As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 18, 2017

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Maryland		58-2328421
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)

11695 Johns Creek Parkway

Suite 350

Johns Creek, GA 30097-1523

(Address, including zip code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc. Amended and Restated 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan

(Full title of the plan)

 

 

Robert E. Bowers

Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President and Treasurer

Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc.

11695 Johns Creek Parkway

Suite 350

Johns Creek, GA 30097-1523

(770) 418-8800

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies to:

Keith M. Townsend, Esq.

King & Spalding LLP

1180 Peachtree St. N.E.

Atlanta, GA 30309

(404) 572-4600

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer		☒		Accelerated filer		☐
Non-accelerated filer		☐  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)		Smaller reporting company		☐
				Emerging growth company		☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  ☐

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of Securities to be Registered		Amount to be Registered (1)		Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share (2)		Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price (3)		Amount of Registration Fee
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share		1,000,000 shares		$21.09		$21,090,000.00		$2,445.00

(1)

Represents shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”) of the Registrant available for issuance pursuant to awards granted under the Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc. Amended and Restated 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan. Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement shall be deemed to cover any additional securities to be offered or issued from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.

(2)	Pursuant to Rules 457(c) and 457(h) under the Securities Act, the proposed maximum offering price per share was determined based on the average of the high and low prices of the Common Stock as reported by the New York Stock Exchange on May 17, 2017.

(3)	Estimated solely for computing the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(c) and 457(h) under the Securities Act.

 

 

 

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EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Registration Statement on Form S-8 relates to an additional 1,000,000 shares of common stock of Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc. (the “Registrant”), par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), issuable to eligible directors, officers, employees and key consultants of the Registrant and its subsidiaries under the Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc. Amended and Restated 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The Registration Statement includes a number of interests related to the Common Stock to be issued under the Plan (all of which are generally nontransferable, including stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, deferred stock awards, dividend equivalent rights, and other stock-based awards).

PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

 

Item 1.

Plan Information.

The document(s) containing the information specified in Part I of Form S-8 will be sent or given as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Such documents are not being filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) but constitute, along with the documents incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement, a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.

 

Item 2.

Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.

Registrant will furnish without charge to any person to whom the prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request, a copy of any and all of the documents incorporated by reference in Item 3 of Part II of this Registration Statement, other than exhibits to such documents (unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference to the information that is incorporated). Those documents are incorporated by reference in the Section 10(a) prospectus. Registrant will also furnish without charge to any person to whom the prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request, all other documents required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 428(b). Requests should be directed to:

Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc.

11695 Johns Creek Parkway, Suite 350

Johns Creek, Georgia 30097

Attn: Associate General Counsel

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

Item 3.

Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

The following documents filed by Registrant with the Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:

 

1.

Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Registrant for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, as amended on May 8, 2017, including portions of Registrant’s proxy statement for the 2017 annual meeting of stockholders to the extent specifically incorporated by reference therein.

 

2.

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Registrant for the quarter ended March 31, 2017.

 

3.

Current Reports on Form 8-K of the Registrant filed with the Commission on May 3, 2017 and May 9, 2017.

 

4.

The description of the Registrant’s Common Stock contained in the Registration Statement on Form 8-A of the Registrant, filed on February 5, 2010, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

In addition, all reports and documents filed by Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date hereof and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and made a part hereof from the date of the filing of such documents.

 

1

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For purposes of clarity, any statement contained in this Registration Statement, in an amendment hereto or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed amendment to this Registration Statement or in any document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

 

Item 4.

Description of Securities.

Not Applicable.

 

Item 5.

Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

Not Applicable.

 

Item 6.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Maryland law permits a Maryland corporation to include in its charter a provision limiting the liability of its directors and officers to the corporation and its stockholders for money damages except for liability resulting from: (1) actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services; or (2) active and deliberate dishonesty that is established by a final adverse judgment and is material to the cause of action. The Registrant’s charter contains a provision that eliminates the liability of the Registrant’s directors and officers to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.

