UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
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CBRE Group, Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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400 South Hope Street, 25th Floor
Los Angeles, California 90071
(213) 613-3333
March 30, 2016
Dear Fellow Stockholder:
On behalf of the Board of Directors and management of CBRE Group, Inc., I cordially invite you to attend our annual meeting of stockholders on Friday, May 13, 2016, at our offices located at 4350 La Jolla Village Drive, Suite 250, San Diego, California at 8:30 a.m. (Pacific Time). The notice of meeting and proxy statement that follow describe the business that we will consider at the meeting.
We hope that you will be able to attend the meeting. However, regardless of whether you are present in person, your vote is very important. We are pleased to again offer multiple options for voting your shares. You may vote by telephone, via the Internet, by mail or in person, as described beginning on page 1 of the proxy statement.
Thank you for your continued support of CBRE Group, Inc.
Sincerely yours,
Robert E. Sulentic
President and Chief Executive Officer
Notice of 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
|
May 13, 2016
8:30 a.m. (Pacific Time)
CBRE, 4350 La Jolla Village Drive, Suite 250, San Diego, California
AGENDA:
1. | Elect our 10 Board-nominated directors named in the Proxy Statement; |
2. | Ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2016; |
3. | Advisory resolution to approve named executive officer compensation for 2015; |
4. | Approve an amendment to our certificate of incorporation to reduce (to 30%) the stock-ownership threshold required for our stockholders to request a special stockholder meeting; |
5. | If properly presented, to consider a stockholder proposal regarding our stockholders ability to call special stockholder meetings; and |
6. | Transact any other business properly introduced at the Annual Meeting. |
Only stockholders of record as of March 14, 2016 will be entitled to attend and vote at the Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof.
We hope that you can attend the Annual Meeting in person. Regardless of whether you will attend in person, please complete and return your proxy so that your shares can be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with your instructions. Any stockholder attending the Annual Meeting may vote in person even if that stockholder returned a proxy. You will need to bring a picture ID and proof of ownership of CBRE Group, Inc. stock as of the record date to enter the Annual Meeting.
We are pleased to furnish proxy materials to our stockholders on the Internet. We believe that this allows us to provide you with the information that you need while lowering the costs of delivery and reducing the environmental impact of the Annual Meeting.
March 30, 2016
By Order of the Board of Directors
Laurence H. Midler
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
This Proxy Statement and accompanying proxy card are first being made available on or about March 30, 2016.
We may refer to ourselves in this Proxy Statement as CBRE, the Company, we, us or our and we may refer to our Board of Directors as the Board. A copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, including financial statements, is being sent simultaneously with this Proxy Statement to each stockholder who requested paper copies of these materials and will also be available at www.proxyvote.com.
Proxy Summary Information
To assist you in reviewing the proposals to be voted upon at our 2016 Annual Meeting, we have summarized important information contained in this Proxy Statement and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. This summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider, and you should carefully read the entire Proxy Statement and Annual Report on Form 10-K before voting.
Voting
Stockholders of record as of March 14, 2016 may cast their votes in any of the following ways:
Internet | Phone | In Person | ||||
Visit www.proxyvote.com. You will need the 16-digit number included in your proxy card, voter instruction form or notice. | Call 1-800-690-6903 or the number on your voter instruction form. You will need the 16-digit number included in your proxy card, voter instruction form or notice. | Send your completed and signed proxy card or voter instruction form to the address on your proxy card or voter instruction form. | If you plan to attend the meeting, you will need to bring a picture ID and proof of ownership of CBRE Group, Inc. stock as of the record date. |
Voting Matters and Board Recommendation
Proposal | Board Vote Recommendation | |
Elect Directors (page 7) |
ü FOR each Director Nominee | |
Ratify Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for 2016 (page 23) |
ü FOR | |
Advisory Resolution to Approve Named Executive Officer Compensation for 2015 (page 26) |
ü FOR | |
Approve an Amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to Reduce (to 30%) the Stock-Ownership Threshold Required for our Stockholders to Request a Special Stockholder Meeting (page 59) |
ü FOR | |
If Properly Presented, to Consider a Stockholder Proposal Regarding Special Stockholder Meetings (page 62) |
× AGAINST |
Fiscal Year 2015 Business Highlights(1)
(1) | For more complete information regarding our fiscal 2015 performance, please review our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. You can obtain a free copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K at the SECs website (www.sec.gov) or by submitting a written request by (a) mail to CBRE Group, Inc., Attention: Investor Relations, 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166, (b) telephone at (212) 984-6515 or (c) e-mail at investorrelations@cbre.com. |
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | 1 |
PROXY SUMMARY INFORMATION
The following charts highlight our growth in adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted EPS for 2015 relative to 2014:
(2) | These are non-GAAP financial measures. For supplemental financial data and a corresponding reconciliation of (a) net income computed in accordance with GAAP to adjusted EBITDA and (b) net income computed in accordance with GAAP to adjusted net income and to adjusted EPS, in each case for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, see Annex A to this Proxy Statement. We also refer to adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted EPS from time to time in our public reporting as EBITDA, as adjusted (or as normalized EBITDA), net income attributable to CBRE Group, Inc., as adjusted and diluted income per share attributable to CBRE Group, Inc. shareholders, as adjusted, respectively. |
As described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, our Board and management use non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate our performance and manage our operations. However, non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP. The term GAAP, as used in this Proxy Statement, means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. |
2 | CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement |
PROXY SUMMARY INFORMATION
Corporate Governance Highlights
Board Independence | ||
Independent director nominees |
9 out of 10 | |
Independent Chair of the Board |
Ray Wirta | |
Director Elections | ||
Frequency of Board elections |
Annual | |
Voting standard for uncontested elections |
Majority Requirement | |
Director Term Limits |
12 Years(3) | |
Limit on Number of Board-nominated Executive Officers |
Maximum 1 | |
Evaluating and Improving Board Performance | ||
Board evaluations |
Annual | |
Committee evaluations |
Annual | |
Aligning Director and Executive Interests with Stockholder Interests | ||
Director stock ownership requirements |
Yes | |
Executive officer stock ownership requirements |
Yes | |
Policy restricting trading, and prohibiting hedging and short-selling of, CBRE stock |
Yes | |
Compensation clawback policy for executive officers |
Yes |
Summary of Board Nominees
The following table provides summary information about each of the director nominees who is being voted on by stockholders at the Annual Meeting.
Name | Age | Director Since |
Principal Occupation | Committees | Other Public Company Boards |
|||||||||||
Brandon B. Boze* |
35 | 2012 | Partner of Value Act Capital | AC, CC | 0 | |||||||||||
Curtis F. Feeny* |
58 | 2006 | Managing Director of Voyager Capital | AC, GC | 0 | |||||||||||
Bradford M. Freeman* |
74 | 2001 | Partner of Freeman Spogli & Co. Incorporated | CC, GC | 0 | |||||||||||
Christopher T. Jenny* |
60 | Jan. 2016 | Senior Advisor to Parthenon-EY | GC | 0 | |||||||||||
Gerardo I. Lopez* |
56 | 2015 | President and Chief Executive Officer of Extended Stay America, Inc. | GC | 2 | |||||||||||
Frederic V. Malek* |
79 | 2001 | Chairman of Thayer Lodging Group | CC | 1 | |||||||||||
Paula R. Reynolds* |
59 | Mar. 2016 | President and Chief Executive Officer of PreferWest, LLC | N/A | 3 | |||||||||||
Robert E. Sulentic |
59 | 2012 | President and Chief Executive Officer of CBRE | EC | 1 | |||||||||||
Laura D. Tyson* |
68 | 2010 | Professor, Walter A. Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley | AC | 3 | |||||||||||
Ray Wirta* |
72 | 2001 | Chief Executive Officer of The Koll Company | EC | 0 |
* | Independent Director |
Key: | |
AC | Audit and Finance Committee |
CC | Compensation Committee |
EC | Executive Committee |
GC | Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee |
(3) | This term-limit restriction does not apply for certain of our directors until December 17, 2020. See Corporate GovernanceTerm Limits on page 15. |
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | 3 |
PROXY SUMMARY INFORMATION
Executive Compensation Highlights
4 | CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement |
PROXY SUMMARY INFORMATION
2015 CompensationSet forth below is the 2015 compensation for our named executive officers and the principal capacity in which they served as of December 31, 2015. See the footnotes accompanying the Summary Compensation Table on page 48 for more information.
Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary ($) |
Bonus ($) |
Stock Awards(1) ($) |
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($) |
All Other Compensation ($) |
Total ($) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Robert E. Sulentic President and Chief Executive Officer |
2015 | 967,500 | 607,130 | 4,124,980 | 1,992,870 | 3,750 | 7,696,230 | |||||||||||||||||||||
James R. Groch Chief Financial Officer and Global Director of Corporate Development |
2015 | 752,500 | 500,000 | 2,999,930 | 1,550,000 | 3,750 | 5,806,180 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Michael J. Lafitte Chief Operating Officer |
2015 | 675,000 | 400,000 | 2,319,980 | 1,409,100 | 3,750 | 4,807,830 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Calvin W. Frese, Jr. Chief Executive OfficerAmericas |
2015 | 660,000 | 400,000 | 2,249,948 | 1,282,800 | 3,750 | 4,596,498 | |||||||||||||||||||||
William F. Concannon Chief Executive OfficerGlobal Workplace Solutions |
2015 | 650,000 | 300,000 | 2,049,924 | 1,180,900 | 3,750 | 4,184,574 |
(1) | Unless otherwise stated, the 2015 value of the Adjusted EPS Equity Awards shown in this table and elsewhere in this Proxy Statement represents grant date fair value based on the target amount of restricted stock units granted thereunder. As noted under the heading Compensation Discussion and AnalysisComponents of Our ProgramElements of our compensation program beginning on page 34, the Adjusted EPS Equity Award was granted as a target number of restricted stock units, subject to a maximum number of shares equal to 200% of the target amount. |
Executive and Change in Control Severance PlanIn March 2015, we adopted a Change in Control and Severance Plan for Senior Management. For a more detailed description of this Plan, see Executive CompensationSummary of Plans, Programs and AgreementsSeverance Plan; Treatment of Death, Disability and Retirement Under 2013, 2014 and 2015 Equity Award Agreements on page 54.
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | 5 |
6 | CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement |
Our Board has nominated 10 directors for election at this Annual Meeting to hold office until the next annual meeting and the election of their successors. All of the nominees currently are directors and were selected to serve on our Board based on:
Director Nomination Criteria: Qualifications, Skills and Experience
Directors Skills and Qualifications
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | 7 |
PROPOSAL 1
2016 Director Nominees
8 | CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement |
PROPOSAL 1
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | 9 |
PROPOSAL 1
10 | CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement |
PROPOSAL 1
Messrs. Blum, Kantor and Wilson, who currently serve on our Board, have a combined 42 years of director service to us. They will not stand for re-election and will retire from our Board at the expiration of their current terms at the Annual Meeting. We are grateful for their many years of service to CBRE.
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | 11 |
PROPOSAL 1
The following summarizes the independence and tenure of our 2016 director nominees:
Required Vote
This is an uncontested Board election. As such, in order to be elected, each nominee must receive the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on his or her election (i.e., votes cast FOR a nominee must exceed votes cast as AGAINST). Votes to ABSTAIN with respect to a nominee and broker non-votes are not considered votes cast, and so will not affect the outcome of the nominees election.
Recommendation
Our Board recommends that stockholders vote FOR all of the nominees.
12 | CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement |
We are governed by a Board and committees of the Board that meet several times throughout the year, and we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of business conduct and corporate governance. Governance is a continuous focus for us, starting with our Board and extending to management and our employees. Our Board has also established Corporate Governance Guidelines that provide a framework for the effective governance of the Company.
GOVERNANCE HIGHLIGHTS
Corporate Governance | Compensation | Stockholder Rights | ||
10 director nominees, nine of whom are independent |
Pay-for-performance compensation program, which includes performance-based equity grants (our Adjusted EPS Equity Awards) |
Annual election of all directors | ||
Director Term Limits (12 years)1 |
Annual say on pay votes, with most recent favorable say on pay vote of over 96% |
Majority voting requirement for directors in uncontested elections | ||
Independent Chair of the Board |
Stock ownership requirements for directors and executive officers |
Stockholder rights to call special meetings | ||
Regular executive sessions of independent directors |
Policy restricting trading, and prohibiting hedging and short-selling, of CBRE stock |
No poison pill takeover defense plans | ||
Risk oversight by the Board and its key committees |
Compensation clawback policy for executive officers |
Stockholders may act by written consent | ||
Maximum of one Board-nominated management director |
||||
All directors attended at least 75% of Board and Board committee meetings |
||||
Robust Standards of Business Conduct and governance policies |
||||
No over-boarding by our directors on other public-company boards |
Process for Selecting Director Candidates
The Governance Committee identifies and evaluates potential candidates and recommends candidates to our Board for nomination. For greater detail about the criteria for director candidates and the nomination process, see Proposal 1Elect DirectorsDirector Nomination Criteria: Qualifications, Skills and Experience on page 7.
Stockholder-Recommended Director Candidates
1 | This term-limit restriction does not apply for certain of our directors until December 17, 2020. See Term Limits on page 15. |
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | 13 |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Director Independence
Independent Director Meetings
Majority Voting to Elect Directors
Director Resignation Policy Upon Change of Employment
14 | CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Term Limits
Board Structure and Leadership
Board Risk Management
Oversight of Risk
| The Board oversees risk management. |
| Board committees, which meet regularly and report back to the full Board, play significant roles in carrying out our Boards risk oversight function. |
| Company management is charged with managing risk through rigorous internal processes and strong internal controls. |
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | 15 |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Succession Planning
Our Board periodically reviews management succession and development plans with the CEO. These plans include CEO succession in the event of an emergency or retirement, as well as the succession plans for the CEOs direct reports and other employees critical to our continued operations and success.
Board Meetings and Committees
The following table describes the current members of each of the committees of our Board, and the number of meetings held during fiscal year 2015:
Director | Board | Audit and Finance |
Compensation | Governance | Executive | |||||
Richard C. Blum |
ü | ü | ||||||||
Brandon B. Boze |
ü | ü | ü | |||||||
Curtis F. Feeny |
ü | CHAIR | ü | |||||||
Bradford M. Freeman |
ü | ü | ü | |||||||
Christopher T. Jenny |
ü | ü | ||||||||
Michael Kantor |
ü | ü | ||||||||
Gerardo I. Lopez |
ü | ü | ||||||||
Frederic V. Malek |
ü | CHAIR | ||||||||
Paula R. Reynolds |
ü | |||||||||
Robert E. Sulentic |
ü | ü | ||||||||
Laura D. Tyson |
ü | ü | ||||||||
Gary L. Wilson |
ü | ü | CHAIR | |||||||
Ray Wirta |
CHAIR | CHAIR | ||||||||
Number of Meetings |
5 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
16 | CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Board Attendance at Annual Meeting of Stockholders
Although the Board understands that there may be situations that prevent a director from attending an annual meeting of stockholders, it is the Boards policy that all directors should attend these meetings. Eight of 10 of our then-serving directors attended our 2015 annual meeting of stockholders on May 15, 2015.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
The members of the Compensation Committee are set forth in the table on page 16. None of Messrs. Boze, Freeman or Malek has ever been an officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. In addition, during 2015, none of our directors was employed as an executive officer of another entity where any of our executive officers served on that entitys board of directors or compensation committee (or its equivalent).
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | 17 |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Director Compensation
The following table provides information regarding compensation earned during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 by each non-employee director for his or her Board and committee service. Robert E. Sulentic, who is our President and CEO, is not compensated for his role as a director. Compensation information for Mr. Sulentic is described under Compensation Discussion and Analysis beginning on page 27 and under Executive Compensation beginning on page 48. For stock awards in the table below, the dollar amounts indicated reflect the aggregate grant date fair value for awards granted during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015.
