UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On June 5, 2023, John T. McClain, Adam Metz, Mitchell Sabshon, Allison L. Thrush and Mark Wilsmann resigned from the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of Seritage Growth Properties (the “Company”), effective on June 6, 2023 immediately prior to the 2023 annual meeting of shareholders. Each of Mr. McClain, Mr. Metz, Mr. Sabshon, Ms. Thrush and Mr. Wilsmann were then currently serving terms that expired after the 2023 annual meeting. The resignations were provided in accordance with Maryland law solely for the purpose of facilitating the annual election of all of the Company’s trustees pursuant to the amendment to the Company’s Declaration of Trust to declassify the Board, which was previously approved by the Company’s shareholders at the 2022 annual meeting of shareholders. The resignations of Mr. McClain, Mr. Metz, Mr. Sabshon, Ms. Thrush and Mr. Wilsmann were not a result of any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices.
Item 5.07. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
On June 6, 2023, Company held its annual meeting of shareholders. The meeting was held to vote on the matters described below.
1. Election of trustees. John T. McClain, Adam Metz, Talya Nevo-Hacohen, Andrea Olshan, Mitchell Sabshon, Allison L. Thrush and Mark Wilsmann stood for re-election as trustees of the Company for a term ending at the 2024 annual meeting of shareholders. Under the Company’s bylaws, the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of all the votes cast at a meeting of shareholders at which a quorum is present is required to elect a trustee. The votes on this matter were as follows, in which all such trustees of the Company received the required two-thirds of all the votes cast:
Name |
For |
Against |
Abstain |
Broker Non-Vote | ||||
John T. McClain |
32,620,431 | 3,014,117 | 19,705 | 6,241,638 | ||||
Adam Metz |
32,892,027 | 2,750,751 | 11,475 | 6,241,638 | ||||
Talya Nevo-Hacohen |
32,949,121 | 2,672,362 | 32,770 | 6,241,638 | ||||
Andrea Olshan |
35,448,284 | 181,720 | 24,249 | 6,241,638 | ||||
Mitchell Sabshon |
34,471,109 | 1,162,935 | 20,209 | 6,241,638 | ||||
Allison L. Thrush |
34,935,694 | 697,619 | 20,940 | 6,241,638 | ||||
Mark Wilsmann |
34,937,226 | 697,046 | 19,981 | 6,241,638 |
2. Ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2023. The shareholders ratified the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2023. Ratification of the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm required the affirmative vote of a majority of votes at the annual meeting. The votes on this matter were as follows:
For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Vote | |||
41,712,026 |
130,977 | 52,888 | 0 |
3. Approval of an advisory, non-binding, resolution to approve the Company’s executive compensation program for the Company’s named executive officers. The shareholders approved an advisory, non-binding, resolution to approve the Company’s executive compensation program for the Company’s named executive officers. Approval of this advisory, non-binding, resolution required the affirmative vote of a majority of votes at the annual meeting. The votes on this matter were as follows:
For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Vote | |||
15,576,078 |
4,979,785 | 15,098,390 | 6,241,638 |
4. Approval of, on an advisory basis, the frequency in which shareholders will participate in any advisory vote on executive compensation. The shareholders approved, on an advisory basis, the frequency in which shareholders will participate in any advisory vote on executive compensation. Approval of this advisory, non-binding, resolution required the affirmative vote of a majority of votes at the annual meeting. The votes on this matter were as follows:
1 Year | 2 Years | 3 Years | Abstain | Broker Non-Vote | ||||
35,528,066 |
9,859 | 105,941 | 10,387 | 6,241,638 |
Based on the voting results set forth in proposal four above, the Company will continue to provide for an annual non-binding, advisory “say on pay” vote on the Company’s compensation program for its named executive officers until the next required vote on the frequency of future “say on pay” shareholder votes or until the Board otherwise determines that a different frequency for such non-binding, advisory votes is in the best interests of the shareholders of the Company.
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
On June 8, 2023, the Company announced that on June 7, 2023 it made a voluntary prepayment in the amount of $50 million under its $1.6 billion Senior Secured Term Loan Agreement, dated July 31, 2018, among the Company, Seritage Growth Properties, L.P. and Berkshire Hathaway Life Insurance Company of Nebraska (as amended by amendment no. 1, dated May 5, 2020, by amendment no. 2, dated November 24, 2021, and by amendment no. 3, dated June 16, 2022, the “Term Loan Agreement”). Following the prepayment, $550 million remains outstanding under the Term Loan Agreement. The prepayment will also reduce the Company’s total annual interest expense related to the term loan facility by approximately $3.5 million.
In accordance with General Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K, the information in this Item 7.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, and shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
Exhibit No. | Description | |
99.1 | Press Release Dated June 8, 2023 | |
104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within Inline XBRL document) |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
SERITAGE GROWTH PROPERTIES | ||
By: | /s/ Matthew Fernand | |
Matthew Fernand | ||
Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary |
Date: June 8, 2023