SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)

 

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

 

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (Amendment No.     )

Filed by the Registrant þ

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o

 

Check the appropriate box:

 

o  Preliminary Proxy Statement

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

þ  Definitive Proxy Statement

o  Definitive Additional Materials

o  Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-12

 

HEALTHCARE REALTY TRUST INCORPORATED

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

 

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

 

þ  No fee required.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3310 WEST END AVENUE
SUITE 700
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37203

 

 

March 31, 2010

 

TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS:

 

You are cordially invited to attend the 2010 annual meeting of shareholders of Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated, to be held on May 18, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. (local time) at the Company’s executive offices at 3310 West End Avenue, Suite 700, Nashville, Tennessee 37203.

 

Please read the enclosed 2009 Annual Report to Shareholders and Proxy Statement for the 2010 annual meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, please sign, date and return the enclosed proxy, which is being solicited by the Board of Directors, as soon as possible so that your vote will be recorded. If you attend the meeting, you may withdraw your proxy and vote your shares personally.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

David R. Emery
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

IMPORTANT

 

COMPLETE, DATE, AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY
AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY.

 

 

3310 WEST END AVENUE
SUITE 700
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37203

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

 

To Be Held May 18, 2010

 

TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS:

 

The annual meeting of shareholders of Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated (the “Company”) will be held on Tuesday, May 18, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. (local time) at 3310 West End Avenue, Suite 700, Nashville, Tennessee, for the following purposes:

 

 

Holders of the Company’s Common Stock of record at the close of business on March 18, 2010 are entitled to vote at the meeting or at any adjournment of the meeting.

 

 

By order of the Board of Directors

 

David R. Emery
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

Dated: March 31, 2010

 

IMPORTANT

 

 

TO ASSURE THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM, WHETHER YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON OR BY PROXY, PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND MAIL THE ENCLOSED PROXY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. IF YOU ATTEND THE MEETING AND WISH TO VOTE YOUR SHARES PERSONALLY, YOU MAY DO SO AT ANY TIME BEFORE THE PROXY IS EXERCISED.

 

3310 WEST END AVENUE

SUITE 700

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37203

 

PROXY STATEMENT

 

This Proxy Statement contains information related to the annual meeting of shareholders to be held at 3310 West End Avenue, Suite 700, Nashville, Tennessee, on Tuesday, May 18, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. (local time) for the purposes set forth in the accompanying notice, and at any adjournment thereof. This Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy are first being mailed or given to shareholders on or about March 31, 2010.

 

If the enclosed proxy is properly executed, returned and not revoked, it will be voted in accordance with the instructions, if any, given by the shareholder, and if no instructions are given, it will be voted (a) FOR the election as directors of the nominees described in this Proxy Statement, unless a shareholder’s shares are held by a broker resulting in a broker non-vote, (b) FOR ratification of the appointment of the firm BDO Seidman, LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company and its subsidiaries and (c) FOR the recommendation of the Board of Directors on any other proposal that may properly come before the meeting, unless a shareholder’s shares are held by a broker resulting in a broker non-vote. The Company’s Board of Directors selected the persons named as proxies in the enclosed proxy.

 

Shareholders who sign proxies have the right to revoke them at any time before they are voted by written request to the Company, and the giving of the proxy will not affect the right of a shareholder to attend the meeting and vote in person. If you wish to attend the meeting and need directions to 3310 West End Avenue, Suite 700, Nashville, Tennessee, please contact the Company at (615) 269-8175.

 

The close of business on March 18, 2010 has been fixed as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting. The presence at the meeting, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock outstanding on the record date will constitute a quorum, permitting the conduct of business at the meeting. As of the close of business on such date, the Company had 150,000,000 authorized shares of common stock, $.01 par value (the “Common Stock”), of which 61,395,174 shares were outstanding and entitled to vote. The Common Stock is the Company’s only outstanding class of voting stock.

 

Each share of Common Stock will have one vote on each matter to be voted upon at the meeting.

 

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

 

The Board of Directors is divided into three classes having three-year terms that expire in successive years. The current three-year term of the Class 2 directors expires at the 2010 annual meeting. The Board of Directors proposes that the nominees described below, all of whom have been nominated by the Board of Directors upon the recommendation of the Company’s Corporate Governance Committee, be elected to Class 2 to serve until the annual meeting of shareholders in 2013 or until their successors have been elected and take office. Each nominee has consented to be a candidate and to serve, if elected.

 

According to Maryland law, directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the shares entitled to vote in the election at a meeting at which a quorum is present. The Company’s Articles of Incorporation do not provide for cumulative voting and, accordingly, each shareholder may cast one vote per share of Common Stock for each nominee.

 

Unless a proxy specifies otherwise or, with respect to shares held by a broker, results in a broker non-vote because of the failure to execute or return the proxy with instructions, the persons named in the proxy will vote the shares covered thereby for the nominees designated by the Board of Directors listed below. Should any nominee

become unavailable for election, shares covered by a proxy will be voted for a substitute nominee selected by the Board of Directors upon the recommendation of the Corporate Governance Committee of the Board.

 

Qualifications of Directors and Nominees to be Directors

 

As described in the table below, the Board of Directors is comprised of individuals from differing backgrounds and experiences. The Company believes that each of its directors possesses unique qualifications, skills and attributes that complement the performance of the full Board. The experiences that each has obtained from their respective professional backgrounds, as set forth individually in the table below, have qualified them to serve on the Board of Directors. The Company also believes that the Board members work together well and utilize individual strengths and skills to effectively carry out the Board’s duties.

 

Class 2 Nominees

 

The nominees for election as Class 2 directors are:

 

 

Departing Director

 

Marliese E. Mooney, who has served as a Class 2 director since 1993, has informed the Board that she intends to retire at the end of her term and does not intend to stand for re-election. Ms. Mooney’s term expires at the annual meeting of shareholders to be held on Tuesday, May 18, 2010.

 

 

Continuing Directors

 

The persons named below will continue to serve as directors until the annual meeting of shareholders in the year indicated or until their successors are elected and take office. Shareholders are not voting on the election of the Class 1 and Class 3 directors.

 

Class 3 — 2011

 

Class 1 — 2012

 

 

Except as indicated, each of the nominees and continuing directors has had the principal occupation indicated for more than five years.

 

The Board of Directors recommends that the shareholders vote FOR the
election of all of the proposed nominees to the Board of Directors.

 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

Leadership Structure

 

Since the Company’s inception, Mr. Emery has served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. The Board of Directors believes that this structure is appropriate given Mr. Emery’s performance since founding the Company. The Board of Directors believes that, in its particular

circumstances, a unified Chairman and Chief Executive Officer position provides clarity of leadership and operating efficiencies derived from Mr. Emery’s familiarity with the business. Further, his management experience in working closely with the Company’s officers increases the Board’s effectiveness in its role of monitoring the management of the Company. In addition, Mr. Emery’s significant ownership percentage of the Company further aligns the Board’s interest with that of the shareholders.

