DEF 14A 1 ddef14a.htm DEFINITIVE NOTICE & PROXY DEFINITIVE NOTICE & PROXY

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

 

(RULE 14a-101)

 

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

 

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.             )

 

Filed by the Registrant  x

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  ¨

 

Check the appropriate box:

 

¨ Preliminary Proxy Statement.

 

¨ Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)).

 

x Definitive Proxy Statement.

 

¨ Definitive Additional Materials

 

¨ Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12.

 

Saul Centers, Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In its Charter)

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)

 

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

 

x No fee required.

 

¨ Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

 

  (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

  (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

  (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

  (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

  (5) Total fee paid:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

¨ Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

 

¨ Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by the Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing.
  (1) Amount Previously Paid:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

  (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

  (3) Filing Party:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

  (4) Date Filed:

LOGO

 

7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1500

Bethesda, Maryland 20814-6522

(301) 986-6200

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To Be Held May 6, 2005

 

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual meeting of stockholders of SAUL CENTERS, INC., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), will be held at 11:00 a.m. local time, on May 6, 2005, at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda, One Bethesda Metro Center, Bethesda, MD (at the southwest corner of the Wisconsin Avenue and Old Georgetown Road intersection, adjacent to the Bethesda Metro Stop on the Metro Red Line), for the following purposes:

 

  1. To elect four directors to serve until the annual meeting of stockholders in 2008, or until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

 

  2. To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2005.

 

  3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or adjournments thereof.

 

Common stockholders of record at the close of business on March 11, 2005 will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the annual meeting or at any adjournment thereof. Holders of depositary shares representing interests in preferred stock are not entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the annual meeting.

 

Stockholders are cordially invited to attend the meeting in person. WHETHER OR NOT YOU NOW PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, YOU ARE ASKED TO COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND MAIL PROMPTLY THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD FOR WHICH A POSTAGE PAID RETURN ENVELOPE IS PROVIDED. If you decide to attend the meeting, you may revoke your proxy and vote your shares in person. It is important that your shares be voted.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors
LOGO

Scott V. Schneider

Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

 

April 6, 2005

Bethesda, Maryland

 

 

LOGO

 

7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1500

Bethesda, Maryland 20814-5522

(301) 986-6200

 

 

PROXY STATEMENT

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

MAY 6, 2005

 

 

GENERAL

 

This Proxy Statement is furnished by the Board of Directors of Saul Centers, Inc. (the “Company”) in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors of proxies to be voted at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held on May 6, 2005, and at any adjournment or adjournments thereof, for the purposes set forth in the accompanying notice of such meeting. All common stockholders of record at the close of business on March 11, 2005 will be entitled to vote.

 

Any proxy, if received in time, properly signed and not revoked, will be voted at such meeting in accordance with the directions of the stockholder. If no directions are specified, the proxy will be voted for the Proposal set forth in this Proxy Statement. Any stockholder giving a proxy has the power to revoke it at any time before it is exercised. A proxy may be revoked (i) by delivery of a written statement to the Secretary of the Company stating that the proxy is revoked, (ii) by presentation at the annual meeting of a subsequent proxy executed by the person executing the prior proxy, or (iii) by attendance at the annual meeting and voting in person.

 

Votes cast in person or by proxy at the annual meeting will be tabulated and a determination will be made as to whether or not a quorum is present. The Company will treat abstentions as shares that are present for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum, but as unvoted for purposes of determining the approval of any matter submitted to the stockholders. If a broker submits a proxy indicating that it does not have discretionary authority as to certain shares to vote on a particular matter (broker non-votes), those shares will be considered as present for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum.

 

For Proposal 1, the four nominees for director who receive the most votes will be elected. If a stockholder indicates “withhold authority to vote” for a particular nominee on the stockholder’s proxy card, the stockholder’s vote will not count either for or against the nominee. For Proposal 2, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the proposal is required to ratify the appointment of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

 

Any shares not voted as a result of an abstention or a broker non-vote will have no impact on the vote.

 

Solicitation of proxies will be primarily by mail. However, directors and officers of the Company also may solicit proxies by telephone or telegram or in person. All of the expenses of preparing, assembling, printing and mailing the materials used in the solicitation of proxies will be paid by the Company. Arrangements may be made with brokering houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward soliciting materials, at the expense of the Company, to the beneficial owners of shares held of record by such persons. Neither the number of phone calls nor the out-of-pocket expenses can be estimated at this time. It is anticipated that this Proxy Statement and the enclosed proxy card first will be mailed to common stockholders on or about April 6, 2005.

 

As of the record date, March 11, 2005, 16,501,166 shares of common stock of the Company, $0.01 par value per share (“Common Stock”), were outstanding. Each share of Common Stock entitles the holder thereof to one vote on each of the matters to be voted upon at the annual meeting. Holders of depositary shares representing interests in preferred stock are not entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the annual meeting. As of the record date, officers and directors of the Company had the power to vote approximately 34.1% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, excluding 8.1% of the outstanding Common Stock held by the B. F. Saul Company Employees’ Profit Sharing Retirement Trust, two of four trustees of which are officers and/or directors of the Company. The Company’s officers and directors have advised the Company that they intend to vote their shares of Common Stock in favor of the Proposals set forth in this Proxy Statement.

 

2

PROPOSALS TO BE PRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING

 

The Company will present the following proposals at the annual meeting. The Company has described in this proxy statement all the proposals that it expects will be made at the annual meeting. If a stockholder or the Company properly presents any other proposal to the meeting after March 24, 2005, the Company will, to the extent permitted by applicable law, use the stockholder’s proxies to vote shares on the proposal in the Company’s best judgment.

