UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

(RULE 14a-101)

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:

 

 

EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement)

 

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

300 One Jackson Place
188 East Capitol Street
Jackson, Mississippi 39201

 

April 28, 2008

 

Dear Stockholder:

 

The Board of Directors and officers of EastGroup Properties, Inc. (the “Company”) join me in extending to you a cordial invitation to attend the Company’s 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be held on May 29, 2008 at 9:00 a.m., Central time, at the Company’s offices, 300 One Jackson Place, 188 East Capitol Street, Jackson, Mississippi.

 

Information about the Annual Meeting is included in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement which follow. We urge you to review these materials carefully and to use this opportunity to take part in the affairs of the Company by voting on the matters described in this Proxy Statement.

 

It is important that your shares of Common Stock be represented at the Annual Meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please complete the enclosed proxy card and return it as promptly as possible or vote by calling the toll-free telephone number or via the Internet. The enclosed proxy card contains instructions regarding all three methods of voting. If you attend the Annual Meeting, you may continue to have your shares voted as instructed on your proxy card or you may revoke your proxy at the meeting and vote your shares in person.

 

Very truly yours,

 

LELAND R. SPEED

Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

300 One Jackson Place
188 East Capitol Street
Jackson, Mississippi 39201

 

NOTICE OF 2008 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

To the Stockholders:

 

The 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of EastGroup Properties, Inc. (the “Company”) will be held at the Company’s offices, 300 One Jackson Place, 188 East Capitol Street, Jackson, Mississippi, on Thursday, May 29, 2008 at 9:00 a.m., Central time, for the following purposes:

 

1. To elect eight directors of the Company;

 

2. To consider and ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the 2008 fiscal year; and

 

3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

 

Only stockholders of record at the close of business on April 14, 2008 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and any adjournment thereof.

 

The prompt return of your proxy will avoid delay and save the expense involved in further communication. The proxy may be revoked by you at any time prior to its exercise, and the giving of your proxy will not affect your right to vote in person if you wish to attend the Annual Meeting.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors

 

 

N. Keith McKey

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer,

Treasurer and Secretary

 

DATED: April 28, 2008

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

PROXY STATEMENT

 

Why did I receive this proxy?

 

The Board of Directors of EastGroup Properties, Inc. (the “Company”) is soliciting proxies to be voted at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Annual Meeting will be held on Thursday, May 29, 2008, at 9:00 a.m., Central time, at the Company’s offices, 300 One Jackson Place, 188 East Capitol Street, Jackson, Mississippi. This proxy statement summarizes the information you need to know to vote by proxy or in person at the Annual Meeting. You do not need to attend the Annual Meeting in person in order to vote.

 

Who is entitled to vote?

 

All stockholders of record as of the close of business on Monday, April 14, 2008 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. As of the Record Date, 23,839,840 shares of Common Stock were issued and outstanding.

 

How many votes do I have?

 

Each share of Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date is entitled to one vote on each item submitted to you for consideration.

 

What does it mean if I receive more than one proxy card?

 

It means that you have multiple accounts at the transfer agent or with stockbrokers. Please complete and return all proxy cards to ensure that all your shares are voted.

 

How do I vote?

 

 

How do I vote my shares that are held by my broker?

 

If you have shares held by a broker, you may instruct your broker to vote your shares by following the instructions that the broker provides to you.

What am I voting on?

 

You will be voting on Proposal One regarding the election of eight directors of the Company and Proposal Two regarding the ratification of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the 2008 fiscal year.

 

Will there be any other items of business on the agenda?

 

Pursuant to the Company’s Bylaws and Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules, stockholder proposals must have been received by March 31, 2008 to be considered at the Annual Meeting. To date, we have received no stockholder proposals and we do not expect any other items of business. Nonetheless, in case there is an unforeseen need, your proxy gives discretionary authority to David H. Hoster II and N. Keith McKey with respect to any other matters that might be brought before the Annual Meeting. Those persons intend to vote that proxy in accordance with their best judgment.

 

How many votes are required to act on the proposals?

 

The holder of each outstanding share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of stockholders.

 

Pursuant to our Bylaws, provided a quorum is present, directors will be elected by a plurality of all the votes cast at the Annual Meeting with each share being voted for as many individuals as there are directors to be elected and for whose election the share is entitled to vote.

 

Ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the 2008 fiscal year requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the proposal, provided that a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting.

 

How are votes counted?

 

The Annual Meeting will be held if a quorum is represented in person or by proxy. A quorum consists of a majority of our outstanding common shares entitled to vote. If you return a signed proxy card, your shares will be counted for the purpose of determining whether there is a quorum. We will treat failures to vote, referred to as abstentions, as shares present and entitled to vote for quorum purposes. However, abstentions will not be counted as votes cast on a proposal and will have no effect on the result of the vote on such proposal. A withheld vote is the same as an abstention.

 

Broker non-votes occur when proxies submitted by a broker, bank or other nominee holding shares in “street name” do not indicate a vote for a proposal because they do not have discretionary voting authority and have not received instructions as to how to vote on the proposal. We will treat broker non-votes as shares that are present and entitled to vote for quorum purposes. However, broker non-votes will not be counted as votes cast on a proposal and will have no effect on the result of the vote on the proposal.

 

What happens if I return my proxy card without voting on all proposals?

 

When the proxy is properly executed and returned, the shares it represents will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with your directions. If the signed card is returned with no direction on a proposal, the proxy will be voted in favor of (FOR) Proposal One and in favor of (FOR) Proposal Two.

Will anyone contact me regarding this vote?

 

In addition to the use of the mails, proxies may be solicited by the directors and their agents (who will receive no additional compensation therefore). Such solicitations may be made by mail, telephone, facsimile, e-mail or other electronic means or personal interviews. We anticipate that banks, brokerage houses and other institutions, nominees or fiduciaries will be requested to forward the soliciting material to their principals and to obtain authorization for the execution of proxies. The Company may, upon request, reimburse banks, brokerage houses and other institutions, nominees and fiduciaries for their expenses in forwarding proxy material to their principals.

 

Who has paid for this proxy solicitation?

 

The Company has paid the entire expense of this proxy statement and any additional materials furnished to stockholders.

 

When was this proxy statement mailed?

 

This proxy statement and the enclosed proxy card were mailed to stockholders beginning on or about April 28, 2008.

 

How can I obtain a copy of this year’s Annual Report on Form 10-K?

 

A copy of our 2007 Annual Report to Stockholders, including financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, accompanies this Proxy Statement. The Annual Report, however, is not part of the proxy solicitation material. A copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC may be obtained free of charge by writing to EastGroup Properties, Inc., 300 One Jackson Place, 188 East Capitol Street, Jackson, Mississippi 39201, Attention: Investor Relations or by accessing the “Reports” section of the Company’s website at www.eastgroup.net.

