UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant x
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ¨
Check the appropriate box:
¨ | Preliminary Proxy Statement |
¨ | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
x | Definitive Proxy Statement |
¨ | Definitive Additional Materials |
¨ | Soliciting Material Pursuant to § 240.14a-12 |
KBS REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST III, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
x | No fee required. |
¨ | Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
(1) | Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
(2) | Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: |
(3) | Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): |
(4) | Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
(5) | Total fee paid: |
¨ | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
¨ Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) | Amount Previously Paid: |
(2) | Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
(3) | Filing Party: |
(4) | Date Filed: |
800 Newport Center Drive, Suite 700
Newport Beach, California 92660
Proxy Statement and Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders
To Be Held July 7, 2015
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dear Stockholder:
On Tuesday, July 7, 2015, we will hold our 2015 annual meeting of stockholders at The Island Hotel, 690 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, California 92660. The meeting will begin at 11:00 a.m. Pacific daylight time. Directions to the meeting can be obtained by calling 1-866-554-4620.
We are holding this meeting for the following purposes:
1. | To elect five directors to hold office for one-year terms expiring in 2016. |
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR each nominee.
2. | To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2015. |
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2015.
3. | To attend to such other business as may properly come before the meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof. |
The board of directors has selected April 8, 2015 as the record date for determining stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting.
With respect to some stockholders, we are taking advantage of Securities and Exchange Commission rules allowing companies to furnish proxy materials to their stockholders over the Internet. A notice of availability of proxy materials is being mailed to such stockholders on or about April 23, 2015.
With respect to all other stockholders, we are providing a hard copy of our proxy materials under cover of this letter. The proxy statement, proxy card and our 2014 annual report to stockholders are being mailed to such stockholders on or about April 23, 2015.
Whether you plan to attend the annual meeting and vote in person or not, we urge you to have your vote recorded as early as possible. Stockholders have the following three options for submitting their votes by proxy: (1) via the Internet; (2) by telephone; or (3) by mail, using the enclosed proxy card.
YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT! Your immediate response will help avoid potential delays and may save us significant additional expenses associated with soliciting stockholder votes.
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON JULY 7, 2015:
Our proxy statement, form of proxy card and 2014 annual report to stockholders are also available at http://www.proxyvote.com, and can be accessed by using the 12-digit control number and following the instructions located on the enclosed proxy card.
By Order of the Board of Directors |
|
Charles J. Schreiber, Jr. |
Chairman |
Newport Beach, California
April 23, 2015
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING
Q: | Why did you send me this proxy statement? |
A: | We sent you this proxy statement and the enclosed proxy card because the board of directors is soliciting your proxy to vote your shares at the 2015 annual meeting of stockholders. This proxy statement includes information that we are required to provide to you under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and is designed to assist you in voting. |
Q: | What is a proxy? |
A: | A proxy is a person who votes the shares of stock of another person who could not attend a meeting. The term “proxy” also refers to the proxy card or other method of appointing a proxy. When you submit your proxy, you are appointing Charles J. Schreiber, Jr., Peter McMillan III, David E. Snyder and Stacie K. Yamane, each of whom is one of our officers, as your proxies, and you are giving them permission to vote your shares of common stock at the annual meeting. The appointed proxies will vote your shares of common stock as you instruct, unless you submit your proxy without instructions. If you submit your proxy without instructions, they will vote (i) FOR all of the director nominees and (ii) FOR the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2015. With respect to any other proposals to be voted upon, they will vote in accordance with the recommendation of the board of directors or, in the absence of such a recommendation, in their discretion. It is important for you to return the proxy card to us (or submit your proxy via the Internet or by telephone) as soon as possible, whether or not you plan on attending the annual meeting. |
Q: | When is the annual meeting and where will it be held? |
A: | The annual meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 7, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. Pacific daylight time at The Island Hotel, 690 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, California 92660. |
Q: | Who is entitled to vote at the annual meeting? |
A: | Anyone who is a stockholder of record at the close of business on April 8, 2015, the record date, or holds a valid proxy for the annual meeting, is entitled to vote at the annual meeting. In order to be admitted to the annual meeting, you must present proof of ownership of our stock on the record date. Such proof can consist of: a brokerage statement or letter from a broker indicating ownership on April 8, 2015; a proxy card; a voting instruction form; or a legal proxy provided by your broker or nominee. Any holder of a proxy from a stockholder must present the proxy card, properly executed, and a copy of the proof of ownership. |
Note that our advisor, KBS Capital Advisors LLC, which owned 20,000 shares of our common stock as of the record date, has agreed to abstain from voting any shares it owns in any vote regarding: (i) the removal of our advisor, a director or any of their affiliates or (ii) any transaction between us and our advisor, a director or any of their affiliates.
Q: | Will my vote make a difference? |
A: | Yes. Your vote could affect the proposals described in this proxy statement. Moreover, your vote is needed to ensure that the proposals described herein can be acted upon. Because we are a widely held company, YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT! Your immediate response will help avoid potential delays and may save us significant additional expenses associated with soliciting stockholder votes. |
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Q: | How many shares of common stock are outstanding? |
A: | As of April 8, 2015, there were 153,007,952 shares of our common stock outstanding and entitled to be cast at the annual meeting on any matter. However, as stated above, KBS Capital Advisors has agreed to abstain from voting any shares it owns in any vote regarding: (i) the removal of our advisor, a director or any of their affiliates or (ii) any transaction between us and our advisor, a director or any of their affiliates. |
Q: | What constitutes a quorum? |
A: | A quorum consists of the presence in person or by proxy of stockholders entitled to cast 50% of all the votes entitled to be cast at the annual meeting on any matter. There must be a quorum present in order for the annual meeting to be a duly held meeting at which business can be conducted. If you submit your proxy, even if you abstain from voting, then you will still be considered part of the quorum. |
Q: | How many votes do I have? |
A: | You are entitled to one vote for each share of common stock you held as of the record date. |
Q: | What may I vote on? |
A: | You may vote on: |
(1) | the election of the nominees to serve on the board of directors; |
(2) | the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2015; and |
(3) | such other business as may properly come before the annual meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof. |
Q: | How does the board of directors recommend I vote on the proposals? |
A: | The board of directors recommends that you vote: |
(1) | FOR each of the nominees for election as director who are named in this proxy statement; and |
(2) | FOR the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2015. |
Q: | How can I vote? |
A: | Stockholders can vote in person at the annual meeting, as described above under “Who is entitled to vote at the annual meeting?”, or by proxy. Stockholders have the following three options for submitting their votes by proxy: |
— | by mail, by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card; |
— | via the Internet, by accessing the website and following the instructions indicated on the enclosed proxy card; or |
— | by telephone, by calling the telephone number and following the instructions indicated on the enclosed proxy card. |
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For those stockholders with Internet access, we encourage you to vote by proxy via the Internet, since it is quick, convenient and provides a cost savings to us. When you vote by proxy via the Internet or by telephone prior to the annual meeting date, your vote is recorded immediately and there is no risk that postal delays will cause your vote to arrive late and, therefore, not be counted. For further instructions on voting, see the enclosed proxy card. Voting via the Internet is permitted under Section 2-507(c)(3) of the Maryland General Corporation Law.
If you elect to attend the annual meeting, you can submit your vote in person as described above under “Who is entitled to vote at the annual meeting?”, and any previous votes that you submitted, whether by Internet, telephone or mail, will be superseded.
Q: | What if I submit my proxy and then change my mind? |
A: | You have the right to revoke your proxy at any time before the annual meeting by: |
(1) | notifying Peter McMillan III, our Secretary; |
(2) | attending the annual meeting and voting in person as described above under “Who is entitled to vote at the annual meeting?”; |
(3) | returning another proxy card dated after your first proxy card, if we receive it before the annual meeting date; or |
(4) | recasting your proxy vote via the Internet or by telephone. |
Only the most recent proxy vote will be counted and all others will be discarded regardless of the method of voting.
Q: | What are the voting requirements to elect the board of directors? |
A: | With regard to the election of directors, you may vote “FOR ALL” of the nominees, you may withhold your vote for all of the nominees by voting “WITHHOLD ALL,” or you may vote for all of the nominees except for certain nominees by voting “FOR ALL EXCEPT” and listing the corresponding number of the nominee(s) for whom you want your vote withheld in the space provided on the proxy card. Under our charter, a majority of the shares entitled to vote and present in person or by proxy at an annual meeting at which a quorum is present is required for the election of the directors. This means that, of the shares entitled to vote and present in person or by proxy at an annual meeting, a director nominee needs to receive affirmative votes from a majority of such shares in order to be elected to the board of directors. Because of this majority vote requirement, “withhold” votes will have the effect of a vote against each nominee for director. Broker non-votes (discussed below), since they are not entitled to vote, will have no effect on the determination of this proposal. If an incumbent director nominee fails to receive the required number of votes for re-election, then under Maryland law, he or she will continue to serve as a “holdover” director until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified. If you submit a proxy card with no further instructions, your shares will be voted in accordance with the recommendation of the board of directors. |
Q: | What are the voting requirements for the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2015? |
A: | With regard to the proposal relating to the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2015, you may vote “FOR” or “AGAINST” the proposal, or you may “ABSTAIN” from voting on the proposal. Under our bylaws, a majority of the votes cast at an annual meeting at which a quorum is present is required for the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2015. Abstentions will not count as votes actually cast with respect to determining if a majority vote is obtained under our bylaws and will have no effect on the determination of this proposal. If you submit a proxy card with no further instructions, your shares will be voted in accordance with the recommendation of the board of directors. |
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Q: | What is a “broker non-vote”? |
A: | A “broker non-vote” occurs when a broker holding stock on behalf of a beneficial owner submits a proxy but does not vote on a particular proposal because the broker does not have discretionary voting power with respect to that particular proposal and has not received instructions from the beneficial owner. There is one proposal for our stockholders’ consideration at the annual meeting on which brokers do not have discretionary voting power, the election of directors. Thus, beneficial owners of shares held in broker accounts are advised that, if they do not timely provide instructions to their broker, their shares will not be voted in connection with the election of directors at the annual meeting. |
Q: | How will voting on any other business be conducted? |
A: | Although we do not know of any business to be considered at the annual meeting other than the election of directors and the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2015, if any other business is properly presented at the annual meeting, your submitted proxy gives authority to Charles J. Schreiber, Jr., Peter McMillan III, David E. Snyder and Stacie K. Yamane, and each of them, to vote on such matters in accordance with the recommendation of the board of directors or, in the absence of such a recommendation, in their discretion. |
Q: | When are the director nominations and stockholder proposals for the next annual meeting of stockholders due? |
A: | Stockholders interested in nominating a person as a director or presenting any other business for consideration at the 2016 annual meeting of stockholders may do so by following the procedures prescribed in Section 2.12 of our bylaws and in the SEC’s Rule 14a-8. To be eligible for presentation to and action by our stockholders at the 2016 annual meeting, director nominations and other stockholder proposals must be received by Peter McMillan III, our Secretary, no later than January 24, 2016. To also be eligible for inclusion in our proxy statement for the 2016 annual meeting, director nominations and other stockholder proposals must be received by Mr. McMillan by December 25, 2015. |
Q: | How are proxies being solicited? |
A: | In addition to mailing proxy solicitation material, our directors and employees of our advisor or its affiliates may also solicit proxies in person, via the Internet, by telephone or by any other electronic means of communication we deem appropriate. Additionally, we have retained Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”), a proxy solicitation firm, to assist us in the proxy solicitation process. If you need any assistance, or have any questions regarding the proposals or how to cast your vote, you may contact Broadridge at 1-855-723-7816. |
We will pay all of the costs of soliciting these proxies, including the cost of Broadridge’s services. We anticipate that the cost for Broadridge’s solicitation services will not exceed $5,500. We will also reimburse brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for forwarding proxy and solicitation materials to our stockholders.