Name | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash(1) ($) |
Stock Awards(2)(3) ($) |
Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings ($) |
Total ($) |
||||||||||||
Richard C. Blum |
76,000 | 149,999 | | 225,999 | ||||||||||||
Brandon B. Boze |
85,000 | 149,999 | | 234,999 | ||||||||||||
Curtis F. Feeny |
102,000 | 149,999 | | 251,999 | ||||||||||||
Bradford M. Freeman(4) |
80,000 | 149,999 | 2,342 | 232,341 | ||||||||||||
Christopher T. Jenny(5) |
| | | | ||||||||||||
Michael Kantor(4) |
79,000 | 149,999 | 188 | 229,187 | ||||||||||||
Gerardo I. Lopez(6) |
42,803 | 83,598 | | 126,401 | ||||||||||||
Frederic V. Malek(4) |
87,000 | 149,999 | 1,687 | 238,686 | ||||||||||||
Paula R. Reynolds(5) |
| | | | ||||||||||||
Laura D. Tyson |
81,000 | 149,999 | | 230,999 | ||||||||||||
Gary L. Wilson(4) |
97,000 | 149,999 | 933 | 247,932 | ||||||||||||
Ray Wirta |
76,000 | 149,999 | | 225,999 |
(1) | Includes fees associated with the annual Board service retainer, attendance at committee meetings and chairing a Board committee. Our non-employee directors may elect to receive shares of our common stock in lieu of cash payments (in like amounts). We reflect these stock in lieu of cash payments under the column titled Fees Earned or Paid in Cash, and not under the Stock Awards column. |
(2) | This represents the grant date fair value under Financial Accounting Standards Board, Accounting Standards Codification (ASC), Topic 718, Stock Compensation, of all restricted stock units granted to the directors during 2015. See also Note 2 Significant Accounting Policies and Note 12 Employee Benefit Plans to our consolidated financial statements as reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 for a discussion of the valuation of our stock awards. |
18 | CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
(3) | Each of Dr. Tyson and Messrs. Blum, Boze, Feeny, Freeman, Kantor, Malek, Wilson and Wirta was awarded 3,889 restricted stock units pursuant to our director compensation policy, valued at the fair market value of our common stock of $38.57 per share on the award date of May 15, 2015. |
(4) | Pursuant to our Deferred Compensation Plan, our non-employee directors are eligible to defer their director fees as described under Summary of Plans, Programs and AgreementsDeferred Compensation Plan on page 53. |
| Mr. Freeman deferred a total of $80,000 of his 2015 cash compensation. During 2015, Mr. Freemans total deferred account balance (which included amounts deferred during 2015 as well as amounts deferred from prior years) accrued interest at an annualized rate of 3.88% for the period from January 1, 2015 through March 31, 2015, 3.57% for the period from April 1, 2015 through June 30, 2015, 3.90% for the period from July 1, 2015 through September 30, 2015 and 4.09% for the period from October 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015. Mr. Freemans total accrued interest for 2015 was $11,886. |
| Mr. Kantor deferred a total of $79,000 of his 2015 cash compensation. During 2015, Mr. Kantors total deferred account balance accrued interest at an annualized rate of 3.90% for the period from July 1, 2015 through September 30, 2015 and 4.09% for the period from October 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015. Mr. Kantors total accrued interest for 2015 was $890. |
| Mr. Malek deferred a total of $87,000 of his 2015 cash compensation. During 2015, Mr. Maleks total deferred account balance (which included amounts deferred during 2015 as well as amounts deferred from prior years) accrued interest at an annualized rate of 3.88% from January 1, 2015 through March 31, 2015, 3.57% for the period from April 1, 2015 through June 30, 2015, 3.90% for the period from July 1, 2015 through September 30, 2015 and 4.09% for the period from October 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015. Mr. Maleks total accrued interest for 2015 was $8,531. |
| Mr. Wilson deferred a total of $97,000 of his 2015 cash compensation. During 2015, Mr. Wilsons total deferred account balance (which included amounts deferred during 2015 as well as amounts deferred from prior years) accrued interest at an annualized rate of 3.88% from January 1, 2015 through March 31, 2015, 3.57% for the period from April 1, 2015 through June 30, 2015, 3.90% for the period from July 1, 2015 through September 30, 2015 and 4.09% for the period from October 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015. Mr. Wilsons total accrued interest for 2015 was $4,680. |
In accordance with SEC rules regarding above-market interest on non-qualified deferred compensation, accrued interest for 2015 of $2,342, $188, $1,687 and $933 for Messrs. Freeman, Kantor, Malek and Wilson, respectively, is considered to be compensation and is shown in the Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings column based on a comparison to 120% of the long-term quarterly applicable federal rate for the months when the interest rate was set. |
(5) | Mr. Jenny and Ms. Reynolds became non-employee directors on January 12, 2016 and March 10, 2016, respectively. Accordingly, neither Mr. Jenny nor Ms. Reynolds received any director compensation for 2015. |
(6) | Mr. Lopez was appointed to our Board on October 23, 2015 and as such received pro-rated director compensation for 2015. The pro-rated portion of his equity grant under our director compensation policy was 2,394 restricted stock units, valued at the fair market value of our common stock of $34.92 per share on the award date of October 23, 2015. |
The table below shows the aggregate number of stock awards (i.e., restricted stock units) and option awards outstanding for each non-employee director as of December 31, 2015:
Name | Aggregate Number of Stock Awards Outstanding |
Aggregate Number of Shares Underlying Options Outstanding |
||||||
Richard C. Blum |
3,889 | 10,980 | ||||||
Brandon B. Boze |
3,889 | | ||||||
Curtis F. Feeny |
3,889 | 10,980 | ||||||
Bradford M. Freeman |
3,889 | 10,980 | ||||||
Christopher T. Jenny(1) |
| | ||||||
Michael Kantor |
3,889 | 10,980 | ||||||
Gerardo I. Lopez |
2,394 | | ||||||
Frederic V. Malek |
3,889 | 10,980 | ||||||
Paula R. Reynolds(1) |
| | ||||||
Laura D. Tyson |
3,889 | 5,852 | ||||||
Gary L. Wilson |
3,889 | 10,980 | ||||||
Ray Wirta |
3,889 | 10,980 |
(1) | Mr. Jenny and Ms. Reynolds became non-employee directors on January 12, 2016 and March 10, 2016, respectively. Accordingly, neither Mr. Jenny nor Ms. Reynolds received any director compensation for 2015. |
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | 19 |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Corporate Governance Guidelines and Code of Ethics
Current copies of our Boards Standards of Business Conduct, Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers, Corporate Governance Guidelines, Policy Regarding Transactions with Interested Parties and Corporate Opportunities, Whistleblower Policy and Equity Award Policy are available on our website and in print upon written request to our Investor Relations Department at CBRE Group, Inc., 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166, or by email at investorrelations@cbre.com.
Stock Ownership Requirements
20 | CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | 21 |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Communications with our Board
Submission of Stockholder Proposals and Board Nominees
22 | CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement |
PROPOSAL 2 RATIFY INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR 2016
Required Vote
Approval of this Proposal 2 requires the affirmative vote (i.e., FOR votes) of a majority of the shares present or represented and entitled to vote thereon at our 2016 Annual Meeting. A vote to ABSTAIN will count as present for purposes of this Proposal and so will have the same effect as a vote AGAINST this Proposal. In the absence of instructions, your broker may vote your shares on this Proposal. For more information, see General Information about the Annual MeetingVoting Instructions and InformationIf you do not vote/effect of broker non-votes on page 70.
Recommendation
Our Board recommends that stockholders vote FOR ratification of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016.
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | 23 |
The following table shows the fees for audit and other services provided by KPMG LLP for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 (in millions):
Fiscal 2015 | Fiscal 2014 | |||||||
Audit Fees |
$ | 7.5 | 7.5 | |||||
Audit-Related Fees |
1.9 | 1.6 | ||||||
Tax Fees |
4.4 | 3.2 | ||||||
All Other Fees |
| | ||||||
TOTAL FEES |
$ | 13.8 | 12.3 |
A description of the types of services provided in each category is as follows:
Audit and Finance Committee Pre-Approval Process
Audit and Finance Committee Report
24 | CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement |
AUDIT AND OTHER FEES
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | 25 |
PROPOSAL 3 ADVISORY RESOLUTION TO APPROVE NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION FOR 2015
Required Vote
Approval of this Proposal 3 requires the affirmative vote (i.e., FOR votes) of a majority of the shares present or represented and entitled to vote thereon at our 2016 Annual Meeting. A vote to ABSTAIN will count as present for purposes of this Proposal and so will have the same effect as a vote AGAINST this Proposal. A broker non-vote will not count as present, and so will have no effect in determining the outcome with respect to this Proposal.
Recommendation
Our Board recommends that stockholders vote FOR the advisory resolution to approve named executive officer compensation for 2015.
26 | CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
This Compensation Discussion and Analysis, or CD&A, provides you with detailed information regarding the material elements of compensation paid to our executive officers, including the considerations and objectives underlying our compensation policies and practices. Although our executive compensation program is generally applicable to all of our executive officers, this CD&A focuses primarily on the program as applied to the following executives (whom we refer to as named executive officers), which executives served in the following principal capacities as of December 31, 2015:
Robert E. Sulentic |
President and CEO | |
James R. Groch |
Chief Financial Officer and Global Director of Corporate Development | |
Michael J. Lafitte |
Chief Operating Officer | |
Calvin W. Frese, Jr. |
Chief Executive OfficerAmericas | |
William F. Concannon |
Chief Executive OfficerGlobal Workplace Solutions |
2015 Executive Summary
Business Highlights
In fiscal year 2015, we delivered strong results. Some highlights are as follows:
| Our revenue totaled $10.9 billion, up 20% from 2014. |
| Our adjusted EBITDA was $1.4 billion, up 21% from 2014.2 |
| Our adjusted net income was $689.2 million, up 23% from 2014.2 |
| Our adjusted EPS was $2.05, up 22% from 2014.2 |
| We completed the acquisition of Johnson Controls, Inc.s Global Workplace Solutions business (our largest acquisition since 2006). This acquisition solidified our leadership position in the fast-growing occupier-outsourcing business. |
| We increased the stability of our revenue sources, which is a key strategic goal for us. Our contractual revenue (which includes revenues from our occupier-outsourcing, Asset Services, Global Investment Management and Valuation business lines) increased substantially in 2015 versus 2014 as a result of (among other things) our Global Workplace Solutions acquisition. |
| We successfully recruited hundreds of new brokerage producers (net of departures). |
| We significantly strengthened our balance sheet, and had more than $3.0 billion in available liquidity at year-end 2015. |
2 For supplemental financial data and a corresponding reconciliation of (a) net income computed in accordance with GAAP to adjusted EBITDA and (b) net income computed in accordance with GAAP to adjusted net income and to adjusted EPS, in each case for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, please see Annex A to this Proxy Statement.
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | 27 |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Executive Compensation Highlights
28 | CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
COMPONENTS OF OUR EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PROGRAM
Titles indicated in table reflect principal capacity in which the named executive officer served as of December 31, 2015. All base salary changes were effective April 1, 2015.
Compensation Component |
Description and Purpose | Committee Actions for 2015 | ||
Base Salary | Provides a minimum level of fixed compensation necessary to attract and retain senior executives. Set at a level that recognizes the skills, experience, leadership and individual contribution of each executive as well as the scope and complexity of the executives role, including due consideration given to appropriate comparator group benchmarking. |
In 2015, the Committee increased base salary for the following executives relative to 2014: Robert E. Sulentic, our President and CEO, to $990,000, an increase of $90,000. James R. Groch, our Chief Financial Officer and Global Director of Corporate Development, to $770,000, an increase of $70,000. Michael J. Lafitte, our Chief Operating Officer, to $700,000, an increase of $100,000. Calvin W. Frese, Jr., our CEOAmericas, to $680,000, an increase of $80,000. The base salary of William F. Concannon, our CEOGlobal Workplace Solutions, was $675,000 in 2015. Mr. Concannon was not a named executive officer for 2014, and so we do not present compensation information for him for that year. | ||
Annual Performance Awards | Variable cash incentive opportunity tied to achievement of financial and individual strategic objectives. The financial performance measure used to determine a significant portion of each executives earned award is adjusted EBITDA as measured at the global level and, for each of our business units, as measured at the business unit level. Each executive has a target cash performance award opportunity, consisting of a financial portion (80% of the total award for 2015) and a strategic measures portion (20% of the total award for 2015). Actual cash incentive awards earned can range from zero to 200% of target. An executive may also earn a supplemental and discretionary bonus award in cases of exceptional and exceedingly deserving circumstances. |
In 2015, the Committee increased the target annual performance award for the following executives relative to 2014: Robert E. Sulentic, our President and CEO, to a $1,485,000 target, an increase of $135,000. Mr. Sulentics actual annual performance award earned for 2015 was $2,600,000, which amount included a supplemental and discretionary one-time $607,130 award granted by the Committee under our Executive Bonus Plan in recognition of his exemplary leadership and outstanding performance during 2015. James R. Groch, our Chief Financial Officer and Global Director of Corporate Development, to a $1,155,000 target, an increase of $155,000. Mr. Grochs actual annual performance award earned for 2015 was $2,050,000, which amount included a supplemental and discretionary $500,000 CEO award granted under our Executive Bonus Plan in recognition of his exemplary leadership and outstanding performance during 2015. Michael J. Lafitte, our Chief Operating Officer, to a $1,050,000 target, an increase of $100,000. Mr. Lafittes actual annual performance award earned for 2015 was $1,809,100, which amount included a supplemental and discretionary $400,000 CEO award granted under our Executive Bonus Plan in recognition of his exemplary leadership and outstanding performance during 2015. Calvin W. Frese, Jr., our CEOAmericas, to a $1,020,000 target, an increase of $120,000. Mr. Freses actual annual performance award earned for 2015 was $1,682,800, which amount included a supplemental and discretionary $400,000 CEO award granted under our Executive Bonus Plan in recognition of his exemplary leadership and outstanding performance during 2015. The target annual performance award for 2015 for William F. Concannon, our CEOGlobal Workplace Solutions, was $941,700, which represents his combined target awards under both our Global Operating Committee Bonus Plan and our Executive Bonus Plan (both of which he participated in for 2015). His actual annual performance award earned (combined for both plans) for 2015 was $1,480,900, which amount included a supplemental and discretionary $300,000 CEO award granted under our Executive Bonus Plan in recognition of his exemplary leadership and outstanding performance during 2015. Mr. Concannon was not a named executive officer for 2014, and so we do not present compensation information for him for that year. For a further description of Mr. Concannons bonus-plan participation during |
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | 29 |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Compensation Component |
Description and Purpose | Committee Actions for 2015 | ||
2015 and his target and actual awards under those plans, see Mr. Concannons Annual Performance Awards During 2015 on page 40. We believe the supplemental and discretionary CEO Awards noted above for Mr. Sulentic and our other named executive officers for 2015 were well-deserved based on our and their outstanding achievements during the year. We summarize these achievements under Supplemental and discretionary awards granted under our EBP on page 40. | ||||
Long-Term Incentives | Annual grants of restricted stock units (with a mix of time- and performance-based vesting conditions in 2015) intended to align the interests of our executives with those of stockholders over a multi-year period, and to support executive retention objectives. In 2015, our executives received two-thirds of their target annual long-term incentive award value in the form of a Time Vesting Equity Award, and they received one-third of the target award value in the form of an Adjusted EPS Equity Award. (We describe these two types of awards in greater detail under the heading Components of Our ProgramElements of our compensation program beginning on page 34.) |
In 2015, the Committee increased the annual equity award target for the following executives relative to 2014: Robert E. Sulentic, our President and CEO, to $4,125,000, an increase of $375,000. James R. Groch, our Chief Financial Officer and Global Director of Corporate Development, to $3,000,000, an increase of $300,000. Michael J. Lafitte, our Chief Operating Officer, to $2,320,000, an increase of $100,000. Calvin W. Frese, Jr., our CEOAmericas, to $2,250,000, an increase of $90,000. The annual equity award target of William F. Concannon, our CEOGlobal Workplace Solutions, was $2,050,000 in 2015. Mr. Concannon was not a named executive officer for 2014, and so we do not present compensation information for him for that year. The Committee granted each named executive officers annual equity award in August 2015 in the same amount as the targets indicated above (rounded down to the nearest whole share). |
30 | CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Corporate Governance Highlights
Compensation and Corporate Governance Policies and Practices | ||
Independence |
We have a Compensation Committee that is 100% independent. The Committee engages its own compensation consultant and confirms each year that the consultant has no conflicts of interest and is independent. | |
No Hedging |
We have a policy prohibiting all directors and employees from engaging in any hedging transactions with respect to securities of the Company held by them, which includes the purchase of any financial instrument (including prepaid variable forward contracts, equity swaps and collars) designed to hedge or offset any decrease in the market value of our securities. | |
Compensation Clawback Policy |
We have a compensation clawback policy that permits the Company, subject to the discretion and approval of our Board, to recover cash-based and performance-based-equity incentive compensation paid to any current or former Section 16 officer if there is a restatement of our financial results in certain circumstances. These circumstances are described in greater detail in this CD&A under the heading Other Relevant Policies and Practices on page 43. | |
Stock Ownership Requirements |
We have stock ownership requirements for directors and our executive officers that require retention of threshold amounts of the net shares acquired upon the exercise of stock options, the vesting of restricted stock or the settlement of vested restricted stock units until required ownership levels are met. | |
Equity Award Policy |
We have an Equity Award Policy that is designed to maintain the integrity of the equity award process, including timing and value of awards. The Equity Award Policy sets the timing of our annual equity grants to management and imposes stringent controls around any award made outside of the normal cycle. | |
No Single Trigger Change of Control Payments |
We do not have employment contracts, plans or other agreements that provide for single trigger change of control payments or benefits (including automatic accelerated vesting of equity awards upon a change of control only) to any of our named executive officers. | |
No Special Perquisites |
Our named executive officers receive no special perquisites or other personal benefits, unless such benefits serve a reasonable business purpose, such as customary expatriate benefits. | |
No Tax Gross-Ups |
As a policy matter, we do not provide tax gross-ups to our named executive officers. |
Philosophy and Objectives of Our Executive Compensation Program
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | 31 |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
How We Make Compensation Decisions
Our Compensation Committee
32 | CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Our Chief Executive Officer
The Committees Independent Compensation Consultant
Comparative Market Data
AECOM |
Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated | |
Aon plc |
KBR, Inc. | |
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation |
Kelly Services, Inc. | |
EMCOR Group, Inc. |
Leidos Holdings, Inc. | |
Fidelity National Financial, Inc. |
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. | |
First American Financial Corporation |
Robert Half International Inc. | |
Fiserv, Inc. |
Unisys Corporation | |
Foster Wheeler AG |
Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company | |
The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. |
XL Group plc | |
Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. |
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | 33 |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Say on Pay Results
Compensation Risk Assessment
Components of Our Program
Elements of our compensation program
34 | CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Name | 2015 Base Salary* |
Change from 2014 | ||||
Robert E. Sulentic President and Chief Executive Officer |
$ | 990,000 | Increased in 2015 by $90,000. | |||
James R. Groch Chief Financial Officer and Global Director of Corporate Development |
$ | 770,000 | Increased in 2015 by $70,000. | |||
Michael J. Lafitte Chief Operating Officer |
$ | 700,000 | Increased in 2015 by $100,000. | |||
Calvin W. Frese, Jr. Chief Executive OfficerAmericas |
$ | 680,000 | Increased in 2015 by $80,000. | |||
William F. Concannon Chief Executive OfficerGlobal Workplace Solutions |
$ | 675,000 | Mr. Concannon was not a named executive officer for 2014, and so we do not present compensation information for him for that year. |
*All base salary changes were effective April 1, 2015.