 

Can I find additional information on the Company’s website?

 

Yes. Our website is located at www.eastgroup.net. Although the information contained on our website is not part of this proxy statement, you can view additional information on the website, such as our code of conduct, corporate governance guidelines, charters of board committees and reports that we file with the SEC. A copy of our code of conduct, corporate governance guidelines and each of the charters of our board committees may be obtained free of charge by writing to EastGroup Properties, Inc., 300 One Jackson Place, 188 East Capitol Street, Jackson, Mississippi 39201, Attention: Investor Relations.

 

In accordance with our Bylaws, the Board of Directors has by resolution fixed the number of directors to be elected at the Annual Meeting at eight. The Board of Directors currently consists of D. Pike Aloian, H.C. Bailey, Jr., Hayden C. Eaves III, Fredric H. Gould, David H. Hoster II, Mary E. McCormick, David M. Osnos, and Leland R. Speed. The terms of office of each of our directors expire at the Annual Meeting. Based on the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, each incumbent director has been nominated for election at the Annual Meeting as directors for one-year terms, to hold office until the 2009 Annual Meeting and until their successors are elected and qualified.

 

No security holder that held a beneficial ownership interest in our Common Stock of 5% or more for at least one year recommended any candidates to serve on the Board of Directors.

If, at the time of the Annual Meeting, any nominee is unable or declines to serve, the discretionary authority provided in the proxy may be exercised to vote for a substitute or substitutes. The Board of Directors has no reason to believe that any substitute nominee or nominees will be required.

 

Pursuant to our Bylaws, directors will be elected by a plurality of all the votes cast at the Annual Meeting with each share being voted for as many individuals as there are directors to be elected and for whose election the share is entitled to vote. For purposes of the election of directors, abstentions will not be counted as votes cast and will have no effect on the result of the vote.

 

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that shareholders vote “FOR” the election of each of the nominees.

 

Nominees for Election as Directors

 

The following provides certain information regarding the nominees for election to the Board of Directors. Each individual’s name, position with the Company and principal occupation and business experience for the past five years is provided and, unless otherwise stated, each nominee has held the position indicated for at least the past five years.

 

D. Pike Aloian, age 53 — Mr. Aloian is a Managing Director of Rothschild Realty Managers LLC (real estate advisory and investment management services). He has served as a director of the Company since 1999. Mr. Aloian also serves on the Board of Directors of Brandywine Realty Trust.

 

H.C. Bailey, Jr., age 68 — Mr. Bailey is Chairman and President of H.C. Bailey Company (real estate development and investment). He has served as a director of the Company since 1980.

 

Hayden C. Eaves III, age 62 — Mr. Eaves is President of Hayden Holdings, Inc. (real estate investment) and an advisor to IDS Real Estate Group (real estate services and investments) where he served as a Managing Director until 2006. He was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Western Region of Trammell Crow Company until 1995. He has served as a director of the Company since 2002.

 

Fredric H. Gould, age 72 — Mr. Gould is the Chairman of the General Partner of Gould Investors, LP, Chairman of BRT Realty Trust and Chairman of One Liberty Properties, Inc. He has served as a director of the Company since 1998.

 

David H. Hoster II, age 62 — Mr. Hoster is the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and has served in that capacity since 1997. He has served as President of the Company and as a director since 1993. Mr. Hoster also serves on the Board of Directors of Trustmark National Bank.

 

Mary E. McCormick, age 50 — Ms. McCormick has served as a director of the Company since 2005. Ms. McCormick served the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System from 1989 through 2005, most recently directing real estate investments and overseeing an internally managed REIT portfolio. From 2005 to 2006 Ms. McCormick was a strategy consultant for Hawkeye Partners, an investment management firm. Ms. McCormick has held a number of leadership positions on a variety of national and regional real estate associations. Ms. McCormick also serves on the Board of Directors of Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. and is a member of its Audit Committee.

 

David M. Osnos, age 76 — Mr. Osnos is Of Counsel to (and, until December 31, 2002, was a partner in) the law firm of Arent Fox LLP. He has served as a director of the Company since 1993. Mr. Osnos also serves on the Board of Directors of VSE Corporation.

Leland R. Speed, age 75 — Mr. Speed has served as the Chairman of the Board of the Company since 1983 and a director since 1978. He is also Chairman of the Board of Parkway Properties, Inc. He served as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Parkway Properties, Inc. until 1997. From 2004 until 2006, Mr. Speed served as the Executive Director of the Mississippi Development Authority, the State of Mississippi’s lead economic development agency.

 

Independent Directors

 

Under the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) listing standards, at least a majority of the Company’s directors and all of the members of the Company’s Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee must meet the test of “independence” as defined by the NYSE. The NYSE standards provide that, to qualify as an “independent” director, in addition to satisfying certain bright-line criteria, the Board of Directors must affirmatively determine that a director has no material relationship with the Company (either directly or as a partner, shareholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the Company). The Board of Directors has determined that each current director, other than Mr. Speed, the Company’s Chairman, and Mr. Hoster, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, satisfies the bright-line criteria and that none has a relationship with the Company that would interfere with such person’s ability to exercise independent judgment as a member of the Company’s Board.

 

The Board of Directors has a standing Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Each member of each of these committees is “independent” as that term is defined in the NYSE listing standards. The Board has adopted a written charter for each of these committees, which is available on our website at www.eastgroup.net.

 

Audit Committee

 

The Audit Committee consists of Messrs. Aloian and Osnos and Ms. McCormick. The Audit Committee met 11 times during the Company’s 2007 fiscal year. The Audit Committee oversees the financial reporting of the Company, including the audit by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. Mr. Aloian and Ms. McCormick have been designated as the Company’s “Audit Committee financial experts” in accordance with the SEC rules and regulations, and the Board has determined that they have accounting and related financial management expertise within the meaning of the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange. See “Report of the Audit Committee” below.

 

Compensation Committee

 

The Compensation Committee consists of Messrs. Bailey, Eaves and Gould. The Compensation Committee’s function is to review and recommend to the Board of Directors appropriate executive compensation policy and compensation of the Company’s directors and officers. The Compensation Committee also reviews and makes recommendations with respect to executive and employee benefit plans and programs. The Compensation Committee met five times during the Company’s 2007 fiscal year.

 

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

 

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee currently consists of Messrs. Aloian and Eaves and Ms. McCormick. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met four times during the Company’s

2007 fiscal year. The responsibilities of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee include assessing Board membership needs and identifying, screening, recruiting, presenting director candidates to the Board, implementing policies regarding corporate governance matters, making recommendations regarding committee memberships and sponsoring and overseeing performance evaluations for the Board as a whole and the directors.

