Document/ExhibitDescriptionPagesSize 1: 10-K Annual Report HTML 1.20M
2: EX-21 Subsidiaries of the Registrant HTML 15K
3: EX-23 Consent of Independent Registered Public HTML 9K
Accounting Firm
4: EX-24 Powers of Attorney HTML 11K
5: EX-31 Section 302 Certifications HTML 20K
6: EX-32 Section 906 Certifications HTML 10K
7: EX-99.1 Additional Risk Factors HTML 35K
(Registrant’s telephone
number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the
Act:
Title of each class
Name of each exchange on which
registered
Common Stock
None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the
Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known
seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities
Act. Yes o No þ
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file
reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
Act. Yes o No þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed
all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding
12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant
was required to file such reports), and (2) has been
subject to such filing requirements for the past
90 days. Yes þ No o
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers
pursuant to Item 405 of
Regulation S-K
is not contained herein and will not be contained, to the best
of registrant’s knowledge, in its definitive proxy or
information statements incorporated by reference in
Part III of this
Form 10-K
or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large
accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated
filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large
accelerated filer” in
Rule 12b-2
of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated
filer o Accelerated
filer þ
Non-accelerated filer o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company
(as defined in
Rule 12b-2
of the Exchange
Act).Yes o No þ
The aggregate market value of voting common stock held by
non-affiliates of the registrant as of December 31, 2006
was approximately $181,511,000.
Portions of the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement to
be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A no later than
120 days after the end of the fiscal year (June 30,2007) are incorporated by reference into Part III of
this Report.
Grubb & Ellis Company, a Delaware corporation
organized in 1980 and founded nearly 50 years ago in
Northern California, is one of the most recognized full service
commercial real estate services firms in the United States. For
the most recent fiscal year ended June 30, 2007, the
Company generated revenue of $513.3 million and operating
income of $2.5 million.
Drawing on the resources of nearly 5,500 real estate
professionals, including a brokerage sales force of
approximately 1,800 brokers nationwide in the Company’s and
its affiliates’ offices, the Company and its affiliates
combine local market knowledge with a national service network
to provide innovative, customized solutions for real estate
owners, corporate occupants and investors.
The Company, through its owned and affiliate locations, has one
of the largest domestic footprints in the industry, with a
network of over 115 offices (including over 50 owned by the
Company and over 65 affiliate offices), allowing it to execute
locally in all primary markets and key secondary and tertiary
markets throughout the United States on behalf of its clients.
This local market presence enables the Company to deliver a full
range of commercial real estate services to corporate and
institutional clients with multiple real estate needs, including
complete outsourcing solutions.
The Company has the capability to provide services at every
stage of the real estate process, including but not limited to,
strategic planning, feasibility studies and site selection,
leasing, property and facilities management, construction
management, lease administration, acquisitions and dispositions.
The Company’s clients include many Fortune 500
companies as well as institutional and private investors,
retailers, government and academic institutions and other owners
and occupiers of office and industrial space.
Whether executing for a client with a single location or one
with facilities in multiple regions, the Company’s
professionals offer local market expertise and strategic insight
into real estate decisions. This advice is supported by a
network of approximately 90 research professionals, who produce
in-depth market research, plus additional market research
generated by its affiliate offices. In addition, this advice is
also supported by specialty practice groups focusing on industry
segments including office, industrial, retail, private capital,
institutional investment and land.
Current
Business Platform and Organization
The Company provides a full range of real estate services,
including transaction, management and consulting services, for
both local and multi-location clients. The Company reports its
revenue by two business segments, Transaction Services, which
comprises its brokerage operations, and Management Services,
which includes third-party property management, corporate
facilities management, project management, client accounting,
business services and engineering services. Additional
information on these business segments can be found in
Note 17 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in
Item 8 of this Report.
Transaction
Services
A significant portion of the services the Company provides are
transaction-related services, in which the Company represents
the interests of tenants, owners, buyers or sellers in leasing,
acquisition and disposition transactions. These transaction
services involve various types of commercial real estate,
including office, industrial, retail, hospitality and land.
The Company typically receives fees for brokerage services based
on a percentage of the value of the lease or sale transaction.
Some transactions may stipulate a fixed fee or include an
incentive bonus component based on the performance of the
brokerage professional or client satisfaction. Although
transaction volume can be subject to
economic conditions, brokerage fee structures remain relatively
constant through both economic upswings and downturns.
In addition to traditional transaction services, the Company
provides its clients with consulting services, including site
selection, feasibility studies, exit strategies, market
forecasts, appraisals, strategic planning and research services.
For its larger corporate and institutional clients, these
services are coordinated through an account management process
that provides a single point of contact for the client.
The Company actively engages its brokerage force in the
execution of its marketing strategy. Regional and metro-area
managing directors, who are responsible for operations in each
major market, facilitate the development of brokers. Through the
Company’s specialty practice groups, known as
“Specialty Councils,” key personnel share information
regarding local, regional and national industry trends and
participate in national marketing activities, including trade
shows and seminars. This ongoing dialogue among brokers serves
to increase their level of expertise as well as their network of
relationships, and is supplemented by other more formal
education, including recently expanded training programs
offering sales and motivational training and cross-functional
networking and business development opportunities.
The Company intends to aggressively recruit and hire (either
individually or through acquisitions) additional brokerage
professionals with experience primarily in the areas of
investment sales, agency leasing and tenant representation. The
Company believes that its strong brand recognition, platform of
a full range of client services and the opportunity to deliver
additional real estate services create an environment conducive
to attracting the most experienced and capable brokers.
In some local markets where the Company does not have owned
offices, it has affiliation agreements with independent real
estate service providers that conduct business under the
Grubb & Ellis brand. The Company’s affiliation
agreements provide for exclusive mutual referrals in their
respective markets, generating referral fees. The Company’s
affiliation agreements are generally multi-year contracts.
Through its affiliate offices, the Company has access to nearly
900 brokers and their local market research capabilities.
The Company has an agreement to provide exclusive commercial
real estate brokerage and consulting services to its affiliate,
Grubb & Ellis Realty Advisors, Inc. (“Realty
Advisors”), related to its real property acquisitions,
dispositions, project management and leasing.
Transaction Services has represented the larger portion of the
Company’s operations, and in fiscal years 2007, 2006 and
2005, it represented 60.2%, 60.3% and 57.8% of the
Company’s total revenue, respectively.
Management
Services
Management Services develops and implements property level
strategies to increase investment value for real estate owners
and optimize occupancy costs and strategies for corporate owners
and occupiers of real estate. Management Services provides two
primary service capabilities: property management for investment
property owners and facilities management for corporate owners
and occupiers.
The Company’s property management business is designed to
enhance its clients’ investment values by maintaining high
levels of occupancy and lowering property operating costs
through a wide range of property management services. The
property management services that the Company offers include:
oversight of building management services such as maintenance,
landscaping, security, energy management, owner’s
insurance, life safety, environmental risk management and
capital repairs; tenant relations services such as processing
tenant work orders, lease administration services and
promotional activities; interfacing with tenants’
development and construction services personnel in coordinating
tenant finish; and financial management and asset services
including financial reporting, analysis and development of value
added strategies to improve operations
and/or
reposition assets within the market.
The Company’s facilities management business is designed to
provide comprehensive portfolio and property management services
to corporations and institutions that outsource their real
estate management functions. The properties under management
range from large corporate headquarters to industrial complexes,
sales offices and data centers, often in geographically
dispersed locations. Facilities management professionals create
working
partnerships with each client to deliver fully integrated real
estate services that are tailored to the specific needs of each
organization. Typically, performance measures are developed to
quantify progress made toward the goals and objectives that are
mutually set with clients. The Company’s facilities
management unit also serves as an important point of entry for
other services and for integrated platform solutions for
domestic and international requirements, including but not
limited to, consulting services, site selection, feasibility
studies, exit strategies, market forecasts, appraisals, project
management, strategic planning and research services.
The Company has an agreement to be the exclusive managing agent
for all real property acquired by its affiliate, Realty Advisors.
Management Services has represented 39.8%, 39.7% and 42.2% of
the Company’s total revenue, in fiscal years 2007, 2006 and
2005, respectively. Reimbursed salaries, wages and benefits,
where the owner of a property will reimburse the Company for
on-site
employee salaries and related benefit costs that are incurred on
behalf of the owner, has comprised more than 70% of this
segment’s cumulative revenue for these three fiscal years.
The remaining revenue in this business segment is typically
generated through monthly fees based on a percentage of rental
revenue for property management services and negotiated monthly
or annual fees for facilities management services. As of
June 30, 2007, Management Services had approximately
178 million square feet of property under management.
Including affiliate offices, total square feet of property under
management was 229 million.
Secondary
Offering
On April 28, 2006, the Company filed a registration
statement on
Form S-1
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“SEC”), proposing to offer to sell shares of the
Company’s common stock on its own behalf and on behalf of
Kojaian Ventures, L.L.C. (“KV”), an entity affiliated
with the Chairman of the Board (the “Secondary
Offering”). On June 29, 2006, the Company’s
registration statement was declared effective by the SEC and the
Company and KV agreed to sell an aggregate of ten million shares
of the Company’s common stock, five million shares each, at
a public offering price of $9.50 per share. The Secondary
Offering subsequently closed on July 6, 2006 pursuant to
which five million shares were sold by each of the Company and
KV, generating aggregate gross proceeds to the Company, after
underwriting discounts, of $44,412,500. The Company incurred
additional costs and expenses related to the offering totaling
approximately $1,004,000.
Preferred
Stock Exchange
On April 28, 2006, the Company entered into an agreement
with KV to exchange all 11,725 shares of the
Series A-1
Preferred Stock owned by KV (the “Preferred Stock
Exchange”), which represented all of the issued and
outstanding shares of the Company’s preferred stock, for
(i) 11,173,925 shares of the Company’s common
stock, which is the common stock equivalent that the holder of
the
Series A-1
Preferred Stock was entitled to receive upon liquidation,
merger, consolidation, sale or change in control of the Company,
and (ii) a payment by the Company of approximately
$10,057,000 (or $0.90 per share of newly issued shares of common
stock). The Preferred Stock Exchange closed simultaneously with
the closing of the Secondary Offering on July 6, 2006. The
amount by which the fair value of the consideration transferred
to KV, which totaled approximately $116.2 million, exceeded
the carrying amount of the
Series A-1
Preferred Stock in the Company’s financial statements,
which totaled approximately $10.9 million, including
issuance costs, was recorded as a charge to earnings totaling
approximately $105.3 million, therefore reducing the amount
of earnings available to common stockholders for such period. A
substantial portion of this amount is related to a one-time,
non-cash charge totaling approximately $95.2 million, as
the cash portion of the amount is equal to the $10,057,000
payment described above.
Secured
Credit Facility
In late July 2006, the Company repaid the $40.0 million
borrowing that was outstanding under its revolving line of
credit with Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas. During
February 2007, the Company amended its credit facility to
provide the Company more flexibility with respect to its real
property acquisitions and certain covenants. Pursuant to this
amendment, the Company may invest up to $42.5 million of
its funds (which may be borrowed under the credit facility) and
obtain certain non-recourse debt to finance acquisitions of, and
capital expenditures relating to, real property that it intends
to hold for future sale to Realty Advisors. The non-recourse
debt used to finance such acquisitions may be collateralized by
the acquired real property or the assets or securities of the
limited purpose subsidiary of the Company that purchases such
property (a “Limited Purpose Subsidiary”). To the
extent of any net proceeds from non-recourse debt in excess of
75% of the cost of such real property and any capital
expenditures related thereto, the Company must repay the
principal amount borrowed under the credit facility. Each
Limited Purpose Subsidiary will be disregarded for purposes of
determining the Company’s compliance with its financial
covenants under the credit facility. Although the Company has
signed a definite Membership Interest Purchase Agreement with
Realty Advisors, dated as of June 18, 2007, to sell the
real property that it acquired to Realty Advisors, the sale is
subject to, among other things, the approval of the transaction
by the holders of a majority of the common stock issued in the
IPO and the holders of less than 20 percent of the common
stock issued in the IPO voting against the transaction and
electing to exercise their conversion rights. If the Company
does not sell the acquired properties to Realty Advisors by
September 30, 2007, the Company, on a quarterly basis, to
the extent of Adjusted Excess Cash Flow (as defined in the
amendment) for such quarter, is required to repay the principal
amount borrowed under the credit facility to finance its real
property acquisitions and the Company must sell such property to
a third party by March 31, 2008. In addition, the net
proceeds from any sale of the real property by the Company to
Realty Advisors must be used to pay down borrowings under the
credit facility.
This February 2007 amendment also reduced the term loan portion
of the credit facility from $40 million to
$20 million, thereby reducing the current total credit
facility from $100 million to $80 million, but
simultaneously provided that the revolving portion of the credit
facility may be expanded from $60 million to
$80 million at the request of the Company and subject to
the approval of the lender. The term loan portion of the credit
facility may now only be used for real property acquisitions.
Previously, the term loan portion of the credit facility was
available for acquisitions by the Company of real estate service
companies. The Company’s covenants under the credit
facility were also revised to provide the Company with more
operational flexibility.
Real
Estate Held for Sale
During late fiscal 2007, the Company, through wholly-owned
subsidiaries, acquired three commercial properties for an
aggregate contract price of $122,200,000, along with acquisition
costs of approximately $1,325,000, and assumed obligations of
approximately $542,000. (See Note 8 of Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of this
Report.) The Company funded its equity position in these
acquisitions primarily with borrowings from its credit facility.
Simultaneous with the acquisition of the final property, the
Company’s subsidiaries that hold the warehoused properties
closed two non-recourse mortgage loan financings with Wachovia
Bank, N.A. in an aggregate amount of $120.5 million. The
proceeds of the mortgage loans were used to finance the purchase
of the final property, to fund certain required reserves for the
three properties, to pay the lender’s fees and costs and to
repay certain amounts borrowed by the Company through its credit
facility with respect to the first two properties purchased.
The Company acquired the three properties with the intention to
hold them for future sale to Realty Advisors. On June 18,2007, the Company entered into a definite Membership Interest
Purchase Agreement (the “Acquisition Agreement”),
among the Company, Realty Advisors and GERA Property
Acquisition, LLC a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company
(“Property Acquisition”). Pursuant to the Acquisition
Agreement, Realty Advisors shall acquire all of the issued and
outstanding membership interests of Property Acquisition held by
Property Acquisition’s sole member, the Company (the
“Acquisition”), on a “cost neutral basis”
taking into account the costs and expenses paid by the Company
with respect to the purchase of the properties and imputed
interest on cash advanced by the Company with respect to the
properties.
As a result of the Acquisition, Realty Advisors will indirectly
acquire and own the properties. Prior to entering into the
Acquisition Agreement, the Company and Realty Advisors did not
have any agreement with respect to the properties and Realty
Advisors did not have any obligation to purchase these
properties from the Company. See Note 8 of Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of this Report
for additional information.
The Acquisition is subject to, among other things, the approval
of the transaction by the holders of a majority of the common
stock issued in the Realty Advisors IPO and the holders of less
than 20 percent of the common stock
issued in the IPO voting against the transaction and electing to
exercise their conversion rights. There is no assurance that the
foregoing conditions for the approval of the Acquisition will
occur.
On May 22, 2007, the Company entered into a definitive
Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”),
by and among the Company, NNN Realty Advisors, Inc. (“NNN
Realty Advisors”) and B/C Corporate Holding, Inc.
(“Merger Sub”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the
Company. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, NNN Realty Advisors
will become a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (the
“Merger”).
The Merger will be effected through the issuance of
0.88 shares of the Company’s common stock for each
share of NNN Realty Advisors common stock outstanding. Following
the Merger, the Company stockholders will own approximately 41%
of the combined company and NNN Realty Advisors stockholders
will own approximately 59% of the combined company.
The merged companies will retain the Grubb & Ellis
name and will continue to be listed on the NYSE under the ticker
symbol “GBE”. The combined company will be
headquartered in Santa Ana, CA and the Company’s Board of
Directors will be increased to nine members. The Board will
include six nominees from NNN Realty Advisors and three nominees
from the Company. Anthony W. Thompson, Founder and Chairman of
the Board of NNN Realty Advisors, will join the Company as
Chairman of the Board. Each of C. Michael Kojaian, currently
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, Rodger D.
Young and Robert J. McLaughlin will remain on the Board of
Directors of the Company. Mr. Young will be Chairman of the
combined company’s Governance and Nominating Committee and
Mr. McLaughlin will be Chairman of the combined
company’s Audit Committee. Scott D. Peters, President and
Chief Executive Officer of NNN Realty Advisors will become Chief
Executive Officer of the Company and will also join the
Company’s Board of Directors.
The transaction is expected to close in the third or fourth
quarter of 2007, subject to the approval by the stockholders of
both companies and other customary closing conditions of
transactions of this type. Certain entities affiliated with the
Chairman of the Board of the Company, which collectively own
approximately 39% of the outstanding shares of the Company
common stock, have agreed to vote their shares in favor of the
Merger. Similarly, certain members of management and the Board
of Directors of NNN Realty Advisors who collectively own
approximately 28% of the outstanding shares of NNN Realty
Advisors common stock have agreed to vote their shares in favor
of the Merger.
In connection with the proposed transaction, the Company and NNN
Realty Advisors filed a preliminary joint proxy
statement/prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on July 3, 2007 as part of a registration statement on
Form S-4
regarding the proposed merger.
Strategic
Initiatives
Throughout fiscal 2007, the Company continued to execute the
strategic initiatives identified in the Company’s five-year
growth plan. The objectives of the five-year growth plan, which
was initiated in January 2006, are designed to take advantage of
the opportunities that exist in the commercial real estate
services industry. Specifically, the objectives are to: raise
client service to a new level by delivering innovative,
integrated solutions; expand the Company’s domestic
presence; enhance service offerings; and build a sustainable
global platform.
The Company focused on its strategic initiatives throughout
fiscal 2007. At June 30, 2007, the Company had 931 brokers,
up from 906 at June 30, 2006. The Company’s recruiting
gains were system-wide, with a particular focus on those markets
in which the Company believes there is significant growth
potential. In addition to growing its brokerage sales forces,
the Company is committed to upgrading the quality of its
brokers. During fiscal 2007 the Company attracted 199
professionals and 174 brokers transitioned out of the
Company, of which 81 percent were lower-tier producers. The
Company believes its proposed merger with NNN Realty Advisors
will facilitate its continued ability to recruit and hire top
talent to strengthen its presence in key markets.
The Company continues to enhance its products and service
offerings. Its project management business, which was launched
in January 2006 to provide construction management services to
corporate clients, grew to 28 employees during fiscal 2007,
from six at June 30, 2006, giving the group a presence in
Atlanta, Chicago,
Detroit, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco. In
addition, the Company continued to expand its Specialty Councils
with the hiring of a seasoned supply chain executive to create a
global logistics group. The Company’s Private Capital
Group, which was formed in January 2006 to serve the needs of
private investors, was expanded to 33 offices during fiscal
2007, and its Retail Group built its presence with the addition
of senior retail professionals throughout the country.
The Company also advanced its investment management strategy
with the purchase through a warehousing strategy of three
commercial real estate assets for future sale to its affiliate,
Realty Advisors. The Company formed Realty Advisors in September
2005 for the purpose of acquiring underperforming assets in
secondary, tertiary and suburban markets that can be
repositioned and sold. In June 2007, the Company announced a
definitive agreement with Realty Advisors to sell the properties
to Realty Advisors on a “cost neutral” basis. Realty
Advisors has filed a preliminary proxy statement with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company currently owns
19 percent of Realty Advisors, and if the business
combination is approved, the Company expects to further benefit
from the transaction and management fees earned through its
relationship going forward.
The Company is committed to providing unparalleled client
service. In addition to expanding the scope of products and
services offered, it is also focused on ensuring that it can
support client relationships with
best-in-class
service. During fiscal 2007, the Company continued to expand the
number of client service relationship managers, which provide a
single point of contact to corporate clients with multi-service
needs. At June 30, 2007, the Company had 33 multi-service
corporate accounts, up from 25 a year earlier. In addition, the
Company experienced significant year-over-year growth in its
management portfolio, ending fiscal 2006 with 178 million
square feet under management, up from 158 million a year
earlier. Approximately 62 percent of its new assignments
came from existing clients, suggesting a high level of client
satisfaction.
On May 22, 2007, the Company and NNN Realty Advisors
entered into a definitive merger agreement to create a
diversified real estate services company providing a complete
range of transaction, management and consulting services.
Following the merger, which requires stockholder approval of
both companies and the satisfaction of other customary closing
conditions, the combined company will retain the
Grubb & Ellis name. The Company believes the merger
will provide a much stronger financial platform from which to
execute its growth strategy.
Industry
and Competition
The U.S. commercial real estate services industry is large
and highly fragmented, with thousands of companies providing
asset management, investment management and brokerage services.
In recent years the industry has experienced substantial
consolidation, a trend that is expected to continue.
The top 25 brokerage companies collectively completed nearly
$842 billion in investment sales and leasing transactions
globally in 2006, according to a survey by National Real
Estate Investor. The Company ranked 12th in this
survey, including transactions in its affiliate offices.
Within the management services business, according to a recent
survey by National Real Estate Investor, the top
25 companies in the industry manage over 7.5 billion
square feet of commercial property. The Company ranks as the
eighth largest property management company in this survey with
210 million square feet under management at year end 2006,
including property under management in its affiliate offices.
The largest company in the survey had 1.7 billion square
feet under management.
The Company competes in a variety of service businesses within
the commercial real estate industry. Each of these business
areas is highly competitive on a national as well as local
level. The Company faces competition not only from other
regional and national service providers, but also from global
real estate providers, boutique real estate advisory firms and
appraisal firms. Although many of the Company’s competitors
are local or regional firms that are substantially smaller than
the Company, some competitors are substantially larger than the
Company on a local, regional, national
and/or
international basis. The Company’s significant competitors
include CB Richard Ellis, Jones Lang LaSalle and
Cushman & Wakefield, all of which have global
platforms. The Company believes that it needs such a platform in
order to effectively compete for the business of large
multi-national corporations that are increasingly seeking a
single real estate services provider. While there can be no
assurances that the Company will be able to continue to compete
effectively, maintain current fee levels or margins, or maintain
or increase its
market share, based on its competitive strengths, the Company
believes that it can operate successfully in the future in this
highly competitive industry.
Environmental
Regulation
Federal, state and local laws and regulations impose
environmental zoning restrictions, use controls, disclosure
obligations and other restrictions that impact the management,
development, use,
and/or sale
of real estate. Such laws and regulations tend to discourage
sales and leasing activities, as well as the willingness of
mortgage lenders to provide financing, with respect to some
properties. If transactions in which the Company is involved are
delayed or abandoned as a result of these restrictions, the
brokerage business could be adversely affected. In addition, a
failure by the Company to disclose known environmental concerns
in connection with a real estate transaction may subject the
Company to liability to a buyer or lessee of property.
Various environmental laws and regulations also can impose
liability for the costs of investigating or remediation of
hazardous or toxic substances at sites currently or formerly
owned or operated by a party, or at off-site locations to which
such party sent wastes for disposal. As a property manager, the
Company could be held liable as an operator for any such
contamination, even if the original activity was legal and the
Company had no knowledge of, or did not cause, the release or
contamination. Further, because liability under some of these
laws is joint and several, the Company could be held responsible
for more than its share, or even all, of the costs for such
contaminated site if the other responsible parties are unable to
pay. The Company could also incur liability for property damage
or personal injury claims alleged to result from environmental
contamination, or from asbestos-containing materials or
lead-based paint present at the properties that it manages.
Insurance for such matters may not always be available, or
sufficient to cover the Company’s losses. Certain
requirements governing the removal or encapsulation of
asbestos-containing materials, as well as recently enacted local
ordinances obligating property managers to inspect for and
remove lead-based paint in certain buildings, could increase the
Company’s costs of legal compliance and potentially subject
the Company to violations or claims. Although such costs have
not had a material impact on the Company’s financial
results or competitive position in fiscal year 2007, the
enactment of additional regulations, or more stringent
enforcement of existing regulations, could cause the Company to
incur significant costs in the future,
and/or
adversely impact the brokerage and management services
businesses. See Note 15 of Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements in Item 8 of this Report for additional
information.
Seasonality
Since the majority of the Company’s revenues are derived
from transaction services, which are seasonal in nature, the
Company’s revenue stream and the related commission expense
are also subject to seasonal fluctuations. However, the
Company’s non-variable operating expenses, which are
treated as expenses when incurred during the year, are
relatively constant in total dollars on a quarterly basis. The
Company has typically experienced its lowest quarterly revenue
in the quarter ending March 31 of each year with higher and more
consistent revenue in the quarters ending June 30 and
September 30. The quarter ending December 31 has
historically provided the highest quarterly level of revenue due
to increased activity caused by the desire of clients to
complete transactions by calendar year-end. Revenue in any given
quarter during the years ended June 30, 2007, 2006 and
2005, as a percentage of total annual revenue, ranged from a
high of 29.2% to a low of 22.3%.
Service
Marks
The Company has registered trade names and service marks for the
“Grubb & Ellis” name and logo and certain
other trade names. The “Grubb & Ellis” brand
name is considered an important asset of the Company, and the
Company actively defends and enforces such trade names and
service marks.
Real
Estate Markets
The Company’s business is highly dependent on the
commercial real estate markets, which in turn are impacted by
numerous factors, including but not limited to the general
economy, interest rates and demand for real estate in local
markets. Changes in one or more of these factors could either
favorably or unfavorably impact the volume of transactions and
prices or lease terms for real estate. Consequently, the
Company’s revenue from
transaction services and property management fees, operating
results, cash flow and financial condition are impacted by these
factors, among others.
Employees
As of June 30, 2007, the Company’s network consisted
of nearly 5,500 real estate professionals, including a brokerage
sales forces of approximately 1,800 brokers nationwide in the
Company’s and its affiliates’ offices. The Company had
4,200 employees and more than 900 transaction professionals
working in over 50 owned offices. The Company has access to
nearly 900 additional transaction professionals in over 65
affiliate offices. Nearly 2,400 employees serve as property
and facilities management staff at the Company’s
client-owned properties, and the Company’s clients
reimburse the Company fully for their salaries and benefits. The
Company considers its relationship with its employees to be good
and has not experienced any interruptions of its operations as a
result of labor disagreements.
Availability
of this Report
The Company’s internet address is
www.grubb-ellis.com. On the Investor Relations page on
this web site, the Company posts its Annual Report on
Form 10-K,
its Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q,
its Current Reports on
Form 8-K
and its proxy statements as soon as reasonably practicable after
it files them electronically with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. All such filings on the Investor Relations web page
are available to be viewed free of charge. In addition, a copy
of this Annual Report on
Form 10-K
is available without charge by contacting Investor Relations,
Grubb & Ellis Company, 500 W. Monroe Street,
Suite 2800, Chicago, IL60661.
Item 2.
Properties
The Company leases all of its office space through
non-cancelable operating leases. The terms of the leases vary
depending on the size and location of the office. As of
June 30, 2007, the Company leased over 650,000 square
feet of office space in 56 locations under leases which expire
at various dates through February 28, 2017. For those
leases that are not renewable, the Company believes that there
are adequate alternatives available at acceptable rental rates
to meet its needs, although there can be no assurances in this
regard. See Note 15 of Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements in Item 8 of this Report for additional
information, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 3.
Legal
Proceedings
Information with respect to legal proceedings can be found in
Note 15 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in
Item 8 of this Report and is incorporated herein by
reference.
Item 4.
Submission
of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during
the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2007.
Market
for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder
Matters
Market
and Price Information
The principal market for the Company’s common stock was the
over-the-counter market (“OTC”) through June 29,2006. As of June 30, 2006, the principal market is the New
York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). The following table sets
forth the high and low sales prices of the Company’s common
stock on the OTC for each quarter of the fiscal years ended
June 30, 2007 and 2006.
2007
2006
High
Low
High
Low
First Quarter
$
10.21
$
7.91
$
7.30
$
5.80
Second Quarter
$
12.61
$
8.76
$
12.05
$
5.55
Third Quarter
$
11.90
$
10.23
$
14.20
$
9.04
Fourth Quarter
$
13.25
$
10.69
$
14.50
$
9.00
As of August 24, 2007, there were 1,012 registered holders
of the Company’s common stock and 25,914,120 shares of
common stock outstanding. Sales of substantial amounts of common
stock, including shares issued upon the exercise of warrants or
options, or the perception that such sales might occur, could
adversely affect prevailing market prices for the common stock.
No cash dividends were declared on the Company’s common
stock during the fiscal years ended June 30, 2007 or 2006.
Any such dividends declared and paid are restricted in amount by
provisions contained in the credit agreement between the Company
and various lenders to not more than 100% of Excess Cash Flow
generated in the prior fiscal year, as that term is defined in
the credit agreement.
Sales of
Unregistered Securities
On September 21, 2006, pursuant to the Company’s 2005
Restricted Share Program for Outside Directors, the Company
granted to its outside directors an aggregate of 27,230
restricted shares of the Company’s common stock which vest
one-third on each of the first, second and third anniversaries
of the date of grant and had an aggregate fair market value of
$250,000 on the trading day immediately preceding the date of
grant. On November 15, 2006, as an inducement for an
employee to extend his employment with the Company and pursuant
to a Second Amendment to an Employment Agreement dated
November 15, 2006 and a related Second Restricted Share
Agreement dated November 15, 2006, the Company granted to
an employee 31,964 restricted shares of the Company’s
common stock which vest on December 29, 2009 and had a fair
value of $350,000 on the trading day immediately preceding the
date of grant. On February 15, 2007, as an inducement for
an employee to accept employment with the Company and pursuant
to an Employment Agreement dated February 9, 2007 and a
related Restricted Share Agreement dated February 15, 2007,
the Company granted to an employee restricted shares of the
Company’s common stock which vest on February 14, 2011
and had a fair market value of $227,500 on the trading day
immediately preceding the date of grant. On March 8, 2007,
pursuant to an Employment Agreement dated March 8, 2005 and
a Restricted Share Agreement dated March 8, 2005, the
Company granted to its CEO 71,158 restricted shares of the
Company’s common stock which vest in equal, annual
installments of thirty-three and one-third percent
(331/3%)
on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of
March 8, 2007 and had a fair market value of $750,000 on
the trading day immediately preceding the date of grant. The
issuances by the Company of restricted shares in the
transactions described in this paragraph were exempt from the
registration requirements of Section 5 of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, as such transactions did not involve a
public offering by the Company.