Maryland law requires a Maryland corporation (unless its charter provides otherwise, which the Registrant’s charter does not) to indemnify a director or officer who has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she is made a party by reason of his or her service in that capacity. Maryland law permits a Maryland corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by the director or officer in connection with any proceeding to which he or she may be made or threatened to be made a party by reason of their service in those or other capacities unless it is established that:

 

•

the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (i) was committed in bad faith or (ii) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty;

 

•

the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or

 

•

in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful.

Under Maryland law, a Maryland corporation also may not indemnify a director or officer in a suit by or on behalf of the corporation in which the director or officer was adjudged liable to the corporation or for a judgment of liability on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received. A court may order indemnification if it determines that the director or officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification, even though the director or officer did not meet the prescribed standard of conduct; however, indemnification for an adverse judgment in a suit by or on behalf of the corporation, or for a judgment of liability on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received, is limited to expenses.

In addition, the Maryland General Corporation Law (“MGCL”) permits a Maryland corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon the corporation’s receipt of: (1) a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation; and (2) a written undertaking by the director or officer or on his or her behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the corporation if it is ultimately determined that he or she did not meet the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation.

The Registrant’s charter and bylaws obligate the Registrant, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, to indemnify (1) any present or former director or officer or (2) any individual who, while a director or officer and, at Registrant’s request, serves or has served another corporation, REIT, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise as a director, officer, partner, member, manager or trustee, against any claim or liability arising from his or her service in that capacity and to pay or reimburse such individual’s reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding.

 

Item 7.

Exemption from Registration Claimed.

Not Applicable.

 

2

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Item 8.

Exhibits.

 

 

*	Filed herewith.

 

Item 9.

Undertakings.

(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

 

1.

To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

(i)

To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

 

(ii)

To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;

 

(iii)

To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

 

2.

That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

3.

To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

3

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Atlanta, State of Georgia on May 18, 2017.

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below hereby severally constitutes and appoints Robert E. Bowers, as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign any and all amendments to this registration statement on Form S-8, including any post-effective amendments hereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each said attorney-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement on Form S-8 has been signed on May 18, 2017 by the following persons in the capacities indicated.

 

Signature				Title
/s/    Donald A. Miller
Donald A. Miller, CFA				Director, Chief Executive Officer and President
				(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/    Robert E. Bowers
Robert E. Bowers				Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President
				(Principal Financial Officer)
/s/    Laura P. Moon
Laura P. Moon				Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
				(Principal Accounting Officer)
/s/    Frank C. McDowell
Frank C. McDowell				Chairman of the Board of Directors
/s/    Kelly H. Barrett
Kelly H. Barrett				Director
/s/    Wesley E. Cantrell
Wesley E. Cantrell				Director
/s/    Barbara B. Lang
Barbara B. Lang				Director
/s/    Raymond G. Milnes, Jr.
Raymond G. Milnes, Jr.				Director
/s/    Jeffrey L. Swope
Jeffrey L. Swope				Director
/s/    Dale H. Taysom
Dale H. Taysom				Director

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

 

*	Filed herewith.

Exhibit 5.1

[LETTERHEAD OF VENABLE LLP]

May 18, 2017

Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc.

Suite 350

11695 Johns Creek Parkway

Johns Creek, Georgia 30097

 

Re:

Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have served as Maryland counsel to Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), in connection with certain matters of Maryland law arising out of the registration of an additional 1,000,000 shares (the “Shares”) of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”), which will be issued from time to time pursuant to the Company’s Amended and Restated 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The Shares are covered by the above-referenced Registration Statement, and all amendments thereto (the “Registration Statement”), filed by the Company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”).

In connection with our representation of the Company, and as a basis for the opinion hereinafter set forth, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the following documents (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Documents”):

1. The Registration Statement;

2. The charter of the Company (the “Charter”), certified by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the “SDAT”);

3. The Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as amended, certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company;

4. A certificate of the SDAT as to the good standing of the Company, dated as of a recent date;

5. Resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company relating to, among other matters, the approval of the Plan and the issuance of the Shares (the “Resolutions”), certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company;

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Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc.

