UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

 

Rule 14a-101

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

 

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

 

 

 

 

GRIFFIN INDUSTRIAL REALTY, INC.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To be Held on May 15, 2018

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Griffin Industrial Realty, Inc. (“Griffin”) will be held in the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 569 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10022, on the 15th day of May 2018, at 2:00 p.m., local time, to consider and act upon:

1.           The election of David R. Bechtel, Edgar M. Cullman, Jr., Frederick M. Danziger, Michael S. Gamzon, Thomas C. Israel, Jonathan P. May and Albert H. Small, Jr. as directors of Griffin;

2.           The ratification of the selection of RSM US LLP as Griffin’s independent registered public accountants for fiscal 2018;

3.           The approval, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, of the compensation of Griffin’s named executive officers as presented in Griffin’s Proxy Statement; and

4.           Such other business as may properly be brought before the Annual Meeting or any postponement, continuation or adjournment thereof.

 

WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AND RETURN IT IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.

Only stockholders of record at the close of business on March 28, 2018 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting.

 

 

 

GRIFFIN INDUSTRIAL REALTY, INC.

641 LEXINGTON AVENUE

26TH FLOOR

NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022

PROXY STATEMENT

This Proxy Statement is furnished to the stockholders of Griffin Industrial Realty, Inc. (“Griffin”) in connection with the solicitation by its Board of Directors  (the “Board”) of proxies for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at 2:00 p.m. on May 15, 2018 in the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel at 569 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10022, for the purposes set forth in the accompanying notice of meeting (the “Annual Meeting”).  Griffin anticipates that the Proxy Statement and proxy card will be distributed to stockholders on or about April 9, 2018.

At the Annual Meeting, stockholders will be asked to consider and act upon the following proposals:

1.           The election of David R. Bechtel, Edgar M. Cullman, Jr., Frederick M. Danziger, Michael S. Gamzon, Thomas C. Israel, Jonathan P. May and Albert H. Small, Jr. as directors;

2.           The ratification of the selection of RSM US LLP (“RSM US”) as Griffin’s independent registered public accountants for fiscal 2018;

3.           The approval, on an advisory (non‑binding) basis, of the compensation of Griffin’s named executive officers as presented in this Proxy Statement; and

4.           Such other business as may properly be brought before the Annual Meeting or any postponement, continuation or adjournment thereof.

The Board recommends a vote “FOR” David R. Bechtel, Edgar M. Cullman, Jr., Frederick M. Danziger, Michael S. Gamzon, Thomas C. Israel, Jonathan P. May and Albert H. Small, Jr. as directors, “FOR” the ratification of the selection of RSM US as Griffin’s independent registered public accountants for fiscal 2018 and “FOR” the approval, on an advisory (non‑binding) basis, of the compensation of Griffin’s named executive officers.

HOW DO I VOTE?

Griffin recommends that stockholders vote by proxy even if they plan to attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person. If you are a stockholder of record, there are three ways to vote by proxy:

Internet and telephone voting facilities for stockholders of record will be available 24 hours a day and will close at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time,  on May 14, 2018.

If your shares are held in street name through a bank or broker, you will receive instructions on how to vote from the bank or broker. You must follow their instructions in order for your shares to be voted. Internet and telephone voting also may be offered to stockholders owning shares through certain banks and brokers. If your shares are not registered in your own name and you would like to vote your shares in person at the Annual Meeting, you should contact your bank or broker to obtain a legal proxy and bring it to the Annual Meeting in order to vote.

GENERAL

This solicitation is being made on behalf of the Board of Directors of Griffin. Any proxy received in the accompanying form may be revoked by the person executing it at any time before the authority thereby granted is exercised. A proxy may be revoked by attending the meeting and voting in person, by giving written notice of revocation to Griffin’s Secretary prior to or at the meeting, by granting a subsequent proxy through the Internet or telephone, or by delivering a duly executed proxy bearing a later date to Griffin’s Secretary. Proxies received by the Company in such form will be voted at the meeting or any postponement, continuation or adjournment thereof as specified therein by the person giving the proxy; if no specification is made, the shares represented by such proxy will be voted:

i.For the election of David R. Bechtel, Edgar M. Cullman, Jr., Frederick M. Danziger, Michael S. Gamzon, Thomas C. Israel, Jonathan P. May and Albert H. Small, Jr. as directors as described in this Proxy Statement;

ii.For ratification of the selection of RSM US as Griffin’s independent registered public accountants for fiscal 2018; and

iii.For the approval, on an advisory (non‑binding) basis, of the compensation of Griffin’s named executive officers as presented in this Proxy Statement.

Directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast. This means that the seven directors receiving the highest number of “FOR” votes will be elected as directors. Votes withheld and broker “non‑votes” will have no effect on the election of directors. The ratification of the selection of RSM US as Griffin’s independent registered public accountants requires the affirmative vote of a majority of shares present or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on the proposal. Abstentions will have the same effect as votes against the proposal. Because brokers have discretionary authority to vote on the ratification of the selection of RSM US, Griffin does not expect any broker non‑votes in connection with the ratification. The advisory (non‑binding) vote for the approval of the compensation of Griffin’s named executive officers requires the affirmative vote of a majority of shares present or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on the proposal. Abstentions will have the same effect as votes against the compensation of Griffin’s named executive officers. Broker “non‑votes” will be treated as though they are not entitled to vote and will have no effect on the outcome of this vote. 

Management knows of no matters that may be brought before the Annual Meeting or any postponement, continuation or adjournment thereof other than those described in the accompanying notice of meeting and routine matters incidental to the conduct of the meeting. However, if any other matter should come before the meeting or any

postponement, continuation or adjournment thereof, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying proxy card or their substitutes to vote the proxy in accordance with their judgment on such matters.

The cost of solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors will be borne by Griffin. Such solicitation will be made by mail and, in addition, may be made by officers and employees of Griffin personally or by telephone, facsimile or electronic mail. Proxies and proxy material will also be distributed through brokers, custodians and other similar parties, and Griffin will reimburse such parties for their reasonable expenses. The solicitation and recording of proxies is being done by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc., and will cost approximately $15,000.

Each holder of a share of Common Stock of Griffin, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), will be entitled to one vote for each share held of record by such person at the close of business on March 28, 2018 (the “Record Date”), which is the Record Date fixed by the Board of Directors for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting or any postponement, continuation or adjournment thereof. As of such date, Griffin had 5,001,006 shares of Common Stock outstanding. A majority of these shares present in person or represented by proxy will constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting. A total of 2,278,018 shares of Common Stock, representing approximately 45.6% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, are held by members of the Cullman and Ernst Group (see Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Principal Holders for more information).

STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR THE 2019 ANNUAL MEETING

Proposals by stockholders for Griffin’s 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders pursuant to Rule 14a‑8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), must be received by Griffin no later than December 10, 2018 if such proposal is to be considered for inclusion in the 2019 proxy materials of Griffin.

Stockholders intending to present a proposal at the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, but not to include the proposal in Griffin’s proxy statement, or to nominate a person for election as a director, must comply with the requirements set forth in Griffin’s Amended and Restated By‑laws. Griffin’s Amended and Restated By‑laws require, among other things, that Griffin’s Secretary receive written notice from the stockholder of record of their intent to present such proposal or nomination not earlier than 120 days and not later than 90 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting. Therefore, Griffin must receive notice of such a proposal or nomination for the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders no earlier than January 15, 2019 and no later than February 14, 2019. The notice must contain the information required by the Amended and Restated By‑laws, a copy of which is available upon request to Griffin’s Secretary. In the event that the date of the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after May 15, 2019, then Griffin’s Secretary must receive such written notice not earlier than the 120th day prior to the 2019 Annual Meeting and not later than the 90th day prior to the 2019 Annual Meeting or, if later, the 10th day following the day on which public disclosure of the date of such meeting is first made by Griffin. Griffin reserves the right to reject, rule out of order, or take other appropriate action with respect to any proposal that does not comply with these or other applicable requirements.