The following table provides information on equity compensation
plans of the Company as of June 30, 2007.
Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under
Number of securities to be
Weighted average
equity compensation
issued upon exercise of
exercise price of
plans (excluding
outstanding options,
outstanding options,
securities reflected in
warrants and rights
warrants and rights
column (a))
Plan Category
(a)
(b)
(c)
Equity compensation plans approved
by security holders
762,486
$
5.63
3,532,724
Equity compensation plans not
approved by security holders
777,141
$
9.26
—
Total
1,539,627
$
7.46
3,532,724
Equity
Compensation Plans Not Approved by Stockholders
The Grubb & Ellis 1998 Stock Option Plan was adopted
without the approval of the Company’s security holders. In
addition, restricted stock awards that were granted prior to the
adoption of the 2006 Omnibus Equity Plan, which totaled
534,213 shares, were granted without the approval of the
Company’s security holders. Of these shares, 386,444 remain
available for future issuance. Additional information can be
found in Note 13 of Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements in Item 8 of this Report and is incorporated
herein by reference.
Grubb &
Ellis Stock Performance
The following section entitled, “Grubb & Ellis
Stock Performance” is not to be deemed to be
“soliciting material” or to be “filed” with
the SEC or subject to Regulation 14A or 14C or to the
liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, except to
the extent that the Company specifically requests that such
information be treated as soliciting material or specifically
incorporates it by reference into any filing under the
1933 Act or the Exchange Act.
The following graph compares the cumulative
5-year total
return to shareholders on Grubb & Ellis Company’s
common stock relative to the cumulative total returns of the
S&P 500 index, and a customized peer group of three
companies that includes: CB Richard Ellis Group Inc,
Grubb & Ellis Company and Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. The
graph assumes that the value of the investment in the
company’s common stock, in the peer group, and the index
(including reinvestment of dividends) was $100 on
6/30/2002
and tracks it through
6/30/2007.
COMPARISION
OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
Among Grubb & Ellis Company, The S&P 500 Index
And A Peer Group
6/02
6/03
6/04
6/05
6/06
6/07
Grubb & Ellis
Company
100.00
47.19
79.92
281.12
371.49
465.86
S&P 500
100.00
100.25
119.41
126.96
137.92
166.32
Peer Group
100.00
62.61
107.34
220.42
393.87
553.95
* $100 invested on 6/30/02 in stock or index-including
reinvestment of dividends. Fiscal year ending June 30.
Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
Note Regarding
Forward-Looking Statements
This Annual Report contains statements that are forward-looking
and as such are not historical facts. Rather, these statements
constitute projections, forecasts or forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. The statements are not guarantees of performance.
They involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions
and other factors which may cause the actual results,
performance or achievements of the Company to be materially
different from any future results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied by these statements. Such statements can be
identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to
historical or current facts. These statements use words such as
“believe,”“expect,”“should,”“strive,”“plan,”“intend,”“estimate,”“anticipate” or similar
expressions. When the Company discusses its strategies or plans,
it is making projections, forecasts or forward-looking
statements. Actual results and stockholders’ value will be
affected by a variety of risks and factors, including, without
limitation, international, national and local economic
conditions and real estate risks and financing risks and acts of
terror or war. Many of the risks and factors that will determine
these results and stockholder values are beyond the
Company’s ability to control or predict. These statements
are necessarily based upon various assumptions involving
judgment with respect to the future.
All such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of
this Annual Report. The Company expressly disclaims any
obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or
revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to
reflect any change in the Company’s expectations with
regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or
circumstances on which any such statement is based.
Factors that could adversely affect the Company’s ability
to obtain favorable results and maintain or increase stockholder
value include, among other things:
• Decline in the Volume of Real Estate
Transactions and Prices of Real
Estate. Approximately 60% of the Company’s
revenue is based on commissions from real estate transactions.
As a result, a decline in the volume of real estate available
for lease or sale, or in real estate prices, could have a
material adverse effect on the Company’s revenues.
• General Economic Slowdown or Recession
in the Real Estate Markets. Periods of economic
slowdown or recession, rising interest rates or declining demand
for real estate, both on a general or regional basis, will
adversely affect certain segments of the Company’s
business. Such economic conditions could result in a general
decline in rents and sales prices, a decline in the level of
investment in real estate, a decline in the value of real estate
investments and an increase in defaults by tenants under their
respective leases, all of which in turn would adversely affect
revenues from transaction services fees and brokerage
commissions which are derived from property sales and aggregate
rental payments, property management fees and consulting and
other service fees.
• The Company’s Ability to Attract
and Retain Qualified Personnel. The growth of the
Company’s business is largely dependent upon its ability to
attract and retain qualified personnel in all areas of its
business. If the Company is unable to attract and retain such
qualified personnel, its business and operating results could be
materially and adversely affected.
• Liquidation and Dissolution of Realty
Advisors, an Affiliate of the Company. The failure
of Realty Advisors, an affiliate of the Company, to effect a
business combination would require that entity to liquidate and
dissolve, which could harm the Company because of the
Company’s association with that entity. Some of the ways
this could harm the Company are:
•
It could damage the Company’s reputation, because of its
close association with Realty Advisors. The damage to the
Company’s reputation and the resulting impact on its stock
price is difficult to quantify.
•
The Company would lose its entire investment in Realty Advisors.
•
The Company would lose the opportunity to earn revenue and fees
in accordance with the terms and conditions of its agreements
with Realty Advisors.
• Increased Costs Associated with the
Company’s Strategic Initiatives.The Company
has commenced the process of implementing its growth strategy,
and as such the Company is currently continuing to institute a
number of strategic initiatives, including considering future
strategic acquisitions. In connection with this process the
Company has begun, and in the near term will continue, to incur
costs prior to realizing corresponding revenues. In addition,
during this period, the Company may experience fluctuations in
its revenues and net income. Additionally, there can be no
assurance that any or all of the Company’s strategic
initiatives will be effective. Further, even if the Company is
successful in some or all of its strategic initiatives, there
can be no assurance that the Company’s success will result
in a substantial increase in revenues, profitability or profit
margins, or that the Company will be
any less immune to the cyclical and seasonal nature of the real
estate business. In the event that after making the intended
expenditures with respect to various strategic initiatives, the
Company does not experience the efficiencies and increased
profitability that it is seeking to achieve, the implementation
of these initiatives, and their attendant costs, could have a
material adverse effect on the Company.
• Limitations Imposed by Senior Secured
Credit Facility.The Company’s senior secured
credit facility contains customary restrictions, subject to
certain exceptions, on its ability to undertake certain actions.
If the Company determines that it is in its best interest to
undertake a restricted action, the Company will need to secure a
waiver from its lenders before it can consummate such action.
The Company may not be able to secure such waiver from its
lenders, and thus the Company may be forced to refrain from
taking such action even though the Company believes such action
to be in its best interests. For instance, if the Company does
not receive approval from its lenders, it may be difficult or
impossible for the Company to make an acquisition, and the
Company’s business, financial condition or results of
operations may be harmed.
• Risks Associated with
Acquisitions. In connection with the Company’s
strategic initiatives, it may undertake one or more additional
strategic acquisitions. There can be no assurance that
significant difficulties in integrating operations acquired from
other companies and in coordinating and integrating systems will
not be encountered, including difficulties arising from the
diversion of management’s attention from other business
concerns, the difficulty associated with assimilating groups of
broad and geographically dispersed personnel and operations and
the difficulty in maintaining uniform standards and policies.
There can be no assurance that any integration will ultimately
be successful, that the Company’s management will be able
to effectively manage any acquired business or that any
acquisition will benefit the Company overall.
• Failure to complete the proposed merger
with NNN Realty Advisors could negatively impact the stock
prices and the future business and financial results of the
Company. Grubb & Ellis may be adversely
affected and subject to certain risks if the proposed merger is
not completed. These risks include the following:
•
the obligation, under certain circumstances under the merger
agreement, to pay a termination fee of $25.0 million if NNN
Realty Advisors terminates the agreement as a result of certain
breaches of the merger agreement by the Company;
•
the incurrence of unreimbursable costs relating to the merger;
•
the attention of the Company’s management will have been
diverted to the merger instead of on the Company’s own
operations and pursuit of other opportunities that could have
been beneficial to the Company; and
•
customer perception may be negatively impacted which could
affect the ability of the Company to compete for, or to win, new
and renewal business in the marketplace.
The failure to complete the merger and the occurrence of some,
or all, of the above risks could have a material adverse effect
on the business and results of operations of the Company.
• Whether or not the proposed merger with
NNN Realty Advisors is completed, the announcement and pendency
of the merger could impact or cause disruptions in the
Company’s business, which could have a material adverse
effect on its results of operations and financial
condition. Whether or not the merger is completed,
the announcement and pendency of the merger could impact or
cause disruption in the Company’s business. Specifically:
•
current and prospective clients of the Company may experience
uncertainty associated with the merger, including with respect
to current or future business relationships with the Company,
and may attempt to negotiate changes in, or terminate, existing
business relationships or consider entering into business
relationships with parties other than the Company, either before
or after completion of the merger;
•
the Company’s employees may experience uncertainty about
their future roles, which might adversely affect the
Company’s ability to retain and hire key managers and other
employees;
if the merger is completed, the accelerated vesting of stock
options and availability of certain other “change in
control” benefits to the Company’s officers and
employees on completion of the merger could result in increased
difficulty or cost in retaining the Company’s officers and
employees; and
•
the attention of the Company’s management may be directed
toward the completion of the merger and transaction-related
considerations and may be diverted from the day-to-day business
operations.
The Company may face additional challenges in competing for new
business and retaining or renewing business. These disruptions
could be exacerbated by a delay in the completion of the merger
or termination of the merger agreement and could have an adverse
effect on the businesses and results of operations or prospects
of the Company if the merger is not completed or of the combined
company if the merger is completed.
• Social, Political and Economic Risks of
Doing Business in Foreign Countries. Although the
Company does not currently conduct significant business outside
the United States, the Company desires to expand its business to
include international operations. Circumstances and developments
related to international operations that could negatively affect
the Company’s business, financial condition or results of
operations include, but are not limited to, the following
factors: difficulties and costs of staffing and managing
international operations; currency restrictions, which may
prevent the transfer of capital and profits to the United
States; adverse foreign currency fluctuations; changes in
regulatory requirements; potentially adverse tax consequences;
the responsibility of complying with multiple and potentially
conflicting laws; the impact of regional or country-specific
business cycles and economic instability; the geographic, time
zone, language and cultural differences among personnel in
different areas of the world; political instability; and foreign
ownership restrictions with respect to operations in certain
countries.
• Industry
Competition. Part I, Item I of this
Annual Report under “Industry and Competition”
discusses potential risks related to competition.
• Seasonal
Revenue. Part I, Item I of this Annual
Report under “Seasonality” discusses potential risks
related to the seasonal nature of the Company’s business.
• Liabilities Arising from Environmental
Laws and Regulations. Part I, Item I of
this Annual Report under “Environmental Regulation”
discusses potential risks related to environmental laws and
regulations.
• Other Factors. Other
factors are described elsewhere in this Annual Report and in
Exhibit 99.1. Certain additional risk factors, including
risk factors related to the proposed merger with NNN Realty
Advisors, are set forth in the preliminary proxy
statement/prospectus filed with the SEC on July 3, 2007
with respect to the proposed merger.
CRITICAL
ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
The Company’s consolidated financial statements have been
prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted
accounting principles, which require the Company to make
estimates and judgments that affect the reported amount of
assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the related
disclosure. The Company believes that the following critical
accounting policies, among others, affect its more significant
judgments and estimates used in the preparation of its
consolidated financial statements.
Revenue
Recognition
Real estate sales commissions are recognized at the earlier of
receipt of payment, close of escrow or transfer of title between
buyer and seller. Receipt of payment occurs at the point at
which all Company services have been performed, and title to
real property has passed from seller to buyer, if applicable.
Real estate leasing commissions are recognized upon execution of
appropriate lease and commission agreements and receipt of full
or partial payment, and, when payable upon certain events such
as tenant occupancy or rent commencement, upon occurrence of
such events. All other commissions and fees are recognized at
the time the related services have been performed by the
Company, unless future contingencies exist. Consulting revenue
is recognized generally upon the delivery of agreed upon
services to the client.
In regard to management and facility service contracts, the
owner of the property will typically reimburse the Company for
certain expenses that are incurred on behalf of the owner, which
are comprised primarily of employee
salaries and related benefit costs. The amounts, which are to be
reimbursed per the terms of the services contract, are
recognized as revenue by the Company in the same period as the
related expenses are incurred.
Impairment
of Goodwill
On July 1, 2002, the Company adopted Statements of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and
Other Intangible Assets.”The Company completed the
transitional impairment test of goodwill as of July 1, 2002
and the annual impairment test as of June 30, 2007 and
2006, and has determined that no goodwill impairment will impact
the earnings and financial position of the Company as of those
dates. Future events could occur which would cause the Company
to conclude that impairment indicators exist and an impairment
loss is warranted. The determination of impairment under
FAS 142 requires the Company to estimate the fair value of
reporting units. This fair value estimation involves a number of
judgmental variables, including market multiples, which may
change over time.
Deferred
Taxes
If necessary, the Company records a valuation allowance to
reduce the carrying value of its deferred tax assets to an
amount that the Company considers is more likely than not to be
realized in future tax filings. In assessing this allowance, the
Company considers future taxable earnings along with ongoing and
potential tax planning strategies. Additional timing
differences, future earnings trends
and/or tax
strategies may occur which could warrant a corresponding
adjustment to the valuation allowance.
Insurance
and Claim Reserves
The Company has maintained partially self-insured and deductible
programs for errors and omissions, general liability,
workers’ compensation and certain employee health care
costs. Reserves are based upon an estimate provided by an
independent actuarial firm of the aggregate of the liability for
reported claims and an estimate of incurred but not reported
claims.
The Company is also subject to various proceedings, lawsuits and
other claims related to commission disputes and environmental,
labor and other matters, and is required to assess the
likelihood of any adverse judgments or outcomes to these
matters. A determination of the amount of reserves, if any, for
these contingencies is made after careful analysis of each
individual issue. New developments in each matter, or changes in
approach such as a change in settlement strategy in dealing with
these matters, may warrant an increase or decrease in the amount
of these reserves.
RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS
Overview
The Company reported net income of $3.0 million for the
year ended June 30, 2007, reflecting a decrease over fiscal
2006 primarily due to the Company’s investment in its
growth initiatives along with costs of approximately
$2.3 million related primarily to its proposed merger.
Fiscal
Year 2007 Compared to Fiscal Year 2006
Revenue
The Company earns revenue from the delivery of transaction and
management services to the commercial real estate industry.
Transaction fees include commissions from leasing, acquisition
and disposition, and agency leasing assignments as well as fees
from appraisal and consulting services. Management fees, which
include reimbursed salaries, wages and benefits, comprise the
remainder of the Company’s services revenue, and include
fees related to both property and facilities management
outsourcing as well as project management and business services.
Total services revenue of $513.3 million was recognized for
fiscal year 2007 as compared to revenue of $490.1 million
for the same period last year. The improvement for the year
reflects the positive impact from the Company’s continued
investment in its strategic initiatives.
Transaction fees increased by $13.4 million, or 4.5%, for
fiscal year 2007 over the same period in 2006. These results
reflect the ongoing transition taking place in the business as
the Company focuses on broker productivity and recruiting
experienced, high-quality brokerage professionals. The Company
experienced continued significant year-over-year revenue
improvements in New York, Washington D.C., Chicago and Atlanta,
markets in which the Company has been investing heavily as part
of its growth strategy. The increases were partially offset by
decreased revenue from certain offices that produced significant
performance in the prior fiscal year.
Management fees increased by $9.7 million, or 5.0%, in the
current fiscal year over the same period in 2006 due to organic
growth in the property and facilities management business, as
square feet under management increased by approximately
20 million square feet. Net of reimbursable salaries
expense, management fees increased 8.8% for fiscal year 2007
over the same period in 2006 as a result of an increase in
square feet under management over the past twelve months. The
Company also began recognizing revenues from certain of its new
business service lines, such as project management, beginning in
fiscal 2007.
Costs of
Services
Transaction commission expense has historically been the
Company’s largest expense and is a direct function of gross
transaction services revenue levels, which include transaction
services commissions and other fees. Professionals receive
transaction commissions at rates that increase upon achievement
of certain levels of production. As a percentage of gross
transaction revenue, related commission expense decreased
slightly to 62.5% for fiscal year 2007, compared with 62.8% for
the same period in 2006.
Certain salaries, wages and benefits for employees in the
Company who are dedicated to client properties are reimbursed by
those clients in accordance with the terms of their management
contracts. These costs increased by $5.3 million, or 3.7%
in the current fiscal year over the same period in 2006.
Salaries and other direct costs consist primarily of
non-reimbursed expenses directly related to the management of
properties. These costs increased by $2.8 million, or 7.5%,
for fiscal year 2007 over fiscal year 2006 due primarily to the
direct costs incurred that are related to the Company’s
newly created project management business.
General
and Administrative Costs
Salaries, wages and benefits increased by $6.2 million, or
10.7%, during fiscal year 2007, compared with 2006. This
increase was driven by the Company’s continued investment
in professionals, including key business leaders, to build and
expand strategic offices and core services. Over the past year,
the Company expanded its Transaction Services management
structure to include an Eastern Region President and added new
leaders in New York and Washington D.C. Selling, general and
administrative expenses increased by $4.2 million, or 8.6%,
for the same period. Investments in professional and client
development, increased occupancy costs and additional insurance
costs for directors and officers all contributed to the increase.
Depreciation and amortization expense for fiscal year 2007
increased 14.2% to $8.8 million from $7.7 million in
the comparable period last year. The Company holds multi-year
service contracts with certain key professionals, the costs of
which are amortized over the lives of the respective contracts,
which are generally two to five years. Amortization expense
relating to these contracts increased to $4.7 million from
$2.1 million in the prior year, as a result of signing new
professionals as part of the Company’s growth strategy. In
addition, certain leasehold improvements were fully amortized
during the quarter ended December 31, 2005 due to the
relocation of the New York City office as described below and
unamortized deferred financing fees related to the
Company’s previous credit facility totaling approximately
$935,000 were written off during the quarter ended June 30,2006. Both of these partially offset the increase in
depreciation and amortization expense for the fiscal year
resulting from the additional service contracts.
The Company relocated its New York City operations in January
2006 into newly leased office space in mid-town Manhattan and,
as a result, incurred additional expenses totaling approximately
$1,222,000 in fiscal year
2006. Included in these additional expenses were the write-off
of approximately $665,000 of unamortized leasehold improvements
described above and other relocation costs totaling
approximately $557,000.
During fiscal year 2007, the Company recorded approximately
$2.3 million of expenses related primarily to the
Company’s proposed merger with NNN Realty Advisors, Inc.
Other
Income and Expenses
In December 2006, the Company sold all of its common shares of
LoopNet, Inc. and received proceeds of approximately
$3.9 million, which resulted in a realized gain on sale of
marketable securities available for sale of approximately
$3.8 million for fiscal year 2007.
Interest income decreased during fiscal year 2007, compared with
fiscal year 2006 as average invested funds decreased over the
prior year.
Interest expense incurred during fiscal years 2007 and 2006 was
due primarily to the Company’s term loan borrowings under
the credit facility. Borrowings under the credit facility
increased by $15.0 million in April 2006 before being
repaid in full in late July 2006. Additional borrowings totaling
approximately $4.0 million were made in March 2007 and were
subsequently repaid in June 2007. Other costs related to
borrowings under the credit agreement were recorded as part of
operations of real estate held for sale. (See Note 8 of
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of
this Report for additional information.) Interest expense
incurred during fiscal year 2007 also included the change in
value of the interest rate protection agreement. (See
Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in
Item 8 of this Report for additional information.)
Income
Taxes
The Company incurred a tax provision of approximately $2,579,000
in fiscal year 2007. The Company also increased its valuation
allowance against the Company’s deferred tax assets by
approximately $674,000. This resulted in a net tax provision of
approximately $3,253,000 for the 2007 fiscal year. Additionally,
tax benefits recognized from reductions in the valuation
allowance during fiscal 2006 partially offset the tax provision
incurred and resulted in a net tax provision of approximately
$2,487,000 for the 2006 fiscal year. See Note 12 of Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of this
Report for additional information.
Net
Income (Loss)
The net loss to common stockholders for fiscal year 2007 was
$102.2 million, or $4.00 per common share on a diluted
basis, compared with net income of $4.9 million, or $0.40
per common share, for fiscal year 2006. A one-time charge
totaling $105.3 million, or $4.12 per common share, related
to the exchange of the Company’s preferred stock,
significantly increased the amount of loss to common
stockholders during the 2007 fiscal year. See Note 11 of
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of
this Report for additional information.
Stockholders’
Equity
Total stockholders’ equity increased from
$11.5 million to $48.0 million primarily as a result
of the Company’s secondary offering completed in July 2006.
See Note 10 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
in Item 8 of this Report for additional information. The
book value per common share issued and outstanding increased to
$1.85 at June 30, 2007 from $1.22 at June 30, 2006.
Fiscal
Year 2006 Compared to Fiscal Year 2005
Revenue
Total services revenue of $490.1 million was recognized for
fiscal year 2006, compared with revenue of $463.5 million
for the same period in 2005. Transaction fees increased by
$27.9 million, or 10.4%, in fiscal 2006 over the same
period in 2005 due to continued strong investment sales activity
as well as increased commissions from office and retail leasing.
Management fees decreased by $1.3 million, or 0.7%, during
that same period.
As a percentage of gross transaction revenue, related commission
expense increased to 62.8% for fiscal year 2006, compared with
61.8% for the same period in 2005, although the fourth fiscal
quarter reflected an overall decline in this percentage. This
annual increase resulted from higher overall transaction revenue
in the fiscal year as well as increased transaction production
levels in certain markets in the country.
Other costs and expenses were relatively flat, as reimbursable
expenses, related to salaries, wages and benefits, increased
slightly by $766,000, or 0.5% in the current fiscal year over
the same period in 2005 and salaries and other direct costs
increased by $692,000, or 1.9%, in the current fiscal period
over the same period in 2005.
General
and Administrative Costs
Salaries, wages and benefits increased by $4.9 million, or
9.2%, during fiscal year 2006, compared with 2005. The increase
was driven by the Company’s growth strategy and investment
in key professionals to build and expand strategic offices and
core services. In addition, the Company recorded non-cash stock
based compensation expense of $1.4 million in fiscal 2006
as a result of implementing a new accounting pronouncement
effective July 1, 2005. Selling, general and administrative
expenses increased by $3.9 million, or 8.7%, for the same
period due in part to expenses related to strategic investment
initiatives and the relocation of the New York office described
above.
Depreciation and amortization expense for fiscal year 2006
increased 34.9% to $7.7 million from $5.7 million in
the comparable year-ago period. The Company holds multi-year
service contracts with certain key professionals, the costs of
which are amortized over the lives of the respective contracts,
which were generally two to four years. Amortization expense
relating to these contracts increased to $2.1 million from
$1.4 million in the prior year. In addition, certain
leasehold improvements totaling approximately $665,000 were
written off during the quarter ended December 31, 2005 due
to the relocation of the New York City office as described
above. Finally, unamortized deferred financing fees related to
the Company’s previous credit facility totaling
approximately $935,000 were written off during the quarter ended
June 30, 2006.
Other
Income and Expense
Interest income increased during fiscal year 2006, compared with
fiscal year 2005 as both average invested funds and interest
rates earned on these funds increased over the prior year.
Interest expense incurred during fiscal years 2006 and 2005 was
due primarily to the Company’s term loan borrowings under
the credit facility, which borrowings increased by
$15.0 million in April 2006. Interest rates on loan
borrowings have also risen sharply over the past twelve months,
and contributed to the increase in interest expense.
Income
Taxes
The Company incurred a tax provision of approximately
$4.2 million in fiscal year 2006, which was partially
offset by a tax benefit of approximately $1.7 million
related to a reduction in the valuation allowance against the
Company’s deferred tax assets. This resulted in a net tax
provision of approximately $2.5 million for the 2006 fiscal
year. Similarly, tax benefits recognized from reductions in the
valuation allowance in fiscal year 2005 fully offset the tax
provision incurred. See Note 12 of Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements in Item 8 of this Report for
additional information.
Net
Income
Net income to common stockholders for fiscal year 2006 was
$4.9 million, or $0.40 per common share on a diluted basis,
compared with $12.4 million, or $0.81 per common share, for
fiscal year 2005. Dividends accrued on the Series A
Preferred Stock issued by the Company were $889,000 for fiscal
year 2005. This preferential cumulative dividend on the
Preferred Stock was eliminated in December 2004. Although
revenue increased for fiscal year 2006, net income decreased by
approximately $7.5 million due to incremental costs and
expenses related to the Company’s investment in its growth
initiatives, the relocation of the Company’s New York
office and an increase in the tax provision.
Total stockholders’ equity declined to $11.7 million
from $24.5 million primarily as a result of the
Company’s repurchase of 5,861,902 shares of its common
stock in December 2005 in a privately negotiated transaction.
Net income generated during fiscal 2006 and an increase in the
value of marketable equity securities held by the Company
partially offset this decrease. The book value per common share
issued and outstanding decreased to $1.22 at June 30, 2006
from $1.62 at June 30, 2005.
LIQUIDITY
AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
During fiscal year 2007, cash and cash equivalents decreased by
$6.5 million. The Company generated $4.6 million from
net operating activities as income from the Company’s
operations was partially used to fund $14.6 million of
multi-year service contracts as a result of signing new
professionals as part of the Company’s growth strategy. The
Company used $123.2 million for net investing activities
related primarily to the purchase of the three office buildings
that it is holding for potential future sale to Realty Advisors.
Other net investing activities included purchases of
$5.4 million of equipment, software and leasehold
improvements, purchases of $2.1 million of warrants of
Realty Advisors and the receipt of approximately
$3.9 million from the sale of the Company’s common
shares of LoopNet, Inc. Net financing activities provided cash
of $112.1 million, primarily from the funding of
$76.9 million through two non-recourse mortgage loans
related to the real estate held for sale. Financing activities
also included the receipt of approximately $43.4 million of
net proceeds from the secondary offering, the payment of
$10.1 million in connection with the exchange of the
Series A-1
Preferred Stock and the repayment of $40.0 million of then
outstanding credit facility debt in late July 2006. The Company
also made subsequent borrowings on the credit facility debt in
February and March 2007 totaling $45.5 million, primarily
to fund the purchase of the two office buildings acquired in
February 2007, of which $4.0 million was repaid in June
2007.
The Company has historically experienced the highest use of
operating cash in the quarter ended March 31, primarily
related to the payment of incentive and deferred commission
payable balances which attain peak levels during the quarter
ended December 31. Deferred commission balances of
approximately $11.4 million, related to revenues earned in
calendar year 2006, were paid in January 2007, and production
and incentive bonuses of approximately $10.4 million were
paid during the quarter ended March 31, 2007.
See Note 17 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
in Item 8 of this Report for information concerning
earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.
In late July 2006, the Company repaid the $40.0 million
borrowing that was outstanding under its revolving line of
credit with Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas. During
February 2007, the Company amended its credit facility to
provide the Company more flexibility with respect to its real
property acquisitions and certain covenants. Pursuant to this
amendment, the Company may invest up to $42.5 million of
its funds (which may be borrowed under the credit facility) and
obtain certain non-recourse debt to finance acquisitions of, and
capital expenditures relating to, real property that it intends
to hold for future sale to Realty Advisors. The non-recourse
debt used to finance such acquisitions may be collateralized by
the acquired real property or the assets or securities of the
limited purpose subsidiary of the Company that purchases such
property (a “Limited Purpose Subsidiary”). To the
extent of any net proceeds from non-recourse debt in excess of
75% of the cost of such real property and any capital
expenditures related thereto, the Company must repay the
principal amount borrowed under the credit facility. Each
Limited Purpose Subsidiary will be disregarded for purposes of
determining the Company’s compliance with its financial
covenants under the credit facility. Although the Company has
signed a definite Membership Interest Purchase Agreement with
Realty Advisors, dated as of June 18, 2007, to sell the
real property that it acquired to Realty Advisors, the sale is
subject to, among other things, the approval of the transaction
by the holders of a majority of the common stock issued in the
Realty Advisors IPO and the holders of less than 20 percent
of the common stock issued in the IPO voting against the
transaction and electing to exercise their conversion rights. If
the Company does not sell the acquired properties to Realty
Advisors by September 30, 2007, the Company, on a quarterly
basis, to the extent of Adjusted Excess Cash Flow (as defined in
the amendment) for such quarter, is required to repay the
principal amount borrowed under the credit facility to finance
its real property acquisitions and the Company must sell such
property to a third party by March 31, 2008. In addition,
the net proceeds from any sale
of the real property by the Company to Realty Advisors must be
used to pay down borrowings under the credit facility.
This amendment also reduced the term loan portion of the credit
facility from $40 million to $20 million, thereby
reducing the current total credit facility from
$100 million to $80 million, but simultaneously
provided that the revolving portion of the credit facility may
be expanded from $60 million to $80 million at the
request of the Company and subject to the approval of the
lender. The term loan portion of the credit facility may now
only be used for real property acquisitions. Previously, the
term loan portion of the credit facility was available for
acquisitions by the Company of real estate service companies.
