provided that, in no event shall such fraction be greater than one multiplied, by (ii) (x) if such vesting occurs in connection with a Change in Control, the per share sale price in the Change in Control and (y) in all other circumstances, the average closing price of our common stock for the 20 trading days prior to such vesting date. No additional cash payment will be made for average annual total shareholder return above 20%.

Term

 

•

Five years.

Payments to CEO Upon Termination

Upon a termination of Mr. Schanzer’s employment by the Company without “cause,” Mr. Schanzer’s resignation for “good reason,” termination of Mr. Schanzer’s employment by reason of death or disability or a “change in control” (all as defined in the employment agreement), the time-based restricted stock awards are subject to full acceleration and the RSUs and DERs are subject to acceleration as set forth in the employment agreement.

If Mr. Schanzer’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause or by Mr. Schanzer for good reason, or his employment is terminated by the Company by reason of death or disability, the employment agreement provides that, subject to his execution of a separation agreement and release, he will be entitled to receive a lump sum cash payment equal to 250% of the sum of his annual base salary at the rate applicable on the date of termination and his target annual bonus for the year of termination. In addition, pursuant to the terms of the employment agreement, the Company is required to provide Mr. Schanzer with disability, accident and health insurance substantially similar to those insurance benefits that Mr. Schanzer was receiving immediately prior to the date of termination for 12 months following the date of termination or a cash payment in lieu thereof (reduced to the extent comparable benefits are actually received by Mr. Schanzer during such period) and accelerated vesting of any options, restricted common stock, and restricted stock units granted to Mr. Schanzer, including the equity awards granted pursuant to the employment agreement. Any amounts payable in the event of death or disability will be reduced by the amounts payable under any life or disability insurance policy sponsored by the Company and/or the Operating Partnership.

If the Company terminates Mr. Schanzer’s employment following the expiration of the term of the employment agreement or Mr. Schanzer terminates his employment following of the expiration of the term of the employment agreement due to the Company’s failure to continue to provide Mr. Schanzer with base salary and annual target bonus opportunities that are in the aggregate at least as favorable as those contained in the employment agreement; and/or the Company’s failure to negotiate in good faith regarding equity incentive awards following the expiration of the term of the employment agreement, subject to his execution of a separation agreement and release, Mr. Schanzer will be entitled to receive a lump sum cash payment equal to 150% of the sum of his annual base salary at the rate applicable on the date of termination and his target annual bonus for the year of termination.

 

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Payments to the CEO upon termination are summarized in the table on page 47 entitled, “Payments Upon Termination Without Cause or Due to Death or Disability or By Executive for Good Reason.” References to the Company above include, where applicable, the Operating Partnership.

CFO Employment Agreement

Effective June 6, 2018, the Company entered into an amended and restated employment agreement with Mr. Mays, pursuant to which Mr. Mays will continue to serve as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company.

Base Salary

 

•

Base salary to remain at the rate of $400,000 per annum, subject to annual review and increase in the discretion of the full Board.

Bonus

 

•

Target annual bonus equal to 95% of base salary, consistent with prior agreement, subject to the discretion of and requirements established by the Board, upon recommendation of the Compensation Committee.

Long-Term Incentive Compensation (Time- and Performance-Based)

 

•

Participation in Company’s long-term incentive compensation plan, with annual awards within the discretion of, and subject to requirements established by the Board, based on recommendations of the Compensation Committee.

Term

 

•

“At-will”, meaning that subject to the terms of the agreement, Mr. Mays’ employment may be terminated by the Company or Mr. Mays at any time and for any reason.

Payments to CFO Upon Termination

If Mr. Mays’ employment with the Company is terminated for any reason, his employment agreement provides that Mr. Mays (or his authorized representative or estate) will be entitled to receive (i) payment of any base salary earned through the date of termination, unpaid expense reimbursements and accrued unused vacation; and (ii) any vested benefits Mr. Mays may have under any employee benefit or compensation plan of the Company or the Operating Partnership through the date of termination, which vested benefits are required to be paid and/or provided in accordance with the terms of such employee benefit or compensation plans.