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Q: | Where can I find more information? |
A: | We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any reports, statements or other information we file with the SEC on the web site maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Our SEC filings are also available to the public at the SEC’s Public Reference Room located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549. You may also obtain copies of the documents at prescribed rates by writing to the Public Reference Section of the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information regarding the public reference facilities. |
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CERTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT MANAGEMENT
The Board of Directors
We operate under the direction of the board of directors. The board of directors oversees our operations and makes all major decisions concerning our business. During 2014, the board of directors held ten meetings, participated in two joint meetings with the conflicts committee and acted by unanimous consent on one occasion. For biographical information regarding our directors, see “ – Executive Officers and Directors” below.
There are two committees of the board of directors: the audit committee and the conflicts committee. Information regarding each of these committees is set forth below.
Board Leadership Structure
The board of directors is composed of two of our sponsors, Charles J. Schreiber, Jr. and Peter McMillan III, and three independent directors. The board composition and the corporate governance provisions in our charter ensure strong oversight by independent directors. The board of directors’ two committees, the audit committee and the conflicts committee, are composed entirely of independent directors. Our company is led by Mr. Schreiber, who has served as Chairman of the Board and our Chief Executive Officer since our inception in 2009. Although the board of directors has not established a policy on whether the role of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer should be combined, in practice the board of directors has found that having a combined Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer role allows for more productive board meetings. As Chairman of the Board, Mr. Schreiber is responsible for leading board meetings and meetings of stockholders, generally setting the agendas for board meetings (subject to the requests of other directors) and providing information to the other directors in advance of meetings and between meetings. Mr. Schreiber’s direct involvement in the company’s operations makes him best positioned to lead strategic planning sessions and determine the time allocated to each agenda item in discussions of our short- and long-term objectives. As a result, the board of directors currently believes that maintaining a structure that combines the roles of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer is the appropriate leadership structure for our company. We do not currently have a policy requiring the appointment of a lead independent director as all of our independent directors are actively involved in board meetings.
The Role of the Board of Directors in our Risk Oversight Process
Our executive officers and our advisor are responsible for the day-to-day management of risks faced by the company, while the board of directors, as a whole and through its committees, has responsibility for the oversight of risk management. No less than quarterly, the entire board of directors reviews information regarding the company’s liquidity, credit, operations, regulatory compliance and compliance with covenants in our material agreements, as well as the risks associated with each. In addition, each year the board of directors reviews significant variances between our current portfolio business plan and our original underwriting analysis and each quarter the directors review significant variances between our current results and our projections from the prior quarter, review all significant changes to our projections for future periods and discuss risks related to our portfolio. The audit committee oversees risk management in the areas of financial reporting, internal controls and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. The conflicts committee manages risks associated with the independence of the independent directors and potential conflicts of interest involving our advisor and its affiliates. Although each committee is responsible for evaluating certain risks and overseeing the management of such risks, the entire board of directors is regularly informed through committee reports about such risks as well as through regular reports directly from the executive officers responsible for oversight of particular risks within the company.
Director Independence
Although our shares are not listed for trading on any national securities exchange, a majority of the directors, and all of the members of the audit committee and the conflicts committee, are “independent” as defined by the New York Stock Exchange. The board of directors has affirmatively determined that Hank Adler, Barbara R. Cambon and Stuart A. Gabriel, Ph.D. each satisfies the New York Stock Exchange independence standards. In determining that Professor Gabriel is independent under the New York Stock Exchange independence standards, the board of directors considered that Peter M. Bren, one of our executive officers and sponsors, is a founding member
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of the Richard S. Ziman Center for Real Estate at the UCLA Anderson School of Management, that Professor Gabriel is a Director of the Richard S. Ziman Center for Real Estate and Professor of Finance and Arden Realty Chair at the UCLA Anderson School of Management and that in March 2012, Mr. Bren pledged a gift of $1.25 million to the Richard S. Ziman Center for Real Estate at the UCLA Anderson School of Management. The contribution by Mr. Bren would be made over five years in the amount of $250,000 per year. Because this contribution is to a tax exempt entity and the contribution will not exceed $250,000 in any year, the board of directors determined that this contribution was not material and Professor Gabriel met the New York Stock Exchange independence standards.
The Audit Committee
General
The audit committee’s function is to assist the board of directors in fulfilling its responsibilities by overseeing (i) our accounting and financial reporting processes, (ii) the integrity of our financial statements, (iii) our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, (iv) our independent auditors’ qualifications, performance and independence, and (v) the performance of our internal audit function. The audit committee fulfills these responsibilities primarily by carrying out the activities enumerated in the audit committee charter. The audit committee approved the audit committee charter in September 2010. The audit committee charter is available on our web site at www.kbsreitiii.com.
The members of the audit committee are Hank Adler (chair), Barbara R. Cambon and Stuart A. Gabriel, Ph.D. All of the members of the audit committee are “independent” as defined by the New York Stock Exchange. All members of the audit committee have significant financial and/or accounting experience, and the board of directors has determined that Professor Adler satisfies the SEC’s requirements for an “audit committee financial expert.” During 2014, the audit committee held five meetings.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
During the year ended December 31, 2014, Ernst & Young LLP served as our independent registered public accounting firm and provided certain tax and other services. Ernst & Young has served as our independent registered public accounting firm since our formation. We expect that Ernst & Young representatives will be present at the annual meeting and they will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so. In addition, we expect that the Ernst & Young representatives will be available to respond to appropriate questions posed by stockholders. The audit committee has engaged Ernst & Young as our independent auditors to audit our financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2015. The audit committee may, however, select new auditors at any time in the future in its discretion if it deems such decision to be in our best interests. Any such decision would be disclosed to our stockholders in accordance with applicable securities laws.
Pre-Approval Policies
In order to ensure that the provision of such services does not impair the auditors’ independence, the audit committee charter imposes a duty on the audit committee to pre-approve all auditing services performed for us by our independent auditors, as well as all permitted non-audit services. In determining whether or not to pre-approve services, the audit committee considers whether the service is a permissible service under the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC. The audit committee may, in its discretion, delegate to one or more of its members the authority to pre-approve any audit or non-audit services to be performed by our independent auditors, provided any such approval is presented to and approved by the full audit committee at its next scheduled meeting.
For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, all services rendered by Ernst & Young were pre-approved in accordance with the policies and procedures described above.
Principal Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees
The audit committee reviewed the audit and non-audit services performed by Ernst & Young, as well as the fees charged by Ernst & Young for such services. In its review of the non-audit service fees, the audit committee
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considered whether the provision of such services is compatible with maintaining the independence of Ernst & Young. The aggregate fees billed to us for professional accounting services, including the audit of our annual financial statements by Ernst & Young for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, are set forth in the table below.
2014
|
2013
| |||
Audit fees |
$643,965 | $583,000 | ||
Audit-related fees |
25,000 | 80,000 | ||
Tax fees |
168,868 | 108,675 | ||
All other fees |
399 | 399 | ||
| ||||
Total |
$838,232 | $772,074 | ||
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For purposes of the preceding table, Ernst & Young’s professional fees are classified as follows:
— | Audit fees – These are fees for professional services performed for the audit of our annual financial statements and the required review of quarterly financial statements and other procedures performed by Ernst & Young in order for them to be able to form an opinion on our consolidated financial statements. These fees also cover services that are normally provided by independent auditors in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements. |
— | Audit-related fees – These are fees for assurance and related services that traditionally are performed by independent auditors that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements, such as due diligence related to acquisitions and dispositions, attestation services that are not required by statute or regulation, internal control reviews and consultation concerning financial accounting and reporting standards. |
— | Tax fees – These are fees for all professional services performed by professional staff in our independent auditor’s tax division, except those services related to the audit of our financial statements. These include fees for tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice, including federal, state and local issues. Services may also include assistance with tax audits and appeals before the IRS and similar state and local agencies, as well as federal, state and local tax issues related to due diligence. |
— | All other fees – These are fees for any services not included in the above-described categories. |
Report of the Audit Committee
The function of the audit committee is oversight of the financial reporting process on behalf of the board of directors. Management has responsibility for the financial reporting process, including the system of internal control over financial reporting, and for the preparation, presentation and integrity of our financial statements. In addition, the independent auditors devote more time and have access to more information than does the audit committee. Membership on the audit committee does not call for the professional training and technical skills generally associated with career professionals in the field of accounting and auditing. Accordingly, in fulfilling their responsibilities, it is recognized that members of the audit committee are not, and do not represent themselves to be, performing the functions of auditors or accountants.
In this context, the audit committee reviewed and discussed the 2014 audited financial statements with management, including a discussion of the quality and acceptability of our financial reporting, the reasonableness of significant judgments and the clarity of disclosures in the financial statements. The audit committee discussed with Ernst & Young, which is responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of those audited financial statements with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, the matters required to be discussed by Auditing Standard No. 16, “Communications with Audit Committees,” as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. The audit committee received from Ernst & Young the written disclosures and the letter required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding Ernst & Young’s communications with the audit committee concerning independence, and discussed with Ernst & Young their independence from us. In addition, the audit committee considered whether Ernst & Young’s provision of non-audit services is compatible with Ernst & Young’s independence.
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Based on these reviews and discussions, the audit committee recommended to the board of directors that the audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 for filing with the SEC.
April 7, 2015 |
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors: | |
Hank Adler (chair), Barbara R. Cambon, and Stuart A. Gabriel, Ph.D. |
The Conflicts Committee
General
The members of the conflicts committee are Barbara R. Cambon (chair), Hank Adler and Stuart A. Gabriel, Ph.D., all of whom are independent directors. Our charter empowers the conflicts committee to act on any matter permitted under Maryland law if the matter at issue is such that the exercise of independent judgment by directors who are affiliates of our advisor could reasonably be compromised. Among the duties of the conflicts committee are the following:
— | reviewing and reporting on our policies (see “ – Report of the Conflicts Committee – Review of Our Policies” below); |
— | approving transactions with affiliates and reporting on their fairness to us (see “ – Report of the Conflicts Committee – Certain Transactions with Related Persons” below); |
— | supervising and evaluating the performance and compensation of our advisor; |
— | reviewing our expenses and determining that they are reasonable and within the limits prescribed by our charter; |
— | approving borrowings in excess of the total liabilities limit set forth in our charter; and |
— | discharging the board of directors’ responsibilities relating to compensation. |
The primary responsibilities of the conflicts committee are enumerated in our charter. The conflicts committee does not have a separate committee charter. During 2014, the conflicts committee held 13 meetings, participated in two joint meetings with the entire board of directors and acted by unanimous consent on four occasions.
Oversight of Executive Compensation
As noted above, the conflicts committee discharges the board of directors’ responsibilities relating to the compensation of our executives. However, we currently do not have any paid employees and our executive officers do not receive any compensation directly from us. Our executive officers are officers and/or employees of, or hold an indirect ownership interest in, our advisor, and/or its affiliates and our executive officers are compensated by these entities, in part, for their services to us or our subsidiaries. See “– Report of the Conflicts Committee – Certain Transactions with Related Persons” for a discussion of the fees paid to our advisor and its affiliates.
Report of the Conflicts Committee
Review of Our Policies
The conflicts committee has reviewed our policies and determined that they are in the best interest of our stockholders. Set forth below is a discussion of the basis for that determination.
