UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A
(Rule
14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. 1)
Filed by the Registrant ☐
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☒
Check the appropriate box:
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☒
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Preliminary Proxy Statement
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
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Definitive Proxy Statement
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Definitive Additional Materials
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Soliciting Material Under Rule 14a-12
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TAUBMAN CENTERS, INC.
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(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
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LAND & BUILDINGS CAPITAL
GROWTH FUND, LP
L & B REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY
FUND, LP
LAND & BUILDINGS GP
LP
LAND & BUILDINGS INVESTMENT
MANAGEMENT, LLC
CHARLES ELSON
JONATHAN LITT
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(Name of Persons(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
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fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of
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PRELIMINARY COPY
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
DATED APRIL 6, 2017
2017 ANNUAL MEETING
OF SHAREHOLDERS
OF
taubman centers, inc.
_________________________
PROXY STATEMENT
OF
Land & buildings capital growth fund, lp
_________________________
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND MAIL THE ENCLOSED GOLD PROXY CARD TODAY
Land & Buildings
Capital Growth Fund, LP (“L&B Capital”), L & B Real Estate Opportunity Fund, LP (“L&B Opportunity”),
Land & Buildings GP LP (“L&B GP”), Land & Buildings Investment Management, LLC (“L&B Management”),
and Jonathan Litt (collectively, “Land & Buildings” or “we”) are significant shareholders of Taubman
Centers, Inc., a Michigan corporation (the “Company”), who, together with the other participants in this solicitation,
beneficially own in the aggregate 718,447 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”),
of the Company, representing approximately 1.2% of the Company’s outstanding shares. We believe that the Board of Directors
of the Company (the “Board”) must be reconstituted to ensure that the Company is being run in a manner consistent
with shareholders’ best interests. We have nominated directors who have strong, relevant backgrounds and who are committed
to fully exploring all opportunities to unlock shareholder value. We are seeking your support at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders
scheduled to be held at The Townsend Hotel located at 100 Townsend Street, Birmingham, Michigan 48009, on ___________, 2017, beginning
at __:__ _.m. Eastern Time (including any adjournments or postponements thereof and any meeting which may be called in lieu thereof,
the “Annual Meeting”), for the following:
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1.
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To elect Land & Buildings’
two (2) director nominees, Charles Elson and Jonathan Litt (each a “Nominee”
and, collectively, the “Nominees”), to the Board as directors to serve until
the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “2020 Annual Meeting”) and until
their respective successors are duly elected and qualified;
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2.
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To ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting
firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017;
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3.
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To approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers;
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4.
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To approve, on an advisory basis, whether an advisory vote on the compensation of the Company’s
named executive officers should occur every one, two or three years; and
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5.
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To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment
thereof.
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This Proxy Statement
and the enclosed
GOLD
proxy card are first being furnished to the shareholders on or about ____________, 2017.
We believe that
the terms of three directors serving on the Board expire at the Annual Meeting. This Proxy Statement is soliciting proxies to
elect not only our two Nominees, but also the candidate who has been nominated by the Company other than [_____] and [______].
This gives shareholders the ability to vote for the total number of directors up for election at the Annual Meeting.
As of the date
hereof, the members of Land & Buildings, which includes L&B Capital, L&B Opportunity, L&B GP, L&B Management
and Mr. Litt (the “Members of Land & Buildings”), collectively own an aggregate of 718,447 shares of Common Stock.
The Members of Land & Buildings intend to vote their shares
FOR
the election of the Nominees, [
FOR]
the ratification
of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2017, [
FOR/AGAINST
] the advisory vote to approve the Company’s executive compensation, and
[1 YEAR]
with respect to the frequency with which an advisory vote on executive compensation should be presented to the Company’s
shareholders, as described herein.
The Company has
set the close of business on _________, 2017 as the record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote
at the Annual Meeting (the “Record Date”). The mailing address of the principal executive offices of the Company is
200 East Long Lake Road, Suite 300, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48304-2324. According to the Company’s proxy statement, holders
of record of shares of Common Stock and the Company’s Series B Non-Participating Convertible Series B Preferred Stock, par
value $0.001 per share (“Series B Preferred Stock” and together with the Common Stock, the “Voting Stock”),
as of the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. Holders of Common Stock
and Series B Preferred Stock (on a fully converted basis) vote together as a single class on all matters at the Annual Meeting.
Each outstanding share of Voting Stock is entitled to one vote on each matter to be voted upon at the Annual Meeting.
According to the
Company, as of the Record Date, there were [_____] shares of Voting Stock outstanding, consisting of [_____] shares of Common
Stock and [_____] shares of Series B Preferred Stock. According to the Company’s proxy statement, holders of Series B Preferred
Stock are entitled to vote on all matters at the Annual Meeting together with holders of Common Stock on an as-converted basis.
The Series B Series B Preferred Stock is convertible into shares of Common Stock at a ratio of 14,000 shares of Series B Preferred
Stock to one share of Common Stock. As of the Record Date, the outstanding Series B Preferred Stock, was convertible into [_____]
shares of Common Stock.
THIS SOLICITATION
IS BEING MADE BY LAND & BUILDINGS AND NOT ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OR MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY. WE ARE NOT AWARE
OF ANY OTHER MATTERS TO BE BROUGHT BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT. SHOULD OTHER MATTERS,
WHICH LAND & BUILDINGS IS NOT AWARE OF A REASONABLE TIME BEFORE THIS SOLICITATION, BE BROUGHT BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING, THE
PERSONS NAMED AS PROXIES IN THE ENCLOSED
GOLD
PROXY CARD WILL VOTE ON SUCH MATTERS IN OUR DISCRETION.
LAND & BUILDINGS
URGES YOU TO SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE
GOLD
PROXY CARD IN FAVOR OF THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES.
IF YOU HAVE ALREADY
SENT A PROXY CARD FURNISHED BY COMPANY MANAGEMENT OR THE BOARD, YOU MAY REVOKE THAT PROXY AND VOTE ON EACH OF THE PROPOSALS DESCRIBED
IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT BY SIGNING, DATING AND RETURNING THE ENCLOSED
GOLD
PROXY CARD. THE LATEST DATED PROXY IS THE ONLY
ONE THAT COUNTS. ANY PROXY MAY BE REVOKED AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO THE ANNUAL MEETING BY DELIVERING A WRITTEN NOTICE OF REVOCATION
OR A LATER DATED PROXY FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OR BY VOTING IN PERSON AT THE ANNUAL MEETING.
Important Notice Regarding
the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting—This Proxy Statement and our GOLD proxy card are available at
[__________]
IMPORTANT
Your vote is
important, no matter how few shares of Voting Stock you own. Land & Buildings urges you to sign, date, and return the enclosed
GOLD proxy card today to vote FOR the election of the Nominees and in accordance with Land & Buildings’ recommendations
on the other proposals on the agenda for the Annual Meeting.
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If your shares of Voting Stock are registered in your own name, please sign and date the enclosed
GOLD
proxy card and return it to Land & Buildings, c/o First Coast Results, Inc., in the enclosed postage-paid envelope
today.
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If your shares of Voting Stock are held in a brokerage account or bank, you are considered the
beneficial owner of the shares of Voting Stock, and these proxy materials, together with a
GOLD
voting form, are being forwarded
to you by your broker or bank. As a beneficial owner, you must instruct your broker, trustee or other representative how to vote.
Your broker cannot vote your shares of Voting Stock on your behalf without your instructions.
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Depending upon your broker or custodian, you may be able to vote either by toll-free telephone
or by the Internet. Please refer to the enclosed voting form for instructions on how to vote electronically. You may also vote
by signing, dating and returning the enclosed voting form.
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Since only your
latest dated proxy card will count, we urge you not to return any proxy card you receive from the Company. Even if you return
the management proxy card marked “withhold” as a protest against the incumbent directors, it will revoke any proxy
card you may have previously sent to us. Remember, you can vote for our two Nominees only on our
GOLD
proxy card. So
please make certain that the latest dated proxy card you return is the
GOLD
proxy card.
If you have any questions,
require assistance in voting your
GOLD
proxy card,
or need additional copies
of Land & Buildings’ proxy materials,
please contact D.F. King
& Co., Inc. (“D.F. King”) at the phone numbers listed below.
D.F. King & Co., Inc.
48 Wall Street, 22nd Floor
New York, New York 10005
Banks and Brokers Call
Collect: (212) 269-5500
All Others Call Toll-Free:
(800) 207-3159
Email: tco@dfking.com
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Background to
the Solicitation
The following is
a chronology of events leading up to this proxy solicitation:
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For 14 years, Land & Buildings’ Founder and Chief Investment Officer, Jonathan Litt,
has analyzed and published investment opinions on the Company.
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For the past nine years, since Land & Buildings was formed, Mr. Litt has continued to analyze
the investment opportunity at the Company and meet with members of its management team.
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On May 13, 2016, Mr. Litt e-mailed the Company’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive
Officer, Robert S. Taubman (“Bobby Taubman”), to schedule a meeting to discuss the Company.
