COUSINS PROPERTIES INCORPORATED
2500 WINDY RIDGE PARKWAY, SUITE 1600
ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30339
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD MAY 7, 2002
TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF COUSINS PROPERTIES INCORPORATED:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Cousins
Properties Incorporated (the "Company") will be held on Tuesday, May 7, 2002, at
2:00 p.m., local time, at the Theatre, Lobby Level, The Inforum, 250 Williams
Street, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, for the following purposes:
(1) To elect ten (10) Directors;
(2) To approve an amendment to the 1999 Incentive Stock
Plan to increase the number of shares of Common Stock
available under the Plan by 1.1 million shares;
(3) To approve an amendment to the 1999 Incentive Stock
Plan to increase the number of shares of Common Stock for
which options or stock appreciation rights can be awarded to
any one individual in a calendar year from 450,000 to 750,000;
and
(4) To transact such other business as may properly come before
the meeting or any adjournments thereof.
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on March 19, 2002
will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting. A list of stockholders
as of the close of business on March 19, 2002 will be available at the Annual
Meeting of Stockholders for examination by any stockholder, his agent or his
attorney.
Your attention is directed to the Proxy Statement submitted with this
notice.
By Order of the Board of Directors.
JAMES A. FLEMING
Secretary
Atlanta, Georgia
March 29, 2002
WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, YOU ARE URGED TO
VOTE, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE PAID
ENVELOPE. IF YOU ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, YOU MAY REVOKE THE PROXY AND VOTE
YOUR SHARES IN PERSON.
COUSINS PROPERTIES INCORPORATED
2500 WINDY RIDGE PARKWAY, SUITE 1600
ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30339
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD MAY 7, 2002
The accompanying proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors of
Cousins Properties Incorporated (the "Company") for use at the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders (the "Annual Meeting") to be held on May 7, 2002, at 2:00 p.m.,
local time, at the Theatre, Lobby Level, The Inforum, 250 Williams Street,
Atlanta, Georgia 30303, and any adjournments thereof. When a proxy is properly
executed and returned, the shares it represents will be voted at the meeting
and, where a vote has been directed on the proxy, the shares the proxy
represents will be voted in accordance with such direction. If no direction is
indicated on the proxy with respect to the nominees for director or with respect
to any other proposal, the shares represented by the proxy will be voted for the
nominees for director and for the applicable proposal.
The presence of holders representing a majority of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock either in person or by proxy will constitute a quorum for
the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting. If your shares are held
through a broker and you do not vote your proxy, your brokerage firm may vote
your unvoted shares under certain circumstances. These circumstances include
certain routine matters, such as the election of directors. When a brokerage
firm votes its customers' unvoted shares on routine matters, these shares are
counted for purposes of establishing a quorum, and they are counted as votes
cast for or against matters presented for stockholder consideration. However, a
brokerage firm cannot vote its customers' shares on non-routine matters. These
are called "broker non-votes." Broker non-votes are counted in establishing a
quorum, but they are not counted as votes cast for or against matters presented
for stockholder consideration. Consequently, broker non-votes have no effect on
the outcome of the vote. Abstentions with respect to a proposal are counted for
purposes of establishing a quorum, but have no effect on the outcome of the
vote.
Any stockholder giving a proxy has the power to revoke it at any time
before it is voted. Revocation of a proxy is effective upon receipt by the
Secretary of the Company of either (i) an instrument revoking it or (ii) a duly
executed proxy bearing a later date. A stockholder who is present at the Annual
Meeting may also revoke his proxy and vote in person.
Only stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 19,
2002 will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. As of that date, the
Company had outstanding 49,659,720 shares of Common Stock, each share being
entitled to one vote. Unless the context suggests otherwise, all share
information in this Proxy Statement reflects a 3-for-2 stock split effective on
October 2, 2000. No cumulative voting rights are authorized, and dissenters'
rights are not applicable to the proposals. The date on which this Proxy
Statement and the accompanying form of proxy are first being sent to
stockholders is March 29, 2002.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board has fixed the number of Directors at ten (10). All of the
director-nominees are currently members of the Board.
If, at the time of the Annual Meeting, any nominee should be unable to
serve or, for good cause will not serve, the persons named in the proxy will
vote for the substitute nominees or vote to reduce the number of Directors, as
the Board recommends. The Board has no reason to believe that any substitute
nominee or nominees will be required. Except as set forth above, the proxy
solicited hereby cannot be voted for the election of a person to fill a
directorship for which no nominee is named in this Proxy Statement. The
affirmative vote of a plurality of the shares represented in person or by proxy
at the meeting and entitled to vote is required to elect the Directors.
Pursuant to the Company's Bylaws, the Directors could, by a majority
vote, increase the number of Directors to up to 12 and fill the vacancies
resulting from the increase until the next Annual Meeting. The Directors have
not identified any specific persons as potential candidates to add as a
Director.
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY
Directors of the Company
The following table sets forth the name of each Director nominee, his
or her age, the year he or she was first elected as a Director, the number of
shares of Common Stock of the Company beneficially owned by him or her as of
February 1, 2002, the percent of the Common Stock of the Company so owned, a
brief description of his or her principal occupation and business experience
during the last five years, directorships of other publicly held companies
presently held by him or her and certain other information.
Under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, a person is
deemed to be a "beneficial owner" of a security if that person has or shares
"voting power," which includes the power to vote, or direct the voting of, the
security, or "investment power," which includes the power to dispose of, or to
direct the disposition of, the security. A person also is deemed to be a
beneficial owner of any securities of which that person has the right to acquire
beneficial ownership within sixty days. Under these rules, more than one person
may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of the same securities, and a person may
be deemed to be a beneficial owner of securities as to which he currently has no
beneficial economic interest. Except as indicated in the notes to the following
table, the persons indicated possessed sole voting and investment power with
respect to all shares set forth opposite their names.
The Board of Directors recommends that the stockholders vote "FOR" the nominees
for Director.
Shares of
Common
Stock
First Beneficially
Year Owned as of
Elected February 1, Percent
Name Age Director Information Concerning Nominees(1) 2002(1) of Class
---- --- -------- ---------------------------------- ------------ --------
Thomas D. Bell, Jr.(2) 52 2000 President and Chief Executive Officer of the 10,310(3) *
Company since January 2002. Vice Chairman of
the Board. Chairman of the Executive
Committee. Special Limited Partner with
Forstmann Little & Co. from January 2001 until
January 2002. Worldwide Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of Young & Rubicam, Inc.
from January 2000 to November 2000; President
and Chief Operating Officer of Young &
Rubicam, Inc. from August 1999 to
December 1999; Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of Young & Rubicam Advertising from
September 1998 to August 1999; President and
Chief Executive Officer of Burson-Marsteller
from May 1995 to September 1998; Director of
Lincoln Financial Group, McLeodUSA and the
United States Chamber of Commerce.
Richard W. Courts, II(2)(4)(5) 66 1985 Chairman of Atlantic Investment Company (real 2,177,063(6) 4.4%
estate development/ investments) for at least
five years. Director of SunTrust Banks of
Georgia, Inc.; SunTrust Bank, Atlanta; and
Genuine Parts Company.
Thomas G. Cousins(2) 70 1962 Chairman of the Board of the Company; served 9,748,715(7) 19.49%
as Chief Executive Officer of the Company
until January 2002. Director Emeritus of
Total System Services, Inc.; Trustee Emeritus
of Emory University; Trustee of the High
Museum of Art; Member of the Board of Georgia
Research Alliance; Chairman and Trustee of the
CF Foundation.
Lillian C. Giornelli 41 1999 Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The 352,112(8) *
Cousins Foundation, Inc. since March 1999.
Trustee of The Cousins Foundation, Inc. for at
least five years.
Terence C. Golden(4) 57 1996 Chairman of Bailey Capital Corporation; 44,319(9) *
Director of Host Marriott
Corporation; Director of
PEPCO; Director of The
Cafritz Foundation; Director
of American Classic Voyages,
Inc.
Boone A. Knox(5) 65 1969 Chairman of Regions Bank of Central Georgia 309,509(10) *
since 1997. Prior to such date, Chairman of
Allied Bankshares, Inc. for at least five
years. Director of Merry Land Properties,
Inc.; Director of The Intercept Group, Inc.;
Trustee of Equity Residential Properties Trust.
John J. Mack(4) 57 2001 Chief Executive Officer of Credit Suisse First 51,300(11) *
Boston since July 2001. President, Chief
Operating Officer and Director of Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter & Co. from June 1997 until
March 2001. Prior to June 1997, President and
Director of Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc. since
at least 1995.
Hugh L. McColl, Jr.(4) 66 2001 Chairman of McColl Brothers Lockwood since 10,000(12) *
April 2001. From 1998 to 2001, served as
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director
of Bank of America Corporation and NB Holdings
Corporation, and as Chief Executive Officer of
Bank of America, N.A.. Also was Chief
Executive Officer of the former NationsBank
Corporation and its predecessor, NCNB
Corporation, from 1983 to 1998. Director of
Ruddick Corp., Sonoco Products Company and
Sykes Enterprises.
William Porter Payne(5) 54 1996 Partner of Gleacher & Co. since July 2000; 39,885(13) *
Vice Chairman and Director of PTEK Holdings,
Inc. from July 1998 to July 2000; Vice
Chairman of Bank of America Corporation from
February 1997 to July 1998. Prior to February
1997, President and Chief Executive Officer of
the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games
for at least five years. Director of
Jefferson Pilot Corporation; Anheuser Busch,
Inc.; ILD Telecommunications, Inc.; Crown
Crafts, Inc.; and Infinity Horizons, LLC.
R. Dary Stone 48 2001 President - Texas of the Company since January 128,291(14) *
2002. President and Chief Operating Officer
of the Company from February 2001 until
January 2002. President of Cousins Stone LP
(now known as Cousins Properties Services LP)
from June 1999 until February 2001; President
of Faison Stone prior to June 1999 and for at
least five years. President and CEO of Dallas
County Utility and Reclamation District from
September 1999 to present. Director of
Reunion Bancshares, Inc.
* Less than 1%.
(1) Based upon information furnished by the respective nominees.
(2) Member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors.
(3) Includes 6,000 shares which may be currently acquired by
exercise of options. Does not include options to acquire 150,000
shares, which were granted to Mr. Bell on February 6, 2001, but were
relinquished by Mr. Bell on May 15, 2001.
(4) Member of the Compensation, Succession, Nominating and
Board Structure Committee of the Board of Directors.
(5) Member of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.
(6) Includes a total of 2,078,626 shares as to which Mr. Courts
shares voting and investment power. Of these shares (i) 387,751 shares
are owned by the Courts Foundation for which Mr. Courts serves as a
Trustee and as Chairman and (ii) 1,690,875 shares are owned by Atlantic
Investment Company. Also includes 31,500 shares which may be currently
acquired by exercise of options. By virtue of his position with
Atlantic Investment Company, Mr. Courts may be deemed to have sole
voting and investment power of the shares owned by Atlantic Investment
Company. Does not include 12,309 shares owned by Mr. Courts' wife, as
to which Mr. Courts disclaims beneficial interest.
(7) Includes 834,728 shares held in a self-directed account for Mr.
Cousins in the Company's Profit Sharing Plan. Includes 632,655 shares
as to which Mr. Cousins shares voting and investment power. Also
includes 561,250 shares which may be currently acquired by exercise of
options and 36,880 shares of performance accelerated restricted stock
("PARS"). Does not include 690,034 shares owned by Mr. Cousins' wife,
as to which Mr. Cousins disclaims beneficial interest.