 

1. Election of Directors

 

The First Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (“Articles”) and the Amended and Restated Bylaws (“Bylaws”) of the Company provide that there shall be no fewer than three, nor more than 15 directors, as determined from time to time by the directors in office. The Board of Directors of the Company currently consists of 12 directors. The Board of Directors is divided into three classes with staggered three-year terms. The term of each class expires at the annual meeting of stockholders, which is expected to be held in April of each year. The directors elected at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2005 will serve until the annual meeting of stockholders in 2008 or until his replacement is elected and qualifies or until his earlier resignation or removal.

 

The nominees for election to the Board of Directors are:

 

B. Francis Saul II

John E. Chapoton

James W. Symington

John R. Whitmore

 

Each of the directors is presently a member of the Board of Directors and has consented to serve as a director if re-elected. More detailed information about each of the nominees is available in the section of this proxy statement titled “The Board of Directors,” which begins on page 4. If any of the nominees cannot serve for any reason (which is not anticipated), the Board of Directors may designate a substitute nominee or nominees. If a substitute is nominated, the Company will vote all valid proxies for the election of the substitute nominee or nominees. The Board of Directors may also decide to leave the board seat or seats open until a suitable candidate or candidates are located, or it may decide to reduce the size of the Board. Proxies for the annual meeting may not be voted for more than four nominees.

 

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote FOR these directors.

 

2. Ratification of Appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for 2005

 

The Audit Committee of the Board has appointed Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2005. Services provided to the Company by Ernst & Young LLP in 2004 are described under “2004 and 2003 Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fee Summary” on page 15.

 

Stockholder ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2005 is not required by the Company’s charter, bylaws or otherwise. However, the Board of Directors is submitting the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP to the stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If the stockholders do not ratify the selection, the Audit Committee will reconsider whether or not to retain the firm. In such event, the Audit Committee may retain Ernst & Young LLP, notwithstanding the fact that the stockholders did not ratify the selection, or select another accounting firm without re-submitting the matter to the stockholders. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee reserves the right at its discretion to select a different accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

 

Representatives of Ernst & Young LLP will be present at the annual meeting to respond to appropriate questions and to make such statements as they may desire.

 

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote FOR the ratification of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2005.

 

3

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

The following table and biographical descriptions set forth the name, age and principal occupations during the past five years for each nominee and director, current directorships held and the positions they currently hold with the Company. The information is as of March 11, 2005 unless otherwise indicated.

 

Name

   

Age

  

Principal Occupation and Current Directorships

Class Three Directors–Term Ends at 2008 Annual Meeting (if elected)

B. Francis Saul II

    72   Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director since June 1993. President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the B.F. Saul Company since 1969. Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the B.F. Saul Real Estate Investment Trust* since 1969 and a Trustee since 1964. Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Chevy Chase Bank, F.S.B.* since 1969. Member of National Gallery of Art Trustees Council. Trustee of the National Geographic Society, Trustee of the Johns Hopkins Medicine Board and an Honorary Trustee of the Brookings Institution.

John E. Chapoton

    68   Director since October 2002. Partner, Brown Investment Advisory since 2001. Partner in the law firm of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. from 1984 to 2000. Director of Stancorp Financial Group*.

James W. Symington

    77   Director since June 1993. Of Counsel in the law firm of O’Connor & Hannan since 1986. Member of Congress from 1969 to 1977. U.S. Chief of Protocol from 1966 to 1968. Chairman Emeritus of National Rehabilitation Hospital.

John R. Whitmore

    71   Director since June 1993. Senior Advisor to the Bessemer Group, Inc. since 1998. Formerly President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bessemer Group and its Bessemer Trust Company subsidiaries (a financial management and banking group) and director of Bessemer Securities Corporation from 1975 to 1998. Director of Old Westbury Funds, Inc.*, the B.F. Saul Company, Chevy Chase Bank, F.S.B.* and Chevy Chase Property Company. Trustee of the B.F. Saul Real Estate Investment Trust*. Chairman of the Board of Directors of ASB Capital Management, Inc. and Chevy Chase Trust Company.

Class One Directors–Term Ends at 2006 Annual Meeting

Philip D. Caraci

    66   Vice Chairman since March 2003, Director since June 1993. President from 1993 to March 2003. Senior Vice President and Secretary of the B.F. Saul Real Estate Investment Trust from 1987 to 2003. Executive Vice President of the B.F. Saul Company from 1987 to 2003, with which he had been associated since 1972. President of B.F. Saul Property Company from 1986 to 2003. Trustee of the B.F. Saul Real Estate Investment Trust*.

Gilbert M. Grosvenor

    73   Director since June 1993. President (1980 through 1996) and Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 1987 of the National Geographic Society, with which he has been associated since 1954. Director of Chevy Chase Bank, F.S.B.*, and a Trustee of the B.F. Saul Real Estate Investment Trust*.

 

4

Name

   

Age

  

Principal Occupation and Current Directorships

Class One Directors–Term Ends at 2006 Annual Meeting

Philip C. Jackson, Jr.

    76   Director since June 1993. Adjunct Professor Emeritus at Birmingham-Southern College from 1989 to 1999. Member of the Thrift Depositors’ Protection Oversight Board from 1990 until 1993. Vice Chairman and a Director of Central Bancshares of the South (Compass Bancshares, Inc.) from 1980 to 1989. Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System from 1975 to 1978.

David B. Kay

    48   Director since October 2002. Senior Advisor to J.E. Robert Companies. Chief Financial Officer of J.E. Robert Companies from 2002 to 2005. Partner at Arthur Andersen LLP from 1990 to 2002. Director of Chevy Chase Bank, F.S.B.*

Class Two Directors–Term Ends at 2007 Annual Meeting

General Paul X. Kelley

    76   Director since June 1993. Chairman of American Battle Monuments Commission from 2001 to 2005. Commandant of the Marine Corps and member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1983 to 1987. Director of OAO Technology Solutions, Inc. and London Life Reinsurance Company.