PROPOSAL I. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

At the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, seven directors (which will comprise the entire Board) are to be elected. The Board of Directors proposed the nominees listed below, all of whom are current directors of Griffin, for election as directors to serve until the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. The directors must be elected by a plurality of the votes cast in person or by proxy by stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting. If any nominee named below becomes unable to serve or for good cause will not serve, the proxy holders listed on Griffin’s proxy card will vote for such substitute nominee or nominees as may be designated by the Board of Directors, or the Board may elect to reduce the size of the Board.

Griffin’s Director Nominees

Griffin’s nominees for election as director are the following:

Member of the (a) Audit Committee; (b) Compensation Committee; and (c) Nominating Committee.

1.           Except as otherwise indicated, each director has had the same principal occupation during the past five years.

2.           Michael S. Gamzon is the son‑in‑law of Frederick M. Danziger.

3.           Edgar M. Cullman, Jr. and Frederick M. Danziger are brothers‑in‑law.

The Board of Directors held six meetings during fiscal 2017. Griffin’s Board of Directors has an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Nominating Committee. Committee memberships of the Board of Directors are indicated in the above table. All directors attended at least  97% of all board and committee meetings (of committees of which they were members) during fiscal 2017.

Griffin encourages, but does not require, Board members to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. In 2017,  all of the Board members attended the Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

Board Independence

Under Nasdaq rules, an “independent director” of a company means a person who is not an officer or employee of the company or its subsidiaries and, in the opinion of the company’s board of directors, does not have a relationship with the company that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. The Board has determined that Messrs. Bechtel, Israel, May and Small, Jr. qualify as independent directors under Nasdaq rules. All of the members of the Audit, Compensation and Nominating Committees are independent directors under the applicable Nasdaq and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules.

Executive Officers who are not Directors

 

Audit Committee

Griffin’s Audit Committee consists of David R. Bechtel, Thomas C. Israel and Jonathan P. May, with Mr. Israel serving as Chairman. The Audit Committee meets the Nasdaq composition requirements, including the requirements regarding financial literacy. The Board has determined that each member of the Audit Committee is independent under the listing standards of Nasdaq and the rules of the SEC regarding audit committee membership. In addition, Mr. Israel qualifies as a financially sophisticated Audit Committee member under the Nasdaq rules based on his employment experience in finance. None of the members of the Audit Committee are considered a financial expert as defined by Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S‑K of the Exchange Act (an “audit committee financial expert”). Griffin does not have an audit committee financial expert because it believes the members of its Audit Committee have sufficient financial expertise and experience to provide effective oversight of Griffin’s accounting and financial reporting processes and the audits of Griffin’s financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and Nasdaq rules. In addition, since January 31, 2012, the Audit Committee has engaged directly a former audit partner in a public accounting firm who is a certified public accountant with extensive experience in auditing the financial statements of public and private companies. The Audit Committee had previously engaged the public accounting firm of which he was a partner as an advisor to the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee believes that this engagement provides it with additional expertise comparable to what would be provided by an audit committee financial expert.

The Audit Committee approves all auditing and non‑auditing services, reviews audit reports and the scope of audit by Griffin’s independent registered public accountants and related matters pertaining to the preparation and examination of Griffin’s financial statements. From time to time, the Audit Committee makes recommendations to the Board of Directors with respect to the foregoing matters. The Audit Committee held four meetings in fiscal 2017.

Board of Directors’ Role in Oversight of Risk

Management is responsible for Griffin’s day‑to‑day risk management activities, and the Board’s role is to engage in informed risk oversight. In fulfilling this oversight role, Griffin’s Board of Directors focuses on understanding the nature of Griffin’s enterprise risks, including operations and strategic direction, as well as the adequacy of Griffin’s overall risk management system. There are a number of ways the Board performs this function, including the following:

The Board does not believe that its role in the oversight of Griffin’s risk affects the Board’s leadership structure.

Compensation Risk

The Compensation Committee reviews compensation policies and practices affecting employees in addition to those applicable to executive officers. The Compensation Committee has determined that it is not reasonably likely that Griffin’s compensation policies and practices for its employees would have a material adverse effect on Griffin.