Offering Policy. We are conducting a public offering of up to 200,000,000 shares, or up to $2,000,000,000 of shares, of common stock at a current offering price for shares of common stock to be sold in our primary offering of $10.51 per share (with discounts available to certain categories of purchasers). We are also offering up to 80,000,000 shares, or up to $760,000,000 of shares, of common stock to be sold under our dividend reinvestment plan at an offering price of $9.99 per share (which is 95% of the price to acquire a share in our primary offering). For the year ended December 31, 2014, the costs of raising capital in our primary initial public offering and our dividend reinvestment plan offering represented 9.8% of the capital raised.
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On February 14, 2013, we filed a registration statement on Form S-11 with the SEC to register a follow-on offering (the “Follow-on Offering”). We can give no assurance that we will commence or complete the Follow-on Offering.
On February 12, 2015, in consideration of our offering proceeds raised to date and the pace of sales in our primary public offering, the board of directors approved the termination of our primary public offering stage effective approximately 90 days (as determined by our Chief Executive Officer, such date the “Offering Termination Date”) after we have announced that we have raised $1.3 billion in the aggregate in our primary public offerings, whether in our ongoing initial public offering or a follow-on offering. On February 20, 2015 we announced that, as of February 20, 2015, we had accepted aggregate gross offering proceeds in excess of $1.3 billion in our primary public offering. Our Offering Termination Date will be Friday, May 29, 2015. Subscriptions must be dated on or before May 29, 2015, and subscriptions and all related documents and funds must be received by us in good order no later than July 28, 2015.
We plan to continue to offer shares under our dividend reinvestment plan beyond the termination of the offering stage for our primary offering. In some states, we will need to renew the registration statement annually or file a new registration statement to continue the dividend reinvestment plan offering. We may terminate our dividend reinvestment plan offering at any time.
We believe the termination of our primary public offering stage upon the terms discussed above is in the best interest of our stockholders because we believe we will raise sufficient funds to acquire a diverse portfolio of assets to meet our stated investment objectives.
Acquisition and Investment Policies. We expect to use substantially all of the net proceeds from our public offerings to acquire and manage a diverse portfolio of real estate investments. We plan to diversify our portfolio by geography, investment size and investment risk with the goal of attaining a portfolio of income-producing real estate investments that provides attractive and stable returns to our stockholders and that allows us to preserve and return our stockholders’ capital contributions.
We had initially expected to allocate approximately 70% of our portfolio to, and had expected that, once we had fully invested the proceeds from our public offerings, approximately 60% to 80% of our portfolio would consist of, investments in core real estate properties. We also had initially expected to allocate approximately 30% of our portfolio to, and had expected that, once we had fully invested the proceeds from our public offerings, approximately 20% to 40% of our portfolio would consist of, investments in other real estate-related investments such as mortgage, mezzanine, bridge and other loans, debt and derivative securities related to real estate assets, including mortgage-backed securities, and the equity securities of other REITs and real estate companies.
However, due to current market conditions for the types of real estate-related investments that we had intended to target, such as first mortgage loans, and opportunities for investments in core properties, we currently may not make any significant investments in real estate-related investments, and we now expect our primary investment focus to be core office properties, though we may also invest in industrial and retail properties. We currently expect to allocate between 0% and 20% of our portfolio to real estate-related investments once we have fully invested the proceeds from our public offerings. If we make investments in other public companies, we do not expect our non-controlling equity investments in other public companies to exceed 5% of the proceeds of our public offerings, assuming we sell the maximum offering amount, or to represent a substantial portion of our assets at any one time.
Further, our core property focus in the U.S. office sector has reflected a more value-creating core strategy, and based on the current market outlook, we expect to continue this strategy. In many cases, these properties have slightly higher (10% to 15%) vacancy rates and/or higher near-term lease rollover at acquisition than more conservative value-maintaining core properties. These characteristics provide us with opportunities to lease space at higher rates, especially in markets with increasing absorption, or to re-lease space in these properties at higher rates, bringing below-market rates of in-place expiring leases up to market rates. Many of these properties will require a moderate level of additional investment for capital expenditures and tenant improvement costs in order to improve or rebrand the properties and increase rental rates. Thus, we believe these properties provide an opportunity for us to achieve more significant capital appreciation by increasing occupancy, negotiating new leases with higher rental
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rates and/or executing enhancement projects. All such real estate assets may be acquired directly by us or our operating partnership, though we may invest in other entities that make similar investments.
As has always been the case, although this is our current target portfolio, we may make adjustments to our target portfolio based on real estate market conditions and investment opportunities. We will not forego a good investment because it does not precisely fit our expected portfolio composition. We believe that we are most likely to meet our investment objectives through the careful selection and underwriting of assets. When making an acquisition, we will emphasize the performance and risk characteristics of that investment, how that investment will fit with our portfolio-level performance objectives, the other assets in our portfolio and how the returns and risks of that investment compare to the returns and risks of available investment alternatives. Thus, to the extent that our advisor presents us with what we believe to be good investment opportunities that allow us to meet the REIT requirements under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), our portfolio composition may vary from what we initially expect. However, we will attempt to construct a portfolio that produces stable and attractive returns by spreading risk across different real estate investments.
As of April 8, 2015, we owned 20 office properties and had originated one first mortgage loan.
Borrowing Policies. We may use borrowed funds to: finance acquisitions of new real estate investments; pay for capital improvements, repairs or tenant build-outs to properties; refinance existing indebtedness; pay distributions; or provide working capital. Careful use of debt will help us to achieve our diversification goals because we will have more funds available for investment. Our investment strategy is to utilize primarily secured and possibly unsecured debt to finance our investment portfolio. We may elect to secure financing subsequent to the acquisition date of future real estate investments and initially acquire investments without debt financing. To the extent that we do not finance our properties and other investments, our ability to acquire additional real estate investments will be restricted.
Once we have fully invested the proceeds of our public offerings, we expect our debt financing and other liabilities to be between 35% and 65% of the cost of our tangible assets (before deducting depreciation or other non-cash reserves). We expect our debt financing related to the acquisition of core real estate properties to be between 45% and 65% of the aggregate cost of all such assets. We expect our debt financing related to the acquisition and origination of real estate-related investments to be between 0% and 65% of the aggregate cost of all such assets depending upon the availability of such financings in the marketplace. There is no limitation on the amount we may borrow for the purchase of any single asset. We limit our total liabilities to 75% of the cost (before deducting depreciation or other non-cash reserves) of our tangible assets, meaning that our borrowings and other liabilities may exceed our maximum target leverage of 65% of the cost of our tangible assets without violating the borrowing restrictions in our charter. We may exceed the 75% limit only if a majority of the conflicts committee approves each borrowing in excess of this limitation and we disclose such borrowings to our stockholders in our next quarterly report with an explanation from the conflicts committee of the justification for the excess borrowing. To the extent financing in excess of this limit is available at attractive terms, the conflicts committee may approve debt in excess of this limit. From time to time, our total liabilities could also be below 35% of the cost of our tangible assets due to the lack of availability of debt financing. As of January 31, 2015, our borrowings and other liabilities were approximately 55% of the cost (before deducting depreciation or other noncash reserves) and approximately 56% of the book value (before deducting depreciation) of our tangible assets, respectively.
Disposition Policies. We generally intend to hold our core real estate properties for three to seven years, which we believe is a reasonable period to enable us to capitalize on the potential for increased income and capital appreciation of properties. We do not expect to make or invest in loans with a maturity of more than ten years from the date of our investment and anticipate that most loans will have a term of five years. We may hold some of our investments in loans for four to seven years, though we expect to hold some for two to three years. Our advisor develops a well-defined exit strategy for each investment we make and periodically performs a hold-sell analysis on each asset. These periodic analyses focus on the remaining available value enhancement opportunities for the asset, the demand for the asset in the marketplace, market conditions and our overall portfolio objectives to determine if the sale of the asset, whether via an individual sale or as part of a portfolio sale or merger, would generate a favorable return to our stockholders. Economic and market conditions may influence us to hold our investments for different periods of time. We may sell an asset before the end of the expected holding period if we believe that
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market conditions and asset positioning have maximized its value to us or the sale of the asset would otherwise be in the best interests of our stockholders.
During the year ended December 31, 2014, we sold one real estate property.
Policy Regarding Working Capital Reserves. We establish an annual budget for capital requirements and working capital reserves that we update periodically during the year. We may set aside proceeds from our primary public offerings for working capital purposes. We would not expect to use more than 1.0% of the gross proceeds from our primary public offerings for working capital reserves. We may also use proceeds from our dividend reinvestment plan, debt proceeds and cash flow from operations to meet our needs for working capital for the upcoming year and to build a moderate level of cash reserves.
Policies Regarding Operating Expenses. Under our charter, we are required to limit our total operating expenses to the greater of 2% of our average invested assets or 25% of our net income for the four most recently completed fiscal quarters, as these terms are defined in our charter, unless the conflicts committee has determined that such excess expenses were justified based on unusual and non-recurring factors. Operating expenses for the four fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2014 did not exceed the charter-imposed limitation. For the four consecutive quarters ended December 31, 2014, total operating expenses represented approximately 1% of our average invested assets. We had a net loss for the four consecutive quarters ended December 31, 2014.
Our Policy Regarding Transactions with Related Persons
Our charter requires the conflicts committee to review and approve all transactions between us and our advisor, any of our officers or directors or any of their affiliates. Prior to entering into a transaction with a related party, a majority of the conflicts committee must conclude that the transaction is fair and reasonable to us and on terms and conditions not less favorable to us than those available from unaffiliated third parties. In addition, our Code of Conduct and Ethics lists examples of types of transactions with related parties that would create prohibited conflicts of interest and requires our officers and directors to be conscientious of actual and potential conflicts of interest with respect to our interests and to seek to avoid such conflicts or handle such conflicts in an ethical manner at all times consistent with applicable law. Our executive officers and directors are required to report potential and actual conflicts to the Compliance Officer, currently our Chief Financial Officer, via the Ethics Hotline, to an internal audit representative or directly to the audit committee chair, as appropriate.
Certain Transactions with Related Persons
The conflicts committee has reviewed the material transactions between our affiliates and us since the beginning of 2013 as well as any such currently proposed transactions. Set forth below is a description of such transactions and the conflicts committee’s report on their fairness.
As described further below, we have entered into agreements with certain affiliates pursuant to which they provide services to us. Peter M. Bren, Keith D. Hall, Peter McMillan III and Charles J. Schreiber, Jr. control and indirectly own our advisor, KBS Capital Advisors LLC, and the dealer manager of our public offering, KBS Capital Markets Group LLC. We refer to these individuals as our sponsors. They are also some of our executive officers. All four of our sponsors actively participate in the management and operations of our advisor. Our advisor has three managers: an entity owned and controlled by Mr. Bren; an entity owned and controlled by Messrs. Hall and McMillan; and an entity owned and controlled by Mr. Schreiber.