Charles R. Longsworth

    75   Director since June 1993. Chairman Emeritus of Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. President and Trustee of Colonial Williamsburg Foundation from 1977 through 1994. President Emeritus, Hampshire College. Chairman Emeritus, Trustees of Amherst College.

Patrick F. Noonan

    62   Director since June 1993. Chairman Emeritus of The Conservation Fund. Chairman of The Conservation Fund from 1985 through 2003. Trustee of the National Geographic Society. Member of the Board of Advisors of Duke University School of the Environment. Director of Ashland Inc.* Member of the President’s Commission on White House Fellows.

B. Francis Saul III

    43   President and Director since June 1997. Vice Chairman of the Company from 1997 to 2003. Executive Vice President of the B.F. Saul Company. President of the B.F. Saul Property Company. Senior Vice President and a Trustee of the B.F. Saul Real Estate Investment Trust*. Vice Chairman of Chevy Chase Bank, F.S.B.*, Emeritus Chairman of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington. Vice Chairman and Director of Children’s National Medical Center. Director of The Conservation Fund and the Economic Club of Washington, DC.

 

* Directorship in a publicly held company (i.e., a company with a class of securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), or subject to the requirements of Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) or a company registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

 

B. Francis Saul II, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, served on the Board of Trustees and the Compensation Committee of the National Geographic Society during 2004. Gilbert M. Grosvenor, a director of the Company and a member of the Company’s Compensation Committee during 2004, serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Geographic Society.

 

5

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

Board of Directors

 

General. The Company is currently managed by a 12-member Board of Directors. The Board has adopted a set of corporate governance guidelines, which, along with the written charters for the Board committees described below, provide the framework for the Board’s governance of the Company. The corporate governance guidelines are available both on the Company’s website at www.saulcenters.com and in print to any stockholder who requests it.

 

Independence and Composition. The Articles and the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) listing standards each require that a majority of the Board of Directors be “independent directors,” as defined in the Articles and the NYSE listing standards.

 

The Board of Directors, upon the unanimous recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, has determined that Messrs. Chapoton, Grosvenor, Jackson, Kay, Kelley, Longsworth, Noonan and Symington, representing a majority of the Board of Directors, are “independent directors” as defined in the NYSE listing standards and the Articles. The Board made its determination based on information furnished by all directors regarding their relationships with the Company and research conducted by management. In addition, the Board consulted with the Company’s counsel to ensure that the Board’s determination would be consistent with all relevant securities laws and regulations as well as the NYSE listing standards.

 

Meetings and Attendance. The Board of Directors met five times in the year ended December 31, 2004. Each of the directors currently serving on the Board of Directors, including the nominees, attended at least 80% of the aggregate total number of meetings of (i) the Board of Directors and (ii) the committees of the Board of Directors that he was eligible to attend. The corporate governance guidelines provide that it is the responsibility of individual directors to make themselves available to attend scheduled and special Board meetings on a consistent basis. All of the 12 directors were in attendance for the 2004 annual meeting.

 

In addition, non-management members of the Board of Directors met in executive session two times in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004. Pursuant to our corporate governance guidelines, if the Chairman of the Board is not an officer of the Company, the Chairman of the Board presides at all executive sessions of the Board of Directors, except for executive sessions to discuss the compensation of the Company’s chief executive officer, which are chaired by the chairman of the Compensation Committee. If the Chairman is an officer of the Company, all executive sessions of the Board should be chaired by the chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

 

Shareholder Communications. The Board of Directors has adopted a process whereby its stockholders can send communications directly to the directors. Any stockholder wishing to communicate directly with one or more directors may do so in writing addressed to the director or directors, c/o Saul Centers, Inc., 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1500, Bethesda, Maryland 20815-6522. All correspondence will be reviewed by the Company and forwarded to the director or directors.

 

Audit Committee

 

General. The Board of Directors has established an Audit Committee, which is governed by a written charter, a copy of which is available both on the Company’s website at www.saulcenters.com and in print to any stockholder who requests it. Among the duties, powers and responsibilities of the Audit Committee as provided in the Audit Committee charter, the Audit Committee:

 

  •   has sole power and authority concerning the engagement and fees of independent registered public accounting firm,

 

  •   reviews with the independent registered public accountants the plans and results of the audit engagement,

 

  •   pre-approves all audit services and permitted non-audit services provided by the independent registered public accountants,

 

  •   reviews the independence of the independent registered public accountants,

 

  •   reviews the adequacy of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, and

 

  •   reviews accounting, auditing and financial reporting matters with the Company’s independent registered public accountants and management.

 

Independence and Composition. The composition of the Audit Committee is subject to the independence and other requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder, which is referred to as the Exchange Act, and the NYSE listing standards. In 2004, Messrs. Kelley, Kay, Longsworth, Noonan and Symington, were, and they currently are, the members of the Audit Committee, with General Kelley serving as chairman.

 

The Board of Directors, upon the unanimous recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, has determined that all current members of the Audit Committee meet the audit committee composition requirements of the Exchange Act and the NYSE listing standards and that Mr. Kay is an “audit committee financial expert” as that term is defined in the Exchange Act.

 

Meetings. The Audit Committee met nine times in the year ended December 31, 2004.

 

6

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

 

General. The Board of Directors has established a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, which is governed by a written charter, a copy of which is available both on the Company’s website at www.saulcenters.com and in print to any stockholder who requests it. As provided in the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee charter, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee:

 

  •   identifies and recommends to the Board of Directors individuals to stand for election and reelection to the Board at the annual meeting of stockholders and to fill vacancies that may arise from time to time,

 

  •   develops and makes recommendations to the Board for the creation and ongoing review and revision of a set of effective corporate governance guidelines that promote the competent and ethical operation of the Company and any policies governing ethical business conduct of the Company’s employees or directors, and

 

  •   makes recommendations to the Board of Directors as to the structure and membership of committees of the Board of Directors.