 

The Board of Directors has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines. The guidelines are available at www.eastgroup.net under “About Us.” Under the guidelines, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will take into account stockholder input with respect to processes and criteria for director selection; as such, stockholders may influence the composition of the Board. Under this principle, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider written recommendations for potential nominees suggested by stockholders. Any such person will be evaluated in the same manner as any other potential nominee for director. Any suggestion for a nominee for director by a stockholder should be sent to the Company’s Secretary at 300 One Jackson Place, 188 East Capitol Street, Jackson, Mississippi 39201, within the time periods set forth under “Stockholder Proposals for the 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.”

 

In identifying suitable candidates for nomination as a director, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider the needs of the Board and the range of skills and characteristics required for effective functioning of the Board. In evaluating such skills and characteristics, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may take into consideration such factors as it deems appropriate, including those included in the Corporate Governance Guidelines. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider nominees suggested by incumbent Board members, management, stockholders and, in certain circumstances, outside search firms.

 

Board Attendance at Meetings

 

The Board of Directors held six meetings during the Company’s 2007 fiscal year. Each director attended at least 75% of the aggregate of the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors and meetings held by all committees of the Board of Directors on which he or she served. The Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that all directors are expected to regularly attend all meetings of the Board and the Board committees on which he or she serves. In addition, each director is expected to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. In 2007, the Annual Meeting of Stockholders was attended by seven of the directors.

 

Stockholder Communication With the Board

 

The Board of Directors has appointed David M. Osnos as “Lead Independent Director.” In that capacity, he presides over the meetings of the non-management directors of the Company. Stockholders and other parties interested in communicating directly with the Lead Independent Director or with the non-management directors as a group may do so by writing to David M. Osnos, Lead Independent Director, EastGroup Properties, Inc., 300 One Jackson Place, 188 East Capitol Street, Jackson, Mississippi 39201. Correspondence so addressed will be forwarded directly to Mr. Osnos.

 

Report of the Audit Committee

 

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 filing by the Company 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 Company is composed of three directors, each of whom meets the current independence and experience requirements of the NYSE and the SEC. The Audit Committee operates under a

written charter which was amended and restated on March 8, 2007. A complete copy of the Audit Committee charter is available on the Company’s website at www.eastgroup.net. The Board has determined that D. Pike Aloian and Mary E. McCormick are “Audit Committee financial experts” as defined in the current rules of the SEC.

 

Management is primarily responsible for the Company’s financial statements and reporting process. The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP, is responsible for performing an independent audit of the Company’s financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and for issuing a report on those statements. The Audit Committee’s responsibilities include oversight of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and internal audit department, as well as oversight of the Company’s financial reporting process on behalf of the full Board of Directors. It is not the duty or the responsibility of the Audit Committee to conduct auditing or accounting reviews or related procedures.

 

The Audit Committee meets at least quarterly and at such other times as it deems necessary or appropriate to carry out its responsibilities. Those meetings include, whenever appropriate, executive sessions with KPMG without management being present. The Committee met 11 times during 2007, including six executive sessions with KPMG. In the course of fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee met with management, internal audit personnel and KPMG to review and discuss all annual financial statements and quarterly operating results prior to their issuance. Management advised the Audit Committee that all financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Audit Committee also discussed with KPMG matters required to be discussed, pursuant to Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, Communication with Audit Committees, including the reasonableness of judgments and the clarity and completeness of financial disclosures. In addition, the Audit Committee discussed with KPMG matters relating to its independence and has received from KPMG the written disclosures and letter required by the Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, Independence Discussions with Audit Committees.

 

On the basis of the reviews and discussions the Audit Committee has had with KPMG and management, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Board approve the inclusion of the Company’s audited financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, for filing with the SEC.

 

Submitted by the Audit Committee:

 

D. Pike Aloian

Mary E. McCormick

 

The following provides certain information regarding our executive officers. Each individual’s name and position with the Company is indicated. In addition, the principal occupation and business experience for the past five years is provided for each officer and, unless otherwise stated, each person has held the position indicated for at least the past five years. There are no family relationships between any of the directors or executive officers of the Company.

 

Leland R. Speed, age 75 — Mr. Speed has served as the Chairman of the Board of the Company since 1983 and a director since 1978. He is also Chairman of the Board of Parkway Properties, Inc. He served as Chief

Executive Officer of the Company and Parkway Properties, Inc. until 1997. From 2004 until 2006, Mr. Speed served as the Executive Director of the Mississippi Development Authority, the State of Mississippi’s lead economic development agency.

 

David H. Hoster II, age 62 — Mr. Hoster is the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and has served in that capacity since 1997. He has served as President of the Company and as a director since 1993.

 

N. Keith McKey, age 57 — Mr. McKey has served as the Company’s Executive Vice President since 1993, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary since 1992 and Treasurer since 1997.

 

William D. Petsas, age 50 — Mr. Petsas has been a Senior Vice President of the Company since 2000. From 1994 until 2000, he was a Vice President of ProLogis (an industrial real estate investment trust).

 

Bruce Corkern, age 46 — Mr. Corkern has served as Chief Accounting Officer since 2005 and has been a Senior Vice President and Controller of the Company since 2000. From 1990 until 2000, he was the Vice President of Finance of Time Warner Cable (Jackson/Monroe Division).

 

John F. Coleman, age 48 — Mr. Coleman has been a Senior Vice President of the Company since 2001. From 1999 until 2001, he was a Senior Vice President of Duke Realty Corporation (an industrial/office real estate investment trust).

 

Brent W. Wood, age 38 — Mr. Wood has been a Senior Vice President of the Company since 2003. He was a Vice President of the Company from 2000 to 2003, a Senior Asset Manager of the Company from 1997 to 1999 and Assistant Controller from 1996 to 1997.

 

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

 

General Philosophy.  The Compensation Committee compensates our senior management through a mix of base salary, bonus and equity compensation designed to be competitive with comparable employers and to align management’s incentives with the long-term interests of our stockholders. The compensation setting process consists of establishing targeted overall compensation for each executive officer and then allocating that compensation among base salary, cash incentive/bonus and equity incentive compensation. The Committee designs the incentive compensation to reward company-wide performance through tying awards primarily to growth in funds from operations and total return to stockholders.

 

Engagement of Compensation Consultant.  In 2007 the Compensation Committee again retained FPL Associates, L.P., a nationally recognized compensation consulting firm specializing in the real estate industry that was first engaged by the Compensation Committee in 2003. Neither the Compensation Committee nor the Company has any other professional relationship with FPL. The Compensation Committee directed FPL to, among other things: (1) assist the Compensation Committee in applying our compensation philosophy for our executive officers, including the determination of the portion of total compensation awarded in the form of salary, cash bonus and equity-based compensation, as well as selecting the appropriate performance metrics and levels of performance (e.g., threshold, target, high); (2) analyze current compensation conditions among the Company’s peers, and assess the competitiveness and appropriateness of compensation levels for our executive officers; (3) recommend to the Compensation Committee any modifications or additions to the Company’s existing compensation programs that it deems advisable; and (4) make specific recommendations to the Compensation Committee for base salary, cash bonus and equity-based awards for our executive officers.