Our Relationship with KBS Capital Advisors. Our advisor provides day-to-day management of our business. Among the services provided by our advisor under the terms of the advisory agreement are the following:
— | finding, presenting and recommending to us real estate and real estate-related investment opportunities consistent with our investment policies and objectives; |
— | structuring the terms and conditions of our investments, sales and joint ventures; |
— | acquiring properties and other investments on our behalf in compliance with our investment objectives and policies; |
— | sourcing and structuring our loan originations and acquisitions; |
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— | arranging for financing and refinancing of our properties and our other investments; |
— | entering into leases and service contracts for our properties; |
— | supervising and evaluating each property manager’s performance; |
— | reviewing and analyzing the properties’ operating and capital budgets; |
— | assisting us in obtaining insurance; |
— | generating an annual budget for us; |
— | reviewing and analyzing financial information for each of our assets and our overall portfolio; |
— | formulating and overseeing the implementation of strategies for the administration, promotion, management, operation, maintenance, improvement, financing and refinancing, marketing, leasing and disposition of our properties and other investments; |
— | performing investor-relations services; |
— | maintaining our accounting and other records and assisting us in filing all reports required to be filed with the SEC, the IRS and other regulatory agencies; |
— | engaging in and supervising the performance of our agents, including our registrar and transfer agent; and |
— | performing any other services reasonably requested by us. |
Our advisor is subject to the supervision of the board of directors and only has such authority as we may delegate to it as our agent. The advisory agreement has a one-year term expiring September 27, 2015, subject to an unlimited number of successive one-year renewals upon the mutual consent of the parties. From January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013 and from January 1, 2014 through the most recent date practicable, which was January 31, 2015, we compensated our advisor as set forth below.
Our advisor or its affiliates have paid, and may pay in the future, some of our organization and other offering costs (other than selling commissions and dealer manager fees) incurred in connection with our ongoing initial public offering, including our legal, accounting, printing, mailing and filing fees. We reimburse our advisor for such costs up to an amount that, when combined with selling commissions, dealer manager fees and all other amounts spent by us on organization and offering expenses, does not exceed 15% of the aggregate gross proceeds of our primary initial public offering and the offering under our dividend reinvestment plan as of the date of reimbursement. However, at the termination of our primary initial public offering and at the termination of the offering under our dividend reinvestment plan, our advisor has agreed to reimburse us to the extent that selling commissions, dealer manager fees and other organization and offering expenses incurred by us exceed 15% of the gross offering proceeds. In addition, at the end of our primary initial public offering and again at the end of the offering under our dividend reinvestment plan, our advisor has agreed to reimburse us to the extent that organization and offering expenses, excluding underwriting compensation (which includes selling commissions, dealer manager fees and any other items viewed as underwriting compensation by FINRA) exceed 2% of the gross offering proceeds. From January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013, our advisor incurred approximately $2.7 million of organization and offering expenses on our behalf related to our ongoing initial public offering and from January 1, 2014 through January 31, 2015, our advisor incurred approximately $3.9 million of organization and offering expenses on our behalf related to our ongoing initial public offering, of which $0.2 million was outstanding as of January 31, 2015.
We incur acquisition and origination fees payable to our advisor equal to 1.0% of the cost of investments acquired by us, or the amount to be funded by us to acquire or originate loans, including acquisition and origination expenses and any debt attributable to such investments. Acquisition and origination fees relate to services provided in connection with the selection and acquisition or origination of real estate investments. Acquisition fees from January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013 totaled approximately $9.4 million and acquisition fees from January 1, 2014 through January 31, 2015 totaled approximately $10.4 million, all of which we had paid as of January 31, 2015. We did not originate or purchase any loans from January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013 and January 1, 2014 through January 31, 2015.
In addition to acquisition and origination fees, we reimburse our advisor for customary acquisition and origination expenses, whether or not we ultimately acquire the asset. From January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013 and from January 1, 2014 through January 31, 2015, our advisor and its affiliates did not incur any such costs on our behalf.
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For asset management services, we pay our advisor a monthly fee. With respect to investments in real property, the asset management fee is a monthly fee equal to one-twelfth of 0.75% of the amount paid or allocated to acquire the investment, plus the cost of any subsequent development, construction or improvements to the property. This amount includes any portion of the investment that was debt financed and is inclusive of acquisition expenses related thereto (but excludes acquisition fees paid or payable to our advisor). In the case of investments made through joint ventures, the asset management fee is determined based on our proportionate share of the underlying investment (but excluding acquisition fees paid or payable to our advisor). With respect to investments in loans and any investments other than real property, the asset management fee is a monthly fee calculated, each month, as one-twelfth of 0.75% of the lesser of (i) the amount actually paid or allocated to acquire or fund the loan or other investment (which amount includes any portion of the investment that was debt financed and is inclusive of acquisition or origination expenses related thereto, but is exclusive of acquisition or origination fees paid or payable to our advisor) and (ii) the outstanding principal amount of such loan or other investment, plus the acquisition or origination expenses related to the acquisition or funding of such investment (excluding the acquisition or origination fees paid or payable to our advisor), as of the time of calculation. However, with respect to asset management fees accruing from March 1, 2014, our advisor has agreed to defer, without interest, our obligation to pay asset management fees for any month in which our modified funds from operations (“MFFO”) for such month, as such term is defined in the practice guideline issued by the IPA in November 2010 as interpreted by us, excluding asset management fees, does not exceed the amount of distributions declared by us for record dates of that month. We remain obligated to pay our advisor an asset management fee in any month in which our MFFO, excluding asset management fees, for such month exceeds the amount of distributions declared for the record dates of that month (such excess amount, an “MFFO Surplus”); however, any amount of such asset management fee in excess of the MFFO Surplus will also be deferred under the advisory agreement. If the MFFO Surplus for any month exceeds the amount of the asset management fee payable for such month, any remaining MFFO Surplus will be applied to pay any asset management fee amounts previously deferred in accordance with the advisory agreement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any and all deferred asset management fees that are unpaid will become immediately due and payable at such time as our stockholders have received, together as a collective group, aggregate distributions (including distributions that may constitute a return of capital for federal income tax purposes) sufficient to provide (i) an 8.0% per year cumulative, noncompounded return on such net invested capital (the “Stockholders’ 8% Return”) and (ii) a return of their net invested capital, or the amount calculated by multiplying the total number of shares purchased by stockholders by the issue price, reduced by any amounts to repurchase shares pursuant to our share redemption program. The Stockholders’ 8% Return is not based on the return provided to any individual stockholder. Accordingly, it is not necessary for each of our stockholders to have received any minimum return in order for our advisor to receive deferred asset management fees.
From January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013, our asset management fees totaled $4.7 million, all of which have been paid. From January 1, 2014 through January 31, 2015, our asset management fees totaled $13.0 million, and as of January 31, 2015, we had accrued and deferred payment of $4.9 million of these asset management fees under the advisory agreement, as we believe the payment of this amount to our advisor is probable. These fees will be reimbursed in accordance with the terms noted above.
Under the advisory agreement our advisor and its affiliates have the right to seek reimbursement from us for all costs and expenses they incur in connection with their provision of services to us, including our allocable share of our advisor’s overhead, such as rent, employee costs, utilities and information technology costs. Our advisor may seek reimbursement for employee costs under the advisory agreement. At this time, our advisor only expects to seek reimbursement for our allocable portion of the salaries, benefits and overhead of internal audit department personnel providing services to us. In the future, if our advisor seeks reimbursement for additional employee costs, such costs may include our proportionate share of the salaries of persons involved in the preparation of documents to meet SEC reporting requirements. We do not reimburse our advisor or its affiliates for employee costs in connection with services for which our advisor earns acquisition or origination fees or disposition fees (other than reimbursement of travel and communication expenses) or for the salaries and benefits our advisor or its affiliates may pay to our executive officers. From January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013, we had reimbursed our advisor for $0.1 million of operating expenses, including $0.1 million of employee costs. From January 1, 2014 through January 31, 2015, we had reimbursed our advisor for $0.2 million of operating expenses, including $0.1 million of employee costs.
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For substantial assistance in connection with the sale of properties or other investments, we pay our advisor or one of its affiliates 1.0% of the contract sales price of each property or other investment sold; provided, however, that if, in connection with such disposition, commissions are paid to third parties unaffiliated with our advisor or one of its affiliates, the fee paid to our advisor or one of its affiliates may not exceed the commissions paid to such unaffiliated third parties, and provided further that the aggregate disposition fees paid to our advisor or one of its affiliates and unaffiliated third parties may not exceed 6.0% of the contract sales price. We will not pay a disposition fee upon the maturity, prepayment or workout of a loan or other debt-related investment, provided that if we take ownership of a property as a result of a workout or foreclosure of a loan, we will pay a disposition fee upon the sale of such property. From January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013 and from January 1, 2014 through January 31, 2015, we did not pay any disposition fees.
On January 6, 2014, we, together with KBS Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. (“KBS REIT I”), KBS Real Estate Investment Trust II, Inc. (“KBS REIT II”), KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, Inc. (“KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT”), KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT, Inc. (“KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT”), KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, Inc. (“KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II”), our dealer manager, our advisor and other KBS-affiliated entities, entered into an errors and omissions and directors and officers liability insurance program where the lower tiers of such insurance coverage are shared. The cost of these lower tiers is allocated by our advisor and its insurance broker among each of the various entities covered by the program, and is billed directly to each entity. The allocation of these shared coverage costs is proportionate to the pricing by the insurance marketplace for the first tiers of directors and officers liability coverage purchased individually by each REIT. Our advisor’s and our dealer manager’s portion of the shared lower tiers’ cost is proportionate to the respective entities’ prior cost for the errors and omissions insurance.
In connection with our initial public offering, our sponsors agreed to provide additional indemnification to one of the participating broker-dealers. We agreed to add supplemental coverage to our directors’ and officers’ insurance coverage to insure our sponsors’ obligations under this indemnification agreement in exchange for reimbursement to us by our sponsors for all costs, expenses and premiums related to this supplemental coverage, which does not dilute the directors and officers liability insurance coverage for the KBS entities. From January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013, our advisor had incurred $19,000 for the costs of the supplemental coverage obtained by us and from January 1, 2014 through January 31, 2015, our advisor had incurred $88,000 for the costs of the supplemental coverage obtained by us, all of which had been paid to the insurer or reimbursed to us as of January 31, 2015.
The conflicts committee considers our relationship with our advisor and our sponsors during 2014 to be fair. The conflicts committee believes that the amounts payable to our advisor under the advisory agreement are similar to those paid by other publicly offered, unlisted, externally advised REITs and that this compensation is necessary in order for our advisor to provide the desired level of services to us and our stockholders.
Our Relationship with KBS Capital Markets Group. On October 26, 2010, upon the launch of our initial public offering, we entered into the dealer manager agreement with our dealer manager. Pursuant to the agreement, our dealer manager is entitled to receive selling commissions and dealer manager fees of up to 9.5% of the gross proceeds of our primary initial public offering (no selling commissions or dealer manager fees are payable with respect to sales under the dividend reinvestment plan). All or a portion of the selling commissions are not charged with regard to shares sold to certain categories of purchasers. A reduced dealer manager fee is payable with respect to certain volume discount sales. Our dealer manager reallows 100% of selling commissions to broker-dealers participating in our initial public offering. From its dealer manager fee, our dealer manager may reallow to any participating broker-dealer up to 1.0% of the gross offering proceeds attributable to that participating broker-dealer as a marketing fee (in special cases, our dealer manager has the option to increase the amount of this reallowance). From January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013, we incurred selling commissions of $23.3 million, all of which had been paid as of December 31, 2013 and all of which was reallowed by our dealer manager to participating broker-dealers. From January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013, we incurred dealer manager fees of $11.3 million, all of which had been paid as of December 31, 2013 and $4.7 million of which was reallowed by our dealer manager to participating broker-dealers. From January 1, 2014 through January 31, 2015, we incurred selling commissions of $38.1 million, all of which had been paid as of January 31, 2015 and all of which was reallowed by our dealer manager to participating broker-dealers. From January 1, 2014 through January 31, 2015, we incurred
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dealer manager fees of $18.4 million, all of which had been paid as of January 31, 2015 and $7.0 million of which was reallowed by our dealer manager to participating broker-dealers.