The Company’s covenants under the credit facility were also
revised to provide the Company with more operational flexibility.
As of June 30, 2007, the Company had $20.0 million
outstanding under its term loan and $21.5 million
outstanding under the revolving portion of the credit facility.
The Company also has issued letters of credit for approximately
$4.0 million, leaving approximately $34.5 million of
the $60.0 million revolving line of credit available for
future borrowings. The Company believes that it can meet its
working capital needs with internally generated operating cash
flow and, as necessary, additional borrowings under its
revolving portion of the credit facility.
Interest on outstanding borrowings under the credit facility is
based upon Deutsche Bank’s prime rate
and/or a
LIBOR based rate plus, in either case, an additional margin
based upon a particular financial leverage ratio, and will vary
depending upon which interest rate options the Company chooses
to be applied to specific borrowings. The average interest rate
the Company incurred on all credit facility obligations during
fiscal years 2007 and 2006 was 8.82% and 7.75%, respectively.
Pursuant to an agreement with Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. the
Company agreed to purchase, during the period commencing
May 3, 2006 and continuing through June 28, 2006 and
to the extent available, in the public marketplace, up to
$3.5 million of Realty Advisors warrants in the open market
if the public price per warrant was $0.70 or less. The Company
agreed to purchase such warrants pursuant to an agreement in
accordance with the guidelines specified by
Rule 10b5-1
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
“Exchange Act”), through an independent broker-dealer
registered under Section 15 of the Exchange Act that did
not participate in Realty Advisors’ public offering. In
addition, the Company further agreed that any such warrants
purchased by it will not be sold or transferred until the
completion of a business combination. On June 28, 2006, the
Company agreed to a
sixty-day
extension of this agreement, through August 27, 2006.
Pursuant to this warrant purchase program, the Company purchased
an aggregate of approximately 4.6 million warrants of
Realty Advisors through August 27, 2006 for an aggregate
purchase price of approximately $2.2 million, or
approximately $0.47 per warrant excluding commissions of
approximately $186,000.
On April 28, 2006, the Company filed a registration
statement on
Form S-1
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“SEC”), proposing to offer to sell shares of the
Company’s common stock on its own behalf and on behalf of
Kojaian Ventures, L.L.C. (“KV”), an entity affiliated
with the Chairman of the Board (the “Secondary
Offering”). On June 29, 2006, the Company’s
registration statement was declared effective by the SEC and the
Company and KV agreed to sell an aggregate of ten million shares
of the Company’s common stock, five million shares each, at
a public offering price of $9.50 per share. The Secondary
Offering subsequently closed on July 6, 2006 pursuant to
which five million shares were sold by each of the Company and
KV, generating aggregate gross proceeds to the Company, after
underwriting discounts, of $44,412,500. The Company incurred
additional costs and expenses related to the offering totaling
approximately $1,004,000.
On April 28, 2006, the Company entered into an agreement
with KV to exchange all 11,725 shares of the
Series A-1
Preferred Stock owned by KV (the “Preferred Stock
Exchange”), which represented all of the issued and
outstanding shares of the Company’s preferred stock, for
(i) 11,173,925 shares of the Company’s common
stock, which is the common stock equivalent that the holder of
the
Series A-1
Preferred Stock was entitled to receive upon liquidation,
merger, consolidation, sale or change in control of the Company,
and (ii) a payment by the Company of approximately
$10,057,000 (or $0.90 per share of newly issued shares of common
stock). The Preferred Stock Exchange closed simultaneously with
the closing of the Secondary Offering on July 6, 2006. The
amount by which the fair value of the consideration transferred
to KV, which totaled approximately $116.2 million, exceeded
the carrying amount of the
Series A-1
Preferred Stock in the Company’s financial statements,
which totaled
approximately $10.9 million, including issuance costs, was
recorded as a charge to earnings totaling approximately
$105.3 million, therefore reducing the amount of earnings
available to common stockholders for such period. A substantial
portion of this amount is related to a one-time, non-cash charge
totaling approximately $95.2 million, as the cash portion
of the amount is equal to the $10,057,000 payment described
above.
On February 15, 2007, the Company, through GERA Abrams
Centre LLC, acquired an office building, Abrams Office Center,
located in Dallas, Texas, (the “Abrams Property”) for
a contract price of $20,000,000, along with acquisition costs of
approximately $369,000, for a net purchase price of $20,369,000.
On February 28, 2007, the Company through GERA 6400 Shafer
LLC, acquired commercial real property (the “Shafer
Property”) located in Rosemont, Illinois, for a contract
price of $21,450,000, along with acquisition costs of
approximately $552,000, and assumed obligations of approximately
$542,000, for a net purchase price of $22,544,000. On
June 15, 2007, the Company, through GERA Danbury LLC,
acquired an office complex, Danbury Corporate Center (the
“Danbury Property”) for a contract price of
$80,750,000, along with acquisition costs of approximately
$404,000, for a net purchase price of $81,154,000. Each of these
LLCs is a wholly owned subsidiary of GERA Property Acquisition,
LLC which, in turn, is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.
Simultaneous with the acquisition of the Danbury Property, the
Company’s subsidiaries that hold the warehoused properties
closed two non-recourse mortgage loan financings with Wachovia
Bank, N.A. (“Wachovia”) in the aggregate amount of
$120.5 million. The majority of these mortgage loan
financings, $78.0 million (the “Danbury Wachovia
Loan”), is secured by the Danbury Property. The balance of
the mortgage loan proceeds, $42.5 million (the “Abrams
and Shafer Wachovia Loan”), is secured by the Abrams
Property and the Shafer Property (collectively with the Danbury
Property, the “Properties”). The proceeds of the
mortgage loans were used to finance the purchase of the Danbury
Property, to fund certain required reserves for the Properties
held by Wachovia totaling $43.6 million, to pay the
lender’s fees and costs and to repay certain amounts
borrowed by the Company through its credit facility with respect
to the Abrams Property and Shafer Property.
Each of the two non-recourse mortgage loans has an initial term
of two years with three extension options, each one year in
length, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions,
including with respect to the first extension option, the
purchase of an interest rate cap on
30-day LIBOR
with a LIBOR strike price of 6%. Interest on the mortgage loans
will be paid and adjusted monthly at a floating rate of interest
per annum equal to the
30-day LIBOR
plus a spread of 170 basis points. The borrowers under each
of the mortgage loans were required to purchase a two-year
interest rate cap on
30-day LIBOR
with a LIBOR strike price of 6%, thereby locking the maximum
interest rate on borrowings under the mortgage loans at 7.70%
for the initial two year term of the mortgage loans.
Pursuant to the Abrams and Shafer Wachovia Loan and the Danbury
Wachovia Loan, reserves in the amount of approximately
$15.2 million and $28.4 million, respectively, have
been established and held by Wachovia for the costs of certain
capital expenditures, maintenance and repairs, leasing
commissions and tenant improvements, rent concessions and debt
service coverage.
The Company acquired the three properties with the intention to
hold them for future sale to Realty Advisors. On June 18,2007, the Company announced the signing of a definite Membership
Interest Purchase Agreement (the “Acquisition
Agreement”), among the Company, Realty Advisors and GERA
Property Acquisition, LLC (“Property Acquisition”).
Pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement, Realty Advisors shall
acquire all of the issued and outstanding membership interests
of Property Acquisition held by Property Acquisition’s sole
member, the Company (the “Acquisition”).
The Acquisition is subject to among other things, the approval
of the transaction by the holders of a majority of the common
stock issued in the Realty Advisors IPO and the holders of less
than 20 percent of the common stock issued in the IPO
voting against the transaction and electing to exercise their
conversion rights. There is no assurance that the foregoing
conditions for the approval of the Acquisition will occur.
As a result of the Acquisition, Realty Advisors will indirectly
acquire and own the Properties. Prior to entering into the
Acquisition Agreement, the Company and Realty Advisors did not
have any agreement with respect to the Properties and Realty
Advisors did not have any obligation to purchase these
properties from the Company.
The Company acquired the Properties for an aggregate purchase
price of approximately $122.2 million. Pursuant to the
Acquisition Agreement, the Company will sell the Properties to
Realty Advisors on a “cost neutral
basis” taking into account the costs and expenses paid by
the Company with respect to the purchase of the Properties and
imputed interest on cash advanced by the Company with respect to
the Properties. Furthermore, Realty Advisors will acquire the
Properties subject to the Abrams and Shafer Wachovia Loan and
the Danbury Wachovia Loan.
In addition, upon the closing of the Acquisition, pursuant to an
agreement with Realty Advisors and the Company at the time of
Realty Advisors’ initial public offering in February 2006,
Realty Advisors will pay the Company an acquisition fee equal to
one percent of the purchase price paid by the Company for the
Properties.
On May 22, 2007, the Company entered into a definitive
Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”),
by and among the Company, NNN Realty Advisors, Inc. (“NNN
Realty Advisors”) and B/C Corporate Holding, Inc.
(“Merger Sub”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the
Company. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, NNN Realty Advisors
will become a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (the
“Merger”). The Merger will be effected through the
issuance of 0.88 shares of the Company’s common stock
for each share of NNN Realty Advisors common stock outstanding.
Following the Merger, the Company stockholders will own
approximately 41% of the combined company and NNN Realty
Advisors stockholders will own approximately 59% of the combined
company.
The merged companies will retain the Grubb & Ellis
name and will continue to be listed on the NYSE under the ticker
symbol “GBE”. The combined company will be
headquartered in Santa Ana, CA and the Company’s Board of
Directors will be increased to nine members. The Board will
include six nominees from NNN Realty Advisors and three nominees
from the Company. Anthony W. Thompson, Founder and Chairman of
the Board of NNN Realty Advisors, will join the Company as
Chairman of the Board. Each of C. Michael Kojaian, currently
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, Rodger D.
Young and Robert J. McLaughlin will remain on the Board of
Directors of the Company. Mr. Young will be Chairman of the
combined company’s Governance and Nominating Committee and
Mr. McLaughlin will be Chairman of the combined
company’s Audit Committee. Scott D. Peters, President and
Chief Executive Officer of NNN Realty Advisors will become Chief
Executive Officer of the Company and will also join the
Company’s Board of Directors.
The Company leases office space throughout the country through
non-cancelable operating leases, which expire at various dates
through February 28, 2017.
In total, the Company’s lease and debt obligations as of
June 30, 2007 which are due over the next five years, are
as follows (in thousands):
Year Ending
June 30
Amount
2008
$
16,205
2009
35,153
2010
11,464
2011
8,958
2012
7,554
Thereafter
18,895
$
98,229
Item 7A.
Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Interest
Rate Risk—Derivatives
The Company’s credit facility debt obligations and mortgage
loan obligations are floating rate obligations whose interest
rate and related monthly interest payments vary with the
movement in LIBOR
and/or prime
lending rates. As of June 30, 2007, the outstanding
principal balances on the credit facility debt obligations
totaled $41.5 million and on the mortgage loan debt
obligations totaled $120.5 million. Since interest payments
on any future obligation will increase if interest rate markets
rise, or decrease if interest rate markets decline, the Company
will be subject to cash flow risk related to these debt
instruments. In order to mitigate this risk, the terms of the
amended credit agreement executed by the Company in April 2006
required the Company to maintain interest rate
hedge agreements against the greater of i) 50 percent
of all variable interest debt obligations or ii) the
aggregate principal amount outstanding under the term loan
facility of the credit agreement. The Company executed such
agreements with Deutsche Bank AG in May 2006, which provide for
quarterly payments to the Company equal to the variable interest
amount paid by the Company in excess of 6.0% of the underlying
notional amounts. In addition, the terms of the mortgage loan
agreements required the Company to purchase a two-year interest
rate cap on
30-day LIBOR
with a LIBOR strike price of 6.0%, thereby locking the maximum
interest rate on borrowings under the mortgage loans at 7.70%
for the initial two year term of the mortgage loans.
The Company does not utilize financial instruments for trading
or other speculative purposes, nor does it utilize leveraged
financial instruments.
REPORT OF
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Board of Directors and Shareholders
Grubb & Ellis Company
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of
Grubb & Ellis Company as of June 30, 2007 and
2006, and the related consolidated statements of operations,
shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three
years in the period ended June 30, 2007. These financial
statements are the responsibility of the Company’s
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those
standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are
free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a
test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in
the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the
accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above
present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated
financial position of Grubb & Ellis Company at
June 30, 2007 and 2006, and the consolidated results of its
operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the
period ended June 30, 2007, in conformity with
U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the
effectiveness of Grubb & Ellis Company’s internal
control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2007, based
on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework
issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the
Treadway Commission and our report dated August 27, 2007
expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial
statements, in fiscal year 2006 the Company changed its method
of accounting for stock-based employee compensation.
REPORT OF
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Board
of Directors and Shareholders of Grubb & Ellis
Company
We have audited Grubb & Ellis Company’s internal
control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2007, based
on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated
Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of
the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). Grubb &
Ellis Company’s management is responsible for maintaining
effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its
assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over
financial reporting included in the accompanying
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial
Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the
company’s internal control over financial reporting based
on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those
standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control
over financial reporting was maintained in all material
respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of
internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk
that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the
design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on
the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we
considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our
audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a
process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of
financial statements for external purposes in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s
internal control over financial reporting includes those
policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance
of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly
reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the
company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions
are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial
statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company
are being made only in accordance with authorizations of
management and directors of the company; and (3) provide
reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of
unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the
company’s assets that could have a material effect on the
financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over
financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.
Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future
periods are subject to the risk that controls may become
inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree
of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, Grubb & Ellis Company maintained, in
all material respects, effective internal control over financial
reporting as of June 30, 2007, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the
consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2007 and 2006,
and the related consolidated statements of operations,
stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three
years in the period ended June 30, 2007 of
Grubb & Ellis Company and our report dated
August 27, 2007 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Preferred stock,
$1,000 stated value: 1,000,000 shares authorized;
11,725 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2006
—
11,725
Common stock, $.01 par value:
50,000,000 shares authorized; 25,914,120 and
9,579,025 shares issued and outstanding at June 30,2007 and 2006, respectively
259
96
Additional paid-in capital
95,161
47,740
Accumulated other comprehensive
income
32
2,450
Retained deficit
(47,451
)
(50,485
)
Total stockholders’ equity
48,001
11,526
Total liabilities and
stockholders’ equity
$
268,849
$
94,223
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated
financial statements.
Grubb & Ellis Company (the “Company”) is a
full service commercial real estate company that provides
services to real estate owners/investors and tenants including
transaction services involving leasing, acquisitions and
dispositions, and property and facilities management services.
Additionally, the Company provides consulting and strategic
services with respect to commercial real estate.
(b)
Principles
of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of
Grubb & Ellis Company, and its wholly owned
subsidiaries, including Grubb & Ellis Management
Services, Inc. (“GEMS”), which provides property and
facilities management services. All significant intercompany
accounts have been eliminated.
The Company consolidates all entities for which it has a
controlling financial interest evidenced by ownership of a
majority voting interest. Investments in corporations and
partnerships in which the Company does not have a controlling
financial interest or majority interest but exerts significant
influence over financial and operating decisions are accounted
for on the equity method of accounting.
In January 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued
Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable
Interest Entities and Interpretation of Accounting Research
Bulletin (ARB) No. 51 (“FIN 46”)”.
FIN 46 introduces a new consolidation model, the variable
interest model, which determines control (and consolidation)
based on potential variability in gains and losses of the entity
being evaluated for consolidation. As of June 30, 2007, the
Company has no variable interests in variable interest entities
that are subject to consolidation.
(c)
Basis of
Presentation
The financial statements have been prepared in conformity with
U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, which
require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect
the reported amounts of assets and liabilities (including
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities) at the date of
the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues
and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could
differ from those estimates.
(d)
Revenue
Recognition
Real estate sales commissions are recognized at the earlier of
receipt of payment, close of escrow or transfer of title between
buyer and seller. Receipt of payment occurs at the point at
which all Company services have been performed, and title to
real property has passed from seller to buyer, if applicable.
Real estate leasing commissions are recognized upon execution of
appropriate lease and commission agreements and receipt of full
or partial payment, and, when payable upon certain events such
as tenant occupancy or rent commencement, upon occurrence of
such events. All other commissions and fees, including
management fees, are recognized at the time the related services
have been performed by the Company, unless future contingencies
exist. Consulting revenue is recognized generally upon the
delivery of agreed upon services to the client.
In regard to management and facility service contracts, the
owner of the property will typically reimburse the Company for
certain expenses that are incurred on behalf of the owner, which
are comprised primarily of
on-site
employee salaries and related benefit costs. The amounts, which
are to be reimbursed per the terms of the services contract, are
recognized as revenue by the Company in the same period as the
related expenses are incurred.
(e)
Costs and
Expenses
Costs of services are comprised of expenses incurred in direct
relation with executing transactions and delivering services to
our clients. Included in these direct costs are real estate
transaction services and other
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
1.
Summary
of Significant Accounting Policies—(Continued)
commission expenses, which are recorded concurrently in the
period in which the related transaction revenue is recognized.
All other costs and expenses, including expenses related to
delivery of property or facility management services and selling
and marketing expenses, are recognized when incurred.
(f)
Accounting
for Stock-Based Compensation
In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board
issued Statement 123(R) (“FAS 123(R)”) effective
for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005. The new
Statement requires mandatory reporting of all stock-based
compensation awards on a fair value basis of accounting.
Generally, companies are required to calculate the fair value of
all stock awards and amortize that fair value as compensation
expense over the requisite service period of the awards. The
Company applied the new rules on accounting for stock-based
compensation awards beginning in the first fiscal quarter of
fiscal 2006. During the fiscal years ended June 30, 2007
and 2006, the Company recognized approximately $2.1 million
and $1.4 million of stock-based compensation expense,
respectively, which is included in salaries, wages, and benefit
expense in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of
Operations.
The Company previously adopted the disclosure-only provisions of
Statement 123, as amended by FASB Statement No. 148,
“Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation
— Transition and Disclosure (“FAS 148”)
and accounted for its stock-based employee compensation plan
under the intrinsic value method in accordance with APB 25.
Accordingly, because the exercise price of the Company’s
employee stock options equaled or exceeded the fair market value
of the underlying stock on the date of grant, no compensation
expense was recognized by the Company. If the exercise price of
an award was less than the fair market value of the underlying
stock at the date of grant, the Company recognized the
difference as compensation expense evenly over the vesting
period of the award. Restricted stock awards were granted at the
fair market value of the underlying common stock shares
immediately prior to the grant date. The value of the restricted
stock awards was recognized as compensation expense evenly over
the vesting period of the award.
The Company, however, was required to provide pro forma
disclosure as if the fair value measurement provisions of
Statement 123 had been adopted. See Note 13 of Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
(g)
Income
Taxes
Deferred income taxes are recorded based on enacted statutory
rates to reflect the tax consequences in future years of the
differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and
their financial reporting amounts. Deferred tax assets, such as
net operating loss carryforwards, which will generate future tax
benefits are recognized to the extent that realization of such
benefits through future taxable earnings or alternative tax
strategies in the foreseeable short term future is more likely
than not.
(h)
Cash and
Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents consist of demand deposits and highly
liquid short-term debt instruments with maturities of three
months or less from the date of purchase and are stated at cost.
Cash and cash equivalents whose use are restricted due to
various contractual constraints, the majority of which relate to
the Company’s insurance policies, totaled approximately
$800,000 and $1,103,000 as of June 30, 2007 and 2006,
respectively.
Cash payments for interest were approximately $1,220,000,
$2,314,000 and $1,442,000 for each of the fiscal years ended
June 30, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Cash payments
for income taxes for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2007,
2006 and 2005 were approximately $1,300,000, $1,973,000 and
$368,000, respectively. Cash refunds for income taxes totaling
approximately $18,000, $14,000 and $80,000 were received in the
fiscal years ended June 30, 2007, 2006 and 2005,
respectively.
The Company holds multi-year service contracts with certain key
transaction professionals for which cash payments were made to
the professionals upon signing, the costs of which are being
amortized over the lives of the respective contracts, which are
generally two to five years. Amortization expense relating to
these contracts of approximately $4.7 million,
$2.1 million and $1.4 million was recognized in fiscal
years 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively, and is included in
depreciation and amortization expense in the Company’s
Consolidated Statement of Operations.
(j)
Equipment,
Software and Leasehold Improvements
Equipment, software and leasehold improvements are recorded at
cost. Depreciation of equipment is computed using the
straight-line method over their estimated useful lives ranging
from three to seven years. Software costs consist of costs to
purchase and develop software. Costs related to the development
of internal use software are capitalized only after a
determination has been made as to how the development work will
be conducted. Any costs incurred in the preliminary project
stage prior to this determination are expensed when incurred.
Also, once the software is substantially complete and ready for
its intended use, any further costs related to the software,
such as training or maintenance activities, are also expensed as
incurred. Amortization of the development costs of internal use
software programs begins when the related software is ready for
its intended use. All software costs are amortized using a
straight-line method over their estimated useful lives, ranging
from three to seven years. Leasehold improvements are amortized
using the straight-line method over their useful lives not to
exceed the terms of the respective leases. Maintenance and
repairs are charged to expense as incurred.
(k)
Goodwill
Goodwill, representing the excess of the cost over the fair
value of the net tangible assets of acquired businesses, is
stated at cost and was amortized prior to July 1, 2002 on a
straight-line basis over estimated future periods to be
benefited, which ranged from 15 to 25 years. Accumulated
amortization amounted to approximately $5,815,000 at
June 30, 2007 and 2006.
The Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statements of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 141, Business
Combinations, and No. 142, Goodwill and Other
Intangible Assets, effective for fiscal years beginning
after December 15, 2001. Under these rules, goodwill is not
amortized but is subject to annual impairment tests in
accordance with the Statement. Other intangible assets will
continue to be amortized over their useful lives.
The Company has completed the annual impairment test of goodwill
as of June 30, 2007 and 2006 and has determined that no
goodwill impairment impacted the earnings and financial position
of the Company as of those dates.
(l)
Accrued
Claims and Settlements
The Company has maintained partially self-insured and deductible
programs for errors and omissions, general liability,
workers’ compensation and certain employee health care
costs. Reserves for such programs are included in accrued claims
and settlements and compensation and employee benefits payable,
as appropriate. Reserves are based on the aggregate of the
liability for reported claims and an actuarially-based estimate
of incurred but not reported claims.
(m)
Financial
Instruments
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 107,
“Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial
Instruments”, requires disclosure of fair value information
about financial instruments, whether or not recognized in the
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
1.
Summary
of Significant Accounting Policies—(Continued)
Consolidated Balance Sheets. Considerable judgment is required
in interpreting market data to develop estimates of fair value.
Accordingly, the estimates presented herein are not necessarily
indicative of the amounts that the Company could realize in a
current market exchange. The use of different market assumptions
and/or
estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the
estimated fair value amounts. The carrying amounts of the
Company’s financial instruments, which include cash and
cash equivalents, receivables and obligations under accounts
payable and debt instruments, approximate their fair values,
based on similar instruments with similar risks.
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 115,
“Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity
Securities” (FAS 115), requires companies to present
investments in marketable equity securities and many debt
securities at fair value. Marketable equity securities
classified as “Trading” (if acquired and generally
held for short periods to make a profit from short-term
movements in market value) will recognize unrealized gains or
losses within earnings for the period, while those classified as
“Available for Sale” (any equity securities not
classified as “Trading”) will report unrealized gains
or losses in a separate component of stockholders’ equity
and not include such in earnings until realized.
(n)
Fair
Value of Derivative Instruments and Hedged Items
The Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of
Financial Accounting (“SFAS”) No. 138
“Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging
Activities” which amends SFAS No. 133,
“Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging
Activities.” SFAS No. 133, as amended, requires
companies to record derivatives on the balance sheet as assets
or liabilities, measured at fair value. SFAS No. 133
may increase or decrease reported net income and
stockholders’ equity prospectively, depending on future
levels of interest rates, the computed “effectiveness”
of the derivatives, as that term is defined by
SFAS No. 133, and other variables affecting the fair
values of derivative instruments and hedged items, but will have
no effect on cash flows. See Notes 6 and 8 of Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information
regarding derivatives held by the Company.
(o)
Costs
Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities
The Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement 146,
“Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal
Activities” in June 2002. This statement requires
liabilities for costs associated with an exit or disposal
activity to be recognized and measured initially at its fair
value in the period in which the liability is incurred.
The Company records a liability for one-time termination
benefits at the date the plan of termination meets certain
criteria including appropriate management approval, specificity
as to employee and benefits to be provided and an indication
that significant changes to the plan are unlikely. If the
employees are required to render service until they are
terminated in order to receive the termination benefits beyond
the minimum retention period as defined in the Statement, the
Company will recognize the liability ratably over the retention
period.
The Company records a liability for certain operating leases
based on the fair value of the liability at the cease-use date.
The fair value is determined based on the remaining lease
rentals and any termination penalties, and is reduced by
estimated sublease rentals.
(p)
New
Accounting Standard
The Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Interpretation
No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes
(“FIN 48”)”. FIN 48 prescribes a
recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the
financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax
position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return.
FIN 48 also provides guidance on accounting for
derecognition, interest, penalties, accounting in interim
periods, disclosure and classifications of matters related to
uncertainty in income taxes, and transitional requirements upon
adoption of
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
1.
Summary
of Significant Accounting Policies—(Continued)
FIN 48. The provisions of FIN 48 are effective for
fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company
does not expect that the adoption of FIN 48 will have a
material impact on its financial position or results of
operations.
(q)
Reclassifications
Certain amounts in prior periods have been reclassified to
conform to the current year presentation. Such reclassifications
have not changed previously reported results of operations or
cash flows.
2.
Services
Fees Receivable, net
Services fees receivable at June 30, 2007 and 2006
consisted of the following (in thousands):
2007
2006
Transaction services fees
receivable
$
7,114
$
6,022
Management services fees receivable
8,634
6,917
Allowance for uncollectible
accounts
(371
)
(321
)
Total
15,377
12,618
Less portion classified as current
15,241
12,528
Non-current portion (included in
other assets)
$
136
$
90
The following is a summary of the changes in the allowance for
uncollectible services fees receivable for the fiscal years
ended June 30, 2007, 2006 and 2005 (in thousands):
2007
2006
2005
Balance at beginning of year
$
321
$
566
$
714
Provision for bad debt
50
—
—
Decrease in allowance
—
(245
)
(148
)
Balance at end of year
$
371
$
321
$
566
3.
Equipment,
Software and Leasehold Improvements, net
Equipment, software and leasehold improvements at June 30,2007 and 2006 consisted of the following (in thousands):
2007
2006
Furniture, equipment and software
systems
$
47,711
$
44,296
Leasehold improvements
6,034
5,738
Total
53,745
50,034
Less accumulated depreciation and
amortization
42,463
40,126
Equipment, software and leasehold
improvements, net
$
11,282
$
9,908
The Company wrote off approximately $1,671,000 and $6,693,000 of
furniture and equipment during the fiscal years ended
June 30, 2007 and 2006. Approximately $1,536,000 and
$6,446,000 of accumulated depreciation and amortization expense
had been recorded on these assets prior to their disposition in
the fiscal years ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
4.
Earnings
Per Common Share
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128,
“Earnings per Share” (“Statement 128”)
requires disclosure of basic earnings per share that excludes
any dilutive effects of options, warrants, and convertible
securities and diluted earnings per share.
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and
diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations (in
thousands, except per share data):
Income (loss) from continuing
operations to common stockholders
$
(101,798
)
$
4,911
$
12,378
Basic earnings per common share:
Weighted average common shares
outstanding
25,555
11,966
15,112
Income (loss) from continuing
operations to common stockholders per common share
outstanding—basic
$
(3.98
)
$
0.41
$
0.82
Diluted earnings per common share:
Weighted average common shares
outstanding
25,555
11,966
15,112
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options, warrants and
restricted stock grants
—
348
110
Weighted average dilutive common
shares outstanding
25,555
12,314
15,222
Income from continuing operations
to common stockholders per common share outstanding—diluted
$
(3.98
)
$
0.40
$
0.81
Additionally, options outstanding to purchase shares of common
stock and restricted stock, the effect of which would be
anti-dilutive, were 607,196, 324,350, and 1,229,652 at
June 30, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. These shares
were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per
share because an operating loss was reported or the option
exercise price was greater than the average market price of the
common shares for the respective periods.
5.
Investment
in Marketable Securities
The Company recorded its investment in common shares of LoopNet,
Inc. as marketable equity securities available for sale with the
carrying value of the investment recorded at the shares’
fair market value which totaled approximately $4.3 million
at June 30, 2006. The investment was classified in other
long term assets, with an unrealized gain on the investment
totaling approximately $2.5 million (net of taxes) recorded
within stockholders’ equity as of June 30, 2006. At
September 30, 2006, the market price of the common shares
of LoopNet, Inc. had declined to $12.66 per share which resulted
in an unrealized loss on the investment totaling approximately
$838,000 (net of taxes), which was included in Accumulated Other
Comprehensive Income (Loss) within stockholder’s equity as
of September 30, 2006 and reduced the carrying value of the
Company’s investment to approximately $2.9 million. On
December 22, 2006, the Company sold all of its common
shares of LoopNet, Inc. and received proceeds of approximately
$3.9 million which resulted in a realized gain on sale of
the investment of approximately $3.8 million and the
elimination of the net unrealized gain previously included in
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
5.
Investment
in Marketable Securities—(Continued)
The Company also owns approximately 4.6 million warrants of
Grubb & Ellis Realty Advisors, Inc. (“Realty
Advisors”) which the Company purchased during the period
from May 3, 2006 through August 27, 2006 for a
cumulative cost of approximately $2.4 million. The market
price of these warrants was $0.52 per warrant as of
June 30, 2007 resulting in an unrealized loss on the
investment totaling approximately $32,000 (net of taxes) for the
year then ended. This unrealized loss is included in Accumulated
Other Comprehensive Income within stockholders’ equity as
of June 30, 2007. The Company’s carrying value of the
investment is included in investment in affiliate along with the
Company’s investment in Realty Advisors’ common stock.