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On
June 7, 2016, Mr. Litt and Craig Melcher, Co-Founder/Portfolio Manager of Land & Buildings, met with Mr. Bobby Taubman, Simon
J. Leopold, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, and Ryan Hearn, the Company’s Vice President of Investor Relations.
At this meeting, the representatives of Land & Buildings and the Company had an open dialogue on many topics, including
Land & Buildings’ concerns with the Company’s stock price, operating underperformance (inferior net operating
income margins and bloated general and administrative expense), poor capital allocation decisions (Asian and other projects as
well as overall size of the development pipeline), and egregious corporate governance practices as well as Land & Buildings’
belief that the Company’s stock price trades at a discount relative to its net asset value and the paths available to close
the valuation discount. Mr. Bobby Taubman expressed his desire to keep such discussions private and not in writing.
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On August 3, 2016, Mr. Litt e-mailed Mr. Bobby Taubman to schedule a meeting to further discuss
the Company.
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On
August 16, 2016, Mr. Litt and Mr. Bobby Taubman had a meeting during which Mr. Litt reiterated his concerns regarding the Company’s
stock trading at a discount to net asset value and discussed ways that the Company’s valuation could be improved, including
enhancing operating results, improving capital allocation and adhering to corporate governance best practices. Mr. Litt offered
to join the Board to reach a collaborative solution.
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On August 30, 2016, Mr. Litt e-mailed Mr. Bobby Taubman to schedule a meeting to further discuss
the Company.
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On
September 13, 2016, Mr. Litt and Mr. Bobby Taubman met to further discuss Mr. Litt’s concerns regarding the Company’s
operating underperformance, poor capital allocation decisions and egregious corporate governance practices as well as why the
Company has traded at a discount to net asset value. Mr. Bobby Taubman said that he had considered Mr. Litt’s concerns and
believed they lacked merit. By the end of the meeting, it became clear to Mr. Litt that a collaborative solution was not able
to be reached at that time.
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On October 19, 2016, Land & Buildings issued a press release and an open letter to the independent
members of the Board informing them that Land & Buildings had released an investor presentation titled, “Unlocking Trapped
Value Rooted in Decades of Poor Stewardship,” highlighting what Land & Buildings believed to be the opportunities available
to the Company and that Land & Buildings would be hosting a public conference call later that day to discuss the presentation.
The investor presentation and public conference call highlighted Land & Buildings’ belief that the Company was substantially
undervalued, and how, in Land & Buildings’ view, the substantial discount to the estimated net asset value of the Company
could be unlocked by modernizing the Company’s corporate governance and improving its operations and capital allocation.
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Also on October 19, 2016, the Company issued a press release in response to Land & Buildings’
press release and presentation from earlier that day stating that the Board and management are committed to serving the best interests
of all of its shareholders.
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On October 24, 2016, Land & Buildings issued a press release expressing its belief that the
Company violated its Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (the “Charter”) by reducing the size of the Board
from nine directors to eight directors following William U. Parfet’s resignation on September 27, 2016. Land & Buildings
explained in the press release that the Charter provides that the size of the Board will be fixed at nine directors so long as
the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock continue to have the right to designate up to four nominees to the Board and that the
Company’s public disclosure has made it clear that the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock continue to have such rights.
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On October 25, 2016, the day after Land & Buildings’ press release on the likely Charter
violation, the Company filed a Form 8-K stating that it expects to add a new director to replace Mr. Parfet after shrinking the
Board to eight members.
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On October 26, 2016, Land & Buildings issued a press release in response to the Company’s
disclosure from the prior day that it was conducting a search for Mr. Parfet’s replacement. Land & Buildings also highlighted
its view that the Company the Board to unilaterally appoint a new Board member without shareholder input and the various criteria
that any new director nominee put forward by the Board should meet to reverse the course of value destruction at Taubman.
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On December 6, 2016, Land & Buildings delivered a private letter to the Audit Committee of
the Board stating that it was deeply concerned with the apparent long-time dominance over the Company by the Taubman family (consisting
of Mr. Bobby Taubman, Chief Operating Officer and director William "Billy" Taubman, Gayle Taubman Kalisman and the A.
Alfred Taubman Restated Revocable Trust, the “Taubman Family”). In the letter, Land & Buildings urged the Audit
Committee to retain its own advisors, separate and apart from the Company’s and the Taubman Family’s advisors, to investigate
various issues, including, in Land & Buildings’ view, (i) an apparent Charter violation as a result of the Taubman Family’s
ownership of shares in excess of the ownership limitations, (ii) the resulting potential REIT status qualification risk, (iii)
the Taubman Family’s likely violation of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)
for failing to make certain filings, and (iv) whether the Taubman Family complied with applicable antitrust regulations under the
Hart-Scott-Rodino Act. Land & Buildings asked for a response from the Audit Committee by December 12, 2016.
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On December 13, 2016, Land & Buildings issued a press release summarizing the concerns it had
raised to the Audit Committee on December 6, 2016, and announcing that it would be hosting a public conference call later that
day to discuss the press release.
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On December 15, 2016, the Company issued a press release announcing its appointment of Cia Buckley
Marakovits to the Board and existing Board member Myron E. “Mike” Ullman III as Lead Director.
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On December 16, 2016, Land & Buildings issued a press release commenting on the corporate governance
announcements made by the Company the prior day, which Land & Buildings’ believe were reactive to its involvement. Land & Buildings also noted that while it would typically welcome these changes, it questioned whether the appointment of Ms. Marakovits
to the Board and Mr. Ullman as Lead Director were appropriate and in the best interests of shareholders.
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On January 24, 2017, Land & Buildings issued a press release and an open letter to the independent
members of the Board describing its continued frustrations with the independent directors and their apparent failure to address
the Company’s undervaluation and outlining Land and Buildings’ plan to help unlock value at the Company. In the letter,
Land and Buildings stated that if the Company continued to ignore its concerns and recommendations, Land & Buildings was prepared
to nominate directors for election at the Annual Meeting.
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On February 2, 2017, Land & Buildings delivered a private letter to Mr. Ullman, stating that
it was deeply concerned about the impact the Company’s stock price has suffered as a result of the Taubman Family’s
effective control of the Company through their ownership of the Series B Preferred Stock, which they purchased in 1998 for $38,400.
Land & Buildings suggested a special committee of the Board, consisting of the Board’s independent directors, be created
and an independent advisor hired to evaluate ways to address the Taubman Family’s ownership of the Series B Preferred Stock.
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On February 13, 2017, Land & Buildings issued a press release and an open letter to the independent
members of the Board following another quarter of disappointing earnings results, from both an operational and capital allocation
standpoint, which Land & Buildings believes is related to the Taubman Family’s effective control and influence over the
Company. Land & Buildings further stated that it was highly disturbed that the Company has destroyed shareholder value rather
than engage constructively with Land & Buildings to identify ways to unlock value.
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On February 23, 2017, Mr. Litt, in an effort to have productive separate discussions with Mr. Bobby
Taubman and Mr. Ullman, e-mailed each of Mr. Bobby Taubman and Mr. Heaphy and meetings were subsequently scheduled.
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On February 24, 2017, Mr. Litt and Mr. Bobby Taubman had a telephonic meeting, during which they
discussed the previously stated issues that Land & Buildings believes to be contributing to the Company’s depressed valuation.
Mr. Bobby Taubman reiterated his prior views that the Company was on the right path and suggested no productive collaboration with
Land & Buildings was necessary.
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On March 1, 2017, Land & Buildings delivered a letter (the “Nomination Letter”)
to the Company’s General Counsel, Executive Vice President and Assistant Secretary, Chris B. Heaphy, providing formal notice
to the Company, in accordance with its Restated By-laws (the “Bylaws”), of Land & Buildings’ nomination of
Charles Elson and Mr. Litt for election to the Board at the Annual Meeting.
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On March 2, 2017, Land & Buildings issued a press release announcing its delivery of the Nomination
Letter to the Company. In the press release, Land & Buildings stated that its highly-qualified nominees have the right mix
of governance expertise and sector experience to address the numerous issues that it believes to have persistently plagued the
Company. Land & Buildings also reiterated its belief that the Company’s governance changes since Land & Buildings’
initial engagement were reactive to its involvement and designed to preserve the status quo.
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On March 9, 2017, Messrs. Litt and Melcher met with Messrs. Ullman and Hearn in Dallas, Texas,
during which Messrs. Litt and Melcher reiterated Land & Buildings’ preference to work constructively with the Board to
address the issues plaguing the Company and ways to remedy such issues. Land & Buildings also explained why Messrs. Litt’s
and Elson’s experience would be highly valuable to the Board.
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Also on March 9, 2017, Mr. Heaphy contacted Mr. Elson to schedule a telephonic meeting between
Messrs. Elson and Ullman for the following day.