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | 35 |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Name | 2015 EBP Target Awards |
Change from 2014 | ||||
Robert E. Sulentic President and Chief Executive Officer |
$ | 1,485,000 | Increased in 2015 by $135,000. | |||
James R. Groch Chief Financial Officer and Global Director of Corporate Development |
$ | 1,155,000 | Increased in 2015 by $155,000. | |||
Michael J. Lafitte Chief Operating Officer |
$ | 1,050,000 | Increased in 2015 by $100,000. | |||
Calvin W. Frese, Jr. Chief Executive OfficerAmericas |
$ | 1,020,000 | Increased in 2015 by $120,000. | |||
William F. Concannon Chief Executive OfficerGlobal Workplace Solutions |
$ | 941,700 | (1) | Mr. Concannon was not a named executive officer for 2014, and so we do not present compensation information for him for that year. |
(1) | This amount reflects Mr. Concannons combined target awards under both our GOC Bonus Plan and our EBP (both of which he participated in for 2015), in each case as pro-rated for the portion of 2015 in which he participated in such plan. For a further description of Mr. Concannons 2015 annual performance awards, see Mr. Concannons Annual Performance Awards During 2015 on page 40. |
3 | For additional information on adjusted EBITDA, please see footnote (2) under Proxy Summary Information on page 2. |
36 | CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
The 2015 adjusted EBITDA targets for our named executive officers, as compared to actual adjusted EBITDA in 2015, were as follows:
Target for adjusted EBITDA |
Actual adjusted EBITDA |
Relevant Business Measure Weighting |
||||||||||
President and Chief Executive Officer Chief Financial Officer and Global Director of Corporate Development Chief Operating Officer
|
$ | 1,325.2 million | $ | 1,412.7 million | Global (100%) | |||||||
Chief Executive OfficerAmericas |
$ | 943.7 million | $ | 962.6 million | 4 | Americas (50%) | ||||||
$
|
1,325.2 million
|
|
$
|
1,412.7 million
|
|
|
Global (50%)
|
| ||||
Chief Executive OfficerGlobal Workplace Solutions |
$ | 293.3 million | $ | 298.2 million | 5 | Global Workplace Solutions (50%) | ||||||
$ | 1,325.2 million | $ | 1,412.7 million | Global (50%) |
4 2015 Adjusted EBITDA for our Americas region was $877.1 million. For a reconciliation of net income computed in accordance with GAAP to EBITDA and EBITDA, as adjusted, for our Americas region for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, see Annex A to this Proxy Statement. We then modified the 2015 adjusted EBITDA figure for our Americas region to add back certain overhead costs and equity compensation expense that are not fully attributable to that region in order to arrive at a bonusable adjusted EBITDA figure for our Americas region for 2015. We consider the $962.6 million figure in the table above to be the bonusable adjusted EBITDA figure.
5 2015 Adjusted EBITDA for our Global Workplace Solutions business unit was $298.2 million. For a reconciliation of net income computed in accordance with GAAP to EBITDA and EBITDA, as adjusted, for our Global Workplace Solutions business unit for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, see Annex A to this Proxy Statement.
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | 37 |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
STRATEGIC MEASURES SCORECARD
The table below (which reflects the principal capacity in which our named executive officers served as of December 31, 2015) describes the financial and strategic measures applied to each of our named executive officers and their resulting payouts against targets under the EBP for 2015.
Name | Financial Measures | Strategic Measures | 2015 Target | 2015 Payout | ||||||||
Robert E. Sulentic President and Chief Executive Officer |
Global adjusted EBITDA100% |
Mr. Sulentic was expected to achieve specific objectives set for him in the following areas: Senior leadership team development, including diversity and succession planning CBRE Global Investors business development Implementation of client relationship program M&A integration Data strategy advancements |
$ 1,485,000 | $ 1,992,870(1) | ||||||||
Actual Achievement Against Target: 106.6% Adjustment Factor: 122.0% |
Strategic Performance Rating: 150% |
(1) | This amount does not include a supplemental and discretionary one-time award granted to Mr. Sulentic of $607,130 under our EBP in recognition of his exemplary leadership and outstanding performance during 2015. Including this award, the total EBP award for Mr. Sulentic for 2015 was $2,600,000. A further explanation of this supplemental and discretionary one-time award is provided immediately below this table. |
38 | CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Name | Financial Measures | Strategic Measures | 2015 Target | 2015 Payout | ||||||||
James R. Groch Chief Financial Officer and Global Director of Corporate Development |
Global adjusted EBITDA100% |
Mr. Groch was expected to achieve specific objectives set for him in the following areas: Finance team development and recruitment CBRE Global Investors strategic initiatives Global Workplace Solutions M&A pursuit M&A performance and integration Data management strategy M&A process |
$ 1,155,000 | $ 1,550,000(2) | ||||||||
Actual Achievement Against Target: 106.6% Adjustment Factor: 122.0% |
Strategic Performance Rating: 150% | |||||||||||
Michael J. Lafitte Chief Operating Officer |
Global adjusted EBITDA100% |
Mr. Lafitte was expected to achieve specific objectives set for him in the following areas: Senior leadership team development, including diversity and succession planning Growth and execution in EMEA and APAC Implementation of client relationship program Valuations and Global Workplace Solutions risk management M&A process and integration Line of business platform and leadership development Advisory & Transaction Services initiative |
$ 1,050,000 | $ 1,409,100(2) | ||||||||
Actual Achievement Against Target: 106.6% Adjustment Factor: 122.0% |
Strategic Performance Rating: 150% | |||||||||||
Calvin W. Frese, Jr. Chief Executive OfficerAmericas |
Global adjusted EBITDA50% Americas adjusted EBITDA50% |
Mr. Frese was expected to achieve specific objectives set for him in the following areas: Capital Markets business growth Americas M&A process and integration Advisory & Transaction Services initiative Implementation of Sales Management program Client development Operational excellence in our Americas region Leadership development and diversity and succession planning |
$ 1,020,000 | $ 1,282,800(2) | ||||||||
Actual Achievement Against Target: 106.6% (Global) and 102.0% (Americas)
Global Adjustment Factor: 122.0% Americas Adjustment Factor: 106.7% |
Strategic Performance Rating: 150% |
(2) | This amount does not include a supplemental and discretionary CEO award granted to each of Messrs. Groch, Lafitte and Frese of $500,000, $400,000 and $400,000, respectively, under our EBP in recognition of their exemplary leadership and outstanding performance during 2015. Including this CEO award, the total EBP award for Messrs. Groch, Lafitte and Frese for 2015 was $2,050,000, $1,809,100 and $1,682,800, respectively. A further explanation of this CEO award is provided immediately below this table. |
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | 39 |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Name | Financial Measures | Strategic Measures | 2015 Target | 2015 Payout | ||||||||
William F. Concannon Chief Executive OfficerGlobal Workplace Solutions |
Global adjusted EBITDA50% Global Workplace Solutions adjusted EBITDA50% |
Mr. Concannon was expected to achieve specific objectives set for him in the following areas: Global Workplace Solutions acquisition integration M&A strategy and integration Client development Risk management Advisory & Transaction Services initiative Global Workplace Solutions leadership development |
$ 941,700(3) | $ 1,180,900(4) | ||||||||
Actual Achievement Against Target: 106.6% (Global) and 101.7% (Global Workplace Solutions)
Global Adjustment Factor: 122.0% Global Workplace Solutions Adjustment Factor: 105.7% |
Strategic Performance Rating: 150% |
(3) | This amount reflects Mr. Concannons combined target awards under both our GOC Bonus Plan and our EBP (both of which he participated in for 2015), in each case as pro-rated for the portion of 2015 in which he participated in such plan. For a further description of Mr. Concannons 2015 annual performance awards, see Mr. Concannons Annual Performance Awards During 2015 immediately below this table. |
(4) | This amount reflects Mr. Concannons combined actual awards under both our GOC Bonus Plan and our EBP (both of which he participated in for 2015), in each case as pro-rated for the portion of 2015 in which he participated in such plan, and does not include a supplemental and discretionary CEO award granted to Mr. Concannon of $300,000 under our EBP in recognition of his exemplary leadership and outstanding performance during 2015. Including this CEO award, the total annual performance award for Mr. Concannon for 2015 was $1,480,900. A further explanation of this CEO award is provided immediately below. For a further description of Mr. Concannons 2015 annual performance awards, see Mr. Concannons Annual Performance Awards During 2015 immediately below this table. |
40 | CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | 41 |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
The table below (which reflects the principal capacity in which our named executive officers served as of December 31, 2015) represents the dollar values (measured at grant date fair value) underlying the annual equity awards that were made to our named executive officers for 2015, which consisted of an Adjusted EPS Equity Award (one-third of the total grant date fair value) and a Time Vesting Equity Award (two-thirds of the total grant date fair value). For additional information regarding the long-term incentives (and the reasons for the associated increases) of our named executive officers for 2015, see the heading entitled 2015 Executive SummaryExecutive Compensation Highlights on page 28.
Name | Adjusted EPS Equity Award (at target)(1)(3) |
Time Vesting Equity Award(2)(3) |
Total 2015 Equity Awards |
Change from 2014 | ||||||||||
Robert E. Sulentic President and Chief Executive Officer |
$ | 1,375,000 | $ | 2,750,000 | $ | 4,125,000 | Increased in 2015 by $375,000. | |||||||
James R. Groch Chief Financial Officer and Global Director of Corporate Development |
$ | 1,000,000 | $ | 2,000,000 | $ | 3,000,000 | Increased in 2015 by $300,000. | |||||||
Michael J. Lafitte Chief Operating Officer |
$ | 773,333 | $ | 1,546,667 | $ | 2,320,000 | Increased in 2015 by $100,000. | |||||||
Calvin W. Frese, Jr. Chief Executive OfficerAmericas |
$ | 750,000 | $ | 1,500,000 | $ | 2,250,000 | Increased in 2015 by $90,000. | |||||||
William F. Concannon Chief Executive OfficerGlobal Workplace Solutions |
$ | 683,333 | $ | 1,366,667 | $ | 2,050,000 | Mr. Concannon was not a named executive officer for 2014, and so we do not present compensation information for him for that year. |
(1) | The Adjusted EPS Equity Award was granted with a target number of restricted stock units, zero to 200% of which may be earned based on our achievement against various adjusted EPS performance targets (over a minimum threshold) as measured on a cumulative basis for the 2016 and 2017 fiscal years, with full vesting of any earned amount on August 14, 2018. If actual adjusted EPS is less than the minimum threshold, then none of the units will be earned. The maximum number of units available under the award is 200% of the target number of units, and there is linear interpolation between the various adjusted EPS performance targets. |
(2) | The Time Vesting Equity Award will vest 25% per year over four years (on each of August 14, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019). |
(3) | These amounts reflect the Committee-approved award values, with the actual number of restricted stock units granted rounded down to the nearest whole share as set forth on the Grants of Plan-Based Awards table on page 49. |
Additional Elements of Our Compensation Program
42 | CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Other Relevant Policies and Practices
Equity Ownership Policy
Our objective to link compensation to our long-term success is reinforced by an equity ownership policy applicable to our executives. To further align our executives interests with our stockholders over the long term, this policy restricts selling of Company stock by each executive officer until the executive acquires and maintains significant levels of Company stock. (For our named executive officers, the minimum ownership requirements are indicated in the table below.) Our executives are permitted to satisfy their ownership requirements over time through existing and new equity awards. As of December 31, 2015, all of our named executive officers had satisfied their minimum requirements.
STOCK OWNERSHIP REQUIREMENT
Titles indicated in table reflect principal capacity in which the named executive officer served as of December 31, 2015.
Name | Minimum Requirement | |||
Robert E. Sulentic President and Chief Executive Officer |
5x Base Salary | |||
James R. Groch Chief Financial Officer and Global Director of Corporate Development |
3x Base Salary | |||
Michael J. Lafitte Chief Operating Officer |
3x Base Salary | |||
Calvin W. Frese, Jr. Chief Executive OfficerAmericas |
3x Base Salary | |||
William F. Concannon Chief Executive OfficerGlobal Workplace Solutions |
3x Base Salary |
A further description of this policy and the applicable thresholds can be found under Corporate GovernanceStock Ownership Requirements on page 20.
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | 43 |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Policies restricting stock trading and prohibiting hedging and short-selling
Compensation Clawback Policy
Equity Award Policy and procedures for equity grants
We have an Equity Award Policy that is designed to maintain the integrity of the equity award process, including timing and value of equity awards. This policy has the following characteristics:
| Sets the timing of our annual equity grants to management |
| Imposes stringent controls around any award made outside of the normal cycle |
| Requires Board approval for delegation by the Committee of its authority under our equity incentive plans |
| Provides that the effective date of a grant is either the date the Committee approves the award or a later date specified at that time |
| Provides that the exercise price of stock options and value of restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards is the closing price of our common stock on the NYSE on the grant date |
| Permits our CEO to make special recruitment and retention awards in the periods between Committee meetings, but never to executive officers or an award consisting of stock options, and there are limitations on the terms and amounts of those grants as well as a requirement to provide reports of such grants to the Committee |
The policy is published in the Corporate Governance section of the Investor Relations page on our website at www.cbre.com.
Section 162(m) tax considerations
44 | CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Compensation Committee Report
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | 45 |
We have provided below summary biographies of our named executive officers who are described above in the CD&A, as well as our other executive officers as of March 14, 2016 (other than Mr. Sulentic). Information on Mr. Sulentic can be found on page 10 under Elect Directors2016 Director Nominees.
46 | CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement |
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | 47 |
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth compensation information in respect of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 for our CEO, Chief Financial Officer and the three other most highly compensated executive officers for 2015.