See Note 7 for additional information.
Effective June 11, 2004, the Company entered into a
$40 million senior secured credit agreement with Deutsche
Bank, which had a three-year term with a one-year extension
option and was comprised of a $25 million term loan
facility and a $15 million revolving credit facility.
Repayment of the credit agreement was collateralized by
substantially all of the Company’s assets.
In order to mitigate the risks associated with changes in the
interest rate markets, the terms of the Deutsche Bank credit
facility required the Company to enter into an interest rate
protection agreement that effectively capped the variable
interest rate exposure on a portion of its existing credit
facility debt for a period of two years. The Company executed
such an interest agreement with Deutsche Bank in July 2004 and
determined that this agreement was to be characterized as
effective under the definitions included within Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 “Accounting for
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” Prior to
the repayment of the credit facility debt in July 2006, the
change in value of these instruments during a reporting period
was characterized as Other Comprehensive Income or Loss, and
totaled approximately $108,000 of unrealized losses and $27,000
of unrealized income during fiscal 2006 and 2005, respectively.
Subsequent to the repayment of the credit facility debt in July
2006, the Company concluded that the interest rate protection
agreement could no longer be determined effective under the
provisions of FAS 133 and therefore the loss in value of
the agreements previously included in Accumulated Other
Comprehensive Income (Loss), which totaled approximately
$140,000, was reclassified as an increase to interest expense.
All subsequent changes to the fair value of the interest rate
protection agreement are recorded as an adjustment to interest
expense in the applicable reporting period.
The credit agreement also contained financial covenants related
to limitations on indebtedness, acquisition, investments and
dividends, and maintenance of certain financial ratios and
minimum cash flow levels.
In March 2005, the Company amended its secured credit facility.
Under the amended credit facility, the $25 million term
loan portion of the credit facility was unchanged; however, the
revolving credit line component of the credit facility was
increased from $15 million to $35 million. In
addition, the term of the credit facility was extended by one
year, to June 2008, subject to the Company’s right to
extend the term for an additional twelve months through June
2009. Other modifications to the credit facility included the
elimination of any cap regarding the aggregate consideration
that the Company may pay for acquisitions, the ability to
repurchase up to $30 million of its Common Stock, and the
elimination of all term loan amortization payments due before
maturity. Other principal economic terms and conditions of the
credit facility remained substantially unchanged. The Company
paid closing costs totaling approximately $685,000 in connection
with the amendment, of which $550,000 were recorded as deferred
financing fees and amortized over the amended term of the
agreement.
In April 2006, the Company executed an additional amendment to
its secured credit facility. The amended facility increased the
Company’s revolving line of credit to $60.0 million,
from $35.0 million, and the term loan
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
6.
Credit
Facility Debt—(Continued)
portion of the facility to $40.0 million, from
$25.0 million, for a total credit facility of
$100.0 million. The new facility extended the term by
approximately one year through April 2009 and provided the
Company with an option to extend the term for an additional
twelve months through April 2010. Under the terms of the amended
credit facility, proceeds may be used for general corporate
purposes, including the refinancing of the Company’s
previous credit facility and funding for the Company’s
growth initiatives, working capital needs and stock repurchases.
As a result of the increased term loan portion, the Company
received net proceeds of approximately $10.0 million at
closing, after repayment of a $4.0 million revolver
borrowing, accrued interest through the closing date and fees
and expenses related to the new facility. The Company paid
closing costs totaling approximately $1,109,000 in connection
with the amendment, which were recorded as deferred financing
fees and are being amortized over the amended term of the credit
facility. Unamortized deferred financing fees related to the
previous facility, and totaling approximately $935,000, were
written off in the Company’s fiscal quarter ending
June 30, 2006.
In June 2006, the Company further amended its secured credit
facility. The amended facility converted the $40.0 million
term loan facility to a borrowing under the $60.0 million
revolving line of credit. This $40.0 million borrowing
under the revolving line of credit remained outstanding at
June 30, 2006 but was repaid in full during July 2006.
The amended facility also added certain financial covenants
including minimum net worth and liability requirements.
In February 2007, the Company again amended its credit facility
to provide the Company more flexibility with respect to its real
property acquisitions and certain covenants. Pursuant to this
amendment, the Company may invest up to $42.5 million of
its funds (which may be borrowed under the credit facility) and
obtain certain non-recourse debt to finance acquisitions of, and
capital expenditures relating to, real property that it is
holding for future sale to Realty Advisors. (See Note 7 for
additional information.) The non-recourse debt used to finance
such acquisitions may be collateralized by the acquired real
property or the assets or securities of the limited purpose
subsidiary of the Company that purchases such property (a
“Limited Purpose Subsidiary”). To the extent of any
net proceeds from non-recourse debt in excess of 75% of the cost
of such real property and any capital expenditures related
thereto, the Company must repay the principal amount borrowed
under the credit facility. Each Limited Purpose Subsidiary will
be disregarded for purposes of determining the Company’s
compliance with its financial covenants under the credit
facility. Although the Company has signed a definite Membership
Interest Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 18, 2007 (the
“Acquisition Agreement”), with Realty Advisors to sell
the real property that it acquired to Realty Advisors, the sale
is subject to, among other things, the approval of the
transaction by the holders of a majority of the common stock
issued in the Realty Advisors IPO and the holders of less than
20 percent of the common stock issued in the IPO voting
against the transaction and electing to exercise their
conversion rights. If the Company does not sell the acquired
properties to Realty Advisors by September 30, 2007, the
Company, on a quarterly basis, to the extent of Adjusted Excess
Cash Flow (as defined in the amendment) for such quarter, is
required to repay the principal amount borrowed under the credit
facility to finance its real property acquisitions and the
Company must sell such property to a third party by
March 31, 2008. In addition, the net proceeds from any sale
of the real property by the Company to Realty Advisors must be
used to pay down borrowings under the credit facility.
This amendment also reduced the term loan portion of the credit
facility from $40 million to $20 million, thereby
reducing the current total credit facility from
$100 million to $80 million, but simultaneously
provided that the revolving portion of the credit facility may
be expanded from $60 million to $80 million at the
request of the Company and subject to the approval of the
lender. The term loan portion of the credit facility may now
only be used for real property acquisitions. Previously, the
term loan portion of the credit facility was available for
acquisitions
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
6.
Credit
Facility Debt—(Continued)
by the Company of real estate service companies. In addition,
this amendment set the interest rate applicable to the
Company’s borrowings under the credit facility at LIBOR
plus 3.5% from February 16, 2007 through June 30, 2007
and LIBOR plus 3.0% from July 1, 2007 through
December 31, 2007. Previously, the interest rate under the
credit facility was based on the Company’s leverage with a
maximum rate of LIBOR plus 3.0%. The Company’s covenants
under the credit facility were also revised.
In addition to the customary limitations, the amended facility
also limits the Company and its restricted subsidiaries from
making cash bonus payments to new officers, employees or
representatives of the Company, for each of the trailing four
quarter periods and in the amounts listed below, without the
approval of the lender.
During the third and fourth quarters of fiscal 2007, the Company
borrowed a total of $41.5 million under the credit facility
to acquire the real property it holds with the intent to sell to
Realty Advisors, of which $20.0 million was borrowed under
the term facility and $21.5 million was borrowed under the
revolver facility. This portion of the Company’s credit
facility debt is recorded within “liabilities related to
real estate held for sale” in the Company’s balance
sheet as of June 30, 2007 (see Note 8 of Notes to
Financial Statements for additional information). The Company
also borrowed approximately $4.0 million of additional
revolver debt during the third fiscal quarter of 2007, all of
which was repaid in June 2007. The Company also has issued
letters of credit for approximately $4.0 million, leaving
approximately $34.5 million of the $60.0 million
revolving line of credit available for future borrowings. The
average interest rate incurred by the Company on the credit
facility obligation during fiscal years 2007 and 2006 was 8.82%
and 7.75%, respectively.
Scheduled principal payments on the term loan, excluding the
exercise of the one year extension option, are as follows (in
thousands):
Year Ending
June 30
Amount
2008
$
—
2009
20,000
$
20,000
7.
Investment
in Affiliate
On October 21, 2005, Realty Advisors, an affiliate of the
Company, filed a registration statement with the SEC with
respect to its initial public offering that was declared
effective on March 3, 2006. The Company provided Realty
Advisors with initial equity capital of $2.5 million for
5,876,069 shares of common stock and, as of the completion
of the offering, the Company owned approximately 19% of the
outstanding common stock of Realty Advisors. Pursuant to an
agreement with Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., the Company also
agreed to purchase, during the period commencing May 3,2006 and continuing through June 28, 2006 and to the extent
available, in the public marketplace, up to $3.5 million of
Realty Advisors’ warrants in the open market if the public
price per warrant was $0.70 or less. The Company agreed to
purchase such warrants pursuant to an agreement in accordance
with the guidelines specified by
Rule 10b5-1
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
7.
Investment
in Affiliate—(Continued)
“Exchange Act”), through an independent broker-dealer
registered under Section 15 of the Exchange Act that did
not participate in Realty Advisors’ public offering. In
addition, the Company further agreed that any such warrants
purchased by it will not be sold or transferred until the
completion of a business combination. On June 28, 2006, the
Company agreed to a
sixty-day
extension of this agreement, through August 27, 2006.
Pursuant to this warrant purchase program, the Company purchased
an aggregate of approximately 4.6 million warrants of
Realty Advisors through August 27, 2006, for an aggregate
purchase price of approximately $2.2 million, or
approximately $0.47 per warrant, excluding commissions of
approximately $186,000. See Note 5 for additional
information. Finally, as of June 30, 2007, the Company has
advanced on Realty Advisors’ behalf approximately $203,000
through direct payment of certain operating costs.
In the event Realty Advisors does not complete a transaction
prior to March 2008, having a value of at least 80% of its net
assets at the time of the transaction, Realty Advisors will
liquidate and dissolve. The Company has waived its right to
receive any proceeds in any such liquidation and dissolution. In
the event, the liquidation does occur, the Company will lose its
entire investment in the common stock and warrants of Realty
Advisors.
All of the officers of Realty Advisors are also officers of the
Company. The officers and directors of Realty Advisors will not
initially receive compensation from Realty Advisors, however,
each of the directors of Realty Advisors received
41,670 shares from the initial shares the Company purchased.
Realty Advisors has entered into a Master Agreement for Services
(“MSA”) with the Company, whereby the Company will
serve as the exclusive agent with respect to commercial real
estate brokerage and consulting services relating to real
property acquisitions, dispositions as well as agency leasing.
The initial term of the MSA is five years and is cancelable
based on certain conditions as defined. Realty Advisors also
entered into a Property Management Agreement (“PMA”)
with the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary,
Grubb & Ellis Management Services (“GEMS”),
whereby GEMS will serve as sole exclusive managing agent for all
real property acquired. The initial term of the PMA is
12 months and will automatically renew unless notice is
given within 30 days prior to the end of the term. Either
party can terminate with 60 days notice and based on
various conditions as defined within the PMA. Finally, Realty
Advisors has entered into a Master Agreement for Project
Management Services with GEMS. The Project Management Agreement
contains a
60-day
cancellation provision by either party.
Due to the Company’s current ownership position and
influence over the operating and financial decisions of Realty
Advisors, the Company’s investment in Realty Advisors is
accounted for under the equity method, and as such, the
Company’s investment cost, adjusted for its 19% ownership
share of Realty Advisors’ operations, is recorded within
the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements as of
June 30, 2007.
8.
Real
Estate Held for Sale
On February 15, 2007, the Company, through GERA Abrams
Centre LLC, acquired an office building, Abrams Office Center,
located in Dallas, Texas, (the “Abrams Property”) for
a contract price of $20,000,000, along with acquisition costs of
approximately $369,000, for a net purchase price of $20,369,000.
On February 28, 2007, the Company through GERA 6400 Shafer
LLC, acquired commercial real property (the “Shafer
Property”) located in Rosemont, Illinois, for a contract
price of $21,450,000, along with acquisition costs of
approximately $552,000, and assumed obligations of approximately
$542,000, for a net purchase price of $22,544,000. On
June 15, 2007, the Company, through GERA Danbury LLC,
acquired an office complex, Danbury Corporate Center (the
“Danbury Property”) for a contract price of
$80,750,000, along with acquisition costs of approximately
$404,000, for a net purchase price of $81,154,000. Each of these
LLCs is a wholly owned subsidiary of GERA Property Acquisition,
LLC which, in turn, is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
8.
Real
Estate Held for Sale—(Continued)
Simultaneous with the acquisition of the Danbury Property, the
Company’s subsidiaries that hold the warehoused properties
closed two non-recourse mortgage loan financings with Wachovia
Bank, N.A. (“Wachovia”) in the aggregate amount of
$120.5 million. The majority of these mortgage loan
financings, $78.0 million (the “Danbury Wachovia
Loan”), is secured by the Danbury Property. The balance of
the mortgage loan proceeds, $42.5 million (the “Abrams
and Shafer Wachovia Loan”), is secured by the Abrams
Property and the Shafer Property (collectively with the Danbury
Property, the “Properties”). The proceeds of the
mortgage loans were used to finance the purchase of the Danbury
Property, to fund certain required reserves for the Properties
held by Wachovia totaling $43.6 million, to pay the
lender’s fees and costs, and to repay certain amounts
borrowed by the Company through its credit facility with respect
to the Abrams Property and Shafer Property.
Each of the two non-recourse mortgage loans has an initial term
of two years with three extension options, each one year in
length, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions,
including with respect to the first extension option, the
purchase of an interest rate cap on
30-day LIBOR
with a LIBOR strike price of 6%. Interest on the mortgage loans
will be paid and adjusted monthly at a floating rate of interest
per annum equal to the
30-day LIBOR
plus a spread of 170 basis points. The borrowers under each
of the mortgage loans were required to purchase a two-year
interest rate cap on
30-day LIBOR
with a LIBOR strike price of 6%, thereby locking the maximum
interest rate on borrowings under the mortgage loans at 7.70%
for the initial two year term of the mortgage loans.
Pursuant to the Abrams and Shafer Wachovia Loan and the Danbury
Wachovia Loan, reserves in the amount of approximately
$15.2 million and $28.4 million, respectively, have
been established and held by Wachovia for the costs of certain
capital expenditures, maintenance and repairs, leasing
commissions and tenant improvements, rent concessions and debt
service coverage.
All obligations under the Abrams and Shafer Wachovia Loan and
the Danbury Wachovia Loan are secured by, among other things,
(i) a first mortgage lien encumbering the fee-simple of the
Abrams Property and the Shafer Property, in the case of the
Abrams and Shafer Wachovia Loan, and the Danbury Property, in
the case of the Danbury Wachovia Loan, (ii) an assignment
of all related leases, rents, deposits, letters of credit,
income and profits, (iii) an assignment of the interest
rate caps described above, and (iv) an assignment of all
other contracts, agreements and personal property relating to
the respective properties.
Liability under the Abrams and Shafer Wachovia Loan is limited
to GERA Abrams Center LLC and GERA 6400 Shafer LLC, and
liability under the Danbury Wachovia Loan is limited to GERA
Danbury LLC, which, in each case, are single purpose entities
and will incur liability only for non-recourse carve-outs which
are customary for credit facilities similar in size and type to
the mortgage loans.
The Company acquired the three properties with the intention to
hold them for future sale to Realty Advisors. On June 18,2007, the Company announced the signing of a definite Membership
Interest Purchase Agreement (the “Acquisition
Agreement”), among the Company, Realty Advisors and GERA
Property Acquisition, LLC (“Property Acquisition”).
Pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement, Realty Advisors shall
acquire all of the issued and outstanding membership interests
of Property Acquisition held by Property Acquisition’s sole
member, the Company (the “Acquisition”).
The Acquisition is subject to, among other things, the approval
of the transaction by the holders of a majority of the common
stock issued in the Realty Advisors IPO and the holders of less
than 20 percent of the common stock issued in the IPO
voting against the transaction and electing to exercise their
conversion rights. There is no assurance that the foregoing
conditions for the approval of the Acquisition will occur.
As a result of the Acquisition, Realty Advisors will indirectly
acquire and own the Properties. Prior to entering into the
Acquisition Agreement, the Company and Realty Advisors did not
have any agreement with respect to the Properties and Realty
Advisors did not have any obligation to purchase these
properties from the Company.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
8.
Real
Estate Held for Sale—(Continued)
The Company acquired the Properties for an aggregate contract
price of approximately $122.2 million. Pursuant to the
Acquisition Agreement, the Company will sell the Properties to
Realty Advisors on a “cost neutral basis” taking into
account the costs and expenses paid by the Company with respect
to the purchase of the Properties and imputed interest on cash
advanced by the Company with respect to the Properties.
Furthermore, Realty Advisors will acquire the Properties subject
to the Abrams and Shafer Wachovia Loan and the Danbury Wachovia
Loan.
In addition, upon the closing of the Acquisition, pursuant to an
agreement with Realty Advisors and the Company at the time of
Realty Advisors’ initial public offering in February 2006,
Realty Advisors will pay the Company an acquisition fee equal to
one percent of the purchase price paid by the Company for the
Properties.
Real estate held for sale at June 30, 2007 represents the
cost of the Properties acquired and certain assets related to
these properties (in thousands):
Real estate, net
$
124,067
Cash and tenant receivables
697
Restricted cash
43,574
Prepaid expenses and other assets
777
Deferred financing fees
1,874
Deferred tax assets
277
Total real estate held for sale
$
171,266
In addition, certain liabilities related to these Properties at
June 30, 2007 consisted of the following (in thousands):
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
8.
Real
Estate Held for Sale—(Continued)
In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 144 “Accounting for the Impairment of Disposal of
Long-Lived Assets” (“FAS 144”), net income
(loss) related to real estate held for sale is reflected in the
consolidated statements of operations as “Discontinued
Operations” for the period presented (in thousands):
On December 7, 2005, the Company repurchased all of the
5,861,902 shares of the Company’s common stock, par
value $.01 per share (the “Shares”), owned by a single
stockholder for a purchase price of $4.00 per share, or an
aggregate purchase price of $23,447,608, in a privately
negotiated transaction.
10.
Secondary
Offering
On April 28, 2006, the Company filed a registration
statement on
Form S-1
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“SEC”), proposing to offer to sell shares of the
Company’s common stock on its own behalf and on behalf of
Kojaian Ventures, L.L.C. (“KV”), an entity affiliated
with the Chairman of the Board (the “Secondary
Offering”). On June 29, 2006, the Company’s
registration statement was declared effective by the SEC and the
Company and KV agreed to sell an aggregate of ten million shares
of the Company’s common stock, five million shares each, at
a public offering price of $9.50 per share. The Secondary
Offering subsequently closed on July 6, 2006 pursuant to
which five million shares were sold by each of the Company and
KV, generating aggregate gross proceeds to the Company, after
underwriting discounts, of $44,412,500. The Company incurred
additional costs and expenses related to the offering totaling
approximately $1,004,000.
11.
Preferred
Stock
In December 2004, the Company entered into an agreement (the
“2004 Preferred Stock Exchange Agreement”) with KV in
KV’s capacity as the holder of all the Company’s
issued and outstanding 11,725 shares of Series A
Preferred Stock which carried a preferential cumulative dividend
of 12% per annum (the “Series A Preferred
Stock”). Pursuant to the 2004 Preferred Stock Exchange
Agreement, the Company paid to KV all accrued and unpaid
dividends with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock for
the period September 19, 2002, the date of
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
11.
Preferred
Stock—(Continued)
issuance of the Series A Preferred Stock, up to and through
December 31, 2004. In exchange therefore, KV agreed to
eliminate in its entirety, as of January 1, 2005, the 12%
preferential cumulative dividend payable on the Series A
Preferred Stock. Upon the closing of the transaction in January
2005, the Company delivered to KV the one time accrued dividend
payment of approximately $3.6 million.
The Company and KV effected the elimination of the 12%
cumulative preferred dividend with respect to the Series A
Preferred Stock by an exchange of preferred securities.
Accordingly, simultaneously upon the consummation of the
transaction contemplated by the 2004 Preferred Stock Exchange
Agreement, on January 4, 2005, KV delivered to the Company
its original share certificate representing 11,725 shares
of Series A Preferred Stock in exchange for a new share
certificate representing 11,725 shares of a newly created
Series A-1
Preferred Stock of the Company (the
“Series A-1
Preferred Stock”). The
Series A-1
Preferred Stock was identical in all respects to the
Series A Preferred Stock except that the
Series A-1
Preferred Stock did not have a cumulative preferred dividend and
was only entitled to receive dividends if and when dividends
were declared and paid to holders of the Company’s common
stock. As was the case with the Series A Preferred Stock,
the
Series A-1
Preferred Stock had a preference over the Company’s common
stock in the event that the Company underwent a liquidation,
dissolution or certain change in control transactions. In such
situations, the holder of the
Series A-1
Preferred Stock would have been entitled to payment of the
greater of (i) $23.5 million (twice the face value of
the
Series A-1
Preferred Stock) or (ii) the amount such holder would have
received assuming that each share of the
Series A-1
Preferred Stock equaled 953 shares of the Company’s
common stock, with such share amount calculated on an
“Adjusted Outstanding Basis” (as defined in the
underlying documents). This preference thereby diluted the
return that would otherwise have been available to the holders
of the common stock of the Company had this preference not
existed.
Like the Series A Preferred Stock, the
Series A-1
Preferred Stock was not convertible into common stock, but
nonetheless voted on an “as liquidated basis” along
with the holders of common stock on all matters. Consequently,
the
Series A-1
Preferred Stock, like the Series A Preferred Stock, was
entitled to the number of votes equal to 11,173,925 shares
of common stock, or approximately 54.3% of all voting securities
of the Company. In addition, as noted above, with the
elimination of the preferential cumulative dividend, the
Series A-1
Preferred Stock was only entitled to receive dividends if and
when dividends were declared by the Company on, and paid to
holders of, the Company’s common stock. The holders of the
Series A-1
Preferred Stock would have received dividends, if any, based
upon the number of voting common stock equivalents represented
by the
Series A-1
Preferred Stock. The
Series A-1
Preferred Stock was not subject to redemption at the option of
the holder.
On April 28, 2006, the Company entered into an agreement
with KV to exchange all 11,725 shares of the
Series A-1
Preferred Stock owned by KV (the “Preferred Stock
Exchange”), which represented all of the issued and
outstanding shares of the Company’s preferred stock, for
(i) 11,173,925 shares of the Company’s common
stock, which is the common stock equivalent that the holder of
the
Series A-1
Preferred Stock was entitled to receive upon liquidation,
merger, consolidation, sale or change in control of the Company,
and (ii) a payment by the Company of approximately
$10,057,000 (or $0.90 per share of newly issued shares of common
stock). The Preferred Stock Exchange closed simultaneously with
the closing of the Secondary Offering on July 6, 2006. The
amount by which the fair value of the consideration transferred
to KV, which totaled approximately $116.2 million, exceeded
the carrying amount of the
Series A-1
Preferred Stock in the Company’s financial statements,
which totaled approximately $10.9 million, including
issuance costs, was recorded as a charge to earnings totaling
approximately $105.3 million, therefore reducing the amount
of earnings available to common stockholders for such period. A
substantial portion of this amount is related to a one-time,
non-cash charge totaling approximately $95.2 million, as
the cash portion of the amount is equal to the $10,057,000
payment described above.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
12.
Income
Taxes
The Company maintains a fiscal year ending June 30 for financial
reporting purposes and a calendar year for income tax reporting
purposes. The provision (benefit) for income taxes for the
fiscal years ended June 30, 2007, 2006 and 2005, consisted
of the following (in thousands):
2007
2006
2005
Current
Federal
$
1,913
$
3,437
$
4,475
State and local
(155
)
361
1,076
1,758
3,798
5,551
Deferred
1,495
(1,311
)
(5,703
)
Net provision (benefit)
$
3,253
$
2,487
$
(152
)
The Company recorded prepaid taxes totaling approximately
$343,000 and $1,281,000 as of June 30, 2007 and 2006,
respectively, comprised primarily of tax refund receivables,
prepaid tax estimates and tax effected operating loss carrybacks
related to state tax filings. The Company also received net tax
refunds of approximately $18,000 and $14,000 during fiscal years
2007 and 2006, respectively.
At June 30, 2007, federal income tax net operating loss
carryforwards (“NOL’s”) were available to the
Company in the amount of approximately $4.7 million, which
expire from 2008 to 2026. Utilization of certain of these NOLs
totaling $560,000 is limited until January 2008, pursuant to
Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code relating to a
prior ownership change.
The Company’s effective tax rate on its income before taxes
differs from the statutory federal income tax rate as follows
for the fiscal years ended June 30:
2007
2006
2005
Federal statutory rate
34.0
%
34.0
%
34.0
%
State and local income taxes (net
of federal tax benefits)
(1.7
)
1.5
7.9
Meals and entertainment
8.6
7.0
2.9
Executive compensation
5.7
5.8
0.6
Change in valuation allowance
10.9
(22.8
)
(39.7
)
Other
(5.0
)
8.1
(6.9
)
Effective income tax rate
52.5
%
33.6
%
(1.2
)%
The Company increased its net deferred tax assets by
approximately $723,000 during fiscal year 2007 primarily due to
Federal net operating loss carryforwards that were generated
during the six months ended June 30, 2007 as well as the
reversal of a deferred tax liability due to the sale of its
LoopNet, Inc. investment. The Company increased its valuation
allowance related to its deferred tax assets by approximately
$674,000 due to the likelihood that the Company would realize
only a portion of the deferred assets generated during the six
months in future periods. During fiscal years 2006 and 2005, the
Company generated sufficient taxable income to realize a portion
of its deferred tax assets and correspondingly reduced the
valuation allowance by approximately $1.7 and $5.2 million,
respectively.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
12.
Income
Taxes—(Continued)
Deferred income tax liabilities or assets are determined based
on the differences between the financial statement and tax basis
of assets and liabilities. The components of the Company’s
deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows as of
June 30, 2007 and 2006 (in thousands):
2007
2006
Deferred tax assets:
Federal NOL and credit
carryforwards
$
1,371
$
1,275
State NOL carryforwards
3,640
2,875
Insurance reserves
2,361
2,262
Compensation and benefits
1,128
1,040
Rent concessions
1,747
1,417
Commission and fee reserves
342
327
Other
694
1,313
Deferred tax assets
11,283
10,509
Less valuation allowance
(3,377
)
(2,703
)
7,906
7,806
Deferred tax liabilities:
Goodwill amortization
(4,367
)
(3,639
)
Employee advances
(1,266
)
(1,016
)
Other
(368
)
(1,969
)
Deferred tax liabilities
(6,001
)
(6,624
)
Net deferred tax assets
$
1,905
$
1,182
13.
Stock
Compensation Awards and 401(k) Plans
Restricted
Stock Grants
Restricted stock award grants totaling 130,352, 191,504 and
244,321 shares were issued for the fiscal years ended
June 30, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively, with weighted
average market value prices at date of grant of $10.36, $10.18
and $5.12, respectively. These award grants generally vest over
a one to three year period. As of June 30, 2007,
418,408 shares remain unvested at a weighted average grant
price of $8.78. Compensation expense related to these restricted
stock awards totaled approximately $1,331,000, $722,000 and
$167,000 for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2007, 2006 and
2005, respectively, and is included in salaries, wages and
benefit expense in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of
Operations. At June 30, 2007, compensation expense not yet
recognized related to these restricted stock awards totaled
approximately $2.6 million and will be recognized over a
weighted average period of 2 years and 1 month.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
13.
Stock
Compensation Awards and 401(k) Plans—(Continued)
Stock
Option Plans
Changes in stock options were as follows for the fiscal years
ended June 30, 2007, 2006, and 2005:
2007
2006
2005
Shares
Exercise Price
Shares
Exercise Price
Shares
Exercise Price
Stock options outstanding at the
beginning of the year
1,228,045
$
2.00 to $14.20
1,445,152
$
0.92 to $16.44
1,329,023
$
0.92 to $16.44
Granted
25,000
$
11.75
138,250
$
5.89 to $14.20
510,000
$
2.99 to $4.70
Lapsed or canceled
(34,510
)
$
5.81 to $11.31
(82,493
)
$
5.81 to $16.44
(376,371
)
$
3.75 to $13.50
Exercised
(97,316
)
$
5.44 to$11.31
(272,864
)
$
0.92 to $11.31
(17,500
)
$
2.85
Stock options outstanding at the
end of the year
1,121,219
$
2.00 to $14.20
1,228,045
$
2.00 to $14.20
1,445,152
$
0.92 to $16.44
Exercisable at end of the year
874,552
785,544
866,068
Additional information segregated by relative ranges of exercise
prices for stock options outstanding as of June 30, 2007 is
as follows:
Weighted
Weighted
Average
Average
Weighted
Exercise
Exercise
Exercise
Average Years
Price-Outstanding
Price-Exercisable
Price
Shares
Remaining Life
Shares
Shares
$ 2.00 to $4.70
571,000
7.31
4.47
4.39
$ 5.81 to $8.94
207,119
3.24
7.01
7.07
$11.13 to $14.20
343,100
2.12
11.55
11.37
1,121,219
Weighted average information per share with respect to stock
options for fiscal years ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 is as
follows:
2007
2006
Exercise price:
Granted
$
11.75
$
8.75
Lapsed or canceled
6.71
11.43
Exercised
6.14
3.08
Outstanding at June 30
7.11
6.92
Remaining life
4.97
years
5.74
years
The Company’s 2006 Omnibus Equity Plan (the
“Plan”) was adopted by the Company on
September 25, 2006, subject to approval by the stockholders
of the Company which was obtained at the annual stockholders
meeting of November 9, 2006. The Plan is an amendment,
restatement and consolidation of the following plans previously
adopted by the Company: the 1990 Amended and Restated Stock
Option Plan; the 1993 Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors;
the 1998 Stock Option Plan; the 2000 Stock Option Plan; and the
2005 Restricted Share Program (for Non-Affiliated Board Members)
(collectively, the foregoing plans are referred to herein as the
“Prior Plans”) which are more fully disclosed further
below.