 

Lead Independent Director; Non-Management Executive Sessions; Communicating with the Board

 

Periodically, and no less frequently than quarterly, the independent directors meet in executive session. The non-management directors have appointed Edwin B. Morris III as lead director to preside over the non-management executive sessions. During 2009, the non-management directors held four executive sessions. Shareholders interested in communicating with the non-management directors as a group may do so by contacting Mr. Morris in writing c/o Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated, 3310 West End Avenue, Suite 700, Nashville, Tennessee 37203. Shareholders interested in communicating directly with the full Board of Directors or any individual director may do so by writing to Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated, 3310 West End Avenue, Suite 700, Nashville, Tennessee 37203, Attention: Secretary. The Secretary of the Company will review all such correspondence and will regularly forward to the Board copies of all correspondence that, in the opinion of the Secretary, deals with the functions of the Board or committees thereof or that she otherwise determines requires their attention.

 

Committee Membership

 

The Board of Directors has an Executive Committee, Corporate Governance Committee, Audit Committee, and Compensation Committee. The Board of Directors has adopted written charters for each committee, except for the Executive Committee. The committee charters are posted on the Company’s website (www.healthcarerealty.com) and are available in print to any shareholder who requests a copy.

 

All committee members are non-employee, independent directors, except David R. Emery, the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The following table sets forth the current members of the committees:

 

 

     ­ ­

 

( )  Chairman, and in the case of the Audit Committee, an audit committee financial expert.

 

Code of Ethics

 

The Company has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code of Ethics”) that applies to all officers, directors, and employees of the Company, including its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, controller, or persons performing similar functions. The Code of Ethics is posted on the Company’s website (www.healthcarerealty.com) and is available in print free of charge to any shareholder who requests a copy. Interested parties may address a written request for a printed copy of the Code of Ethics to: Investor Relations, Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated, 3310 West End Avenue, Suite 700, Nashville, Tennessee 37203. The Company intends to satisfy the disclosure requirement regarding any amendment to, or a waiver of, a provision of the Code of Ethics for the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial

officer, principal accounting officer, or controller, or persons performing similar functions by posting such information on its website.

 

Committee Duties

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meeting Attendance

 

The Board of Directors held a total of 10 meetings in 2009. Each director attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board and committees of the Board on which such director served. The Company has not adopted a formal policy regarding director attendance at annual meetings of shareholders, but encourages each member of the Board of Directors to attend. Two members of the Board attended the 2009 annual meeting of shareholders.

 

Director Education

 

The Corporate Governance Committee has adopted a set of guidelines that encourages all directors to pursue ongoing education and development studies on topics that they deem relevant given their individual backgrounds and committee assignments on the Board of Directors. Each director is requested to attend at least one director education program that is accredited by the RiskMetrics Group during his or her three-year term as director. The Company pays for each director’s expenses incurred to attend director education programs. Seven directors attended director education programs in the past three years.

 

Risk Oversight

 

The Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the Company’s enterprise risk management as part of determining a business strategy designed to provide long-term value to the Company’s shareholders. The Board of Directors oversees and monitors the Company’s exposure to risk through various means, including specific communications with management. Board deliberations involving strategy and operational initiatives are integrated with reviews of risk exposure to the Company. In addition to reviewing significant transactions, whether capital raises or investments, for consistency with the Company’s risk profile, the Board annually reviews risks affecting the Company as part of management’s review of appropriate risk factor disclosures. The Board regularly requests discussions with members of the management team, including officers responsible for identifying potential investments and bringing those investments to fruition, either through acquisition or development. The Board also discusses with management on a semi-annual basis, the Company’s internal forecast, including discussions regarding the Company’s acquisition and development pipeline. The Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities by monitoring, reviewing and discussing the Company’s enterprise level risks and financial risk exposures. The Audit Committee considers enterprise level risks and financial risks and discusses with management those risks and the measures taken by the management team to mitigate such risks. The Company believes that these interactions between the Board and the management team regarding risk exposures and mitigation strengthen and focus the combined efforts of management and the Board to develop strategies that contain risk and enhance long-term shareholder value.

 

Independence of Directors

 

The Board of Directors has adopted a set of Corporate Governance Principles (the “Principles”), addressing, among other things, standards for evaluating the independence of the Company’s directors. The full text of the Principles can be found in the Corporate Governance section of the Company’s website (www.healthcarerealty.com). A copy may also be obtained upon request from the Company’s Secretary.

 

Pursuant to the Principles, the Board undertook its annual review of director independence in February 2010. During this review, the Board considered transactions and relationships during the prior year between each director or any member of his or her immediate family and the Company and its subsidiaries, affiliates and equity investors. The Board also examined transactions and relationships between directors or their affiliates and members of the senior management or their affiliates. As provided in the Principles, the purpose of this review was to determine whether any such relationship or transaction was inconsistent with a determination that a director is independent.

 

To aid in making its annual review of director independence, the Board has adopted categorical standards for determining independence. A director is independent unless:

 

 

As a result of this review, the Board affirmatively determined that all of the directors are independent of the Company and its management under the standards adopted pursuant to the Principles with the exception of David R. Emery, who is employed by the Company as its Chief Executive Officer and is therefore not independent. Additionally, the Board determined that Roger O. West, who has been nominated to serve as a director, is not independent as a result of his employment by the Company, which ceased in November 2008. The Board expects that Mr. West will qualify as an independent director in November 2011, which will be three years following termination of his employment with the Company.

 

Director Nominee Evaluation Process

 

The Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for developing and implementing policies and practices relating to corporate governance. As part of its duties, the Committee develops and reviews background information on candidates for the Board and makes recommendations to the Board regarding such candidates. The Committee also prepares and supervises the Board’s annual review of director independence and the Board’s performance self-evaluation. A copy of the Corporate Governance Committee’s charter can be found in the Corporate Governance section of the Company’s website (www.healthcarerealty.com).

 

Once the Corporate Governance Committee has identified a prospective nominee, the Committee reviews the information provided to the Committee with the recommendation of the prospective candidate, as well as the Committee’s own knowledge of the prospective candidate, which may be supplemented by inquiries to the person making the recommendation or others. The preliminary determination is based primarily on the need for additional Board members to fill vacancies or expand the size of the Board and the likelihood that the prospective nominee can satisfy the evaluation factors described below. The Committee then evaluates the prospective nominee against the following standards and qualifications:

 

 

 

The Committee also considers such other relevant factors as it deems appropriate, including the current composition of the Board, the need for Audit Committee expertise and the evaluations of other prospective nominees. The Committee has no specific policy regarding director diversity. In connection with this evaluation, the Committee determines whether to interview the prospective nominee and, if warranted, one or more members of the Committee, and others as appropriate, interview prospective nominees in person or by telephone. After completing this evaluation, the Committee makes a recommendation to the full Board as to the persons who should be nominated by the Board, and the Board determines whether to nominate such persons after considering the recommendation and report of the Committee.