Peer Group Analysis.  In 2007 FPL conducted a peer group analysis similar to the one they conducted in 2006. In determining the companies to be included in our peer group, FPL considered a number of factors, including industry sector (asset-based peer group), equity market capitalization (size-based peer group), geographic location and historical performance (performance/geography-based peer group). The 2007 peer groups remained relatively unchanged from 2006. The members in the peer groups included companies that generally recruit individuals to fill senior management positions who are similar in skills and background to those we recruit. FPL’s compensation review was based on information disclosed in the peers’ 2007 proxy statements, which reported data with respect to fiscal 2006 (the latest year for which comprehensive data is publicly available).

 

The asset-based peer group consists of the following eight public REITs that focus on industrial properties: AMB Property Corporation, DCT Industrial Trust, Inc., Duke Realty Corporation, First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc., First Potomac Realty Trust, Highwoods Properties, Inc., Liberty Property Trust and PS Business Parks, Inc.

 

The size-based peer group consists of 12 public REITs, which operate across multiple asset classes and are similar in size to the Company, in terms of market capitalization. The companies included in the size-based peer group are as follows: American Campus Communities, Inc., Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc., Cousins Properties Incorporated, Entertainment Properties Trust, Equity Inns, Inc., Medical Properties Trust, Inc., National Retail Properties, Inc., Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc., Ramco-Gershenson Properties Trust, Sovran Self Storage, Inc., Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. and Washington Real Estate Investment Trust.

 

The performance/geography-based peer group consists of 19 public REITs and one public real estate operating company across multiple asset classes that are similar in performance to the Company in terms of 3-year annualized total shareholder return (“TSR”) and 5-year annualized TSR, or is headquartered in the Sunbelt region of the United States. The companies included in the performance/geography-based peer group are as follows: American Campus Communities, Inc., Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc., Camden Property Trust, CBL & Associates Properties, Inc., Colonial Properties Trust, Cousins Properties Incorporated, Crescent Real Estate Equities Company, Equity Inns, Inc., Equity One, Inc., FelCor Lodging Trust Incorporated, Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated, Lodgian, Inc., Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc., National Health Investors, Inc., National Retail Properties, Inc., Parkway Properties, Inc., PS Business Parks, Inc., Ramco-Gershenson Properties Trust, Realty Income Corporation and Weingarten Realty Investors.

 

The overall results of the FPL study produced the starting point for the Compensation Committee’s analysis. The Committee compared the median compensation of the executive officers of each of the peer groups in determining approximate compensation for our executive officers. In the case of Mr. Hoster, the Committee also considered (i) the performance of the Company during the period in which he has been chief executive officer and (ii) the anticipated level of difficulty in replacing him with someone of comparable experience and skill.

 

Targeted Overall Compensation.  Based upon this analysis, the Compensation Committee established the targeted overall compensation of our chief executive officer for 2007 at $1,755,000. This amount was lower than the median of the overall compensation for each of the peer groups. The main reason that the targeted compensation is lower than the median is that the Company’s headquarters is in Jackson, Mississippi, and living costs there are lower than those in most of the geographic areas in which the companies in the various peer groups are located. Other than the differential in living costs, the Company’s excellent total return to stockholders during Mr. Hoster’s tenure as chief executive officer was the other main feature the Compensation Committee considered in setting his compensation. Adjusting for these factors, which was done in a subjective manner, the Committee concluded that the targeted overall compensation level for Mr. Hoster was appropriate.

 

The Compensation Committee followed a similar process with respect to establishing targeted overall compensation for our chief financial officer and senior vice presidents. Based upon this analysis, the Committee

set the overall targeted compensation for our chief financial officer at $983,750 for 2007. With regard to senior vice presidents, the individual targeted range of overall compensation was $495,000 to $727,500 for 2007.

 

Allocation among Components.  Under the Company’s targeted compensation structure, the mix of base salary, cash incentive/bonus and equity compensation varies depending upon management level:

 

 

In allocating compensation among these elements, the Committee believes that the compensation of our executive officers, specifically our chief executive officer, should be predominately performance-based. In making this allocation, the Committee relied in part upon the advice of FPL. In 2007, FPL performed a study of the compensation practices of the Company and the peer group comparable companies. Although each of the companies has a different compensation structure, all appear to provide their senior management with base salaries of approximately 23% to 50% of overall compensation, bonus opportunities of approximately 17% to 32% of overall compensation and equity compensation of approximately 19% to 53% of overall compensation. Within these ranges, the Committee selected allocations that it believes are consistent with the Company’s overall compensation philosophy as described above, and in all cases the Company’s compensation was more heavily weighted toward equity awards.

 

Base Salaries.  The Committee seeks to provide our executive officers with a level of assured cash compensation in the form of base salary that facilitates an appropriate lifestyle given their professional status, accomplishments and geographic location. The base salaries are reviewed annually by the Compensation Committee and are adjusted from time to time to recognize competitive market data, the officer’s level of responsibility, outstanding individual performance, promotions and internal equity considerations. Based on this review, base salaries for 2007 for our Named Officers increased by between 5.2% to 16.7% over 2006 levels. For our chief executive officer, for 2007 the Committee concluded that a base salary of $475,000 was appropriate in this regard. Similarly, for 2007 the Committee concluded that a base salary of $305,000 was appropriate for our chief financial officer. These base salaries reflect levels that the Committee concluded were appropriate based upon the Committee’s general experience.

 

The Compensation Committee performed a similar analysis with respect to our senior vice presidents. At the senior vice president level, we have a significant level of competition for employees in our market areas. As a result, the Committee provides a slightly larger portion of the compensation to our senior vice presidents in the form of base salary in order to improve our competitiveness in these areas.

 

Cash Incentive and Bonus Compensation.  The 2007 annual cash incentive and bonus compensation was based 75% upon the amount of the Company’s funds from operations (FFO) per share compared to “threshold,” “target” and “high” FFO goals set by the Compensation Committee and 25% based on individual criteria for each executive officer. FFO is defined as net income (loss) computed in accordance with GAAP, excluding gains or losses from sales of depreciable real estate property, plus real estate related depreciation and amortization, and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures. We believe that FFO is an appropriate measure of performance for equity real estate investment trusts and that excluding depreciation and amortization in the calculation of FFO is appropriate since real estate values have historically increased or decreased based on market conditions. The Compensation Committee determined the FFO goals for different levels of cash incentive compensation after an analysis of the Company’s internally prepared estimate of FFO for 2007 and the estimates

of 2007 FFO prepared by independent securities analysts who follow the Company. The target annual cash incentive and bonus amount is calculated as a percentage of base salary and performance at the threshold level pays 50% of target and performance at the “high” level pays 150% of target.