(8) Includes 1,705 shares as to which Ms. Giornelli shares voting
and investment power. Includes 32,430 shares held by Ms. Giornelli as
custodian for her children. Also includes 533 shares held by the Estate
of Lillian W. Cousins, for which Ms. Giornelli is executrix and as to
which Ms. Giornelli disclaims beneficial interest. Also includes 18,000
shares which may be currently acquired by exercise of options.
(9) Includes 31,500 shares which may be currently acquired by exercise of
options.
(10) Includes 136,200 shares owned by the Knox Foundation, of which
Mr. Knox is a trustee, and 526 shares owned by BT Investments, a
partnership of which Mr. Knox is a general partner. Mr. Knox shares
voting and investment power with respect to the Knox Foundation and BT
Investments shares. Also includes 31,500 shares which may be currently
acquired by exercise of options.
(11) Includes 29,250 shares owned by the C. J. Mack Foundation, of which
Mr. Mack serves as a director. Mr. Mack shares voting and investment
power with respect to the C. J. Mack Foundation. Also includes 6,000
shares which may be currently acquired by exercise of options.
(12) Includes 6,000 shares which may be currently acquired by exercise of
options.
(13) Does not include 1,875 shares held by the Estate of John F. Beard, for
which Mr. Payne's wife is executrix and as to which Mr. Payne disclaims
beneficial interest. Includes 31,500 shares which may be currently
acquired by exercise of options.
(14) Includes 691 shares allocated to Mr. Stone from the Company's Profit
Sharing Plan and 28,400 shares which may be currently acquired by
exercise of options. Also includes 20,000 PARS.
Ms. Giornelli is the daughter of Mr. Cousins. Mr. McColl is the father
of John McColl, a Senior Vice President of the Company. There are no other
family relationships among the Director nominees or Executive Officers of the
Company.
The Board of Directors held four regular meetings during 2001. The
Board has three standing committees - the Audit Committee, the Compensation,
Succession, Nominating and Board Structure Committee, and the Executive
Committee. The Audit Committee held one meeting during 2001, and the Chairman of
the Audit Committee reviewed the Company's quarterly financial reports and
discussed them on a quarterly basis with the company's auditors. The
Compensation, Succession, Nominating and Board Structure Committee held one
meeting during 2001. The Executive Committee held no formal meetings during
2001, but took action during the year by unanimous consent. Each Director
attended at least 75% of all Board of Directors and Committee meetings.
Mr. Bell was a member of the Audit Committee until January 2002.
When Mr. Bell became the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company
in January 2002, he resigned from the Audit Committee. On March 15, 2002,
Mr. Courts became a member of the Audit Committee. On March 15, 2002,
Mr. Mack became a member of the Compensation, Succession, Nominating and
Board Structure Committee and resigned from the Audit Committee.
As described under the Report of the Audit Committee, the Audit
Committee makes recommendations concerning the engagement or discharge of the
Company's independent auditors, reviews with the independent auditors the audit
plan and results of the audit engagement, reviews the scope and results of the
Company's internal auditing procedures and the adequacy of its accounting
controls, reviews the independence of the independent auditors and considers the
reasonableness of the independent auditors' audit and non-audit fees.
As described under the Committee Report on Compensation, the
Compensation, Succession, Nominating and Board Structure Committee sets and
administers the policies that govern executive compensation. This committee also
has oversight over the Company's management succession and development programs
and has oversight over all personnel related matters involving senior officers
of the Company. This committee also makes recommendations regarding composition
and size of the Board of Directors, considers nominees recommended by
stockholders submitted in writing to the Committee at the Company's
principal office by November 30, 2002, views qualifications of Board
candidates and the effectiveness of incumbent directors, recommends a schedule
of fees, tenure and retirement of Board members, recommends a slate of officers
of the Company annually, and recommends from time to time the removal and
promotion of such officers as well as the appointment of replacements.
In January 2001, the Board of Directors established an Executive
Committee, of which Messrs. Bell, Courts and Cousins are members. Mr. Bell is
the Chairman of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee, between
meetings of the Board of Directors, may, with certain exceptions, exercise the
powers of the Board of Directors.
Executive Officers of the Company
The following table sets forth the number and percentage of shares of
Common Stock of the Company beneficially owned by the four most highly
compensated Executive Officers of the Company other than the Chief Executive
Officer, who is included above, and by all Executive Officers and Directors of
the Company as a group, as of February 1, 2002.
Shares of Common Stock
Beneficially Owned on
Name February 1, 2002(1) Percent of Class
---- ---------------------- ----------------
R. Dary Stone,
President - Texas(2) 128,291(3) *
Craig B. Jones,
Senior Vice President and President - Office Division 241,829(4) *
Tom G. Charlesworth,
Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer 318,722(5) *
Joel T. Murphy,
Senior Vice President and President - Retail Division 248,530(6) *
Total for all Executive Officers and
Directors as a group (18 persons) 14,365,886(7) 27.3%
- -----------------
* Less than 1%
(1) Based upon information furnished by the Officers and Directors.
(2) On January 7, 2002, the Company announced that Mr. Stone would hold the
position of President - Texas. From February 14, 2001 until such date, he
was President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company.
(3) Includes 691 shares allocated to Mr. Stone from the Company's Profit
Sharing Plan and 28,400 shares which may be currently acquired by exercise
of options. Also includes 20,000 PARS.
(4) Includes 209,063 shares subject to presently exercisable options and 8,983
shares allocated to Mr. Jones from the Company's Profit Sharing Plan.
Includes 1,371 shares held by Mr. Jones as custodian for his minor
children, as to which he disclaims beneficial interest. Also includes
22,412 PARS.
(5) Includes 253,973 shares subject to presently exercisable options and 8,028
shares allocated to Mr. Charlesworth from the Company's Profit Sharing
Plan. Also includes 4,140 shares owned by Mr. Charlesworth's children and
18,652 PARS.
(6) Includes 220,313 shares subject to presently exercisable options and 5,347
shares held in a self- directed account in the Company's Profit Sharing
Plan. Also includes 22,412 PARS. Does not include 446 shares owned by Mr.
Murphy's wife, as to which Mr. Murphy disclaims any beneficial interest.
(7) Includes a total of 2,054,594 shares subject to presently exercisable
options. Includes 2,850,824 shares as to which Executive Officers and
Directors share voting and investment power with others. Also includes
149,215 PARS. Does not include 704,664 shares owned by wives and other
affiliates of Executive Officers and Directors, as to which such Executive
Officers and Directors disclaim beneficial interest.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation Table
The following information is furnished with respect to the Chief
Executive Officer and each of the other four most highly compensated Executive
Officers of the Company (collectively, the "Named Executive Officers") and
includes salary and bonuses paid by the Company, Cousins Real Estate Corporation
("CREC") and CREC II, Inc. ("CREC II").
Long Term
Annual Compensation(1) Compensation
------------------------------- ----------------------------------------
Name, Age Restricted Securities All
and Stock Underlying LTIP Other
Principal Position Year Salary(2) Bonus Awards(3) Options/SARs Payment(4) Compensation(5)
------------------ ---- --------- ----- --------- ------------ ---------- ---------------
Thomas G. Cousins, 70 2001 $273,448(6) $275,000 - - $ - $ 68,773
Chairman and Chief 2000 500,000 400,000 $1,028,030 145,000 - 32,299
Executive Officer(7) 1999 425,000 350,000 _ - - 22,624
R. Dary Stone, 48 2001 305,729 180,000 - 62,800 - 502,239
President and Chief 2000 200,000 100,000 557,500 129,500 - 17,450
Operating Officer(8) 1999 113,889 202,503 - - - 263
Craig B. Jones, 51 2001 280,000 180,000 - 46,600 - 48,663
Senior Vice President 2000 250,000 250,000 624,730 56,250 - 25,395
and President-Office 1999 206,000 225,000 - 75,000 - 17,860
Division
Tom G. Charlesworth, 52 2001 280,000 160,000 - 48,400 - 43,436
Executive Vice 2000 275,000 180,000 519,925 56,250 - 24,017
President and Chief 1999 190,000 160,000 - 75,000 - 17,620
Investment Officer(9)
Joel T. Murphy, 43 2001 280,000 180,000 - 46,600 - 48,663
Senior Vice President 2000 250,000 125,000 624,735 56,250 110,956 24,620
and President-Retail 1999 206,000 150,000 - 75,000 - 16,840
Division
(1) Excludes perquisites and other personal benefits, the aggregate amount of
which did not, in the case of any individual, exceed $20,000 in any year.
(2) Salary amounts represent compensation before elective reductions by the
executives for medical, child care and related benefits.
(3) This represents the market value of shares of performance accelerated
restricted stock awarded as of December 28, 2000 (the "Grant Date"). These
performance accelerated restricted stock grants will vest in any event if
the employee is employed by the Company on November 14, 2006, but are
subject to accelerated vesting as follows: (i) the stock awards vest in
three years if Funds From Operations Per Share ("FFOPS") has increased by
15% per annum; (ii) the stock awards vest in four years if FFOPS has grown
by 14% per annum; or (iii) the stock awards vest in five years if FFOPS has
grown by 13% per annum. These stock grants were awarded under the 1999
Incentive Stock Plan, as amended and restated.
(4) Long-Term Incentive Plan ("LTIP") Payouts are cash payments made upon
exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights ("SARs").
(5) All Other Compensation for 2001 includes (i) the Company's annual
contribution of $17,000 to the Company's Profit Sharing Plan on behalf of
each of Messrs. Cousins, Stone, Jones, Charlesworth and Murphy, (ii) life
insurance premiums paid by the Company on behalf of the Named Executive
Officers for life insurance in excess of $50,000 and (iii) dividends paid
on performance accelerated restricted stock grants discussed in footnote
(3) above. All Other Compensation for Mr. Stone also includes (a) an
allowance of $429,505, which was paid to Mr. Stone to cover his moving
expenses as well as his income taxes associated with this compensation, and
(b) $34,224, representing the value of his use of the company's airplane
for commuting and other personal use.
(6) Effective July 10, 2001, Mr. Cousins no longer received a salary.
(7) On January 28, 2002, Mr. Cousins relinquished the position of Chief
Executive Officer, and the Company named Thomas D. Bell, Jr. to the
position of President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Cousins
retained the position of Chairman of the Board.
(8) On February 14, 2001, the Company announced the promotion of Mr. Stone to
the position of President and Chief Operating Officer. Prior to that date,
Daniel M. DuPree was President and Chief Operating Officer. Effective
January 28, 2002, Mr. Stone relinquished the position of President and
Chief Operating Officer and assumed the position of President - Texas for
the Company.
(9) On January 24, 2001, the Company announced the promotion of Mr.
Charlesworth to the position of Executive Vice President and Chief
Investment Officer of the Company. Prior to such date, he was Senior Vice
President, General Counsel and Secretary.
The Company maintains a Profit Sharing Plan for the benefit of all of
the Company's full time salaried employees. The annual contribution is
determined by the Boards of Directors of the Company, CREC and CREC II, and is
allocated among eligible participants. Contributions become vested over a
three-year period. Vested benefits are generally paid to participants upon
retirement, but may be paid earlier in certain circumstances, such as death,
disability, or termination of employment.
Option/SAR Grants In Last Fiscal Year
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to
options and Stock Appreciation Rights ("SARs") granted to the Named Executive
Officers for the year ended December 31, 2001.
Individual Grants
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percent of
Number Total
of Options/
Securities SARs
Underlying Granted to
Options/ Employees Exercise or
SARs in Fiscal Base Price Expiration Grant Date
Name Granted(1) Year ($/share)(2) Date Present Value(3)
---- ---------- --------- ------------ ---------- ----------------
Thomas G. Cousins - - - - $ -
R. Dary Stone 62,800(4) 9% $24.42 11/13/11 $ 612,300
Craig B. Jones 46,600 7% $24.42 11/13/11 $ 454,350
Tom G. Charlesworth 48,400 7% $24.42 11/13/11 $ 471,900
Joel T. Murphy 46,600 7% $24.42 11/13/11 $ 454,350
(1) Options vest over a period of four years (25% on November 13, 2002 and on
each of the next 3 anniversaries of such date).