 

Shareholder Recommendation or Nomination of Director Candidates

 

The Company has not received any shareholder recommendations of director candidates with regard to the election of directors covered by this Proxy Statement or otherwise. The Corporate Governance Committee has not specifically adopted a policy regarding the consideration of shareholder nominees for directors, but its general policy is to welcome and consider any recommendations for future nominees. The Corporate Governance Committee will consider for nomination as director of the Company any director candidate recommended or nominated by shareholders in accordance with the process outlined below.

 

Shareholders wishing to recommend candidates for consideration by the Corporate Governance Committee may do so by providing the candidate’s name, qualifications and other pertinent information in writing to the Corporate Governance Committee, c/o Secretary, Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated, 3310 West End Avenue, Suite 700, Nashville, Tennessee 37203.

 

Such information should include:

 

 

The Bylaws of the Company provide that any shareholder who is entitled to vote for the election of directors at a meeting called for such purpose may nominate persons for election to the Board of Directors subject to the following notice requirements. This is the procedure to be followed for direct nominations, as opposed to recommendation of nominees for consideration by the Corporate Governance Committee. To be timely for the 2011 annual meeting, such notice must be received by the Company at its executive offices no earlier than November 1, 2010 nor later than December 1, 2010.

 

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN
BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

 

The following table sets forth as of January 31, 2010, the beneficial ownership of the Company’s equity securities as determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Accordingly, all Company securities over which the directors, nominees and executive officers directly or indirectly have or share voting or investment power are listed as beneficially owned.

 

 

 

 

 

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

 

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company’s directors and executive officers, and persons who own more than 10% of the Company’s Common Stock, to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of the Common Stock. These officers, directors and greater than 10% shareholders of the Company are required by SEC rules to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file. There are specific due dates for these reports and the Company is required to report in this Proxy Statement any failure to file reports as required during 2009.

 

During 2009, based upon a review of these filings and written representations from the Company’s directors and executive officers, the Company believes that all reports required to be filed with the SEC by Section 16(a) during the most recent fiscal year have been timely filed.

 

RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

The Audit Committee has appointed BDO Seidman, LLP, Certified Public Accountants, as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year 2010. Representatives of this firm are expected to be present at the annual meeting and will have an opportunity to make a statement if they desire and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

 

The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the meeting is needed to ratify the appointment of BDO Seidman, LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year 2010. If the appointment is not ratified, the matter will be referred to the Audit Committee for further review. Abstentions as to this proposal will have no effect on the outcome of the vote.

 

Audit and Non-Audit Fees

 

The following tables present fees for professional audit services rendered by BDO Seidman, LLP, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, for the last two years.

 

 

 

 

All services provided by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm were approved by the Audit Committee, which concluded that the provision of such services by BDO Seidman, LLP was compatible with the maintenance of such accounting firm’s independence in the conduct of its auditing functions.

 

For the purpose of insuring the continued independence of BDO Seidman, LLP, the Company determined that its independent registered public accounting firm will not provide consulting services to the Company. Additionally, the charter of the Audit Committee provides that the Audit Committee must pre-approve all services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm. Proposed services exceeding pre-approved cost levels or budgeted amounts also require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee.

 

The Board recommends that the shareholders vote FOR ratification of the
appointment of BDO Seidman, LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

 

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

 

The following Report of the Audit Committee does not constitute soliciting material and should not be deemed filed or incorporated by reference into any other Company filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent the Company specifically incorporates this Report by reference therein.

 

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company consists entirely of directors who meet the independence and experience requirements of the New York Stock Exchange. Audit Committee members may serve on the audit committees of no more than three public companies.

 

Pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and rules adopted by the SEC, the Company must disclose which members, if any, of the Audit Committee are “audit committee financial experts” (as defined in the SEC’s rules). The Company’s Board of Directors has determined that Bruce D. Sullivan, the chairman of the Audit Committee, meets the criteria to be an “audit committee financial expert.”

 

 

The Company’s management has primary responsibility for preparing the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and implementing internal controls over financial reporting. The Company’s 2009 independent registered public accounting firm, BDO Seidman, LLP, is responsible for expressing an opinion on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and on the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting.

 

The role and responsibilities of the Audit Committee are set forth in its charter, which has been approved by the Board and is available on the Company’s website.

 

As more fully described in its charter, the Audit Committee reviews the Company’s financial reporting process on behalf of the Board. Management has the primary responsibility for the Consolidated Financial Statements and the reporting process. The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for performing an audit of the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States of America) and expressing an opinion on the conformity of the Consolidated Financial Statements to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Internal audit is responsible to the Audit Committee and the Board for testing the integrity of the financial accounting and reporting control systems and such other matters as the Audit Committee and Board determine.

 

To fulfill its responsibilities, the Audit Committee has met and held discussions with management and the Company’s independent accountants concerning the Consolidated Financial Statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 and the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Management represented to the Audit Committee that the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the Consolidated Financial Statements with management and the independent accountants. The Audit Committee discussed with the independent accountants all communications required by generally accepted auditing standards.

 

In addition, the Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent accountants required by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with the independent accountant the independent accountant’s independence.

 

The Audit Committee discussed with internal audit the Company’s internal controls and reporting procedures. As part of this process, the Audit Committee continued to monitor the scope and adequacy of the Company’s internal auditing program, reviewing staffing levels and steps taken to implement recommended improvements in internal procedures and controls.

 

Based on the Audit Committee’s review of the audited Consolidated Financial Statements and discussions with management and BDO Seidman, LLP, as described above and in reliance thereon, the Audit Committee recommended to the Company’s Board of Directors that the audited Consolidated Financial Statements for the fiscal year

ended December 31, 2009 be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Members of the Audit Committee:

 

Bruce D. Sullivan (Chairman)
Errol L. Biggs, Ph.D.
Batey M. Gresham, Jr.

 

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

 

The Compensation Committee, which is composed entirely of non-employee, independent directors, administers the Company’s executive compensation programs. In performing its duties, the Compensation Committee:

 

 

Comprehensive Compensation Policy

 

The Company’s principal measures of corporate success are growth in funds from operations (“FFO”) and funds available for distribution (“FAD”) and reducing the percentage of FFO and FAD used to pay dividends. The Compensation Committee believes that a number of performance criteria factor into these measures, including:

 

 

The Company’s long-term incentive compensation program is designed to link compensation to the Company’s overall performance in the above criteria. Since inception, the Company has used restricted stock grants as the primary means of delivering long-term incentive compensation to its officers. These grants of restricted stock have been subject to cliff vesting and generally long vesting periods of five years or longer. Officers share in the Company’s success through increasing stock ownership. The Company does not utilize stock options or similar rights in the compensation of its management group (the only Company stock options outstanding are in connection with employee elections to purchase under the Company’s 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan). The program does not consider individual performance in setting compensation, although the Compensation Committee could choose to reward outstanding individual performances. Awards under the Company’s incentive plans have reflected the Company’s evolving status into an operating entity with greater emphasis on managing a mature portfolio by providing incentives to all of its officers who will direct their individual and collective efforts toward insuring the continued distribution of dividends to shareholders.

 

The Compensation Committee believes that the compensation of the Company’s officers, including the Named Executive Officers, should provide a competitive level of total compensation necessary to attract and retain talented and experienced officers, and motivate them to contribute to the Company’s success. To date, the Compensation Committee believes that this approach has been successful in retaining officers.