 

The Company’s 2007 FFO exceeded the “high” FFO goal set by the Compensation Committee, thus earning 100% of the maximum annual cash incentive based on the Company’s FFO. The cash incentive compensation set forth in the Summary Compensation Table under the heading “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” was paid to the Named Officers as part of 2007 compensation.

 

The individual performance goals vary considerably from one executive to another, as a reflection of their different roles within the Company. Due to the tailored nature of these individual goals, the assessment of their achievement of the goals is necessarily more subjective than for the financial goals that make up the Company’s overall performance objectives. After the end of each year, each executive officer’s performance is assessed by the officer’s direct supervisor (or the Compensation Committee in the case of the chief executive officer). Based upon these evaluations, the chief executive officer makes a report to the Compensation Committee with his assessment of the individual performance of each executive officer other than himself. For 2007, each of the Company’s executive officers exceeded the target goals set by the Compensation Committee for that individual. Accordingly, the Named Officers were awarded cash bonuses as part of 2007 compensation as set forth in the Summary Compensation Table.

 

Equity Compensation.  Prior to 2003, the primary form of equity compensation that the Company awarded consisted of stock options. In 2003, we assessed the desirability of granting shares of restricted stock to employees, particularly members of senior management, and concluded that restricted stock would provide an equally motivating form of incentive compensation while permitting us to issue fewer shares, thereby reducing potential dilution.

 

Restricted stock awards are provided based on performance and are subject to future time-based vesting. In order for the restricted stock to be earned, the Company must achieve certain performance goals within the one or three-year performance period covered by the award. The recipient also must remain employed by the Company for an additional period following the performance period in order for the restricted stock to vest. The Committee does not believe that an “all or nothing” approach is appropriate. Rather, the performance goals are scaled so that the recipient can receive part of an award in the event that acceptable, but not the desired, results are achieved. Awards are made based on “threshold,” “target” and “high” performance goals.

 

The 2007 annual long-term equity incentive awards were based on the Company’s (i) adjusted FFO growth as compared to the average adjusted FFO growth of peer companies (50% of the award), (ii) same store growth as compared to peer companies (25% of the award), and (iii) absolute adjusted FFO growth (25% of the award). The restricted stock vests over a five-year period. Dividends on the annual long-term equity incentive awards accumulate beginning January 1, 2007 and are paid if and when the restricted stock vests.

 

For purposes of the relative performance goals established in connection with the annual long-term equity incentive awards, the Compensation Committee uses a more selective peer group consisting of Duke Realty Corporation, First Potomac Realty Trust, Highwoods Properties, Inc., Liberty Property Trust and PS Business Parks, Inc. Additionally, AMB Property Corporation and First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc. are members of the relative same-store growth peer group and Colonial Properties Trust and Washington Real Estate Investment Trust are members of the relative FFO growth peer group.

 

For 2007, the Company exceeded the “high” performance criteria set by the Compensation Committee with respect to relative same-store growth and relative FFO growth and exceeded the target performance criteria set by the Compensation Committee with respect to absolute FFO growth. Accordingly, the following number of shares of restricted stock were awarded on March 6, 2008 as annual long-term equity incentive compensation with respect to

2007 performance: Mr. Hoster 12,552; Mr. McKey 6,276; Mr. Coleman 4,184; Mr. Petsas 4,184; and Mr. Wood 4,184. These shares vest 20% on the date of grant and 20% on each of January 1, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

 

The Company’s current multi-year long-term equity incentive plan remains unchanged from 2006 and is a seven-year award consisting of a three-year performance period followed by a four-year vesting period. The multi-year long-term equity incentive award is contingent on the Company meeting performance goals set by the Compensation Committee over the three-year period starting January 1, 2006. The performance goals are based upon the Company’s (i) total stockholder return as compared to the total stockholder return of the NAREIT Equity Index (16.7% of the award); (ii) total stockholder return as compared to the total stockholder return of peer companies (33.3% of the award); and (iii) absolute average total stockholder return (50% of the award).

 

For purposes of the performance goal related to peer companies established in connection with the multi-year long-term equity incentive awards, the Compensation Committee uses the following peer group: AMB Property Corporation, Duke Realty Corporation, First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc., First Potomac Realty Trust, Highwoods Properties, Inc., Liberty Property Trust and PS Business Parks, Inc.

 

The multi-year long-term equity incentive award will be paid in restricted stock and will be awarded out of and in accordance with the Company’s 2004 Equity Incentive Plan. If the performance goals are met, the multi-year equity incentive award will vest 25% on each of January 1, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. Dividends on the multi-year long-term equity incentive awards will accumulate from the beginning of the performance period and are paid if and when the restricted stock vests.

 

The following table indicates the threshold, target and maximum estimated future payouts in shares under the Company’s current multi-year long-term equity incentive plan for each of the Named Officers.

 

 

Retirement Plans.  We have a 401(k) Plan pursuant to which the Company makes matching and discretionary contributions for eligible employees. When the Compensation Committee calculates targeted overall compensation for our senior management, it factors in the benefits expected to be received under the 401(k) Plan.

 

Perquisites and Other Benefits.  The Compensation Committee annually reviews the perquisites that senior management receives. The primary perquisites for executive officers are the Company’s contribution to a 401(k) Plan, life insurance of 2.5 times base salary up to a maximum of $400,000, and long-term care insurance. Executive officers also participate in the Company’s other benefit plans on the same terms as other employees. These plans include medical insurance and life insurance. We do not provide our executives reimbursement for automobiles, clubs, financial planning or things of a similar nature.

 

Severance Benefits.  In order to recruit executives and encourage retention of employees, we believe it is appropriate and necessary to provide assurance of certain severance payments if the Company terminates the individual’s employment without cause. Pursuant to our Severance and Change in Control Agreements, in the event an executive officer is terminated involuntarily by the Company without cause, as defined in the agreement, and provided the employee executes a full release of claims, in a form satisfactory to the Company, promptly following termination, the employee will be entitled to receive certain severance benefits discussed below under the heading

“Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control.” We believe that the size of the severance package is consistent with severance offered by other companies of our size or in our industry.

 

Change in Control.  Our senior management and other employees have built the Company into a successful real estate investment trust and the Board of Directors believes that it is important to protect them in the event of a change in control. Further, it is the Board’s belief that the interests of stockholders will be best served if the interests of our senior management are aligned with them, and providing change in control benefits should eliminate, or at least reduce, the reluctance of senior management to pursue potential change in control transactions that may be in the best interests of shareholders. Relative to the overall value of the Company, these potential change in control benefits are relatively minor. See “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control” for additional information.