 

Selection of Director Nominees. The corporate governance guidelines provide that the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee endeavor to identify individuals to serve on the Board who have expertise that is useful to the Company and complementary to the background, skills and experience of other Board members. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s assessment of the composition of the Board includes: (a) skills – knowledge of corporate governance, business and management experience and background, real estate experience and background, accounting experience and background, finance experience and background, and an understanding of regulation and public policy matters, (b) characteristics – ethical and moral standards, leadership abilities, sound business judgment, independence and innovative thought, and (c) composition – diversity, age and public company experience. The principal qualification for a director is the ability to act in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

 

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also considers director nominees recommended by stockholders. In accordance with the Company’s Bylaws, and the Exchange Act, any proposal from stockholders regarding possible director candidates to be elected at a future annual meeting or proposals for any other matters must be received by the Company at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1500, Bethesda, Maryland 20815-6522, Attn: Secretary not less than 60 nor more than 90 calendar days before the first anniversary of the Company’s previous year’s annual meeting, provided, that in the event that the date of the upcoming annual meeting is advanced by more than 30 days or delayed by more than 60 days from the first anniversary date, to be timely delivered, the proposal must be received not earlier than the 90th day prior to the upcoming annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 60th day prior to the upcoming annual meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the upcoming annual meeting is first made. The deadline for submissions of proposals for the 2006 annual meeting can be found under the section captioned “Proposals for Next Annual Meeting.”

 

Please note that proposals must comply with all of the requirements of Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act. In addition, any proposals must include the following:

 

  •   the name and address of the stockholder submitting the proposal, as it appears on the Company’s stock transfer records, and of the beneficial owner thereof,

 

  •   the number of each class of the Company’s stock which is owned beneficially and of record by the stockholder and the beneficial owner,

 

  •   the date or dates upon which the stockholder acquired the stock,

 

  •   the reasons for submitting the proposal and a description of any material interest the stockholder or beneficial owner has in submitting the proposal, and

 

  •   all information relating to the director nominee that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a director nominee and to serving as a director if elected).

 

The chairman of the annual meeting shall have the power to declare that any proposal not meeting these requirements is defective and shall be discarded.

 

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee evaluates director candidates recommended by stockholders in the same manner that it evaluates director candidates recommended by the directors or management.

 

7

Independence and Composition. The NYSE listing standards require that the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee consist solely of independent directors. In 2004 Messrs. Grosvenor and Jackson were, and they currently are, the members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee with Mr. Grosvenor serving as chairman.

 

The Board of Directors, upon the unanimous recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, has determined that all current members of the Nominating and Corporate Committee are “independent directors,” as defined in the NYSE listing standards.

 

Meetings. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met once in the year ended December 31, 2004.

 

Compensation Committee

 

General. The Board of Directors has established a Compensation Committee, which is governed by a written charter, a copy of which is available both on the Company’s website at www.saulcenters.com and in print to any stockholder who requests it. The Compensation Committee is responsible for:

 

  •   approving and evaluating the compensation plans, policies and programs for the Company’s officers,

 

  •   making recommendations to the Board with respect to the compensation of directors, and

 

  •   approving all awards to any officer under the Company’s stock option and equity incentive plans.

 

Independence and Composition. The NYSE listing standards require that the Compensation Committee consist solely of independent directors. In 2004 Messrs. Grosvenor and Jackson were, and they currently are, the members of the Compensation Committee with Mr. Grosvenor serving as chairman.

 

The Board of Directors, upon the unanimous recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, has determined that all current members of the Compensation Committee are “independent directors,” as defined in the NYSE listing standards.

 

Meetings. The Compensation Committee met three times in the year ended December 31, 2004.

 

Executive Committee

 

General. The Board of Directors has established an Executive Committee. The Executive Committee, which is not governed by a written charter, has such authority as it is delegated by the Board of Directors and advises the Board of Directors from time to time with respect to such matters as the Board of Directors directs.

 

Independence and Composition. The Exchange Act and the NYSE listing standards do not require that the Executive Committee consist of any independent directors. In year 2004, Messrs. Caraci, Jackson, Saul II and Saul III, were, and they currently are, the members of the Executive Committee, with Mr. Saul II serving as chairman.

 

Meetings. The Executive Committee met once in the year ended December 31, 2004.

 

Code of Ethics

 

The Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Senior Vice President–Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary, Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer and Controller are also governed by the code of ethics for senior financial officers. The code of ethics is available both on the Company’s website at www.saulcenters.com and in print to any stockholder who requests it. Amendments to, or waivers from, a provision of the code of ethics will be posted to the Company’s website within five business days following the date of the amendment or waiver.

 

8

Compensation of Directors

 

Directors of the Company are currently paid an annual retainer of $20,000 and a fee of $1,200 for each Board or Committee meeting attended, and are annually awarded 200 shares of the Company’s Common Stock. The shares are issued on the date of each annual meeting of stockholders to each director serving on the Board of Directors as of the record date of such meeting, and transfer of the shares is restricted for a period of 12 months following the date of issue. On April 26, 2004, the Compensation Committee awarded options to purchase 2,500 shares of Common Stock to each of the Directors. The options were exercisable upon their award at an exercise price of $25.78 per share, representing the fair market value of the Company’s Common Stock on the date of grant. In addition, on April 26, 2004, the Compensation Committee approved the automatic grant of options to purchase 2,500 shares of Common Stock to each of the Directors of the Company, as of the date of each annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders beginning with the 2005 annual meeting. The options are exercisable upon their award at an exercise price of the fair market value of the Company’s Common Stock on the date of each such annual meeting. Directors from outside the Washington, D.C. area also are reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses in connection with their attendance at meetings. For the year ended December 31, 2004, the Company paid its directors total compensation of $443,549, of which $44,255 was paid in cash, $328,038 was paid in deferred stock compensation (as described below), and $71,256 was paid through annual Common Stock awards.