 

The Company’s compensation program for its Named Executive Officers consists of the following three key elements:

 

 

 

The Compensation Committee believes that there are no material differences in the compensation policies and decisions relating to the compensation of the Named Executive Officers, except that Mr. Emery participates in the Company’s Executive Retirement Plan and the other Named Executive Officers do not participate. The Executive Retirement Plan is discussed in greater detail on page 27 of this Proxy Statement. The Executive Retirement Plan was established early in the Company’s existence for the benefit of the founding officers. The Compensation Committee believes that this distinction is appropriate given the founder status of Mr. Emery.

 

Compensation Methodology

 

Compensation Committee’s Governance.  The Compensation Committee approves salaries and makes other compensation decisions for the Company’s Named Executive Officers and its directors. Salaries and other compensation decisions for all other officers and employees are made by management within the parameters of the Company’s compensation policies and plans.

 

The Compensation Committee meets four times a year in conjunction with the quarterly meetings of the full Board of Directors and more often if necessary. Prior to each regular meeting, members of the Company’s management send materials to each of the Compensation Committee members, including minutes of the previous meeting, an agenda and recommendations for the upcoming meeting, and other materials relevant to the agenda items. Officers of the Company attend the Compensation Committee meetings as requested by the committee. These officers provide information and discuss performance measures with the Compensation Committee relating to officer compensation. After every quarterly meeting, the Compensation Committee holds an executive session consisting only of the committee members and also frequently meets with the Chief Executive Officer outside the presence of other officers.

 

Management utilizes comprehensive executive compensation worksheets (commonly referred to as “tally sheets”) that set forth the Company’s total compensation obligations to its Named Executive Officers under various scenarios. The tally sheets for each Named Executive Officer are distributed to the members of the Compensation Committee for discussion and are used in the preparation of the compensation tables in this Proxy Statement. The overall purpose of these tally sheets is to bring together, in one place, all of the elements of actual and potential future compensation of the Named Executive Officers, including information about wealth accumulation.

 

The Compensation Committee reviews and approves, in advance, employment, severance or similar arrangements or payments to be made to any Named Executive Officer. The Compensation Committee annually reviews all of the perquisites paid to the Named Executive Officers, as well as their compliance with the Company’s policies regarding perquisites.

 

Compensation Consultant.  Upon the recommendation of management, the Compensation Committee retains Ernst & Young LLP, Atlanta, Georgia (“Ernst & Young”) as a compensation consultant to advise it regarding market trends and practices in executive compensation and with respect to specific compensation decisions. The Compensation Committee’s policy is to meet annually with the compensation consultant to discuss executive compensation trends. The consultant also provides, at the Compensation Committee’s request, a market survey containing data on the levels of compensation at comparable real estate companies. The consultant may also attend Compensation Committee meetings at the Committee’s request. Ernst & Young participated by telephone in one of the Compensation Committee’s five meetings in 2009. During 2009, the Compensation Committee engaged Ernst & Young to perform a market survey of the Named Executive Officer compensation. In connection with this survey, Ernst & Young provided the following consulting services:

 

 

 

In performing its services, Ernst & Young interacted collaboratively with the Compensation Committee and the Company’s Named Executive Officers. Ernst & Young performed its services as follows:

 

 

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.		LTC Properties, Inc.
BioMed Realty Trust, Inc.		Medical Properties Trust, Inc.
Cogdell Spencer Inc		National Retail Properties, Inc.
Cousins Properties Incorporated		Nationwide Health Properties, Inc.
First Potomac Realty Trust		Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc.
HCP, Inc.		Parkway Properties, Inc.
Health Care REIT, Inc.		Ventas, Inc.
Highwoods Properties, Inc.		Washington Real Estate Investment Trust
Investors Real Estate Trust

 

 

The Compensation Committee used the findings of the market survey as a guide in setting Named Executive Officer compensation for 2010, 2011 and 2012.

 

Ernst & Young received an aggregate of $80,500 in compensation for its services in 2009, which included its report on executive compensation trends, its review of Named Executive Officer compensation and a review of the Company’s compensation of non-executive officers.

 

Components of Compensation

 

Annual Base Compensation.  Annual base compensation is determined by a market-based formula based upon the total cash compensation (including bonuses) paid by comparable companies for similar positions. In December 2009, based on the findings of Ernst & Young in its market survey, the Compensation Committee determined annual base compensation for its Named Executive Officers for 2010 at approximately the median (50th percentile) total cash compensation (including annual incentive bonuses) of comparable positions in the Ernst & Young peer group survey, with an adjustment for the Chief Financial Officer. According to Ernst & Young’s market survey, the median chief financial officer compensation for the Ernst & Young peer group decreased compared to the median in the Company’s last compensation survey in 2006, which would have resulted in Mr. Holmes’ compensation going down from 2009 levels. The Committee approved a $40,000 increase in annual base compensation for Mr. Holmes in light of his leadership and contributions to the Company and to provide him with an increase similar to the compensation increases to other Named Executive Officers of the Company.

Annual base compensation amounts for Named Executive Officers in 2010 do not reflect a tenure adjustment to the median peer group compensation levels as they have in the past. Upon the recommendation of management, the Compensation Committee ceased the practice of tenure adjustments to the median peer group amounts to make the Company’s compensation of its Named Executive Officers more comparable to the peer group and for affordability reasons.

 

For the Named Executive Officers other than Mr. Emery, twenty-five percent of the difference between the annual base compensation for 2010 and base compensation for 2009 will be paid in cash and the remaining seventy-five percent of the difference will be paid in the form of a restricted stock grant. The portion of annual base compensation that is paid to Named Executive Officers in the form of restricted stock is amortized over the restricted period, which minimizes the impact of compensation increases to the Company in the current periods. For 2010, the base compensation of the Company’s Named Executive Officers has been set as follows:

 

 

 

 

Bonuses.  While the Company has not typically awarded cash bonuses to Named Executive Officers, it may do so at the Compensation Committee’s discretion. The Compensation Committee believes that annual cash bonuses may not be the most effective means of providing incentives to Named Executive Officers to further the Company’s long-term goals. However, the Compensation Committee considers bonus levels in peer companies in its determination of base salary levels for Named Executive Officers to maintain reasonable market positioning. No cash bonuses were paid to Named Executive Officers in 2009.

 

Stock Ownership.  The Compensation Committee believes that it is in the Company’s best interest to encourage all employees, especially the Named Executive Officers, to increase their equity position in the Company to promote share ownership and further align employee and shareholder interests. The Company, however, does not have any policies requiring minimum stock ownership of its Named Executive Officers, directors or other employees.