(2) All options were granted at prices equal to the market value of the
underlying stock on the date of grant.
(3) With the assistance of an independent compensation consultant, the
Company calculated the grant date present value of the options using a net
present value ("NPV") method. The NPV method used the total annualized
shareholder return of the Company over the last five years to calculate a
projected share price at the end of the next five years. The spread between
the projected future share price and the current share price was then
discounted back at an annualized rate of 13% to calculate the value of one
option. Using this methodology, the value of one option was determined to
be $9.75. The Company believes that the NPV method more accurately reflects
the value of the Company's options than the Black-Scholes method, due to
the fact that the historical performance of the Company's stock price
demonstrates that the Black-Scholes method understates the value of the
Company's options. The grant date present value calculated using the
Black-Scholes method was $2.76 per option. The Black-Scholes method used
assumed a risk free rate of 8 year U.S. Government Obligations as of grant
dates, five-year closing price volatility, dividend rates which existed as
of the date of grant and an exercise period of 8 years.
(4) Excludes 75,000 options that Mr. Stone received in January 2001, which
he has agreed to relinquish in 2002.
Aggregated Option/SAR Exercises In Last Fiscal Year
And Fiscal Year End Option/SAR Values
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to
options/SARs exercised and the value of unexercised options and SARs held by the
Named Executive Officers of the Company at December 31, 2001.
Number of Value of
Securities Underlying Unexercised
# of Unexercised In-The-Money
Shares Options and SARs Options and SARs
Acquired at FY-End at FY-End ($)
on Value Exercisable/ Exercisable/
Name Exercise Realized Unexercisable Unexercisable
---- -------- -------- -------------------- ---------------
Thomas G. Cousins - - 561,250/221,250 $4,073,375/$465,500
R. Dary Stone - - 28,400/163,900* $ 14,337/$ 57,348
Craig B. Jones - - 224,813/166,787 $1,646,433/$206,955
Tom G. Charlesworth - - 253,973/161,087 $2,245,588/$176,005
Joel T. Murphy - - 220,313/168,287 $1,492,375/$213,245
*Excludes 75,000 options that Mr. Stone received in January 2001, which
he has agreed to relinquish in 2002.
Committee Report on Compensation
The Compensation, Succession, Nominating and Board Structure Committee
of the Company's Board of Directors (the "Committee") is responsible for
ensuring that an effective compensation program is in place to provide
performance-oriented incentives to management. The Committee's report on
compensation is as follows:
Each executive officer's compensation is determined annually by the
Committee. Senior management makes recommendations to the Committee regarding
each executive officer's compensation (except the Chief Executive Officer's
compensation), including recommendations for base salary for the succeeding
year, cash bonuses for prior year performance results and stock incentive
awards. The Company annually conducts a reevaluation of compensation for
executive officers and certain other management personnel. This is done with the
assistance of an independent compensation consulting firm, which provides a
report setting forth competitive compensation data for executive officer
positions and certain other management positions.
The Company's compensation philosophy is based on a pay for performance
approach. The compensation program seeks to reward individual action
that contributes to operating unit performance and Company performance. The
Company's goal is to target total remuneration (base salary, plus annual and
long term incentive) for a position between the median and 75th percentile for
the Company's peers. The Company's policies with respect to individual
components of total remuneration are as follows:
- - Base Salary. Each executive officer's base salary is based upon
------------
the competitive market for the executive officer's services,
including the executive's specific responsibilities, experience and
overall performance. In keeping with the Company's pay for
performance approach, the Company's objective is to set the base
salary range midpoints at the median base salary level of the
Company's peers in its industry. Base salaries are adjusted
annually, following review of competitive base salary data.
Changes in responsibilities also are taken into account in the
review process, as well as the executive's assessed contribution to the
Company's success.
- - Annual Incentive Compensation. The Company awards discretionary
year-end bonuses. These bonuses reflect the contribution of the
individual as well as the performance of the operating unit and the
Company as a whole. The target level for the bonus for a position is
set between the median and 75th percentile for the Company's peers.
The performance measures applicable to a particular position vary
according to the functions of the position. Performance measures
considered by the Committee included the Company's performance, as
measured by stock price performance and growth of Funds From
Operations Per Share ("FFOPS"), the level of the predevelopment
pipeline, the volume of development construction commenced,
completion of development projects on time and within budget,
execution of tenant leases, property management and leasing
results, property sales and financings achieved.
- - Long-Term Incentive Compensation. Long-term incentives for a position
are targeted between the median and 75th percentile for the Company's
peers. Long-term incentives align management's interests with that of
the stockholders and the Committee believes that stock-based awards are
most appropriate for this purpose. In 1999 the Board adopted, and the
shareholders approved, the 1999 Incentive Stock Plan. Under this plan,
various stock-based awards may be made by the Committee, including
stock options, restricted stock, performance shares and stock grants.
In 2000 the Committee awarded stock options and performance accelerated
restricted stock ("PARS") to each of the executive officers. The PARS
awards will vest if the employee is still employed by the Company on
November 14, 2006, but are subject to accelerated vesting as follows:
(i) the stock awards vest in three years if FFOPS has increased by 15%
per annum; (ii) the stock awards vest in four years if FFOPS has
grown by 14% per annum; or (iii) the stock awards vest in five
years if FFOPS has grown by 13% per annum. In 2001 the Committee
awarded stock options. Such options vest over a 4-year period. The
Committee believes that FFOPS growth ultimately drives the
appreciation of the value of the Company's common stock. In
addition, it is a performance measure that is more controllable by
management than other measures of shareholder return.
In general the Company would like to keep the total stock based awards
in a given year between 1% and 2.7% of total outstanding shares. In addition,
the Company would like to maintain over time the total number of shares
available for stock based grants under its stock plan at or below 15% of total
outstanding shares. If total market and performance based compensation to be
awarded through stock based grants should exceed these levels, the Company may
elect to grant such shares in any event or may pursue alternative means of
delivering the appropriate market compensation. The Committee will also study
alternative methods that might be used to neutralize the impact of stock based
grants on total shares outstanding.
The Company maintains a Profit Sharing Plan for the benefit of its
executive officers and other employees. The Board of Directors determines the
Company's annual contribution under the Profit Sharing Plan. The annual
contribution is allocated among eligible employees of the Company in accordance
with each such employee's compensation. At December 31, 2001, approximately
65.9% of the Profit Sharing Plan was invested in the Company's Common Stock.
Mr. Thomas G. Cousins was the Chief Executive Officer of the Company
from its founding in 1958 until January 28, 2002, and beneficially owns
approximately 19.5% of the Company's Common Stock. The Committee believes that
Mr. Cousins has contributed significantly to the Company's success. Mr. Cousins
has hired and developed an outstanding management group and has furnished
leadership in all areas of the Company's business. In determining Mr. Cousins'
bonus for 2001, the Committee considered Mr. Cousins' significant role in the
accomplishments of the Company in 2001, including performance measures referred
to above.
COMPENSATION, SUCCESSION, NOMINATING
AND BOARD STRUCTURE COMMITTEE
February 19, 2002
Richard W. Courts, II, Chairman
Terence C. Golden
Hugh L. McColl, Jr.
Compensation Committee Interlocks
and Insider Participation
The Company's Compensation, Succession, Nominating and Board Structure
Committee from May 1, 2001 through the date hereof has included Messrs. Courts,
Golden and McColl. Mr. Mack was added to this Committee on March 15, 2002. None
of such directors has any interlocking relationship required to be disclosed in
this Proxy Statement.
Compensation of Directors
Each Director who is not an employee of the Company will earn a $22,000
annual retainer for serving on the Board plus $1,000 for each Board meeting and
each Committee meeting attended. In addition, the Chairman of the Audit
Committee and the Chairman of the Compensation, Succession, Nominating and Board
Structure Committee each receives $1,000 per year for his or her service as
chair of such committee. The 1999 Incentive Stock Plan provides that an outside
Director may elect to receive Company stock in lieu of cash fees otherwise
payable for services as a Director. The price at which the shares are issued is
equal to 95% of the market price on the issuance date. On March 30, 2001, each
Director serving at that time, except Mr. Bell, was granted 6,000 stock options
pursuant to the 1999 Incentive Stock Plan. Such options have a term of ten
years, are exercisable upon grant and have an exercise price of $25.01 per
share, which was the closing price for the stock on the date of the grant.
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Audit Committee oversees the Company's financial reporting process
and internal controls on behalf of the Board of Directors. The Audit Committee
is composed of independent directors, and operates under a written charter
approved by the Board of Directors.
Management has primary responsibility for financial statements and the
reporting process, including the systems of internal controls, and has
represented to the Committee that the Company's 2001 consolidated financial
statements are in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. In
fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Committee reviewed and discussed
the audited financial statements in the Annual Report with management and Arthur
Andersen LLP, the Company's independent accountants.
The Committee reviewed with Arthur Andersen LLP the matters required to
be discussed under SAS 61. The Committee also received written disclosures and
the letter from Arthur Andersen LLP required by Independence Standards Board
Standard No. 1, and discussed with Arthur Andersen LLP their independence.
The Committee meets with Arthur Andersen LLP, with and without
management present, to discuss the results of their examination, their
evaluations of the Company's internal controls, and the overall quality of the
Company's financial reporting.
In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the
Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited consolidated
financial statements be included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2001, for filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
February 19, 2002
William Porter Payne, Chairman
Boone A. Knox
John J. Mack
Fiscal 2001 Audit Firm Fee Summary
During fiscal year 2001, the Company retained its principal auditor,
Arthur Andersen LLP, to provide services in the following categories and
amounts:
Audit fees $300,931
--------
Financial information systems
design and implementation $ 0
--------
All other fees:
Audit-related fees $ 16,500
Other fees* $196,800
--------
Total all other fees $213,300
--------
*Advice on tax matters.
The Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of non-audit
services by the Company's principal auditor is compatible with maintaining
auditor independence.
APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
Arthur Andersen LLP audited the accounts of the Company and its
consolidated entities and performed other services for the year ended December
31, 2001. The Board of Directors has not selected the Company's independent
auditors for the year ending December 31, 2002, but intends to do so after the
date of this Proxy Statement. Should the firm selected be unable to perform the
requested services for any reason, the Directors will appoint other independent
auditors to serve for the remainder of the year. An Arthur Andersen LLP
representative will be present at the Annual Meeting and will have the
opportunity to make a statement if such representative so desires and will be
available to respond to stockholder questions.
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE 1999 INCENTIVE STOCK PLAN
At the annual meeting of stockholders in 1999, the stockholders
approved the adoption of the 1999 Incentive Stock Plan (the "Plan"). At that
time 895,525 shares of Common Stock were set aside for issuance under the Plan
(these shares represent 1,343,287.5 shares currently, after the 3-for-2 stock
split effective on October 2, 2000), and a 450,000 share cap was set on the
number of shares subject to options and stock appreciation rights which could
granted under the Plan to one individual in any calendar year. The number of
shares set aside under the Plan for issuance pursuant to the exercise of an
incentive stock option cannot be increased without stockholder approval, and the
tax benefit to the Company to the cap on stock option and stock appreciation
grants will be lost if the cap is increased without stockholder approval.
