EX-10.31
Published on March 14, 2006
Exhibit 10.31
Certain Compensation Arrangements
Named Executive Officers
The Compensation Committee of the Companys Board of Directors has for recent years, including
2005, structured the compensation of the executive officers who will be named in the Summary
Compensation Table of the Companys proxy statement for its 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
(the Named Executive Officers) as follows:
Base Salary. The Company establishes base salary for its key executives annually after
reviewing their duties and making an evaluation of recent performance, periodically
reviewing base salary levels and total compensation for key executives of comparable REITs,
and after determining the appropriate level of total compensation in a year when target
performance is achieved. The Compensation Committee approved (for Board ratification, as
described below) revised base salaries for 2006 for the Named Executive Officers. The base
salaries for the Named Executive Officers will be as follows (effective as of March 1,
2006): Bryce Blair $761,250; Timothy J. Naughton
$500,000; Thomas J. Sargeant
$425,000; Leo Horey $350,000; and Lili F. Dunn $300,000.
Cash Bonus. Under the Companys corporate (cash) bonus plan, the Compensation
Committee may award annual cash bonuses to officers for the achievement of specified
performance goals by the Company, the individual and the individuals business unit, with
varying weightings applied to each category of goals based on the individuals position
within the Company. Each year, the Compensation Committee sets for each officer the
threshold, target or maximum cash bonuses that may be awarded to that officer if threshold,
target or maximum goals are achieved. For bonuses awarded in 2006 with respect to 2005, the
Company-wide goals used in determining cash bonuses were (i) the achievement of a targeted
level of Funds from Operations (FFO) per share, (ii) the achievement of growth in FFO per
share as compared to a peer group of apartment REITs, (iii) the achievement of a targeted
average fixed charge coverage ratio, (iv) the operating performance of development and
construction activities as compared to the original budgeted performance, and (v)
managements effectiveness at achieving various corporate initiatives. The same categories
of goals will be used to determine cash bonus awards to be granted in 2007 with respect to
2006, except that (A) relative growth in FFO will be measured by reference to Operating FFO
(Excluding Non-Routine Items), which excludes items such as gains on land sales which can
affect FFO in a manner not contemplated by an annual budget and (B) the weighting previously
given to achievement of a targeted average fixed charge coverage ratio has been allocated to
the other items. The Compensation Committee approved (for Board ratification, as described
below) the following cash bonus awards in respect of 2005 performance: Bryce Blair -
$1,099,075; Timothy J. Naughton $592,687; Thomas J. Sargeant $544,823; Leo S. Horey -
$344,125; and Lili F. Dunn $260,056. Cash bonus awards for 2006 performance will be
determined and paid in early 2007.
Long-Term Incentive Awards. Stock options and restricted stock granted under the
Companys Stock Incentive Plan are designed to provide long-term performance incentives and
rewards tied to the price of the Companys Common Stock. Generally, options will vest over a
period of three years and shares of restricted stock will vest over a
period of four years. Each year, the Compensation Committee sets in
advance for each executive officer the threshold, target and maximum
number or value of restricted shares and options that may be granted
to that officer if threshold, target of maximum goals are achieved by
the Company and the individuals business unit. The Company goals for 2005 were (a) total shareholder return as
measured on both an absolute basis (based on a three-year average) and a relative basis as
measured against a peer group of apartment REITs, (b) the multiple that the price of the
Common Stock represents to the Companys FFO per share, as measured against a peer group of
apartment REITs, and (c) the effectiveness of management and progress on various corporate
initiatives. For awards to be granted in 2007 with respect to 2006, the same categories of
goals will be used. The weightings applicable to each goal have been set in advance. The
business unit goals for long-term incentive awards are the same
as the business unit goals for determining cash bonuses, but with a different
weighting. The Compensation Committee views stock options and restricted stock as a means of
aligning management and stockholder interests and expanding managements long-term
perspective. The Compensation Committee approved (for Board ratification, as described
below) the following awards of stock options and restricted shares for the Named Executive
Officers in respect of 2005 performance:
Stock Options | Restricted Shares | |||
Bryce Blair |
189,264 | 18,912 | ||
Timothy J. Naughton |
112,680 | 10,830 | ||
Thomas J. Sargeant |
91,722 | 8,984 | ||
Leo S. Horey |
43,328 | 4,555 | ||
Lili F. Dunn |
19,838 | 2,132 |
The Boards practice is that annual compensation arrangements affecting senior executive
officers be approved by the Compensation Committee but not finalized until ratified by the
full Board (or, in the case of the Chief Executive Officer, until ratified by the
independent directors). Full Board (or independent director) ratification of the
determinations made above were given.
In March 2005, the Company closed the formation of the AvalonBay Valued Added Fund, L.P.
(the Fund), a private institutional investment fund. The aggregate capital commitments to
the Fund equal $330,000,000 (consisting of capital commitments from eight institutional
investors and a $50,000,000 capital commitment from the Company). As a consequence of the
closing of the Fund, managements effectiveness in managing the Fund will be measured and
considered by the Compensation Committee of the Board in its review of managements
effectiveness at achieving various corporate initiatives for purposes of determining annual
bonuses under the Companys existing corporate bonus (cash) program and existing long-term
incentive award (equity) program. For those officers directly involved in the management of
the Fund as a full or major part of their employment with the Company, Fund performance will
be an important element in determining their annual bonuses. While the amount of promoted
distributions earned by the Company, net of estimated Company costs associated with the
Fund, will be one factor measured by the Compensation Committee, this performance review
will be done in the context of the Companys existing bonus and long-term incentive award
programs so that no officer will be eligible to receive in any year a cash bonus or long
term incentive award that exceeds the maximum award then allowed under the existing
corporate bonus or long-term incentive award programs.
Directors
Compensation arrangements for the Companys non-employee directors were described in The
Companys Form 8-K filed on February 13, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference.
In addition to the arrangements described in that Form 8-K, the Board has approved the
payment of $2,500 per month to the Lead Independent Director for serving in that capacity.