Nominating Committee

Griffin’s Nominating Committee consists of David R. Bechtel, Thomas C. Israel, Jonathan P. May and Albert H. Small, Jr., with Mr. May serving as Chairman. All four members of the Nominating Committee are independent directors. The Nominating Committee reviews candidates for appointment to the Griffin Board of Directors. In searching for qualified director candidates, the Board may solicit current directors and ask them to pursue their own business contacts for the names of potentially qualified candidates. The Nominating Committee may consult with outside advisors or retain search firms to assist in the search for qualified candidates. The Nominating Committee will also consider suggestions from stockholders for nominees for election as directors. The Nominating Committee does not have a policy on the consideration of board nominees recommended by stockholders. The Board believes such a policy is unnecessary, as the Nominating Committee will consider a nominee based on his or her qualifications, regardless of whether the nominee is recommended by stockholders. Any stockholder who wishes to recommend a candidate to the Nominating Committee for consideration as a director nominee should submit the recommendation in writing to the Secretary of Griffin in accordance with the procedures in Griffin’s Amended and Restated By‑Laws for stockholder nominations of directors to permit the Nominating Committee to complete its review in a timely fashion. The Nominating Committee operates under a written charter, which is publicly available in the “Corporate Governance” section of the “Investors” section of Griffin’s website located at www.griffinindustrial.com. The Nominating Committee held one meeting in fiscal 2017.

Board Diversity; Selection and Evaluation of Director Candidates

The Board seeks to ensure that a majority of its members are independent within the Nasdaq listing standards.  The Nominating Committee at its March 2018 meeting agreed to revise its statement on the Selection and Evaluation of Director Candidates to reflect the Board’s value of diversity, including profession, geography, gender, ethnicity, skills and experience.   The Nominating Committee agreed that when it evaluates the desired skills and characteristics of prospective Board members, it will include diversity, in its broadest sense, within the context of the composition of the Board as a whole. The Nominating Committee shall select prospective Board members with personal and professional integrity, who have demonstrated appropriate ability and judgment and who the Nominating Committee believes will be effective, in conjunction with the other members of the Board, in collectively serving the long-term interests of Griffin and its stockholders. In addition, directors must be committed to devoting the time and effort necessary to be responsible and productive members of the Board.

Board Leadership Structure

The Board believes that there is no single, generally accepted approach to providing Board leadership, and that each of the possible leadership structures for a board must be considered in the context of the individuals involved and the specific circumstances facing a company at any given time. Accordingly, the optimal board leadership structure for Griffin may vary as circumstances change. Griffin’s Board was led by a Non‑Executive Chairman through 2011, as separate individuals held the positions of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, and the Chairman of the Board was not an employee. In May 2012, the Board appointed Frederick M. Danziger as Chairman of the Board. Mr. Danziger had been Chief Executive Officer since 1997. In making that appointment, the Board concluded that Griffin and its stockholders were best served by having Mr. Danziger serve as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. The Board believed that Mr. Danziger’s combined role as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer promoted unified leadership and a single, clear focus and direction for management to execute Griffin’s strategy and business plans. Effective January 1, 2016, the positions of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer have been held by separate individuals, Mr. Danziger and Mr. Gamzon, respectively. The Board determined that Mr. Danziger should continue to serve as Executive Chairman to continue to provide Board leadership continuity.

Communication with the Board or Nominating Committee

Stockholders who wish to communicate with the Board of Directors or the Nominating Committee should address their communications to Jonathan P. May, Chairman of the Nominating Committee, via first class mail, at Griffin Industrial Realty, Inc., 641 Lexington Avenue, 26th Floor, New York, New York, 10022. Such communication will be distributed to the specific director(s) requested by the stockholders, or if generally to the Board of Directors, to other members of the Board of Directors as may be appropriate depending on the material outlined in the stockholder communication.