At a special meeting of stockholders on December 28, 2000, the
stockholders approved an amendment to the Plan, increasing the number of shares
authorized for issuance under the Plan by 1,200,000 shares. At the annual
meeting of stockholders in 2001, the stockholders approved a further amendment
to the Plan, increasing the number of shares authorized for issuance under the
Plan by an additional 1,100,000 shares. However, the Board currently anticipates
that substantially all of these shares of Common Stock will be used for stock
based grants made in fiscal year 2002 or in early 2003 in the ordinary course of
making grants under the Plan.
Based on a compensation consultant's report on appropriate compensation
levels for the Company's executives, including the appropriate use of stock
based grants and the levels of such grants, the Board has determined that it is
in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to amend the Plan (i)
to increase the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under
the Plan by an additional 1,100,000 shares and (ii) to increase the number of
shares subject to stock options or stock appreciation rights grants that can be
made to any one individual in a calendar year from 450,000 to 750,000.
Proposed Amendments to the Plan
The proposed amendments to the Plan are (i) to increase the number of
shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan by 1,100,000
shares, for a total of 4,743,287.5 shares, and (ii) to increase the number of
shares subject to stock options or stock appreciation right grants that can be
made to any one individual in a calendar year from 450,000 to 750,000. These two
amendments, if approved by our stockholders, will be effected through an
amendment and restatement of the Plan which will be effective as of May 7, 2002,
a copy of which is attached here to as Annex A. If only the increase in the
number of shares is approved, the grant cap in ss. 6 of the Plan will remain at
options to purchase 450,000 shares or stock appreciation rights with respect to
450,000 shares. Likewise, if only the increase in the cap is approved, the
number of shares available for issuance under ss. 3 of the Plan will remain at
3,643,287.5.
The Board of Directors recommends that the stockholders vote "FOR" the
proposed amendments to the Plan.
Each of the proposed amendments to the Plan will become effective as of
May 7, 2002 upon receiving the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the
shares voting at the meeting. Proxies will be voted in accordance with the
specifications marked thereon, and, if no specification is made, will be voted
"FOR" approval of the two amendments to the Plan.
The Plan
The following discussion summarizes the material terms of the Plan.
This discussion does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to the Plan, as proposed to be amended and restated if both
proposed amendments are approved, a copy of which is attached hereto as Annex A.
The Plan attached as Annex A reflects the following amendments which were
adopted in 2000 and 2001: (i) an increase of 1.2 million shares in the number of
shares available for issuance under the Plan, which increase was approved by the
shareholders on December 28, 2000; (ii) a further increase of 1.1 million shares
in the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan, which increase
was approved by the shareholders on May 1, 2001; (iii) a clarification that all
grants made before the October 2, 2000 stock split are to be adjusted to reflect
the stock split; (iv) a clarification that the annual director stock option
grant cap is to be adjusted the same as all other grant caps to reflect this
stock split, increasing the grants from 4,000 option shares to 6,000; and any
future stock splits and (v) authorization for grants of stock options under the
Plan to outside directors for services beyond traditional services of directors.
The latter three amendments were adopted by action of the Board. These
amendments did not require shareholder approval.
Purpose
The primary purpose of the Plan is (i) to attract and retain key
employees and outside directors, (ii) to provide an incentive to key employees
and outside directors to work to increase the value of the Company's Common
Stock, and (iii) to provide key employees and outside directors with a stake in
the future of the Company which corresponds to the stake of each of the
Company's stockholders.
Administration
The Plan is administered by a committee of two or more directors
serving on the Company's Board of Directors (the "Committee"). Each director,
while a member of the Committee, must satisfy the requirements for a
"non-employee" director under Rule 16b-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(the "Exchange Act") and an "outside director" under Section 162(m) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). All grants under the
Plan are evidenced by a certificate that incorporates such terms and conditions
as the Committee deems necessary or appropriate.
Coverage, Eligibility and Annual Grant Limits
The Plan provides for the issuance of stock options ("Options") and
restricted stock ("Restricted Stock") to certain key employees and to outside
directors, for the issuance of stock appreciation rights ("SARs") to certain key
employees, and for the issuance of shares of Common Stock in lieu of cash to
outside directors. A key employee is any employee of the Company, Cousins Real
Estate Corporation, a "preferred stock subsidiary" (as defined in the Plan) that
has been designated by the Board of Directors as covered by the Plan, or any
subsidiary, parent or affiliate of the Company or Cousins Real Estate
Corporation who has been designated by the Committee and who, in the judgment of
the Committee acting in its absolute discretion, is a key to the success of one
these entities. The Company estimates that there currently are approximately 100
such key employees. No key employee in any calendar year may be granted an
Option to purchase more than a specified number of shares of Common Stock or an
SAR with respect to more than such number of shares of Common Stock. The maximum
number has been 450,000 shares in any calendar year, and the proposed amendments
to the Plan would increase this number to 750,000 shares in any calendar year.
Options
Under the Plan, either incentive stock options ("ISOs"), which are
intended to qualify for special tax treatment under Code Section 422, or
non-incentive stock options ("Non-ISOs") may be granted to key employees by the
Committee, but ISOs can only be granted to key employees of the Company or a
subsidiary or parent of the Company. Each Option granted under the Plan entitles
the holder thereof to purchase the number of shares of Common Stock specified in
the grant at the option price specified in the related stock option certificate.
The terms and conditions of each Option granted under the Plan will be
determined by the Committee, but no Stock Option will be granted at an exercise
price which is less than the fair market value of the Common Stock as determined
on the grant date in accordance with the Plan. In addition, if the Option is an
ISO that is granted to a ten percent stockholder of the Company, the option
price may be no less than 110% of the fair market value of the shares of Common
Stock on the grant date. No Option may be exercisable more than ten years from
the grant date or, if the Option is an ISO granted to a ten percent stockholder
of the Company, it may not be exercisable more than five years from the grant
date. Moreover, no participant may be granted ISOs which are first exercisable
in any calendar year for stock having an aggregate fair market value (determined
as of the date that the ISO was granted) that exceeds $100,000.
Each outside director automatically is granted a Non-ISO as of the
first day he or she serves as an outside director to purchase 6,000 shares of
Common Stock at an option price equal to the fair market value of the Common
Stock determined on the grant date in accordance with the Plan. Thereafter, each
outside director who is serving as such on March 31 of each calendar year and
who has served as such for more than ten consecutive months automatically is
granted a Non-ISO as of March 31 of such calendar year to purchase 6,000 shares
of Common Stock at an option price equal to the fair market value of the Common
Stock as determined on the grant date in accordance with the Plan.
Stock Appreciation Rights
SARs may be granted by the Committee to key employees under the Plan,
either as part of an Option or as stand alone SARs. The terms and conditions for
an SAR granted as part of an Option will be set forth in the related Option
certificate while the terms and conditions for a stand alone SAR will be set
forth in a related SAR certificate. SARs entitle the holder to receive an amount
equal to the excess of the fair market value of one share of Common Stock as of
the date such right is exercised over the baseline price specified in the Option
or SAR certificate (the "SAR Value"), multiplied by the number of shares of
Common Stock in respect of which the SAR is being exercised. The SAR Value for
an SAR is the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined on the
grant date in accordance with the Plan.
Restricted Stock
Restricted Stock may be granted by the Committee to key employees and
outside directors under the Plan subject to such terms and conditions, if any,
as the Committee acting in its absolute discretion deems appropriate. The
Committee, in its discretion, may prescribe that a key employee's or outside
director's rights in a Restricted Stock award will be nontransferable or
forfeitable or both unless certain conditions are satisfied. These conditions
may include, for example, a requirement that the key employee continue
employment or the outside director continue service with the Company for a
specified period or that the Company or the key employee achieve stated
performance or other objectives. Each grant of Restricted Stock shall be
evidenced by a certificate which will specify what rights, if any, a key
employee or outside director has with respect to such Restricted Stock as well
as any conditions applicable to the Restricted Stock.
Stock in Lieu of Cash
An outside director shall have the right to elect in accordance with
the procedures stated under the Plan to receive Common Stock in lieu of cash as
part of his or her compensation package with respect to all or a specific
percentage of (i) any installment of his or her annual cash retainer fee as an
outside director, (ii) any fee payable in cash to him or to her for attending a
meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee of the Board of Directors and
(iii) any fee payable in cash to him or to her for serving as the chairperson of
a committee of the Board of Directors. Any election to receive Common Stock in
lieu of cash which was in effect under the Cousins Properties Incorporated Stock
Plan for Outside Directors immediately before the effective date of the Plan
shall remain in effect until revoked under the Plan. The Company shall have the
right to issue the shares of Common Stock which an outside director shall
receive in lieu of any cash payment subject to a restriction that the outside
director have no right to transfer such share until the applicable holding
period requirement, if any, set forth in the exemption under Rule 16b to Section
16(b) of the Exchange Act has been satisfied.
Non-transferability
No Option, SAR or Restricted Stock (absent the Committee's consent) is
transferable by a key employee or an outside director other than by will or by
the laws of descent and distribution, and any Option or SAR (absent the
Committee's consent) is exercisable during a key employee's or outside
director's lifetime only by the key employee or outside director.
Amending or Terminating the Plan
The Plan may be amended by the Board to the extent it deems necessary
or appropriate (but any amendment relating to ISOs will be made subject to the
limits of Code Section 422), and the Plan may be terminated by the Board at any
time. The Board may not unilaterally modify, amend or cancel any Option, SAR or
Restricted Stock previously granted without the consent of the holder of such
Option, SAR or Restricted Stock or unless there is a dissolution or liquidation
of the Company or a similar transaction.
Adjustment of Shares
Capital Structure. The number, kind or class of shares of Common Stock
reserved for issuance under the Plan, the annual grant caps, the number, kind or
class of shares of Common Stock subject to Options or SARs granted under the
Plan, and the option price of the Options and the SAR Value of the SARs, as well
as the number, kind or class of shares of Restricted Stock granted under the
Plan, shall be adjusted by the Committee in an equitable manner to reflect any
change in the capitalization of the Company.
Mergers. The Committee as part of any transaction described in Code
Section 424(a) shall have the right to adjust (in any manner which the Committee
in its discretion deems consistent with Code Section 424(a)) the number, kind or
class of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Plan, the
number, kind or class of shares of Common Stock underlying any Restricted Stock
grants previously made under the Plan and any related grant and forfeiture
conditions, and the number, kind or class of shares of Common Stock subject to
Option and SAR grants previously made under the Plan and the related option
price of the Options and SAR Value of the SARs, and, further, shall have the
right to make (in any manner which the Committee in its discretion deems
consistent with Code Section 424(a)) Restricted Stock, Option and SAR grants to
effect the assumption of, or the substitution for, restricted stock, option and
stock appreciation right grants previously made by any other corporation to the
extent that such transaction calls for the substitution or assumption of such
grants.
Federal Income Tax Consequences
The rules concerning the federal income tax consequences with respect
to grants made pursuant to the Plan are technical, and reasonable persons may
differ on the proper interpretation of such rules. Moreover, the applicable
statutory and regulatory provisions are subject to change, as are their
interpretations and applications, which may vary in individual circumstances.
Therefore, the following discussion is designed to provide only a brief, general
summary description of the federal income tax consequences associated with such
grants, based on a good faith interpretation of the current federal income tax
laws, regulations (including certain proposed regulations) and judicial and
administrative interpretations. The following discussion does not set forth (i)
any federal tax consequences other than income tax consequences or (ii) any
state, local or foreign tax consequences that may apply.
ISOs. In general, a key employee will not recognize taxable income upon
the grant or the exercise of an ISO. For purposes of the alternative minimum
tax, however, the key employee will be required to treat an amount equal to the
difference between the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of
exercise over the exercise price as an item of adjustment in computing the key
employee's alternative minimum taxable income. If the key employee does not
dispose of the Common Stock received pursuant to the exercise of the ISO within
either (i) two years after the date of the grant of the ISO or (ii) one year
after the date of exercise of the ISO, a subsequent disposition of the Common
Stock will generally result in long-term capital gain or loss to such individual
with respect to the difference between the amount realized on the disposition
and the exercise price. The Company will not be entitled to any income tax
deduction as a result of such disposition. The Company normally will not be
entitled to take an income tax deduction at either the grant or the exercise of
an ISO.