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On March 10, 2017, Mr. Elson and Mr. Ullman had a telephonic meeting
where Mr. Elson expressed his desire to work collaboratively with the Company and highlighted his significant experience serving
on the boards of various companies whose long-term shareholders have enjoyed attractive outcomes based in part on Mr. Elson’s
efforts to enhance corporate governance, replace management and explore strategic alternatives for such companies. Mr. Elson also
expressed
to
Mr. Ullman that the Company’s poor corporate governance provided an attractive
opportunity for him to apply his expertise.
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On March 13, 2017, Land & Buildings delivered a private letter to Mr. Ullman reiterating Land & Buildings’ strong preference to work collaboratively with the Board. Land & Buildings stated that Messrs. Elson
and Litt bring unique perspectives that would meaningfully contribute to the direction of the Company and offered for Messrs. Elson
and Litt to attend the Company’s next Board meeting to share their views.
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On March 22, 2017, Land & Buildings delivered a books and records request to the Company pursuant
to Section 450.1487 of the Michigan Business Corporation Act.
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On March 24, 2017, Land & Buildings filed its preliminary proxy statement in connection with
the Annual Meeting.
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On March 31,
2017, the Company filed its preliminary proxy statement in connection with the Annual
Meeting.
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On April 6,
2017, Land & Buildings delivered a private letter to Mr. Ullman stating that it is
deeply disappointed that Mr. Ullman, as Lead Director, has not responded to Land &
Buildings’ concerns as well as its suggestion that its Nominees and other leading
REIT professionals present to the Board their views and perspectives on the Company.
Land & Buildings also reiterated its preference to work collaboratively with the
Company.
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Also on April
6, 2017, Land & Buildings filed amendment no. 1 to its preliminary proxy statement
in connection with the Annual Meeting.
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REASONS FOR
THE SOLICITATION
As a long-term
shareholder of the Company, Land & Buildings has conducted extensive due diligence on the Company. In doing so, we have carefully
analyzed the Company’s operating and financial performance as well as the competitive landscape in the REIT industry in which
it operates. We have also attempted to have a meaningful dialogue with the Board and management team to discuss our concerns and
the opportunities that we believe are available to create value for the benefit of all shareholders.
We believe our
knowledge of the Company’s business has given us a solid foundation for analyzing both the Company’s risks and value-enhancing
opportunities. Unfortunately, this Board has, in our view, presided over an extended period of poor stock price performance, inferior
margins, poor capital allocation and abysmal corporate governance.
Further, despite
our sincere efforts to engage constructively with the Company, we are disappointed by the Board’s apparent failure to adequately
address the issues we have identified and now believe a greater sense of urgency for creating shareholder value is required at
the Board level to best position the Company and its owners for long-term success.
We are therefore
soliciting your support to elect our Nominees at the Annual Meeting because we have little confidence that the Board, as currently
composed, has the objectivity and commitment to take the steps necessary to enhance shareholder value at the Company. We believe
our Nominees would bring significant and relevant experience, new insight and fresh perspectives to the Board as well as a deep
commitment to shareholder-alignment.
We Are Concerned
with the Company’s Prolonged Stock Price Underperformance
Shareholders
should be seriously concerned with the Company’s stock price underperformance. As displayed in the chart below, the Company
has significantly underperformed its peers over the past one, three, and five-year periods.
1
Total Shareholder Return
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1--Year
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3-Year
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5-Year
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TCO
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-1%
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20%
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65%
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High Quality Peer Avg.
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3%
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49%
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122%
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TCO Underperformance
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-4%
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-29%
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-57%
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Source:
Land & Buildings; Bloomberg
1
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We believe the
Company’s poor stock performance stems from numerous issues that have plagued the Company under this Board’s watch
and under the leadership of Chairman and CEO Bobby Taubman, including inferior operating results, poor capital allocation decisions
and abysmal corporate governance.
Notably, these issues have contributed to the Company’s total shareholder return lagging
its peers by a staggering 57% over the past five years
.
1
Reflects total
returns for the trailing 1-, 3- and 5-year periods through October 14, 2016 (a few days prior to Land & Buildings public involvement
with respect to the Company) as obtained from Bloomberg share price data for the Company and the High Quality Peers. Peer group
defined by Land & Buildings as high quality mall peers GGP, Inc. (NYSE: GGP), The Macerich Company (NYSE: MAC) and Simon Property
Group Inc. (NYSE: SPG), which are the only U.S. publically traded regional mall companies (in addition to the Company) that primarily
own class A, high sales productivity, enclosed regional malls (collectively, “High Quality Peers”). High Quality Peers
selected by Land & Buildings from the Company’s Executive Compensation Peer Group for 2016 as disclosed in the Company’s
proxy statement for the Annual Meeting.
Despite this
poor performance, the Board, in our view, has not taken sufficient action to improve performance or hold management accountable.
We Are Concerned
with the Company’s Poor Operating Performance
Despite owning
one of the best publicly traded U.S. mall portfolios, the Company’s premier malls have generated inferior operating results,
which we believe stem from a multitude of issues, including a bloated cost structure, small or non-existing food courts, limited
kiosk offerings and few temporary tenants. Notably, as displayed in the chart below:
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The Company’s net operating income (NOI) margins deteriorated in 2016 to 64.5%, 730 basis points below its high quality
peers.
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The Company’s earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) margins remained below 60%, 690 basis
points below its peers.
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Taubman’s general and administrative expense (G&A) as a percentage of revenue in 2016 was 6.1% of revenue, four times
the level of its peers.
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General and Administrative Expense as a % of Revenue
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2012
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2013
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2014
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2015
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2016
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TCO
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4.8%
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5.6%
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5.9%
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6.4%
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6.1%
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High Quality Peer Avg.
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1.4%
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1.6%
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1.6%
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1.6%
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1.5%
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TCO Bloated G&A
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3.3%
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4.1%
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4.3%
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4.8%
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4.6%
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Net Operating Income Margin
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2012
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2013
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2014
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2015
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2016
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TCO
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64.2%
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64.3%
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64.1%
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67.9%
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64.5%
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High Quality Peer Avg.
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70.4%
|
71.2%
|
71.8%
|
72.8%
|
71.8%
|
TCO Inferior Operating Margins
|
-6.2%
|
-6.9%
|
-7.7%
|
-4.9%
|
-7.3%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EBITDA Margin
|
|
2012
|
2013
|
2014
|
2015
|
2016
|
TCO
|
57.0%
|
58.1%
|
52.6%
|
59.2%
|
59.6%
|
High Quality Peer Avg.
|
65.0%
|
65.2%
|
65.8%
|
67.2%
|
66.5%
|
TCO Poor EBITDA Margin
|
-8.0%
|
-7.1%
|
-13.2%
|
-8.0%
|
-6.9%
|
Note: Figures reflect pro rata ownership of
assets; Land and Buildings’ estimates used where the Company does not disclose each metric.
2
Sources: Company and High Quality Peers publicly
available information, including earnings releases and earnings supplementals filed on Form 8-K for each of the figures referenced
during the respective year referenced; Land & Buildings’ analysis
|
2
For each company, Land &
Buildings identified what it believes to be the most comparable figures to arrive at such company’s share of income statement
figures, including consolidated figures as well as estimated percentages of unconsolidated figures, to match each respective company’s
ownership percentage of its assets. Land & Buildings’ analysis is subject to the following limitations: (i) each company
does not disclose operating results using the same line items, (ii) company disclosure of unconsolidated assets varies by company
and (iii) not all companies provide net operating income and EBITDA, in which case Land & Buildings has estimated such figures.
The Company’s inferior margins
demonstrate an alarming disregard for cost control.
We Are Concerned
with the Board’s Poor Capital Allocation Decisions
The Board has
overseen poor capital allocation, which we believe has resulted in inferior returns on new investments. Specifically, in our view,
poorly conceived new malls in recent years, which have not only cost more than planned but have taken longer to build than expected,
have delivered returns well below initial expectations during Chairman and CEO Bobby Taubman’s tenure. Consider the following
examples:
|
·
|
In 2005, the Company opened an office in Asia and twelve years later the Asian experiment has,
in our view, been underwhelming with unproven projects that we believe to be largely outside of the Company’s core competency.
|
|
·
|
In 2012, the Company embarked on the development of the Mall of San Juan, where cost was 35% above
the initial budget at an excessive cost, in our view, of nearly $900 per square foot, yields fell woefully short of the target
and the project opened six months late.
|
|
·
|
In 2012, the Company’s foray in outlet development with Taubman Prestige Outlets Chesterfield
near St. Louis, despite a formidable competitor, has been disappointing, with development costs of $430 per square foot, approximately
80% higher than its competitor, and a “modest” yield that fell well short of the Company’s initial expectations
and the yield achieved by its competitor.
|
|
·
|
In 2013, the Company’s Hawaii development International Market Place cost 25% more than its
initial budgets, the project opened late and the Company lowered its yield expectations.
|
|
·
|
In 2016, the Company acknowledged that Beverly Center, one of its crown jewels, had fallen behind
peers and now requires a $500 million investment that we believe will generate little to no return and add effectively no new space
to lease while the Company’s competitor’s asset is thriving and investment spending is expected to generate attractive
returns.
|
Despite
the numerous development disappointments, the Board appears poised to give a green light to another large scale mall development
in Korea later this year or next year.