 

In addition, directors may elect to participate in the Deferred Compensation and Stock Plan discussed below. For the period February 28, 2004 through March 11, 2005 (the “2004 Period”), 18,894 shares were credited to the directors’ deferred fee accounts.

 

Upon his resignation as President in March 2003, Philip D. Caraci entered into a consulting arrangement with the Company. The arrangement, which is terminable by either party at any time, provides that Mr. Caraci shall receive $100,000 per annum for consulting services provided to the Company. In 2004, Mr. Caraci received $100,000 in consulting fees pursuant to this arrangement.

 

Deferred Compensation Plan

 

A Deferred Compensation and Stock Plan for Directors, which we refer to as the Directors Plan, was established by the Company, for the benefit of its directors and their beneficiaries. Before the beginning of any calendar year, a director may elect to defer all or part of his or her director’s fees to be earned in that year and the following years. A director has the option to have deferred fees paid in cash, in shares of Common Stock or in a combination of cash and Common Stock. If the director elects to have the deferred fees paid in stock, the number of shares allocated to the director is determined based on the market value of the Common Stock on the day the deferred director’s fees were earned.

 

In connection with the Company’s initial public offering of its Common Stock in 1993, 20,000 shares of Common Stock were authorized for the Directors Plan and were reserved for listing with the New York Stock Exchange upon issuance. Between 1996 and 2004, the Company authorized and reserved for listing with the New York Stock Exchange an additional 250,000 shares of Common Stock in connection with the Directors Plan. Through March 11, 2005, 172,314 of these 270,000 shares have been credited to the directors’ deferred fee accounts.

 

The following table sets forth fees deferred into shares of Common Stock by directors under the Directors Plan.

 

     Number of Shares Credited to
Stock Deferred Fee Account

Name

    2004 Period
    Total

Philip D. Caraci

    1,458    12,833

John E. Chapoton

    876    2,255

Gilbert Grosvenor

    2,227    25,508

Philip C. Jackson, Jr.

    816    15,659

David B. Kay

    1,203    2,548

General Paul X. Kelley

    1,508    6,424

Charles R. Longsworth

    2,543    27,566

Patrick F. Noonan

    1,842    20,318

B. Francis Saul II

    1,433    12,346

B. Francis Saul III

    1,423    12,148

James W. Symington

    1,504    9,717

John R. Whitmore

    2,061    24,992
    
  

Total

    18,894    172,314
    
  

 

9

REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

 

Compensation Philosophy. The goal of the Compensation Committee is to design and administer a compensation program to (i) attract and retain qualified officers, (ii) reward officers for superior performance in achieving Company business objectives and enhancing stockholder value and (iii) provide incentives for the creation of long-term stockholder value. The key elements of executive compensation are base salary, annual performance bonuses and incentive stock options. The Compensation Committee reviews and approves the Company’s policies and practices regarding executive compensation, including (a) base salary levels, (b) annual performance bonuses, and (c) long-term incentives, including awards of stock options.

 

Base Salary and Bonus Awards. As part of its review of compensation, the Committee considers a variety of factors, including each individual’s tenure, level and scope of responsibility and performance, contribution to the Company’s achievement of its long-term goals, as well as factors relating to the overall performance of the Company and management’s recommendations regarding compensation.

 

The Committee believes that base salary levels and annual bonus awards are reasonably related to the base salary levels and annual bonus awards of officers of comparable real estate investment trusts and other real estate companies. The Committee also believes that the current base salary levels and annual bonus awards of the Company’s officers take into account the unique talents and skills of its officers.

 

Stock Option Grants. While not a key element in compensation, the Compensation Committee believes that the prudent use of equity incentives aligns the interest of officers with those of stockholders and promotes long-term stockholder value. The 2004 Stock Plan provides for grants of nonqualified and incentive stock options to employees, including officers. The Compensation Committee administers the plan and determines the participants who receive stock option grants, the terms of the grants, the schedule for exercisability or nonforfeitability, and the time and conditions for expiration of the grants. The Compensation Committee will continue to look at the total compensation package for each officer, and the policies underlying the Company’s long-term compensation goals when granting awards under the plan.

 

On April 26, 2004, the Compensation Committee awarded 122,500 stock options to officers of the Company. Of the 122,500 stock options, 27,500 were incentive stock options and 95,000 were nonqualified stock options. The options vest 25% per year over a four-year period and are exercisable at $25.78 per share, representing the fair market value of the Company’s Common Stock on the date of grant.

 

Compensation of the Chief Executive Officer. The Compensation Committee uses the same procedures described above in setting the annual salary, bonus and stock option awards of the Chief Executive Officer. In 2004, B. Francis Saul II received a base salary of $125,000 and a bonus award of $10,000. In doing so, the Compensation Committee considered the Company’s 2004 performance and additional subjective factors such as Mr. Saul’s continued success in maintaining a stable and creditworthy tenant base and income stream, retaining a team of highly-qualified professionals, as well as maintaining overall stockholder confidence.

 

Members of the Compensation Committee
Gilbert M. Grosvenor, Chairman
Philip C. Jackson, Jr.

 

10

Executive Officers Who Are Not Directors

 

The following list sets forth the name, age, position with the Company, present principal occupation or employment and material occupations, positions, offices or employment during the past 10 years of each executive officer who is not a director of the Company. With the exception of M. Laurence Millspaugh and Kenneth D. Shoop, who joined the Company in 1996 and 2003, respectively, each listed individual has held an office with the Company since its inception in June 1993.

 

Name

   

Age

  

Position and Background

Christopher H. Netter

    50   Senior Vice President – Leasing since 1998. Vice President – Leasing of the Company from 1993 to 1998. Vice President of the B.F. Saul Company and B.F. Saul Property Company and Assistant Vice President of the B.F. Saul Real Estate Investment Trust from 1987 to 1993.