If the key employee disposes of the Common Stock acquired upon exercise
of the ISO within either of the above-mentioned time periods, then in the year
of such disposition, such individual generally will recognize ordinary income,
and the Company will be entitled to an income tax deduction (provided the
Company satisfies applicable federal income tax reporting requirements), in an
amount equal to the lesser of (i) the excess of the fair market value of the
Common Stock on the date of exercise over the exercise price or (ii) the amount
realized upon disposition over the exercise price. Any gain in excess of such
amount recognized by the key employee as ordinary income would be taxed to such
individual as short-term or long-term capital gain (depending on the applicable
holding period).
Non-ISOs. A key employee or an outside director will not recognize any
taxable income upon the grant of a Non-ISO, and the Company will not be entitled
to take an income tax deduction at the time of such grant. Upon the exercise of
a Non-ISO, the key employee or outside director generally will recognize
ordinary income and the Company will be entitled to take an income tax deduction
(provided the Company satisfies applicable federal income tax reporting
requirements) in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the
Common Stock on the date of exercise over the exercise price. However, if a key
employee or outside director is subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act and
cannot sell the Common Stock purchased after the exercise of the Non-ISO without
being subject to liability under such section, the stock will be treated as
subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture for six months or until the stock
can be sold without any such liability, whichever comes first, and the key
employee or outside director will be taxable on such spread at that time. Upon a
subsequent sale of the Common Stock by the key employee or outside director,
such individual will recognize short-term or long-term capital gain or loss
(depending on the applicable holding period).
SARs. A key employee will recognize ordinary income for federal income
tax purposes upon the exercise of an SAR under the Plan for cash, Common Stock
or a combination of cash and Common Stock, and the amount of income that the key
employee will recognize will depend on the amount of cash, if any, and the fair
market value of the Common Stock, if any, that the key employee receives as a
result of such exercise. The Company generally will be entitled to a federal
income tax deduction in an amount equal to the ordinary income recognized by the
key employee in the same taxable year in which the key employee recognizes such
income, if the Company satisfies applicable federal income tax reporting
requirements.
Restricted Stock. A key employee or outside director is not subject to
any federal income tax upon the grant of Restricted Stock, nor does the grant of
Restricted Stock result in an income tax deduction for the Company, unless the
restrictions on the stock do not present a substantial risk of forfeiture as
defined under Section 83 of the Code. In the year that the Restricted Stock is
no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, the key employee or
outside director will recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the fair
market value of the shares of Common Stock transferred to the key employee or
outside director, generally determined on the date the Restricted Stock is no
longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. If a key employee or outside
director is subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act and cannot sell the
Common Stock without being subject to liability under such section after the
stock is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, the stock will
be treated as subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture for six months or
until the stock can be sold without any such liability, whichever comes first.
If the Restricted Stock is forfeited, the key employee or outside director will
recognize no gain.
PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
The following table sets forth certain information concerning each person
known to the Company's Board of Directors to be the "beneficial owner," as such
term is defined by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, of more
than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock:
Name and Percent
Address Amount Beneficially Owned of Class
-------- ------------------------- --------
Thomas G. Cousins 9,748,715(1) 19.49%
2500 Windy Ridge Parkway
Suite 1600
Atlanta, Georgia 30339
(1) Includes 834,728 shares held in a self-directed account for Mr. Cousins in
the Company's Profit Sharing Plan. Includes 632,655 shares as to which Mr.
Cousins shares voting and investment power. Also includes 561,250 shares
which may be currently acquired by exercise of options and 36,880 PARS.
Does not include 690,034 shares owned by Mr. Cousins' wife, as to which Mr.
Cousins disclaims beneficial interest.
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
The Company and an affiliate of Thomas G. Cousins each own a 50% interest
in a company that owns two airplanes, and each pays the expenses related to the
airplanes based upon usage. Also during 2001, each of the Company and an
affiliate of Mr. Cousins owned a 50% interest in a company, which in turn owned
a 50% interest in an airplane hangar. The Company and the affiliate of Mr.
Cousins each pay one-fourth of the expenses related to the hangar. The Company's
portion of shared airplane and hangar expenses totaled $479,138 in 2001.
Nonami Enterprises, Inc., a company wholly owned by Mr. Cousins, leased
office space from one of the Company's joint ventures in 2001. The base rent,
additional rent and storage rent paid by this entity in 2001 totaled $160,530.
The Company believes these amounts are consistent with market transactions.
One of the Company's joint ventures leased space to CREC in 2001. Under
the terms of the lease, this entity paid rent at a rate equal to the rate that
the Company was obligated to pay for comparable space under its lease with the
joint venture. Mr. Cousins and Mr. Stone were directors of CREC in 2001. Mr.
Cousins, Mr. Stone, Mr. Jones, Mr. Charlesworth and Mr. Murphy were officers of
CREC in 2001. The financial results of CREC are included in the Company's
consolidated results of operations.
Mr. McColl was Chairman of Bank of America Corporation (collectively,
with its affiliates, the "Bank") until April 30, 2001. During 2001, the Company
had the following banking, joint venture, and other relationships with the Bank:
a $275 million floating rate line of credit facility has been made available to
the Company by the Bank and seven unrelated banks, with the Bank funding 20% of
the outstanding amounts (the Bank served as a joint lead arranger and joint book
manager of the syndication of this credit facility in August 2001 and currently
serves as the administrative agent of this credit facility; the Company paid the
Bank $792,500 for these services in 2001); the Bank and the Company each own a
50% interest in CSC Associates, a partnership that owns Bank of America Plaza in
Atlanta, Georgia, and which paid the Company certain management and leasing fees
in the year 2001; the Bank leases space from CSC Associates and paid CSC
Associates rent of $15,177,000 in 2001; CSC Associates had a loan outstanding to
the Company in 2001 in amounts between $68,789,000 and $66,007,000, and the
Company paid CSC Associates interest and bond fees of $4,509,000 in connection
with such loan in 2001; the Bank and the Company each own a 50% interest in
Charlotte Gateway Village LLC (such entity owns the Gateway Village project in
Charlotte, North Carolina, and in connection with such property paid the Company
certain development and management fees in 2001); during 2001 the Company had an
$18.6 million loan outstanding to Charlotte Gateway Village LLC which was repaid
in full in November 2001; the Bank leases all of the Gateway Village project
from Charlotte Gateway Village LLC; the Bank leases space in the 101
Independence Center building in Charlotte, North Carolina, and in connection
with such lease paid the Company $8,627,000 in rent in 2001.
From July 2000 until February 2001, Cousins Stone Texas Inc. (now known
as Cousins Properties Services, Inc.) and CS Texas Inc., two entities that
are wholly owned by the Company and Mr. Cousins, together owned a 75% interest
in Cousins Stone LP (now known as Cousins Properties Services LP). In
February 2001, CS Texas Inc. purchased the remaining 25% interest in this
entity from R.D. Stone Interests, Ltd., an entity owned by Mr. Stone, for
$4,000,000.
COMPARISON OF FIVE-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
The following table compares cumulative total returns of the Company and
the indicated indexes assuming an investment of $100 on December 31, 1996 and
reinvestment of dividends.
Fiscal Year Ended December 31,
Company/Index 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
------------- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Cousins Properties Incorporated $100 $109.00 $126.02 $139.41 $180.28 $165.88
New York Stock Exchange Index 100 131.56 156.55 171.42 175.51 159.87
Standard & Poor 500 Index 100 133.36 171.47 207.56 188.66 166.24
NAREIT Equity REIT Index 100 120.26 99.21 94.63 119.58 136.24
Media General Industry Group 44 -
Real Estate Index (1) 100 127.90 130.48 113.11 151.56 156.87
(1) This index is published by Media General Financial Services and
includes the Company and 329 other real estate companies.
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL
OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company's officers,
directors and persons who own more than 10% of the Company's Common Stock to
file certain reports with respect to each such person's beneficial ownership of
the Company's Common Stock. In addition, Item 405 of Regulation S-K requires the
Company to identify in its proxy statement each reporting person who failed to
file reports required by Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act on a timely basis
during the most recent fiscal year. Based upon information supplied to the
Company, the Company believes that there are no matters to be reported here.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Company's Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2001,
including audited financial statements, is being mailed together with this Proxy
Statement. The Annual Report does not form any part of the materials for
solicitation of proxies.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS AT THE COMPANY'S NEXT
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
Stockholders who intend to submit proposals for consideration at the
Company's next annual meeting of stockholders must submit such proposals to the
Company no later than November 30, 2002, in order to be considered for inclusion
in the proxy statement and form of proxy to be distributed by the Board in
connection with that meeting. Any stockholder proposal to be considered at next
year's annual meeting but not included in the proxy statement must be submitted
in writing by February 13, 2003 or the persons appointed as proxies may exercise
their discretionary voting authority if the proposal is considered at the
meeting. Stockholder proposals should be submitted to Corporate Secretary,
Cousins Properties Incorporated, 2500 Windy Ridge Parkway, Suite 1600, Atlanta,
Georgia 30339.
OTHER MATTERS
The Board knows of no other matters to be brought before the meeting.
However, if any other matters should come before the meeting, the persons named
in the proxy will vote such proxy in accordance with their judgment on such
matters.
EXPENSES OF SOLICITATION
The cost of proxy solicitation will be borne by the Company. In an effort
to have as large a representation at the meeting as possible, special
solicitation of proxies may, in certain instances, be made personally or by
telephone, electronic mail, facsimile or mail by one or more Company employees.
The Company will also reimburse brokers, banks, nominees and other fiduciaries
for postage and reasonable clerical expenses of forwarding the proxy materials
to the beneficial owners of the Company's stock.
JAMES A. FLEMING
Secretary
March 29, 2002
Annex A
COUSINS PROPERTIES INCORPORATED
1999 INCENTIVE STOCK PLAN
(AS AMENDED AND RESTATED EFFECTIVE
AS OF MAY 7, 2002)
ss. 1
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The purpose of this Plan is to promote the interest of CPI by
authorizing the Committee to grant Options and Restricted Stock to Key Employees
and Directors and to grant Stock Appreciation Rights to Key Employees in order
(1) to attract and retain Key Employees and Directors, (2) to provide an
additional incentive to each Key Employee or Director to work to increase the
value of Stock and (3) to provide each Key Employee or Director with a stake in
the future of CPI which corresponds to the stake of each of CPI's stockholders.
ss. 2
DEFINITIONS
2.1 Affiliate -- means any organization (other than a
---------
Subsidiary) that would be treated as under common control with CPI or CREC under
ss. 414(c) of the Code if "50 percent" were substituted for "80 percent" in the
income tax regulations under ss. 414(c) of the Code.
2.2 Board -- means the Board of Directors of CPI.
-----
2.3 Change in Control -- means (1) a "change in control" of CPI
-----------------
of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of
Schedule 14A for a proxy statement filed under Section 14(a) of the 1934 Act,
(2) a "person" (as that term is used in Section 14(d)(2) of the 1934 Act)
becomes after the effective date of this Plan the beneficial owner (as defined
in Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act) directly or indirectly of securities
representing 50% or more of the combined voting power for election of directors
of the then outstanding securities of CPI, (3) the individuals who at the
beginning of any period of two consecutive years or less constitute the Board
cease for any reason during such period to constitute at least a majority of the
Board, unless the election or nomination for election of each new member of the
Board was approved by vote of at least two-thirds of the members of the Board
then still in office who were members of the Board at the beginning of such
period, (4) the shareholders of CPI approve any dissolution or liquidation of
CPI or any sale or disposition of 50% or more of the assets or business of CPI
or (5) the shareholders of CPI approve a merger or consolidation to which CPI is
a party (other than a merger or consolidation with a wholly-owned subsidiary of
CPI) or a share exchange in which CPI shall exchange CPI shares for shares of
another corporation as a result of which the persons who were shareholders of
CPI immediately before the effective date of such merger, consolidation or share
exchange shall have beneficial ownership of less than 50% of the combined voting
power for election of directors of the surviving corporation following the
effective date of such merger, consolidation or share exchange.