 

Board Process.  The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors approves all compensation and awards to our chief executive officer and makes a recommendation to the Board of Directors for our other executive officers. Generally, on its own initiative, the Compensation Committee reviews the performance and compensation of our chief executive officer and, following discussions with him and, where it deems appropriate, FPL or other appropriate advisors, establishes his compensation level. For the remaining executive officers, the chief executive officer, with consultation from FPL, makes recommendations to the Compensation Committee that generally, with minor adjustments, are recommended to the Board of Directors for approval. With respect to equity compensation awarded to others, the Compensation Committee grants restricted stock, generally based upon the recommendation of the chief executive officer.

 

Report of the Compensation Committee

 

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 filing by the Company 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 of the Company has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K with management and, based on such review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement.

 

Submitted by the Compensation Committee:

 

     Hayden C. Eaves III, Chair
     H.C. Bailey, Jr.
     Fredric H. Gould

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

The following table summarizes, for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, the amount of compensation paid by the Company to its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and its three other most highly compensated executive officers (the “Named Officers”) as of December 31, 2007.

 

 

 

 

Grants of Plan-Based Awards in 2007

 

 

 

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at 2007 Fiscal Year-End

 

 

 

 

 

Option Exercises and Stock Vested in 2007

 

Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control

 

The Company has entered into Severance and Change in Control Agreements and maintains certain plans that will require the Company to provide compensation to executive officers of the Company in the event of a termination of employment or a change in control of the Company. The following table shows potential payouts assuming that the employment of the Named Officer was terminated in each situation listed in the table and that termination occurred on the last business day of 2007.

 

 

Below is a description of the definitions and assumptions that were used in creating the table above.

 

Definitions.  A “change of control” means any of the following: (i) any change in control of a nature that would be required to be reported under the Exchange Act proxy rules; (ii) the acquisition by a person or group of beneficial ownership of 30% of the Company’s outstanding voting securities; (iii) a change in the composition of the Board of Directors such that the incumbent directors cease to constitute at least a majority of the Board (including, for purposes of computing a majority, those persons nominated for election by a two-thirds majority of the then incumbent directors who had been similarly nominated); (iv) the security holders of the Company approve a merger or consolidation of the Company, with certain exceptions; or (v) approval by the Company’s stockholders of a complete liquidation of the Company or disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets.

 

“Average annual compensation” means an amount equal to the annual average of the sum of (i) the executive’s annual base salary from the Company plus (ii) the amount of cash bonus paid by the Company to the executive, in each case for the average of the three calendar years that ended immediately before (or, if applicable, coincident with) a specified date.

 

A termination is for “cause” if it is for any of the following reasons: (i) the continued failure by the executive to perform his material responsibilities and duties toward the Company (other than any such failure resulting from the executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness); (ii) the executive engaging in willful or reckless conduct that is demonstrably injurious to the Company monetarily or otherwise; (iii) the executive’s conviction, entry of a plea of no contest, or admission of guilt, for any felony or any lesser crime if such lesser crime involves fraud or dishonesty, moral turpitude, or any conduct that adversely affects the business or reputation of the Company; (iv) the commission or omission of any act by the executive that constitutes on the part of the executive fraud, dishonesty, or malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance of duty toward the Company; or (v) any other action or conduct by the executive that is injurious to the Company, its business, or its reputation.

 

A “breach of duty” means (i) the executive’s willful misconduct in the performance of his duties toward the Company; or (ii) the commission or omission of any act by the executive that constitutes on the part of the executive fraud or dishonesty toward the Company.

 

A termination is for “good reason” if it is for any of the following reasons: (i) a material diminution in the executive’s duties, responsibilities or authority; (ii) a reduction in the executive’s base salary; (iii) a reduction in the executive’s benefits other than a reduction which applies generally to all participants in the benefit plan; (iv) the Company’s relocation of the executive without the executive’s consent; and (v) the failure by the Company to obtain the assumption of the obligations contained in the Severance and Change in Control Agreement by any successor entity.

Cash Severance Payment.  Cash severance payments following a change in control are paid upon an involuntary termination without breach of duty and upon a voluntary termination by the executive for good reason. Additionally, cash severance payments not in connection with a change in control are paid upon an involuntary termination without cause. In each case, the cash severance payments are paid lump-sum and are based upon average annual compensation as follows:

 

 

As a condition of the receipt of the cash severance payment not in connection with a change in control, the executive must execute a waiver and release agreement, in a form satisfactory to the Company, that releases the Company and all affiliates from any and all claims of any nature whatsoever, including, without limit, any and all statutory claims, and may not revoke the waiver and release within any revocation period required by law or permitted by the Company.

 

Benefits.  Upon an involuntary termination without breach of duty or a voluntary termination by the executive for good reason, each following a change in control, the Company will provide each executive officer with life insurance coverage and health plan coverage substantially comparable to the coverage the executive was receiving from the Company immediately before termination of employment. In each case, these benefits will continue for a number of months following the date of termination as follows:

 

 

The value of the benefits set forth in the above table is based on an estimate of the Company’s cost to provide such benefits to an executive officer upon termination following a change in control equal to $25,000 per year.

 

Equity Acceleration.  The Incentive Restricted Share Agreements issued to executive officers in connection with equity awards granted pursuant to the Company’s 2004 Equity Incentive Plan and the 1994 Management Incentive Plan provide that an executive’s interest in all of the incentive restricted shares shall become vested as of the date of his death or termination by reason of his permanent disability. Pursuant to an amendment to the Company’s 2004 Equity Incentive Plan that became effective January 1, 2007, a restricted share agreement may also provide that the incentive restricted shares covered by the agreement shall vest upon involuntary termination by the Company without cause.

 

The Company’s Equity Incentive Plan and the 1994 Management Incentive Plan also provide that upon the occurrence of a change in control, whether or not the executive’s employment is terminated, the executive’s interest in all of the restricted shares that are no longer subject to performance criteria shall become vested and the vesting of restricted shares subject to performance criteria shall be accelerated and the executive shall receive a pro rata number of shares based upon (i) an assumed achievement of all relevant performance objectives at target levels and (ii) the length of time within the performance period elapsed before the effective date of the change in control. The value of unvested restricted shares set forth in the above table includes all previous awards of restricted stock that

have not yet vested in addition to the number of restricted shares awarded by the Compensation Committee as annual long-term equity incentive on March 6, 2008 with respect to 2007 performance. With respect to the current multi-year long-term equity incentive plan for the performance period ending December 31, 2008, the value of restricted shares set forth in the above table includes the acceleration of approximately two-thirds of the target shares to be awarded by the Compensation Committee under that plan.

 

The Company accrues dividends on all incentive restricted shares beginning with the first day of the applicable performance period. The accrued dividends are delivered to the executive officer when the incentive restricted share vest. The value of the unvested restricted stock in the above table includes the actual value of the dividends accrued with respect to each restricted share award that is no longer subject to performance criteria. With respect to the current multi-year long-term incentive plan, the value includes the accrued dividends on approximately two-thirds of the target shares established by the Compensation Committee under that plan.