In addition to selling commissions and dealer manager fees, we are also obligated to reimburse our dealer manager and its affiliates for certain offering related expenses that they incur on our behalf. These expenses include, among others, the cost of bona fide training and education meetings held by us (primarily the travel, meal and lodging costs of registered representatives of broker-dealers), attendance and sponsorship fees and travel, meal and lodging costs for registered persons associated with our dealer manager and officers and employees of our affiliates to attend retail seminars conducted by broker-dealers and, in special cases, reimbursement to participating broker-dealers for technology costs associated with our public offering, costs and expenses related to such technology costs, and costs and expenses associated with the facilitation of the marketing of our shares by such broker-dealers and the ownership of our shares by such broker-dealers’ customers. We reimburse our dealer manager for such underwriting compensation as discussed in the prospectus for our initial public offering, provided that within 30 days after the end of the month in which our primary initial public offering terminates, our dealer manager must reimburse us to the extent that our reimbursements cause total underwriting compensation for our primary initial public offering to exceed 10% of the gross offering proceeds from the offering. We also directly pay or reimburse our dealer manager for bona fide invoiced due diligence expenses of broker-dealers. However, no reimbursements made by us to our dealer manager or our advisor may cause total organization and offering expenses incurred by us (including selling commissions, dealer manager fees and all other items of organization and offering expenses) to exceed 15% of the aggregate gross proceeds from our primary initial public offering and the offering under our dividend reinvestment plan as of the date of reimbursement. From January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013, our dealer manager sought reimbursement for $2.4 million in expenses and from January 1, 2014 through January 31, 2015, our dealer manager sought reimbursement for $3.2 million in expenses, all of which had been paid as of January 31, 2015.
We have also entered into a fee reimbursement agreement (the “AIP Reimbursement Agreement”) with our dealer manager pursuant to which we agreed to reimburse our dealer manager for certain fees and expenses it incurs for administering our participation in the DTCC Alternative Investment Product Platform with respect to certain accounts of our stockholders serviced through the platform. From January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013, we incurred and paid $27,000 of costs and expenses related to the AIP Reimbursement Agreement. From January 1, 2014 through January 31, 2015, we incurred and paid $0.1 million of costs and expenses related to the AIP Reimbursement Agreement.
The conflicts committee believes that these arrangements with our dealer manager are fair. The compensation payable to our dealer manager reflects our belief that such selling commissions and dealer manager fees will maximize the likelihood that we will be able to continue to diversify our portfolio of real estate investments.
Issuance of Common Stock. On October 3, 2014, we issued 129,231 shares of common stock for $9.40 per share (or an aggregate purchase price of $1.2 million) to Jonathan Bren and 129,231 shares of common stock for $9.40 per share (or an aggregate purchase price of $1.2 million) to Christopher Bren. The shares were issued in private transactions exempt from the registration requirements pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933. Jonathan Bren and Christopher Bren are the sons of Peter M. Bren, our President and one of our sponsors. We did not pay selling commissions or dealer manager fees with respect to these sales. The purchase price reflects a $0.987 discount to the then-current $10.39 per share offering price in our primary initial public offering, reflecting that no selling commissions or dealer manager fees were paid on the sale. The conflicts committee believes that these sales were fair because the net proceeds to us from such sales were substantially the same as the net proceeds to us from the sale of shares in our primary initial public offering based on the offering price at the time the sales were made and such sales increase the likelihood that we will be able to continue to diversify our portfolio of real estate investments.
Currently Proposed Transactions. On February 14, 2013, we filed a registration statement on Form S-11 with the SEC to register the Follow-on Offering. If we commence the Follow-on Offering, we expect that we will incur, among other fees, acquisition and origination, disposition and asset management fees payable to our advisor related to investments that would be made with the net proceeds of the offering, and selling commissions and dealer manager fees payable to our dealer manager, in connection with services provided to us in relation to the Follow-on Offering. We will also reimburse our advisor and dealer manager for certain offering costs incurred by them and for
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the provision of certain services to us in connection with the Follow-on Offering. In addition, from inception through January 31, 2015, we had incurred $1.2 million of offering costs related to the Follow-on Offering. Pursuant to the advisory agreement, our advisor would be obligated to reimburse us to the extent offering costs incurred by us in the Follow-on Offering exceed 15% of the gross offering proceeds of the Follow-on Offering. As of January 31, 2015, we had not yet commenced the Follow-on Offering and as such, we recorded $1.2 million of offering costs related to the Follow-on Offering as of January 31, 2015. As we have not yet commenced the Follow-on Offering, we have not recorded any reimbursements to our dealer manager related to the Follow-on Offering. The conflicts committee believes the arrangements related to the Follow-on Offering are fair.
There are no currently proposed material transactions with related persons other than those covered by the terms of the agreements described above.
The conflicts committee has determined that the policies set forth in this Report of the Conflicts Committee are in the best interests of our stockholders because they provide us with the highest likelihood of achieving our investment objectives.
April 7, 2015 |
The Conflicts Committee of the Board of Directors: | |
Barbara R. Cambon (chair), Hank Adler and Stuart A. Gabriel, Ph.D. |
Nomination of Directors
General
We do not have a standing nominating committee. Unless otherwise provided by Maryland law, the board of directors is responsible for selecting its own nominees and recommending them for election by our stockholders, provided that the conflicts committee is responsible for identifying and nominating replacements for vacancies among our independent director positions. Unless filled by a vote of the stockholders as permitted by the Maryland General Corporation Law, a vacancy that results from the removal of a director will be filled by a vote of a majority of the remaining directors. Any vacancy on the board of directors for any other cause will be filled by a vote of a majority of the remaining directors, even if such majority vote is less than a quorum. The board of directors believes that the primary reason for creating a standing nominating committee is to ensure that candidates for independent director positions can be identified and their qualifications assessed under a process free from conflicts of interest with us. Because nominations for vacancies in independent director positions are handled exclusively by a committee composed only of independent directors, the board of directors has determined that the creation of a standing nominating committee is not necessary. We do not have a charter that governs the director nomination process.
Board Membership Criteria
With respect to filling vacancies for independent director positions, the conflicts committee reviews the appropriate experience, skills and characteristics required of directors in the context of the then-current membership of the board. The full board annually conducts a similar review with respect to all director nominations. This assessment includes, in the context of the perceived needs of the board at that time, issues of knowledge, experience, judgment and skills, such as an understanding of the real estate and real estate finance industries or accounting or financial management expertise. The board seeks to nominate directors with diverse backgrounds, experiences and skill sets that complement each other so as to maximize the collective knowledge, experience, judgment and skills of the entire board. The board assesses its effectiveness in achieving this goal annually, in part, by reviewing the diversity of the skill sets of the directors and determining whether there are any deficiencies in the board’s collective skill set that should be addressed in the nominating process. The board made such an assessment in connection with director nominations for the 2015 annual stockholders’ meeting and determined that the composition of the current board of directors satisfies its diversity objectives.
Other considerations in director nominations include the candidate’s independence from conflict with us and the ability of the candidate to attend board meetings regularly and to devote an appropriate amount of time in preparation for those meetings. It also is expected that independent directors nominated by the conflicts committee will be individuals who possess a reputation and hold positions or affiliations befitting a director of a large publicly
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held company and who are actively engaged in their occupations or professions or are otherwise regularly involved in the business, professional or academic community. Moreover, as required by our charter, at least one of our independent directors must have at least three years of relevant real estate experience, and each director who is not an independent director must have at least three years of relevant experience demonstrating the knowledge and experience required to successfully acquire and manage the types of assets we acquire and manage.
Selection of Directors
Unless otherwise provided by Maryland law, the board of directors is responsible for selecting its own nominees and recommending them for election by our stockholders, provided that the conflicts committee must nominate replacements for any vacancies among the independent director positions. All director nominees stand for election by our stockholders annually.
In nominating candidates for the board of directors, the board of directors (or the conflicts committee, as appropriate) solicits candidate recommendations from its own members and the management of KBS Capital Advisors. The board and the conflicts committee may also engage the services of a search firm to assist in identifying potential director nominees.
The board of directors and the conflicts committee will consider recommendations made by stockholders for director nominees who meet the established director criteria set forth above. In order to be considered for nomination, recommendations made by stockholders must be submitted within the timeframe required to request a proposal to be included in the proxy materials. See “Stockholder Proposals” below. In evaluating the persons recommended as potential directors, the board of directors (or the conflicts committee, as appropriate) will consider each candidate without regard to the source of the recommendation and take into account those factors that they determine are relevant. Stockholders may directly nominate potential directors (without the recommendation of the board of directors or conflicts committee) by satisfying the procedural requirements for such nomination as provided in Article II, Section 2.12 of our bylaws. Any stockholder may request a copy of our bylaws free of charge by calling 1-866-584-1381 and selecting “Option 2”.
Stockholder Communications with the Board of Directors
We have established a procedure for stockholders to communicate comments and concerns to the board of directors. Stockholders may contact the board of directors at the following address:
Board of Directors of KBS Real Estate Investment Trust III, Inc.
800 Newport Center Drive, Suite 700
Newport Beach, California 92660
Stockholders should report any complaints or concerns regarding (1) suspected violations or concerns as to compliance with laws, regulations, our Code of Conduct and Ethics or other suspected wrongdoings affecting us or our properties or assets, or (2) any complaints or concerns regarding our accounting, internal accounting controls, auditing matters, or any concerns regarding any questionable accounting or auditing matters affecting us. Stockholders should report any such suspected violations or other complaints or concerns by any of the following means:
— | Via the Internet at http://kbsreitiii.ethicspoint.com; |
— | By calling the toll free Ethics Hotline at 1-888-329-6414; or |
— | By mailing a description of the suspected violation or concern to: |
Audit Committee Chair
c/o KBS Real Estate Investment Trust III, Inc.
800 Newport Center Drive, Suite 700
Newport Beach, CA 92660
Reports made via the Ethics Hotline will be sent to an internal audit representative and the audit committee chair, provided that no person named in the report will receive the report directly.
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Stockholders can also communicate directly with the Chairman of the Board at the annual meeting. Although we do not have a policy regarding the attendance of directors at annual meetings of stockholders, we expect that the Chairman of the Board will be present at all such meetings. All of our directors were present at the 2014 annual meeting of stockholders.
Executive Officers and Directors
We have provided below certain information about our executive officers and directors. All of our directors have terms expiring on the date of the 2015 annual meeting and are being nominated for re-election to serve until the 2016 annual meeting and until his or her successor is elected and qualified.