Name and Principal Position |
Year | Salary(1) ($) |
Bonus(2) ($) |
Stock Awards(3) ($) |
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation(4) ($) |
All Other Compensation(5) ($) |
Total ($) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Robert E. Sulentic |
2015 | 967,500 | 607,130 | 4,124,980 | 1,992,870 | 3,750 | 7,696,230 | |||||||||||||||||||||
President and Chief Executive Officer |
2014 | 875,000 | | 3,749,953 | 1,740,000 | 3,000 | 6,367,953 | |||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 775,000 | | 3,479,963 | 1,284,000 | 2,250 | 5,541,213 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
James R. Groch |
2015 | 752,500 | 500,000 | 2,999,930 | 1,550,000 | 3,750 | 5,806,180 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Chief Financial Officer and Global Director of Corporate Development |
|
2014 2013 |
|
|
675,000 585,000 |
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
2,699,941 2,219,992 |
|
|
1,300,700 1,045,000 |
|
|
3,000 2,250 |
|
|
4,678,641 4,052,242 |
| |||||||
Michael J. Lafitte |
2015 | 675,000 | 400,000 | 2,319,980 | 1,409,100 | 3,750 | 4,807,830 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Chief Operating Officer |
2014 | 600,000 | | 2,219,939 | 1,213,000 | 3,000 | 4,035,939 | |||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 585,000 | | 2,219,992 | 1,007,000 | 2,250 | 3,814,242 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Calvin W. Frese, Jr. |
2015 | 660,000 | 400,000 | 2,249,948 | 1,282,800 | 3,750 | 4,596,498 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Chief Executive Officer Americas |
|
2014 2013 |
|
|
600,000 600,000 |
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
2,159,966 2,159,965 |
|
|
1,205,300 868,100 |
|
|
3,000 2,250 |
|
|
4,068,266 3,630,315 |
| |||||||
William F. Concannon |
2015 | 650,000 | 300,000 | 2,049,924 | 1,180,900 | 3,750 | 4,184,574 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Chief Executive Officer Global Workplace Solutions(6)(7) |
(1) | Our named executive officers received base-salary changes in 2015, which changes were effective April 1, 2015. The Salary amount in this table reflects their actual base-salary amounts earned in 2015. |
(2) | For 2015, Mr. Sulentic received a supplemental and discretionary one-time award granted under the EBP of $607,130, and Messrs. Groch, Lafitte, Frese and Concannon each received a supplemental and discretionary CEO award of $500,000, $400,000, $400,000 and $300,000, respectively, granted under our EBP, in recognition of their exemplary leadership and outstanding performance during 2015. |
(3) | All grants for 2015 were made under and governed by the 2012 Stock Plan, as described under Summary of Plans, Programs and Agreements on page 51, and include (i) Time Vesting Equity Awards that were granted to each of Messrs. Sulentic, Groch, Lafitte, Frese and Concannon in the amount of 72,330, 52,603, 40,680, 39,452 and 35,945 restricted stock units, respectively, which are scheduled to vest 25% per year over four years (on each of August 14, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019), and (ii) Adjusted EPS Equity Awards that were granted to each of Messrs. Sulentic, Groch, Lafitte, Frese and Concannon with a target unit amount equal to 36,165, 26,301, 20,340, 19,726 and 17,972 restricted stock units, respectively, which are eligible to be earned based on our achievement against certain adjusted EPS targets (over a minimum threshold) measured on a cumulative basis for the 2016 and 2017 fiscal years, with full vesting of any earned amount on August 14, 2018. For all performance-vesting awards granted for 2015 for which vesting is subject to performance conditions as defined by ASC 718 (our Adjusted EPS Equity Awards), we have assumed that achievement at 100% of target is the probable outcome of the related performance conditions, which was our assumption on the grant date. With respect to the Adjusted EPS Equity Awards granted for 2015, the aggregate grant date fair value for these awards, assuming the achievement of the highest level of performance (which is 200% of the target unit amount), is $2,749,986 for Mr. Sulentic, $1,999,928 for Mr. Groch, $1,546,653 for Mr. Lafitte, $1,499,966 for Mr. Frese, and $1,366,590 for Mr. Concannon. See Note 2 (Significant Accounting Policies) and Note 12 (Employee Benefit Plans) to our consolidated financial statements as reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 for a discussion of the valuation of our stock awards. |
(4) | Amounts in this column relate to compensation pursuant to our annual performance award plans referred to in this Proxy Statement as the EIP and EBP (including, in the case of Mr. Concannon, our GOC Bonus Plan; see footnote (6) to this table), which are described below under Summary of Plans, Programs and Agreements on page 51. Amounts reflected in this table generally are based on the achievement of financial and strategic performance objectives that are established at the beginning of each fiscal year and that are further described under the heading Compensation Discussion and AnalysisComponents of Our ProgramElements of our compensation program beginning on page 34 and Grants of Plan-Based Awards on page 49. |
(5) | The amounts in this column for each of Messrs. Sulentic, Groch, Lafitte, Frese and Concannon reflect our matching contributions to their 401(k) accounts pursuant to our employee 401(k) match policy based on their respective contributions to such accounts. |
(6) | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation amount for Mr. Concannon reflects his combined award amounts under both our GOC Bonus Plan and our EBP (both of which he participated in for 2015). For a further description of Mr. Concannons 2015 annual performance awards, see Mr. Concannons Annual Performance Awards During 2015 on page 40. |
(7) | We have not shown compensation information for Mr. Concannon for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 because Mr. Concannon was not a named executive officer for those years. |
48 | CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Grants of Plan-Based Awards
The following table sets forth information concerning stock and cash awards in respect of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 to the persons named in the table under the heading Summary Compensation Table, which awards were granted pursuant to our 2012 Equity Incentive Plan, Executive Incentive Plan or Executive Bonus Plan described below under Summary of Plans, Programs and Agreements on page 51.
Name | Grant Date |
Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards(1) |
Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards |
All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock or Units (#) |
Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards(2)(3) ($) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Threshold ($) |
Target ($) |
Maximum ($) |
Threshold (#) |
Target (#) |
Maximum (#) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Robert E. Sulentic |
| 1,485,000 | 2,970,000 | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
08/13/15 | (4) | | | | | | | 72,330 | 2,749,987 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
08/13/15 | (5) | | | | 18,082 | 36,165 | 72,330 | | 1,374,993 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
James R. Groch |
| 1,155,000 | 2,310,000 | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
08/13/15 | (4) | | | | | | | 52,603 | 1,999,966 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
08/13/15 | (5) | | | | 13,150 | 26,301 | 52,602 | | 999,964 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Michael J. Lafitte |
| 1,050,000 | 2,100,000 | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
08/13/15 | (4) | | | | | | | 40,680 | 1,546,653 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
08/13/15 | (5) | | | | 10,170 | 20,340 | 40,680 | | 773,327 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Calvin W. Frese, Jr. |
| 1,020,000 | 2,040,000 | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
08/13/15 | (4) | | | | | | | 39,452 | 1,499,965 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
08/13/15 | (5) | | | | 9,863 | 19,726 | 39,452 | | 749,983 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
William F. Concannon |
| 941,700 | (6) | 1,883,400 | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
08/13/15 | (4) | | | | | | | 35,945 | 1,366,629 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
08/13/15 | (5) | | | | 8,986 | 17,972 | 35,944 | | 683,295 |
(1) | For our executives to be eligible to receive a non-equity incentive plan (EBP) award based on our financial performance in 2015, as measured by adjusted EBITDA, our performance had to exceed 70% of the applicable adjusted EBITDA goal. The maximum award permitted under the EBP was 200% of the executives target. Upon achievement just over the 70% threshold (e.g., 70.0000001%), the amount of the EBP award payable would be negligible, and as such no amount is shown in the Threshold column. For a full description of our EBP awards, see Compensation Discussion and AnalysisComponents of Our ProgramElements of our compensation program beginning on page 34. |
(2) | The amounts shown represent the grant date fair value of the awards computed in accordance with ASC 718. For all performance-vesting awards for which vesting is subject to performance conditions as defined by ASC 718, we have assumed that achievement at 100% of target is the probable outcome of the related performance conditions, which was our assumption on the grant date. With respect to the Adjusted EPS Equity Awards, the aggregate grant date fair value for these awards, assuming the achievement of the highest level of performance (which is 200% of the target unit amount), is $2,749,986 for Mr. Sulentic, $1,999,928 for Mr. Groch, $1,546,653 for Mr. Lafitte, $1,499,966 for Mr. Frese and $1,366,590 for Mr. Concannon. See Note 2 Significant Accounting Policies and Note 12 Employee Benefit Plans to our consolidated financial statements as reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 for a discussion of the valuation of our stock awards. Our Time Vesting Equity Awards and Adjusted EPS Equity Awards are further described under the heading Compensation Discussion and AnalysisComponents of Our ProgramElements of our compensation program beginning on page 34. |
(3) | The closing price of our common stock on August 13, 2015 was $38.02 per share. |
(4) | Represents Time Vesting Equity Awards of restricted stock units that were granted to each of Messrs. Sulentic, Groch, Lafitte, Frese and Concannon, which are scheduled to vest 25% per year over four years (on each of August 14, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019). For a full description of these awards, see Compensation Discussion and AnalysisComponents of Our ProgramElements of our compensation program beginning on page 34. |
(5) | Represents Adjusted EPS Equity Awards of restricted stock units that were granted to each of Messrs. Sulentic, Groch, Lafitte, Frese and Concannon, which are eligible to be earned based on our achievement against certain adjusted EPS targets (over a minimum threshold) as measured on a cumulative basis for the 2016 and 2017 fiscal years, with full vesting of any earned amount on August 14, 2018. Amounts shown in the Threshold column represent the number of shares (50% of the target unit amount) that would be issued upon achievement of the adjusted EPS performance measure at the minimum adjusted EPS threshold level. Amounts shown in the Target column represent the number of shares (100% of the target unit amount) that would be issued upon achievement of the target adjusted EPS performance measure. Amounts shown in the Maximum column represent the number of shares (200% of the target unit amount) that would be issued upon achievement of the adjusted EPS performance measure at the highest level. There is linear interpolation between the various adjusted EPS performance targets. |
(6) | Mr. Concannon participated in both our EBP and our GOC Bonus Plan during 2015. The target figure in this table reflects Mr. Concannons combined target (pro-rated) annual performance awards under the EBP and the GOC Bonus Plan for 2015, and the maximum figure reflects his associated combined maximum (pro-rated) awards permitted under the EBP (see footnote (1) to this table) and the GOC Bonus Plan (like the EBP, 200% of his target). For a further description of Mr. Concannons 2015 annual performance awards, see Mr. Concannons Annual Performance Awards During 2015 on page 40. |
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | 49 |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The following table sets forth information concerning unexercised stock options and other equity awards that remain unvested as of December 31, 2015 that are held by the persons named in the table under the heading Summary Compensation Table.
Name | Option Awards | Stock Awards | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable |
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable |
Option Exercise Price ($) |
Option Date |
Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested(1)(2) (3)(4) (#) |
Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested(5) ($) |
Equity Incentive Unearned Shares, Units or Have Not Vested(6)(7)(8) (#) |
Equity Incentive Shares, Units or That Have Not Vested(5) ($) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Robert E. Sulentic |
| | | | 207,047 | 7,159,685 | 135,668 | 4,691,399 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
James R. Groch |
| | | | 149,632 | 5,174,275 | 93,094 | 3,219,191 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Michael J. Lafitte |
| | | | 129,213 | 4,468,186 | 81,960 | 2,834,177 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Calvin W. Frese, Jr. |
| | | | 127,981 | 4,425,583 | 79,680 | 2,755,334 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
William F. Concannon |
| | | | 95,096 | 3,288,420 | 59,665 | 2,063,216 |
(1) | With respect to the total number of unvested stock awards listed in this column, 23,330, 20,997, 20,261, 22,102 and 12,279 unvested stock awards granted on September 14, 2012 (as Time Vesting Equity Awards) to each of Messrs. Sulentic, Groch, Lafitte, Frese and Concannon, respectively, are scheduled to vest in full on September 5, 2016. |
(2) | With respect to the total number of unvested stock units listed in this column, 50,766, 32,385, 32,385, 31,510 and 21,007 unvested stock units granted on August 14, 2013 (as Time Vesting Equity Awards) to Messrs. Sulentic, Groch, Lafitte, Frese and Concannon, respectively, will vest in equal increments on each of September 5, 2016 and 2017. |
(3) | With respect to the total number of unvested stock units listed in this column, 60,621, 43,647, 35,887, 34,917 and 25,865 unvested stock units granted on August 14, 2014 (as Time Vesting Equity Awards) to Messrs. Sulentic, Groch, Lafitte, Frese and Concannon, respectively, will vest in equal increments on each of August 14, 2016, 2017 and 2018. |
(4) | With respect to the total number of unvested stock units listed in this column, 72,330, 52,603, 40,680, 39,452 and 35,945 unvested stock units granted on August 13, 2015 (as Time Vesting Equity Awards) to Messrs. Sulentic, Groch, Lafitte, Frese and Concannon, respectively, will vest in equal increments on each of August 14, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. For a full description of these awards, see Compensation Discussion and AnalysisComponents of Our ProgramElements of our compensation program beginning on page 34. |
(5) | Amounts reflected in this column were calculated by multiplying the number of unvested stock units by $34.58, which was the per-share closing price of our common stock on December 31, 2015. For the Adjusted EPS Equity Awards, these figures assume that those awards are later issued at their target number of shares, except for the Adjusted EPS Equity Awards granted in 2013. As described below in footnote (6) to this table, the 2013 Adjusted EPS Equity Awards will be issued at a greater number of shares than their target (116.4% of target), and we have reflected the greater number of shares in this table. |
(6) | With respect to the performance-based non-vested stock units listed in this column, 50,765, 32,385, 32,385, 31,509 and 21,006 stock units granted on August 14, 2013 (as 2013 Adjusted EPS Equity Awards) to each of Messrs. Sulentic, Groch, Lafitte, Frese and Concannon, respectively, were eligible to be earned based on our achievement against certain adjusted EPS performance targets (over a minimum threshold) as measured on a cumulative basis for the 2014 and 2015 fiscal years, with full vesting of any earned amount on September 5, 2016. The 2013 Adjusted EPS Equity Awards were granted with a target number of restricted stock units, zero to 200% of which could be earned based on our achievement against the various adjusted EPS targets over the performance period. On February 10, 2016, the Compensation Committee certified the Companys cumulative adjusted EPS performance for the performance period at $3.73, versus a cumulative adjusted EPS target in those grants of $3.62. As such, Messrs. Sulentic, Groch, Lafitte, Frese and Concannon will vest on September 5, 2016 into 59,090, 37,696, 37,696, 36,676 and 24,450 shares (116.4% of their target number of restricted stock units), respectively, subject to forfeiture in certain circumstances as set forth in their award agreement. We have reflected this greater number of shares in this table. |
(7) | With respect to the performance-based non-vested stock units listed in this column, 40,413, 29,097, 23,924, 23,278 and 17,243 stock units granted on August 14, 2014 (as Adjusted EPS Equity Awards) to each of Messrs. Sulentic, Groch, Lafitte, Frese and Concannon, respectively, are eligible to be earned based on our achievement against certain adjusted EPS performance targets (over a minimum threshold) as measured on a cumulative basis for the 2015 and 2016 fiscal years, with full vesting of any earned amount on August 14, 2017. The Adjusted EPS Equity Award was granted with a target number of restricted stock units, zero to 200% of which may be earned based on our achievement against the various adjusted EPS targets over the performance period. |
(8) | With respect to the performance-based non-vested stock units listed in this column, 36,165, 26,301, 20,340, 19,726 and 17,972 stock units granted on August 13, 2015 (as Adjusted EPS Equity Awards) to each of Messrs. Sulentic, Groch, Lafitte, Frese and Concannon, respectively, are eligible to be earned based on our achievement against certain adjusted EPS performance targets (over a minimum threshold) as measured on a cumulative basis for the 2016 and 2017 fiscal years, with full vesting of any earned amount on August 14, 2018. The Adjusted EPS Equity Award was granted with a target number of restricted stock units, zero to 200% of which may be earned based on our achievement against the various adjusted EPS targets over the performance period. For a full description of these awards, see Compensation Discussion and AnalysisComponents of Our ProgramElements of our compensation program beginning on page 34. |
50 | CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Option Exercises and Stock Vested
The following table sets forth information concerning stock option exercises and vesting of stock awards during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 for the persons named in the table under Summary Compensation Table. The dollar amounts in the table below are based on the market value of our common stock on the respective dates of vesting multiplied by the number of shares that vested on such date.