Scott V. Schneider

    47   Senior Vice President – Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary since 1998. Vice President – Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary of the Company from 1993 to 1998. Vice President of the B.F. Saul Company and B.F. Saul Property Company and Assistant Vice President of the B.F. Saul Real Estate Investment Trust from 1985 to 1993.

Charles W. Sherren, Jr.

    51   Senior Vice President – Management since 2000. Vice President – Management of the Company from 1993 to 2000. Vice President of the B.F. Saul Company and B.F. Saul Property Company and Assistant Vice President of the B.F. Saul Real Estate Investment Trust from 1981 to 1993.

John F. Collich

    45   Senior Vice President – Retail Development since 2000. Vice President – Retail Development of the Company from 1993 to 2000. Vice President of the B.F. Saul Company and B.F. Saul Property Company in 1993.

M. Laurence Millspaugh

    47   Senior Vice President – Acquisitions and Development since 2002. Senior Vice President – Acquisitions and Development of the B.F. Saul Company from 2002 to present. Vice President of Development of the Company and the B.F. Saul Company from 1996 to 2002. Senior Vice President of Buchanan Companies from 1989 to 1996.

Kenneth D. Shoop

    45   Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer since December 2003. Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Accounting Officer of the B.F. Saul Real Estate Investment Trust since January 2004. Vice President of the B.F. Saul Company and B.F. Saul Property Company since September 2003. Vice President and Controller of Federal Realty Investment Trust from 2000 to September 2003. Assistant Controller of Federal Realty Investment Trust from 1992 to 2000.

Thomas H. McCormick

    54   Senior Vice President and General Counsel since February 2005. Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Chevy Chase Bank, F.S.B. Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the B. F. Saul Company. Vice President and General Counsel of the B. F. Saul Real Estate Investment Trust. Partner with Shaw Pittman LLP from 1985 to 2005.

 

11

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

Annual Compensation

 

The Company pays compensation to its executive officers for their services in such capacity. The following Summary Compensation Table sets forth the annual and long-term compensation paid by the Company to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and each of its four other most highly compensated executive officers who were serving as of December 31, 2004, (“named executive officers”) for, or with respect to, the periods ended December 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002.

 

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

 

     Annual Compensation
    Long-Term
Compensation
    All
Other
Compensation (1)

Name and Principal Position

    Year
    Salary
    Bonus
    Stock Option
Awards (Shs)
   

B. Francis Saul II
Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer

    2004
2003
2002		    $
 
 		 125,000
125,000
125,000		    $
 
 		 10,000
10,000
10,000		    —  
—  
—  		    $
 
 		 6,369
6,369
6,369

B. Francis Saul III
President (2)

    2004
2003
2002		     
 
 		 326,154
286,462
260,000		     
 
 		 27,200
24,000
18,200		    40,000
80,000
—  		     
 
 		 17,140
13,232
11,856

Christopher H. Netter
Senior Vice President
Leasing

    2004
2003
2002		     
 
 		 262,846
251,108
243,500		     
 
 		 18,690
17,897
17,045		    15,000
30,000
—  		     
 
 		 20,997
20,048
23,114

Scott V. Schneider
Senior Vice President
Chief Financial Officer

    2004
2003
2002		     
 
 		 261,846
246,400
233,500		     
 
 		 18,620
17,724
16,345		    15,000
30,000
—  		     
 
 		 19,962
20,720
19,767

John F. Collich
Senior Vice President
Retail Development

    2004
2003
2002		     
 
 		 224,846
213,615
202,985		     
 
 		 34,350
32,603
31,050		    15,000
30,000
—  		     
 
 		 18,325
17,386
14,818

 

(1) Amounts paid represent Company’s contribution to Employees’ Profit Sharing Retirement Trust and to a nonqualified deferred retirement plan and Company’s payment of life insurance premiums for the benefit of the named executive officers.

 

(2) Served as Vice Chairman until March 20, 2003.

 

12

Stock Option Grants in Last Year

 

The following table sets forth the options to purchase Common Stock granted to the named executive officers in 2004.

 

     Individual Grants
    Potential Realizable Value
at Assumed Annual Rates
of Stock Price
Appreciation for Option
Term

Name

    Number
of Shares
Underlying
Options
Granted (#)
    Percent of
Total Options
Granted to
Employees
in Year
     Exercise or
Base Price
($/Sh)
    Expiration
Date (1)
    5% ($)(2)
    10% ($)(2)

B. Francis Saul II
Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer

    —      —         —      —        —        —  

B. Francis Saul III
President

    40,000    32.7 %   $ 25.78    4/25/14    $ 648,516    $ 1,643,467

Christopher H. Netter
Senior Vice President
Leasing

    15,000    12.2 %     25.78    4/25/14      243,193      616,300

Scott V. Schneider
Senior Vice President
Chief Financial Officer

    15,000    12.2 %     25.78    4/25/14      243,193      616,300

John F. Collich
Senior Vice President
Retail Development

    15,000    12.2 %     25.78    4/25/14      243,193      616,300

 

(1) The expiration date of the options is ten years after the date of the grant.

 

(2) The potential realizable value is reported net of the option price, but before the income taxes associated with exercise. These amounts represent assumed compounded rates of appreciation at 5% and 10% from the date of the grant to the expiration date of the options. These assumed annual rates of stock price appreciation are specified by the SEC. No assurance can be given that such rates will be achieved.

 

Aggregated Options Exercised in Last Year, and Year-End Share Option Values

 

The following table provides information regarding option exercises during 2004 by the named executive officers and the value of such officers’ unexercised options at December 31, 2004.