May 18, 2017

Page 2

 

6. A certificate executed by an officer of the Company, dated as of the date hereof; and

7. Such other documents and matters as we have deemed necessary or appropriate to express the opinion set forth below, subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications stated herein.

In expressing the opinion set forth below, we have assumed the following:

1. Each individual executing any of the Documents, whether on behalf of such individual or another person, is legally competent to do so.

2. Each individual executing any of the Documents on behalf of a party (other than the Company) is duly authorized to do so.

3. Each of the parties (other than the Company) executing any of the Documents has duly and validly executed and delivered each of the Documents to which such party is a signatory, and such party’s obligations set forth therein are legal, valid and binding and are enforceable in accordance with all stated terms.

4. All Documents submitted to us as originals are authentic. The form and content of all Documents submitted to us as unexecuted drafts do not differ in any respect relevant to this opinion from the form and content of such Documents as executed and delivered. All Documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies conform to the original documents. All signatures on all Documents are genuine. All public records reviewed or relied upon by us or on our behalf are true and complete. All representations, warranties, statements and information contained in the Documents are true and complete. There has been no oral or written modification of or amendment to any of the Documents, and there has been no waiver of any provision of any of the Documents, by action or omission of the parties or otherwise.

5. The Shares will not be issued or transferred in violation of the restrictions on transfer and ownership of shares of stock of the Company set forth in Sections 4.6 and 4.7 of Article IV of the Charter or any restriction or limitation contained in the Plan.

6. Upon the issuance of any of the Shares, the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding will not exceed the total number of shares of Common Stock that the Company is then authorized to issue under the Charter.

7. Each option, restricted stock unit, right or other security exercisable or exchangeable for a Share pursuant to the Plan (each, an “Option”) will be duly authorized and

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Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc.

May 18, 2017

Page 3

 

validly granted in accordance with the Plan and exercised or exchanged in accordance with the terms of the Plan, including any stock option agreement, restricted stock agreement or other form of award agreement entered into in connection therewith, at the time of any exercise or exchange of such Option.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications stated herein, it is our opinion that:

1. The Company is a corporation duly incorporated and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Maryland and is in good standing with the SDAT.

2. The issuance of the Shares has been duly authorized and, when and to the extent issued in accordance with the Registration Statement, the Resolutions, the Plan and any stock option agreement, restricted stock agreement or other form of award agreement utilized under the Plan, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

The foregoing opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Maryland and we do not express any opinion herein concerning any other law. We express no opinion as to compliance with any federal or state securities laws, including the securities laws of the State of Maryland, or as to federal or state laws regarding fraudulent transfers. To the extent that any matter as to which our opinion is expressed herein would be governed by the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Maryland, we do not express any opinion on such matter. The opinion expressed herein is subject to the effect of judicial decisions which may permit the introduction of parol evidence to modify the terms or the interpretation of agreements.

The opinion expressed herein is limited to the matters specifically set forth herein and no other opinion shall be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated. We assume no obligation to supplement this opinion if any applicable law changes after the date hereof or if we become aware of any fact that might change the opinion expressed herein after the date hereof.

This opinion is being furnished to you for submission to the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the use of the name of our firm therein. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the 1933 Act.

 

Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8) pertaining to the Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc. registration of 1,000,000 shares of common stock related to the Amended and Restated 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, of our report dated February 21, 2017 (except for the effects of the restatement described in Note 2, as to which the date is May 8, 2017), with respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedule of Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc. and our report dated February 21, 2017, (except for the effect of the material weakness described in the sixth paragraph, as to which the date is May 8, 2017), with respect to the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc. included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K/A) for the year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

/s/ Ernst & Young, LLP

Atlanta, GA

May 18, 2017