Name | Option Awards | Stock Awards | ||||||||||||||||
Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#) |
Value Realized on Exercise ($) |
Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#) |
Value Realized on Vesting ($) |
|||||||||||||||
Robert E. Sulentic |
| | 98,041 | 3,246,850 | ||||||||||||||
James R. Groch |
30,470 | 759,922 | 90,629 | 2,974,785 | ||||||||||||||
Michael J. Lafitte |
| | 67,574 | 2,225,213 | ||||||||||||||
Calvin W. Frese, Jr. |
| | 77,085 | 2,525,487 | ||||||||||||||
William F. Concannon |
26,661 | 582,276 | 46,730 | 1,541,066 |
Summary of Plans, Programs and Agreements
2012 Equity Incentive Plan
Second Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Incentive Plan
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | 51 |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Executive Incentive Plan (EIP)
Executive Bonus Plan (EBP)
52 | CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Global Operating Committee Bonus Plan (GOC Bonus Plan)
Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP)
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | 53 |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
401(k) Plan
Severance Plan; Treatment of Death, Disability and Retirement Under 2013, 2014 and 2015 Equity Award Agreements
54 | CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | 55 |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
56 | CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Hypothetical December 31, 2015 Termination under our Severance Plan
In the hypothetical event that any of our named executive officers for 2015 incurred a Qualifying Termination on December 31, 2015, they would have received the following severance benefits under the Severance Plan:
Name | Cash ($) |
Pro-Rata Bonus(1) ($) |
Accelerated ($) |
Health and ($) |
Total* ($) |
|||||||||||||||||
Robert E. Sulentic |
No Change in Control | 4,950,000 | (4) | 2,600,000 | 10,146,475 | 30,000 | 17,726,475 | |||||||||||||||
During Change in Control Protection Period | 4,950,000 | (4) | 2,600,000 | 11,851,085 | 30,000 | 19,431,085 | ||||||||||||||||
James R. Groch |
No Change in Control | 2,887,500 | (5) | 2,050,000 | 6,389,397 | 30,000 | 11,356,897 | |||||||||||||||
During Change in Control Protection Period | 2,887,500 | (5) | 2,050,000 | 8,393,465 | 30,000 | 13,360,965 | ||||||||||||||||
Michael J. Lafitte |
No Change in Control | 2,625,000 | (5) | 1,809,100 | 5,700,464 | 30,000 | 10,164,564 | |||||||||||||||
During Change in Control Protection Period | 2,625,000 | (5) | 1,809,100 | 7,302,362 | 30,000 | 11,766,462 | ||||||||||||||||
Calvin W. Frese, Jr. |
No Change in Control | 2,550,000 | (5) | 1,682,800 | 5,625,490 | 30,000 | 9,888,290 | |||||||||||||||
During Change in Control Protection Period | 2,550,000 | (5) | 1,682,800 | 7,180,917 | 30,000 | 11,443,717 | ||||||||||||||||
William F. Concannon |
No Change in Control | 2,475,000 | (5) | 1,480,900 | 4,040,400 | 30,000 | 8,026,300 | |||||||||||||||
During Change in Control Protection Period | 2,475,000 | (5) | 1,480,900 | 5,351,635 | 30,000 | 9,337,535 |
* | Figures in this table assume no reduction in severance benefits due to operation of Internal Revenue Code 280G. |
(1) | Represents the actual annual cash bonus award for 2015. Includes supplemental and discretionary one-time bonus/CEO awards made under EBP for 2015. |
(2) | Amounts shown are calculated by aggregating the sums determined by multiplying, for each outstanding unvested equity award, (x) the number of unvested stock units accelerating as a result of the Qualifying Termination (a portion of which may be subject to deferred delivery and continued compliance with restrictive conditions as described above), by (y) our per-share closing stock price on December 31, 2015 of $34.58. The value of accelerated Adjusted EPS Equity Awards is calculated assuming that the applicable performance measures are achieved at their target unit amount, except for our Adjusted EPS Equity Awards granted in 2013 (in which latter case we have assumed that those 2013 awards would have been achieved based on our actual adjusted EPS performance as later certified by our Compensation Committee on February 10, 2016). See footnote (6) to our Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End table on page 50. |
(3) | Represents the approximate value of continued health-care coverage at active employee rates for a period of 18 months and the approximate value of outplacement assistance for 12 months. |
(4) | Represents a lump-sum cash payment equal to two times (2x) the sum of (a) the annual base salary plus (b) the target annual cash bonus award for 2015. |
(5) | Represents a lump-sum cash payment equal to one-and-a-half times (1.5x) the sum of (a) the annual base salary plus (b) the target annual cash bonus award for 2015. |
Death, Disability and Retirement Under 2013, 2014 and 2015 Equity Award Agreements
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | 57 |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Hypothetical December 31, 2015 Termination Due to Death, Disability or Retirement
In the hypothetical event that any of our named executive officers during 2015 had terminated employment on December 31, 2015 due to death, disability or retirement under the circumstances covered by our 2013, 2014 and 2015 award agreements, they would have received (either immediately or over time, depending on the circumstances of the termination) the following in respect of their unvested 2013, 2014 and 2015 equity awards:
Name | 2013 Equity Awards ($) |
2014 Equity Awards ($) |
2015 Equity Awards ($) |
Total ($) |
||||||||||||
Robert E. Sulentic |
3,798,820 | 3,493,756 | 1,439,030 | 8,731,606 | ||||||||||||
James R. Groch |
2,423,401 | 2,515,488 | 1,046,548 | 5,985,437 | ||||||||||||
Michael J. Lafitte |
2,423,401 | 2,068,264 | 809,343 | 5,301,008 | ||||||||||||
Calvin W. Frese, Jr. |
2,357,872 | 2,012,383 | 784,911 | 5,155,166 | ||||||||||||
William F. Concannon |
1,571,903 | 1,490,675 | 715,131 | 3,777,709 |
The foregoing amounts assume (1) the Adjusted EPS Equity Awards granted in 2013 would have been achieved based on our actual adjusted EPS performance as later certified by the Compensation Committee on February 10, 2016, (2) the Adjusted EPS Equity Awards granted in 2014 and 2015 are achieved at their target adjusted EPS performance level, (3) all awards were valued at the closing price of our common stock on December 31, 2015, which was $34.58 per share, and (4) in the case of retirement, the named executive officer complied with the applicable non-competition, non-solicitation and confidentiality conditions through all applicable vesting dates.
58 | CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement |
PROPOSAL 4 APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO OUR CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO REDUCE (TO 30%) THE STOCK-OWNERSHIP THRESHOLD REQUIRED FOR STOCKHOLDERS TO REQUEST A SPECIAL STOCKHOLDER MEETING
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | 59 |
PROPOSAL 4
60 | CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement |
PROPOSAL 4
Required Vote
Approval of this Proposal 4 requires the affirmative vote (i.e., FOR votes) of a majority of the shares outstanding and entitled to vote thereon at our 2016 Annual Meeting. Votes to ABSTAIN and broker non-votes constitute shares outstanding and entitled to vote for purposes of this Proposal, and so a vote to ABSTAIN or a broker non-vote will have the same effect as a vote AGAINST this Proposal.
Recommendation
Our Board recommends that stockholders vote FOR our Proposed Charter Amendment.
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | 61 |
PROPOSAL 5 STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL REGARDING SPECIAL STOCKHOLDER MEETINGS
Mr. Chevedden has submitted the following resolution:
Proposal 5 - Special Shareowner Meetings
Resolved, Shareowners ask our board to take the steps necessary (unilaterally if possible) to amend our by-laws and each appropriate governing document to give holders in the aggregate of 10% of our outstanding common stock the power to call a special shareowner meeting. This proposal does not impact our boards current power to call a special meeting.
A group owning 51% of the voting power of all shares is now needed to call a special meeting compared to Delaware law which allows 10% of such shares to call a special meeting.
Special meetings allow shareowners to vote on important matters, such as electing new directors that can arise between annual meetings. Shareowner input on the timing of shareowner meetings is especially important when events unfold quickly and issues may become moot by the next annual meeting. This is important because there could be 15-months between annual meetings.
It may be possible to adopt this proposal by incorporating brief text similar to this into our governing documents:
Special meetings of the stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by statute, may be called by the Chairman of the Board or the President, and shall be called by the Chairman of the Board or President or Secretary upon the order in writing of a majority of or by resolution of the Board of Directors, or at the request in writing of stockholders owning 10% of the entire capital stock of the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote.
Please vote to enhance stockholder value:
Special Shareowner Meetings Proposal 5
62 | CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement |
Important Note: In our Proposal 4 on page 59, our Board recommends that our stockholders approve an amendment to our Existing Charter to allow one or more stockholders owning at least 30% in aggregate voting power of our shares to request a special stockholder meeting. Although our Proposal 4 and the Stockholder Proposal relate to the same subject matter (i.e., stockholder rights to call special meetings), the two Proposals differ. See The Related Stockholder Proposal under Proposal 4 above, which also explains how we will proceed if our stockholders approve both Proposal 4 and the Stockholder Proposal.
Required Vote
Approval of this Proposal 5 requires the affirmative vote (i.e., FOR votes) of a majority of the shares present or represented and entitled to vote thereon at our 2016 Annual Meeting. A vote to ABSTAIN will count as present for purposes of the vote and so will have the same effect as a vote AGAINST this Proposal. A broker non-vote will not count as present, and so will have no effect in determining the outcome with respect to this Proposal.
Recommendation
Our Board recommends that stockholders vote AGAINST this Stockholder Proposal.
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | 63 |
Security Ownership of Principal Stockholders
Based on information available to us as of March 14, 2016, the only stockholders known to us to beneficially own more than five percent of the outstanding shares of our common stock are (all percentages in the table are based on 334,243,125 shares of common stock outstanding as of March 14, 2016):
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner | Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership |
Percent of Class |
||||||
ValueAct Capital Master Fund, L.P. and related entities |
32,931,905 | (1) | 9.9% | |||||
One Letterman Drive, Building D, Fourth Floor |
||||||||
San Francisco, California 94129 |
||||||||
The Vanguard Group |
24,216,166 | (2) | 7.2% | |||||
100 Vanguard Boulevard |
||||||||
Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355 |
||||||||
FMR LLC |
18,377,507 | (3) | 5.5% | |||||
245 Summer Street |
||||||||
Boston, Massachusetts 02210 |
||||||||
BlackRock, Inc. |
18,503,741 | (4) | 5.5% | |||||
55 East 52nd Street |
||||||||
New York, New York 10055 |
(1) | Solely based on information in a Form 4 filed with the SEC on February 16, 2016 by ValueAct Holdings, L.P. and its related entities (ValueAct Group). The Form 4 indicates that ValueAct Group was the beneficial owner of 32,931,905 shares of our common stock. Excluded from this amount are 3,889 restricted share units vesting within 60 days of March 14, 2016 that are held by Brandon B. Boze for the benefit of the ValueAct Group, as discussed in footnote (11) to the table under Security Ownership of Management and Directors below. |
(2) | Solely based on information in a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 10, 2016 by The Vanguard Group. The Schedule 13G/A indicates that as of December 31, 2015, The Vanguard Group was the beneficial owner of 24,216,166 shares, with sole voting power as to 548,771 shares, shared voting power as to 29,500 shares, sole dispositive power as to 23,641,585 shares and shared dispositive power as to 574,581 shares of our common stock. |
(3) | Solely based on information in a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 12, 2016 by FMR LLC. The Schedule 13G/A indicates that as of December 31, 2015, FMR LLC was the beneficial owner with sole dispositive power as to 18,377,507 shares and with sole voting power as to 3,492,666 shares of our common stock. |
(4) | Solely based on information in a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on January 26, 2016 by BlackRock, Inc. The Schedule 13G/A indicates that as of December 31, 2015, BlackRock, Inc. was the beneficial owner with sole voting power as to 15,675,466 shares of our common stock and sole dispositive power as to 18,503,741 shares of our common stock. |
Security Ownership of Management and Directors
The following table below sets forth information as of the close of business on March 14, 2016 regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock by: (a) each of our current directors and each nominee for director to our Board; (b) each of our executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table; and (c) all current directors, director nominees and current executive officers as a group. Unless otherwise noted, the beneficial owners exercise sole voting and/or investment power over their shares. All percentages in the table are based on 334,243,125 shares of common stock outstanding as of March 14, 2016.
Name | Common Stock Beneficially Owned Directly or Indirectly(1) |
Common Stock Acquirable Within 60 Days(2) |
Total Common Stock Owned(3)(4) |
Percentage of Shares of Common Stock Outstanding |
||||||||||||
Robert E. Sulentic |
495,297 | | 495,297 | (5) | * | |||||||||||
James R. Groch |
420,953 | | 420,953 | (6) | * | |||||||||||
Michael J. Lafitte |
218,703 | | 218,703 | (7) | * | |||||||||||
Calvin W. Frese, Jr. |
152,061 | | 152,061 | * | ||||||||||||
William F. Concannon |
123,170 | | 123,170 | (8) | * | |||||||||||
Richard C. Blum |
22,300 | 14,869 | 37,169 | (9)(10) | * |
64 | CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement |
Name | Common Stock Beneficially Owned Directly or Indirectly(1) |
Common Stock Acquirable Within 60 Days(2) |
Total Owned(3)(4) |
Percentage of Shares of Common Stock Outstanding |
||||||||||||
Brandon B. Boze |
| 3,889 | 3,889 | (11) | * | |||||||||||
Curtis F. Feeny |
33,852 | 8,945 | 42,797 | * | ||||||||||||
Bradford M. Freeman |
96,359 | 14,869 | 111,228 | * | ||||||||||||
Christopher T. Jenny |
29,000 | 1,662 | 30,662 | * | ||||||||||||
Michael Kantor |
51,579 | 14,869 | 66,448 | * | ||||||||||||
Gerardo I. Lopez |
| 2,394 | 2,394 | * | ||||||||||||
Frederic V. Malek |
552,665 | 14,869 | 567,534 | (12) | * | |||||||||||
Paula R. Reynolds |
1,000 | 1,003 | 2,003 | * | ||||||||||||
Laura D. Tyson |
17,799 | 9,741 | 27,540 | * | ||||||||||||
Gary L. Wilson |
180,561 | 14,869 | 195,460 | (13) | * | |||||||||||
Ray Wirta |
1,086,577 | 14,869 | 1,101,446 | (10)(14) | * | |||||||||||
All current directors, director nominees and current executive officers as a group (21 persons) |
3,663,817 | 116,848 | 3,780,665 | 1.1 |
* | Less than 1.0% |
(1) | Includes shares over which the person currently holds or shares voting and/or investment power but excludes interests, if any, in shares held in the CBRE Stock Fund of our 401(k) Plan and the shares listed under Common Stock Acquirable Within 60 Days. |
(2) | Includes shares that are deemed to be beneficially owned by virtue of the individuals right to acquire the shares upon the exercise of outstanding stock options or restricted stock units within 60 days from March 14, 2016. |
(3) | Unless otherwise indicated, each person has sole voting and investment power over the shares reported. |
(4) | Includes interests, if any, in shares held in the CBRE Stock Fund of our 401(k) Plan and the shares listed under the Common Stock Acquirable Within 60 Days column and does not include restricted stock units or performance stock units with restrictions that lapse more than 60 days after March 14, 2016. For more information on such units, see Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End table on page 50. |
(5) | Mr. Sulentic is the direct beneficial owner of 465,297 shares. An additional 30,000 shares are held by the Sulentic Family Foundation. He is a co-trustee of the Sulentic Family Foundation but does not have any pecuniary interest in the shares beneficially owned by the foundation. |
(6) | Mr. Groch is the direct beneficial owner of 360,953 shares of our common stock and disclaims beneficial ownership of 30,000 shares held by the Groch Family 2012 Trust 1 and 30,000 shares held by the Groch Family 2012 Trust 2. Mr. Grochs spouse is the trustee of both trusts and has sole investment and dispositive power over these trust shares. |
(7) | Mr. Lafitte is the direct beneficial owner of 217,703 shares of our common stock and his daughter is the direct beneficial owner of 1,000 shares. |
(8) | Mr. Concannon is the direct beneficial owner of 93,687 shares of our common stock. He is the sole trustee of (i) Concannon Childrens Trust, which owns 15,000 of the shares reflected, and (ii) Concannon Descendants 2015 Trust, which owns 14,483 of the shares reflected. |
(9) | Includes (a) 14,828 shares held directly by Mr. Blum, (b) 7,472 shares held by Richard C. Blum Revocable Trust, (c) 3,889 restricted stock units (which vest within 60 days of March 14, 2016) and (d) 10,980 outstanding stock options held directly by Mr. Blum. The restricted stock units and outstanding stock options are held for the ratable benefit of Blum Strategic Holdings, L.P. (Strategic H), Blum Strategic Partners III, L.P. (Strategic III) and Blum Strategic Partners IV, L.P. (Strategic IV and together Strategic H and Strategic III, the Partnerships). Mr. Blum is the President and Chairman of Blum Capital Partners, L.P. (Blum LP) and Richard C. Blum & Associates, Inc. (RCBA Inc.) is the general partner of Blum LP and, accordingly, may be deemed to indirectly beneficially own the shares held by Blum LP. Blum Strategic GP II, L.L.C. (Blum GP II) is the general partner of Strategic H and, accordingly, may be deemed to indirectly beneficially own the shares held by Strategic H. Blum Strategic GP III, L.P. (Blum GP III LP) is the general partner of Strategic III and, Blum Strategic GP III, L.L.C. (Blum GP III) is the general partner of Blum GP III LP and, accordingly, may be deemed to indirectly beneficially own the shares held by Strategic III. Mr. Blum is the President and Chairman of Blum LP and serves as a managing member of each of Blum GP II and Blum GP III and on the investment committee of such entities and, accordingly, may be deemed to be an indirect beneficial owner of the shares described above. The business address of Mr. Blum is c/o Blum LP, 909 Montgomery Street, Suite 400, San Francisco, California 94133. |
(10) | Mr. Wirta and affiliates of Mr. Blum, together with certain other stockholders that owned shares of our Class B common stock prior to our initial public offering (collectively, the Securityholders), are parties to the Securityholders Agreement described in greater detail in this Proxy Statement under the heading Related-Party Transactions on page 67. Pursuant to this Agreement, Mr. Wirta and the other Securityholders agreed to vote their shares for a board nominee selected by affiliates of Mr. Blum. As a result, Mr. Blum may be deemed to beneficially own additional shares beyond those indicated in the table above, including those held by Mr. Wirta, that are subject to such voting agreement. Mr. Blums beneficial ownership reflected in the table above does not reflect such additional shares, and Mr. Blum disclaims beneficial ownership of such additional shares. |
(11) | Under an agreement with ValueAct Capital, Mr. Boze directly holds 3,889 restricted stock units (which vest within 60 days following March 14, 2016) for the benefit of ValueAct Capital Master Fund, L.P. and indirectly for (i) VA Partners I, LLC as General Partner of ValueAct Capital Master Fund, L.P., (ii) ValueAct Capital Management, L.P. as the manager of ValueAct Capital Master Fund, L.P., (iii) ValueAct Capital Management, LLC as General Partner of ValueAct Capital Management, L.P., (iv) ValueAct Holdings, L.P. as the sole owner of the limited partnership interests of ValueAct Capital Management, L.P. and the membership interests of ValueAct Capital Management, LLC and as the majority owner of the membership interests of VA Partners I, LLC, and (v) ValueAct Holdings GP, LLC as General Partner of ValueAct Holdings, L.P. Mr. Boze is affiliated with the ValueAct Group, but he does not have voting or dispositive power over shares beneficially owned by the ValueAct Group and therefore disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares held by or on behalf of them except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein. The business address of each of the above named is c/o ValueAct Capital, One Letterman Drive, Building D, Fourth Floor, San Francisco, California 94129. |
(12) | Mr. Malek is the direct beneficial owner of 257,763 shares of our common stock. Mr. Malek, his spouse and children are trustees of The Malek Family Charitable Trust, which owns 6,900 of the shares reflected, and Mr. Malek, his wife and their children are the beneficiaries. In addition, Mr. Malek is the sole trustee of the Frederic V Malek TTEE U/A DTD 06/19/1992 Frederic V Malek Trust, which owns 291,891 of the shares reflected. |
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | 65 |
STOCK OWNERSHIP
(13) | Mr. Wilson is the direct beneficial owner of 129,005 shares of our common stock. Mr. Wilson is a co-trustee of the Gary L. Wilson 2006 Unitrust and Wilson-Thornhill Foundation, which each owns 25,000 of the shares reflected. Mr. Wilson is also the sole trustee of the 2601 Trust DTD 10/14/94, which owns 5,445 of the shares reflected. |
(14) | As a result of the Securityholders Agreement, Mr. Wirta, as co-trustee of The Wirta Family Trust, shares voting power over 1,086,577 of the indicated shares with our other stockholders that owned shares of Class B common stock prior to their conversion to shares of common stock in June 2004. |
Certain of our directors and executive officers may beneficially own shares in brokerage accounts subject to customary margin arrangements. Shares held in such accounts may be deemed to be pledged to secure those margin arrangements irrespective of whether there are margin loans then outstanding. None of these margin arrangements is designed to shift or hedge any economic risk associated with ownership of our common stock. As of March 14, 2016, none of our current executive officers or directors has pledged any of our shares, except for Mr. Wirta, all of whose shares indicated in the table above are held in a brokerage account subject to a customary margin arrangement.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
66 | CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement |
Related-Party and Other Transactions Involving Our Officers and Directors
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | 67 |
Review and Approval of Transactions with Interested Persons
68 | CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement |
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING
Voting Instructions and Information
How to attend the Annual Meeting
Matters to be presented
We are not aware of any matters to be presented at the Annual Meeting other than those described in this Proxy Statement. If any matters not described in this Proxy Statement are properly presented at the meeting, then proxies will use their own judgment to determine how to vote your shares. If the meeting is adjourned or postponed, then proxies can vote your shares at the adjournment or postponement as well.