We believe the
Board’s undisciplined approach to capital allocation demonstrates its apparent inability or unwillingness to be an effective
steward of shareholder capital.
We Are Concerned
with the Company’s Poor Corporate Governance
We are concerned
with the Company’s poor corporate governance, which we believe severely limits the ability of shareholders to seek effective
change at the Company.
In fact, Green Street Advisors, the leading independent research and advisory firm in the REIT industry
(“Green Street”), has given the Company the worst governance rating among all REITs.
The Board is
classified into three separate classes, meaning its directors are only subject to re-election by shareholders once every three
years. We believe the ability of shareholders to select directors each year is an important check on the performance of the Board
and is critical in allowing shareholder input on the direction and state of the Company and the best group of individuals to oversee
their investment. To the contrary, the Board’s current classified structure, in our view, impedes shareholders’ ability
to regularly and effectively evaluate the performance of their directors and insulates and entrenches the incumbent directors.
Notably, the
Company is one of only three REITs with a staggered board out of the eighty-three companies covered by leading independent research
and advisory firm Green Street.
3
Perhaps
even more concerning is the fact that the Board has remained classified despite a majority of the Company’s shareholders
supporting shareholder-proposals to declassify the Board in 2007 and 2008. In fact, Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (ISS),
a leading proxy voting advisory firm, recommended that shareholders vote against all three directors up for re-election at the
Company’s 2009 annual meeting of shareholders given the Board’s failure to listen to the will of its shareholders
to declassify the Board.
3
According to Green Street based on the universe of REITs covered by Green Street.
We are also
concerned with Bobby Taubman’s continued dual position as Chairman and CEO of the Company, which we believe has contributed
to the Board’s apparent ineffective oversight of the Company. Separating the roles of Chairman and CEO is broadly considered
governance best practice as it promotes oversight of risk, curbs conflicts of interests and more effectively manages the relationship
between the Board and management. Notably, Bobby Taubman has served as Chairman of the Board since 2001 and as CEO since 1990.
In our view,
the Board is stale and dominated by long-tenured directors who have presided over the Company’s prolonged underperformance.
The average tenure of the Board is fifteen years with the average age at nearly seventy years old.
4
Further, current
director Jerome Chazen, who was recently Chairman of the Audit Committee, served in such capacity at nearly ninety years old,
having initially joined the Board in 1992. We believe the Company’s stock price has suffered due to the lack of fresh perspective
on the Board and that change on the Board is critical to ensure renewed focus and commitment on delivering shareholder value.
We believe the
Company’s poor corporate governance emanates from the Taubman Family’s effective control of the Company. The Board
allowed the Taubman Family to acquire an approximate 30% vote in the Company for a cost of just $38,400. In fact, the Company itself
has even acknowledged the Taubman Family’s control:
“Based
on information contained in filings made with the SEC, as of December 31, 2016, the Taubman Family has the power to vote approximately
30% of the outstanding shares of our common stock and our Series B Series B Preferred Stock, considered together as a single class,
including approximately 96% of our outstanding Series B Series B Preferred Stock. Our shares of common stock and our Series B Series
B Preferred Stock vote together as a single class on all matters generally submitted to a vote of our shareowners, and the holders
of the Series B Series B Preferred Stock have certain rights to nominate up to four individuals for election to our Board of Directors
and other class voting rights. Robert S. Taubman serves as our Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer. William
S. Taubman serves as our Chief Operating Officer and one of our directors. These individuals occupy the same positions with the
Manager.
As a result, the Taubman Family may exercise significant influence with respect to the election of our Board of
Directors, the outcome of any corporate transaction or other matter submitted to our shareowners for approval, including any merger,
consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets
.
In addition, because our Articles impose a limitation
on the ownership of our outstanding Capital Stock by any person and such ownership limitation may not be changed without the affirmative
vote of holders owning not less than two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Capital Stock entitled to vote on such matter, it
would be very difficult, as a practical matter, for there to be a change in control of our Company without the affirmative vote
of the Taubman Family
.” (emphasis added)
–
10-K filed by the Company on February 23, 2017
4
Based on board
composition, excluding most recent appointment of Cia Marakovits, prior to Land & Buildings’ public involvement.
We believe
the Taubman Family’s control has contributed to a number of concerning actions at the Company, including the Board’s
unilateral rejection of Simon Property Group’s unsolicited offer to acquire the Company at a 30% premium to the Company’s
stock price on the day Simon Property Group made its offer.
5
Six of the current directors, including Chairman Bobby Taubman and Lead Director Myron Ullman, were on the Board
during this time.
Likewise concerning
is the Board having overseen the Taubman Family’s pledge of more than one-third of its operating partnership units as loan
collateral. In fact, ISS recommended against the election of the Audit Committee members at the 2016 annual meeting of shareholders
“due to the board's failure to establish a policy to mitigate or prevent the risks caused by share pledging.”
The Taubman Family’s influence
over the Company and the Board has, in our view, contributed to the Company’s poor corporate governance practices, including:
|
·
|
The classified Board structure.
|
|
·
|
The 15-year average tenure of the Board.
|
|
·
|
The combined roles of Chairman and CEO.
|
|
·
|
The supermajority vote requirement to amend certain Charter and Bylaw provisions and to remove
directors without cause.
|
|
·
|
The ability of shareholders to act only by unanimous written consent and to call a special meeting
only with the support of 30% of the voting power.
|
|
·
|
The Board’s rejection of a takeover offer at a substantial premium and allowing the Taubman
Family to pledge shares as loan collateral.
|
In our view,
these actions display a misalignment of interests between the Board and its shareholders. We therefore believe change is not only
long-overdue, but is required to ensure the Board delivers on its fiduciary duties to properly hold management accountable and
provide effective oversight of the Company and to ensure that it pursues opportunities to protect and enhance shareholder value.
If elected
to the Board at the Annual Meeting, our Nominees, subject to their fiduciary duties as directors, will seek to work with the other
members of the Board to identify and explore opportunities to maximize shareholder value, including assessing changes to the Company’s
corporate governance such as declassifying the Board and separating the roles of Chairman and CEO, improving operations by evaluating
best practices throughout the industry and improving capital allocation by enacting strict return on capital hurdles necessary
to proceed with any and all aspects of projects. However, if elected, our Nominees will constitute a minority of the Board and
there can be no guarantee that they will be able to implement the actions that they believe are necessary to maximize shareholder
value.
5
According to Simon Property Group’s press release, dated November 13, 2002.
PROPOSAL NO. 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board currently
consists of nine directors: three directors whose terms will expire at the Annual Meeting, three directors whose terms will expire
at the 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (“2018 Annual Meeting”), and three directors whose terms will expire at
the 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. We are seeking your support at the Annual Meeting to elect our two Nominees, each
of whom is currently independent of the Company. Each of our Nominees, if elected at the Annual Meeting, will serve until the 2020
Annual Meeting and until his successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until his death, resignation, or removal.
According to the Company's proxy statement, the Company intends to nominate three candidates for election to the Board. Your vote
to elect our Nominees will have the legal effect of replacing two incumbent directors with the Nominees. If elected, our Nominees
will represent a minority of the members of the Board, and therefore it is not guaranteed that they can implement the actions that
they believe are necessary to enhance shareholder value. There is no assurance that any incumbent director will serve as a director
if one or more of our Nominees are elected to the Board. You should refer to the Company's Proxy Statement for the names, background,
qualifications and other information concerning the Company's nominees.
THE NOMINEES
The following information
sets forth the name, age, business address, present principal occupation, and employment and material occupations, positions, offices,
or employments for the past five years of each of the Nominees. The ages shown below are as of the date of the filing of this proxy
statement. The nominations were made in a timely manner and in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Company’s
governing instruments. The specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that led us to conclude that the Nominees
should serve as directors of the Company are set forth below. This information has been furnished to us by the Nominees. All of
the Nominees are citizens of the United States.