Year First Became | ||||||
Name and Address(1) |
Position(s) |
Age(2) |
a Director | |||
Peter M. Bren |
President |
81 | N/A | |||
Charles J. Schreiber, Jr. |
Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Director |
63 | 2009 | |||
Peter McMillan III |
Executive Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and Director |
57 | 2010 | |||
Keith D. Hall |
Executive Vice President |
56 | N/A | |||
David E. Snyder |
Chief Financial Officer |
44 | N/A | |||
Stacie K. Yamane |
Chief Accounting Officer |
50 | N/A | |||
Hank Adler |
Independent Director |
68 | 2010 | |||
Barbara R. Cambon |
Independent Director |
61 | 2010 | |||
Stuart A. Gabriel, Ph.D. |
Independent Director |
61 | 2010 |
(1) | The address of each named officer and director is 800 Newport Center Drive, Suite 700, Newport Beach, California 92660. |
(2) | As of April 1, 2015. |
Peter M. Bren is our President, a position he has held since January 2010. He is also Chairman of the Board and President of our advisor, President of KBS REIT I, President of KBS REIT II and President of KBS Growth & Income REIT, Inc. (“KBS Growth & Income REIT”), positions he has held for these entities since October 2004, June 2005, August 2007 and January 2015, respectively. Mr. Bren is President and a director of KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT, positions he has held since August 2009 and July 2009, respectively. In addition, Mr. Bren is a sponsor of our company and is a sponsor of KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II and KBS Growth & Income REIT, which were formed in 2009, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013 and 2014, respectively. Other than de minimis amounts owned by family members or family trusts, Mr. Bren indirectly owns and controls a 33 1/3% interest in KBS Holdings LLC, which is the sole owner of our advisor and our dealer manager. All four of our sponsors, Messrs. Bren, Hall, McMillan and Schreiber, actively participate in the management and operations of our advisor.
Mr. Bren is Chairman of the Board and President of KBS Realty Advisors LLC and is a principal of Koll Bren Schreiber Realty Advisors, Inc., each an active and nationally recognized real estate investment advisor. These entities were first registered as investment advisers with the SEC in 2002 and 1999, respectively. KBS Realty Advisors and Koll Bren Schreiber Realty Advisors each currently intends to withdraw its registration with the SEC and become registered as an investment adviser with the State of California. The first investment advisor affiliated with Messrs. Bren and Schreiber was formed in 1992. As of December 31, 2014, KBS Realty Advisors, together with KBS affiliates, including KBS Capital Advisors, had been involved in the investment in or management of approximately $20.3 billion of real estate investments on behalf of institutional investors, including public and private pension plans, endowments and foundations, institutional and sovereign wealth funds, and the investors in us, KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT and KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II.
Mr. Bren oversees all aspects of KBS Capital Advisors’ and KBS Realty Advisors’ operations, including the acquisition, management and disposition of individual investments and portfolios of investments for KBS-sponsored programs and KBS-advised investors. He also directs all facets of KBS Capital Advisors’ and KBS Realty Advisors’ business activities and is responsible for investor relationships. Mr. Bren is a member of the investment committee formed by KBS Capital Advisors to evaluate and recommend new investment opportunities for us.
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Mr. Bren has been involved in real estate development, management, acquisition, disposition and financing for more than 40 years and with the acquisition, origination, management, disposition and financing of real estate-related debt investments for more than 20 years. Prior to taking his current positions as Chairman of the Board and President of KBS Capital Advisors and KBS Realty Advisors, he served as the President of The Bren Company, was a Senior Partner of Lincoln Property Company and was President of Lincoln Property Company, Europe. Mr. Bren is also a founding member of the Richard S. Ziman Center for Real Estate at the UCLA Anderson School of Management. He is also a member of the Real Estate Roundtable in Washington, D.C.
Charles J. Schreiber, Jr. is our Chairman of the Board, our Chief Executive Officer and one of our directors, positions he has held since January 2010, January 2010 and December 2009, respectively. He is also the Chief Executive Officer of our advisor and Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and a director of KBS REIT I and KBS Growth & Income REIT, positions he has held for these entities since October 2004, June 2005 and January 2015, respectively. Mr. Schreiber is Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and a director of KBS REIT II, positions he has held since August 2007, August 2007 and July 2007, respectively. In addition, Mr. Schreiber is a sponsor of our company and is a sponsor of KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II and KBS Growth & Income REIT, which were formed in 2009, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013 and 2014, respectively. Other than de minimis amounts owned by family members or family trusts, Mr. Schreiber indirectly owns and controls a 33 1/3% interest in KBS Holdings LLC, which is the sole owner of our advisor and our dealer manager. All four of our sponsors, Messrs. Bren, Hall, McMillan and Schreiber, actively participate in the management and operations of our advisor.
Mr. Schreiber is the Chief Executive Officer of KBS Realty Advisors LLC and is a principal of Koll Bren Schreiber Realty Advisors, Inc., each an active and nationally recognized real estate investment advisor. These entities were first registered as investment advisers with the SEC in 2002 and 1999, respectively. KBS Realty Advisors and Koll Bren Schreiber Realty Advisors each currently intends to withdraw its registration with the SEC and become registered as an investment adviser with the State of California. The first investment advisor affiliated with Messrs. Bren and Schreiber was formed in 1992. As of December 31, 2014, KBS Realty Advisors, together with KBS affiliates, including KBS Capital Advisors, had been involved in the investment in or management of approximately $20.3 billion of real estate investments on behalf of institutional investors, including public and private pension plans, endowments and foundations, institutional and sovereign wealth funds, and the investors in us, KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT and KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II.
Mr. Schreiber oversees all aspects of KBS Capital Advisors’ and KBS Realty Advisors’ operations, including the acquisition and management of individual investments and portfolios of investments for KBS-sponsored programs and KBS-advised investors. He also directs all facets of KBS Capital Advisors’ and KBS Realty Advisors’ business activities and is responsible for investor relationships. Mr. Schreiber is a member of the investment committee formed by KBS Capital Advisors to evaluate and recommend new investment opportunities for us.
Mr. Schreiber has been involved in real estate development, management, acquisition, disposition and financing for more than 40 years and with the acquisition, origination, management, disposition and financing of real estate-related debt investments for more than 20 years. Prior to teaming with Mr. Bren in 1992, he served as the Executive Vice President of Koll Investment Management Services and Executive Vice President of Acquisitions/Dispositions for The Koll Company. During the mid-1970s through the 1980s, he was Founder and President of Pacific Development Company and was previously Senior Vice President/Southern California Regional Manager of Ashwill-Burke Commercial Brokerage.
Mr. Schreiber graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance with an emphasis in Real Estate. During his four years at USC, he did graduate work in the then newly-formed Real Estate Department in the USC Graduate School of Business. He is currently an Executive Board Member for the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate at the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business/School of Policy, Planning and Development. Mr. Schreiber also serves as a member of the Executive Committee for the Public Non-Listed REIT Council for the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts.
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The board of directors has concluded that Mr. Schreiber is qualified to serve as a director, Chairman of the Board and as our Chief Executive Officer for reasons including his extensive industry and leadership experience. Since the formation of the first investment advisor affiliated with Messrs. Bren and Schreiber in 1992, and through December 31, 2014, Mr. Schreiber had been involved in the investment in or management of over $20.3 billion of real estate investments through KBS affiliates. With more than 40 years of experience in real estate development, management, acquisition and disposition and more than 20 years of experience with the acquisition, origination, management, disposition and financing of real estate-related debt investments, he has the depth and breadth of experience to implement our business strategy. He gained his understanding of the real estate and real estate-finance markets through hands-on experience with acquisitions, asset and portfolio management, asset repositioning and dispositions. As our Chief Executive Officer and a principal of our external advisor, Mr. Schreiber is best-positioned to provide the board of directors with insights and perspectives on the execution of our business strategy, our operations and other internal matters. Further, as a principal of KBS-affiliated investment advisors and as Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board and a director of KBS REIT I and KBS REIT II, Mr. Schreiber brings to the board of directors demonstrated management and leadership ability.
Peter McMillan III is one of our Executive Vice Presidents, our Treasurer and Secretary, and one of our directors, positions he has held since January 2010. He is also an Executive Vice President, the Treasurer and Secretary and a director of KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II and KBS Growth & Income REIT, positions he has held for these entities since June 2005, August 2007 and January 2015, respectively. He is President, Chairman of the Board and a director of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT and KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, positions he has held for these entities since December 2008 and February 2013, respectively. He is also an Executive Vice President of KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT, which position he has held since August 2009. In addition, Mr. McMillan is a sponsor of our company and is a sponsor of KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II and KBS Growth & Income REIT, which were formed in 2009, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013 and 2014, respectively. Mr. McMillan owns and controls a 50% interest in GKP Holding LLC. GKP Holding owns a 33 1/3% interest in KBS Holdings LLC, which is the sole owner of our advisor and our dealer manager. All four of our sponsors, Messrs. Bren, Hall, McMillan and Schreiber, actively participate in the management and operations of our advisor. Mr. McMillan is a member of the investment committee formed by KBS Capital Advisors to evaluate and recommend new investment opportunities for us.
Mr. McMillan is a Partner and co-owner of Temescal Canyon Partners LP, an investment advisor formed in 2013 to manage a multi-strategy hedge fund on behalf of investors. Mr. McMillan is also a co-founder and the Managing Partner of Willowbrook Capital Group, LLC which, from August 2003 until December 2012, was an asset management company. Prior to forming Willowbrook in 2000, Mr. McMillan served as an Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of SunAmerica Investments, Inc., which was later acquired by AIG. As Chief Investment Officer, he was responsible for over $75.0 billion in assets, including residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities, public and private investment grade and non-investment grade corporate bonds and commercial mortgage loans and real estate investments. Before joining SunAmerica in 1989, he served as Assistant Vice President for Aetna Life Insurance and Annuity Company with responsibility for the company’s $6.0 billion fixed income portfolios. Mr. McMillan received his Master of Business Administration in Finance from the Wharton Graduate School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and his Bachelor of Arts Degree with honors in Economics from Clark University. Mr. McMillan is a member of the Board of Trustees of Metropolitan West Funds and TCW Mutual Funds and is a former director of Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc.
The board of directors has concluded that Mr. McMillan is qualified to serve as one of our directors for reasons including his expertise in real estate finance and with real estate-related investments. With over 30 years of experience investing in and managing real estate-related debt investments, Mr. McMillan offers insights and perspective with respect to our real estate-related investment portfolio as well as our real estate portfolio. As one of our executive officers and a principal of our advisor, Mr. McMillan is also able to direct the board of directors to the critical issues facing our company. Further, his experiences as a director of KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT and KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, as a member of the Board of Trustees of Metropolitan West Funds and TCW Mutual Funds, and as a former director of Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc., provide him with an understanding of the requirements of serving on a public company board.
Keith D. Hall is one of our Executive Vice Presidents, a position he has held since January 2010. He is an Executive Vice President of KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II and KBS Growth & Income REIT, positions he has held for
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these entities since June 2005, August 2007 and January 2015, respectively. He is also the Chief Executive Officer and a director of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, positions he has held since December 2008 and October 2008, respectively, and is the Chief Executive Officer and a director of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, positions he has held since February 2013. In addition, Mr. Hall is a sponsor of our company and is a sponsor of KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II and KBS Growth & Income REIT, which were formed in 2009, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013 and 2014, respectively. Mr. Hall owns and controls a 50% interest in GKP Holding LLC. GKP Holding owns a 33 1/3% interest in KBS Holdings LLC, which is the sole owner of our advisor and our dealer manager. All four of our sponsors, Messrs. Bren, Hall, McMillan and Schreiber, actively participate in the management and operations of our advisor. Mr. Hall is a member of the investment committee formed by KBS Capital Advisors to evaluate and recommend new investment opportunities for us.
Mr. Hall is a co-founder of Willowbrook Capital Group, LLC which, from August 2003 until December 2012, was an asset management company. Prior to forming Willowbrook in 2000, Mr. Hall was a Managing Director at CS First Boston, where he managed the distribution strategy and business development for the Principal Transaction Group’s $18.0 billion real estate securities portfolio. Mr. Hall’s two primary business unit responsibilities were Mezzanine Lending and Commercial Real Estate Development. Before joining CS First Boston in 1996, he served as a Director in the Real Estate Products Group at Nomura Securities, with responsibility for the company’s $6.0 billion annual pipeline of fixed-income, commercial mortgage-backed securities. During the 1980s, Mr. Hall was a Senior Vice President in the High Yield Department of Drexel Burnham Lambert’s Beverly Hills office, where he was responsible for distribution of the group’s high-yield real estate securities. Mr. Hall received a Bachelor of Arts Degree with honors in Finance from California State University, Sacramento.