Compensation Committee

Griffin’s Compensation Committee consists of Thomas C. Israel, Jonathan P. May and Albert H. Small, Jr., with Mr. Small, Jr. serving as Chairman. All of the members of the Compensation Committee are independent directors and meet the heightened independence requirements for members of the compensation committee under Nasdaq rules. The Compensation Committee oversees Griffin’s executive compensation programs, Griffin’s 2009 Stock Option Plan, Griffin’s 401(k) Savings Plan (the “Griffin 401(k) Savings Plan”) and Griffin’s non‑qualified deferred compensation plan (the “Deferred Compensation Plan”).

The Compensation Committee operates under a written charter, which is publicly available in the “Corporate Governance” section of the “Investors” section of Griffin’s website located at www.griffinindustrial.com. Under its charter, the Compensation Committee has the authority to retain or obtain the advice of compensation consultants, legal counsel and other advisors to assist in carrying out its responsibilities. The Compensation Committee has the authority to conduct or authorize investigations into any matters within the scope of its responsibilities as it deems appropriate, including the authority to request any officer, employee or adviser of Griffin to meet with the Compensation Committee or any advisers engaged by the Compensation Committee. In addition to the foregoing and other authority expressly delegated to the Compensation Committee in the charter, the Compensation Committee may also exercise any other powers and carry out any other responsibilities consistent with the charter, the purposes of the Compensation Committee, Griffin’s Amended and Restated By‑laws and applicable rules of Nasdaq. The Compensation Committee may delegate its authority under its charter to a subcommittee as it deems appropriate from time to time.

The Compensation Committee held one meeting in fiscal 2017.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND

MANAGEMENT AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS

The following table lists the number of shares and options to purchase shares of common stock of Griffin beneficially owned or held by: (i) each person known by Griffin to beneficially own more than 5% of the outstanding shares of common stock; (ii) each director; (iii) the Named Executive Officers (as defined in “Compensation Discussion and Analysis”); and (iv) all directors and executive officers of Griffin, collectively. Unless otherwise indicated, information is provided as of March 28, 2018.

*Less than 1%

 

The Schedule 13D/A states that there is no formal agreement governing the Cullman and Ernst Group’s holding and voting of shares held by members of the Cullman and Ernst Group but that there is an informal understanding that

the persons and entities included in the group will hold and vote together with respect to shares owned by each of them in each case subject to any applicable fiduciary responsibilities. Under Griffin’s Insider Trading Policy, purchases of Griffin common stock on margin, pledging of Griffin’s common stock or hedging transactions, involving Griffin common stock by directors, officers and employees of Griffin, including entities controlled by such persons, is prohibited. None of the common stock held by members of the Cullman and Ernst Group is pledged.

 

INTERESTS IN CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS

Griffin reviews any relationships and transactions in which Griffin and its directors and executive officers or their immediate family members are participants to determine whether such persons have a direct or indirect material interest. Griffin’s corporate staff is primarily responsible for the development and implementation of processes and controls to obtain information from the directors and executive officers with respect to related person transactions and then determining, based on the facts and circumstances, whether a related person has a direct or indirect material interest in the transaction. In accordance with its charter, the Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving all related person transactions. As required under SEC rules, transactions that are determined to be directly or indirectly material to a related person are disclosed in Griffin’s Annual Report on Form 10‑K and proxy statement.

On November 24, 2015, the Audit Committee approved a proposed transaction whereby Griffin entered into a ten year sublease of approximately 1,920 square feet of office space for its New York City corporate headquarters from Bloomingdale Properties, Inc. (“Bloomingdale Properties”), an entity controlled by certain members of the Cullman and Ernst Group (see “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Principal Holders”), for rent starting at $121,000 per year, with annual increases of 1.5%, except for an increase of $9,600 at the start of the sixth year of the sublease. The sublease with Bloomingdale Properties was at market rates for such space at the time the lease was signed and enables either Griffin or Bloomingdale Properties to terminate the sublease agreement upon a change in control (as defined) of either Griffin or Bloomingdale Properties. The sublease of office space from Bloomingdale Properties reduced the occupancy costs for Griffin’s corporate headquarters.

The information given in this Proxy Statement with respect to the five‑year business experience of each director and officer, beneficial ownership of stock, interlocks and the respective interests of persons in transactions to which Griffin or any of its subsidiaries was a party (other than as appears from the records of Griffin), is based upon statements furnished to Griffin by its directors and officers.