Charles Elson
,
age 57, has served as the Edgar S. Woolard, Jr., Chair in Corporate Governance and the Director of the John L. Weinberg Center
for Corporate Governance at the University of Delaware, since 2000. Mr. Elson has also served as Consultant to the law firm Holland & Knight LLP, since 1995. Mr. Elson formerly served as a Professor of Law at Stetson University College of Law in St. Petersburg,
Florida, from 1990 until 2001. He presently serves as a Director at HealthSouth Corporation (NYSE:HLS), a healthcare services provider,
since 2004, including his service as Chair of the Finance Committee, since 2013, and as a member of the Nominating/Corporate Governance
Committee, since 2004. Mr. Elson also serves as a Director at Bob Evans Farms Inc. (NASDAQ:BOBE), a restaurant and food products
company, since 2014, including his service as Chair of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee, since 2014 and as a member
of the Compensation Committee, since 2014. Previously, Mr. Elson served as a member of the Board of Directors of a number of publicly-traded
companies including: Circon Corporation (formerly NASDAQ:CCON), a medical products maker, from 1997 to 1999; Sunbeam Corporation,
the consumer products manufacturer, from 1996 to 2002; Nuevo Energy Company (formerly NYSE: NEV), an independent oil and natural
gas producer, from 1998 until it was acquired by Plains Exploration & Production Company (NYSE:PXP) in 2004; and AutoZone,
Inc. (NYSE:AZO), the national automobile parts retailer, from 2000 to 2008. He served on the National Association of Corporate
Directors Advisory Council and is Vice Chairman of the ABA Business Law Section's Committee on Corporate Governance, and was previously
a member of its Committee on Corporate Laws. He is also a member of the Standing Advisory Group of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board. Mr. Elson began his career at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, where he served as an Associate in the Corporate Finance
and Mergers & Acquisitions practice, from 1986 to 1990. Mr. Elson earned his A.B. from Harvard College and his J.D. from the
University of Virginia Law School. Land & Buildings believes Mr. Elson’s distinguished career and significant experience
serving as a director of a number of public companies well qualifies him to serve on the Board.
Jonathan Litt
,
age 52, is the Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Land & Buildings Investment Management, LLC, a registered investment
advisor specializing in publicly traded real estate and real estate related securities (“L&B Management”), which
he founded in 2008. Prior to founding L&B Management, Mr. Litt was Managing Director and Senior Global Real Estate Analyst
at Citigroup, where he was responsible for Global Property Investment Strategy, coordinating a 44-person team of research analysts
located across 16 countries. Mr. Litt has served as a director of Children with Dyslexia Scholarship Fund since 1998 and Land &
Buildings Offshore Fund, Ltd. since 2008. He previously served as a director of Mack-Cali Realty Corporation (NYSE: CLI), a leading
owner, manager, and developer of office and class A residential real estate throughout the Northeast, from March 2014 to August
2016, where he served as a member of the Audit Committee. Mr. Litt holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Columbia University
and a Master of Finance degree from New York University's Stern School of Business. Land & Buildings believes that Mr. Litt
is well-qualified to serve as a director of the Company given his extensive experience as a director, his lengthy history in the
real estate investment industry, and his expertise gained as Founder and Chief Investment Officer of L&B Management.
The principal business
address of Mr. Elson is 1002 Westover Road, Wilmington, Delaware 19807. The principal business address of Mr. Litt is 1 Landmark
Square, 7th Floor, Stamford, Connecticut 06901.
As of the date hereof,
Mr. Elson does not own beneficially or of record any securities of the Company and has not entered into any transactions in securities
of the Company during the past two years. As of the date hereof, Mr. Litt directly owns 436 shares of the Company’s 6.5%
Series J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (the “Series J Preferred Stock”). Reference is made to the Charter for
details regarding the Series J Preferred Stock, including the preferences, limitations as to dividends, voting and other rights,
and the terms and conditions of redemption of the Series J Preferred Stock.
In addition, Mr.
Litt, as the managing principal of L&B Management, which is the investment manager of each of L&B Opportunity and L&B
Capital and the investment advisor of certain managed accounts (the “Managed Accounts”), may be deemed the beneficial
owner of the (i) 185,600 shares of Common Stock owned directly by L&B Capital, (ii) 97,600 shares of Common Stock owned directly
by L&B Opportunity, and (iii) 435,247 shares of Common Stock held in the Managed Accounts. Mr. Litt has not entered into any
transactions in securities of the Company during the past two years. For information regarding transactions in securities of the
Company during the past two years by L&B Capital, L&B Opportunity and L&B Management through the Managed Accounts,
see
Schedule I
.
Each of the Nominees
may be deemed to be a member of the Group (as defined below) for the purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act. Each of
the Nominees specifically disclaims beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock that he does not directly own. For information
regarding purchases and sales during the past two years by members of the Group of securities of the Company, see
Schedule I
.
The Members
of Land & Buildings and the Nominees are collectively referred to as the “Group” herein.
L&B Management
has signed a letter agreement, pursuant to which it has agreed to indemnify Mr. Elson against claims arising from the solicitation
of proxies from the Company’s shareholders in connection with the Annual Meeting and any related transactions.
L&B Capital
has signed a compensation letter agreement with Mr. Elson, pursuant to which it has agreed to pay Mr. Elson: (i) $15,000 in cash
as a result of the submission by L&B Capital of its nomination of Mr. Elson to the Company and (ii) $15,000 in cash upon the
filing of a definitive proxy statement by Land and Buildings with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the solicitation
of proxies in favor of Mr. Elson’s election as a director at the Annual Meeting or earlier, at the discretion of Land &
Buildings.
Land & Buildings
believes that each Nominee presently is, and if elected as a director of the Company would be, an “independent director”
within the meaning of (i) applicable New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) listing standards applicable to board composition,
including NYSE Rule 303A.02 and (ii) Section 301 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. No Nominee is a member of the Company’s
compensation, nominating or audit committee that is not independent under any such committee’s applicable independence standards.
Other than as
stated herein, and except for compensation received by Mr. Litt as an employee of Land & Buildings, there are no arrangements
or understandings between Members of Land & Buildings and any of the Nominees or any other person or persons pursuant to which
the nomination of the Nominees described herein is to be made, other than the consent by each of the Nominees to be named in this
Proxy Statement and to serve as a director of the Company if elected as such at the Annual Meeting. None of the Nominees is a
party adverse to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or has a material interest adverse to the Company or any of its subsidiaries
in any material pending legal proceedings.
We do not expect
that the Nominees will be unable to stand for election, but, in the event any Nominee is unable to serve or for good cause will
not serve, the shares of Voting Stock represented by the enclosed
GOLD
proxy card will be voted for substitute nominee(s),
to the extent this is not prohibited under the Bylaws and applicable law. In addition, we reserve the right to nominate substitute
person(s) if the Company makes or announces any changes to the Bylaws or takes or announces any other action that has, or if consummated
would have, the effect of disqualifying any Nominee, to the extent this is not prohibited under the Bylaws and applicable law.
In any such case, we would identify and properly nominate such substitute nominees in accordance with the Bylaws and shares of
Voting Stock represented by the enclosed
GOLD
proxy card will be voted for such substitute nominee(s). We reserve the right
to nominate additional person(s), to the extent this is not prohibited under the Bylaws and applicable law, if the Company increases
the size of the Board above its existing size or increases the number of directors whose terms expire at the Annual Meeting. Additional
nominations made pursuant to the preceding sentence are without prejudice to the position of Land & Buildings that any attempt
to increase the size of the current Board or to reconstitute or reconfigure the classes on which the current directors serve, constitutes
an unlawful manipulation of the Company’s corporate machinery.
WE URGE YOU TO
VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES ON THE ENCLOSED GOLD PROXY CARD.
PROPOSAL NO. 2
RATIFICATION
OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
As discussed in
further detail in the Company’s proxy statement, the Company’s Audit Committee has appointed KPMG LLP as the Company’s
independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017 and is proposing that shareholders ratify
such appointment. The Company is submitting the appointment of KPMG LLP for ratification of the shareholders at the Annual Meeting.
WE
MAKE NO RECOMMENDATION WITH RESPECT TO THE RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF KPMG LLP AS THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING
FIRM OF THE COMPANY FOR the Fiscal year ending December 31, 2017 AND INTEND
TO VOTE OUR SHARES “[FOR]”
THIS PROPOSAL.
PROPOSAL NO. 3
ADVISORY
VOTE ON COMPENSATION OF THE COMPANY’S NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
As discussed in
further detail in the Company’s proxy statement, the Company is asking shareholders to indicate their support for the compensation
of the Company’s executive officers. This proposal, commonly known as a “say-on-pay” proposal, is not intended
to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of the Company’s executive officers and
the philosophy, policies and practices described in the Company’s proxy statement. Accordingly, the Company is asking shareholders
to vote for the following resolution:
“RESOLVED,
that the Company's shareholders approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the named executive officers, as disclosed in
the Company's Proxy Statement for the 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the
Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the Summary Compensation Table and the
other related tables and disclosure.”
As disclosed in
the Company’s proxy statement, the shareholder vote on the say-on-pay proposal is an advisory vote only, and is not binding
on the Company, the Board or the Compensation Committee of the Board; however, the Company has disclosed that to the extent there
is any significant vote against the named executive officer compensation as disclosed in the Company’s proxy statement, the
Company will consider shareholders’ concerns, and the Compensation Committee will evaluate whether any actions are necessary
to address those concerns.
WE RECOMMEND VOTING,
AND INTEND TO VOTE OUR SHARES, “[FOR/AGAINST]” THIS PROPOSAL.