 

Excise Tax Gross-Up.  Upon a change in control of the Company, the executive may be subject to certain excise taxes pursuant to Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code. The Company has agreed to reimburse the executive for all excise taxes that are imposed on the executive under Section 4999 and any income and excise taxes that are payable by the executive as a result of any reimbursements for Section 4999 excise taxes. The total Section 4999 tax gross-up amount in the above tables assumes that the executive is entitled to a full reimbursement by the Company of (i) any excise taxes that are imposed upon the executive as a result of the change in control, (ii) any income, payroll and excise taxes imposed upon the executive as a result of the Company’s reimbursement of the excise tax amount and (iii) any additional income, payroll and excise taxes that are imposed upon executive as a result of the Company’s reimbursement of the executive for any excise or income taxes. The calculation of the gross-up amount in the above tables is based upon a Section 4999 excise tax rate of 20%, a 35% federal income tax rate, a 1.45% Medicare tax rate and a 5% state income tax rate. For purposes of the calculation, it is assumed that no amounts will be discounted as attributable to reasonable compensation and no value will be attributed to executive executing a noncompetition agreement. The payment of the tax gross-up will be payable to the executive for any excise tax incurred regardless of whether the executive’s employment is terminated. However, the amount of the tax gross-up will change based upon whether the executive’s employment with the Company is terminated because the amount of compensation subject to Section 4999 will change.

 

Compensation of Directors

 

Under the Company’s director compensation program, each non-employee director is paid an annual cash retainer of $30,000 payable ratably on a monthly basis. The chairperson of the Audit Committee and Compensation Committee receive an additional annual cash retainer in the amount of $10,000 and $7,500, respectively. All other committee chairpersons and the Lead Director receive an additional annual $5,000 cash retainer.

 

The director compensation program provides that each non-employee director is paid $1,500 for each Board meeting attended. Non-employee directors serving as members of Board committees are paid $1,000 for each meeting attended. In each case, the non-employee director is also reimbursed for his or her expenses in connection with attendance at each meeting.

 

Pursuant to the 2005 Directors Equity Incentive Plan, as amended, non-employee directors receive an annual award in connection with their election to the Board at the annual meeting of stockholders. The annual award consists of shares of the Company’s common stock with a value of $25,000 as of the date of grant. A director who is appointed to the Board outside of the annual meeting of stockholders will receive a prorated amount of the $25,000 annual award payable in cash.

The 2005 Directors Equity Incentive Plan, as amended, also provides that each new non-employee director appointed or elected will receive an automatic award of restricted shares of Common Stock on the effective date of election or appointment equal to $25,000 divided by the fair market value of the Company’s Common Stock on such date. These restricted shares will vest over a four-year period upon the performance of future service as a director, subject to certain exceptions.

 

Messrs. Speed and Hoster, as officers of the Company, do not receive any compensation for serving the Company as members of the Board of Directors or any of its committees. The Company’s non-employee directors received the following aggregate amounts of compensation for the year ended December 31, 2007:

 

 

 

 

Compensation Committee Interlocks

 

As noted above, the Compensation Committee is comprised of three independent Directors: Messrs. Bailey, Eaves and Gould. No member of the Compensation Committee is or was formerly an officer or an employee of the Company. No executive officer of the Company serves as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors, nor has such interlocking relationship existed in the past.

Certain Transactions and Relationships

 

In March 2007, the Board of Directors adopted the written “Statement of Policy with respect to Related Party Transactions” that states that the Company’s Audit Committee is responsible for the review, approval and ratification of transactions between the Company or any of its subsidiaries and a senior officer or director of the Company, members of their immediate family, a shareholder owning in excess of five percent of the Company or an entity which is owned or controlled by one of the foregoing.

 

The policy requires that any related party transaction, other than transactions available to all employees generally or transactions involving less than $5,000 when aggregated with all similar transactions, shall be consummated or shall continue only if (i) the Audit Committee pre-approves or ratifies such transaction, (ii) the transaction is approved by the disinterested members of the Board of Directors, or (iii) the transaction involves compensation approved by the Compensation Committee.

 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners

 

To the best of the Company’s knowledge, no person or group (as those terms are used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) beneficially owned, as of April 14, 2008, more than five percent of the shares of Common Stock outstanding, except as set forth in the following table.

 

 

 

 

 

Security Ownership of Management and Directors

 

The following table sets forth certain information available to the Company with respect to shares of Common Stock owned by each director, each nominee for director, each executive officer and all directors, nominees and executive officers as a group, as of April 14, 2008:

 

 

 

 

 

Ownership Guidelines for Directors and Officers

 

In order to enhance the alignment of the interests of the directors and management with stockholders, the Company has instituted ownership guidelines for directors and officers. Each director who has served for at least three years should own 1,000 shares of Common Stock. Within five years of their election as an officer or by May 27, 2009 (whichever is later), officers of the Company are required to own shares of Common Stock having a market value equal to or greater than the following multiples of their base salary: (1) President and Chief Executive Officer: five times annual base salary; (2) Executive Vice President: three times annual base salary; (3) Senior Vice Presidents: two times annual base salary; and (4) Vice Presidents: one time annual base salary.

 

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

 

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires that directors, officers and more than 10 percent stockholders of the Company file reports with the SEC to report a change in ownership within two business days following the day on which the transaction occurs. During 2007, no officer or director of the Company was late in filing a report under Section 16(a) except that (i) a Form 4 for Mr. Hoster reporting the exercise of 5,500 stock options and the subsequent sale of 5,500 shares of Common Stock on February 21, 2007 was inadvertently filed one-day late due to a problem with his SEC filing codes and (ii) a Form 5 for Mr. Wood reporting the gift of 500 shares of Common Stock on December 24, 2007 was not timely filed and the gift was subsequently reported on a Form 4.

 

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has appointed KPMG LLP to act as auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008. KPMG LLP served as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007. A representative of KPMG LLP is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting and will have an opportunity to make a statement, if he or she so desires, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

At the Annual Meeting, the shareholders will be asked to ratify the selection of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. Pursuant to the Rules and Regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Audit Committee has the direct responsibility to appoint, retain, fix the compensation and oversee the work of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. Although ratification is not required by the Company’s Bylaws or otherwise, the Board is submitting the selection of KPMG LLP to the shareholders for ratification because we value the shareholders’ views on the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and as a matter of good corporate practice. In the event that the shareholders fail to ratify the selection, it will be considered as a direction to the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee to consider the selection of a different firm. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee in its discretion may select a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and our shareholders.

 

The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the proposal, assuming a quorum is present at the Meeting, is required to ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP. The directors of the Company unanimously recommend a vote “FOR” the ratification of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2008. Unless otherwise instructed, proxies will be voted “FOR” ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP.