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis describes the material elements of compensation awarded to, earned by, or paid to each of Griffin’s named executive officers (the “Named Executive Officers”) during the last completed fiscal year. The Named Executive Officers for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2017 were as follows:

 

 

Compensation Philosophy and Overview

Griffin’s compensation programs are designed to attract, motivate and retain the management talent that Griffin believes is necessary to achieve its financial and strategic goals. Griffin’s Compensation Committee strives to pay for performance by rewarding each of its Named Executive Officers for team results and their individual contributions to Griffin’s success. In this way, Griffin believes that the interests of its executives align with the interests of its stockholders.

Design and Implementation

With these objectives in mind, Griffin’s Compensation Committee has built an executive compensation program that consists of three principal elements:

Griffin also contributes to a 401(k) savings plan and a non‑qualified deferred compensation plan on behalf of its Named Executive Officers. These contributions, however, comprise a relatively minor portion of Griffin’s Named Executive Officers’ compensation packages. Griffin’s Compensation Committee reviews the Named Executive Officers’ compensation packages each year and makes decisions on each component thereof in order to better align them with its compensation philosophy.

Elements of Compensation

Base Salary

Griffin pays base salaries to its Named Executive Officers in order to provide a consistent, minimum level of pay that sustained individual performance warrants. Griffin also believes that a competitive annual base salary is important to attract and retain an appropriate caliber of talent for each position over time.

The annual base salaries of Griffin’s Named Executive Officers are determined by the Executive Chairman and the CEO (except with regard to their salaries) and approved annually by the Compensation Committee. The annual base salaries of the Executive Chairman and the CEO are determined by the Compensation Committee. All salary decisions are based on each Named Executive Officer’s level of responsibility, experience and recent and past performance, as determined by the Executive Chairman, the CEO and the Compensation Committee, as applicable. Griffin does not benchmark its base salaries in any way, nor does Griffin employ the services of a compensation consultant.

Annual Incentive Compensation Programs

Griffin’s annual incentive programs are designed to recognize short‑term performance against established annual performance goals, as explained below. These performance goals and target amounts for fiscal 2017 were developed by the Executive Chairman and the CEO and approved or modified, as necessary, by the Compensation Committee. Additionally, the Compensation Committee retains the discretion to adjust any awards made to Griffin’s executives, including making awards in the absence of the attainment of any of the performance goals under Griffin’s annual incentive compensation plans. Griffin makes annual incentive payments, if any, in the year following the year in which they are earned.

Griffin Incentive Plan

Under the Griffin Industrial Realty, Inc. Incentive Compensation Plan for fiscal year 2017 (the “Griffin Incentive Plan”), incentive compensation was awarded based on certain defined components as described below:

 

Each Named Executive Officer is entitled to a specific percentage of each incentive compensation pool under the Griffin Incentive Plan based upon their responsibilities as determined by senior management and approved by the Compensation Committee.

 

 

 Griffin Incentive Plan Results

The foregoing objectives are designed to reward management for increasing Griffin’s operating cash flow and increase in value of Griffin’s real estate assets. Over the past three years, achievement of the components of the Griffin Incentive Plan has been as follows:

 

Amounts earned under each objective are accrued into the Griffin Incentive Plan up to a maximum incentive compensation amount, which in fiscal 2017 was $1,687,500 (excluding any amount related to Group 3 Property Sales for which there was no maximum). The maximum compensation amounts and amounts accrued under each objective for fiscal 2017, based on the level of achievement of each incentive plan component for Griffin is shown in the following table. The amounts in the table below reflect performance against each incentive plan component, calculated pursuant to the formulas described above, and Griffin’s Compensation Committee did not exercise any discretion to modify bonuses from the formulaic results under each incentive plan component (except with respect to Group 3 Property Sales for which there was no specific formula).