 

Awards under the Company’s incentive plans have reflected the Company’s evolving status into an operating entity with greater emphasis on managing a mature portfolio by providing incentives to all of its officers who will direct their individual and collective efforts toward insuring the continued successful delivery of dividends to shareholders. The Compensation Committee also believes that by increasing and broadening the officers’ ownership stake in the Company, future awards under its incentive plans should be an effective tool in retaining this broader group of officers. The Compensation Committee periodically reviews the Company’s stock plans and retains the authority to make changes to those plans as deemed necessary. The Company’s Long-Term Incentive Program, adopted pursuant to the 2007 Employees Stock Incentive Plan (the “2007 Incentive Plan”), is comprised of two distinct features under which the Company’s officers may be granted restricted shares of stock: the Salary Deferral Plan and the Performance Award Program.

 

Salary Deferral Plan.  Under the Salary Deferral Plan, officers may elect to defer up to 40% of their base salary in the form of shares of restricted stock. The number of shares can be increased through a Company match by

a multiple of the deferred amount depending on the length of the vesting period selected by the officer. This program is designed to provide the Company’s officers with an incentive to remain with the Company long-term.

 

Performance Award Program.  The Long-Term Incentive Program provides the Compensation Committee a framework for providing certain incentive grants under the 2007 Incentive Plan. Pursuant to the performance award provisions of the Long-Term Incentive Program, all officers, including the Named Executive Officers, can receive restricted shares of stock based upon an analysis of the Company’s performance under a set of criteria. The Company designates an amount each year to a memorandum account for each officer equal to 25% of the officer’s base compensation for the current year. Restricted shares are issued from the available balance in the memorandum account based on the performance of the Company. If the Compensation Committee determines that the Company has not sufficiently performed against the measurement criteria, no shares are granted to the employees and the memorandum account balance continues to build up until such performance measures are met, if ever. The Compensation Committee may grant performance awards in excess of the memorandum account when exceptional performance is demonstrated. The memorandum account concept is used as a means of allocating awards among officers and to provide an incentive to officers. It does not represent a right to an award and no employee has a claim against the Company’s assets for amounts reflected in the memorandum accounts.

 

Performance targets are not set in advance. Rather, the criteria described below provide a set of guidelines through which the Compensation Committee uses its discretion to review the performance of the Company and the efforts of the Named Executive Officers in past periods. The Compensation Committee believes that this system allows it the benefit of taking into account all relevant information, including market forces and events outside the control of the Named Executive Officers.

 

Awards may be granted to each officer in the discretion of the Compensation Committee and are subject to such vesting periods and requirements as the Compensation Committee determines. Management of the Company may annually propose performance awards under the Long-Term Incentive Program to the Compensation Committee.

 

If management proposes performance awards under the Long-Term Incentive Program, the proposal is required to include the following: the aggregate size and amount of the awards; a schedule of officers that are proposed to participate and the allocation of awards by officer; and an analysis of the Company’s performance for the previous year. The Company’s performance is measured based on performance for the twelve-month period ended September 30 and any proposal must include an analysis of the following criteria:

 

 

FFO, FAD and NOI are non-GAAP measures used by the Company as supplemental measures of performance because they provide an understanding of the operating performance of the Company’s properties without giving effect to certain non-cash items, primarily depreciation and amortization expense.

 

 

In determining whether to grant performance awards under the Long-Term Incentive Program, the Compensation Committee considers management’s proposals and analysis and any and all other information that the Committee deems relevant to its determination. The Compensation Committee has the sole discretion to accept, reject or modify management’s proposed awards. The Compensation Committee also has the discretion to designate an aggregate amount of awards for a group of officers other than the Named Executive Officers, to be allocated to individual officers at the discretion of the Chief Executive Officer.

 

In December 2009, the Compensation Committee approved the grant of performance awards under the Long-Term Incentive Program to 30 of the Company’s officers totaling approximately $844,000. The awards were in the form of restricted shares, with vesting periods ranging from 3 to 8 years. The Compensation Committee reviewed the measurement criteria referenced in the Long-Term Incentive Program and noted that, despite the turmoil in the capital markets, the Company has managed to acquire assets, grow rental rates and same-facility NOI, reduce rent-related receivables, maintain steady occupancy, and renew and increase the size of its unsecured credit facility in the past four-quarter period.

 

In addition to the stock programs mentioned above, all employees meeting minimum service requirements, including the Company’s officers, are eligible to purchase shares pursuant to the Company’s 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Purchase Plan”). As further discussed under the heading “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” in the section entitled “EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION” beginning on page 23 of this Proxy Statement, each participant is granted an option on January 1 of each year to purchase up to $25,000 of the Company’s Common Stock under the Purchase Plan.

 

Termination and Change-in-Control Arrangements

 

Under the terms of the Company’s compensation plans and its employment agreements with the Named Executive Officers, the Named Executive Officers are entitled to payments and benefits upon the occurrence of specified events including termination of employment and upon a change-in-control of the Company. The specific terms of these arrangements are discussed under the heading “Termination and Change in Control Arrangements with Named Executive Officers” under the section entitled “POST-EMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION” in this Proxy Statement beginning on page 27. In the case of the employment agreements, the terms of these arrangements were agreed to after arms-length negotiations with each Named Executive Officer. In considering the aggregate potential obligations of the Company in the context of the desirability to maintain the employment of these individuals, the Compensation Committee believes that these arrangements are appropriate under the Company’s current circumstances.

 

Perquisites

 

The Compensation Committee’s policy on the provision of executive perquisites with respect to the Named Executive Officers is to allow each of them to receive perquisites up to an amount equal to 10% of their annual base compensation. If the executive receives benefits that would otherwise be considered perquisites in excess of this amount (generally calculated based on the associated tax value), he is required to reimburse the Company the amount of such excess.

 

The Company provides its executive officers with perquisites that it believes are reasonable, competitive and consistent with the Company’s overall executive compensation program. The Company believes that such perquisites help the Company to retain its executive personnel and allows them to operate more effectively. These perquisites generally include:

 

Use of the Company’s aircraft for personal travel.  The Compensation Committee believes that allowing the Company’s Named Executive Officers to use the Company’s aircraft for personal travel provides the officers with significant convenience, safety, and security at a relatively low incremental cost to the Company.

 

Supplemental life and disability insurance.  The Company also offers to its Named Executive Officers an opportunity to purchase supplemental term life insurance and supplemental disability insurance at the Company’s expense.

Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m)

 

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code generally disallows a tax deduction to public companies for compensation over $1 million paid to a corporation’s chief executive officer and the four other most highly compensated executive officers. Qualifying performance-based compensation will not be subject to the deduction limit if certain requirements are met. Restricted stock issued under the 1993 and 2003 Employees Restricted Stock Incentive Plan and 2007 Incentive Plan and associated dividends are not subject to the performance-based compensation deduction under Section 162(m). Consequently, compensation expense in the amount of $3,505,924 in 2009 was not deductible. As a qualifying REIT, the Company does not pay federal income tax; therefore, the unavailability of the Section 162(m) compensation deduction to these amounts did not result in any increase in the Company’s federal income tax obligations. The Compensation Committee has not adopted a policy requiring all compensation to be deductible.

 

Retirement Benefits

 

The Company has an Executive Retirement Plan under which certain officers designated by the Compensation Committee may receive a specified percentage of the officer’s final average earnings. See the section entitled “POST-EMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION — Retirement Plan Potential Annual Payments and Benefits” beginning on page 27 of this Proxy Statement for details of the Executive Retirement Plan.