 

In connection with the audit of the 2007 financial statements, the Company entered into an engagement agreement with KPMG LLP which set forth the terms by which KPMG LLP will perform audit services for the Company. That agreement is subject to alternative dispute resolution procedures and an exclusion of punitive damages.

 

The following table shows the fees paid or accrued by the Company for the audit and other services provided by KPMG LLP for fiscal years 2007 and 2006.

 

 

 

The Audit Committee of the Board has adopted policies and procedures providing for the pre-approval of audit and non-audit services performed by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. Pre-approval may be given as part of the Audit Committee’s approval on the engagement of the independent auditor or on an individual case-by-case basis before the independent auditor is engaged to provide each service. The pre-approval of services may be delegated to the Audit Committee chairman, but the decision is subsequently reported to the full Audit Committee.

 

The Audit Committee has considered whether provision of the non-audit related services described above is compatible with maintaining the independent accountants’ independence and has determined that those services have not adversely affected KPMG LLP’s independence.

 

The management of the Company does not know of any other matters to come before the Annual Meeting. However, if any other matters come before the Annual Meeting, it is the intention of the persons designated as proxies to vote in accordance with their judgment on such matters.

 

Proposals for the Company’s Proxy Material

 

Any Company stockholder who wishes to submit a proposal for presentation at the Company’s 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must submit such proposal to the Company at its office at 300 One Jackson Place, 188 East Capitol Street, Jackson, Mississippi 39201, Attention: Secretary, no later than December 31, 2008, in order to be considered for inclusion, if appropriate, in the Company’s proxy statement and form of proxy relating to its 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

 

Proposals to be Introduced at the Annual Meeting but not Intended to be Included in the Company’s Proxy Material

 

For any stockholder proposal to be presented in connection with the 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, including any proposal relating to the nomination of a director to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Company, a stockholder must give timely written notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Company in compliance with the advance notice and eligibility requirements contained in the Company’s Bylaws. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company not less than 60 days and not more than 90 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than 30 days or delayed by more than 60 days from such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the 90th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 60th day prior to such annual meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. The notice must contain specified information about each nominee or the proposed business and the stockholder making the nomination or proposal.

 

In the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased and there is no public announcement naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors made by the Company at least 70 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice will be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if the notice is delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Company.

 

Based upon an anticipated meeting date of May 29, 2009 for the 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, a qualified stockholder intending to introduce a proposal or nominate a director at the 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders should give written notice to the Company’s Secretary not later than March 30, 2009 and not earlier than February 28, 2009.

 

The advance notice provisions in the Company’s Bylaws also provide that, in the case of a special meeting of stockholders called for the purpose of electing one or more directors, a stockholder may nominate a person or

persons (as the case may be) for election to such position if the stockholder’s notice is delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company not earlier than the 90th day prior to the special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 60th day prior to the special meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting.

 

The specific requirements of these advance notice and eligibility provisions are set forth in Article II, Section 12 of the Company’s Bylaws, a copy of which is available upon request.

 

Such requests and any stockholder proposals should be sent to the Secretary of the Company at 300 One Jackson Place, 188 East Capitol Street, Jackson, Mississippi 39201.

 

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

N. Keith McKey

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer,

Treasurer and Secretary

EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC.
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
Thursday, May 29, 2008
9:00 a.m., Central Time

CORPORATE OFFICES
300 One Jackson Place
188 East Capitol Street
Jackson, Mississippi 39201

proxy

300 One Jackson Place 188 East Capitol Street Jackson, Mississippi 39201

This proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors for use at the Annual Meeting on May 29, 2008.

The undersigned hereby appoints DAVID H. HOSTER II and N. KEITH McKEY, or either of them, Proxies for the undersigned, each with full power of substitution, and hereby authorizes them to represent and to vote all shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of EastGroup Properties, Inc. (the “Company”), which the undersigned would be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Meeting”) to be held at the Company’s offices, 300 One Jackson Place, 188 East Capitol Street, Jackson, Mississippi, on Thursday, May 29, 2008, at 9:00 a.m., Central time, or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and directs that the shares represented by this Proxy shall be voted as indicated on the reverse.

This Proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned stockholder. The Board of Directors favors a vote FOR Proposals 1 and 2. If no direction is made, this Proxy will be voted FOR Proposals 1 and 2 and will be voted in the discretion of the proxies named herein with respect to any additional matter as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof. You are encouraged to specify your choices by marking the appropriate boxes, but you need not mark any boxes if you wish to vote in accordance with the Board of Directors’ recommendations. The Proxies cannot vote your shares unless you sign and return this card.

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD IN THE ACCOMPANYING POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE OR VOTE BY TELEPHONE OR INTERNET.

See reverse for voting instructions.

There are three ways to vote your Proxy

Your telephone or Internet vote authorizes the Named Proxies to vote your shares in the same manner as if you marked, signed and returned your proxy card.

VOTE BY PHONE — TOLL FREE — 1-800-560-1965 — QUICK««« EASY««« IMMEDIATE

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Use any touch-tone telephone to vote your proxy 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, until 12:00 noon (CT) on May 28, 2008.

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Please have your proxy card and the last four digits of your Social Security Number or Tax Identification Number available. Follow the simple instructions the voice provides you.

VOTE BY INTERNET — www.eproxy.com/egp — QUICK ««« EASY ««« IMMEDIATE

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Use the Internet to vote your proxy 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, until 12:00 noon (CT) on May 28, 2008.

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Please have your proxy card and the last four digits of your Social Security Number or Tax Identification Number available. Follow the simple instructions to obtain your records and create an electronic ballot.

VOTE BY MAIL

Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we’ve provided or return it to EastGroup Properties, Inc., c/o Shareowner Services^SM, P.O. Box 64873, St. Paul, MN 55164-0873.

If you vote by Phone or Internet, please do not mail your Proxy Card.

ò Please detach here ò

The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR all the nominees listed and FOR Proposal 2.

1.

Election of directors:

01 D. Pike Aloian

05 David H. Hoster II

o

Vote FOR

o

Vote WITHHELD

all nominees

from all nominees

02 H. C. Bailey, Jr.

06 Mary E. McCormick

(except as marked)

03 Hayden C. Eaves, III

07 David M. Osnos

04 Fredric H. Gould

08 Leland R. Speed

(Instructions: To withhold authority to vote for any indicated nominee, write the number(s) of the nominee(s) in the box provided to the right.)

For

Against

Abstain

2.

To consider and ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the 2008 fiscal year.

o

o

o

THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED OR, IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, WILL BE VOTED FOR EACH PROPOSAL.

Address Change? Mark Box        o        Indicate changes below:

Date

Signature(s) in Box Please sign exactly as your name(s) appears on Proxy. If held in joint tenancy, all persons should sign. Trustees, administrators, etc., should include title and authority. Corporations should provide full name of corporation and title of authorized officer signing the Proxy.