2.4 Code -- means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
-----
2.5 Committee -- means a committee of the Board which shall have
---------
at least 2 members, each of whom shall be appointed by and shall serve at the
pleasure of the Board and shall come within the definition of a "non-employee
director" under Rule 16b-3 and an "outside director" under ss. 162(m) of the
Code.
2.6 CPI -- means Cousins Properties Incorporated and any successor
---
to such corporation.
2.7 CREC -- means Cousins Real Estate Corporation and any
----
successor to such corporation.
2.8 Director -- means any member of the Board who is not an
--------
employee of CPI or a Parent or Subsidiary or affiliate (as such term is defined
in Rule 405 of the 1933 Act) of CPI.
2.9 Fair Market Value -- means (1) the closing price on any date
-----------------
for a share of Stock as reported by The Wall Street Journal under the New York
Stock Exchange Composite Transactions quotation system (or under any successor
quotation system) or, if Stock is no longer traded on the New York Stock
Exchange, under the quotation system under which such closing price is reported
or, if The Wall Street Journal no longer reports such closing price, such
closing price as reported by a newspaper or trade journal selected by the
Committee; or, (2) if no such closing price is available on such date, such
closing price as so reported in accordance with ss. 2.8(1) for the immediately
preceding business day; or, (3) if no newspaper or trade journal reports such
closing price or if no such price quotation is available, the price which the
Committee acting in good faith determines through any reasonable valuation
method that a share of Stock might change hands between a willing buyer and a
willing seller, neither being under any compulsion to buy or to sell and both
having reasonable knowledge of the relevant facts.
2.10 ISO -- means an option granted under this Plan to purchase
---
Stock which is intended to satisfy the requirements of ss. 422 of the Code.
2.11 Key Employee -- means an employee of CPI, CREC, a Preferred
------------
Stock Subsidiary that has been designated by the Board as covered by this Plan,
any Subsidiary of CPI or CREC, any Parent of CPI or CREC, or any Affiliate of
CPI or CREC who has been designated by the Committee and who, in the judgment of
the Committee acting in its absolute discretion, is key directly or indirectly
to the success of CPI, CREC, a Preferred Stock Subsidiary, a Subsidiary of CPI
or CREC, a Parent of CPI or CREC or an Affiliate of CPI or CREC.
2.12 1933 Act -- means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
--------
2.13 1934 Act -- means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
--------
amended.
2.14 Non-ISO -- means an option granted under this Plan to
-------
purchase Stock which is intended to fail to satisfy the requirements of ss. 422
of the Code.
2.15 Old Plans -- means (1) the Cousins Properties Incorporated
---------
1996 Stock Incentive Plan effective as of September 5, 1995, (2) the Cousins
Properties Incorporated Stock Plan for Outside Directors and (3) the Cousins
Properties Incorporated Stock Appreciation Right Plan.
2.16 Option -- means an ISO or a Non-ISO which is granted under
------
ss.7.
2.17 Option Certificate -- means the written certificate which
------------------
sets forth the terms and conditions of an Option granted to a Key Employee or
Director under this Plan.
2.18 Option Price -- means the price which shall be paid to
------------
purchase one share of Stock upon the exercise of an Option granted under this
Plan.
2.19 Parent -- means any corporation which is a parent corporation
------
within the meaning of ss. 424(e) of the Code.
2.20 Plan -- means this Cousins Properties Incorporated 1999
----
Incentive Stock Plan as effective as of the date adopted by the Board in 1999
and as amended, or as amended and restated, from time to time thereafter.
2.21 Preferred Stock Subsidiary --means any entity in which CPI,
--------------------------
CREC, any Parent of CPI or CREC, or any Affiliate of CPI or CREC owns capital
stock or other equity interests representing the right to receive at least 50%
of all dividends or distributions, as applicable, paid by such entity,
regardless of whether such stock or other equity interest also entitles the
holder thereof to 50% or more of the voting power of all outstanding capital
stock or other equity interests of such entity.
2.22 Restricted Stock -- means Stock granted to a Key Employee
----------------
under ss. 9.
2.23 Restricted Stock Certificate -- means the written
----------------------------
certificate which sets forth the terms and conditions of a Restricted Stock
grant to a Key Employee.
2.24 Rule 16b-3 -- means the exemption under Rule 16b-3 to
----------
Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act or any successor to such rule.
2.25 Stock -- means $1.00 par value common stock of CPI.
-----
2.26 SAR Value -- means the value assigned by the Committee to a
---------
share of Stock in connection with the grant of a Stock Appreciation Right under
ss. 8.
2.27 Stock Appreciation Right -- means a right to receive the
------------------------
appreciation in a share of Stock which is granted under ss. 8 either as part of
an Option or independent of any Option.
2.28 Stock Appreciation Right Certificate -- means the written
------------------------------------
certificate which sets forth the terms and conditions of a Stock Appreciation
Right which is granted to a Key Employee independent of an Option.
2.29 Subsidiary -- means a corporation which is a subsidiary
----------
corporation within the meaning of ss. 424(f) of the Code.
2.30 Ten Percent Shareholder -- means a person who owns (after
-----------------------
taking into account the attribution rules of ss. 424(d) of the Code) more than
ten percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of either
CPI, a Subsidiary of CPI or Parent of CPI.
ss. 3
SHARES RESERVED UNDER PLAN
There shall be 1,100,000 shares of Stock authorized for use under this
Plan as of May 7, 2002 in addition to the 3,643,287.5 shares of Stock previously
authorized for use under this Plan. All of the shares of Stock may be used in
connection with Option grants, Restricted Stock grants and the payment of Stock
Appreciation Rights in Stock. All such shares of Stock shall be reserved to the
extent that CPI deems appropriate from authorized but unissued shares of Stock
and from shares of Stock which have been reacquired by CPI. Any shares of Stock
subject to an Option which remain unissued after the cancellation, expiration or
exchange of such Option and any shares of Restricted Stock which are forfeited
or canceled and thereafter shall again become available for use under this Plan,
but any shares of Stock used to exercise an Option or to satisfy a withholding
obligation shall not again become available for use under this Plan. No
additional grants shall be made under the Old Plans if this Plan is approved by
CPI's shareholders.
ss. 4
ORIGINAL EFFECTIVE DATE
The original effective date of this Plan shall be the date of its
adoption by the Board, provided the shareholders of CPI (acting at a duly called
meeting of such shareholders) approve such adoption within twelve (12) months of
such effective date. Any Option or Restricted Stock or Stock Appreciation Right
granted before such shareholder approval automatically shall be granted subject
to such approval.
ss. 5
COMMITTEE
This Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee acting
in its absolute discretion shall exercise such powers and take such action as
expressly called for under this Plan and, further, the Committee shall have the
power to interpret this Plan and (subject to ss. 14, ss. 15 and ss. 16 and Rule
16b-3) to take such other action in the administration and operation of this
Plan as the Committee deems equitable under the circumstances, which action
shall be binding on CPI, on each affected Key Employee or Director and on each
other person directly or indirectly affected by such action.
ss. 6
ELIGIBILITY AND ANNUAL GRANT CAPS
Only Key Employees who are employed by CPI, a Subsidiary of CPI or a
Parent of CPI shall be eligible for the grant of ISOs under this Plan, and Key
Employees and Directors shall be eligible for the grant of Non-ISOs and
Restricted Stock under this Plan. Only Directors shall be eligible for the grant
of Stock in lieu of cash under this Plan, and only Key Employees shall be
eligible for the grant of Stock Appreciation Rights under this Plan. No Key
Employee in any calendar year shall be granted an Option to purchase more than
750,000 shares of Stock or a Stock Appreciation Right with respect to more than
750,000 shares of Stock.
ss. 7
OPTIONS
7.1 Committee Action. The Committee acting in its absolute
----------------
discretion shall have the right to grant Options to Key Employees under this
Plan from time to time to purchase shares of Stock and, further, the Committee
shall have the right to grant new Options in exchange for the cancellation of
outstanding Options which have a lower Option Price than the new Options. Each
grant of an Option to a Key Employee shall be evidenced by an Option
Certificate, and each Option Certificate shall set forth whether the Option is
an ISO or a Non-ISO and shall set forth such other terms and conditions of such
grant as the Committee acting in its absolute discretion deems consistent with
the terms of this Plan; however, if the Committee grants an ISO and a Non-ISO to
a Key Employee on the same date, the right of the Key Employee to exercise the
ISO shall not be conditioned on his or her failure to exercise the Non-ISO. The
Committee shall have the right to grant a Non-ISO and Restricted Stock to a Key
Employee at the same time and to condition the exercise of the Non-ISO on the
forfeiture of the Restricted Stock grant.
7.2 $100,000 Limit. No Option shall be treated as an ISO to the
--------------
extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of Stock subject to the Option which
would first become exercisable in any calendar year exceeds $100,000. Any such
excess shall instead automatically be treated as a Non-ISO. The Committee shall
interpret and administer the ISO limitation set forth in this ss. 7.2 in
accordance with ss. 422(d) of the Code, and the Committee shall treat this ss.
7.2 as in effect only for those periods for which ss. 422(d) of the Code is in
effect.
7.3 Grants to Directors. Each Director automatically shall be
-------------------
granted (without any further action on the part of the Committee) a Non-ISO
under this Plan as of the first day he first serves as a Director to purchase
6,000 shares of Stock at an Option Price equal to the Fair Market Value of a
share of Stock on the date of such grant. Thereafter, each Director who is
serving as such on March 31 of each calendar year and who has served as such for
more than ten consecutive months automatically shall be granted (without any
further action on the part of the Committee) a Non-ISO under this Plan as of
March 31 of such calendar year to purchase 6,000 shares of Stock at an Option
Price equal to the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of such
grant. Each Non-ISO granted under this Plan to a Director shall be evidenced by
an Option Certificate, shall be exercisable in full upon grant and shall expire
90 days after a Director ceases to serve as such or, if earlier, on the tenth
anniversary of the date of the grant of the Non-ISO. A Non-ISO granted to a
Director under this ss. 7.3 shall conform in all other respects to the terms and
conditions of a Non-ISO under this Plan, and no Director shall be eligible to
receive an Option under this Plan except as provided in this ss. 7.3. A grant of
a Non-ISO to a Director under this ss. 7.3 is intended to be granted in a manner
which continues to allow such Director to be a "non-employee director" within
the meaning of Rule 16b-3 and an "outside director" within the meaning of ss.
162(m) of the Code, and all Non-ISOs granted to Directors under this ss. 7.3
shall be construed to effect such intent. Finally, if the Committee in its
discretion determines that a Director in his or her capacity as such performs
substantial services for CPI in addition to the services customarily provided by
Directors and he or she receives no additional cash compensation for providing
such services, the Committee shall have the discretion to grant a Non-ISO under
this Plan, or more than one Non-ISO under this Plan, to such Director subject to
the same terms and conditions as the Committee can grant a Non-ISO under this
Plan to a Key Employee.