 

In December 2008, the Company froze the maximum annual benefits payable under the Executive Retirement Plan at $896,000, before periodic cost-of-living increases. The Company expects to realize significant savings in pension accruals over the next several years and believes that the Executive Retirement Plan will continue to provide a substantial benefit to its participants. However, this revision to the plan did result in a curtailment of benefits under the plan for the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. In consideration of the curtailment and as a partial settlement of benefits under the plan, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer received a one-time cash payment of $2.3 million in January 2009.

 

All Named Executive Officers are eligible to participate in the Company’s 401(k) plan, pursuant to which each participant may contribute up to the annual maximum allowed under IRS regulations ($16,500 for 2009 and 2010). All eligible participants over the age of 50 may also contribute an additional $5,500 per year to the plan. The Company provides a matching contribution for the first three percent of base salary contributed to the plan, up to an annual maximum of $2,800 per person.

 

Compensation of Non-Employee Directors

 

Compensation of non-employee directors is set by the Compensation Committee, based upon periodic peer reviews prepared by the Company.

 

Cash Compensation.  Each non-employee director receives an annual retainer and meeting fees, with chairpersons of Committees receiving additional annual retainers. See the section entitled “DIRECTOR COMPENSATION” beginning on page 30 of this Proxy Statement for a complete discussion of the cash compensation paid to non-employee directors.

 

Stock Awards.  The Company awards non-employee directors an annual grant of restricted shares of Company Common Stock. On May 19, 2009, each non-employee director received shares with a market value on the date of grant of $76,000. See the section entitled “DIRECTOR COMPENSATION” beginning on page 30 of this Proxy Statement for a complete discussion of the terms of the restricted shares granted to non-employee directors.

 

Retirement.  The Company had a retirement plan for outside directors under which eligible directors may receive, upon normal retirement, an annual payment for a period equal to the number of years of service as a director but not exceeding 15 years. This retirement plan was terminated in November 2009 and the plan benefits will be paid out to directors in November 2010, or earlier upon retirement. See the section entitled “DIRECTOR COMPENSATION” beginning on page 30 of this Proxy Statement for a complete discussion of the retirement compensation paid to non-employee directors.

 

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

 

The following Report of the Compensation Committee does not constitute soliciting material and should not be deemed filed or incorporated by reference into any other Company filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent the Company specifically incorporates this Report by reference therein.

 

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis contained in this Proxy Statement with Company management and based on such review and discussions, the Compensation Committee has recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement.

 

Members of the Compensation Committee:

 

Edwin B. Morris III (Chairman)
Charles Raymond Fernandez, M.D.
John Knox Singleton

 

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

The following Summary Compensation Table reflects the total compensation of the Company’s Named Executive Officers for the three years ending December 31, 2009.

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

 

All of the Company’s officers, including the Named Executive Officers, are eligible to receive performance-based compensation under the 2007 Incentive Plan, under which shares of Common Stock may be granted. The Long-Term Incentive Program, adopted pursuant to the 2007 Incentive Plan, is comprised of two distinct programs, the Salary Deferral Plan and the Performance Award Program both of which are discussed on pages 18 and 19 of this Proxy Statement.

The following table supplements the Summary Compensation Table by providing more detailed disclosure of equity compensation received by the Named Executive Officers during 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pursuant to the Salary Deferral Plan, officers may elect to defer up to 40% of their base salary in the form of shares of restricted stock. The officer must elect his or her participation level and vesting period for the coming year by December 31 of the current year. The number of restricted shares granted on January 1 of each year is determined based on the average closing market price of the Company’s Common Stock on the last ten trading days of the calendar year preceding the year in which the shares are issued. The number of shares granted may be increased by a multiple of the amount of cash deferred depending on the length of the vesting period selected by the officer. Each officer who makes this election will be awarded additional shares at no additional cost to the officer according to the following multiple-based formula:

 

Duration of Restriction Period		Restriction Multiple
3 years			1.3
5 years			1.5
8 years			2.0

By way of example, if an officer elected to defer salary that was equivalent in value to 1,000 shares of stock and the officer elected an 8-year vesting period, the officer would receive the original 1,000 shares plus an additional 1,000 shares for electing the 8-year vesting period, resulting in a total award of 2,000 shares. This program is designed to provide the Company’s officers with an incentive to remain with the Company long-term. The vesting period subjects the shares obtained by the cash deferral and the restriction multiple to the risk of forfeiture in the event an officer voluntarily terminates employment or is terminated for cause from employment with the Company. Accordingly, if an officer voluntarily leaves or is terminated for cause, that officer would lose all such shares that had not yet vested.

 

Eligible employees are also granted an option to purchase shares pursuant to the Purchase Plan. Each participant is granted an option on January 1 of each year to purchase $25,000 of the Company’s Common Stock. The number of shares is determined by dividing $25,000 by the closing market price of the Company’s Common Stock on December 31 of the preceding year. Participants may purchase shares at a price equal to the lesser of (i) 85% of the grant price or (ii) 85% of the closing market price of the Company’s Common Stock on the purchase date. No option can be exercised for more than $25,000 of Common Stock for the life of the option. Each option expires 27 months after it is granted.

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

 

The following table discloses the number of securities underlying options and the number and market-based value of restricted shares outstanding that have not vested as of December 31, 2009.

 

 

 

 

Option Exercises and Stock Vested in 2009

 

During 2009, the Named Executive Officers did not exercise any options and did not have any restricted stock vest.

 

POST-EMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION

 

Retirement Plan Potential Annual Payments and Benefits

 

The Company has an Executive Retirement Plan in which Mr. Emery has been designated to participate. The Executive Retirement Plan is an unfunded, defined benefit plan in that the amount of a retiree’s pension is calculated using compensation and years of service as an employee, rather than by the market value of the plan’s assets as in defined contribution plans.

 

Under the Executive Retirement Plan, an officer designated to participate by the Compensation Committee may receive upon normal retirement (defined to be when the officer reaches age 65 and has completed five years of service with the Company) an amount equal to 60% of the officer’s Final Average Annual Compensation, as defined below, plus 6% of Final Average Annual Compensation for each year of service (but not more than five years) after age 60, subject to a maximum annual amount of $896,000, before periodic cost-of-living increases. Plan benefits are reduced by certain other retirement benefits received by the officer, such as Social Security and the Company’s contributions to the participant’s 401(k) plan. “Final Average Annual Compensation,” calculated as the average of the officer’s highest three, not necessarily consecutive, years’ earnings, is based upon annual cash compensation, including deferrals (but not including incentive-based stock awards or cash bonuses for officers whose annual salary exceeds $200,000).

 

The annual pension benefits are to be paid in either a lump sum payment or monthly installments over a period not to exceed the greater of the life of the retired officer or his or her surviving spouse. Mr. Emery has agreed to receive his remaining retirement benefits under the Executive Retirement Plan in monthly installment payments, rather than in a lump sum. Of the two remaining officers in the plan that have not yet retired, one has elected to receive their benefit payments in monthly installments and one has elected a lump sum payment upon retirement.