 

Name

    Shares/Units
Acquired on
Exercise (#)
    Value
Realized ($)
    Number of Securities
Underlying Unexercised
Options at
Year-End (#)
Exercisable/Unexercisable
    Value of Unexercised
In-the-Money Options at
Year-End ($)
Exercisable/Unexercisable

B. Francis Saul II
Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer

    —        —      2,500 / —      $31,175 / —  

B. Francis Saul III
President

    —        —      22,500 / 100,000    280,575 / $ 1,299,200

Christopher H. Netter
Senior Vice President
Leasing

    7,500    $ 33,300    — / 37,500    —   / 487,200

Scott V. Schneider
Senior Vice President
Chief Financial Officer

    —        —      7,500 / 37,500    100,050 / 487,200

John F. Collich
Senior Vice President
Retail Development

    —        —      7,500 / 37,500    100,050 / 487,200

 

13

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

 

The following table provides information as of March 11, 2005 regarding equity compensation plans approved by the shareholders and equity compensation plans that were not approved by the shareholders.

 

Plan category

    Number of securities to
be issued upon exercise
of outstanding options,
warrants and rights
(a)
     Weighted average exercise
price of outstanding
options, warrants and rights
(b)
    Number of securities
remaining available for future
issuance (excluding securities
reflected in column (a)
(c)

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders (1)

    352,500 (2)   $ 25.29    445,186

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

    —   (3)   $ 19.69    —  

 

(1) Consists entirely of common shares authorized for issuance under the 1993 Stock Option Plan and the 2004 Stock Plan.

 

(2) Excludes 2,314 shares of Common Stock issued upon the deferral of directors’ compensation fees under the Company’s 2004 Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors. Such shares were issued at the market value of the Common Stock on the day the deferred director’s fees were earned.

 

(3) 170,000 shares of Common Stock were issued upon deferral of directors’ compensation fees under the Company’s prior Deferred Compensation and Stock Plan for Directors. Such shares were issued at the market value of the Common Stock on the day the deferred director’s fees were earned.

 

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

 

The information contained in the report shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or to “filed” with the SEC, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into any previous or future filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that the Company incorporates it by specific reference.

 

Duties, Powers and Responsibilities. The Audit Committee is governed by a charter, a copy of which is available both on the Company’s website at www.saulcenters.com and in print to any stockholder who requests it. The Audit Committee charter is designed to assist the Audit Committee in complying with applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the NYSE listing standards, all of which relate to corporate governance and many of which directly or indirectly affect the duties, powers and responsibilities of the Audit Committee. Among the duties, powers and responsibilities of the Audit Committee as provided in the Audit Committee charter, the Audit Committee:

 

  •   has sole power and authority concerning the engagement and fees of the independent registered public accounting firm,

 

  •   reviews with the independent registered public accounting firm the plans and results of the audit engagement,

 

  •   pre-approves audit and permitted non-audit services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm,

 

  •   reviews the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm,

 

  •   reviews the adequacy of the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting, and

 

  •   reviews accounting, auditing and financial reporting matters with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and management.

 

Review and Discussion with Management and Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Company’s audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2004, management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and the independent registered public accounting firm’s attestation of management’s assessment.

 

The Audit Committee has also discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm those items required by SAS 61, which includes among other things, matters related to the conduct of the audit of the Company’s financial statements. The Audit Committee has received a written report required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 from the independent registered public accounting firm regarding their independence, and has discussed this report with them.

 

14

2004 and 2003 Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fee Summary. During years 2004 and 2003, the Company retained Ernst & Young LLP to provide services in the following categories and amounts:

 

     Year 2004
    Year 2003

Audit Fees (1)

    $ 491,000    $ 296,900

Audit Related & Consultation Fees (2)

      106,000      8,000

Tax Fees (3)

      119,000      114,000

Other

      —        —  
    
  

Total Fees

    $ 716,000    $ 418,900
    
  

 

(1) Audit fees include the audit fee, fees incurred for attestation relating to management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and fees for comfort letters, attest services, consents and assistance with and review of documents filed with the SEC.

 

(2) Audit related fees consist of fees incurred for audits related to the acquisition of operating real estate properties, fees for consultation concerning financial accounting and reporting standards, performance of agreed-upon procedures, and other audit or attest services not required by statute or regulation.

 

(3) Tax fees consist of fees for tax consultation and tax compliance services.

 

The Audit Committee has determined that the provision of audit related and tax services by Ernst & Young LLP during 2004 is compatible with maintaining Ernst & Young LLP’s independence.

 

Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Registered Public Accountant. Consistent with SEC policies regarding registered public accountant independence, the Audit Committee has responsibility for appointing, setting compensation and overseeing the work of the independent registered public accountant. In recognition of this responsibility, the Audit Committee has established a policy to pre-approve all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by the independent registered public accountant.

 

Prior to engagement of the independent registered public accountant for the next year’s audit, management will submit to the Audit Committee for approval an aggregate of services expected to be rendered during that year for each of the categories of services listed in the table above.

 

Prior to engagement, the Audit Committee pre-approves these services by category of service. The fees are budgeted and the Audit Committee requires the independent registered public accountant and management to report actual fees versus the budget periodically throughout the year by category of service. During the year, circumstances may arise when it may become necessary to engage the independent registered public accountant for additional services not contemplated in the original pre-approval. In those instances, the Audit Committee requires specific pre-approval before engaging the independent registered public accountant.

 

Conclusion. Based on the review and discussions referred to above, the Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Company’s audited financial statements be included in the Annual Report of the Company on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 for filing with the SEC.

 

General Paul X. Kelley, Committee Chairman
David B. Kay
Charles R. Longsworth
Patrick F. Noonan
James W. Symington

 

15

PERFORMANCE GRAPH

 

Rules promulgated under the Exchange Act require the Company to present a graph comparing the cumulative total stockholder return on its Common Stock with the cumulative total stockholder return of (i) a broad equity market index, and (ii) a published industry index or peer group. The graph compares the cumulative total stockholder return of the Company’s Common Stock, based on the market price of the Common Stock and assuming reinvestment of dividends, with the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trust Equity Index (“NAREIT Equity”), the S&P 500 Index (“S&P 500”) and the Russell 2000 Index (“Russell 2000”). The graph assumes the investment of $100 on January 1, 2000.