PROPOSAL
NO. 4
ADVISORY
VOTE ON the FREQUENCY OF THE advisory vote on COMPENSATION OF THE COMPANY’S NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
As discussed in
further detail in the Company’s proxy statement, the Company is asking shareholders to indicate how frequently they would
like the Company to hold an advisory vote on the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers, commonly known as
a “say-on-pay” proposal. With respect to the frequency at which the Company holds future say-on-pay votes, shareholders
may vote for “1 YEAR,” “2 YEARS,” or “3 YEARS” or mark the proxy “ABSTAIN.”
According to the
Company’s proxy statement, this proposal is advisory only and not binding on the Company or the Board, but the results will
be taken into consideration when making decisions regarding the frequency of future advisory votes on the compensation of the Company’s
named executive officers.
WE RECOMMEND, AND
INTEND TO VOTE OUR SHARES, FOR THE OPTION OF “[1 YEAR]” FOR THIS PROPOSAL.
VOTING AND PROXY
PROCEDURES
According to the
Company’s proxy statement, holders of Common Stock and Series B Preferred Stock (on a fully converted basis) vote together
as a single class on all matters at the Annual Meeting. Only shareholders of record on the Record Date will be entitled
to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. Shareholders who sell their shares of Voting Stock before the Record Date
(or acquire them without voting rights after the Record Date) may not vote such shares of Voting Stock. Shareholders
of record on the Record Date will retain their voting rights in connection with the Annual Meeting even if they sell such shares
of Voting Stock after the Record Date.
Shares of Voting
Stock represented by properly executed
GOLD
proxy cards will be voted at the Annual Meeting as marked and, in the absence
of specific instructions, will be voted
FOR
the election of the Nominees, [
FOR]
the ratification of KPMG LLP as the
Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017, [
FOR/AGAINST]
the advisory vote to approve the Company’s executive compensation,
[1 YEAR]
with respect to the frequency with which
an advisory vote on executive compensation should be presented to the Company’s shareholders, and in the discretion of the
persons named as proxies on all other matters as may properly come before the Annual Meeting, as described herein.
According to the
Company’s proxy statement for the Annual Meeting, the current Board intends to nominate three candidates for election as
directors at the Annual Meeting. This Proxy Statement is soliciting proxies to elect not only our two Nominees, but also the candidate
who has been nominated by the Company other than [____] and [____]. This gives shareholders the ability to vote for the total
number of directors up for election at the Annual Meeting.
QUORUM; BROKER NON-VOTES; DISCRETIONARY
VOTING
A quorum is the
minimum number of shares of Voting Stock that must be represented at a duly called meeting in person or by proxy in order to legally
conduct business at the meeting. For the Annual Meeting, the presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority
of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock as of the Record Date, will be considered a quorum allowing votes to be taken and counted
for the matters before the shareholders.
Abstentions are
counted as present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining a quorum. Shares represented by “broker non-votes”
also are counted as present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining a quorum. However, if you hold your shares in “street
name” and do not provide voting instructions to your broker, your shares will not be voted on any proposal on which your broker
does not have discretionary authority to vote (a “broker non-vote”). Under rules of the New York Stock Exchange, your
broker will not have discretionary authority to vote your shares at the Annual Meeting on any of the proposals.
If you are a beneficial
owner, your broker will vote your shares pursuant to your instructions, and those shares will count in the determination of a quorum.
Brokers do not have discretionary authority to vote on any of the proposals at the Annual Meeting. Accordingly, unless
you vote via proxy card or provide instructions to your broker, your shares of Voting Stock will count for purposes of attaining
a quorum, but will not be voted on those proposals.
VOTES REQUIRED FOR APPROVAL
Election of Directors
─ According to the Company’s proxy statement, directors will be elected pursuant to a plurality voting standard, which
means that the three nominees for director receiving the highest number of “FOR” votes will be elected as directors
of the Company. With respect to the election of directors, only votes cast “FOR” a nominee will be counted. Proxy cards
specifying that votes should be withheld with respect to one or more nominees will result in those nominees receiving fewer votes
but will not count as a vote against the nominees. Neither an abstention nor a “broker non-vote” will count as a vote cast “FOR”
or “AGAINST” a director nominee. Therefore, abstentions and “broker non-votes” will have no direct effect
on the outcome of the election of directors.
Ratification
of the Selection of Accounting Firm
─ According to the Company’s proxy statement, assuming that a quorum is present,
the appointment of KPMG LLP will be deemed to have been ratified if the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Voting
Stock vote in favor of ratification. The Company has indicated that “broker non-votes” will have no effect on the ratification of
the selection, however, abstentions will act as a vote against this proposal.
Advisory Vote
on Executive Compensation
─ According to the Company’s proxy statement, although the vote is non-binding, assuming
that a quorum is present, the advisory vote on executive compensation will be approved if the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding
shares of Voting Stock approve the Company’s resolution on executive compensation. The Company has indicated that “broker
non-votes” and abstentions will act as a vote against this proposal.
Advisory Vote
on the Frequency of Future “Say-On-Pay” Votes
─ According to the Company’s proxy statement, assuming
that a quorum is present, the frequency of the advisory vote on executive compensation receiving the greatest number of votes (every
1, 2 or 3 years) will be considered the frequency recommended by shareholders. The Company has indicated that abstentions and “broker
non-votes” will have no effect on this proposal.
Under applicable
Michigan law, none of the holders of Voting Stock is entitled to dissenters’ rights in connection with any matter to be
acted on at the Annual Meeting. If you sign and submit your
GOLD
proxy card without specifying how you would like your
shares voted, your shares will be voted in accordance with Land & Buildings’ recommendations specified herein and in
accordance with the discretion of the persons named on the
GOLD
proxy card with respect to any other matters that may be
voted upon at the Annual Meeting.
REVOCATION OF PROXIES
Shareholders of
the Company may revoke their proxies at any time prior to exercise by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person (although
attendance at the Annual Meeting will not in and of itself constitute revocation of a proxy), by voting again by telephone or
through the Internet, by delivering a written notice of revocation, or by signing and delivering a subsequently dated proxy which
is properly completed. The revocation may be delivered either to Land & Buildings in care of D.F. King at the address set
forth on the back cover of this Proxy Statement or to the Company at 200 East Long Lake Road, Suite 300, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
48304-2324 or any other address provided by the Company. Although a revocation is effective if delivered to the Company, we request
that either the original or photostatic copies of all revocations be mailed to Land & Buildings in care of D.F. King at the
address set forth on the back cover of this Proxy Statement so that we will be aware of all revocations and can more accurately
determine if and when proxies have been received from the holders of record on the Record Date of a majority of the outstanding
shares of Voting Stock. Additionally, D.F. King may use this information to contact shareholders who have revoked their proxies
in order to solicit later dated proxies for the election of the Nominees.
IF YOU WISH TO
VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES TO THE BOARD, PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY THE ENCLOSED GOLD PROXY CARD IN THE
POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE PROVIDED.
SOLICITATION OF
PROXIES
The solicitation
of proxies pursuant to this Proxy Statement is being made by Land & Buildings. Proxies may be solicited by mail, facsimile,
telephone, telegraph, Internet, in person and by advertisements.
Members of Land & Buildings have entered into an agreement with D.F. King for solicitation and advisory services in connection with this solicitation,
for which D.F. King will receive a fee not to exceed $850,000, together with reimbursement for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses,
and will be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses, including certain liabilities under the federal securities laws.
D.F. King will solicit proxies from individuals, brokers, banks, bank nominees and other institutional holders. Land & Buildings
has requested banks, brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward all solicitation materials to
the beneficial owners of the shares of Voting Stock they hold of record. Land & Buildings will reimburse these record holders
for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in so doing. It is anticipated that D.F. King will employ approximately 40 persons
to solicit shareholders for the Annual Meeting.
The entire expense
of soliciting proxies is being borne by Land & Buildings. Costs of this solicitation of proxies are currently estimated to
be approximately $[_____] (including, but not limited to, fees for attorneys, solicitors and other advisors, and other costs incidental
to the solicitation). Land & Buildings estimates that through the date hereof its expenses in connection with this solicitation
are approximately $[______]. Land & Buildings intends to seek reimbursement from the Company of all expenses it incurs in connection
with this solicitation. Land & Buildings does not intend to submit the question of such reimbursement to a vote of security
holders of the Company.
ADDITIONAL PARTICIPANT
INFORMATION
The Nominees
and the Members of Land & Buildings are participants in this solicitation.
The principal business
of each of L&B Capital, a Delaware limited partnership, and L&B Opportunity, a Delaware limited partnership, is serving
as a private investment fund. The principal business of L&B GP, a Delaware limited partnership, is serving as the general partner
of each of L&B Capital and L&B Opportunity. The principal business of L&B Management, a Delaware limited liability
company, is serving as the investment manager of each of L&B Capital and L&B Opportunity and as the investment advisor
of the Managed Accounts.
The address of the
principal office of each of L&B Capital, L&B Opportunity, L&B GP, and L&B Management is 1 Landmark Square, 7th
Floor, Stamford, Connecticut 06901.