 

The following table discloses the material terms and estimated benefits payable to Mr. Emery under the Company’s Executive Retirement Plan:

 

 

 

 

401(k) Plan

 

All eligible employees may participate and receive post-employment compensation under a 401(k) plan, pursuant to which each employee may contribute up to 45% of his or her salary, to an annual maximum allowed under IRS regulations ($16,500 for 2009 and 2010). As these contributions are made by the employees out of their respective cash salaries, such contributions do not appear in the Summary Compensation Table as additional compensation for the Named Executive Officers. Additionally, participants in the 401(k) plan receive matching contributions from the Company of up to 3% of their salary, to an annual maximum of $2,800. Where applicable, the matching contributions are included in the All Other Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table.

 

Termination and Change in Control Arrangements with Named Executive Officers

 

David R. Emery

 

Mr. Emery’s employment agreement, pursuant to which he serves as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, has a one-year term that is automatically extended on January 1 of each year for

an additional year. If Mr. Emery’s employment agreement is terminated for any reason other than for cause or upon Mr. Emery’s voluntary termination, he is entitled to receive his accrued unpaid salary, earned bonus, vested, released, granted, or reserved stock awards, vested deferred compensation and other benefits accrued through the date of termination. In addition, if a termination “not for cause” occurs, Mr. Emery will receive as severance compensation his base salary for a period of three years following the date of termination and an amount equal to twice his average annual bonus during the two years immediately preceding his termination. Subject to the limitations under Internal Revenue Code Section 409A, Mr. Emery may elect to receive a lump sum severance amount equal to the present value of such severance payments (using a discount rate equal to the 90-day treasury bill interest rate in effect on the date of delivery of such election notice).

 

If a “change-in-control” (as defined in the employment agreement) occurs, Mr. Emery may terminate his agreement and receive his accrued base salary and other benefits described above through the remaining term of the agreement and an amount equal to three times his average annual bonus during the two years immediately preceding the termination. Mr. Emery would also receive as severance compensation his base salary for a period of five years following the date of termination and may elect to receive from the Company the present value of such payments as a lump sum severance payment (calculated as provided above), which may not be less than three times his base salary. In such event, Mr. Emery is entitled to receive a tax gross-up payment as compensation for any excise tax imposed by Section 280(g) of the Internal Revenue Code which would be required to be paid.

 

The Company may terminate Mr. Emery’s agreement for “cause,” which is defined to include acts of dishonesty on Mr. Emery’s part constituting a felony which has resulted in material injury to the Company and which is intended to result directly or indirectly in substantial gain or personal enrichment to Mr. Emery at the expense of the Company or Mr. Emery’s material, substantial and willful breach of the employment agreement which has resulted in material injury to the Company. In the event of Mr. Emery’s termination for cause, he shall receive all accrued salary, earned bonus compensation, vested deferred compensation (other than plan benefits which will be payable in accordance with the applicable plan), and other benefits through the date of termination, but shall receive no other severance benefits.

 

Mr. Emery’s agreement may also be terminated if Mr. Emery dies or becomes disabled and his disability continues for a period of 12 consecutive months. In the event of termination of the employment agreement because of Mr. Emery’s death or disability, Mr. Emery (or his estate) shall receive his unpaid salary, earned bonus, vested, released, granted or reserved stock awards, vested deferred compensation (other than plan benefits which will be paid in accordance with the applicable plan) and other benefits through the date of termination, but no additional severance except that, if Mr. Emery becomes disabled, the Company will maintain his insurance benefits for the remaining term of his employment agreement.

 

The Company has agreed to indemnify Mr. Emery for certain liabilities arising from actions taken within the scope of his employment. Mr. Emery’s employment agreement contains restrictive covenants pursuant to which Mr. Emery has agreed not to compete with the Company during the period of Mr. Emery’s employment and any period following termination of his employment during which he is receiving severance payments except in the event of a change-in-control of the Company.

 

Other Executive Officers

 

The Company’s other executive officers — Scott W. Holmes, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; John M. Bryant, Jr., Executive Vice President and General Counsel; and B. Douglas Whitman, II, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer — have employment agreements with the Company that have one-year terms that are automatically extended on January 1 of each year for an additional year. If an employment agreement is terminated for any reason other than for cause or upon the officer’s voluntary termination, he is entitled to receive his unpaid salary, earned bonus, vested, released, granted, or reserved stock awards, vested deferred compensation and other benefits through the date of termination. In addition, if a termination “not for cause” occurs, the officer will receive as severance compensation his base salary for a period of 18 months following the date of termination and an amount equal to twice his average annual bonus during the two years immediately preceding his termination.

 

If a “change-in-control” (as defined in the employment agreement) occurs, the officer may terminate his agreement and receive his accrued base salary and other benefits described above through the termination date, an

amount equal to 1.5 times his base salary through the remaining term of the agreement, and an amount equal to two times his average annual bonus during the two years immediately preceding the termination. Each officer may elect to receive from the Company the present value of such payment (calculated in the same manner as for Mr. Emery) as a lump sum severance payment, which may not be less than 1.5 times the base salary. In such event, the officer is entitled to receive a tax gross-up payment as compensation for any excise tax imposed by Section 280(g) of the Internal Revenue Code which would be required to be paid.

 

The Company may terminate the officer’s agreement for “cause,” which is defined to include material, substantial and willful dishonesty towards, fraud upon, or deliberate injury or attempted injury to, the Company or the officer’s material, substantial and willful breach of the employment agreement which has resulted in material injury to the Company. In the event of the officer’s termination for cause, he shall receive all accrued salary, earned bonus compensation, vested deferred compensation (other than plan benefits which will be payable in accordance with the applicable plan), and other benefits through the date of termination, but shall receive no other severance benefits.

 

Each agreement may also be terminated if the officer dies or becomes disabled and his disability continues for a period of 12 consecutive months. In the event of termination of the employment agreement because of the officer’s death or disability, the officer (or his estate) shall receive his unpaid salary, earned bonus, vested, released, granted or reserved stock awards, vested deferred compensation (other than plan benefits which will be paid in accordance with the applicable plan) and other benefits through the date of termination, but no additional severance except that, if the officer becomes disabled, the Company will maintain his insurance benefits for the remaining term of his employment agreement.

 

The Company has agreed to indemnify each of the officers for certain liabilities arising from actions taken within the scope of his employment. Each employment agreement contains restrictive covenants pursuant to which such officer has agreed not to compete with the Company during the period of employment and any period following termination of his employment during which he is receiving severance payments except in the event of a change-in-control of the Company.

 

The tables below illustrate the compensation that would have been received by each of the Named Executive Officers assuming the officer had been terminated or had been eligible to retire and had elected to retire on December 31, 2009.