7.4 Option Price. The Option Price for each share of Stock
------------
subject to an Option which is granted to a Key Employee shall be no less than
the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date the Option is granted;
provided, however, if the Option is an ISO granted to a Key Employee who is a
Ten Percent Shareholder, the Option Price for each share of Stock subject to
such ISO shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock
on the date such ISO is granted. The Option Price shall be payable in full upon
the exercise of any Option, and at the discretion of the Committee an Option
Certificate can provide for the payment of the Option Price either in cash, by
check or in Stock which has been held for at least 6 months and which is
acceptable to the Committee or in any combination of cash, check and such Stock.
The Option Price in addition may be paid through any broker facilitated cashless
exercise procedure acceptable to the Committee or its delegate. Any payment made
in Stock shall be treated as equal to the Fair Market Value of such Stock on the
date the properly endorsed certificate for such Stock is delivered to the
Committee or its delegate.
7.5 Exercise Period. Each Option granted under this Plan to a
---------------
Key Employee shall be exercisable in whole or in part at such time or times as
set forth in the related Option Certificate, but no Option Certificate shall
make an Option granted to a Key Employee exercisable on or after the earlier of
(1) the date such Option is exercised in full, or
(2) the date which is the fifth anniversary of the
date the Option is granted, if the Option is an ISO
and the Key Employee is a Ten Percent Shareholder on
the date the Option is granted, or
(3) the date which is the tenth anniversary of the
date the Option is granted, if the Option is (a) a
Non-ISO or (b) an ISO which is granted to a Key
Employee who is not a Ten Percent Shareholder on the
date the Option is granted.
An Option Certificate may provide for the exercise of an Option after the
employment of a Key Employee has terminated for any reason whatsoever, including
death or disability.
ss. 8
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
8.1 Committee Action. The Committee acting in its absolute
-----------------
discretion shall have the right to grant a Stock Appreciation Right to a Key
Employee under this Plan from time to time, and each Stock Appreciation Right
grant shall be evidenced by a Stock Appreciation Right Certificate or, if such
Stock Appreciation Right is granted as part of an Option, shall be evidenced by
the Option Certificate for the related Option.
8.2 Terms and Conditions.
--------------------
(a) Stock Appreciation Right Certificate. If a Stock
------------------------------------
Appreciation Right is evidenced by a Stock Appreciation Right Certificate, such
certificate shall set forth the number of shares of Stock to which the Key
Employee has the right to appreciation and the SAR Value of each share of Stock.
Such SAR Value shall be no less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock
on the date that the Stock Appreciation Right is granted. The Stock Appreciation
Right Certificate shall set forth such other terms and conditions for the
exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right as the Committee deems appropriate
under the circumstances, but no Stock Appreciation Right Certificate shall make
a Stock Appreciation Right exercisable on or after the date which is the tenth
anniversary of the date such Stock Appreciation Right is granted.
(b) Option Certificate. If a Stock Appreciation Right is
------------------
evidenced by an Option Certificate, the SAR Value for each share of Stock
subject to the Stock Appreciation Right shall be the Option Price for the
related Option. Each such Option Certificate shall provide that the exercise of
the Stock Appreciation Right with respect to any share of Stock shall cancel the
Key Employee's right to exercise his or her Option with respect to such share
and, conversely, that the exercise of the Option with respect to any share of
Stock shall cancel the Key Employee's right to exercise his or her Stock
Appreciation Right with respect to such share. A Stock Appreciation Right which
is granted as part of an Option shall be exercisable only while the related
Option is exercisable. The Option Certificate shall set forth such other terms
and conditions for the exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right as the Committee
deems appropriate under the circumstances.
8.3 Exercise. A Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable only
--------
when the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock subject to such Stock
Appreciation Right exceeds the SAR Value for such share, and the payment due on
exercise shall be based on such excess with respect to the number of shares of
Stock to which the exercise relates. A Key Employee upon the exercise of his or
her Stock Appreciation Right shall receive a payment from CPI in cash or in
Stock, or in a combination of cash and Stock, and any payment in Stock shall be
based on the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date the Stock
Appreciation Right is exercised. The Committee acting in its absolute discretion
shall have the right to determine the form and time of any payment under this
ss. 8.3.
ss. 9
RESTRICTED STOCK
9.1 Committee Action. The Committee acting in its absolute
----------------
discretion shall have the right to grant Restricted Stock to Key Employees and
Directors under this Plan from time to time and, further, shall have the right
to make new Restricted Stock grants in exchange for the cancellation of an
outstanding Restricted Stock grant to such Key Employee or Director. Each
Restricted Stock grant shall be evidenced by a Restricted Stock Certificate, and
each Restricted Stock Certificate shall set forth the conditions, if any, under
which the grant will be effective and the conditions under which the Key
Employee's or Director's interest in the underlying Stock will become
nonforfeitable.
9.2 Effective Date. A Restricted Stock grant shall be effective
--------------
(1) as of the date set by the Committee when the grant is made or, (2) if the
grant is made subject to one, or more than one, condition, as of the date such
conditions have been timely satisfied.
9.3 Conditions.
----------
(a) Conditions to Issuance of Stock. The Committee acting in its
-------------------------------
absolute discretion may make the issuance of Restricted Stock to a Key Employee
or Director subject to the satisfaction of one, or more than one, condition
which the Committee deems appropriate under the circumstances for Key Employees
or Directors generally or for a Key Employee or Director in particular, and the
related Restricted Stock Certificate shall set forth each such condition and the
deadline for satisfying each such condition. Stock subject to a Restricted Stock
grant shall be issued in the name of a Key Employee or Director only after each
such condition, if any, has been timely satisfied, and any Stock which is so
issued shall be held by CPI pending the satisfaction of the forfeiture
conditions, if any, under ss. 9.3(b) for the related Restricted Stock grant.
(b) Forfeiture Conditions. The Committee acting in its absolute
---------------------
discretion may make Restricted Stock issued in the name of a Key Employee or
Director subject to one, or more than one, objective employment, performance or
other forfeiture condition that the Committee acting in its absolute discretion
deems appropriate under the circumstances for Key Employees or Directors
generally or for a Key Employee or Director in particular, including a condition
which results in a forfeiture if a Key Employee or Director exercises a Non-ISO
granted in tandem with his or her Restricted Stock grant, and the related
Restricted Stock Certificate shall set forth each such condition, if any, and
the deadline, if any, for satisfying each such forfeiture condition. A Key
Employee's or Director's nonforfeitable interest in the shares of Stock
underlying a Restricted Stock grant shall depend on the extent to which he or
she timely satisfies each such condition. Each share of Stock underlying a
Restricted Stock grant shall be unavailable under ss. 3 after such grant is
effective unless such share is forfeited as a result of a failure to timely
satisfy a forfeiture condition, in which event such share of Stock shall again
become available under ss. 3 as of the date of such failure.
9.4 Dividends and Voting Rights. Each Restricted Stock
---------------------------
Certificate shall specify what rights, if any, a Key Employee or Director shall
have with respect to the Stock issued in his or her name, including rights to
dividends and to vote, pending the forfeiture of such Stock or the lapse of each
forfeiture condition, if any, with respect to such Stock. Furthermore, the
Committee may grant dividend equivalent rights on Restricted Stock while such
Stock remains subject to an issuance condition under ss. 9.3(a) under which a
cash equivalent to a dividend shall be paid when a dividend is paid, and any
such dividend equivalent right shall be set forth in the related Restricted
Stock Certificate.
9.5 Satisfaction of Forfeiture Conditions; Provision for Income
-----------------------------------------------------------
and Excise Taxes. A share of Stock shall cease to be Restricted Stock at such
- ----------------
time as a Key Employee's or Director's interest in such Stock becomes
nonforfeitable under this Plan, and the certificate representing such share
shall be transferred to the Key Employee or Director as soon as practicable
thereafter. The Committee acting in its absolute discretion shall have the power
to authorize and direct the payment of a cash bonus (or to provide in the terms
of the Restricted Stock Certificate for CPI to make such payment) to a Key
Employee or Director to pay all, or any portion of, his or her federal, state
and local income tax liability which the Committee deems attributable to his or
her interest in his or her Restricted Stock grant becoming nonforfeitable and,
further, to pay any such tax liability attributable to such cash bonus.
9.6 Section 162(m). Except where the Committee deems it in the
--------------
best interests of CPI, the Committee shall use its best efforts to grant
Restricted Stock either (1) subject to at least one condition which can result
in the Restricted Stock qualifying as "performance-based compensation" under ss.
162(m) of the Code if the shareholders of CPI approve such condition and the
Committee takes such other action as the Committee deems necessary or
appropriate for such grant to so qualify under ss. 162(m) or (2) under such
other circumstances as the Committee deems likely to result in an income tax
deduction for the grant.
ss. 10
STOCK IN LIEU OF CASH
10.1 Election. Each Director shall have the right on or after the
--------
effective date of this Plan to elect (in accordance with ss. 10.2) to receive
Stock in lieu of cash as part of his or her compensation package with respect to
all or a specific percentage of:
(a) any installment of his or her annual cash retainer fee as a
Director;
(b) any fee payable in cash to him or to her for attending a
meeting of the Board or a committee of the Board; and
(c) any fee payable in cash to him or to her for serving as the
chairperson of a committee of the Board.
Any election to receive Stock in lieu of cash which was in effect under
the Cousins Properties Incorporated Stock Plan for Outside Directors immediately
before the effective date of this Plan shall remain in effect under this Plan
until revoked under ss. 10.2.
10.2 Election and Election Revocation Procedure. An election by a
------------------------------------------
Director under ss. 10.1 to receive Stock in lieu of cash shall be made in
writing and shall be effective as of the date the Director delivers such
election to the Secretary of CPI. An election may apply to one, or more than
one, cash payment described in ss. 10.1. After a Director has made an election
under this ss. 10.2, he or she may elect to revoke such election or may elect to
revoke such election and make a new election. Any such subsequent election shall
be made in writing and shall be effective as of the date the Director delivers
such election to the Secretary of CPI. There shall be no limit on the number of
elections which a Director can make under this ss. 10.2.
10.3 Number of Shares. The number of shares of Stock which a
----------------
Director shall receive in lieu of any cash payment shall be determined by CPI by
dividing the amount of the cash payment which the Director has elected under ss.
10.1 to receive in the form of Stock by 95% of the Fair Market Value of a share
of Stock (1) on the date of a regular quarterly Board meeting with respect to
shares of Stock to be issued for fees earned on the date of such a meeting or
(2) on the date of the next regular quarterly Board meeting with respect to
shares of Stock to be issued for fees earned between regular quarterly Board
meetings, and by rounding down to the nearest whole share of Stock. Such shares
shall be issued to the Director as of the date of a regular quarterly Board
meeting with respect to shares of Stock to be issued for fees earned on the date
of such a meeting or on the date of the next regular quarterly Board meeting
with respect to shares of Stock to be issued for fees earned between regular
quarterly Board meetings.
10.4 Insufficient Shares. If the number of shares of
-------------------
Stock available under this Plan is insufficient as of any date to issue the
Stock called for under ss. 10.3, CPI shall issue Stock under ss. 10.3 to each
Director based on a fraction of the then available shares of Stock, the
numerator of which fraction shall equal the amount of the cash payment to the
Director on which the issuance of such Stock was to be based under ss. 10.1 and
the denominator of which shall equal the amount of the total cash payments to
all Directors on which the issuance of such Stock was to be based under ss.
10.1. All elections made under this ss. 10 thereafter shall be null and void,
and no further Stock shall be issued under this Plan with respect to any such
elections.