As of the date hereof,
L&B Capital directly owns 185,600 shares of Common Stock. As of the date hereof, L&B Opportunity directly owns 97,600 shares
of Common Stock. As of the date hereof, 435,247 shares of Common Stock were held in the Managed Accounts. L&B GP, as the general
partner of each of L&B Capital and L&B Opportunity, may be deemed the beneficial owner of an aggregate of 283,200 shares
of Common Stock, owned by L&B Capital and L&B Opportunity. L&B Management, as the investment manager of each of L&B
Capital and L&B Opportunity, and as the investment advisor of the Managed Accounts, may be deemed the beneficial owner of an
aggregate of 718,447 shares of Common Stock, owned by L&B Capital and L&B Opportunity and held in the Managed Accounts.
Mr. Litt, as the managing principal of L&B Management, which is the investment manager of each of L&B Capital and L&B
Opportunity and the investment advisor of the Managed Accounts, may be deemed the beneficial owner of an aggregate of 718,447 shares
of Common Stock, owned by L&B Capital and L&B Opportunity and held in the Managed Accounts.
Each participant
in this solicitation, as a member of the Group with the other participants for the purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange
Act, may be deemed to beneficially own the 718,447 shares of Common Stock and 436 shares of Series J Preferred Stock owned in the
aggregate by all of the participants in this solicitation. Each participant in this solicitation disclaims beneficial ownership
of the shares of Common Stock he or it does not directly own. For information regarding purchases and sales of securities of the
Company during the past two years by the participants in this solicitation, see
Schedule I
.
The shares of Common
Stock purchased by each of L&B Capital, L&B Opportunity, and held in the Managed Accounts were purchased with working capital
(which may, at any given time, include margin loans made by brokerage firms in the ordinary course of business) in the open market,
except as otherwise noted on
Schedule I
. The shares of Series J Preferred Stock purchased by Mr. Litt were purchased in
the open market with personal funds.
Except as set forth
in this Proxy Statement (including the Schedules hereto), (i) during the past 10 years, no participant in this solicitation has
been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors); (ii) no participant in this solicitation
directly or indirectly beneficially owns any securities of the Company; (iii) no participant in this solicitation owns any securities
of the Company which are owned of record but not beneficially; (iv) no participant in this solicitation has purchased or sold any
securities of the Company during the past two years; (v) no part of the purchase price or market value of the securities of the
Company owned by any participant in this solicitation is represented by funds borrowed or otherwise obtained for the purpose of
acquiring or holding such securities; (vi) no participant in this solicitation is, or within the past year was, a party to any
contract, arrangements or understandings with any person with respect to any securities of the Company, including, but not limited
to, joint ventures, loan or option arrangements, puts or calls, guarantees against loss or guarantees of profit, division of losses
or profits, or the giving or withholding of proxies; (vii) no associate of any participant in this solicitation owns beneficially,
directly or indirectly, any securities of the Company; (viii) no participant in this solicitation owns beneficially, directly or
indirectly, any securities of any parent or subsidiary of the Company; (ix) no participant in this solicitation or any of his or
its associates was a party to any transaction, or series of similar transactions, since the beginning of the Company’s last
fiscal year, or is a party to any currently proposed transaction, or series of similar transactions, to which the Company or any
of its subsidiaries was or is to be a party, in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000; (x) no participant in this solicitation
or any of his or its associates has any arrangement or understanding with any person with respect to any future employment by the
Company or its affiliates, or with respect to any future transactions to which the Company or any of its affiliates will or may
be a party; and (xi) no participant in this solicitation has a substantial interest, direct or indirect, by securities holdings
or otherwise, in any matter to be acted on at the Annual Meeting.
There are no material
proceedings to which any participant in this solicitation or any of his or its associates is a party adverse to the Company or
any of its subsidiaries or has a material interest adverse to the Company or any of its subsidiaries. With respect to each of the
Nominees, none of the events enumerated in Item 401(f)(1)-(8) of Regulation S-K of the Exchange Act occurred during the past ten
years.
OTHER MATTERS AND
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Land & Buildings
is unaware of any other matters to be considered at the Annual Meeting. However, should other matters, which Land & Buildings
is not aware of a reasonable time before this solicitation, be brought before the Annual Meeting, the persons named as proxies
on the enclosed
GOLD
proxy card will vote on such matters in their discretion.
Shareholder
PROPOSALS
Proposals of shareholders
intended to be presented at the 2018 Annual Meeting must, in order to be included in the Company’s proxy statement and the
form of proxy for the 2018 Annual Meeting, be received by the Company’s Secretary at 200 East Long Lake Road, Suite 300,
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48304-2324 by the close of business on ________, 2017, and must otherwise be in compliance with the
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s proxy rules.
Any director nomination
or shareholder proposal of other business intended to be presented for consideration at the 2018 Annual Meeting, but not intended
to be considered for inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement and form of proxy related to such meeting (i.e. not pursuant
to Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act), must be received by the Company at the address stated above between ________, 2018 and the
close of business on ________, 2018 to be considered timely. However, if the 2018 Annual Meeting occurs more than 30 days before
or 60 days after ________, 2018, the Company must receive nominations or proposals (A) not later than the close of business
on the later of the 90th day prior to the date of the 2018 Annual Meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement
is made of the date of the 2018 Annual Meeting, and (B) not earlier than the 120th day prior to the 2018 Annual Meeting.
The information
set forth above regarding the procedures for submitting shareholder proposals for consideration at the 2018 Annual Meeting is based
on information contained in the Company’s proxy statement. The incorporation of this information in this proxy statement
should not be construed as an admission by Land & Buildings that such procedures are legal, valid or binding.
INCORPORATION
BY
REFERENCE
WE
HAVE OMITTED FROM THIS PROXY STATEMENT CERTAIN DISCLOSURE REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW THAT IS EXPECTED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE COMPANY’S
PROXY STATEMENT RELATING TO THE ANNUAL MEETING based on reliance on Rule 14a-5(c). THIS DISCLOSURE IS EXPECTED TO INCLUDE, AMONG
OTHER THINGS, CURRENT BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY’S DIRECTORS, INFORMATION CONCERNING EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION,
AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION. SEE SCHEDULE II FOR INFORMATION REGARDING PERSONS WHO BENEFICIALLY OWN MORE THAN 5% OF THE SHARES
AND THE OWNERSHIP OF THE SHARES BY THE DIRECTORS AND MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY.
The information
concerning the Company contained in this Proxy Statement and the Schedules attached hereto has been taken from, or is based upon,
publicly available information.
Land & Buildings Capital Growth Fund, LP
|
|
|
_________________, 2017
|
SCHEDULE I
TRANSACTIONS IN
SECURITIES OF
the Company
DURING THE PAST TWO YEARS
Nature of
the Transaction
|
Amount of Shares
Purchased/(Sold)
|
Date of
Purchase/Sale
|
land
& buildings capital growth fund, lp
Purchase of Common Stock
|
55,000
|
07/31/2015
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
13,300
|
08/13/2015
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
13,400
|
08/17/2015
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(81,700)
|
08/31/2015
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
43,100
|
01/22/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
42,100
|
01/25/2016
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(14,500)
|
01/29/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
32,105
|
02/02/2016
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(20,600)
|
02/10/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
28,200
|
02/11/2016
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(33,100)
|
02/12/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
39,300
|
02/29/2016
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(13,200)
|
03/08/2016
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(41,400)
|
03/09/2016
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(27,000)
|
03/15/2016
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(28,000)
|
03/16/2016
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(7,005)
|
03/18/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
87,500
|
05/04/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
22,300
|
06/09/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
18,100
|
06/24/2016
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(19,200)
|
06/29/2016
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(10,900)
|
06/30/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
21,200
|
07/11/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
10,900
|
07/19/2016
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(23,400)
|
07/27/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
10,900
|
08/18/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
22,300
|
08/31/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
7,600
|
09/02/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
9,100
|
09/06/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
5,300
|
09/07/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
5,300
|
09/08/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
3,500
|
09/12/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
15,100
|
02/16/2017
|
L & B REAL ESTATE
OPPORTUNITY FUND, LP
Purchase of Common Stock
|
12,700
|
01/22/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
11,400
|
01/25/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
9,758
|
02/02/2016
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(6,800)
|
02/10/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
12,600
|
02/11/2016
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(5,950)
|
02/12/2016
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(10,400)
|
02/18/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
4,300
|
02/24/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
6,400
|
02/29/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
9,700
|
03/02/2016
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(5,400)
|
03/04/2016
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(4,300)
|
03/08/2016
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(13,600)
|
03/09/2016
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(8,900)
|
03/15/2016
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(9,200)
|
03/16/2016
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(2,308)
|
03/18/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
29,600
|
05/04/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
6,900
|
06/09/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
5,400
|
06/24/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
4,500
|
07/06/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
9,100
|
07/11/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
8,000
|
07/19/2016
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(11,400)
|
07/27/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
11,900
|
08/18/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
4,500
|
08/31/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
4,100
|
09/07/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
4,400
|
09/08/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
16,300
|
10/17/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
4,300
|
02/16/2017
|
land
& buildings investment management, llc
(Through the Managed
Accounts)
Purchase of Common Stock
|
3,524
|
07/31/2015
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
900
|
08/13/2015
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
900
|
08/17/2015
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(5,324)
|
08/31/2015
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
2,575
|
01/22/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
2,500
|
01/25/2016
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(900)
|
01/29/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
1,937
|
02/02/2016
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(1,200)
|
02/10/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
1,480
|
02/11/2016
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(1,900)
|
02/12/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
2,400
|
02/29/2016
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(737)
|
03/08/2016
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(2,500)
|
03/09/2016
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(1,600)
|
03/15/2016
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(1,600)
|
03/16/2016
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(455)
|
03/18/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
5,300
|
05/04/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
1,300
|
06/09/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
1,100
|
06/24/2016
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(6,300)
|
06/28/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
2,600
|
07/11/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
700
|
07/19/2016
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(1,300)
|
07/27/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
25,700
|
08/18/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
21,700
|
08/22/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
24,800
|
08/23/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
1,300
|
08/31/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
4,500
|
08/31/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
53,400
|
09/01/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
5,285
|
09/02/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
27,100
|
09/02/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
6,162
|
09/06/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
32,300
|
09/06/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
4,100
|
09/07/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
56,600
|
09/07/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
3,700
|
09/08/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
59,300
|
09/08/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
70,500
|
09/09/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
2,700
|
09/12/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
2,300
|
09/12/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
16,700
|
10/17/2016
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
13,700
|
02/16/2017
|
SCHEDULE II
The following
table is reprinted from the Company’s definitive proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on ___________,
2017.