 

 

 

 

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

 

Directors who are employees of the Company receive no additional compensation for their services as directors. David R. Emery is the only employee director on the Company’s Board. Each non-employee director receives the following compensation from the Company:

 

 

Stock Awards

 

Each non-employee director receives an automatic grant of restricted shares of the Company’s Common Stock at the conclusion of each annual meeting which are generally restricted for three years from the date of grant, though directors may elect to extend the vesting period beyond three years. During the restricted period, such shares are subject to forfeiture upon the occurrence of certain events. Restricted shares may not be sold, assigned, pledged or otherwise transferred. Subject to the risk of forfeiture and transfer restrictions, directors shall have all rights as shareholders with respect to restricted shares, including the right to vote and receive dividends or other distributions on such shares. As of January 31, 2010, non-employee directors had received an aggregate of 111,861 restricted shares, of which 76,688 shares remain restricted.

 

Retirement Plan

 

In November 2009, the Company terminated the Company’s Retirement Plan for Outside Directors and lump sum payments totaling approximately $2.6 million in the aggregate will be paid in November 2010, or earlier upon retirement, to the eight non-employee directors who were participants in the plan.

Director Compensation Table

 

The following table sets forth the 2009 compensation for non-employee directors:

 

 

 

 

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

 

The Board of Directors recognizes that related party transactions present a heightened risk of conflicts of interest and/or improper valuation (or the perception thereof) and therefore has adopted the following policy in connection with all related party transactions involving the Company.

 

Under this policy, no transaction between the Company and an officer, director or five percent stockholder (including any immediate family member or controlled entity) shall be allowed unless:

 

 

No such approval is necessary for:

 

 

The Board of Directors has determined that the Corporate Governance Committee of the Board is best suited to review and approve related party transactions. Accordingly, at each calendar year’s first regularly scheduled Corporate Governance Committee meeting, management shall report any related party transactions to be entered into by the Company for that calendar year, including the proposed aggregate value of such transactions if applicable. After review, the Corporate Governance Committee shall approve or disapprove such transactions and, at each subsequently scheduled meeting, management shall update the Corporate Governance Committee as to any material change to those proposed transactions or any new transactions.

 

The Board of Directors recognizes that situations exist where a significant opportunity may be presented to management or a member of the Board of Directors that may equally be available to the Company, either directly or via referral. Before such opportunity may be consummated by a related party, such opportunity shall be presented to the Corporate Governance Committee for consideration.

 

All related party transactions shall be disclosed to the full Board of Directors. Related party transactions will be disclosed in the Company’s public filings in accordance with applicable federal securities law filings. The Company is not aware of any related party transactions that occurred in 2009.

Management shall assure that all related party transactions are approved in accordance with any requirements of the Company’s financing agreements.

 

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

 

During 2009, the following directors served on the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors: Edwin B. Morris III (chairman); Charles Raymond Fernandez, M.D.; and John Knox Singleton. There are no interlocks among the members of the Compensation Committee.

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

 

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholder Meeting to Be Held on May 18, 2010: The Proxy Statement and the Company’s 2009 Annual Report to Shareholders are available at http://www.healthcarerealty.com/2010ProxyMaterials.htm.

 

Shareholder Proposals for 2011 Annual Meeting

 

Shareholder proposals intended to be presented at the 2011 annual meeting of shareholders must comply with the SEC’s proxy rules, be stated in writing and be received by the Company at its executive offices at 3310 West End Avenue, Suite 700, Nashville, Tennessee 37203 not earlier than November 1, 2010 nor later than December 1, 2010, in order to be included in the Proxy Statement and proxy for that meeting. Additionally, the proxy for next year’s annual meeting will confer discretionary authority to vote on any shareholder proposal which the Company receives notice of later than the close of business on December 1, 2010.

 

Counting of Votes

 

All matters specified in this Proxy Statement will be voted on at the annual meeting by written ballot. Inspectors of election will be appointed, among other things, to determine the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding, the shares of Common Stock represented at the annual meeting, the existence of a quorum and the authenticity, validity and effect of proxies, to receive votes of ballots, to hear and determine all challenges and questions in any way arising in connection with the right to vote, to count and tabulate all votes and to determine the result.

 

The inspectors of election will treat shares represented by proxies that reflect abstentions or broker non-votes as shares that are present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum. Abstentions and broker non-votes, however, do not constitute a vote “for” or “against” any matter, and thus will be disregarded in the calculation of a plurality or of “votes cast.”

 

Miscellaneous

 

The Company will bear the cost of printing, mailing and other expenses in connection with this solicitation of proxies and will also reimburse brokers and other persons holding shares in their names or in the names of nominees for their expenses in forwarding this proxy material to the beneficial owners of such shares. The Company has retained The Altman Group, Inc. to aid in the solicitation. For its services, the Company will pay The Altman Group, Inc. a fee of $5,000 and reimburse it for certain out-of-pocket disbursements and expenses. Certain of the directors, officers and employees of the Company may, without any additional compensation, solicit proxies in person or by telephone.

 

Management of the Company is not aware of any matter other than those described in this Proxy Statement which may be presented for action at the meeting. If any other matters properly come before the meeting, it is intended that the proxies will be voted with respect thereto in accordance with the judgment of the person or persons voting such proxies subject to the direction of the Board of Directors.

A copy of the Company’s Annual Report to Shareholders has been mailed to all shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at this meeting.

 

HEALTHCARE REALTY TRUST INCORPORATED

 

David R. Emery

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

March 31, 2010

Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated

COMMON STOCK PROXY

HEALTHCARE REALTY TRUST INCORPORATED
PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

     Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholder Meeting to Be Held on May 18, 2010: The Proxy Statement and the Company’s 2009 Annual Report to Shareholders are available at http://www.healthcarerealty.com/2010ProxyMaterials.htm.

     The undersigned hereby appoints B. Douglas Whitman, II and John M. Bryant, Jr., and either of them, as proxies, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to vote all of the shares of Common Stock which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the annual meeting of shareholders of Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated, to be held at 3310 West End Avenue, Suite 700, Nashville, Tennessee, on Tuesday, May 18, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. (local time), and at any adjournment thereof.

     This proxy is being solicited by the Board of Directors and will be voted as specified. If not otherwise specified, the above named proxies will vote (a) FOR the election as directors of the nominees named below, unless a shareholder’s shares are held by a broker resulting in a broker non-vote, (b) FOR the ratification of the appointment of BDO Seidman, LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, and (c) in accordance with the recommendations of the Board of Directors on any other matters that may properly come before the meeting, unless a shareholder’s shares are held by a broker resulting in a broker non-vote.

1.

Election of Class 2 Directors:

For

Withhold

For

Withhold

For

Withhold

01- Edwin B. Morris III

o

o

02- John Knox Singleton

o

o

03-Roger O. West

o

o

(Continued and to be dated and signed on reverse side)

2.

Proposal to ratify the appointment of BDO Seidman, LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

				o FOR		o AGAINST		o ABSTAIN

3.       In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

		MARK HERE FOR ADDRESS CHANGE AND NOTE AT LEFT o
		MARK HERE IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING o
		Date:
		Signature:
		IMPORTANT
		Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this proxy and mail promptly in the enclosed envelope. If you sign as agent or in any other capacity, please state the capacity in which you sign.