In addition, if Mr. Mays’ employment is terminated by the Company without cause or by Mr. Mays for good reason, the employment agreement provides that, subject to his execution of a general release, he will be entitled to receive a lump sum cash payment equal to 150% (250% if terminated within 90 days prior to or 12 months following a Change in Control (as defined in the employment agreement)) of the sum of his annual base salary at the rate applicable on the date of termination and his target annual bonus for the year of termination, exclusive of any long-term incentive stock awards.

In addition, pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement, if Mr. Mays’ employment is terminated by the Company without cause or by Mr. Mays for good reason, or by reason of death or disability, the Company is required to provide Mr. Mays with (i) disability, accident and health insurance substantially similar to those insurance benefits that Mr. Mays was receiving immediately prior to the date of termination for 12 months (24 months if terminated within 90 days prior to or 12 months following a Change in Control) following the date of termination or a cash payment in lieu thereof (reduced to the extent comparable benefits are actually received by Mr. Mays during such period) and (ii) accelerated

 

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vesting of any options, restricted common stock, and any other awards granted to Mr. Mays under any employee benefit plan that have vested. In addition, if Mr. Mays’ employment is terminated by reason of disability, the employment agreement provides that he will be entitled to receive a lump sum payment equal to his annual base salary at the rate applicable on the date of termination. Any amounts payable in the event of death or disability will be reduced by the amounts payable under any life or disability insurance policy sponsored by the Company.

Payments to the CFO upon termination are summarized in the table on page 47 entitled, “Payments Upon a Change in Control with Termination.” References to the Company above include, where applicable, the Operating Partnership.

New COO Employment Agreement

Effective April 1, 2019, the Company entered into an amended and restated employment agreement with Ms. Zeigler, pursuant to which Ms. Zeigler continues to serve as Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer of the Company.

Base Salary

 

•

$436,000 per annum, subject to annual review and increase in the discretion of the full Board.

Bonus

 

•

Target annual bonus equal to 95% of base salary, subject to the discretion of and requirements established by the Board, upon recommendation of the Compensation Committee.

Term

 

•

Four years.

Payments to COO Upon Termination

If Ms. Zeigler’s employment is terminated by the Company without “cause” or by Ms. Zeigler for “good reason,” or her employment is terminated by the Company by reason of death or disability (all as defined in the employment agreement), the employment agreement provides that, subject to her execution of a separation agreement and release, she will be entitled to receive a lump sum cash payment equal to 250% of the sum of her annual base salary at the rate applicable on the date of termination and her targeted annual bonus for the then-current fiscal year, exclusive of any long-term incentive stock awards.

In addition, pursuant to the terms of her employment agreement, if Ms. Zeigler’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause or by Ms. Zeigler for good reason, or by reason of death or disability, the Company is required to provide Ms. Zeigler with (i) disability, accident and health insurance substantially similar to those insurance benefits that Ms. Zeigler was receiving immediately prior to the date of termination for 12 months following the date of termination or a cash payment in lieu thereof (reduced to the extent comparable benefits are actually received by Ms. Zeigler during such period) and (ii) accelerated vesting of any options, restricted common stock, and any other awards granted to Ms. Zeigler under any employee benefit plan that have vested.

Payments to the COO upon termination are summarized in the table on page 47 entitled, “Payments Upon a Change in Control with Termination.” References to the Company above include, where applicable, the Operating Partnership.

 

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Restrictive Covenants

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

The tables below set forth the estimated severance payments that would have been made to each of our named executive officers based on a hypothetical termination date or Change in Control date of December 31, 2019 and using the closing price of our stock on December 31, 2019. These amounts are estimates and the actual amounts to be paid can be determined only at the time of the termination of the executive’s employment without cause or by the executive for good reason or upon a Change in Control. Under each employment agreement, there are also various circumstances under which termination of employment results in no severance due.