IMPORTANT
Tell the Board
what you think! Your vote is important. No matter how many shares of Voting Stock you own, please give Land & Buildings your
proxy “FOR” the election of the Nominees and in accordance with Land & Buildings’ recommendations on the other proposals
on the agenda for the Annual Meeting by taking these three steps:
|
●
|
SIGNING the enclosed
GOLD
proxy card;
|
|
●
|
DATING the enclosed
GOLD
proxy card; and
|
|
●
|
MAILING the enclosed
GOLD
proxy card TODAY in the envelope provided (no postage is required
if mailed in the United States).
|
If any of your
shares of Voting Stock are held in the name of a brokerage firm, bank, bank nominee or other institution, only it can vote such
shares of Voting Stock and only upon receipt of your specific instructions.
Depending upon your broker or custodian, you may
be able to vote either by toll-free telephone or by the Internet. Please refer to the enclosed voting form for instructions on
how to vote electronically. You may also vote by signing, dating and returning the enclosed
GOLD
voting form.
If you have any
questions or require any additional information concerning this Proxy Statement, please contact D.F. King at the address set forth
below.
If you have any questions,
require assistance in voting your
GOLD
proxy card,
or need additional copies
of Land & Buildings’ proxy materials,
please contact D.F. King
& Co., Inc. (“D.F. King”) at the phone numbers listed below.
D.F. King & Co., Inc.
48 Wall Street, 22nd Floor
New York, New York 10005
Banks and Brokers Call
Collect: (212) 269-5500
All Others Call Toll-Free:
(800) 207-3159
Email: tco@dfking.com
|
GOLD PROXY CARD
PRELIMINARY COPY
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
DATED MARCH 24, 2017
taubman
centers, inc.
2017 ANNUAL MEETING
OF
ShareholderS
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED
ON BEHALF OF
land & buildings capital growth
fund, lp, and the other participants in its solicitation
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF
taubman centers, inc.
IS NOT SOLICITING THIS PROXY
P R O X Y
The undersigned
appoints Jonathan Litt, Craig Melcher, Steve Wolosky and Edward McCarthy, and each of them, attorneys and agents with full power
of substitution to vote all shares of Common Stock of Taubman Centers, Inc. (the “Company”) and all shares of Series
B Non-Participating Convertible Series B Preferred Stock of the Company (collectively, the “Voting Stock”) which the
undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company scheduled to be
held at The Townsend Hotel located at 100 Townsend Street, Birmingham, Michigan 48009, on ___________, 2017, beginning at __:__
_.m. Eastern Time (including any adjournments or postponements thereof and any meeting called in lieu thereof, the “Annual
Meeting”).
The
undersigned hereby revokes any other proxy or proxies heretofore given to vote or act with respect to the shares of Voting
Stock of the Company held by the undersigned, and hereby ratifies and confirms all action the herein named attorneys and
proxies, their substitutes, or any of them may lawfully take by virtue hereof. If properly executed, this Proxy will be voted
as directed on the reverse and in the discretion of the herein named attorneys and proxies or their substitutes with respect
to any other matters as may properly come before the Annual Meeting that are unknown to Land & Buildings Capital Growth
Fund, LP (“Land & Buildings”), a reasonable time before this solicitation.
IF NO DIRECTION
IS INDICATED WITH RESPECT TO THE PROPOSALS ON THE REVERSE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED “FOR” PROPOSAL 1, “[FOR]”
PROPOSAL 2, “[FOR/AGAINST]” PROPOSAL 3, AND “[1 YEAR]” WITH RESPECT TO PROPOSAL 4.
This Proxy will
be valid until the completion of the Annual Meeting. This Proxy will only be valid in connection with Land & Buildings’
solicitation of proxies for the Annual Meeting.
IMPORTANT: PLEASE
SIGN, DATE AND MAIL THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY!
CONTINUED AND TO
BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE
GOLD PROXY CARD
[X] Please mark vote as in this example
LAND & BUILDINGS STRONGLY
RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE NOMINEES LISTED BELOW IN PROPOSAL 1. LAND & BUILDINGS MAKES NO
RECOMMENDATION WITH RESPECT TO PROPOSAL 2, RECOMMENDS THAT
ShareholderS
VOTE [FOR/AGAINST]
PROPOSAL 3, AND RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE [1 YEAR] WITH RESPECT TO PROPOSAL 4.
|
1.
|
Land & Buildings’ proposal to elect Charles Elson and Jonathan Litt as directors of the
Company to serve until the 2020 annual meeting of shareholders.
|
|
FOR ALL
NOMINEES
|
WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE
FOR ALL NOMINEES
|
FOR ALL NOMINEE(S)
EXCEPT WRITTEN BELOW
|
Nominees:
|
Charles Elson
Jonathan Litt
|
¨
|
¨
|
¨
________________
________________
|
|
|
|
|
|
Land &
Buildings does not expect that any of the Nominees will be unable to stand for election, but, in the event that any Nominee is
unable to serve or for good cause will not serve, the shares of Voting Stock represented by this proxy card will be voted for
substitute nominee(s), to the extent this is not prohibited under the Bylaws and applicable law. In addition, Land & Buildings
has reserved the right to nominate substitute person(s) if the Company makes or announces any changes to its Bylaws or takes or
announces any other action that has, or if consummated would have, the effect of disqualifying any Nominee, to the extent this
is not prohibited under the Bylaws and applicable law. In any such case, shares of Voting Stock represented by this proxy card
will be voted for such substitute nominee(s).
Land & Buildings
intends to use this proxy to vote (i) “FOR” Messrs. Elson and Litt and (ii) “FOR” the candidate who has
been nominated by the Company other than [___] and [___], for whom Land & Buildings is not seeking authority to vote for and
will not exercise any such authority. The names, backgrounds and qualifications of the candidates who have been nominated by the
Company, and other information about them, can be found in the Company’s proxy statement. There is no assurance that any
of the candidates who have been nominated by the Company will serve as directors if our Nominees are elected.
Note: If you do
not wish for your shares of Voting Stock to be voted “FOR” a particular nominee, mark the “FOR ALL NOMINEE(S)
EXCEPT” box and write the name(s) of the nominee(s) you do not support on the line below. Your shares of Voting Stock will
be voted for the remaining nominee(s).
________________________________________________________
|
2.
|
Company’s proposal to ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the
Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017.
|
|
¨
FOR
|
|
¨
AGAINST
|
|
¨
ABSTAIN
|
|
3.
|
Company’s proposal to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers.
|
|
¨
FOR
|
|
¨
AGAINST
|
|
¨
ABSTAIN
|
|
4.
|
Company’s proposal to approve, on an advisory basis, the frequency with which an advisory vote on executive compensation
should be presented to the Company’s shareholders.
|
¨
1 YEAR
|
¨
2 YEARS
|
¨
3 YEARS
|
¨
ABSTAIN
|
DATED: ____________________________
____________________________________
(Signature)
____________________________________
(Signature, if held jointly)
____________________________________
(Title)
WHEN SHARES ARE HELD
JOINTLY, JOINT OWNERS SHOULD EACH SIGN. EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, TRUSTEES, ETC., SHOULD INDICATE THE CAPACITY IN WHICH SIGNING.
PLEASE SIGN EXACTLY AS NAME APPEARS ON THIS PROXY.
Taubman Centers (NYSE:TCO)
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