Griffin Incentive Compensation Plan

 

Long‑Term Incentive Program—Equity Awards

Griffin believes that equity ownership in Griffin is important to provide its Named Executive Officers with long‑term incentives to build value for Griffin’s stockholders. In addition, the equity program is designed to attract and retain the executive management team. The Griffin equity program consists entirely of stock option awards. Stock options have value only if the stock price increases over time and, therefore, provide executives with an incentive to build Griffin’s value. This characteristic ensures that the Named Executive Officers may have a meaningful portion of their compensation tied to future stock price increases. If Griffin’s stock price increases, stock options have the potential to provide high returns to its executives, thus helping Griffin to attract and retain management. However, the realizable value of the stock options can fall to zero if the stock price is lower than the exercise price established on the date of grant.

Stock option awards to Named Executive Officers are entirely discretionary. The Executive Chairman and the CEO recommend whether and how many stock options should be awarded to the other Named Executive Officers or others, and the Compensation Committee approves or, if necessary, modifies their recommendations. The Compensation Committee solely determines whether and how many stock options should be awarded to the Executive Chairman and the CEO. In making stock option award determinations, the Executive Chairman and the CEO and the Compensation Committee consider the prior contribution of participants and their expected future contributions to the growth of Griffin. In fiscal 2017, no stock options were awarded to any of the Named Executive Officers.

The Griffin Industrial Realty, Inc. 2009 Stock Option Plan (the “2009 Stock Option Plan”) makes available options to purchase 386,926 shares of Griffin common stock, plus any additional shares subject to the forfeited options under Griffin’s prior stock option plan. The Compensation Committee of Griffin’s Board of Directors or, with respect to awards to non‑employee directors, the Board of Directors, administers the 2009 Stock Option Plan. Options granted under the 2009 Stock Option Plan may be either incentive stock options or non‑qualified stock options issued at the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date the award is approved by Griffin’s Compensation Committee. Vesting of all of Griffin’s previously issued stock options is solely based upon service requirements and does not contain market or performance conditions.

Stock options granted expire no later than ten years from the grant date. In accordance with the 2009 Stock Option Plan, stock options granted to non‑employee directors upon their initial election to the board of directors are fully exercisable immediately upon the date of the option grant. Stock options granted to non‑employee directors upon their reelection to the board of directors vest on the second anniversary from the date of grant. Stock options granted to employees vest in equal installments on the third, fourth and fifth anniversaries from the date of grant.

Of the shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the 2009 Stock Option Plan, as of November 30, 2017, 254,661 shares were subject to outstanding options and 159,318 shares were available for future awards (which includes certain shares that again became available following the forfeiture of outstanding options). In addition to options outstanding under the 2009 Stock Option Plan, as of November 30, 2017, 79,101 shares remain subject to outstanding options granted under Griffin’s prior stock option plan. For more information on stock options, see the

Summary Compensation Table, the Grants of Plan‑Based Awards Table, and the Outstanding Equity Awards Table and their footnotes.

Perquisites and Other Benefits

Griffin’s Named Executive Officers are eligible for the same health and welfare programs and benefits as the rest of its employees. In addition, Griffin’s Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary receives an automobile allowance of $8,000 per year and Griffin Industrial, LLC’s Senior Vice President receives a medical insurance allowance of $3,300 per year.

Griffin’s Named Executive Officers are entitled to participate in and receive employer contributions to Griffin’s 401(k) Savings Plan. In addition, Griffin has established a non‑qualified deferred compensation plan (the “Deferred Compensation Plan”) that allows eligible participants, including the Named Executive Officers, to defer portions of their annual base salary, as well as receive employer matching contributions with respect to deferrals, that would exceed IRS limits under the Griffin 401(k) Savings Plan. For more information on employer contributions to the Griffin 401(k) Savings Plan and the Deferred Compensation Plan, see the Summary Compensation Table and its footnotes.

Analysis

Base Salary

The following table presents the base salaries for Griffin’s Named Executive Officers in 2017 and the percentage increase over their 2016 base salaries.

 

Annual Incentive Compensation Program

The Griffin Incentive Plan for 2017 was designed to reward Griffin’s employees, including Griffin’s Named Executive Officers, based on the results of Griffin’s operations, consistent with Griffin’s goal to award for performance through team results. Each Named Executive Officer is entitled to a specific percentage of each incentive compensation pool under the Griffin Incentive Plan as described above. The amounts earned by Griffin’s employees under the incentive compensation pools of the Griffin Incentive Plan may, however, be adjusted at the discretion of the Compensation Committee.