Stockholders entitled to vote
You may vote if you owned shares of our common stock as of March 14, 2016, which is the record date for the Annual Meeting. You are entitled to one vote on each matter presented at the Annual Meeting for each share of common stock that you owned on that date. As of March 14, 2016, we had 334,243,125 shares of common stock outstanding.
Vote tabulation
Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc., an independent third party, will tabulate the votes, and our Assistant Secretary will act as the inspector of the election.
Confidential voting
Your proxy card, ballot and voting records will not be disclosed to us unless applicable law requires disclosure, you request disclosure or your vote is cast in a contested election (which last exception is not applicable for the 2016 Annual Meeting). If you write comments on your proxy card, then your comments will be provided to us, but how you voted will remain confidential.
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | 69 |
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING
How do I vote?
If you do not vote/effect of broker non-votes
Vote levels required to pass an item of business
70 | CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement |
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING
Shares in the 401(k) plan
The Boards voting recommendations
| FOR election of our Board-nominated slate of directors (see Proposal 1); |
| FOR ratification of the selection of KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, to be the auditors of our annual financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016 (see Proposal 2); |
| FOR the advisory resolution to approve our named executive officer compensation for 2015 (see Proposal 3); |
| FOR the proposed charter amendment to reduce (to 30%) the stock-ownership threshold required for stockholders to request a special stockholder meeting (see Proposal 4); and |
| AGAINST the Stockholder Proposal regarding special stockholder meetings (see Proposal 5). |
Unless you give other instructions on your proxy card, the persons named as proxies on the proxy card will vote in accordance with the recommendations of the Board.
Revoking your proxy
You can revoke your proxy if your common stock is held in your name by:
| Filing written notice of revocation before our Annual Meeting with our Secretary, Laurence H. Midler, at the address shown on the front of this Proxy Statement; |
| Signing a proxy bearing a later date and delivering it before our Annual Meeting; or |
| Voting in person at the Annual Meeting. |
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | 71 |
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING
If your common stock is held in the name of your broker, bank or other nominee, please follow the voting instructions provided by the holder of your common stock regarding how to revoke your proxy.
Cost of proxy solicitation
Where you can find our corporate governance materials
Elimination of Paper and Duplicative Materials
72 | CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement |
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING
Incorporation by Reference
Transfer Agent Information
Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc., or Broadridge, is the transfer agent for the common stock of CBRE Group, Inc. Broadridge can be reached at (855) 627-5086 or via email at shareholder@broadridge.com. You should contact Broadridge if you are a registered stockholder and have a question about your account, if your stock certificate has been lost or stolen, or if you would like to report a change in your name or address. Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc. can be contacted as follows:
Regular, Registered or Overnight Mail |
Telephone Inquiries | |
Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc. Attention: Interactive Workflow System 1155 Long Island Avenue Edgewood, New York 11717 |
(855) 627-5086, or TTY for hearing impaired: (855) 627-5080
Foreign Shareowners: (720) 378-5662, or TTY Foreign Shareowners: (720) 399-2074
Website: www.shareholder.broadridge.com |
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | 73 |
RECONCILIATION OF CERTAIN NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
We use non-GAAP financial measures within this Proxy Statement. We provide below reconciliations to their corresponding financial measure computed in accordance with GAAP. As described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, our Board and management use non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate our performance and manage our operations. However, non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP.
In addition, note that we refer to adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted EPS from time to time in our public reporting as EBITDA, as adjusted (or as normalized EBITDA), net income attributable to CBRE Group, Inc., as adjusted and diluted income per share attributable to CBRE Group, Inc. shareholders, as adjusted, respectively.
1. | Adjusted EBITDA |
A reconciliation of net income computed in accordance with GAAP to adjusted EBITDA for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 is set forth below (dollars in thousands):
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
2015 | 2014 | |||||||
Net income attributable to CBRE Group, Inc. |
$ | 547,132 | $ | 484,503 | ||||
Add: |
||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
314,096 | 265,101 | ||||||
Interest expense |
118,880 | 112,035 | ||||||
Write-off of financing costs on extinguished debt |
2,685 | 23,087 | ||||||
Provision for income taxes |
320,853 | 263,759 | ||||||
Less: |
||||||||
Interest income |
6,311 | 6,233 | ||||||
EBITDA |
1,297,335 | 1,142,252 | ||||||
Adjustments: |
||||||||
Cost containment expenses |
40,439 | | ||||||
Carried interest incentive compensation expense to align with the timing of associated revenue |
26,085 | 23,873 | ||||||
Integration and other acquisition related costs |
48,865 | | ||||||
EBITDA, as adjusted
|
$
|
1,412,724
|
|
$
|
1,166,125
|
| ||
|
|
|
|
2. | Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS |
A reconciliation of net income computed in accordance with GAAP to net income attributable to CBRE Group, Inc., as adjusted (adjusted net income), and to diluted income per share attributable to CBRE Group, Inc. shareholders, as adjusted (adjusted EPS), in each case for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, is set forth below (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts):
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
2015 | 2014 | |||||||
Net income attributable to CBRE Group, Inc. |
$ | 547,132 | $ | 484,503 | ||||
Plus / minus: |
||||||||
Amortization expense related to certain intangible assets attributable to acquisitions, net of tax |
61,446 | 48,261 | ||||||
Integration and other acquisition related costs, net of tax |
34,614 | | ||||||
Cost containment expenses, net of tax |
28,581 | | ||||||
Carried interest incentive compensation expense to align with the timing of associated revenue, net of tax |
15,759 | 14,430 | ||||||
Write-off of financing costs on extinguished debt, net of tax |
1,638 | 13,955 | ||||||
Net income attributable to CBRE Group, Inc., as adjusted |
$ | 689,170 | $ | 561,149 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Diluted income per share attributable to CBRE Group, Inc. shareholders, as adjusted |
$ | 2.05 | $ | 1.68 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Weighted average shares outstanding for diluted income per share |
336,414,856 | 334,171,509 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | A-1 |
3. | Adjusted EBITDA for our Americas Region |
A reconciliation of net income computed in accordance with GAAP to EBITDA and to EBITDA, as adjusted, for our Americas region (which we refer to as adjusted EBITDA for our Americas region) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 is set forth below (dollars in thousands):
Year Ended December 31, 2015 |
||||
Net income attributable to CBRE Group, Inc. |
$ | 410,894 | ||
Adjustments: |
||||
Depreciation and amortization |
198,908 | |||
Interest expense, net |
34,788 | |||
Write-off of financing costs on extinguished debt |
2,685 | |||
Royalty and management service income |
(15,136) | |||
Provision for income taxes |
204,231 | |||
|
|
|||
EBITDA |
836,370 | |||
Cost containment expenses |
7,491 | |||
Integration and other costs related to acquisitions |
33,255 | |||
EBITDA, as adjusted1
|
$
|
877,116
|
| |
|
|
4. | Adjusted EBITDA for our Global Workplace Solutions business unit |
A reconciliation of net income computed in accordance with GAAP to EBITDA and to EBITDA, as adjusted, for our Global Workplace Solutions business (which we refer to as adjusted EBITDA for our Global Workplace Solutions business) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 is set forth below (dollars in thousands):
Year Ended December 31, 2015 |
||||
Net income attributable to CBRE Group, Inc. |
$ | 172,025 | ||
Adjustments: |
||||
Depreciation and amortization |
88,782 | |||
Interest expense, net |
8,382 | |||
Royalty and management service expense |
10,556 | |||
Provision for income taxes |
9,123 | |||
|
|
|||
EBITDA |
$ | 288,868 | ||
Integration and other acquisition related costs |
9,379 | |||
|
|
|||
EBITDA, as adjusted
|
$
|
298,246
|
| |
|
|
1 As previously noted in this Proxy Statement under 2015 Adjusted EBITDA Target under the EBP on page 36, we then modified this 2015 adjusted EBITDA figure for our Americas region to add back certain overhead costs and equity compensation expense that are not fully attributable to that region in order to arrive at a bonusable adjusted EBITDA figure for our Americas region for 2015. We consider the $962.6 million figure to be the bonusable adjusted EBITDA figure.
A-2 | CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement |
AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
(AS PROPOSED TO BE AMENDED BY PROPOSAL 4)
*Blacklined text below indicates changes versus our existing certificate of incorporation. Proposed additions are indicated by double underlining, and proposed deletions are indicated by strike-outs.*
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
CBRE GROUP, INC.
CBRE Group, Inc. (the Corporation), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, hereby certifies as follows:
A. The name of the Corporation is CBRE Group, Inc. The Corporation was originally incorporated under the name BLUM CB Holding Corp. The Corporations original certificate of incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on February 20, 2001. The Corporation filed Certificates of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on March 26, 2001 and June 4, 2001 and a Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on June 29, 2001, in each of the foregoing cases under the name CBRE Holding, Inc. The Corporation filed a Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on February 13, 2004 changing the name of the Corporation to CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc. The Corporation filed a Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 4, 2004, June 7, 2004 and June 16, 2004. The Corporation filed a Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on June 4, 2009. The Corporation filed a Certificate of Ownership and Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on October 3, 2011 changing the name of the Corporation to CBRE Group, Inc.
B. This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, which amends and restates the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation in its entirety, was duly adopted by the Board of Directors and by the stockholders in accordance with Sections 103, 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
C. The certificate of incorporation of the Corporation is amended and restated to read in its entirety as follows:
FIRST: The name of the Corporation is CBRE Group, Inc.
SECOND: The registered office and registered agent of the Corporation is The Corporation Trust Company, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19801.
THIRD: The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the DGCL).
FOURTH: (1) The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock that the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 550,000,000, consisting of (a) 25,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share (Preferred Stock), and (ii) 525,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, $0.01 par value per share (Common Stock).
(2) The number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL (or any successor provision thereto), and no vote of the holders of any of the Common Stock or the Preferred Stock voting separately as a class shall be required therefor.
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | B-1 |
(3) The Board of Directors is hereby expressly authorized, by resolution or resolutions, to provide, out of the unissued shares of Preferred Stock, for series of Preferred Stock and, with respect to each such series, to fix the number of shares constituting such series and the designation of such series, the voting powers (if any) of the shares of such series, and the preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series. The powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of each series of Preferred Stock, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding.
(4) (a) Each holder of Common Stock, as such, shall be entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock held of record by such holder on all matters on which stockholders generally are entitled to vote; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided in Section (2) of this Article Fourth or as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) or pursuant to the DGCL.
(b) Except as otherwise required by law, holders of a series of Preferred Stock, as such, shall be entitled only to such voting rights, if any, as shall expressly be granted thereto by this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to such series).
(c) Subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock having a preference over or, the right to participate with, the Common Stock with respect to the payment of dividends, dividends may be declared and paid on the Common Stock at such times and in such amounts as the Board of Directors in its discretion shall determine.
(d) Upon the dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the corporation, subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock having a preference over, or the right to participate with, the Common Stock with respect to the distribution of assets of the Corporation upon such dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, the holders of the Common Stock, as such, shall be entitled to receive the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders ratably in proportion to the number of shares held by them.
FIFTH: In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by the DGCL, the Board of Directors shall be authorized to make, amend, alter, change, add to or repeal the By-Laws of the Corporation in any manner not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Delaware, subject to the power of the stockholders to amend, alter, change, add to or repeal the By-Laws made by the Board of Directors in the manner set forth in the By-Laws.
SIXTH: To the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware:
(1) (a) The Corporation shall indemnify any person (and such persons heirs, executors or administrators) who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (brought in the right of the Corporation or otherwise), whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal, including appeals, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, partner, member, fiduciary, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, limited liability company or other enterprise, for and against all expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person or such heirs, executors or administrators in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, including appeals. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify a person described in such sentence in connection with any action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such person only if the commencement of such action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) by such person was authorized by the Board of Directors. The Corporation may indemnify any person (and such persons heirs, executors or administrators) who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (brought in the right of the Corporation or otherwise), whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal, including appeals, by reason of the fact that such person is or was an employee or agent of the Corporation or, while an employee or agent of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, partner, member, fiduciary, trustee, employee or agent of another Corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, limited liability company or other enterprise, for and against all expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person or such heirs, executors or administrators in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, including appeals.
(b) The Corporation (i) shall promptly pay expenses incurred by any person described in the first sentence of subsection (a) of this Article Sixth, Section (1) and (ii) may pay expenses incurred by any person whom the Corporation has determined to indemnify pursuant to the third sentence of subsection (a) of this Article Sixth, Section (1), in each case in defending any action, suit or proceeding in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding, including appeals, upon presentation of appropriate documentation.
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(c) The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person described in subsection (a) of this Article Sixth, Section (1) against any liability asserted against such person, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Article Sixth, Section (1) or otherwise.