The amendment and restatement of the Prior Plans does not in
anyway affect the rights of individuals who participated in the
Prior Plans in accordance with their provisions. All matters
relating to the number of options or shares of restricted stock
to which such individuals may be entitled based upon events
occurring prior to the
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
13.
Stock
Compensation Awards and 401(k) Plans—(Continued)
adoption of the Plan, and to the applicable term of any award
granted under the Prior Plans shall be determined in accordance
with the applicable provisions of the Prior Plans.
A total of 5,800,000 shares of common stock (plus
restricted shares issuable to outside directors pursuant to the
formula contained in the 2005 Restricted Stock Program) were
originally available for issuance under the Prior Plans and, as
of September 25, 2006, 1,019,777 shares had been
issued pursuant to the Prior Plans. As a result, a total of
4,780,223 shares of common stock (plus restricted shares
issuable to outside directors pursuant to the formula contained
in the Plan) were initially available for issuance under the
Plan. As of September 25, 2006, options to acquire a total
of 1,224,045 shares were outstanding, thus, as of that
date, 3,556,178 shares remained eligible for future grant.
As a result of activity during the remainder of the fiscal year,
shares available for issuance under the Plan totaled 3,532,724
as of June 30, 2007. Stock options under this plan may be
granted at prices and with such other terms and vesting
schedules as determined by the Compensation Committee of the
Board of Directors, or, with respect to options granted to
corporate officers who are subject to Section 16 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, by the full Board
of Directors.
The Company’s 1990 Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan,
as amended, provided for grants of options to purchase the
Company’s common stock for a total of 2.0 million
shares. At June 30, 2006 and 2005, the number of shares
available for the grant of options under the plan was 1,097,452
and 1,179,952, respectively. Stock options under this plan were
granted at prices from 50% up to 100% of the market price per
share at the dates of grant, their terms and vesting schedules
of which were determined by the Board of Directors.
The Company’s 1993 Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors
provided for an automatic grant of an option to purchase
10,000 shares of common stock to each newly elected
independent member of the Board of Directors and an automatic
grant of an option to purchase 8,000 shares at the
successive four year service anniversaries of each such
director. The exercise prices were set at the market price at
the date of grant. The initial options expired five years from
the date of grant and vested over three years from such date.
The anniversary options vested over four years from the date of
grant and expired ten years from such date. The plan was amended
in November 1998 to increase the number of issuable shares
authorized for the plan from 50,000 to 300,000 and to provide
for the anniversary options. In October 2005, the Board of
Directors indefinitely suspended any new grants under this plan.
The number of shares available for grant was 244,000 at
June 30, 2006 and 2005.
The Company’s 1998 Stock Option Plan provided for grants of
options to purchase the Company’s common stock. The plan
authorized the issuance of up to 2.0 million shares, and
had 1,388,726, and 1,336,983 shares available for grant as
of June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Stock options
under this plan were granted at prices and with such other terms
and vesting schedules as determined by the Compensation
Committee of the Board of Directors, or, with respect to options
granted to corporate officers, the full Board of Directors.
The Company’s 2000 Stock Option Plan provided for grants of
options to purchase the Company’s common stock. The plan
authorized the issuance of up to 1.5 million shares, and
had 825,000 and 850,000 shares available for grant at
June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Stock options under
this plan were granted at prices and with such other terms and
vesting schedules as determined by the Compensation Committee of
the Board of Directors, or, with respect to options granted to
corporate officers who are subject to Section 16 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, by the full Board
of Directors.
The fair value for options granted by the Company is estimated
at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option pricing model.
Pro forma information regarding net income and earnings per
share was required by Statement 123, and had been determined as
if the Company had accounted for options granted subsequent to
July 1, 1996 and prior to July 1, 2006, and therefore
included grants under the 1990 Amended and Restated Stock Option
Plan, 1993 Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors, 1998 Stock
Option Plan and 2000 Stock Option Plan, under the
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
13.
Stock
Compensation Awards and 401(k) Plans—(Continued)
fair value method of that Statement. Weighted-average
assumptions for options granted for fiscal years 2007, 2006 and
2005, respectively, are as follows:
Pro Forma
2007
2006
2005
Risk free interest rates
4.68
%
4.58
%
3.99
%
Dividend yields
0
%
0
%
0
%
Volatility factors of the expected
market price of the common stock
.812
.828
.834
Weighted-average expected lives
5.00 years
5.00 years
5.00 years
The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for use
in estimating the fair value of traded options that have no
vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. In addition,
option valuation models require the input of highly subjective
assumptions including the expected stock price volatility.
Because changes in these assumptions can materially affect the
fair value estimate, in management’s opinion, the existing
models do not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of
the fair value of options granted. The weighted average fair
values of options granted by the Company in fiscal years 2007,
2006 and 2005 using this model were $7.95, $5.98 and $3.21,
respectively.
In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board
issued Statement 123(R) (“FAS 123(R)”) effective
for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005.
FAS 123(R) requires mandatory reporting of all stock-based
compensation awards on a fair value basis of accounting.
Generally, companies are required to calculate the fair value of
all stock awards and amortize that fair value as compensation
expense over the requisite service period of the awards. The
Company applied the new rules on accounting for stock-based
compensation awards beginning in the first fiscal quarter of
fiscal 2006. During fiscal years 2007 and 2006, the Company
recognized approximately $745,000 and $668,000 of stock-based
compensation expense, respectively, related to stock options,
which is included in salaries, wages and benefit expense in the
Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. At
June 30, 2007, compensation expense not yet recognized
related to these stock option awards totaled approximately
$866,000 and will be recognized over a weighted average period
of 1.4 years.
The Company previously adopted the disclosure-only provisions of
Statement 123, as amended by FASB Statement No. 148,
“Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation
— Transition and Disclosure (“FAS 148”)
and accounted for its stock-based employee compensation plan
under the intrinsic value method in accordance with APB 25.
Compensation expense related to restricted share awards was not
presented in the table below because the expense amount was the
same under APB 25 and FAS 123 and, therefore, was already
reflected in net income. Had
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
13.
Stock
Compensation Awards and 401(k) Plans—(Continued)
the Company elected to adopt the fair value recognition
provisions of FAS 123 in the 2005 fiscal year, pro forma
net income and net income per share would have been as follows
(in thousands):
Add: Total stock-based employee
compensation expense determined under the intrinsic value method
for all awards, net of related tax effects
—
Deduct: Total stock-based employee
compensation expense determined under the fair value based
method for all awards, net of related tax effects
(164
)
Pro forma net income to common
stockholders
$
12,214
Net earnings per weighted average
common share outstanding:
Basic—as reported
$
0.82
Basic—pro forma
$
0.81
Diluted—as reported
$
0.81
Diluted—pro forma
$
0.80
Employee
Stock Purchase Plan
The Company has a 401(k) Plan covering eligible employees and
provides that employer contributions may be made in common stock
of the Company or cash. Discretionary contributions by the
Company for the plans (net of forfeitures and reimbursements
received pursuant to property and corporate facilities
management services agreements) amounted to approximately
$522,000, $466,000 and $583,000 for the plan years ended
December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.
Stock
Repurchase Plan
In February 2006, the Company’s Board of Directors
authorized a common stock buyback program pursuant to which the
Company could repurchase up to 15 percent of its
outstanding shares of common stock as market conditions
warranted over the next 12 months. The shares could be
repurchased from time to time at prevailing market prices
through open market transactions or privately negotiated
transactions, and were subject to restrictions related to
volume, price, timing, market conditions and applicable
Securities and Exchange Commission rules and regulations as well
as a restriction of total repurchases pursuant to the terms of
the Company’s credit agreement. There were no shares
repurchased under this program.
14.
Related
Party Transactions
The Company provides both transaction and management services to
parties, which are related to principal stockholders
and/or
directors of the Company, primarily Kojaian affiliated entities
(collectively, “Kojaian Companies”) and, prior to
March 31, 2006, Archon Group, L.P. (“Archon”). In
addition, the Company also paid asset management fees to the
Kojaian Companies and Archon related to properties the Company
manages on their behalf. Revenue, including reimbursable
expenses related to salaries, wages and benefits, earned by the
Company for
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
14.
Related
Party Transactions—(Continued)
services rendered to these and other affiliates, including joint
ventures, officers and directors and their affiliates, was as
follows for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2007, 2006 and
2005 (in thousands):
2007
2006
2005
Transaction fees
Kojaian Companies
$
373
$
550
$
485
Archon
—
1,433
1,185
373
1,983
1,670
Management fees
Kojaian Companies
9,208
8,818
9,232
Archon
—
923
1,842
9,208
9,741
11,074
Less: asset management fees
Kojaian Companies
2,958
2,874
2,957
Archon
—
9
87
2,958
6,858
8,030
Total revenue
$
6,623
$
8,841
$
9,700
The Company entered into an employment agreement with Mark E.
Rose as Chief Executive Officer effective March 8, 2005.
Terms of the agreement included, among other things, i) a
sign-on bonus of approximately $2.1 million, which is
subject to repayment by Mr. Rose, in whole or in part,
under certain circumstances as set forth in the employment
agreement, ii) a guaranteed bonus of $750,000 for calendar
year 2005, iii) options to purchase up to
500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock which
generally vest over the three year term of the agreement, and
iv) annual grants of $750,000 worth of restricted common
stock during the term of the agreement, each grant having a
three year vesting period from the date of grant. The Company
paid the sign-on bonus to Mr. Rose as of March 31,2005, which is being amortized to salaries, wages and benefits
expense over the term of the agreement. The guaranteed bonus for
2005 was fully paid before March 1, 2006.
The Compensation Committee of the Company adopted a Long-Term
Executive Cash Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) in June
2005. The Plan provides for the payment of bonuses to certain
executive employees if specified financial goals for the Company
are achieved for the rolling three year periods ending
December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008. In March 2007, the
Company paid approximately $219,000 to the executive employees
for financial goals achieved during the three year period ended
December 31, 2006.
15.
Commitments
and Contingencies
Non-cancelable
Operating Leases
The Company has non-cancelable operating lease obligations for
office space and certain equipment ranging from one to ten
years, and sublease agreements under which the Company acts as
sublessor.
The office space leases often times provide for annual rent
increases, and typically require payment of property taxes,
insurance and maintenance costs.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
15.
Commitments
and Contingencies—(Continued)
Future minimum payments under non-cancelable operating leases
with an initial term of one year or more, excluding any future
potential operating or real estate tax expense increases, were
as follows at June 30, 2007 (in thousands):
Year Ending June 30,
Lease Obligations
2008
$
16,205
2009
15,153
2010
11,464
2011
8,958
2012
7,554
Thereafter
18,895
$
78,229
Lease and rental expense for the fiscal years ended
June 30, 2007, 2006 and 2005 totaled $20,153,000,
$18,794,000, and $17,805,000, respectively and are included in
selling, general and administrative expenses in the
Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Environmental
As first reported in the Company’s
Form 10-Q
for the period ended December 31, 2000, a corporate
subsidiary of the Company owns a 33% interest in a general
partnership, which in turn owns property in the State of Texas
which is the subject of an environmental assessment and
remediation effort, due to the discovery of certain chemicals
related to a release by a former bankrupted tenant of dry
cleaning solvent in the soil and groundwater of the
partnership’s property and adjacent properties. The Company
has no financial recourse available against the former tenant
due to its insolvency. Prior assessments had determined that
minimal costs would be incurred to remediate the release.
However, subsequent findings at and around the
partnership’s property increased the probability that
additional remediation costs would be necessary. The partnership
worked with the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission
(the “TNRCC”) and the local municipality to implement
a multi-faceted plan, which included both remediation and
ongoing monitoring of the affected properties. During February
2007, the partnership received a final certificate of completion
from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality notifying the
partnership that the remediation was complete. As of
June 30, 2007, the Company’s share of cumulative costs
to remediate and monitor this situation was estimated at
approximately $1,157,000 based upon the significant completion
of a comprehensive project plan prepared by an independent third
party environmental remediation firm. Approximately $1,126,000
of this amount has been paid as of June 30, 2007 and the
remaining $31,000 has been reflected as a loss reserve in the
consolidated balance sheet for remaining future project closure
costs. The Company’s management believes that the outcome
of these events will not have a material adverse effect on the
Company’s consolidated financial position or results of
operations.
General
The Company is involved in various claims and lawsuits arising
out of the conduct of its business, as well as in connection
with its participation in various joint ventures and
partnerships, many of which may not be covered by the
Company’s insurance policies. In the opinion of management,
the eventual outcome of such claims and lawsuits is not expected
to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s
financial position or results of operations.
16.
Concentration
of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to
credit risk consist principally of trade receivables and
interest-bearing investments. Owners and occupiers of real
estate services account for a substantial
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
16.
Concentration
of Credit Risk—(Continued)
portion of trade receivables and collateral is generally not
required. The risk associated with this concentration is limited
due to the large number of owners and occupiers and their
geographic dispersion.
The Company places substantially all of its interest-bearing
investments with major financial institutions and limits the
amount of credit exposure with any one financial institution.
The Company believes it has limited exposure to the extent of
non-performance by the counterparties of its interest rate cap
agreement as the counter party is a major financial institution
and, accordingly, the Company does not anticipate any
non-performance.
17.
Segment
Information
The Company has two reportable segments—Transaction
Services and Management Services.
The Transaction Services segment advises buyers, sellers,
landlords and tenants on the sale, leasing and valuation of
commercial property and includes the Company’s national
accounts groups and national affiliate program operations.
The Management Services segment provides property management and
related services for owners of investment properties and
facilities management services for corporate owners and
occupiers.
The fundamental distinction between the Transaction Services and
Management Services segments lies in the nature of the revenue
streams and related cost structures. Transaction Services
generates revenue primarily on a commission or project fee
basis. Therefore, the personnel responsible for providing these
services are compensated primarily on a commission basis. The
Management Services revenue is generated primarily by long term
(one year or more) contractual fee arrangements. Therefore, the
personnel responsible for delivering these services are
compensated primarily on a salaried basis.
The Company evaluates segment performance and allocates
resources based on earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation
and amortization (“EBITDA”) that include an allocation
(primarily based on segment revenue) of certain corporate level
administrative expenses (amounts in thousands). In evaluating
segment performance, the Company’s management utilizes
EBITDA as a measure of the segment’s ability to generate
cash flow from its operations. Other items contained within the
measurement of net income, such as interest and taxes, and
special charges, are generated and managed at the corporate
administration level rather than the segment level. In addition,
net income measures also include non-cash amounts such as
depreciation and amortization expense.
Management believes that EBITDA as presented with respect to the
Company’s reportable segments is an important measure of
cash generated by the Company’s operating activities.
EBITDA is similar to net cash flow from operations because it
excludes certain non-cash items; however, it also excludes
interest and income taxes. Management believes that EBITDA is
relevant because it assists investors in evaluating the
Company’s ability to service its debt by providing a
commonly used measure of cash available to pay interest. EBITDA
should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss)
or cash flows from operating activities (which are determined in
accordance with GAAP), as an indicator of operating performance
or a measure of liquidity. EBITDA also facilitates comparison of
the Company’s results of operations with those companies
having different capital structures. Other companies may define
EBITDA differently, and, as a result, such measures may not be
comparable to the Company’s EBITDA.
On May 22, 2007, the Company entered into a definitive
Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”),
by and among the Company, NNN Realty Advisors, Inc. (“NNN
Realty Advisors”) and B/C Corporate Holding, Inc.
(“Merger Sub”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the
Company. Pursuant to the Merger
Agreement, NNN Realty Advisors will become a wholly owned
subsidiary of the Company (the “Merger”). The Merger
will be effected through the issuance of 0.88 shares of the
Company’s common stock for each share of NNN Realty
Advisors common stock outstanding. Following the Merger, the
Company stockholders will own approximately 41% of the combined
company and NNN Realty Advisors stockholders will own
approximately 59% of the combined company.
The merged companies will retain the Grubb & Ellis
name and will continue to be listed on the NYSE under the ticker
symbol “GBE”. The combined company will be
headquartered in Santa Ana, CA and the Company’s Board of
Directors will be increased to nine members. The Board will
include six nominees from NNN Realty Advisors and three nominees
from the Company. Anthony W. Thompson, Founder and Chairman of
the Board of NNN Realty Advisors, will join the Company as
Chairman of the Board. Each of C. Michael Kojaian, currently
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, Rodger D.
Young and Robert J. McLaughlin will remain on the Board of
Directors of the Company. Mr. Young will be Chairman of the
combined company’s Governance and Nominating Committee and
Mr. McLaughlin will be Chairman of the combined
company’s Audit Committee. Scott D. Peters, President and
Chief Executive Officer of NNN Realty Advisors will become Chief
Executive Officer of the Company and will also join the
Company’s Board of Directors.
The transaction is expected to close in the third or fourth
quarter of 2007, subject to the approval by the stockholders of
both companies and other customary closing conditions of
transactions of this type. Certain entities affiliated with the
Chairman of the Board of the Company, which collectively own
approximately 39% of the outstanding shares of the Company
common stock, have agreed to vote their shares in favor of the
Merger. Similarly, certain members of management and the Board
of Directors of NNN Realty Advisors who collectively own
approximately 28% of the outstanding shares of NNN Realty
Advisors common stock have agreed to vote their shares in favor
of the Merger.
In connection with the proposed transaction, the Company and NNN
Realty Advisors filed a preliminary joint proxy
statement/prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on July 3, 2007 as part of a registration statement on
Form S-4
regarding the proposed merger.
Changes
in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and
Financial Disclosure
None.
Item 9A.
Controls
and Procedures
Evaluation
of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Grubb & Ellis Company has established controls and
procedures to ensure that material information relating to the
Company is made known to the officers who certify the
Company’s financial reports and to the members of senior
management and the Board of Directors.
Based on management’s evaluation as of June 30, 2007.
the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer have
concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and
procedures (as defined in
Rules 13a-15(c)
and
15d-15(e)
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) are effective to
ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company
is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time
periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.
Management’s
Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The Company’s management is responsible for establishing
and maintaining adequate internal control over financial
reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act
Rules 13a-15(f)
and
15d-15(f).
Under the supervision and with the participation of our
management, including our principal executive officer, we
conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal
control over financial reporting based on the framework in
Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over
financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.
Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can
only provide reasonable assurance with respect to financial
statement preparation and presentation.
Based on our evaluation under the Internal Control-Integrated
Framework, our management concluded that our internal control
over financial reporting was effective as of June 30, 2007.
Changes
in Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting
There were no changes to the Company’s controls over
financial reporting during the fourth quarter ended
June 30, 2007 that have materially affected, or are
reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s
internal controls over financial reporting.
Directors,
Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
Information
About the Directors
The names of the persons who are directors of the Company are
set forth below.
The term of office of each director extends until the special
meeting of Company stockholders in 2007 and until his successor
is elected and qualified.
Anthony G. Antone
37, has served as a director of
the Company since July 2002. Mr. Antone, an attorney, has been
associated with Kojaian Management Corporation, a real estate
investment firm headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan,
since October 1998, serving as Vice President—Development
since September 2001, and as Director—Development from
October 1998 to September 2001. Prior to that time he served in
the office of Spencer Abraham, United States Senator, as Deputy
Chief of Staff. He is also a director of Bank of Michigan.
C. Michael Kojaian
45, has served as Chairman of the
Board of Directors of the Company since June 2002 and as a
director of the Company since December 1996. He has been the
President of Kojaian Ventures, L.L.C. and also Executive Vice
President, a director and a shareholder of Kojaian Management
Corporation, both of which are investment firms headquartered in
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, since 2000 and 1985, respectively.
He has also been a director of Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. since
June 2003 and a director of Grubb & Ellis Realty Advisors,
Inc., an affiliate of the Company, since its inception in
September 2005.
Robert J. McLaughlin
74, has served as a director of
the Company since July 2004. Mr. McLaughlin previously served as
a director of the Company from September 1994 to March 2001. He
founded The Sutter Group in 1982, a management consulting
company that focuses on enhancing shareholder value, and
currently serves as its President. Previously, Mr. McLaughlin
served as President and Chief Executive Officer of
Tru-Circle
Corporation, an aerospace subcontractor, from November 2003 to
April 2004, and as Chairman of the Board of Directors of
Imperial Sugar Company from August 2001 to February 2003, and as
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from October 2001 to April
2002. He is also a director of Imperial Sugar Company.
F. Joseph Moravec
56, has served as a director of
the Company since July 2006. Mr. Moravec is currently a
self-employed consultant to real property owners, operating
companies and non-profit organizations in the formulation and
execution of asset transaction management and organizational
solutions. From 2001 to 2005, Mr. Moravec served as Commissioner
of the Public Buildings Service of the General Services
Administration, where he was responsible for asset management
and design, construction, leasing, operations and disposal of
the GSA’s real estate portfolio. From 1998 to 2001, he
served as Senior Advisor for Business Development at George
Washington University. Prior to 1998, Mr. Moravec served in
various executive positions in the commercial real estate
industry, including serving as the President of the
Company’s Eastern Division and a member of the
Company’s five-person Executive Committee from 1989 to
1991. He presently serves as a member of the Real Estate
Investment Advisory Committee of ASB Capital Management.
43, has served both as the
Company’s Chief Executive Officer and as a director of the
Company since March 2005. Mr. Rose has also served as the Chief
Executive Officer, Secretary and as a member of the board of
directors of Grubb & Ellis Realty Advisors, Inc., an
affiliate of the Company, since its inception in September 2005.
From 1993 to 2005, Mr. Rose served in various positions with
Jones Lang LaSalle, including serving as Chief Innovation
Officer from 2000 to 2002, as Chief Financial Officer of the
Americas from 2002 to 2003, and as Chief Operating Officer and
Chief Financial Officer of the Americas from 2003 through his
departure in 2005. Prior to joining Jones Lang LaSalle, Mr. Rose
was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Real
Estate Investment Trust of the British Coal Corporation Pension
Funds, where he oversaw the management and subsequent disposal
of a $1 billion portfolio of real estate assets. Mr. Rose serves
on the board of directors of the Chicago Shakespeare Theater,
Chicago Botanic Garden, and the Chicago Central Area Committee.
Rodger D. Young
61, has served as a director of
the Company since April 2003. Mr. Young has been a name partner
of the law firm of Young & Susser, P.C. since its
founding in 1991, a boutique firm specializing in commercial
litigation with offices in Southfield, Michigan and New York
City. In 2001, Mr. Young was named Chairman of the Bush
Administration’s Federal Judge and U.S. Attorney
Qualification Committee by Governor John Engler and
Michigan’s Republican Congressional Delegation.
Mr. Young is a member of the American College of Trial
Lawyers and was listed in the 2007 edition of Best Lawyers of
America. Mr. Young was named by Chambers International as
one of the top commercial litigators in the United States.
Communications
with the Directors
Stockholders, employees and others interested in communicating
with the Chairman of the Board may do so by writing to C.
Michael Kojaian,
c/o Corporate
Secretary, Grubb & Ellis Company, 500 West Monroe
Street, Suite 2800, Chicago, Illinois60661. Stockholders,
employees and others interested in communicating with any of the
other directors of the Company may do so by writing to [Name of
Director],
c/o Corporate
Secretary, Grubb & Ellis Company, 500 West Monroe
Street, Suite 2800, Chicago, Illinois60661.
Information
About Executive Officers
In addition to Mr. Rose, the following are the current
executive officers of the Company:
Maureen A. Ehrenberg
48, has served as Executive Vice
President of the Company since November 2000, and as Senior Vice
President of the Company from May 1998 to November 2000. She was
named President of Global Client Services in February 2004. She
has also served as President of Grubb & Ellis Management
Services, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, from
February 1998 and as the head of the Company’s
Institutional Services Group since April 2003. From May 2000 to
May 2001, she served as a member of the Office of the President
of the Company. She also serves as a director and/or officer of
certain subsidiaries of the Company. Ms. Ehrenberg also acted as
a Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Company from April 2003
until Mr. Rose joined the Company in March 2005.
53, has served as Senior Vice
President, Marketing & Communications since September 2004.
Ms. Lewis was designated an executive officer of the Company in
September 2006. From 2001 to 2004, Ms. Lewis was principal of
Lewis Consulting where she counseled a wide range of companies
on marketing and communications issues. From 1997 to 2001, she
was Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications for Equity
Office Properties Trust, a public real estate investment trust,
where she was responsible for strategy development and execution
of all external and internal communications, branding and
marketing initiatives. Before joining Equity Office, Lewis spent
15 years with Sam Zell’s Equity Group Investments, Inc.
Robert H. Osbrink
60, has served as Executive Vice
President of the Company since December 2001 and was named
President of Transaction Services in February 2004. During the
five years prior to December 2001, Mr. Osbrink served in a
progression of regional managerial positions in the Los Angeles
and Southwestern United States areas for the Company. Mr.
Osbrink also acted as a Co-Chief Executive Officer of the
Company from April 2003 until Mr. Rose joined the Company
in March 2005.
Richard W. Pehlke
53, has served as the Executive
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Grubb & Ellis
since February 15, 2007. Prior to joining Grubb & Ellis,
Mr. Pehlke served as Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of
Hudson Highland Group, a publicly held global professional
staffing and recruiting business, from 2003 to 2005. From 2001
to 2003, Mr. Pehlke operated his own consulting business
specializing in financial strategy and leadership development.
In 2000, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of ONE, Inc. a privately held software implementation
business. Prior to 2000, Mr. Pehlke held senior financial
positions in the telecommunications, financial services and food
and consumer products industries. He received his B.S. in
Business Administration—Accounting from Valparaiso
University and an MBA in Finance from DePaul University.
Robert Z. Slaughter
53, has served as Executive Vice
President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of the
Company since April 2006. From 2001 to 2006, Mr. Slaughter was a
partner in the law firm of Jenner & Block, LLP, based in
Chicago, Illinois, where his primary practice focused on
corporate, securities, governance and commercial matters. Prior
to joining Jenner & Block, Mr. Slaughter served as Vice
President and General Counsel of Moore Corporation Limited
(which was subsequently combined with R.R. Donnelley and Sons
Company) from 1998 to 2001 and Associate General Counsel from
1997 to 1998. Prior to joining Moore, he served as a business
unit Vice President and General Counsel at Ameritech Corporation
from 1994 to 1997.
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors,
executive officers, the chief accounting officer and
stockholders holding ten percent (10%) or more of our voting
securities (“Insiders”) to file with the SEC reports
showing their ownership and changes in ownership of Company
securities, and to send copies of these filings to us. To our
knowledge, based upon review of copies of such reports furnished
to us and upon written representations that we have received to
the effect that no other reports were required during the year
ended June 30, 2007, the Insiders complied with all
Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to them,
except that Maureen Ehrenberg filed a late Form 4 with
respect to three transactions related to the exercise of stock
options and the sale of the underlying shares.
Code of
Ethics
The Company has adopted, and revised effective July 6,2006, a code of business conduct and ethics (“Code of
Ethics”) that applies to all of the Company’s
directors, officers, employees and independent contractors,
including the Company’s principal executive officer,
principal financial officer and controller and complies with the
requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the NYSE
listing requirements. The Company’s Code of Ethics is
designed to deter wrongdoing, and to promote, among other
things, honest and ethical conduct, full, timely, accurate and
clear public disclosures, compliance with all applicable laws,
rules and regulations, the prompt internal reporting of
violations of the code, and accountability. In addition, the
Company maintains an Ethics Hotline with an outside service
provider in order to assure compliance with the so-called
“whistle blower” provisions of the Sarbanes Oxley Act
of 2002. This toll-free hotline and confidential web-site
provide officers, employees and independent contractors with a
means by which issues can be communicated to management on a
confidential basis. A copy of the Company’s Code of Ethics
is available on the company’s website at
www.grubb-ellis.com and upon request and without charge by
contacting Investor Relations, Grubb & Ellis Company,
500 W. Monroe Street, Suite 2800, Chicago, IL60661.
Corporate
Governance Guidelines
Effective July 6, 2006, the Board adopted corporate
governance guidelines to assist the Board in the performance of
its duties and the exercise of its responsibilities. The
Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines are available on
the Company’s website at www.grubb-ellis.com and printed
copies may be obtained upon request by contacting Investor
Relations, Grubb & Ellis Company, 500 West Monroe
Street, Suite 2800, Chicago, Illinois60661.
Audit
Committee
The Audit Committee of the Board is a separately-designated
standing audit committee established in accordance with
Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and the rules
thereunder. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter
adopted by the Board of Directors. The charter of the Audit
Committee was last revised effective September 20, 2006 and
is available on the Company’s website at
www.grubb-ellis.com and printed copies of which may be obtained
upon request by contacting Investor Relations, Grubb &
Ellis Company, 500 West Monroe Street, Suite 2800,
Chicago, Illinois60661. The current members of the Audit
Committee are Robert McLaughlin, Chair, and F. Joseph Moravec.
The Board has determined that the members of the Audit Committee
are independent under the NYSE listing requirements and the
Exchange Act and the rules thereunder, and that
Mr. McLaughlin is an audit committee financial expert in
accordance with rules established by the SEC. R. David Anacker
served as a member and Chair of the Audit Committee until his
death on May 23, 2007. As a result of
Mr. Anacker’s death, the Company does not comply with
requirements of Section 303A.07(a) of the NYSE Listed
Company Manual (which requires each NYSE listed company to have
at least three members on its audit committee). Since the
non-compliance resulted from the death of a director, the NYSE
has advised the Company that the Company has until
November 23, 2007 to resolve the non-compliance before the
NYSE will publicly disseminate a below compliance indicator.