David E. Snyder is our Chief Financial Officer, a position he has held since January 2010. He is the Chief Financial Officer of our advisor, KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II and KBS Growth & Income REIT, positions he has held for these entities since November 2008, December 2008, December 2008 and January 2015, respectively. He is also the Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary of KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT and KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II, positions he has held for these entities since December 2008, August 2009 and February 2013, respectively. Mr. Snyder is a member of the investment committee formed by KBS Capital Advisors to evaluate and recommend new investment opportunities for us.
From January 1998 to May 2008, Mr. Snyder worked for Nationwide Health Properties, Inc., a real estate investment trust specializing in healthcare related property. He served as the Vice President and Controller from July 2005 to February 2008 and Controller from January 1998 to July 2005. At Nationwide Health Properties, Mr. Snyder was responsible for internal and external financial reporting, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, budgeting, debt compliance, negotiation and documentation of debt and equity financing and the negotiation of acquisition and leasing documentation. In addition, Mr. Snyder was part of the senior management team that approved investments, determined appropriate financing and developed strategic goals and plans. As part of his investment and financing responsibilities, Mr. Snyder participated in the origination, modification and refinancing of: mortgage loans made to customers, mortgages obtained on real estate and unsecured credit facilities.
Mr. Snyder was an adjunct accounting professor at Biola University from 1998 to 2005, teaching courses in auditing and accounting. He was the director of financial reporting at Regency Health Services, Inc., a skilled nursing provider, from November 1996 to December 1997. From October 1993 to October 1996, Mr. Snyder worked for Arthur Andersen LLP. Mr. Snyder received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting from Biola University in La Mirada, California. Mr. Snyder is a Certified Public Accountant (California).
Stacie K. Yamane is our Chief Accounting Officer, a position she has held since January 2010. Ms. Yamane is also the Chief Accounting Officer, Portfolio Accounting of our advisor and Chief Accounting Officer of KBS REIT I, KBS REIT II, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT, KBS Legacy Partners Apartment REIT, KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II and KBS Growth & Income REIT, positions she has held for these entities since October 2008, October 2008, October 2008, August 2009, August 2009, February 2013 and January 2015, respectively. From July 2007 to December 2008, Ms. Yamane served as the Chief Financial Officer of KBS REIT II and from July 2007 to October 2008 she served as Controller of KBS REIT II; from October 2004 to October 2008,
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Ms. Yamane served as Fund Controller of our advisor; from June 2005 to December 2008, she served as Chief Financial Officer of KBS REIT I and from June 2005 to October 2008 she served as Controller of KBS REIT I.
Ms. Yamane also serves as Senior Vice President/Controller, Portfolio Accounting for KBS Realty Advisors LLC, a position she has held since 2004. She served as a Vice President/Portfolio Accounting with KBS-affiliated investment advisors from 1995 to 2004. At KBS Realty Advisors, Ms. Yamane is responsible for client accounting/reporting for two real estate portfolios. These portfolios consist of industrial, office and retail properties as well as land parcels. Ms. Yamane works closely with portfolio managers, asset managers, property managers and clients to ensure the completion of timely and accurate accounting, budgeting and financial reporting. In addition, she assists in the supervision and management of KBS Realty Advisors’ accounting department.
Prior to joining an affiliate of KBS Realty Advisors in 1995, Ms. Yamane was an audit manager at Kenneth Leventhal & Company, a CPA firm specializing in real estate. During her eight years at Kenneth Leventhal & Company, Ms. Yamane performed or supervised a variety of auditing, accounting and consulting engagements including the audit of financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP, as well as financial statements presented on a cash and tax basis, the valuation of asset portfolios and the review and analysis of internal control systems. Her experiences with various KBS-affiliated entities and Kenneth Leventhal & Company give her over 25 years of real estate experience.
Ms. Yamane received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration with a dual concentration in Accounting and Management Information Systems from California State University, Fullerton. She is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive California).
Hank Adler is one of our independent directors and is the chair of the audit committee, positions he has held since September 2010. Professor Adler is also an independent director and chair of the audit committee of KBS REIT I and KBS REIT II, positions he has held for these entities since June 2005 and March 2008, respectively. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Accounting at Chapman University. Prior to his retirement from Deloitte & Touche, LLP in 2003, Professor Adler was a partner with that firm where he had been employed for over 30 years. He specialized in tax accounting and served as client service and tax partner for a variety of public and private companies. He received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration from the University of California, Los Angeles. Professor Adler currently serves on the board of directors, on the nominating committee and as chairman of the audit committee of Corinthian Colleges, Inc., and he formerly served on the board of directors and on the finance committee of Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County, a California non-profit entity. From 1998 to 2007, he also chaired the Toshiba Senior Classic charity event, a PGA Senior Tour championship event. From 1994 to 2006, he served on the board of directors of Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian. In the 1990s, he served on the board of trustees and as President of the Irvine Unified School District. Professor Adler is a Certified Public Accountant (California).
The board of directors has concluded that Professor Adler is qualified to serve as an independent director and as the chair of the audit committee for reasons including his extensive experience in public accounting. With over 30 years at one of the big four accounting firms, Professor Adler brings to the board of directors critical insights into and an understanding of the accounting principles and financial reporting rules and regulations affecting our company. His expertise in evaluating the financial and operational results of public companies and overseeing the financial reporting process makes him a valuable director and chair of the audit committee. In addition, as a director and chair of the audit committee of KBS REIT I and KBS REIT II, as a director of Corinthian Colleges, Inc., and as a former director of Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian and of Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County, Professor Adler is well aware of the corporate governance and regulatory issues facing various types of companies.
Barbara R. Cambon is one of our independent directors and is the chair of the conflicts committee, positions she has held since September 2010. Ms. Cambon is also an independent director and chair of the conflicts committee of KBS REIT I and KBS REIT II, positions she has held for these entities since June 2005 and March 2008, respectively. From April 2009 to December 2010, she served as Chief Operating Officer of Premium One Asset Management LLC, a company whose business focuses on providing investment management services to investors. From October 2003 to October 2009, she also served as a Managing Member of Snowcreek Management LLC, a real estate asset management company whose business activities focus on residential development projects for institutional investors. As Managing Member, Ms. Cambon provided asset management services to an
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institutional partnership investment in residential real estate development. She has been involved in the real estate investment business for over 30 years, principally working with institutional capital sources and investment programs. From November 1999 until October 2002, she served as a Principal of Los Angeles-based Colony Capital, LLC, a private real estate investment firm, and from April 2000 until October 2002, she also served as its Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining Colony Capital in 1999, Ms. Cambon was President and founder of Institutional Property Consultants, Inc., a real estate consulting company. She is a past director and chairman of the board of the Pension Real Estate Association and past director of the National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries. Ms. Cambon serves on the board of directors of Amstar Advisers and on the University of San Diego Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate’s Policy Advisory Board. Ms. Cambon previously served on the board of directors of Neighborhood National Bancorp and BioMed Realty Trust, Inc. Ms. Cambon received a Master of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from the University of Delaware.
The board of directors has concluded that Ms. Cambon is qualified to serve as an independent director and as the chair of the conflicts committee for reasons including her expertise in real estate investment and management. Ms. Cambon’s over 30 years of experience investing in, managing and disposing of real estate on behalf of investors give her a wealth of knowledge and experiences from which to draw in advising our company. As former Managing Member of her own real estate asset management company, Ms. Cambon is acutely aware of the operational challenges facing companies such as ours. Further, her service as a director and chair of the conflicts committee of KBS REIT I and KBS REIT II, both public REITs, as a director of Amstar Advisers and as a former director of Neighborhood National Bancorp and BioMed Realty Trust, Inc., gives her additional perspective and insight into large public companies such as ours.
Stuart A. Gabriel, Ph.D. is one of our independent directors, a position he has held since September 2010. Professor Gabriel is also an independent director of KBS REIT I and KBS REIT II, positions he has held for these entities since June 2005 and March 2008, respectively. Since June 2007, Professor Gabriel has served as Director of the Richard S. Ziman Center for Real Estate and Professor of Finance and Arden Realty Chair at the UCLA Anderson School of Management. Prior to joining UCLA he was Director and Lusk Chair in Real Estate at the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate, a position he held from 1999 to 2007. Professor Gabriel also served as Professor of Finance and Business Economics in the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California, a position he held from 1990 to 2007. He received a number of awards at UCLA and USC for outstanding graduate teaching. In 2004, he was elected President of the American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association. Professor Gabriel serves on the editorial boards of seven academic journals. He is also a Fellow of the Homer Hoyt Institute for Advanced Real Estate Studies. Professor Gabriel has published extensively on the topics of real estate finance and urban and regional economics. His teaching and academic research experience include analysis of real estate and real estate capital markets performance as well as structured finance products, including credit default swaps, commercial mortgage-backed securities and collateralized debt obligations. Professor Gabriel serves as a consultant to numerous corporate and governmental entities. From 1986 through 1990, Professor Gabriel served on the economics staff of the Federal Reserve Board in Washington, D.C. He also has been a Visiting Scholar at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. Professor Gabriel holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley.
The board of directors has concluded that Professor Gabriel is qualified to serve as an independent director for reasons including his extensive knowledge and understanding of the real estate and finance markets and real estate finance products. As a professor of real estate finance and economics, Professor Gabriel brings unique perspective to the board of directors. His years of research and analysis of the real estate and finance markets make Professor Gabriel well-positioned to advise us with respect to our investment and financing strategy. This expertise also makes him an invaluable resource for assessing and managing risks facing our company. Through his experience as a director of KBS REIT I and KBS REIT II, he also has an understanding of the requirements of serving on a public company board.
Compensation of Executive Officers
Our executive officers do not receive compensation directly from us for services rendered to us. Our executive officers are officers and/or employees of, or hold an indirect ownership interest in, our advisor, and/or its affiliates, and our executive officers are compensated by these entities, in part, for their services to us. See “Report
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of the Conflicts Committee – Certain Transactions with Related Persons” for a discussion of the fees paid to our advisor and its affiliates.
Compensation of Directors
If a director is also one of our executive officers, we do not pay any compensation to that person for services rendered as a director. The amount and form of compensation payable to our independent directors for their service to us is determined by the conflicts committee, based upon recommendations from our advisor. Four of our executive officers, Messrs. Bren, Hall, McMillan and Schreiber, manage and control our advisor, and through our advisor, they are involved in recommending and setting the compensation to be paid to our independent directors.
We have provided below certain information regarding compensation earned by or paid to our directors during fiscal year 2014.