Payments Upon Termination Without Cause or Due to Death or Disability or By Executive for Good Reason

The following table sets forth the estimated severance payments that would have been made to each of our named executive officers in the event of a termination by the Company without cause or by the executive for good reason, or (i) for Mr. Schanzer and Ms. Zeigler, upon a termination due to death or disability; (ii) for Mr. Mays, upon a termination due to disability, that does not occur within 90 days prior to or within 12 months following a Change in Control, assuming such termination occurred on December 31, 2019.

 

Name		Cash Compensation (Salary and Bonus) ($)					Value of Stock Awards ($)					Medical and Other Benefits ($)					Total ($)
Bruce J. Schanzer				3,750,000					2,950,000					30,004					6,730,004
Philip R. Mays				1,170,000	(1)				1,373,508					18,259					2,561,767	(1)
Robin M. Zeigler				2,125,500					1,414,360					30,004					3,569,864

(1)	If termination were pursuant to disability, Mr. Mays would have received an additional $400,000 in cash compensation.

Payments Upon a Change in Control Without Termination

The following table sets forth the estimated payments that would have been made to each of our named executive officers upon a Change in Control assuming such event occurred on December 31, 2019.

 

Name		Cash Compensation ($)					Value of Stock Awards ($)(1)					Medical and Other Benefits ($)					Total ($)
Bruce J. Schanzer				—					2,950,000					—					2,950,000
Philip R. Mays				—					1,373,508					—					1,373,508
Robin M. Zeigler				—					1,414,360					—					1,414,360

(1)	Pursuant to the terms of the 2017 Stock Incentive Plan, all equity awards subject to time-based vesting accelerate and become fully vested upon a Sale Event (as defined in the 2017 Stock Incentive Plan) unless otherwise provided in the applicable award agreement.

Payments Upon a Change in Control With Termination

The following table sets forth the estimated severance payments that would have been made to each of our named executive officers in the event of a termination by the Company without cause or by the

 

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

executive for good reason (or, in the case or Mr. Schanzer and Ms. Zeigler, upon a termination due to death or disability) that occurs within 90 days prior to or within 12 months following a Change in Control, assuming such termination occurred on December 31, 2019.

 

Name		Cash Compensation (Salary and Bonus) ($)					Value of Stock Awards ($)					Medical and Other Benefits ($)					Total ($)
Bruce J. Schanzer				3,750,000					2,950,000					30,004					6,730,004
Philip R. Mays				1,950,000					1,373,508					36,518					3,360,026
Robin M. Zeigler				2,125,500					1,414,360					30,004					3,569,864

CEO Pay Ratio

The Dodd-Frank Act requires the Company to determine the ratio of the CEO’s annual total compensation (as set forth in the “Total” column of the Summary Compensation Table) to that of the Company’s median employee. Mr. Schanzer, who in 2019 served as a director and President and CEO of the Company, had annual total compensation in 2019 of $1,503,630, as reflected in the Summary Compensation Table included in this Proxy Statement.

The annual total compensation for the Company’s median employee (excluding Mr. Schanzer) for 2019 was $118,413. We identified our median employee in 2019 by calculating compensation in a manner consistent with the requirements for reporting compensation in the Summary Compensation Table for named executive officers and included all individuals who were employed by us on December 31, 2019. Reportable wages were annualized for those employees who were not employed for a full calendar year. Our median employee is based in our corporate headquarters in Port Washington, New York. We are using the same median employee we used in 2017 and 2018 for purposes of the 2019 CEO pay ratio because there have not been any material changes in our employee population or compensation practices in 2019 as compared with the prior two years.