The functions of the Company’s Corporate Governance and
Nominating Committee are to assist the Board with respect to:
(i) director qualification, identification, nomination,
independence and evaluation; (ii) committee structure,
composition, leadership and evaluation; (iii) succession
planning for the CEO and other senior executives; and
(iv) corporate governance matters. The Corporate Governance
and Nominating Committee operates under a written charter
adopted by the Board, which is available on the Company’s
website at www.grubb-ellis.com and printed copies of which may
be obtained upon request by contacting Investor Relations,
Grubb & Ellis Company, 500 West Monroe Street,
Suite 2800, Chicago, Illinois60661. The current member of
the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is Rodger D.
Young. The Board has determined that Mr. Young is
independent under the NYSE listing requirements and the Exchange
Act and the rules thereunder.
Certifications
As of December 20, 2006, the Company’s Chief Executive
Officer certified, to the New York Stock Exchange
(“NYSE”) that he was not aware of any violation by the
Company of the corporate governance listing standards of the
NYSE. The Company has filed with the SEC, as an exhibit to this
Annual Report, the certifications required by Section 302
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Item 11.
Executive
Compensation.
Compensation
Discussion and Analysis
This compensation discussion and analysis describes the
governance and oversight of the Company’s executive
compensation programs and the material elements of compensation
paid or awarded to our principal executive officer, those who
served as our principal financial officer, and the three other
most highly compensated executive officers of the Company during
the Company’s 2007 fiscal year (collectively, the
“named executive officers” or “NEOs” and
individually, a “named executive officer” or
“NEO”). The specific amounts and material terms of
such compensation paid, payable or awarded are disclosed in the
tables and narrative included in this section of this annual
report on
Form 10-K.
Compensation
Committee Overview
The Board of Directors has delegated to the Compensation
Committee oversight responsibilities for the Company’s
executive compensation programs.
The Compensation Committee determines the policy and strategies
of the Company with respect to executive compensation taking
into account certain factors that the Compensation Committee
deems appropriate such as (a) compensation elements that
will enable the Company to attract and retain executive officers
who are in a position to achieve the strategic goals of the
Company which are in turn designed to enhance stockholder value,
and (b) the Company’s ability to compensate its
executives in relation to its profitability and liquidity.
The Compensation Committee approves, subject to further, final
approval by the full Board of Directors, (a) all
compensation arrangements and terms of employment, and any
material changes to the compensation arrangements or terms of
employment, for the NEOs and certain other key employees
(including employment agreements and severance arrangements),
and (b) the establishment of, and changes to, equity-based
awards programs. In addition, each calendar year, the Committee
approves the annual incentive goals and objectives of each NEO
and certain other key employees, evaluates the performance of
each NEO and certain other key employees against the approved
performance goals and objectives applicable to him or her,
determines whether and to what extent any incentive awards have
been earned by each NEO, and makes recommendations to the
Company’s Board of Directors regarding the approval of
incentive awards.
The Compensation Committee also provides general oversight of
the Company’s employee benefit and retirement plans.
The Compensation Committee operates under a written charter
adopted by the Board and revised effective July 6, 2006,
which is available on the Company’s website at
www.grubb-ellis.com and printed copies of which may
be obtained upon request by contacting Investor Relations,
Grubb & Ellis Company, 500 West Monroe Street,
Suite 2800, Chicago, Illinois60661.
Use of
Consultants
Under its Charter, the Compensation Committee has the power to
select, retain, compensate and terminate any compensation
consultant it determines is useful in the fulfillment of the
Committee’s responsibilities. The Committee also has the
authority to seek advice from internal or external legal,
accounting or other advisors.
During the Company’s 2007 fiscal year, the Committee did
not engage the services of an outside compensation consulting
firm.
The Committee did, however, engage Ferguson Partners to manage
the search for our chief financial officer (“CFO”)
which resulted in the hiring of Richard W. Pehlke. In
conjunction with the search, Ferguson advised the Committee with
respect to Mr. Pehlke’s compensation arrangements and
terms of employment. Likewise the Compensation Committee used
the services of Ferguson Partners in connection with the search
for our chief executive officer (“CEO”), Mark E. Rose,
in fiscal 2004 and, for our general counsel (“GC”),
Robert Z. Slaughter, in fiscal 2006, and assisted in the
determination of the compensation arrangements and terms of
employment for these NEOs. In each instance, Ferguson provided
to the Committee and the Committee considered information
regarding comparative market compensation arrangements.
In calendar 2004, the Compensation Committee considered and
acted upon certain advice and recommendations provided to the
Company by Mellon Human Resources & Investor
Solutions. See “Role of Executives in Establishing
Compensation” below.
Role of
Executives in Establishing Compensation
In advance of each Committee meeting, the CEO and the Senior
Vice President, Human Resources (“SVP HR”) work with
the Committee Chairman to set the meeting agenda. The
Compensation Committee periodically consults with the CEO of the
Company with respect to the hiring and the compensation of the
other NEOs and certain other key employees. Members of
management, typically the CEO, SVP HR, CFO and GC, regularly
participate in non-executive portions of Compensation Committee
meetings.
In fiscal 2007, management developed the 2006 Omnibus Equity
Plan and recommended the plan to the Compensation Committee for
consideration. The plan consolidates the Company’s then
existing equity plans and provides the Company greater
flexibility with respect to the types of equity awards that can
be granted by the Company to assist the Company in attracting,
motivating and retaining key employees, independent contractors,
consultants and Board members. This plan was approved by the
Company’s stockholders at the 2006 annual meeting.
In November 2005, upon the recommendation of management, the
Compensation Committee (a) approved the grant of options
with respect to an aggregate of 45,000 shares of the
Company’s common stock to five employees who are not NEOs;
and (b) delegated to the CEO the ability to grant options
with respect to up to 55,000 shares of the Company’s
common stock options to recruit new senior leaders or to retain
key staff making at least $200,000 annually, provided that any
grant to any individual may not exceed 7,500 options. This pool
of options remains available to be granted to key staff by the
CEO.
In calendar 2004, the Company utilized the services of Mellon
Human Resources & Investor Solutions to conduct a
competitive compensation analysis for our senior executive
positions. Mellon provided information specific to the
compensation structure for Mr. Osbrink’s position
(Executive Vice President and President, Transaction Services)
and for Ms. Ehrenberg’s position (Executive Vice
President and President, Global Client Services). Mellon also
provided the analysis and design structure for our Long Term
Incentive Plan (“LTIP”) which is part of our incentive
program for our NEOs. The LTIP is described in more detail below
in the section entitled Compensation During Term of
Employment—“Long-Term Incentives”.
The Compensation Committee met eight times during the 2007
fiscal year and in fulfillment of its obligations, among other
things, took the following actions:
•
Recommended that the Board approve an amendment to
Mr. Osbrink’s Employment Agreement (which is described
below in the section entitled “Employment Contracts and
Compensation Arrangements—Robert H. Osbrink”);
•
Recommended that the Board approve the 2006 Omnibus Equity Plan
subject to stockholder approval;
•
Approved subject, in the case of the NEOs, to further approval
by the full Board payments to our NEOs and other key employees
under the 2006 Bonus Plan;
•
Approved subject to further, final approval by the full Board
payments to Mr. Rose, Mr. Osbrink and
Ms. Ehrenberg under the LTIP for performance period
2004-2006;
•
Approved subject to further, final approval by the full Board
the design of the 2007 Bonus Plan and performance objectives for
the NEOs and other key employees;
•
Approved subject to further, final approval by the full Board
the target for performance period
2007-2009
under the LTIP;
•
Provided oversight for the search for our new CFO and the
negotiation of an Employment Agreement with Mr. Pehlke and
recommended that the Board approve his employment agreement;
•
Approved subject to further, final approval by the full Board
the annual Company match for the 401(k) Plan for calendar year
ending 2006 and a change in the funding of our Company match for
the 401(k) Plan to a per payroll basis effective January 1,2007;
•
Approved and recommended to the Board an increase to the base
salary for Mr. Slaughter; and
•
Approved and recommended to the Board amendments to the
Restricted Share Agreements with our outside directors,
Mr. Rose, Ms. Ehrenberg, Mr. Osbrink and another
key employee to permit holders of restricted shares to request
that the Company, upon vesting, withhold shares sufficient to
cover applicable tax withholdings.
Compensation
Philosophy, Goals and Objectives
As a commercial real estate services company, Grubb &
Ellis is a people oriented business. We strive to create an
environment that supports our people in order to achieve our
growth strategy and other goals established by the Board so as
to increase stockholder value over the long term.
The goals of the Company’s compensation programs are to:
•
Compensate our management, key employees, independent
contractors and consultants on a competitive basis to attract,
motivate and retain high quality, high performance individuals
who will achieve the Company’s short-term and long term
goals; and
•
Align economic incentives with the achievement of the
Company’s strategic goals and financial targets, including
achievement of short-term and long-term EBIT targets.
The Compensation Committee established these goals in order to
enhance shareholder value.
We believe that it is important for variable compensation, i.e.
where an NEO has a significant portion of his or her total
“cash compensation” as risk, to constitute a
significant portion of total compensation and that such variable
compensation be designed so as to reward effective team work
(through the achievement of Company-wide financial goals) as
well as the achievement of individual goals (through the
achievement of business unit/functional goals and individual
performance goals and objectives). We believe that this dual
approach best aligns the individual NEO’s interest with the
interests of the stockholders.
Our compensation program for our NEOs is comprised of five key
elements—base salary, annual bonus incentive compensation,
long-term cash incentives, stock-based compensation and
incentives and a retirement plan—that are intended to
balance the goals of achieving both short-term and long-term
results which the Company believes will effectively align
management with our stockholders.
Base
Salary
Amounts paid to NEOs as base salaries are included in the column
captioned “Salary” in the Summary Compensation Table
below. Base salary for our NEOs was initially established at the
time of the negotiation of their respective Employment
Agreements. The base salary of each executive officer is
determined based upon his or her position, responsibility,
qualifications and experience, and reflects consideration of
both external comparison to available market data and internal
comparison to other executive officers.
Base salary amounts were initially determined through the
recruitment process, and in the cases of our CEO, Mr. Rose,
and our CFO, Mr. Pehlke (hired in February 2007), have not
been adjusted since the inception of their respective
Agreements. Ms. Ehrenberg’s base salary was determined
in connection with the negotiation, in 2005, of her current
employment agreement and has not been adjusted since that time.
Effective January 1, 2007, Mr. Osbrink’s base
salary was increased from $400,000 to $450,000 as part of the
negotiation of an amendment to his employment agreement. The
rationale for the amendment to Mr. Osbrink’s
employment agreement is discussed below in the section entitled
“Employment Contracts and Compensation
Arrangements—Robert H. Osbrink.” Effective
April 30, 2007, Mr. Slaughter received a market-based,
merit increase of 5% (from $250,000 to $262,500) in his base
salary.
The base salary component is designed to constitute between 20%
and 50% of total annual compensation at target for the NEOs
based upon each individual’s position in the organization
and the Committee’s determination of each position’s
ability to directly impact the Company’s financial results.
Annual
Bonus Incentive Compensation
Amounts paid to NEOs under the annual bonus plan are included in
the column captioned “Bonus” in the Summary
Compensation Table below. In addition to earning base salaries,
each of our NEOs is eligible to receive an annual cash bonus,
the target amount of which is set by the individual employment
agreement with each NEO. The annual bonus incentive of each NEO
is determined based upon his or her position, responsibility,
qualifications and experience, and reflects consideration of
both external comparison to available market data and internal
comparison to other executive officers.
Except in the case of Mr. Osbrink, whose annual bonus
target was increased from 100% to 150% of base salary as part of
the amendment to his employment agreement which became effective
January 1, 2007 (see the section entitled “Employment
Contracts and Compensation Arrangements—Robert H.
Osbrink”), and Donald D. Olinger (who served as the
Company’s interim CFO from January 1, 2007 to
February 14, 2007) whose annual bonus target was
increased from $50,000 to $70,000 effective January 1, 2007
in connection with his promotion to Senior Vice President, Chief
Accounting Officer, no NEO had a change in his or her annual
bonus target incentive compensation during the 2007 fiscal year.
We believe that cash incentive bonuses can serve to motivate
executive officers to meet or exceed annual performance goals,
using more immediate measures for performance than those
reflected in the appreciation in value of stock-based
compensation and the LTIP (which is designed to serve both as a
reward for achieving ever increasing financial performance goals
over a three year period and as a retention incentive).
The bonus plan has a formulaic component based on achievement of
specified Company earnings before interest and taxes
(“EBIT”) and business unit/function EBIT goals and
also a component based on the achievement of personal goals and
objectives designed to enhance the overall performance of the
Company.
The annual cash bonus plan target for NEOs is between 50% and
200% of base salary and is designed to constitute from 20% to
50% of an NEO’s total annual target compensation. The bonus
plan component is based on
each individual’s role and responsibilities in the company
and the Committee’s determination of each NEO’s
ability to directly impact the Company’s financial results.
The Compensation Committee reviews each NEO’s bonus plan
annually. Annual Company and business unit/function EBIT targets
are determined in connection with the annual calendar-year based
budget process. A minimum threshold of 70% of Company EBIT must
be achieved before any payment is awarded with respect to this
component of bonus compensation. Similarly, a minimum threshold
of 70% of business unit/function EBIT must be achieved before
any payment is awarded with respect to this component of bonus
compensation. At the end of each calendar year, the CEO reviews
the performance of each of the other NEOs and certain other key
employees against the financial objectives and against their
personal goals and objectives and makes recommendations to the
Compensation Committee for payments on the annual cash bonus
plan. The Compensation Committee reviews the recommendations and
forwards these to the Board for final approval of payments under
the plan.
For calendar year 2006, the Company’s achievement of
budgeted EBIT for the Company was below 70% and therefore no NEO
received bonus payments on this portion of the annual incentive
plan. Amounts were paid to NEOs for achievement of business
unit/function EBIT (where the threshold was met) and for
achievement of personal objectives. The Compensation Committee
and full Board approved all bonus payments made to the NEOs.
During the 2007 fiscal year, the Compensation Committee revised
the calendar 2007 bonus plans for certain of the NEOs to
increase the percentage of bonus tied to the Company’s EBIT
performance in order to more closely link the annual bonus to
the Company’s overall financial performance. The chart
directly below captioned “Annual Bonus Incentive
Compensation” provides the details of the calendar 2006 and
calendar 2007 plans.
In addition to the annual bonus program, from time to time the
Board may establish one-time cash bonuses related to the
satisfactory performance of identified special projects. During
fiscal 2007, the Board approved payments to Mr. Slaughter
of $35,000 and to Shelby Sherard, the Company’s former CFO,
of $25,000 for completion of special projects.
In addition, in fiscal 2007, in connection with the amendment to
Mr. Osbrink’s employment agreement, the Board
authorized payment to him of a renewal bonus of $500,000 (see
section entitled “Employment Contracts and Compensation
Arrangements—Robert H. Osbrink”).
Executive Vice President, and
President Global Client Services
Robert H. Osbrink,
150
%
30
%
60
%
10
%
100
%
30
%
60
%
10
%
Executive Vice President, and
President, Transaction Services
Robert Z. Slaughter,
50
%
45
%
45
%
10
%
50
%
25
%
15
%
60
%
Executive Vice President, and
General Counsel
(1)
Mr. Pehlke has a minimum
guaranteed bonus of $125,000 for calendar 2007, prorated based
on his hire date (equal to $110,577).
Long-Term
Incentives
Amounts paid to NEOs under the LTIP are included in the column
captioned “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” in
the Summary Compensation Table directly below.
The compensation program for the NEOs (other than
Mr. Pehlke who participates in a stock based plan described
below and Mr. Olinger who does not participate in the LTIP)
includes a cash long-term incentive plan component that is
designed to be a retention tool which aligns management with our
stockholders’ long-term investment goals. The LTIP, which
was started in 2004, is based on attainment of specified EBIT
targets over successive cumulative three calendar year
performance periods and is paid in cash at the end of each
performance period. The CEO makes recommendations to the
Compensation Committee regarding the targets for each
performance period under the LTIP. The Compensation Committee,
in turn, determines the targets and recommends them to the full
Board for approval.
The LTIP payout at target is equal to 65% of base compensation
for each participating NEO. A threshold of 56% of the
performance period EBIT target must be achieved for any payment
to be made under the LTIP. For the
2004-2006
calendar years performance period, the achievement was 62% of
the EBIT target which resulted in payment of 31.7% of the target
LTIP bonus. The LTIP is intended to constitute between 10% and
33% of the total annual target compensation for each
participating NEO. Due to the implementation of our five-year
strategic plan, which includes the repositioning of the Company
and a related reinvestment program to drive our growth strategy,
which in turn results in the Company incurring costs prior to
realizing the corresponding revenues (the impact and timing of
which was not fully anticipated at the time the LTIP was
initially designed), we believe that the probability of future
payments under this plan is remote.
The compensation associated with stock awards granted to NEOs is
included in the Summary Compensation Table and other tables
below (including the charts that show outstanding equity
awards). Equity grants to our NEOs have been made at the time of
hire as part of the individual employment agreements and, except
as provided by such employment agreements and in the amendment
to Mr. Osbrink’s employment agreement, no new grants
were made to NEOs during fiscal year 2007. (See the section
entitled “Employment Contracts and Compensation
Arrangements — Robert H. Osbrink.”) The equity
grants are intended to align management with the long-term
interests of our stockholders and to have a retentive effect
upon our NEOs. The Compensation Committee and the Board of
Directors approve all equity grants to NEOs.
Pursuant to his employment agreement, and related restricted
share agreement, Mr. Rose received a grant of $750,000
worth of restricted shares on March 7, 2007
(71,158 shares at $10.54 per share, the closing price of
the Company’s common stock on the date immediately
preceding the date of grant), one-third of which vest on each of
the first, second and third anniversaries of the date of grant,
except in the event of a change in control (as defined in his
employment agreement) in which case all unvested restricted
shares immediately vest. As part of his employment agreement, on
February 15, 2007, Mr. Pehlke received a grant of
25,000 stock options having an exercise price of $11.21 per
share (the closing price for the Company’s common stock on
the day immediately preceding the date of the grant), one-third
of which vest on each of the first, second and third
anniversaries of the date of grant, except in the event of a
change in control (as defined his employment agreement) in which
case all unvested options immediately vest. Mr. Osbrink
received a grant of $350,000 worth of restricted shares on
November 15, 2006 (31,964 shares at $10.95 per share,
the closing price for the Company’s common stock on the day
immediately preceding the date of the grant) as part of the
amendment to his employment agreement, all of which vest on
December 29, 2009, except in the event of a change in
control (as defined in his employment agreement) in which case
all restricted shares immediately vest (see section entitled
“Employment Contracts and Compensation
Arrangements—Robert H. Osbrink”).
Pursuant to his employment agreement, Mr. Pehlke has an
annual equity performance based bonus plan (in addition to his
annual cash bonus plan and in lieu of participation in the LTIP)
under which he may be granted restricted shares valued at up to
65% of his base salary, which, if awarded, would vest on the
third anniversary of the date of grant. This plan is covered in
more detail in the section entitled “Employment Contracts
and Compensation Arrangements—Richard W. Pehlke”.
There were no other grants of stock options to any NEO or any
other employee during the 2007 fiscal year.
Retirement
Plans
The amounts paid to our NEOs under the retirement plan are
included in the column captioned “All Other
Compensation” in the Summary Compensation Table directly
below. We have established and maintain a retirement savings
plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986 (the “Code”) to cover our eligible employees
including our NEOs. The Code allows eligible employees to defer
a portion of their compensation, within prescribed limits, on a
tax deferred basis through contributions to the 401(k) Plan. Our
401(k) Plan is intended to constitute a qualified plan under
Section 401(k) of the Code and its associated trust is
intended to be exempt from federal income taxation under
Section 501(a) of the Code. We make Company matching
contributions to the 401(k) Plan for the benefit of our
employees including our NEOs. The Company does not have any
other retirement programs or deferred compensation programs.
Personal
Benefits and Perquisites
The amounts paid to our NEOs for personal benefits and
perquisites are included in the column captioned “All Other
Compensation” in the Summary Compensation Table below.
Perquisites to which Mr. Rose, Mr. Osbrink and
Ms. Ehrenberg are entitled include reimbursement for
Supplemental Life Insurance premiums up to $2,500 per year,
reimbursement of up to $3,000 per year for additional long term
disability insurance, reimbursement for an annual physical up to
$500 per year and payment of club dues/ memberships up to $3,000
per year. In addition, Mr. Rose is entitled to
reimbursement of additional club dues of $12,320 per year.
Mr. Slaughter, Mr. Pehlke and Mr. Olinger do not
participate in these perquisites.
Executive Vice President, and Chief
Financial Officer
Maureen A. Ehrenberg
2007
$
360,000
$
247,326
—
—
$
74,077
—
$
4,450
$
685,853
Executive Vice President, and
President, Global Client Services
Robert H. Osbrink
2007
$
425,008
$
528,000
(5)
$
350,000
—
$
82,308
—
$
4,450
$
1,389,766
Executive Vice President, and
President, Transaction Services
Robert Z. Slaughter
2007
$
252,604
$
92,281
—
—
—
—
$
646
$
345,531
Executive Vice President, and
General Counsel
Notes
(1)
Payments made under the Long Term
Incentive Plan (LTIP) for performance period calendar
2004-2006.
(2)
Includes company match for 401(k)
plan and amounts for perquisites only to the extent that such
amounts exceed $10,000.
(3)
Mr. Rose received compensation
related to fringe benefits/perks of $19,428 including 401(k)
match of $4,450, life insurance of $2,700, executive physical of
$1,278 and club dues of $11,000.
(4)
Ms. Sherard received a
lump-sum payment of $100,000 in connection with the cessation of
her employment.
(5)
Includes $500,000 renewal bonus
payment pursuant to the November 15, 2006 amendment to
Mr. Osbrink’s employment agreement.
Executive Vice President, and
President, Transaction Services
$
60,840
$
292,500
$
731,250
Robert Z. Slaughter
$
35,490
$
170,625
$
426,563
—
—
—
—
—
—
Executive Vice President, and
General Counsel
(1)
Pursuant to Mr. Rose’s
Employment Agreement entered into on March 8, 2005,
approved by the Board of Directors on February 11, 2005.
(2)
Pursuant to Mr.Pehlke’s
Employment Agreement entered into on February 9, 2007,
approved by the Board of Directors on February 9, 2007.
(3)
Potential Payments under Long Term
Incentive Plan (LTIP). As described in the section
“Compensation During Term of Employment—Long Term
Incentives,” the estimated future payouts are based on the
achievement of certain cumulative Earnings Before Interest and
Taxes (EBIT) targets for the three year performance period,
beginning January 1, 2007 and ending December 31,2009, which cannot be estimated with certainty at this time.
(4)
Pursuant to Mr.Pehlke’s
Employment Agreement entered into on February 9, 2007,
approved by the Board of Directors on February 9, 2007.
(5)
Pursuant to the November 15,2006 amendment to Mr. Osbrink’s Employment Agreement.
Mr. Rose’s restricted
shares will vest 98,296 shares on March 7, 2008,
45,105 shares on March 7, 2009 and 23,720 shares
on March 9, 2010, except in the event of a Change in
Control in which case, the shares vest immediately.
(2)
Ms. Ehrenberg’s
restricted shares will vest on December 30, 2007, except in
the event of a Change in Control, in which case, the shares vest
immediately.
(3)
Mr. Osbrink’s restricted
shares will vest 37,314 shares on December 31, 2007
and 31,964 shares on December 29, 2009, except in the
event of a Change in Control, in which case, the shares vest
immediately.
Executive Vice President, and
President, Transaction Services
Robert Z. Slaughter
—
—
—
—
Executive Vice President, and
General Counsel
Employment
Contracts and Compensation Arrangements
Mark E.
Rose
Effective as of March 8, 2005, the Company entered into a
three-year employment agreement with Mr. Rose pursuant to
which Mr. Rose serves as the Company’s Chief Executive
Officer and also serves on the Company’s Board of
Directors. Under the employment agreement, Mr. Rose is paid
a base salary of $500,000 per annum, and is eligible to receive
annual performance-based bonus compensation with a target level
of at least two times his base salary. At the time of the
commencement of his employment with the Company, the Company
paid Mr. Rose a sign-on bonus of $2,083,000. The amount of
the sign-on bonus less $750,000 is subject to repayment by
Mr. Rose, if his employment is terminated by the Company
for Cause (as defined in the employment agreement) or terminated
by Mr. Rose without Good Reason (as defined in the
employment agreement) during the period between the second and
third anniversary of his employment. In addition, Mr. Rose
is entitled to participate in our LTIP at a target of 65% of his
salary.
In addition, upon the entering into of the employment agreement,
the Company granted to Mr. Rose non-qualified stock
options, exercisable at the then current market price ($4.70 per
share), to purchase up to 500,000 shares of the
Company’s common stock. Mr. Rose received on the
effective date and on each of the first and second anniversaries
thereof, annual grants of $750,000 worth of restricted shares of
the Company’s common stock. The first grant of 159,575
restricted shares of the Company’s common stock was granted
on March 8, 2005 at a per share price of $4.70 (equal to
the market price of the Company’s common stock on the date
immediately preceding the grant date). The second grant of
64,158 restricted shares of the Company’s common stock was
granted on March 8, 2006 at a per share price of $11.69
(equal to the market price of the Company’s common stock on
the date immediately preceding the grant date). The third grant
of 71,158, was granted on March 8, 2007, at a per share
price of $10.54 (equal to the market price of the Company’s
common stock on the date immediately preceding the grant date).
Both the stock options and all restricted shares of common stock
vest ratably
over three years, subject to acceleration in the event of a
Change in Control. Upon termination of employment other than a
Change of Control, all unvested restricted shares will be
cancelled.
Mr. Rose is also entitled to participate in the
Company’s health and other benefit plans generally afforded
to executive employees and is reimbursed for reasonable travel,
entertainment and other reasonable expenses incurred in
connection with his duties. The Employment Agreement contains
confidentiality, non-competition, no-raid, non-solicitation,
non-disparagement and indemnification provisions.
The employment agreement is terminable by the Company upon
Mr. Rose’s incapacity or for Cause, without any
additional compensation other than what is accrued to
Mr. Rose as of the date of any such termination.
In the event that Mr. Rose is terminated subsequent to June
30 of any calendar year due to his death, in addition to
compensation accrued to Mr. Rose as of the date of his
death, his estate is entitled to receive a prorated portion of
his bonus compensation based upon the number of days he is
employed during the calendar year.
In the event that Mr. Rose is terminated without Cause, or
if Mr. Rose terminates the Employment Agreement for Good
Reason, Mr. Rose is entitled to receive his annual base
salary, payable in accordance with the Company’s customary
payroll practices for 24 months, plus an amount equal to
the cost of COBRA payments, increased to compensate for any
amount withheld by the Company due to federal and state
withholdings, until the earlier of twelve months from the
termination date or Mr. Rose obtaining health coverage from
another source. In addition, upon termination without Cause or
if Mr. Rose terminates the employment agreement for Good
Reason, 50% of the unvested options will automatically vest and
the remainder will be cancelled. The Company’s payment of
any amounts to Mr. Rose upon his termination without Cause
or for Good Reason is contingent upon Mr. Rose executing a
Release in a form that has been pre-negotiated by Mr. Rose
and the Company.
In addition, in the event that Mr. Rose is terminated upon
a Change in Control (as defined in the employment agreement) or
within 18 months thereafter or six months prior to a Change
of Control, in contemplation thereof, Mr. Rose is entitled
to receive payment of two times his base salary and two times
his applicable bonus, paid ratably over 12 months in
accordance with the Company’s customary payroll practices.
In addition, upon a Change in Control, Mr. Rose’s
stock options will become fully vested upon the closing of the
Change of Control transaction and he will have 24 months to
exercise the unexercised options. The Company’s payment of
any amounts to Mr. Rose upon his termination upon a Change
in Control is contingent upon Mr. Rose executing a Release
in a form that has been pre-negotiated by Mr. Rose and the
Company.
In the event that Mr. Rose receives compensation which
constitutes an “excess parachute payment” within the
meaning of Section 280G(b)(1) of the IRS Code of 1986, as
amended (the “Code”) (or of which tax is otherwise
payable under Section 4999 of the Code) then the Company
will pay Mr. Rose an additional amount (the
“Additional Amount”) equal to the sum of (i) all
taxes payable by him under Section 4999 of the Code with
respect to all such parachute payments and the Additional Amount
plus (ii) all federal, state and local income taxes payable
by Mr. Rose with respect to the Additional Amount.
Mr. Rose’s employment agreement will expire on
March 8, 2008. As a result of management changes that are
presently expected to occur at the effective time of the
contemplated merger between NNN Realty Advisors, Inc. and the
Company, a Change of Control will be deemed to occur under
Mr. Rose’s employment agreement.
Bonus payment due upon death
calculated at target attainment. Actual payment would be
determined by Company results, prorated for the number of days
Mr. Rose worked during the year and provided he was
employed for at least 6 months during the calendar year.
See sections entitled “Compensation During Term of
Employment—Annual Bonus Incentive Compensation” and
“Employment Contract and Compensation
Arrangements—Mark E. Rose.”
(2)
Value of stock options and
restricted shares calculated using the closing price on
June 29, 2007 of $11.60. See section entitled
“Employment Contracts and Compensation
Arrangements—Mark E. Rose.”
Richard
W. Pehlke
Effective February 15, 2007, Mr. Pehlke and the
Company entered into a three-year employment agreement pursuant
to which Mr. Pehlke serves as the Company’s Executive
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at an annual base
salary of $350,000. In addition, Mr. Pehlke is entitled to
receive target bonus cash compensation of up to 50% of his base
salary based upon annual performance goals to be established by
the Compensation Committee of the Company. Mr. Pehlke is
also eligible to receive a target annual performance based
equity bonus of 65% of his base salary based upon annual
performance goals to be established by the Compensation
Committee. The equity bonus is payable in restricted shares that
vest on the third anniversary of the date of the grant.
Mr. Pehlke was also granted stock options to purchase
25,000 shares of the Company’s common stock which have
a term of 10 years, are exercisable at $11.75 per share
(equal to the market price of the Company’s common stock on
the date immediately preceding the grant date) and vest ratably
over three years. Mr. Pehlke is not entitled to participate
in the Company’s Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan.