(d) The provisions of this Article Sixth, Section (1) shall be applicable to all actions, claims, suits or proceedings made or commenced after the adoption hereof, whether arising from acts or omissions to act occurring before or after its adoption. The provisions of this Article Sixth, Section (1) shall be deemed to be a contract between the Corporation and each director or officer who serves in such capacity at any time while this Article Sixth, Section (1) and the relevant provisions of the laws of the State of Delaware and other applicable law, if any, are in effect, and any repeal or modification hereof shall not affect any rights or obligations then existing with respect to any state of facts or any action, suit or proceeding then or theretofore existing, or any action, suit or proceeding thereafter brought or threatened based in whole or in part on any such state of facts. If any provision of this Article Sixth, Section (1) shall be found to be invalid or limited i application by reason of any law or regulation, it shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions hereof. The rights of indemnification provided in this Article Sixth, Section (1) shall neither be exclusive of, nor be deemed in limitation of, any rights to which an officer or director may otherwise be entitled or permitted by contract, this Certificate of Incorporation, vote of stockholders or directors or otherwise, or as a matter of law, both as to actions in such persons official capacity and actions in any other capacity while holding such office, it being the policy of the Corporation that indemnification of any person whom the Corporation is obligated to indemnify pursuant to this Article Sixth, Section (1) shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by law.
(e) For purposes of this Article Sixth, references to other enterprises shall include employee benefit plans; references to fines shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to serving at the request of the Corporation shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries.
(2) A director of the Corporation shall not be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law as the same exists or may hereafter be amended. Any amendment, modification or repeal of the foregoing sentence shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation hereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment, modification or repeal.
SEVENTH: (1) The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of a Board of Directors consisting of not less than three directors, the exact number of directors to be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors. A director shall hold office until his or her successor shall be elected and shall qualify, subject, however, to prior death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office. Any newly created directorship on the Board of Directors that results from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors shall be filled only by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. If any applicable provision of the DGCL expressly confers power on stockholders to fill such a directorship at a special meeting of stockholders, such a directorship may be filled at such a meeting.
(2) Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock issued by the Corporation shall have the right, voting separately as a series or separately as a class with one or more such other series, to elect directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, the election, term of office, removal, filling of vacancies and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) applicable thereto.
EIGHTH: Except as otherwise required by law and subject to
the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may(1) shall be called only by the
ChairmanChair of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution approved by the Board of Directors and
(2) shall be called by the Secretary of the Corporation upon athe written request by the holders
of holder(s) Owning (as defined below) at least a majority in30% (in the aggregate) of the then voting
power of all shares of the Corporation entitled to vote at suchon the matters to be brought before the proposed special meeting.
In the case of a special meeting of stockholders called pursuant to the foregoing clause (2), the requesting holder(s) must (i) continue to Own (for the holding period set forth in the By-Laws of the Corporation from time to time) shares representing at least 30% (in the aggregate) of the then voting power of all shares of the Corporation entitled to vote on the matters to be brought before the proposed special meeting, (ii) provide information in writing regarding such stockholder(s), their stock ownership and the matters that they request to bring before the proposed special meeting and (iii) comply with procedures and other terms and conditions relating to special meetings as set forth in the By-Laws of the Corporation from time to time.
For purposes of this Article Eighth, a holder shall be deemed to Own only those shares for which it possesses both (x) full voting and investment rights and (y) a full economic interest (i.e., shares for which the holder has not only the opportunity to profit, but is also exposed to the risk of loss), which terms may be further defined in the By-Laws of the Corporation from time to time.
NINTH: The Corporation hereby elects to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended.
***
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation on this
[__] day of
[ ], 2004.2016.
CBRE GROUP, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
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AMENDED AND RESTATED BY-LAWS
(AS PROPOSED TO BE AMENDED IF PROPOSAL 4 IS APPROVED)
*Blacklined text below indicates changes versus our existing by-laws. Proposed additions are indicated by double underlining, and proposed deletions are indicated by strike-outs.*
AMENDED AND RESTATED
BY-LAWS
OF
CBRE GROUP, INC.
(the Corporation)
dated December 17, 2015
As Amended [ ], 2016
ARTICLE I.
STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation for the purpose of electing directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting shall be held on such date, and at such time and place within or without the State of Delaware as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Special Meeting.
(a) Special meetings of the stockholders (1) shall be called at any time by the Secretary of the Corporation
(the Secretary) or any other officer of the Corporation, whenever directedonly by the Chair of the Board, the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution
approved by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation (the Chief Executive Officer) or the holders of at least a majority
inBoard of Directors pursuant to a resolution approved by the Board of Directors and (2) shall be called by the Secretary of the Corporation (the Secretary)
upon the written request of holder(s) Owning (as defined below) at least 30% (in the aggregate) of the then voting power of all shares of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting. The purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting
shall be included in the notice setting forth such callon the matters to be brought before the proposed special meeting (the Requisite Percent, and such a special
meeting, a Stockholder Requested Special Meeting); provided that such request shall be invalid if (A) it relates to an item of business that is the same or substantially similar to any item of business that
stockholders voted on at a meeting of stockholders that occurred within 30 days preceding the date of such request or (B) the special-meeting request is received within the period commencing 90 days prior to the anniversary of the date of the
most recent annual meeting of stockholders and ending on the date of the next annual meeting of stockholders. Special meetings of the stockholders shall be held at such time and place within or without the State of Delaware as may be designated
from time to time by the Board of Directors; provided that any such special meeting called by holders of at least a majority in voting power of all shares of the Corporation entitled to vote at such
meetingStockholder Requested Special Meeting shall be held within 120 days after the SecetarySecretary
receives notice that such meeting has been called for.
For purposes of this Article I, Section 2, a holder shall be deemed to Own only those shares for which it possesses both (x) full voting and investment rights and (y) a full economic interest (i.e., shares for which the holder has not only the opportunity to profit, but is also exposed to the risk of loss); provided that the number of shares calculated in accordance with the foregoing clauses (x) and (y) shall not include any shares (A) sold by such person or any of its affiliates in any transaction that has not been settled or closed, (B) borrowed by such holder or any of its affiliates for any purposes or purchased by such holder or any of its affiliates pursuant to an agreement to resell or (C) subject to any option, warrant, forward contract, swap, contract of sale, other derivative or similar agreement entered into by such holder or any of its affiliates, whether any such instrument or agreement is to be settled with shares or with cash based on the notional amount or value of shares of the Corporation entitled to vote at the Stockholder Requested Special Meeting, in any such case which instrument or agreement has, or is intended to have, the purpose or effect of (1) reducing in any manner, to any extent or at any time in the future, such holders or its affiliates full right to vote or direct the voting of any such shares and/or (2) hedging, offsetting or altering to any
CBRE - 2016 Proxy Statement | C-1 |
degree the gain or loss arising from the full economic ownership of such shares by such holder or affiliate. A holder shall own shares held in the name of a nominee or other intermediary so long as the holder retains the right to instruct how the shares are voted with respect to the election of directors and possesses the full economic interest in the shares. A holders ownership of shares shall be deemed to continue during any period in which the person has delegated any voting power by means of a proxy, power of attorney or other instrument or arrangement that is revocable at any time by the holder. The determination of the extent to which a person Owns shares for these purposes shall be made in good faith by the Board of Directors, which determination shall be conclusive and binding on the Corporation and its stockholders.
(b) In order for the Secretary to call a Stockholder Requested Special Meeting, one or more written requests for a special stockholder meeting (individually or collectively, a Special Meeting Request) signed and dated by the stockholder(s) of record that Own the Requisite Percent, or by persons who are acting on behalf of those who Own the Requisite Percent, must be delivered by the requesting stockholder(s) to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, must set forth therein the purpose or purposes of the proposed Stockholder Requested Special Meeting and must be accompanied by:
(1) the information required by paragraph (B) of Article I, Section 11 of these By-Laws; and
(2) as to each stockholder signing such request, or if such stockholder is a nominee or custodian, as to each beneficial owner on whose behalf such request is signed, (i) an affidavit signed by such person stating the number of shares of the Corporation that it Owns as of the date such request was signed and agreeing to continue to Own at least (A) such number of shares or (B) a number of shares equal to the Requisite Percent through the date of the Stockholder Requested Special Meeting and to update and supplement such affidavit, if necessary, so that the information provided in such affidavit regarding the number of shares that such person Owns shall be true and correct as of the record date for the Stockholder Requested Special Meeting and as of the date that is five business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, with such update and supplement to be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five business days after the record date for the meeting in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date, and not later than three business days prior to the date for the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of five business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof; provided that in the event of any decrease in the number of shares of the Corporation Owned by such person at any time before the Stockholder Requested Special Meeting, such persons Special Meeting Request shall be deemed revoked with respect to the shares comprising such reduction and shall not be counted towards the calculation of the Requisite Percent.
One or more written requests for a special meeting delivered to the Secretary shall constitute a valid Special Meeting Request only if each such written request satisfies the requirements set forth above in this clause (b) and has been dated and delivered to the Secretary within 60 days of the earliest dated of such requests. If the record holder is not the signatory to the Special Meeting Request, such Special Meeting Request will not be valid unless documentary evidence from the record holder of such signatorys authority to execute the Special Meeting Request on behalf of the record holder is supplied to the Secretary at the time of delivery of such Special Meeting Request (or within 10 business days thereafter). The determination of the validity of a Special Meeting Request shall be made in good faith by the Board of Directors, whose determination shall be conclusive and binding on the Corporation and the stockholders.
(c) If none of the stockholder(s) who submitted the Special Meeting Request(s) (or their qualified representatives) appears at the Stockholder Requested Special Meeting to present the matter or matters to be brought before the special meeting as specified in the Special Meeting Request(s), the Corporation need not present the matter or matters for a vote at the meeting, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation.
(d) The stockholder seeking to call the special meeting may revoke a Special Meeting Request by written revocation delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at any time prior to the special meeting, and any stockholder signing a Special Meeting Request may revoke such request as to the shares that such person Owns (or as to the shares that are Owned by the person on whose behalf the stockholder is acting, as applicable), and their Special Meeting Request shall thereupon be deemed revoked; provided that if as a result of such revocation(s) there are no longer any valid unrevoked Special Meeting Request(s) from stockholders who Own at least a Requisite Percent with respect to the proposed special meeting, then there shall be no requirement for the Secretary to call, or for the Corporation to hold, a special meeting regardless of whether notice of such special meeting has been sent and/or proxies solicited for such special meeting. Further, in the event that the stockholder requesting the Stockholder Requested Special Meeting withdraws such Special Meeting Request, there shall be no requirement for the Secretary to call, or for the Corporation to hold, such special meeting.
Section 3. Notice. Except as otherwise provided by law, notice of the time, place and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes of the meeting of stockholders shall be delivered personally or mailed not earlier than sixty, nor less than ten, days previous thereto, to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting at such address as appears on the records of the Corporation.
Section 4. Quorum. The holders of a majority in voting power of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders for the transaction of business, except as otherwise provided by statute or by the Corporations Amended and Restated Certificate of
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Incorporation as may be amended from time to time (the Certificate of Incorporation); but if at any regularly called meeting of stockholders there shall be less than a quorum present, the stockholders present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice other than announcement at the meeting until a quorum shall be present or represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, or if, after the adjournment, a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.
Section 5. Conduct of Meetings. The Chair of the Board of Directors, or in the Chairs absence or at the Board Chairs direction, the Chief Executive Officer, or in the Chief Executive Officers absence or at the Chief Executive Officers direction, any officer of the Corporation shall call all meetings of the stockholders to order and shall act as chair of such meeting. The Secretary of the Corporation or, in such officers absence, an Assistant Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting. If neither the Secretary nor an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation is present, the chair of the meeting shall appoint a secretary of the meeting. Unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors prior to the meeting, the chair of the meeting shall determine the order of business and shall have the authority in his or her discretion to regulate the conduct of any such meeting, including, without limitation, by imposing restrictions on the persons (other than stockholders of the Corporation or their duly appointed proxies) who may attend any such meeting, whether any stockholder or stockholders proxy may be excluded from any meeting of stockholders based upon any determination by the chair of the meeting, in his or her sole discretion, that any such person has unduly disrupted or is likely to disrupt the proceedings thereat, and the circumstances in which any person may make a statement or ask questions at any meeting of stockholders.
Section 6. Proxies. At all meetings of stockholders, any stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting shall be entitled to vote in person or by proxy, but no proxy shall be voted after three years from its date, unless such proxy provides for a longer period. Without limiting the manner in which a stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for the stockholder as proxy pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the following shall constitute a valid means by which a stockholder may grant such authority: (a) a stockholder may execute a writing authorizing another person or persons to act for the stockholder as proxy, and execution of the writing may be accomplished by the stockholder or the stockholders authorized officer, director, employee or agent signing such writing or causing his or her signature to be affixed to such writing by any reasonable means including, but not limited to, by facsimile signature; or (b) a stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for the stockholder as proxy by transmitting or authorizing the transmission of a telegram, cablegram, or other means of electronic transmission to the person who will be the holder of the proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy support service organization or like agent duly authorized by the person who will be the holder of the proxy to receive such transmission, provided that any such telegram, cablegram or other means of electronic transmission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be determined that the telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder. If it is determined that such telegrams, cablegrams or other electronic transmissions are valid, the judge or judges of stockholder votes or, if there are no such judges, such other persons making that determination shall specify the information upon which they relied.
Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission created pursuant to the preceding paragraph of this Section 6 may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission.
Proxies shall be filed with the Secretary of the meeting prior to or at the commencement of the meeting to which they relate.
Section 7. Voting. When a quorum is present at any meeting, the vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the matter shall decide any question brought before such meeting, unless the question is one upon which by express provision of statute or of the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws a different vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such question.
Section 8. Record Dates. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders (a) entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof or (b) entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date (i) in the case of clause (a) above, shall not be more than sixty nor less than ten days before the date of such meeting and (ii) in the case of clause (b) above, shall not be more than sixty days prior to such action. If for any reason the Board of Directors shall not have fixed a record date for any such purpose, the record date for such purpose shall be determined as provided by law. Only those stockholders of record on the date so fixed or determined shall be entitled to any of the foregoing rights, notwithstanding the transfer of any such stock on the books of the Corporation after any such record date so fixed or determined.
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Section 9. Inspection of Stockholders List. The officer of the Corporation who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make at least ten days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten days prior to the meeting, either at a place within the city where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of meeting, or, if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. The list shall also be produced at the time and kept at the place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.
Section 10. Judges of Stockholder Votes. The Board of Directors, in advance of all meetings of the stockholders, shall appoint one or more judges of stockholder votes, who may be stockholders or their proxies, but not directors of the Corporation or candidates for office. In the event that the Board of Directors fails to so appoint judges of stockholder votes or, in the event that one or more judges of stockholder votes previously designated by the Board of Directors fails to appear or act at the meeting of stockholders, the chair of the meeting may appoint one or more judges of stockholder votes to fill such vacancy or vacancies. Judges of stockholder votes appointed to act at any meeting of the stockholders, before entering upon the discharge of their duties, shall be sworn faithfully to execute the duties of judge of stockholder votes with strict impartiality and according to the best of their ability and the oath so taken shall be subscribed by them. Judges of stockholder votes shall, subject to the power of the chair of the meeting to open and close the polls, take charge of the polls, and, after the voting, shall make a certificate of the result of the vote taken.
Section 11. Notice and Information Requirements. (A) Annual Meetings of Stockholders. (1) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation (other than directors to be nominated by any series of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class, or pursuant to the Securityholders Agreement (as defined below)) and the proposal of other business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders only (a) pursuant to the Corporations notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto), (b) by or at the direction of the Chair of the Board of Directors or the Board of Directors or (c) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote at the meeting, who complied with the notice procedures set forth in paragraphs (A)(2) and (A)(3) of this Article I, Section 11 and who was a stockholder of record at the time such notice is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation.