Mr. Schanzer’s 2019 annual compensation was approximately 12.7 times that of our median employee’s total compensation for 2019. The ratio is a reasonable estimate calculated in a manner consistent with Item 402(u) of SEC Regulation S-K. The SEC rules for identifying the median compensated employee allow companies to adopt a variety of methodologies, to apply certain exclusions and to make reasonable estimates and assumptions that reflect their employee populations and compensation practices. Accordingly, the pay ratio reported by other companies may not be comparable to the pay ratio reported above, as other companies have different employee populations and compensation practices and may use different methodologies, exclusions, estimates and assumptions in calculating their own pay ratios.

Compensation of Non-Employee Directors

The Compensation Committee periodically reviews compensation paid by a peer group of similarly-sized companies to their directors. The Compensation Committee considers aggregate compensation paid by the Company to its non-employee directors relative to total revenues, as compared to similarly-sized public companies. In 2019, the annual retainer for all non-employee directors was $32,000 and the non-executive Chairman of the Board received an additional $75,000 cash retainer. The annual retainer for each committee member was $4,000 and the annual retainer for committee chairs was $15,000. In 2019, directors did not receive any meeting attendance fees with respect to either Board or committee meetings. In 2019, each independent director also received an annual grant of restricted stock with a grant date fair value of $65,000 that vests in full on the third anniversary of the date of grant, absent some condition giving rise to accelerated vesting.

 

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Compensation of non-employee directors will remain unchanged for 2020. Cash and equity compensation awarded to directors is eligible, at the director’s election, for tax deferral under the Company’s Rabbi Trust Plan. Pursuant to the terms of the 2017 Stock Incentive Plan, cash retainers and equity grants to non-employee directors are subject to an annual per-director cap of $750,000, and this would remain unchanged under the current proposed amendment.

The following table details director compensation in 2019, which reflects the compensation described above. Mr. Schanzer does not receive additional compensation for serving as a director.

Director Compensation for Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2019

 

Name		Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($)(1)				Stock Awards ($)(2)(3)				Total ($)
Abraham Eisenstat			55,000				65,000				120,000
Gregg A. Gonsalves			40,000				65,000				105,000
Pamela N. Hootkin			55,000				65,000				120,000
Sabrina L. Kanner			40,000				65,000				105,000
Steven G. Rogers			55,000				65,000				120,000
Roger M. Widmann			115,000				65,000				180,000

(1)	Amounts shown include fees for annual retainer ($32,000 for the non-employee directors plus $75,000 additional for the non-executive Chairman), committee membership ($4,000), and committee chair fees ($15,000).

 

(2)

The amounts represent the grant date fair value of restricted stock awards granted to the directors in 2018, in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, not including any estimates of forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions. See Note 2 to the financial statements in our 2019 Annual Report regarding assumptions we made in determining the fair value of stock awards. Each director received a grant of restricted stock with a grant date fair value of $65,000 that will vest in full on the third anniversary of the date of grant. The number of shares granted is calculated based on the closing share price on the date of grant. For 2019, director share grants were made on January 2, 2019, based on a closing share price of $3.10.

 

(3)

As of December 31, 2019, each director held 41,277 restricted shares which had not yet vested as of year-end, with the exceptions of Mr. Gonsalves, who held 39,922 unvested restricted shares, and Ms. Kanner, who held 29,104 unvested restricted shares, all as of year-end 2019. All of these shares are included in the security ownership chart for directors and executive officers included in this Proxy Statement.

The Compensation Committee has established target share ownership guidelines for our directors to more closely align their interests with those of our stockholders. 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, including restricted stock, totaling not less than the number of shares constituting the equity portion of his or her annual retainer in the aggregate over the previous four years. Based on the directors’ disclosure to the Company, all of the Company’s 2019 directors who were beyond their four-year phase-in compliance period satisfied the share ownership requirement.

In addition, we have adopted a policy that prohibits directors from hedging or pledging securities of the Company, as described above under the heading “Anti-Hedging and Anti-Pledging Policy” on page 21 above.

 

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