Mr. Pehlke is also entitled to participate in the
Company’s health and other benefit plans generally afforded
to executive employees and is reimbursed for reasonable travel,
entertainment and other reasonable expenses incurred in
connection with her duties. The Employment Agreement contains
confidentiality, non-competition, no raid, non-solicitation,
non-disparagement and indemnification provisions.
The employment agreement is terminable by the Company upon
Mr. Pehlke’s death or incapacity or for Cause (as
defined in the employment agreement), without any additional
compensation other than what has accrued to Mr. Pehlke as
of the date of any such termination, except that in the case of
death or incapacity, any unvested restricted shares
automatically vest.
In the event that Mr. Pehlke is terminated without Cause,
or if Mr. Pehlke terminates the agreement for Good Reason
(as defined in the employment agreement), Mr. Pehlke is
entitled to receive his annual base salary, payable in
accordance with the Company’s customary payroll practices,
for the balance of the term of the agreement or
24 months, whichever is less (subject to the provisions of
Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended) and all then unvested options shall automatically vest.
The Company’s payment of any amounts to Mr. Pehlke
upon his termination without Cause or for Good Reason is
contingent upon him executing the Company’s then standard
form of release.
In addition, in the event that Mr. Pehlke is terminated
without Cause or resigns for Good Reason upon a Change in
Control (as defined in the employment agreement) or within six
months thereafter or three months prior to a Change of Control,
in contemplation thereof, Mr. Pehlke is entitled to receive
two times his base salary payable in accordance with the
Company’s customary payroll practices (subject to the
provisions of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended) plus an amount equal to 50% of his base salary
payable in cash on each of the next two immediately following
dates when similar annual cash bonus compensation is paid to
other executive officers of the Company (but in no event later
then March 15th of the calendar year following the
calendar year to which such bonus payment relates). In addition,
upon a Change in Control, all then unvested options and
restricted shares automatically vest. The Company’s payment
of any amounts to Mr. Pehlke upon his termination upon a
Change of Control is contingent upon his executing the
Company’s then standard form of release.
Potential
Payments upon Termination or Change in Control
Richard W. Pehlke
Involuntary
Not for
Involuntary
Resignation
Executive Payments
Voluntary
Early
Normal
Cause
for Cause
for Good
Change in
Upon Termination
Termination
Retirement
Retirement
Termination
Termination
Reason
Control
Death
Disability
Severance Payments
—
—
—
$
700,000
—
$
700,000
$
700,000
—
—
Bonus Incentive Compensation
—
—
—
—
—
—
$
350,000
—
—
Long Term Incentive Plan
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Stock Options (unvested and
accelerated)(1)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Restricted Stock (unvested and
accelerated)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Performance Shares (unvested and
accelerated)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Benefit Continuation
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Tax
Gross-Up
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
$
700,000
—
$
700,000
$
1,050,000
—
—
(1)
Mr. Pehlke’s agreement
provides for immediate vesting of all stock options in the event
of involuntary termination not for cause, resignation for good
reason, or in the event of change in control; the option
exercise price is $11.75 and the closing price on the NYSE on
June 29, 2007 was $11.60, therefore, as of June 29,2007, Mr. Pehlke’s options were out of the money.
Shelby E.
Sherard
Ms. Sherard resigned from the Company effective
December 29, 2006. During fiscal 2007, Ms. Sherard was
paid a one-time cash bonus of $25,000 for performance of certain
special projects. In addition, in connection with the cessation
of her employment with the Company and in consideration for a
release, Ms. Sherard received a lump-sum payment of
$100,000. Payments made to Ms. Sherard during the fiscal
year are included in the Summary Compensation Table above.
Prior to that time, pursuant to an employment agreement, which
became effective October 10, 2005, Ms. Sherard served
as the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer at an annual base salary of $200,000. In
addition, Ms. Sherard was entitled to receive target bonus
compensation of up to 50% of her base salary based upon annual
performance goals to be established by the Compensation
Committee of the Company. Ms. Sherard was also granted
stock options to purchase 25,000 shares of the
Company’s common stock which had a term of ten
(10) years, and were exercisable at $5.89 per share (equal
to the market price of the Company’s common stock on the
date immediately preceding the grant date), and which would have
vested ratably
over three years. Ms. Sherard was also entitled to
participate in the Company’s Long Term Incentive
Compensation Plan at a target of 65% of her base salary.
Ms. Sherard was also entitled to participate in the
Company’s health and other benefit plans generally afforded
to executive employees and was reimbursed for reasonable travel,
entertainment and other reasonable expenses incurred in
connection with her duties.
Maureen
A. Ehrenberg
On June 6, 2005, the Company entered into a three-year
employment agreement with Ms. Ehrenberg, pursuant to which
Ms. Ehrenberg serves as the Company’s Executive Vice
President and as the President of both Grubb & Ellis
Management Services, Inc. and the Company’s Global Client
Services. During the term of the Employment Agreement, which
became effective as of January 1, 2005, Ms. Ehrenberg
is paid a base salary of $360,000 per annum, and is eligible to
receive annual performance-based bonus compensation at target
level of 80% of base salary. Ms. Ehrenberg is also entitled
to participate in the Company’s long term incentive
compensation plan at a target of 65% of her salary.
In addition, upon entering into the employment agreement, the
Company granted to Ms. Ehrenberg $500,000 worth of
restricted shares of the Company’s common stock, or
84,746 shares, at a per share price of $5.90 (equal to the
market price of the Company’s common stock on the date
immediately preceding the grant date). All of the restricted
shares vest on December 29, 2007, subject to acceleration
in the event of a Change in Control. In the event of termination
of employment for Cause or without Good Reason, all unvested
restricted shares will be cancelled.
In addition, Ms. Ehrenberg is entitled to participate in
the Company’s health and other benefit plans generally
afforded to executive employees and is reimbursed for reasonable
travel, entertainment and other reasonable expenses incurred in
connection with her duties. The Employment Agreement contains
confidentiality, non-competition, no-raid, non-solicitation and
indemnification provisions.
In the event that Ms. Ehrenberg is terminated due to
incapacity or due to death, she is entitled to receive
(i) payment and reimbursement of amounts accrued as of the
date of any such termination, (ii) prorated annual bonus
compensation based upon the number of days Ms. Ehrenberg
was employed for the applicable year, (iii) prorated
payment under the LTIP based upon the number of days
Ms. Ehrenberg was employed for the applicable performance
period, and (iv) the restricted shares continue to vest in
accordance with the vesting schedule.
In the event that Ms. Ehrenberg is terminated by the
Company for Cause or she terminates her employment without Good
Reason (as defined in the employment agreement), she is entitled
to receive payment and reimbursement of amounts accrued as of
the date of any such termination and any unvested restricted
shares will be cancelled.
In the event that Ms. Ehrenberg is terminated without
Cause, or if Ms. Ehrenberg terminates the agreement for
Good Reason, or if the Company does not extend or renew her
employment agreement, Ms. Ehrenberg is entitled to receive,
in addition to payment and reimbursement accrued as of the date
of any such termination, as severance pay: (i) her annual
base salary, payable in accordance with the Company’s
customary payroll practices for the greater of the remainder of
the then-existing term of the Employment Agreement or
12 months (the “severance period”);
(ii) prorated bonus compensation based upon the number of
days Ms. Ehrenberg was employed for the applicable year;
(iii) prorated LTIP compensation based upon the number of
days Ms. Ehrenberg was employed for the applicable
performance period; and (iv) an amount equal to the cost of
COBRA payments, increased to compensate for any amount withheld
by the Company due to federal and state withholdings, until the
earlier of the end of the severance period or Ms. Ehrenberg
obtaining health coverage from another source.
Ms. Ehrenberg’s restricted shares will continue to
vest in accordance with the vesting schedule. The Company’s
payment of any amounts to Ms. Ehrenberg upon her
termination without Cause or for Good Reason is contingent upon
Ms. Ehrenberg executing a Release in a form that has been
pre-negotiated by Ms. Ehrenberg and the Company.
In addition, in the event Ms. Ehrenberg is terminated
without Cause or resigns for Good Reason upon a Change in
Control (as defined in the Employment Agreement) or within
18 months thereafter or six months prior to a Change in
Control, in contemplation thereof, Ms. Ehrenberg is
entitled to receive payment of two times her base salary and two
times her applicable bonus, paid ratably over 12 months in
accordance with the Company’s
customary payroll practices. In addition, upon a Change in
Control, Ms. Ehrenberg’s restricted shares shall
become fully vested upon the closing of the Change of Control
transaction. The Company’s payment of any amounts to
Ms. Ehrenberg upon her termination upon a Change in Control
is contingent upon Ms. Ehrenberg executing a Release in a
form that has been pre-negotiated by Ms. Ehrenberg and the
Company.
In the event that Ms. Ehrenberg receives compensation which
constitutes an “excess parachute payment” within the
meaning of Section 280G(b)(1) of the IRS Code of 1986, as
amended (the “Code”) (or of which tax is otherwise
payable under Section 4999 of the Code) then the Company
shall pay Ms. Ehrenberg an additional amount (the
“Additional Amount”) equal to the sum of (i) all
taxes payable by her under Section 4999 of the Code with
respect to all such parachute payments and the Additional Amount
plus (ii) all federal, state and local income taxes payable
by Ms. Ehrenberg with respect to the Additional Amount.
During fiscal 2006, the Company agreed to transfer to
Ms. Ehrenberg, upon the completion of the initial business
combination of Grubb & Ellis Realty Advisors, Inc.
(“Realty Advisors”), common stock of Realty Advisors
having a value of $150,000.
Ms. Ehrenberg’s employment agreement will expire on
December 31, 2007 and the Compensation Committee expects to
consider the terms for the renewal of her employment agreement
during the 2008 fiscal year.
Potential
Payments upon Termination or Change in Control
Maureen A. Ehrenberg
Bonus payment and LTIP payment in
the case of involuntary not for cause termination, resignation
for good reason, death and disability calculated at target
attainment; actual payment would be determined by Company
results. See sections entitled “Compensation During Term of
Employment—Annual Bonus Incentive Compensation and Long
Term Incentive Plan” and “Employment Contract and
Compensation Arrangements—Maureen A. Ehrenberg.”
(2)
In the case of involuntary not for
cause termination, resignation for good reason, death and
disability the restricted shares continue to vest in accordance
with the vesting schedule. In the event of a change in control,
the restricted shares vest immediately. Value of restricted
shares calculated using the closing price on June 29, 2007
of $11.60. See section entitled “Employment Contracts and
Compensation Arrangements—Maureen A. Ehrenberg.”
Pursuant to the November 15, 2006 amendment,
(a) Mr. Osbrink was paid a one-time, lump-sum renewal
bonus of $500,000; (b) the term of Mr. Osbrink’s
employment agreement was extended from December 31, 2007 to
December 31, 2009; (c) Mr. Osbrink was granted
certain restricted shares as described below; and
(d) effective January 1, 2007, (i) his base
salary was increased from $400,000 to $450,000 per year and
(ii) the target for his
performance based bonus compensation was increased from 100% of
base salary to 150% of base salary. In addition, the amendment
provided that, under certain circumstances, the Company may
change Mr. Osbrink’s title to Chairman of Transaction
Services and modify his duties and reporting relationship
accordingly.
The December 1, 2006 amendment provides that if
Mr. Osbrink terminates his employment agreement other than
for Good Reason, or the Company terminates his agreement for
Cause, Mr. Osbrink will be required to repay to the Company
a prorated portion of the $500,000 renewal bonus based upon the
number of months remaining in the term of his employment
agreement at the time of such termination.
The Board authorized the November 15, 2006 amendment to
Mr. Osbrink’s employment agreement in order to enhance
the likelihood of the successful implementation of the
Company’s overall strategic plan. The Company viewed the
repositioning of its transaction services business as essential
to successfully executing the Company’s overall strategic
plan. The Board believed that the successful repositioning of
its transaction services business depended on the Company’s
ability to effectively and simultaneously implement numerous
initiatives, including significantly increasing the
Company’s net number of brokers, realigning the
Company’s overall compensation scheme for transaction
professionals, recruiting experienced brokers capable of closing
large transactions and identifying and eliminating those brokers
throughout the Company’s rank and file who fail to show the
ability to advance in terms of skill and productivity. In order
to increase the likelihood of the successful execution and
implementation of these varied initiatives, the Board felt that
it was extremely important to maintain the continuity at the
senior executive level of its transaction services business, as
well as make sure that Mr. Osbrink, as President of
Transaction Services, was properly incented to effectively
implement such initiatives. As a consequence, the Board asked
the Compensation Committee to review Mr. Osbrink’s
total compensation package. Recognizing the importance to the
Company of successfully repositioning the transaction services
business, and in light of the competitive nature, in general, of
securing and retaining the services of experienced transaction
services professionals, the Committee determined that it was in
the Company’s best interest at that time to adjust
Mr. Osbrink’s base compensation as well as to enhance
the incentive opportunities available to Mr. Osbrink.
Mr. Osbrink is also entitled to participate in the
Company’s long-term incentive compensation plan at a target
of 65% of his base salary.
Under the September 7, 2005 amendment, the Company granted
Mr. Osbrink $250,000 worth of restricted shares of the
Company’s common stock, or 37,314 shares, at a per
share price equal to $6.70 (the closing price for the
Company’s common stock on the date of the grant) which vest
on December 29, 2007, subject to acceleration in the event
of a Change in Control. In addition, pursuant to the
November 15, 2006 amendment, Mr. Osbrink was granted
$350,000 worth of restricted shares or 31,964 shares at a
price per share of $10.95 (equal to the closing price for the
Company’s common stock on the day immediately preceding the
date of the grant) which vest on December 29, 2009, subject
to acceleration in the event of a Change in Control (as defined
in the employment agreement). In the event of termination of
employment for Cause or without Good Reason, all unvested
restricted shares will be cancelled.
Mr. Osbrink is also entitled to participate in all benefit
plans, including but not limited to, medical, dental,
retirement, disability and all life insurance plans, that are
generally made available by the Company to similarly situated
executives. The employment agreement contains confidentiality,
non-competition, no-raid,
non-solicitation,
non-disparagement
and indemnification provisions.
The employment agreement is terminable by the Company upon
Mr. Osbrink’s death or incapacity or for Cause (as
defined in the employment agreement), without any additional
compensation other than what is accrued to Mr. Osbrink as
of the date of any such termination, except that, in the case of
death or incapacity, the restricted shares continue to vest in
accordance with the vesting schedule set forth in the agreement.
In the event that Mr. Osbrink is terminated by the Company
without Cause, or Mr. Osbrink terminates his employment
agreement for Good Reason (as defined in the employment
agreement), he is entitled to receive his base salary for
12 months, payable in accordance with the Company’s
normal payroll practices, plus reimbursement for COBRA payments,
increased to compensate for any amount withheld by the Company
due to federal and state withholdings, until the earlier of
12 months, or Mr. Osbrink obtaining health insurance
from another source. The
Company’s payment of any amounts to Mr. Osbrink upon
his termination without Cause or for Good Reason is contingent
upon his executing the Company’s then standard form of
release.
In addition, in the event that Mr. Osbrink is terminated
without Cause or resigns for Good Reason upon a Change in
Control (as defined in the employment agreement) or within
18 months thereafter or six months prior to a Change of
Control in contemplation thereof, Mr. Osbrink is entitled
to receive two times his base salary plus two times his
“applicable bonus” paid ratably over 12 months.
The Company’s payment of any amounts to Mr. Osbrink
upon his termination upon a Change of Control is contingent upon
his executing the Company’s then standard form of release.
In the case of involuntary not for
cause termination, resignation for good reason, death and
disability the restricted stock continues to vest in accordance
with the vesting schedule. In the event of a change in control,
the restricted stock vests immediately. Value of restricted
shares calculated using the closing price on June 29, 2007
of $11.60. See section entitled “Employment Contracts and
Compensation Arrangements—Robert H. Osbrink.”
Robert Z.
Slaughter
Effective April 17, 2006, Mr. Slaughter and the
Company entered into a three-year employment agreement pursuant
to which Mr. Slaughter serves as the Company’s
Executive Vice President and General Counsel at an annual base
salary of $250,000 (which was increased effective
January 1, 2007 to $262,500). In addition,
Mr. Slaughter is entitled to receive target bonus cash
compensation of up to 50% of his base salary based upon annual
performance goals to be established by the Compensation
Committee of the Company. Mr. Slaughter is also entitled to
participate in the Company’s Long Term Incentive
Compensation Plan at a target of 65% of his base salary.
Mr. Slaughter was also granted stock options to purchase
25,000 shares of the Company’s common stock which have
a term of 10 years, are exercisable at $13.75 per share
(equal to the market price of the Company’s common stock on
the grant date), and vest ratably over three years.
Mr. Slaughter is also entitled to participate in the
Company’s health and other benefit plans generally afforded
to executive employees and is reimbursed for reasonable travel,
entertainment and other reasonable expenses incurred in
connection with his duties. The employment agreement contains
confidentiality, non-competition, no raid, non-solicitation,
non-disparagement and indemnification provisions.
The employment agreement is terminable by the Company upon
Mr. Slaughter’s death or incapacity or for Cause (as
defined in the employment agreement), without any additional
compensation other than what has accrued to Mr. Slaughter
as of the date of any such termination. In the case of death or
incapacity, Mr. Slaughter’s options will continue to
vest in accordance with the vesting schedule.
In the event that Mr. Slaughter is terminated without
Cause, or if Mr. Slaughter terminates the agreement for
Good Reason (as defined in the employment agreement),
Mr. Slaughter is entitled to receive his annual base
salary, payable in accordance with the Company’s customary
payroll practices, for 12 months, and all then unvested
options shall continue to vest in accordance with the vesting
schedule. The Company’s payment of any amounts to
Mr. Slaughter upon his termination without Cause or for
Good Reason is contingent upon him executing a Release in a form
that has been pre-negotiated by Mr. Slaughter and the
Company.
In addition, in the event that Mr. Slaughter is terminated
without Cause or resigns for Good Reason upon a Change in
Control (as defined in the employment agreement) or within nine
months thereafter or six months prior to a Change of Control, in
contemplation thereof, Mr. Slaughter is entitled to receive
his base salary for a period of 12 months payable in
accordance with the Company’s customary payroll practices
and his applicable bonus (as defined in the agreement) paid over
12 months. In addition, upon a Change in Control, all then
unvested options will automatically vest. The Company’s
payment of any amounts to Mr. Slaughter upon his
termination or upon a
Change of Control is contingent upon his executing a Release in
a form that has been pre-negotiated by Mr. Slaughter and
the Company.
As a result of management changes that are presently expected to
occur at the effective time of the contemplated merger between
NNN Realty Advisors, Inc. and the Company, a Change of Control
will be deemed to occur under Mr. Slaughter’s
employment agreement.
Potential
Payments upon Termination or Change in Control
Robert Z. Slaughter
Executive
Involuntary
Payments
Not for
Involuntary
Resignation
Upon
Voluntary
Early
Normal
Cause
for Cause
for Good
Change in
Termination
Termination
Retirement
Retirement
Termination
Termination
Reason
Control
Death
Disability
Severance Payments
—
—
—
$
262,500
—
$
262,500
$
262,500
—
—
Bonus Incentive Compensation
—
—
—
—
—
—
$
57,280
—
—
Long Term Incentive Plan
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Stock Options (unvested and
accelerated)(1)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Restricted Stock (unvested and
accelerated)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Performance Shares (unvested and
accelerated)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Benefit Continuation
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Tax
Gross-Up
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
$
262,500
—
$
262,500
$
319,780
—
—
(1)
Mr. Slaughter’s agreement
provides for immediate vesting of all stock options in the event
of change of control; the option exercise price is $13.75 and
the closing price on the NYSE on June 29, 2007 was $11.60,
therefore as of June 29, 2007, Mr. Slaughter’s
options were out of the money. In addition, in the event of
death, incapacity, involuntary termination not for cause,
resignation for good reason, the options continue to vest in
accordance with the vesting schedule.
The Restricted Share Program
provides that outside directors will receive $50,000 worth of
restricted shares each year based upon the then current market
price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant.
All restricted shares vest ratably over three years from the
date of grant, except upon a change of control, in which event
vesting is accelerated. Outside directors are also required to
accumulate an equity position in the Company over five years in
an amount equal to $200,000 worth of common stock. Shares of
common stock acquired by outside directors pursuant to the
Restricted Share Program can be applied toward this equity
accumulation requirement. Upon leaving the Board, all grants
that have already been made to a departing director would
continue to vest in accordance with the vesting schedule.
(2)
Represents reimbursement for
estimated lost profit resulting from inability to exercise
certain stock options that the Compensation Committee understood
would expire during the Company’s “quiet period”
in connection with the Company’s June 2006, secondary stock
offering.
(3)
Mr. Kojaian receives no
compensation for his role as Chairman of the Board or as a Board
member.
(4)
Mr. Rose as an Executive
Officer of the Company is not entitled to receive compensation
for his Board service.
Compensation
of Directors
In 2005, our Board of Directors reviewed the structure and level
of compensation of our non-employee directors and engaged the
services of Mercer Consulting Services to provide competitive
data and advice. Based on such review and analysis, the Company
changed our non-employee director compensation structure
effective July 2005.
Only individuals who serve as directors and are otherwise
unaffiliated with the Company (“Outside Directors”)
receive compensation for serving on the Board and on its
committees. Outside Directors are compensated for serving on the
Board with a combination of cash and equity based compensation
which includes annual grants of restricted stock, an annual
retainer fee, meeting fees and chairperson fees. Directors are
also reimbursed for out-of-pocket travel expenses incurred in
attending board and committee meetings.
Philosophy
The compensation program is designed to compensate Outside
Directors at or above $100,000 annually with approximately 50%
paid in cash and approximately 50% in restricted stock. In
support of the long term goals of increasing stockholder value,
Outside Directors are expected to accumulate an equity position
in the Company equal to $200,000 over a five year period.
During the 2007 fiscal year, compensation for Outside Directors
consisted of a retainer of $40,000 per annum, a fee of $1,500
for each meeting of the Board or one of its committees attended
in person and a fee of $1,000 for each meeting (up to six
meetings) of the Board or one of its committees attended
telephonically. In addition, the chairperson of the audit
committee received a fee at the rate of $10,000 per annum and
the chairperson of each of the Board’s other standing
committees received a fee of $5,000 per annum. The foregoing
fees with respect to committee attendance pertain only to
standing committees of the Board and do not pertain to any
special or ad hoc committees, compensation for which is
determined on a
case-by-case
basis.
Prior to October 1, 2005, under the 1993 Stock Option Plan
for outside directors, outside directors each received an option
to purchase 10,000 shares of common stock upon the date of
first election to the Board and an
option to purchase 8,000 shares of common stock upon each
successive fourth-year anniversary of service. The exercise
prices of the options are equal to the then market value of the
Company’s common stock as of the date of the grant.
Directors, other than members of the Compensation Committee,
were also eligible to receive stock options under the 1990
Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan.
Effective October 1, 2005, the stock option program
described in the immediately preceding paragraph were eliminated
and replaced by a Restricted Share Program. The Restricted Share
Program provides that Outside Directors will receive $50,000
worth of restricted shares each year based upon the then current
market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of
grant. All restricted shares initially vested three years from
the date of grant, except upon a change of control, in which
event vesting is accelerated. Upon leaving the Board, all grants
that have already been made to a departing director would
continue to vest in accordance with the three-year vesting
schedule.
Effective, September 21, 2006, the Board amended the
Restricted Share Program to provide that it will expire on
September 20, 2015 or such earlier date as may be
determined by the Board. In addition, pursuant to the 2006
Omnibus Equity Plan, the Board amended the Restricted Share
Program to provide for restricted shares granted on or after
September 21, 2006 to vest one-third on each of the first,
second and third anniversaries of the date of grant.
Effective September 22, 2005, each of the Company’s
then current outside directors, Rodger Young, R. David Anacker,
Robert McLaughlin and Anthony Antone, received their initial
restricted stock grant of 7,508 shares of common stock
which is based upon the closing price of the Company’s
common stock on Wednesday, September 21, 2005, which was
$6.66.
Effective September 21, 2006, each of the above directors
along with outside director, F. Joseph Moravec, received their
annual restricted stock grant of 5,446 shares of common
stock which is based upon the closing price of the
Company’s common stock on September 20, 2006, which
was $9.18.
Stock
Ownership/Retention Guidelines
Effective October 1, 2005, the Board adopted a stock
ownership policy for Directors. Under the policy, Outside
Directors are required to accumulate an equity position in the
Company over five years in an amount equal to $200,000 worth of
common stock. Shares of common stock acquired by Outside
Directors pursuant to the Directors Restricted Share Program can
be applied toward this equity accumulation requirement.
Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
The members of the Compensation Committee for the 2007 fiscal
year were Robert J. McLaughlin, Chair, Rodger D. Young and,
until his death on May 23, 2007, R. David Anacker none of
whom is or was a current or former officer or employee of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries or had any relationship
requiring disclosure by the Company under any paragraph of
Item 404 of
Regulation S-K
of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s
(“SEC’s”) Rules and Regulations. During the 2007
fiscal year, none of the executive officers of the Company
served as a member of the board of directors or compensation
committee of any company that had one or more of its executive
officers serving as a member of the Company’s Board of
Directors or Compensation Committee.
Compensation
Committee Report
The following Compensation Committee Report is not to be
deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be
“filed” with the SEC or subject to Regulation 14A
or 14C or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange
Act, except to the extent that the Company specifically requests
that such information be treated as soliciting material or
specifically incorporates it by reference into any filing under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities
Act”) or the Exchange Act.
The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed with the
Company’s management the Compensation Discussion and
Analysis presented in this Annual Report. Based on such review
and discussion, the
Compensation Committee has recommended to the Board that the
Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Annual
Report.
The Compensation Committee
Robert J. McLaughlin, Chair
Rodger D. Young
Item 12.
Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and
Related Stockholder Matters.
Equity
Compensation Plan Information
This information is included in Part II, Item 5, of
this Annual Report.
Stock
Ownership Table
The following table shows the share ownership as of
August 15, 2007 by persons known by the Company to be
beneficial holders of more than 5% of our outstanding capital
stock, directors, named executive officers, and all current
directors and executive officers as a group. Unless otherwise
noted, the stock listed is common stock, and the persons listed
have sole voting and disposition powers over the shares held in
their names, subject to community property laws if applicable.
Amount and Nature of
Percent of
Beneficial Ownership
Class(1)
Principal
Stockholders
Persons affiliated with Kojaian
Ventures, L.L.C.(2)
All Current Directors and
Executive Officers as a Group (12 persons)
10,632,209(14
)
41.0
*
Does not exceed 1.0%.
(1)
The percentage of shares of capital
stock shown for each person in this column and in this footnote
assumes that such person, and no one else, has exercised any
currently outstanding warrants, options or convertible
securities held by him or her.
(2)
C. Michael Kojaian, our Chairman of
the Board, is affiliated with Kojaian Ventures, L.L.C. and
Kojaian Holdings LLC. Pursuant to rules established by the SEC,
the foregoing parties may be deemed to be a “group,”
as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act. The
address of each of Kojaian Holdings LLC and Kojaian Ventures,
L.L.C. is 39400 Woodward Ave., Suite 250, Bloomfield Hills,
Michigan48304.
(3)
Beneficially owned shares do not
include 7,508 shares of restricted stock that vest on
September 21, 2008, subject to certain terms and conditions
contained in that certain Restricted Stock Agreement between the
Company and Mr. Antone. Additionally, beneficially owned
shares do not include 1,815 shares of restricted stock that
vest on September 21, 2008 or 1,816 shares of
restricted stock that vest on September 21, 2009, all of
these 3,631 are subject to certain terms and conditions
contained in that certain Restricted Stock Agreement
Pursuant to rules established by
the SEC, C. Michael Kojaian is deemed to have beneficial
ownership of the shares directly held by Kojaian Ventures,
L.L.C. and the shares directly held by Kojaian Holdings LLC.
(5)
Beneficially owned shares include
10,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of
fully vested outstanding options. However, beneficially owned
shares do not include 7,508 shares of restricted stock that
vest on September 21, 2008, subject to certain terms and
conditions contained in that certain Restricted Stock Agreement
between the Company and Mr. McLaughlin. Additionally,
beneficially owned shares do not include 1,815 shares of
restricted stock that vest on September 21, 2008 or
1,816 shares of restricted stock that vest on
September 21, 2009, all of these 3,631 are subject to
certain terms and conditions contained in that certain
Restricted Stock Agreement between the Company and
Mr. McLaughlin dated September 21, 2006. However,
beneficially owned shares do include 1,815 shares of
restricted stock which will vest on September 21, 2007.
(6)
Beneficially owned shares do not
include 1,815 shares of restricted stock that vest on
September 21, 2008 or 1,816 shares of restricted stock
that vest on September 21, 2009, all of these 3,631 are
subject to certain terms and conditions contained in that
certain Restricted Stock Agreement between the Company and
Mr. Moravec dated September 21, 2006. However,
beneficially owned shares do include 1,815 shares of
restricted stock which will vest on September 21, 2007.
(7)
Beneficially owned shares do not
include 98,296 shares of restricted stock that vest on
March 8, 2008, 45,105 shares of restricted stock that
vest on March 8, 2009 or 23,720 shares that vest on
March 8, 2010, subject to certain terms and conditions
contained in that certain Restricted Stock Agreement between the
Company and Mr. Rose dated March 8, 2005.
Additionally, beneficially owned shares include
166,666 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of
outstanding options exercisable March 8, 2006 and
166,667 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of
options exercisable March 8, 2007, all 333,333 shares
of which are subject to the terms and conditions of the
Company’s 2000 Stock Option Plan.