(2) For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (c) of paragraph (A)(1) of this Article I, Section 11, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation, and any such proposed business other than nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors must constitute a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely, a stockholders notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary date of the preceding years annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 days before, or more than 70 days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. Such stockholders notice shall set forth (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director, all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), including such persons written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected; (b) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend these By-Laws, the language of the proposed amendment), the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; (c) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporations books and records, and of such beneficial owner, (ii) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner, (iii) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business or nomination and (iv) a representation whether the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, intends or is part of a group which intends (x) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporations outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or elect the nominee and/or (y) otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination; (d) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to the nomination or proposal and/or the voting of shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation between or among the stockholder giving the notice, the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made, any of their respective affiliates or associates and/or any others acting in concert with any of the foregoing (collectively, proponent persons); and (e) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including without limitation any contract to purchase or sell, acquisition or grant of
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any option, right or warrant to purchase or sell, swap or other instrument) the intent or effect of which may be (i) to transfer to or from any proponent person, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any security of the Corporation, (ii) to increase or decrease the voting power of any proponent person with respect to shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation and/or (iii) to provide any proponent person, directly or indirectly, with the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from, or to otherwise benefit economically from, any increase or decrease in the value of any security of the Corporation. A stockholder providing notice of a proposed nomination for election to the Board of Directors or other business proposed to be brought before a meeting (whether given pursuant to this paragraph (A)(2) or paragraph (B) of this Article I, Section 11) shall update and supplement such notice from time to time to the extent necessary so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice shall be true and correct as of the record date for the meeting and as of the date that is 15 days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof; such update and supplement shall be delivered in writing to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than 5 days after the record date for the meeting (in the case of any update and supplement required to be made as of the record date), and not later than 10 days prior to the date for the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof (in the case of any update and supplement required to be made as of 15 days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof). The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation.
(3) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of paragraph (A)(2) of this Article I, Section 11 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Corporation at an annual meeting is increased, and there is no public announcement naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors made by the Corporation at least 100 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting, a stockholders notice required by this Article I, Section 11 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.
(B) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as
shall have been brought before the meeting (1) in the case of a meeting called by the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, the Chief Executive Officer or
the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution approved by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to the Corporations notice of meeting pursuant to Article I, Section 3 of these
By-Laws, or (2) in the case of a meeting called upon a request of at least at least a majority in voting power of all shares of the Corporation entitled to vote at such
meetingStockholder Requested Special Meeting upon the written request of holder(s) Owning the Requisite Percent, as shall have been proposed by such holder(s) of at least
at least a majority in voting power of all shares, pursuant to a notice setting forth the information required pursuant to paragraph (A)(2) of this Article I, Section 11, and such other purposes as shall be directed by the Board of
Directors, in each case as set forth in the Corporations notice of meeting pursuant to this Article I, Section 3 of these By-Laws. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special
meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporations notice of meeting (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or stockholder(s) pursuant to Article Eighth of the Certificate of
Incorporation) or (ii) provided that the Board of Directors (or stockholder(s) pursuant to Article Eighth of the Certificate of Incorporation) has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation
who is entitled to vote at the meeting, who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Article I, Section 11 and who is a stockholder of record at the time such notice is delivered to the Secretary. In the event the Corporation calls
a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to
such position(s) as specified in the Corporations notice of meeting, if the stockholders notice as required by paragraph (A)(2) of this Article I, Section 11 shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of
the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such special meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting
and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting.
(C) General. (1) Unless otherwise provided by the terms of any series of Preferred Stock, the Securityholders Agreement dated as of July 20, 2001, as amended from time to time (the Securityholders Agreement), among the Corporation, CBRE Services, Inc. (formerly known as CB Richard Ellis Services, Inc.) and the Corporations stockholders from time to time party thereto or any other agreement approved by the Corporations Board of Directors, only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Article I, Section 11 shall be eligible to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Article I, Section 11. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws, the chair of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Article I, Section 11 and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with this Article I, Section 11, to declare that such defective nomination shall be disregarded or that such proposed business shall not be transacted. Notwithstanding the foregoing
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provisions of this Article I, Section 11, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination or business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Article I, Section 11, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.
(2) For purposes of this Article I, Section 11, public announcement shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(3) For purposes of these By-Laws, no adjournment or postponement nor notice of adjournment or postponement of any meeting shall be deemed to constitute a new notice of such meeting for purposes of this Section 11, and in order for any notification required to be delivered by a stockholder pursuant to this Section 11 to be timely, such notification must be delivered within the periods set forth above with respect to the originally scheduled meeting.
(4) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article I, Section 11, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in these By-Laws; provided, however, that any references in these By-Laws to the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit any requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to these By-Laws (including paragraphs (A)(1)(c) and (B) of this Article I, Section 11), and compliance with paragraphs (A)(1)(c) and (B) of this Article I, Section 11 shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or submit other business. Nothing in these By-Laws shall be deemed to affect any rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock).
ARTICLE II.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. Number, Election, Quorum. The Board of Directors of the Corporation shall consist of such number of directors, not less than three, as shall from time to time be fixed exclusively by resolution of the Board of Directors. A nominee for director shall (except as hereinafter provided for the filling of vacancies and newly created directorships) be elected to the Board of Directors if the votes cast for such nominees election exceed the votes cast as withheld or against such nominees election; provided, however, that directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at any meeting of stockholders for which (i) the Secretary receives a notice (which purports to be in compliance with the notice procedures set forth in Article I, Section 11 of these By-Laws, irrespective of whether the Board of Directors thereafter determines that such notice is not in compliance with such procedures) that a stockholder has nominated a person for election to the Board of Directors and (ii) such nomination has not been withdrawn by such stockholder on or before the 14th day before the Corporation first mails to the stockholders its notice of meeting for such meeting. A majority of the total number of directors then in office (but not less than one-third of the number of directors constituting the entire Board of Directors) shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and, except as otherwise provided by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors. Directors need not be stockholders.
Section 2. Term Limits. The Board of Directors will not nominate for re-election any non-management director if that director has completed 12 years of service as an Independent Member (as defined below) of the Board of Directors on or prior to the date of election to which such nomination relates. The restriction in the immediately preceding sentence shall not apply until December 17, 2020 for any person who is a director as of December 17, 2015. For purposes of this Section 2 and the immediately following Section 3, Independent Member means a member of the Board of Directors that meets the criteria for independence required by the New York Stock Exchange or such other exchange upon which the Corporations securities are publicly traded from time to time.
Section 3. Chair of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors, after each annual meeting of the stockholders, shall elect a Chair of the Board of Directors who shall be an Independent Member (as defined above) of the Board of Directors. The Chair of the Board of Directors shall hold office until his or her successor is elected by the Board of Directors, or until his or her earlier resignation or removal. The Chair of the Board of Directors may be removed as Chair at any time with or without cause by the majority vote of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall fill any vacancy in the position of Chair of the Board of Directors at such time and in such manner as the Board of Directors shall determine.
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Section 4. Newly-Created Directorships and Vacancies. Unless otherwise required by law and subject to Section 6 of this Article II, newly created directorships in the Board of Directors that result from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors may be filled only by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director; and the directors so chosen shall hold office for a term as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation. If any applicable provision of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware expressly confers power on stockholders to fill such a directorship at a special meeting of stockholders, such a directorship may be filled at such a meeting.
Section 5. Meetings. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such place within or without the State of Delaware as may from time to time be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors or as may be specified in the notice of any meeting. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such times as may from time to time be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors and special meetings may be held at any time upon the call of the Chair of the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer, by oral, or written notice including, telegraph, telex or transmission of a telecopy, e-mail or other means of transmission, duly served on or sent or mailed to each director to such directors address or telecopy number as shown on the books of the Corporation not less than one day before the meeting. The notice of any meeting need not specify the purposes thereof. A meeting of the Board of Directors may be held without notice immediately after the annual meeting of stockholders at the same place at which such meeting is held. Notice need not be given of regular meetings of the Board of Directors held at times fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors. Notice of any meeting need not be given to any director who shall attend such meeting in person (except when the director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened), or who shall waive notice thereof, before or after such meeting, in writing.
Section 6. Election of Directors by Holders of Preferred Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock issued by the Corporation shall have the right, voting separately by series, to elect directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, the election, term of office, removal, and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of the Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) applicable thereto. The number of directors that may be elected by the holders of any such series of Preferred Stock shall be in addition to the number fixed by or pursuant to these By-Laws. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the terms of such series, the number of directors that may be so elected by the holders of any such series of stock shall be elected for terms expiring at the next annual meeting of stockholders, and vacancies among directors so elected by the separate vote of the holders of any such series of Preferred Stock shall be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors elected by such series, or, if there are no such remaining directors, by the holders of such series in the same manner in which such series initially elected a director.
Section 7. Election of Directors by Multiples Classes or Series of Stock. If at any meeting for the election of directors, the Corporation has outstanding more than one class of stock, and one or more such classes or series thereof are entitled to vote separately as a class, and there shall be a quorum of only one such class or series of stock, that class or series of stock shall be entitled to elect its quota of directors notwithstanding absence of a quorum of the other class or series of stock.
Section 8. Executive Committee. The Board of Directors may designate three or more directors to constitute an executive committee to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors, one of whom shall be designated chair of such committee. The members of such committee shall by comprised of such members of the Board of Directors as the Board of Directors shall from time to time establish. Any vacancy occurring in the committee shall be filled by the Board of Directors. Regular meetings of the committee shall be held at such times and on such notice and at such places as it may from time to time determine. The committee shall act, advise with and aid the officers of the Corporation in all matters concerning its interest and the management of its business, and shall generally perform such duties and exercise such powers as may from time to time be delegated to it by the Board of Directors. The committee shall have power to authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which are required by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware to have the seal affixed thereto.
The executive committee shall keep regular minutes of its transactions and shall cause them to be recorded in a book kept in the office of the Corporation designated for that purpose, and shall report the same to the Board of Directors at their regular meeting. The committee shall make and adopt its own rules for the government thereof and shall elect its own officers.
Section 9. Other Committees. The Board of Directors may from time to time establish such other committees to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors (including, without limitation, an audit committee (or audit and finance committee), a compensation committee and a corporate governance and nominating committee) which shall be comprised of such members of the Board of Directors and have such duties as the Board of Directors shall from time to time establish. Any director may belong to any number of committees of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may also establish such other committees with such members (whether or not directors) and such duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.
Section 10. Action by Unanimous Written Consent in Lieu of a Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of
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Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors.
Section 11. Remote Participation. The members of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of such Board of Directors or committee, as the case may be, by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this subsection shall constitute presence in person at such a meeting.
Section 12. Compensation. The Board of Directors may establish policies for the compensation of directors and for the reimbursement of the expenses of directors, in each case, in connection with services provided by directors to the Corporation.
ARTICLE III.
OFFICERS
Section 1. Election. The Board of Directors, after each annual meeting of the stockholders, shall elect officers of the Corporation, including a Chief Executive Officer, a President and a Secretary. The Board of Directors may also from time to time elect such other officers (including one or more Vice Presidents, a Treasurer, one or more Assistant Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant Secretaries, one or more Assistant Treasurers or one or more Vice Chairs of the Board) as it may deem proper or may delegate to any elected officer of the Corporation the power to appoint and remove any such other officers and to prescribe their respective terms of office, authorities and duties. Any Vice President may be designated Executive, Senior or Corporate, or may be given such other designation or combination of designations as the Board of Directors may determine. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person.
Section 2. Terms. All officers of the Corporation elected by the Board of Directors shall hold office for such term as may be determined by the Board of Directors or until their respective successors are chosen and qualified. Any officer may be removed from office at any time either with or without cause by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Board of Directors then in office, or, in the case of appointed officers, by any elected officer upon whom such power of removal shall have been conferred by the Board of Directors.
Section 3. Powers and Duties. Each of the officers of the Corporation elected by the Board of Directors or appointed by an officer in accordance with these By-laws shall have the powers and duties prescribed by law, by these By-Laws or by the Board of Directors and, in the case of appointed officers, the powers and duties prescribed by the appointing officer, and, unless otherwise prescribed by these By-Laws or by the Board of Directors or such appointing officer, shall have such further powers and duties as ordinarily pertain to that office.
Section 4. Delegation. Unless otherwise provided in these By-Laws, in the absence or disability of any officer of the Corporation, the Board of Directors may, during such period, delegate such officers powers and duties to any other officer or to any director and the person to whom such powers and duties are delegated shall, for the time being, hold such office.
ARTICLE IV.
CERTIFICATES OF STOCK
Section 1. Form. The shares of stock of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of the Corporations stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Notwithstanding the adoption of such a resolution by the Board of Directors, every holder of stock represented by certificates and upon request every holder of uncertificated shares shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by the Chair of the Board of Directors, or the President or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Corporation, or as otherwise permitted by law, representing the number of shares registered in certificate form. Any or all the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile.
Section 2. Transfers. Transfers of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation by the holder of the shares in person or by such holders attorney upon surrender and cancellation of certificates for a like number of shares, or as otherwise provided by law with respect to uncertificated shares.
Section 3. Loss, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. No certificate for shares of stock in the Corporation shall be issued in place of any certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, except upon production of such evidence of such loss, theft or destruction and upon delivery to the Corporation of a bond of indemnity in such amount, upon such terms and secured by such surety, as the Board of Directors in its discretion may require.
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ARTICLE V.
CORPORATE BOOKS
The books of the Corporation may be kept outside of the State of Delaware at such place or places as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.
ARTICLE VI.
CHECKS, NOTES, PROXIES, ETC.
All checks and drafts on the Corporations bank accounts and all bills of exchange and promissory notes, and all acceptances, obligations and other instruments for the payment of money, shall be signed by such officer or officers or agent or agents as shall be authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors. Proxies to vote and consents with respect to securities of other corporations owned by or standing in the name of the Corporation may be executed and delivered from time to time on behalf of the Corporation by the Chair of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or President, or by such officers as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.
ARTICLE VII.
FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of the Corporation shall begin on the first day of January in each year and shall end on the thirty-first day of December following.
ARTICLE VIII.
CORPORATE SEAL
The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation. In lieu of the corporate seal, when so authorized by the Board of Directors or a duly empowered committee thereof, a facsimile thereof may be impressed or affixed or reproduced.
ARTICLE IX.
EXCLUSIVE FORUM
Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, other employee or stockholder of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporations stockholders, (iii) any action arising pursuant to any provision of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or as to which the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article IX.
ARTICLE X.
AMENDMENTS
These By-Laws may be amended, added to, rescinded or repealed at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of the stockholders, provided notice of the proposed change was given in the notice of the meeting of the stockholders or, in the case of a meeting of the Board of Directors, in a notice given not less than two days prior to the meeting.
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TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] Date Signature (Joint Owners) Date VOTE BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 8:59 p.m. (Pacific Time) on May 12, 2016, unless you are voting shares held in CBRE Group, Inc.s 401(k) plan, in which case the deadline is 8:59 p.m. (Pacific Time) on May 10, 2016 (the 401(k) cut-off time). Have your proxy card in hand when you access the website and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form. ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE PROXY MATERIALS If you would like to reduce the costs incurred by our company in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access proxy materials electronically in future years. VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903 Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 8:59 p.m. (Pacific Time) on May 12, 2016 or the 401(k) cut-off time, as applicable. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions. VOTE BY MAIL Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. Proxies submitted by mail must be received prior to the meeting date. CBRE GROUP, INC. C/O BROADRIDGE P.O. BOX 1342 BRENTWOOD, NY 11717 E04379-P75200 CBRE GROUP, INC. The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following proposals: 1. Elect Directors Abstain Against For Nominees: Abstain Against For ! ! ! 1a. Brandon B. Boze ! ! ! ! ! ! 2. Ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2016. 1b. Curtis F. Feeny ! ! ! ! ! ! 3. Advisory vote to approve named executive officer compensation for 2015. 1c. Bradford M. Freeman ! ! ! ! ! ! 4. Approve an amendment to our certificate of incorporation to reduce (to 30%) the stock-ownership threshold required for our stockholders to request a special stockholder meeting. 1d. Christopher T. Jenny ! ! ! 1e. Gerardo I. Lopez ! ! ! The Board of Directors recommends you vote AGAINST the following proposal: 1f. Frederic V. Malek ! ! ! ! ! ! 1g. Paula R. Reynolds 5. Stockholder proposal regarding our stockholders ability to call special stockholder meetings. ! ! ! 1h. Robert E. Sulentic NOTE: To transact any other business properly introduced at the Annual Meeting. ! ! ! 1i. Laura D. Tyson ! ! ! 1j. Ray Wirta ! For Address Changes and/or Comments, mark here (see reverse for instructions). Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, or other fiduciary, please give full title as such. Joint owners should each sign personally. All holders must sign. If a corporation or partnership, please sign in full corporate or partnership name by authorized officer.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting: The Notice and Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available at www.proxyvote.com E04380-P75200 CBRE GROUP, INC. Annual Meeting of Stockholders May 13, 2016 8:30 a.m. (Pacific Time) This proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors The undersigned hereby appoints Robert E. Sulentic and James R. Groch, or either of them, as proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse side of this ballot, all of the shares of common stock of CBRE GROUP, INC. that the undersigned would be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at 8:30 a.m. (Pacific Time) on May 13, 2016 at 4350 La Jolla Village Drive, Suite 250, San Diego, California, and any adjournment or postponement thereof. This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein. If no such direction is made, this proxy will be voted in accordance with the Board of Directors recommendations. In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. Address Changes/Comments: (If you noted any Address Changes/Comments above, please mark corresponding box on the reverse side.) Continued and to be signed on reverse side