Name |
Fees Earned or Paid in Cash in 2014(1) |
All Other Compensation |
Total | |||||||||||
Hank Adler |
$ | 115,837 | $ | – | $ | 115,837 | ||||||||
Barbara R. Cambon |
121,837 | – | 121,837 | |||||||||||
Stuart A. Gabriel, Ph.D. |
108,837 | – | 108,837 | |||||||||||
Peter McMillan III(2) |
– | – | – | |||||||||||
Charles J. Schreiber, Jr.(2) |
– | – | – |
(1) | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash in 2014 include meeting fees earned in: (i) 2013 but paid or reimbursed in the first quarter of 2014 as follows: Professor Adler $7,337, Ms. Cambon $7,337, and Professor Gabriel $7,337; and (ii) 2014 but paid or to be paid in 2015 as follows: Professor Adler $15,337, Ms. Cambon $19,337, and Professor Gabriel $15,337. |
(2) | Directors who are also our executive officers do not receive compensation for services rendered as a director. |
Cash Compensation
We compensate each of our independent directors with an annual retainer of $40,000. In addition, we pay our independent directors for attending board and audit or conflicts committee meetings as follows:
— | $2,500 for each board meeting attended; |
— | $2,500 for each audit or conflicts committee meeting attended (except that the committee chairman is paid $3,000 for each audit or conflicts committee meeting attended); |
— | $2,000 for each teleconference board meeting attended; and |
— | $2,000 for each teleconference audit or conflicts committee meeting attended (except that the committee chairman is paid $3,000 for each teleconference audit or conflicts committee meeting attended). |
All directors receive reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attendance at meetings of the board of directors.
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STOCK OWNERSHIP
The following table shows, as of April 8, 2015, the amount of our common stock beneficially owned (unless otherwise indicated) by (1) any person who is known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of our common stock, (2) our directors, (3) our executive officers, and (4) all of our directors and executive officers as a group.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1) |
Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership(2) |
Percent of all Shares | ||||||
KBS Capital Advisors LLC |
20,000(3) | * | ||||||
Hank Adler, Independent Director |
– | – | ||||||
Peter M. Bren, President |
20,000(3) | * | ||||||
Barbara R. Cambon, Independent Director |
– | – | ||||||
Stuart A. Gabriel, Ph.D., Independent Director |
– | – | ||||||
Keith D. Hall, Executive Vice President |
20,000(3) | * | ||||||
Peter McMillan III, Executive Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and Director |
20,000(3) | * | ||||||
Charles J. Schreiber, Jr., Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Director |
20,000(3) | * | ||||||
David E. Snyder, Chief Financial Officer |
– | – | ||||||
Stacie K. Yamane, Chief Accounting Officer |
– | – | ||||||
All officers and directors as a group |
20,000(3) | * |
* | Less than 1% of the outstanding common stock. |
(1) | The address of each named beneficial owner is 800 Newport Center Drive, Suite 700, Newport Beach, California 92660. |
(2) | None of the shares is pledged as security. |
(3) | Includes 20,000 shares owned by KBS Capital Advisors, which is indirectly owned and controlled by Peter M. Bren, Keith D. Hall, Peter McMillan III and Charles J. Schreiber, Jr. |
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Under U.S. securities laws, directors, executive officers, and any persons beneficially owning more than 10% of our common stock are required to report their initial ownership of the common stock and most changes in that ownership to the SEC. The SEC has designated specific due dates for these reports, and we are required to identify in this proxy statement those persons who did not file these reports when due. Based solely on our review of copies of the reports filed with the SEC and written representations of our directors and executive officers, we believe all persons subject to the Section 16 reporting requirements filed the reports on a timely basis in 2014.
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PROPOSAL 1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
At the annual meeting, you and the other stockholders will vote on the election of all five members of the board of directors. Those persons elected will serve as directors until the 2016 annual meeting and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. The board of directors has nominated the following people for re-election as directors:
— Charles J. Schreiber, Jr. |
— Peter McMillan III | |
— Hank Adler |
— Barbara R. Cambon | |
— Stuart A. Gabriel, Ph.D. |
Each of the nominees for director is a current director. Detailed information on each nominee is provided on pages 19 through 24.
Vote Required
Under our charter, a majority of the shares entitled to vote and present in person or by proxy at an annual meeting at which a quorum is present is required for the election of the directors. This means that, of the shares entitled to vote and present in person or by proxy at an annual meeting, a director nominee needs to receive affirmative votes from a majority of such shares in order to be elected to the board. Because of this majority vote requirement, “withhold” votes will have the effect of a vote against each nominee for director. Broker non-votes, since they are not entitled to vote, will have no effect on the determination of this proposal. If an incumbent director nominee fails to receive the required number of votes for re-election, then under Maryland law, he or she will continue to serve as a “holdover” director until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified.
The appointed proxies will vote your shares of common stock as you instruct. If you submit a proxy card with no further instructions, the appointed proxies will vote your shares FOR all of the director nominees listed above. If any nominee becomes unable or unwilling to stand for re-election, the board may reduce its size or designate a substitute. If a substitute is designated, proxies voting on the original nominee will be cast for the substituted nominee.
Whether you plan to attend the annual meeting and vote in person or not, we urge you to have your vote recorded. Stockholders have the following three options for submitting their votes by proxy: (1) via the Internet, (2) by telephone or (3) by mail, using the enclosed proxy card. YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT! Your immediate response will help avoid potential delays and may save us significant additional expenses associated with soliciting stockholder votes.
Recommendation
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” ALL NOMINEES LISTED FOR RE-ELECTION AS DIRECTORS.
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PROPOSAL 2. RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
At the annual meeting, you and the other stockholders will vote on the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2015.
The audit committee has appointed Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2015.
The audit committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of the independent registered public accounting firm. In making its determination regarding whether to appoint or retain a particular independent registered public accounting firm, the audit committee takes into account the opinions of management and our internal auditors in assessing the independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications, performance and independence. Notwithstanding its appointment of Ernst & Young LLP, the audit committee may, however, select new auditors at any time in the future in its discretion if it deems such decision to be in our best interests. If the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP is not ratified by our stockholders, the audit committee may consider whether it should appoint another independent registered public accounting firm.
During the year ended December 31, 2014, Ernst & Young LLP served as our independent registered public accounting firm and provided certain tax and other services. Ernst & Young LLP has served as our independent registered public accounting firm since our formation. We expect that Ernst & Young LLP representatives will be present at the annual meeting and they will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so. In addition, we expect that the Ernst & Young LLP representatives will be available to respond to appropriate questions posed by stockholders.
Vote Required
Under our bylaws, a majority of the votes cast at an annual meeting at which a quorum is present is required for the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2015. Abstentions will not count as votes actually cast with respect to determining if a majority vote is obtained under our bylaws and will have no effect on the determination of this proposal.
The appointed proxies will vote your shares of common stock as you instruct. If you submit a proxy card with no further instructions, the appointed proxies will vote your shares FOR the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2015.
Whether you plan to attend the annual meeting and vote in person or not, we urge you to have your vote recorded. Stockholders have the following three options for submitting their votes by proxy: (1) via the Internet, (2) by telephone or (3) by mail, using the enclosed proxy card. YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT! Your immediate response will help avoid potential delays and may save us significant additional expenses associated with soliciting stockholder votes.
Recommendation
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2015.
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STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
Any proposals by stockholders for inclusion in proxy solicitation material for the next annual meeting must be received by our secretary, Peter McMillan III, at our executive offices no later than December 25, 2015. However, if we hold the annual meeting before June 7, 2016 or after August 6, 2016, stockholders must submit proposals for inclusion in our 2016 proxy statement within a reasonable time before we begin to print our proxy materials. The mailing address of our executive offices is 800 Newport Center Drive, Suite 700, Newport Beach, California 92660. If a stockholder wishes to present a proposal at the 2016 annual meeting, whether or not the proposal is intended to be included in the 2016 proxy materials, our bylaws require that the stockholder give advance written notice to our secretary by January 24, 2016.
OTHER MATTERS
As of the date of this proxy statement, we know of no business that will be presented for consideration at the annual meeting other than the items referred to above. If any other matter is properly brought before the annual meeting for action by stockholders, proxies in the enclosed form returned to us will be voted in accordance with the recommendation of the board of directors or, in the absence of such a recommendation, in accordance with the discretion of the proxy holder.
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C/O DST SYSTEMS, INC. P.O. BOX 219015 KANSAS CITY, MO 64121 |
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VOTE BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time the day before the meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the website and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form. If you vote by Internet you do not have to return your proxy card. |
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ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE PROXY MATERIALS |
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If you would like to reduce the costs incurred by our company in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access proxy materials electronically in future years. |
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VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903 |
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Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time the day before the meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions. If you vote by phone you do not have to return your proxy card. |
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VOTE BY MAIL |
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Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc., 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. |
TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:
M87661-P64928 KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.
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DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY
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KBS REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST III, INC. |
For All |
Withhold All | For All Except |
*To Withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark the “For All Except” box and write the number of the nominee(s) on the line below. |
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The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR all nominees listed in Proposal 1. |
¨ | ¨ | ¨ |
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1. |
Election of Directors |
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01) Schreiber | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
02) McMillan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
03) Adler | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
04) Cambon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
05) Gabriel | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR Proposal 2 as described in the proxy statement. |
For | Against | Abstain | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2. | The ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2015. |
¨ | ¨ | ¨ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Please sign exactly as your name appears on this proxy card. When shares of common stock are held by joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by president or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by general partner or other authorized person. |
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Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] | Date | Signature (Joint Owners) | Date |
PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
KBS REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST III, INC.
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
11:00 a.m. (PDT)
At
The Island Hotel
690 Newport Center Drive
Newport Beach, California 92660
Your Vote is Important!
FOLD HERE BEFORE INSERTING INTO RETURN ENVELOPE
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
M87662-P64928
KBS Real Estate Investment Trust III, Inc. 800 NEWPORT CENTER DRIVE • SUITE 700 • NEWPORT BEACH • CALIFORNIA 92660 THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned stockholder hereby appoints Charles J. Schreiber, Jr., Peter McMillan III, David E. Snyder and Stacie K. Yamane, and each of them, as proxy and attorney-in-fact, each with the power to appoint his or her substitute, on behalf and in the name of the undersigned, to represent the undersigned at the annual meeting of stockholders of KBS REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST III, INC. to be held on July 7, 2015, and at any adjournments thereof, and to vote all shares of common stock that the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present, as indicated on the reverse side of this card. The undersigned acknowledges receipt of the notice of annual meeting of stockholders, the proxy statement and the annual report.
This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned stockholder. If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted “FOR” all nominees listed in Proposal 1 and “FOR” Proposal 2. The proxies are authorized to vote upon such other matters as may properly come before the annual meeting or any adjournments thereof in accordance with the recommendation of the board of directors or, in the absence of such a recommendation, in their discretion, including, but not limited to, the power and authority to adjourn the annual meeting to a date not more than 120 days after the record date in the event that a quorum is not obtained by the July 7, 2015 meeting date.
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Please Vote!
Your vote is not cast automatically for you. We encourage you to cast your vote promptly, which will help minimize any additional cost associated with soliciting votes.
Read Enclosed Materials
Enclosed is the following information for the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders:
• 2014 Annual Report
• Proxy Statement that describes the proposals to be voted upon
• Proxy card for each registration*
* You may have more than one proxy card included in your packet because you have multiple registrations.
Please be sure to vote all proxies in your packet.
Complete the Proxy Card and Return by Mail
On the proxy card, cast your vote on the proposals and sign and return it in the postage-paid envelope provided. Please note, all parties must sign.
or Vote by Telephone*
Call (800) 690-6903 using a touch-tone telephone and follow the simple, recorded instructions. Your control number is located on the proxy card.
or Vote by Internet*
Visit www.proxyvote.com and follow the online instructions to cast your vote.
Your control number is located on the proxy card.
* If you voted by telephone or the Internet, you do not need to mail back the proxy card.
For Assistance
If you have any questions or need assistance with completing your proxy card, please call our proxy solicitor, Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc., at (855) 723-7816.
Representatives are available Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (EDT).
Thank you!
We appreciate your participation and support. Again, please be sure to vote!