10.5 Restrictions on Shares. CPI shall have the right to issue
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the shares of Stock which a Director shall receive in lieu of any cash payment
subject to a restriction that the Director have no right to transfer such Stock
(except to the extent permissible under Rule 16b-3) for the six month period
which starts on the date the Stock is issued or to take such other action as CPI
deems necessary or appropriate to make sure that the Director satisfies the
applicable holding period requirement, if any, set forth in Rule 16b-3.
ss. 11
NONTRANSFERABILITY
No Option, Restricted Stock or Stock Appreciation Right shall (absent
the Committee's consent) be transferable by a Key Employee or an Director other
than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and any Option or Stock
Appreciation Right shall (absent the Committee's consent) be exercisable during
a Key Employee's or Director's lifetime only by the Key Employee or Director.
The person or persons to whom an Option or Restricted Stock or Stock
Appreciation Right is transferred by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution (or with the Committee's consent) thereafter shall be treated as
the Key Employee or Director.
ss. 12
SECURITIES REGISTRATION
Each Option Certificate, Restricted Stock Certificate and Stock
Appreciation Right Certificate shall provide that, upon the receipt of shares of
Stock as a result of the exercise of an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right or
the satisfaction of the forfeiture conditions under a Restricted Stock
Certificate, the Key Employee or Director shall, if so requested by CPI, hold
such shares of Stock for investment and not with a view of resale or
distribution to the public and, if so requested by CPI, shall deliver to CPI a
written statement satisfactory to CPI to that effect. As for Stock issued
pursuant to this Plan, CPI at its expense shall take such action as it deems
necessary or appropriate to register the original issuance of such Stock to a
Key Employee or Director under the 1933 Act or under any other applicable
securities laws or to qualify such Stock for an exemption under any such laws
prior to the issuance of such Stock to a Key Employee or Director; however, CPI
shall have no obligation whatsoever to take any such action in connection with
the transfer, resale or other disposition of such Stock by a Key Employee or
Director.
ss. 13
LIFE OF PLAN
No Option, Restricted Stock or Stock Appreciation Right shall be
granted under this Plan on or after the earlier of
(1) the tenth anniversary of the effective date of
this Plan (as determined under ss. 4), in which event
this Plan otherwise thereafter shall continue in
effect until all outstanding Options and Stock
Appreciation Rights have been exercised in full or no
longer are exercisable and all Restricted Stock
grants under this Plan have been forfeited or the
forfeiture conditions, if any, on such Stock have
been satisfied in full, or
(2) the date on which all of the Stock reserved
under ss. 3 has (as a result of the exercise of
Options or the payment in Stock upon the exercise of
Stock Appreciation Rights granted under this Plan or
the satisfaction of the forfeiture conditions, if
any, on Restricted Stock granted under this Plan)
been issued or no longer is available for use under
this Plan, in which event this Plan also shall
terminate on such date.
ss. 14
ADJUSTMENT
14.1 Capital Structure. The number, kind or class (or any
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combination thereof) of shares of Stock reserved under ss. 3, the annual grant
caps described in ss. 6, the annual grant described in ss. 7.3, the number, kind
or class (or any combination thereof) of shares of Stock subject to Options or
Stock Appreciation Rights granted under this Plan and the Option Price of such
Options and the SAR Value of such Stock Appreciation Rights as well as the
number, kind or class of shares of Restricted Stock granted under this Plan
shall be adjusted by the Committee in an equitable manner to reflect any change
(after the original effective date of this Plan under ss. 4) in the
capitalization of CPI, including, but not limited to, such changes as stock
dividends or stock splits.
14.2 Mergers. The Committee as part of any corporate transaction
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described in ss. 424(a) of the Code shall have the right to adjust (in any
manner which the Committee in its discretion deems consistent with ss. 424(a) of
the Code) the number, kind or class (or any combination thereof) of shares of
Stock reserved under ss. 3. Furthermore, the Committee as part of any corporate
transaction described in ss. 424(a) of the Code shall have the right to adjust
(in any manner which the Committee in its discretion deems consistent with ss.
424(a) of the Code) the number, kind or class (or any combination thereof) of
shares of Stock underlying any Restricted Stock grants previously made under
this Plan and any related grant conditions and forfeiture conditions, and the
number, kind or class (or any combination thereof) of shares subject to Option
and Stock Appreciation Right grants previously made under this Plan and the
related Option Price and SAR Value for each such Option and Stock Appreciation
Right, and, further, shall have the right (in any manner which the Committee in
its discretion deems consistent with ss. 424(a) of the Code) to make Restricted
Stock, Option and Stock Appreciation Right grants to effect the assumption of,
or the substitution for, restricted stock, option and stock appreciation right
grants previously made by any other corporation to the extent that such
corporate transaction calls for such substitution or assumption of such
restricted stock, option or appreciation right grants.
14.3 Fractional Shares. If any adjustment under this ss. 14 would
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create a fractional share of Stock or a right to acquire a fractional share of
Stock, such fractional share shall be disregarded and the number of shares of
Stock reserved under this Plan and the number subject to any Options or Stock
Appreciation Right grants and Restricted Stock grants shall be the next lower
number of shares of Stock, rounding all fractions downward. An adjustment made
under this ss. 14 by the Board shall be conclusive and binding on all affected
persons and, further, shall not constitute an increase in "the number of shares
reserved under ss. 3" within the meaning of ss. 16.
ss. 15
CHANGE IN CONTROL
15.1 Continuation or Assumption of Plan or Grants. If (1) there
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is a Change in Control of CPI on any date and this Plan and the outstanding
Options, Stock Appreciation Rights and Restricted Stock granted under this Plan
are continued in full force and effect or there is an assumption of this Plan or
the assumption or substitution of the outstanding Options, Stock Appreciation
Rights and Restricted Stock granted under this Plan in connection with such
Change in Control and (2) (i) a Key Employee's employment with CPI, CREC, a
Preferred Stock Subsidiary that has been designated by the Board as covered by
this Plan, any Subsidiary of CPI or CREC, any Parent of CPI or CREC, or any
Affiliate of CPI or CREC terminates for any reason within the two-year period
starting on the date of the Change in Control or (ii) a Director's service on
the Board terminates for any reason within the two-year period starting on the
date of the Change in Control, then any conditions to the exercise of such Key
Employee's or Director's outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights and
any then outstanding issuance and forfeiture conditions on such Key Employee's
or Director's Restricted Stock automatically shall expire and shall have no
further force or effect on or after the date his or her employment or service so
terminates.
15.2 No Continuation or Assumption of Plan or Grants. If there is
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a Change in Control of CPI on any date and this Plan and the outstanding
Options, Stock Appreciation Rights and Restricted Stock granted under this Plan
are not continued in full force and effect or there is no assumption of this
Plan or the assumption or substitution of the Options, Stock Appreciation Rights
and Restricted Stock granted under this Plan in connection with such Change in
Control, (1) any conditions to the exercise of outstanding Options and Stock
Appreciation Rights granted under this Plan and any then outstanding issuance
and forfeiture conditions on Restricted Stock granted under this Plan
automatically shall expire and shall have no further force or effect on a date
selected by the Board which shall provide each Key Employee and Director a
reasonable opportunity to exercise his or her Options and Stock Appreciation
Rights and to take such other action as necessary or appropriate to receive the
Stock subject to any Restricted Stock grants before the date of the Change in
Control and (2) each then outstanding Option, Stock Appreciation Right and
Restricted Stock grant may be canceled unilaterally by the Board immediately
before the date of the Change in Control.
ss. 16
AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION
This Plan may be amended by the Board from time to time to the extent
that the Board deems necessary or appropriate; provided, however, no such
amendment shall be made absent the approval of the shareholders of CPI required
under ss. 422 of the Code (1) to increase the number of shares of stock reserved
under ss. 3 for ISO grants, or (2) to change the class of employees eligible for
Options which are ISOs. The Board also may suspend the granting of Options or
Stock Appreciation Rights or Restricted Stock under this Plan at any time and
may terminate this Plan at any time; provided, however, the Board shall not have
the right unilaterally to modify, amend or cancel any Option, Stock Appreciation
Right or Restricted Stock granted before such suspension or termination unless
(1) the Key Employee or Director consents in writing to such modification,
amendment or cancellation or (2) there is a dissolution or liquidation of CPI or
a transaction described in ss. 14 or ss. 15.
ss. 17
MISCELLANEOUS
17.1 Shareholder Rights. No Key Employee or Director shall have
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any rights as a shareholder of CPI as a result of the grant of an Option or a
Stock Appreciation Right granted to him or her under this Plan or his or her
exercise of such Option or Stock Appreciation Right pending the actual delivery
of the Stock subject to such Option to such Key Employee or Director. Subject to
ss. 9, a Key Employee's or Director's rights as a shareholder in the shares of
Stock underlying a Restricted Stock grant which is effective shall be set forth
in the related Restricted Stock Certificate.
17.2 No Contract of Employment. The grant of an Option or a Stock
-------------------------
Appreciation Right or Restricted Stock to a Key Employee or Director under this
Plan shall not constitute a contract of employment or a right to continue to
serve on the Board and shall not confer on a Key Employee or Director any rights
upon his or her termination of employment or service in addition to those
rights, if any, expressly set forth in the related Option Certificate, Stock
Appreciation Right Certificate, or Restricted Stock Certificate.
17.3 Withholding. Each Option, Stock Appreciation Right and
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Restricted Stock grant shall be made subject to the condition that the Key
Employee or Director consents to whatever action the Committee directs to
satisfy the federal and state tax withholding requirements, if any, which the
Committee in its discretion deems applicable to the exercise of such Option or
Stock Appreciation Right or the satisfaction of any forfeiture conditions with
respect to Restricted Stock issued in the name of the Key Employee or Director.
The Committee also shall have the right to provide in an Option Certificate,
Stock Appreciation Right Certificate or a Restricted Stock Certificate that a
Key Employee or Director may elect to satisfy federal and state tax withholding
requirements through a reduction in the cash or the number of shares of Stock
actually transferred to him or to her under this Plan.
17.4 Construction. All references to sections (ss.) are to
------------
sections (ss.) of this Plan unless otherwise indicated. This Plan shall be
construed under the laws of the State of Georgia. Finally, each term set forth
in ss. 2 shall have the meaning set forth opposite such term for purposes of
this Plan and, for purposes of such definitions, the singular shall include the
plural and the plural shall include the singular.
17.5 Other Conditions. Each Option Certificate, Stock
----------------
Appreciation Right Certificate or Restricted Stock Certificate may require that
a Key Employee or Director (as a condition to the exercise of an Option or a
Stock Appreciation Right or a Restricted Stock grant) enter into any agreement
or make such representations prepared by CPI, including any agreement which
restricts the transfer of Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Option
or a Stock Appreciation Right or Restricted Stock grant or provides for the
repurchase of such Stock by CPI under certain circumstances.
17.6 Rule 16b-3. The Committee shall have the right to amend any
----------
Option, Restricted Stock or Stock Appreciation Right grant or to withhold or
otherwise restrict the transfer of any Stock or cash under this Plan to a Key
Employee or Director as the Committee deems appropriate in order to satisfy any
condition or requirement under Rule 16b-3 to the extent Rule 16 of the 1934 Act
might be applicable to such grant or transfer.
17.7 Loans. If approved by the Committee, CPI may lend money to,
-----
or guarantee loans made by a third party to, any Key Employee to finance the
exercise of any Option granted under this Plan, and the exercise of an Option
with the proceeds of any such loan shall be treated as an exercise for cash
under this Plan. If approved by the Committee, CPI also may, in accordance with
a Key Employee's instructions, transfer Stock upon the exercise of an Option
directly to a third party in connection with any arrangement made by the Key
Employee for financing the exercise of such Option.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, CPI has caused its duly authorized officer to
execute this amended and restated Plan to evidence its adoption of this Plan.
COUSINS PROPERTIES INCORPORATED
By:______________________________
Date:____________________________