(8)
Beneficially owned shares include
10,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of
fully vested outstanding options. However, beneficially owned
shares do not include 7,508 shares of restricted stock that
vest on September 21, 2008, subject to certain terms and
conditions contained in that certain Restricted Stock Agreement
between the Company and Mr. Young. Additionally,
beneficially owned shares do not include 1,815 shares of
restricted stock that vest on September 21, 2008 or
1,816 shares of restricted stock that vest on
September 21, 2009, all of these 3,631 are subject to
certain terms and conditions contained in that certain
Restricted Stock Agreement between the Company and
Mr. Young dated September 21, 2006. However,
beneficially owned shares do include 1,815 shares of
restricted stock which will vest on September 21, 2007.
(9)
Beneficially owned shares do not
include 84,746 shares of restricted stock that vest on
December 29, 2007, subject to certain terms and conditions
contained in that certain Restricted Stock Agreement between the
Company and Ms. Ehrenberg dated June 6, 2005.
Additionally, beneficially owned shares include
50,022 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of
fully vested outstanding options subject to the terms and
conditions of the Company’s 1990 Stock Option Plan, as
amended effective June 20, 1997 and 87,000 shares of
common stock issuable upon the exercise of fully vested
outstanding options subject to the terms and conditions of the
Company’s 1998 Stock Option Plan.
(10)
Beneficially owned shares do not
include 37,314 shares of restricted stock that vest on
December 29, 2007, subject to certain terms and conditions
contained in that certain Restricted Stock Agreement between the
Company and Mr. Osbrink dated September 7, 2005.
Additionally, beneficially owned shares do not include 31,964
restricted shares, none of which will vest earlier than
December 29, 2009, subject to certain terms and conditions
contained in that certain Restricted Stock Agreement between the
Company and Mr. Osbrink dated November 15, 2006.
Furthermore, beneficially owned shares do include
15,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of
fully vested outstanding options subject to the terms and
conditions of the Company’s 1998 Stock Option Plan.
(11)
Beneficially owned shares include
9,555 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of
fully vested outstanding options subject to the terms and
conditions of the Company’s 1998 Stock Option Plan.
(12)
Beneficially owned shares include
8,333 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of
fully vested outstanding options subject to the terms and
conditions of that certain Stock Option Agreement between the
Company and Mr. Slaughter and also subject to the terms and
conditions of the Company’s 2000 Stock Option Plan.
(13)
Beneficially owned shares include
4,167 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of
fully vested outstanding options which are subject to the terms
and conditions of that certain Stock Option Agreement between
the Company and Ms. Lewis dated November 15, 2005 and
the Company’s 1990 Stock Option Plan, as amended effective
June 20, 1997.
(14)
Beneficially owned shares include
the following shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of
outstanding options which are exercisable at August 15,2007 or within ninety days thereafter under the Company’s
various stock option plans:
Mr. McLaughlin—10,000 shares,
Mr. Young—10,000 shares,
Mr. Rose—333,333 shares,
Ms. Ehrenberg—137,022 shares,
Mr. Olinger—9,555 shares,
Mr. Osbrink—15,000 shares,
Mr. Slaughter—8,333 shares, Ms. Lewis
— 4,167 shares, and all current directors and
executive officers as a group—527,410 shares.
Item 13.
Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director
Independence.
Related
Party Transaction Review Policy
The Company recognizes that transactions between the Company and
any of its directors, officers or principal stockholders or an
immediate family member of any director, executive officer or
principal stockholder can present
potential or actual conflicts of interest and create the
appearance that Company decisions are based on considerations
other than the best interests of the Company and its
stockholders. The Company also recognizes, however, that there
may be situations in which such transactions may be in, or may
not be inconsistent with, the best interests of the Company.
The review and approval of related party transactions are
governed by the Code of Ethics. The Code of Ethics is a part of
the Company’s Employee Handbook, a copy of which is
distributed to each of the Company’s employees at the time
that they begin working for the Company, and the Company’s
Salespersons Manual, a copy of which is distributed to each of
the Company’s brokerage professionals at the time that they
begin working for the Company. The Code of Ethics is also
available on the Company’s website at www.grubb-ellis.com.
In addition, within 60 days after he or she begins working
for the Company and once per year thereafter, the Company
requires that each employee and brokerage professional to
complete an on-line “Business Ethics” training class
and certify to the Company that he or she has read and
understands the Code of Ethics and is not aware of any violation
of the Code of Ethics that he or she has not reported to
management.
In order to ensure that related party transactions are fair to
the Company and no worse than could have been obtained through
“arms-length” negotiations with unrelated parties,
such transactions are monitored by our management and regularly
reviewed by the Audit Committee, which independently evaluates
the benefit of such transactions to the Company’s
stockholders. Pursuant to the Audit Committee’s charter, on
a quarterly basis, management provides the Audit Committee with
information regarding related party transactions for review and
discussion by the Audit Committee and, if appropriate, the Board
of Directors. The Audit Committee, in its discretion, may
approve, ratify, rescind or take other action with respect to a
related party transaction or, if necessary or appropriate,
recommend that the Board of Directors approve, ratify, rescind
or take other action with respect to a related party transaction.
In addition, each director and executive officer annually
delivers to the Company a questionnaire that includes, among
other things, a request for information relating to any
transactions in which both the director, executive officer, or
their respective family members, and the Company participates,
and in which the director, executive officer, or such family
member, has a material interest.
Related
Party Transactions
The following are descriptions of certain transactions since the
beginning of the 2007 fiscal year in which the Company is a
participant and in which any of the Company’s directors,
executive officers, principal stockholders or any immediate
family member of any director, executive officer or principal
stockholder has or may have a direct or indirect material
interest.
Grubb & Ellis Realty Advisors,
Inc.The Company owns approximately 19% of the
outstanding common stock of Grubb & Ellis Realty
Advisors, Inc. (“Realty Advisors”), a special purpose
acquisition company organized by the Company to acquire one or
more United States commercial real estate properties
and/or
assets. C. Michael Kojaian, the Chairman of the Board of
Directors of the Company, and Kojaian Ventures, LLC, an entity
with which Mr. Kojaian is affiliated and in which
Mr. Kojaian has a substantial economic interest,
collectively own approximately 6.40% of the outstanding common
stock of Realty Advisors. Mr. Kojaian is also the Chairman
of the Board of Realty Advisors. Mark Rose, the Chief Executive
Officer of the Company, is also a Director and the Chief
Executive Officer of Realty Advisors.
As consideration for serving as initial directors to Realty
Advisors, during fiscal 2006, the Company transferred
41,670 shares of Realty Advisors’ common stock from
the Company’s initial investment to each of the initial
directors of Realty Advisors, including Messrs. Kojaian and
Rose.
Pursuant to an agreement with Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., the
Company agreed to purchase, during the period commencing
May 3, 2006 and ending on June 28, 2006, to the extent
available in the public marketplace, up to $3.5 million of
the warrants issued in connection with Realty Advisors’
initial public offering (the “IPO”) if the public
price per warrant was $0.70 or less. The Company agreed to
purchase such warrants pursuant to an agreement in accordance
with the guidelines specified by
Rule 10b5-1
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
“Exchange Act”), through an independent broker-dealer
registered under Section 15 of the
Exchange Act that did not participate in the IPO. In addition,
the Company further agreed that any such warrants purchased by
it would not be sold or transferred until the completion of a
business combination by Realty Advisors. On June 28, 2006,
the Company agreed to a
60-day
extension of this agreement, through August 27, 2006.
Pursuant to such agreement, as extended, the Company purchased
an aggregate of approximately 4.6 million warrants of
Realty Advisors for an aggregate purchase price of approximately
$2.2 million, or approximately $0.47 per warrant, excluding
commissions of approximately $186,000.
In the event Realty Advisors does not complete a business
combination prior to March 2008, Realty Advisors will liquidate
and dissolve. The Company has waived its right to receive any
proceeds in any such liquidation and dissolution. In the event,
the liquidation does occur, the Company will lose its entire
investment in the common stock and warrants of Realty Advisors.
All of the officers of Realty Advisors are also officers of the
Company. The officers and directors of Realty Advisors will not
initially receive compensation from Realty Advisors (other than
the Realty Advisors shares transferred to the initial directors
by the Company).
The Company has agreed that, through the consummation of an
initial business combination or liquidation by Realty Advisors,
the Company will make available to Realty Advisors office space,
utilities and secretarial support for general and administrative
purposes as Realty Advisors may require from time to time.
Realty Advisors has agreed to pay the Company $7,500 per month
for these services. During the 2007 fiscal year, Realty Advisors
paid the Company $90,000 for such services.
At the time of the IPO, Realty Advisors entered into a Master
Agreement for Services (“MSA”) with the Company,
whereby the Company will serve as the exclusive agent with
respect to commercial real estate brokerage and consulting
services relating to real property acquisitions, dispositions as
well as agency leasing. The initial term of the MSA is five
years and is cancelable based on certain conditions as defined.
Additionally, at the time of the IPO, Realty Advisors entered
into a Property Management Agreement (“PMA”) with the
Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Grubb & Ellis
Management Services (“GEMS”), whereby GEMS will serve
as sole exclusive managing agent for all real property acquired.
Under the PMA, GEMS is entitled to a monthly management fee
equal to the greater of (a) three percent of a
property’s monthly gross cash receipts from the operations
of the property, and (b) a minimum monthly fee to be
determined by mutual agreement based upon then current market
prices and terms for services for comparable projects. In
addition, Realty Advisors is required to reimburse GEMS for
salaries and other expenses paid or incurred by GEMS that are
directly related to managing the asset or assets. The initial
term of the PMA is 12 months from the date of the
consummation of a business combination and will be automatically
renewed for successive terms, each with a duration of one year
unless otherwise terminated in accordance with its terms. Either
party can terminate with 60 days notice.
Finally, at the time of the IPO, Realty Advisors entered into a
Master Agreement for Project Management Services with the
Company. The project management agreement contains a
60-day
cancellation provision by either party. For each project under
the project management agreement, the Company will receive a fee
equal to five percent of the total project costs.
On June 18, 2007, the Company entered into a Membership
Interest Purchase Agreement, (the “Acquisition
Agreement”) among the Company, Realty Advisors and GERA
Property Acquisition, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the
Company that was formed for the purpose of acquiring and
“warehousing” commercial real estate properties for
future sale to Realty Advisors (“Property
Acquisition”). Pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement,
Realty Advisors will acquire all of the issued and outstanding
membership interests of Property Acquisition (the
“Acquisition”). As a result of the Acquisition, Realty
Advisors will acquire and indirectly own three discrete
commercial real estate properties located in Dallas, Texas,
Rosemont, Illinois and Danbury, Connecticut (the
“Properties”) that are owned by wholly-owned
subsidiaries of Property Acquisition (the “SPEs”). The
Company acquired the Properties through the SPEs for an
aggregate contract price of approximately $122.2 million
and with the intention of re-selling the Properties to Realty
Advisors at such time as the Company accumulates assets of
sufficient value for Realty Advisors to seek approval of a
business combination from its stockholders. Prior to entering
into the Acquisition Agreement, the Company and Realty Advisors
did not have any agreement with
respect to the Properties and Realty Advisors did not have any
obligation to purchase these or any other properties from the
Company.
Pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement, as consideration for the
acquisition of Property Acquisition, Realty Advisors will pay to
the Company the sum of:
(a) the Preliminary Purchase Price (in thousands),
calculated as follows:
Other direct acquisition costs (as
of June 15, 2007)
450
Interest on property acquisition
costs (as of June 15, 2007)
1,261
Wachovia Mortgage Loans assumed
(120,500
)
Financing reserves
43,574
Financing fees
2,400
Preliminary Purchase Price; plus
$
42,739
(b)
interest on the Preliminary Purchase Price calculated at the
rate per annum, which rate shall be adjusted monthly at and as
of the 15th day of each month (or, if the 15th day is
not a business day, the next business day of such month), equal
to the one-month London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus
3.50% (the “Interest Rate”) from June 16, 2007
through and including the closing date; plus
(c)
all direct costs (including, without limitation, due diligence
and closing costs, audit and accounting fees, financing fees,
and third party legal fees and costs) paid by the Company on or
after June 16, 2007 in connection with the acquisition of
any of the Properties (the “Property Acquisition
Costs”); plus
(d)
interest on the Property Acquisition Costs calculated at the
Interest Rate from the date of payment of any such cost through
and including the closing date; plus
(e)
the amount of any advances made by the Company to Property
Acquisition or any of its subsidiaries on or after June 16,2007 (and not repaid to the Company with interest prior to the
closing date) to fund any operating losses incurred with respect
to any of the Properties at any time after June 15, 2007
through the closing date (the “Property Advances”);
plus
(f)
interest on the Property Advances calculated at the Interest
Rate from the date of each such advance through and including
the closing date (collectively, the “LLC Purchase
Price”).
The following is an example of a calculation of the LLC Purchase
Price. If the business combination was consummated on
July 15, 2007, the amount of consideration paid to the
Company would be approximately $43,397,000 based upon the sum of
the Preliminary Purchase Price (approximately $42,739,000) plus
interest accrued on the Preliminary Purchase Price since
June 16, 2007 (approximately $307,000 as of July 15,2007) and all additional Property Acquisition Costs since
June 16, 2007 (approximately $351,000 as of July 15,2007).
Such consideration represents the amounts invested in or
advanced to Property Acquisition by the Company to fund the
aggregate purchase price paid by Property Acquisition for the
Properties plus interest expense, imputed interest on cash
advanced to Property Acquisition or any of the SPEs by the
Company, and costs and expenses associated with the evaluation,
acquisition, financing and operation of the Properties.
Furthermore, Realty Advisors will acquire the Properties subject
to mortgage loans secured by the Properties from Wachovia Bank,
N.A. in the aggregate amount of $120.5 million, the
proceeds of which were used to finance the purchase of the
Danbury Property, to fund certain required reserves for the
Properties, to pay the lender’s fees and costs and to
reduce the Company’s aggregate equity in the Properties.
In addition, upon the closing of the Acquisition, pursuant to
the MSA, Realty Advisors will pay the Company an acquisition fee
of approximately $1.2 million.
The Acquisition is subject to, among other things, the approval
of the transaction by the holders of a majority of the common
stock issued in the IPO and the holders of less than
20 percent of the common stock issued in the IPO voting
against the transaction and electing to exercise their
conversion rights. There is no assurance that the foregoing
conditions for the approval of the Acquisition will occur.
In addition, in connection with the entering into of the
Acquisition Agreement, the Company entered into a trademark
license agreement with Realty Advisors (the “Trademark
License”) granting Realty Advisors a perpetual,
nonexclusive, nontransferable, royalty-free, worldwide license
to use the Company’s trademarks, trade names, emblems, and
logos and formalizing the understandings and agreements between
the parties regarding Realty Advisors’ use of the
Company’s trademarks.
Each of the SPEs has entered into an exclusive agency agreement
with the Company whereby the Company has been retained by each
of the SPEs as an exclusive leasing agent with a right to lease
tenant space at the Properties. As consideration for its
services, the Company will receive a commission for each new
lease of space and for certain renewals and expansions in an
amount determined at a rate and upon a basis that are consistent
with the current practices in the markets in which the
Properties are located. Additionally, each of the SPEs has
entered into a property management agreement with GEMS. The
management agreements appoint GEMS as the sole exclusive
management agent for the Properties owned by each of the SPEs.
For its services, GEMS will receive compensation on a basis
generally consistent with the PMA. The management agreements
have an initial term of twelve (12) months from the
effective date of the agreements and will be automatically
renewed for successive terms, each with a duration of one year
unless otherwise terminated in accordance with the terms of the
agreements. As a result of the Acquisition, Realty Advisors will
indirectly assume the exclusive agency agreements and management
agreements between the Company and each of the SPEs.
Exchange of Preferred Stock. In July 2006,
Kojaian Ventures, L.L.C. (“KV”), an affiliate of the
Chairman of the Board of Directors, exchanged all 11,725 issued
and outstanding shares of the Company’s
Series A-1
Preferred Stock for (i) 11,173,925 shares of the
Company’s common stock, which is the common stock
equivalent that the holder of the
Series A-1
Preferred Stock is entitled to receive upon liquidation, merger,
consolidation, sale or change of control of the Company, and
(ii) a payment by the Company of $10,056,532.50 (or $0.90
per share of newly issued share of common stock). Simultaneously
with the exchange of the
Series A-1
Preferred Stock for newly issued common stock, KV was the
selling stockholder of 5 million shares of common stock
pursuant to the Company’s Registration Statement on
Form S-1,
filed on June 29, 2006.
Other Related Party Transactions. The
Company’s Chairman of the Board, C. Michael Kojaian, is
affiliated with and has a substantial economic interest in
Kojaian Management Corporation and its various affiliated
portfolio companies (collectively, “KMC”). KMC is
engaged in the business of investing in and managing real
property both for its own account and for third parties. During
the 2007 fiscal year, KMC paid the Company and its subsidiaries
the following approximate amounts in connection with real estate
services rendered: $9,036,000 for management services, which
include reimbursed salaries, wages and benefits of $3,802,000;
$451,000 in real estate sale and leasing commissions; and
$94,000 for other real estate and business services. The Company
also paid KMC approximately $2,958,000, which reflected fees
paid by KMC’s asset management clients for asset management
services performed by KMC, but for which the Company billed the
clients.
We believe that the fees and commissions paid to and by the
Company as described above were comparable to those that would
have been paid to or received from unaffiliated third parties in
connection with similar transactions.
In August 2002, the Company entered into an office lease with a
landlord related to KMC, providing for an annual average base
rent of $365,400 over the ten-year term of the lease.
As of August 28, 2006, the Company entered into a written
agreement with 1up Design Studios, Inc. (“1up”), of
which Ryan Osbrink, the son of Robert H. Osbrink, Executive Vice
President and President, Transaction Services of the Company, is
a principal shareholder, to procure graphic design and
consulting services on assignments provided by brokerage
professionals
and/or
employees of the Company. The term of the agreement was for a
period beginning September 1, 2006 ending on
August 31, 2007 and was terminable by either party upon
60 days prior notice. The Agreement provided that the
Company would pay 1up a monthly retainer of $25,000, from which
1up
would deduct the cost of its design services. The pricing for
1up’s design services was fixed pursuant to a price
schedule attached as an exhibit to the agreement. In addition,
at the inception of the agreement, the Company sold certain
computer hardware and software to 1up for a price of $6,500
which was the approximate net book value of such items. The
written agreement with 1up was terminated effective as of
March 1, 2007 at the request of the Audit Committee which
believed that, although the agreement did not violate the
Company’s related party transaction policy, termination of
the agreement was appropriate in order to avoid any appearance
of impropriety that might result from the agreement to pay 1up a
fixed monthly retainer. While the Company is no longer obligated
to pay the monthly retainer to 1up, the Company has continued to
use 1up to provide design and consulting services on an ad hoc
basis. During the 2007 fiscal year, 1up was paid approximately
$239,000 in fees for its services. The Company believes that
amounts paid to 1up for services are comparable to the amounts
that the Company would have paid to unaffiliated, third parties.
Independence
of Directors
The Board has determined that three of its six current directors
and director nominees, Messrs. McLaughlin, Moravec and
Young are independent. Prior to his death on May 23, 2007,
R. David Anacker served as director of the Company and had been
determined to be independent. As a result of his death, the
Company does not comply with requirements of
Section 303A.01 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual (which
requires each NYSE listed company to have a majority of
independent directors). Since the non-compliance resulted from
the death of a director, the NYSE has advised the Company that
the Company has until November 23, 2007 to resolve the
non-compliance before the NYSE will publicly disseminate a below
compliance indicator.
For purposes of determining the independence of its directors,
the Board applies the following criteria:
No Material Relationship. The director must
not have any material relationship with the Company. In making
this determination, the Board considers all relevant facts and
circumstances, including commercial, charitable and familial
relationships that exist, either directly or indirectly, between
the director and the Company.
Employment. The director must not have been
an employee of the Company at any time during the past three
years. In addition, a member of the director’s immediate
family (including the director’s spouse; parents; children;
siblings; mothers-, fathers-, brothers-, sisters-, sons- and
daughters-in-law;
and anyone who shares the director’s home, other than
household employees) must not have been an executive officer of
the Company in the prior three years.
Other Compensation. The director or an
immediate family member must not have received more than
$100,000 per year in direct compensation from the Company, other
than in the form of director fees, pension or other forms of
deferred compensation during the past three years.
Auditor Affiliation. The director must not be
a current partner or employee of the Company’s internal or
external auditor. An immediate family member of the director
must not be a current partner of the Company’s internal or
external auditor, or an employee of such auditor who
participates in the auditor’s audit, assurance or tax
compliance (but not tax planning) practice. In addition, the
director or an immediate family member must not have been within
the last three years a partner or employee of the Company’s
internal or external auditor who personally worked on the
Company’s audit.
Interlocking Directorships. During the past
three years, the director or an immediate family member must not
have been employed as an executive officer by another entity
where one of the Company’s current executive officers
served at the same time on the compensation committee.
Business Transactions. The director must not
be an employee of another entity that, during any one of the
past three years, received payments from the Company, or made
payments to the Company, for property or services that exceed
the greater of $1 million or 2% of the other entity’s
annual consolidated gross revenues. In addition, a member of the
director’s immediate family must not have been an executive
officer of another entity that, during any one of the past three
years, received payments from the Company, or made payments to
the Company, for property or services that exceed the greater of
$1 million or 2% of the other entity’s annual
consolidated gross revenues.
Ernst & Young LLP (“Ernst &
Young”), independent public accountants, served as our
auditors for the 2007 and 2006 fiscal years. Ernst &
Young billed the Company the fees and costs set forth below for
services rendered during the fiscal years ended June 30,2007 and 2006, respectively.
2007
2006
Audit Fees(1)
Audit of consolidated financial
statements
$
283,250
$
270,375
Audit of internal control over
financial reporting
324,450
—
Timely quarterly reviews
47,250
45,450
SEC filings, including comfort
letters, consents and comment letters
92,000
112,600
Total Audit Fees
746,950
428,425
Audit Related Fees(2)
Employee benefit plans
17,000
18,500
Audits in connection with
acquisitions and other accounting consultations
235,720
22,000
Due diligence services on pending
merger
268,306
—
Total Audit-Related Fees
521,026
40,500
Tax Fees(2)
Tax return preparation
90,200
42,000
Tax planning
—
12,500
Total Tax Fees
90,200
54,500
Total Fees
$
1,358,176
$
523,425
(1)
Includes fees and expenses related
to the fiscal year audit and interim reviews, notwithstanding
when the fees and expenses were billed or when the services were
rendered.
(2)
Includes fees and expenses for
services rendered from July through June of the fiscal year,
notwithstanding when the fees and expenses were billed.
Since November 2002, all audit and non-audit services provided
by Ernst & Young have been pre-approved by the Audit
Committee.
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended
June 30, 2007, 2006 and 2005
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the
years ended June 30, 2007, 2006 and 2005
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended
June 30, 2007, 2006 and 2005
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
2.
All schedules for which provision is made in the applicable
accounting regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
are not required under the related instructions, are
inapplicable, or the information is contained in the Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements and therefore have been
omitted.
3.
Exhibits required to be filed by Item 601 of
Regulation S-K:
(2)
Plan of
Acquisition, Reorganization, Arrangement, Liquidation or
Succession
Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, dated as of
June 18, 2007, among Grubb & Ellis Realty
Advisors, Inc., the Registrant and GERA Property Acquisition
LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Registrant, incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of Registrant’s Current
Report on
Form 8-K
filed on June 19, 2007.
Restated Certificate of
Incorporation of the Registrant, incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant’s Annual
Report on
Form 10-K
filed on March 31, 1995.
Certificate of Retirement with
Respect to 130,233 Shares of Junior Convertible Preferred
Stock of Grubb & Ellis Company, filed with the
Delaware Secretary of State on January 22, 1997,
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the
Registrant’s Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q
filed on February 13, 1997.
3
.4
Certificate of Retirement with
Respect to 8,894 Shares of Series A Senior Convertible
Preferred Stock, 128,266 Shares of Series B Senior
Convertible Preferred Stock, and 19,767 Shares of Junior
Convertible Preferred Stock of Grubb & Ellis Company,
filed with the Delaware Secretary State on January 22,1997, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to
the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q
filed on February 13, 1997.
Amended and Restated Certificate
of Designations, Number, Voting Powers, Preferences and Rights
of Series A Preferred Stock of Grubb & Ellis
Company, as filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on
September 13, 2002, incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 3.8 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K
filed on October 15, 2002.
3
.7
Certificate of Designations,
Number Voting Posers, Preferences and Rights of
Series A-1
Preferred Stock of Grubb & Ellis Company, as filed
with the Secretary of State of Delaware on January 4, 2005,
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2 to the
Registrant’s Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed on January 6, 2005.
3
.8
Preferred Stock Exchange
Agreement, dated as of December 30, 2004, between the
Registrant and Kojaian Ventures, LLC, incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 1 to the Registrant’s Current
Report on
Form 8-K
filed on January 6, 2005.
3
.9
Certificate of Designations,
Number, Voting Powers, Preferences and Rights of
Series A-1
Preferred Stock of Grubb & Ellis Company, as filed
with the Secretary of State of Delaware on January 4, 2005,
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2 to the
Registrant’s Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed on January 6, 2005.
(4)
Instruments
Defining the Rights of Security Holders, including
Indentures.
Amended and Restated Credit
Agreement, dated as of April 14, 2006, among the
Registrant, certain of its subsidiaries (the
“Guarantors”), the “Lender” (as defined
therein), Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc., as sole book-running
manager and sole lead arranger, Deutsche Bank Trust Company
Americas, as initial swing line bank, the initial issuer of
letters of credit and administrative agent for the lender
parties, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1
to Registrant’s Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed on April 20, 2006.
4
.4
Amended and Restated Security
Agreement, dated as of April 14, 2006, among the
Registrant, certain of its subsidiaries and Deutsche Bank
Trust Company Americas, as administrative agent, for the
“Secured Parties” (as defined therein), incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to Registrant’s
Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed on April 20, 2006.
First Letter Amendment to the
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 16,2006, among the Registrant, certain of its subsidiaries (the
“Guarantors”), the “Lender” (as defined
therein), Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc., as sole book-running
manager and sole lead arranger, Deutsche Bank Trust Company
Americas, as initial swing line bank, the initial issuer of
letters of credit and administrative agent for the lender
parties, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1
to Registrant’s Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed on June 20, 2006.
4
.6
Second Letter Amendment to the
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of
February 16, 2007, between Deutsche Bank Trust Company
Americas, other lenders and the Registrant, incorporated herein
by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s
Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed on February 22, 2007.
On an individual basis, instruments other than Exhibits listed
above under Exhibit 4 defining the rights of holders of
long-term debt of the Registrant and its consolidated
subsidiaries and partnerships do not exceed ten percent of total
consolidated assets and are, therefore, omitted; however, the
Company will furnish supplementally to the Commission any such
omitted instrument upon request.
Employment Agreement entered into
on November 9, 2004, between Robert H. Osbrink and the
Registrant, effective January 1, 2004, incorporated herein
by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s
Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q
filed on November 15, 2004.
10
.2*
First Amendment to Employment
Agreement entered into between Robert Osbrink and the
Registrant, dated as of September 7, 2005, incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the
Registrant’s Report on
Form 10-K
filed on September 28, 2005.
Grubb & Ellis 1998 Stock
Option Plan, effective as of January 13, 1998, incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the
Registrant’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K
filed on September 28, 1999
Grubb & Ellis Company
2000 Stock Option Plan, effective November 16, 2000,
incorporated by herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the
Registrant’s Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q
filed on February 14, 2001.
Transition Agreement entered into
as of April 1, 2003, portions of which were omitted
pursuant to a request for Confidential Treatment under
Rule 24(b) of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended,
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2 to the
Registrant’s Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed on April 16, 2003.
Series A-1
Preferred Stock Agreement between the Registrant and Kojaian
Ventures, L.L.C., dated as of April 28, 2006, incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the
Registrant’s Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed on April 28, 2006.
Second Amendment to Employment
Agreement entered into between Robert H. Osbrink and the
Registrant, dated as of November 15, 2006, incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 1 to the Registrant’s
Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed on November 21, 2006
Second Amendment to the Purchase
and Sale Agreement between Abrams Office Centre, Ltd. and GERA
Property Acquisition LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the
Registrant, dated December 15, 2006, incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Current
Report on
Form 8-K
filed December 21, 2006.
Purchase and Sale Agreement
between F/B 6400 Shafer Ct. (Rosemont), LLC and GERA Property
Acquisition LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Registrant,
dated as of February 9, 2007, incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Current
Report on
Form 8-K
filed on February 9, 2007.
Purchase and Sale Agreement
between Danbury Buildings Co., L.P., Danbury Buildings, Inc. and
GERA Property Acquisition LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the
Registrant, dated February 20, 2007, incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Registrant’s Current
Report on
Form 8-K
filed on February 22, 2007.
Letter Amendment to Purchase and
Sale Agreement between Danbury Buildings, Inc. and Danbury
Buildings Co., L.P. and GERA Property Acquisition LLC, a wholly
owned subsidiary of the Registrant, dated as of April 30,2007, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to
the Registrant’s Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed on May 3, 2007.
Deed of Trust, Security Agreement,
Assignment of Rents and Fixture Filing by and among GERA Abrams
Centre LLC, Rebecca S. Conrad, as Trustee for the benefit of
Wachovia Bank, National Association, dated as of June 15,2007incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to
the Registrant’s Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed on June 19, 2007.
Open-end Mortgage, Security
Agreement, Assignment of Rents and Fixture Filing between GERA
Danbury LLC to Wachovia Bank, National Association dated as of
June 15, 2007, incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant’s Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed on June 19, 2007.
*
Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15
(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant
has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Grubb & Ellis Company
(Registrant)
/s/ Mark
E. Rose
Mark
E. Rose
Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons
on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the
dates indicated.
/s/ Mark
E. Rose
/s/
Mark E. Rose
Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive
Officer)