As a result of the achievement of certain of the incentive plan components noted above, and in accordance with the Griffin Incentive Plan, the total incentive compensation accrued for fiscal 2017 was $1,174,223, which included $200,000 added to the Group 3 Property Sales incentive compensation pool for a large property sale.

The following table presents the total annual incentive payments made to the Named Executive Officers for fiscal 2017, which consisted solely of amounts of annual incentive compensation awarded under the Griffin Incentive Plan (allocated as described above). No discretionary payments outside of the Griffin Incentive Plan were awarded to the Named Executive Officers in fiscal 2017.

 

The Compensation Committee did not exercise its discretion to alter the amounts earned by each Named Executive Officer from their respective allocation of incentive compensation accruals under the Griffin Incentive Plan. The Named Executive Officers received no additional discretionary allocation from the Compensation Committee.

Long-Term Incentive Program – Equity Awards Compensation Plan

During fiscal 2017, no stock options were granted to any of the Named Executive Officers.

Shareholder Say‑on‑Pay Votes

At Griffin’s 2017 annual meeting of stockholders, Griffin’s stockholders were given the opportunity to cast an advisory vote on Griffin’s executive compensation. Approximately 99.7% of the votes cast on this “2017 say‑on‑pay vote” were voted in favor of the proposal. Griffin has considered the 2017 say‑on‑pay vote and believes that the support for the 2017 say‑on‑pay vote proposal indicates that Griffin’s stockholders casting votes are supportive of the approach to executive compensation. Thus, Griffin did not make changes to its executive compensation arrangements in response to the 2017 say‑on‑pay vote. In the future, Griffin will continue to consider the outcome of the say‑on‑pay votes when making compensation decisions regarding its Named Executive Officers.

Accounting and Tax Considerations

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) generally disallows a tax deduction to public corporations for compensation over $1,000,000 paid for any fiscal year to certain executive officers.  The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”), which was signed into law on December 22, 2017, has limited the “performance-based compensation” exception to the $1,000,000 deduction cap of Section 162(m) of the Code and may adversely affect the tax deductibility of certain compensation paid to Griffin’s executive officers. However, Griffin does not believe it need now adopt any policy with respect to the $1,000,000 deduction cap of Section 162(m) of the Code. While the Compensation Committee will give due consideration to the deductibility of compensation payments on compensation arrangements with Griffin’s executive officers (including with respect to the TCJA), the Compensation Committee will make its compensation decisions based on an overall determination of what it believes to be in the best interests of Griffin and its stockholders, and deductibility will be only one among a number of factors used by the Compensation Committee in making its compensation decisions. 

Section 4999 and Section 280G of the Code provide that certain executives could be subject to significant excise taxes if they receive payments or benefits that exceed certain limits in connection with a change in ownership or change in effective control of Griffin and that Griffin or its successors could lose an income tax deduction with respect to the payments subject to the excise tax. Griffin has not entered into any agreements with any executives that provide for a tax “gross up” or other reimbursement for taxes the executive might be required to pay pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code.

Section 409A of the Code imposes significant additional taxes and interest on underpayments of taxes in the event an employee or other service provider defers compensation under a plan or agreement that does not meet the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. Griffin has generally structured its programs and individual arrangements in a manner intended to be exempt from or comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

 

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed with management Griffin’s Compensation Discussion and Analysis, and based upon this review and discussion, has recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in Griffin’s Form 10‑K and this Proxy Statement for its 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

 

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Summary Compensation Table

The following table presents information regarding compensation of each of Griffin’s Named Executive Officers for services rendered during fiscal years 2017, 2016 and 2015:

 

Grants of Plan‑Based Awards

The following table presents information regarding the incentive awards granted to Griffin’s Named Executive Officers for fiscal 2017:

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year‑End

The following table presents information with respect to each unexercised stock option held by Griffin’s Named Executive Officers as of November 30, 2017. There are no restricted stock awards.