 

 

LOGO

 

     Jan. 1, 2000
    Dec. 2000
    Dec. 2001
    Dec. 2002
    Dec. 2003
    Dec. 2004

Saul Centers

    $ 100    $ 147    $ 184    $ 219    $ 282    $ 397

Russell 2000

      100      126      144      149      205      270

NAREIT Equity

      100      97      100      79      119      141

S&P 500

      100      91      80      62      80      89

 

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

 

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the “Exchange Act”) requires the Company’s officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of the Company’s equity securities, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership on Forms 3, 4 and 5 with the SEC and the NYSE. Officers, directors and greater than 10% stockholders are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all Forms 3, 4 and 5 which they file.

 

To the best of the Company’s knowledge, based upon copies of forms furnished to it and written representations from officers, directors and 10% beneficial holders, the following persons were late in filing SEC Forms 3, 4 or 5 during the year ended December 31, 2004: (1) on February 20, 2004, B. Francis Saul III reported one business day later than required on Form 4 the purchase of 400 shares of Common Stock on February 17, 2004; (2) on February 24, 2004, Philip D. Caraci reported five business days later than required the sale of 650 depositary shares, each representing 1/100th of a share of 8% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock; (3) on April 12, 2004, Philip D. Caraci reported two business days later than required the purchase of 1,000 shares of Common Stock; (4) on May 6, 2004, Kenneth D. Shoop filed his initial Form 3 approximately five months after his initial appointment as an officer of the Company. At the time of his appointment, Mr. Shoop did not own any capital stock of the Company and thus, incorrectly believed that a Form 3 was not required; and (5) on May 6, 2004, Kenneth D. Shoop reported six business days later than required the grant of 2,500 options to purchase shares of Common Stock.

 

16

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

 

The following table sets forth certain information as of March 11, 2005, concerning shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by all persons (if any) known by the Company to own more than 5% of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock, by each director and nominee, by each named executive officer and by all directors and executive officers as a group, according to information provided to the Company by each such person. Unless otherwise noted, each person named has sole voting and sole investment power with respect to all shares beneficially owned by such person. For purposes of this table, “beneficially owned” includes securities redeemable or exercisable for Common Stock that are currently redeemable or exercisable or that will become redeemable or exercisable within 60 days of March 11, 2005. As a result, the number of shares set forth below includes the number of shares of Common Stock the person holds and shares of Common Stock the person could receive on exercise of options for shares held by the person that are exercisable within 60 days of March 11, 2005.

 

Name of
Beneficial Owner (1)

    Aggregate Number of
Shares Beneficially Owned (2)
     Percent of
Class (2)
  

B. Francis Saul II

    5,234,128  (3)   31.7 %

Philip D. Caraci

    150,117  (4)     *

John E. Chapoton

    5,069  (5)      

Gilbert Grosvenor

    28,708  (6)      

Philip C. Jackson, Jr.

    64,659  (7)     *

David B. Kay

    7,538  (8)      

General Paul X. Kelley

    24,380  (9)      

Charles R. Longsworth

    32,466  (10)      

Patrick F. Noonan

    35,170  (11)     *

B. Francis Saul III

    48,845  (12)     *

James W. Symington

    13,197  (13)      

John R. Whitmore

    29,943  (14)     *

John F. Collich

    12,059  (15)     *

Christopher H. Netter

    468  (16)      

Scott V. Schneider

    11,558  (17)     *

All directors and officers as a group (20 persons)

    5,699,311     34.4 %

 

* Less than 1 percent

 

(1) The address of each beneficial owner listed is c/o Saul Centers, Inc., 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1500, Bethesda, MD 20814-6522.

 

(2) Beneficial ownership and percent of class are calculated pursuant to Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Includes 172,314 shares earned by directors in the Directors Plan. (See page 13, Deferred Compensation Plan)

 

(3) Includes 4,015,854 shares owned by the B. F. Saul Real Estate Investment Trust, 300,141 shares owned by Dearborn LLC, 233,655 shares owned by B. F. Saul Property Co., 207,658 shares owned by the B. F. Saul Company, 374,030 shares owned by Westminster Investing Corporation, 111 shares owned by Van Ness Square Corporation, 23,014 shares owned by various family trusts for which Mr. Saul II is either the sole trustee or sole custodian for a child, and 63,965 shares owned by Mr. Saul II’s spouse. Mr. Saul II disclaims beneficial ownership of 63,965 shares owned by his spouse. Pursuant to Rule 13d-3, the Common Stock described above is considered to be beneficially owned by Mr. Saul II because he has or may be deemed to have sole or shared voting and/or investment power in respect thereof. Includes 2,500 shares subject to currently exercisable options held by Mr. Saul II. Excludes 1,334,914 shares owned by the B. F. Saul Company Employees’ Profit Sharing Retirement Trust, (the “Employee Trust”). Mr. Saul II is one of four Trustees for the Employee Trust and has an interest in the Employee Trust as one of the participating employees. Excludes 2,437,859 units in Saul Holdings Limited Partnership (the “Partnership”) owned by B. F. Saul Real Estate Investment Trust, 1,735,475 units in the Partnership owned by Dearborn LLC, 214,552 units in the Partnership owned by the B. F. Saul Property Company, 574,111 units in the Partnership owned by Van Ness Square Corporation, 229,420 units in the Partnership owned by Westminister Investing Corporation, and 10,483 units in the Partnership owned by Avenel Executive Park Phase II, LLC. In general, these units are convertible into shares of Common Stock on a one-for-one basis. However, under the terms of the limited partnership agreement of the Partnership, at the current time, these units may not be converted into shares of Common Stock because the conversion would cause Mr. Saul II and his affiliates to beneficially own collectively greater than 24.9% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.

 

(4) Includes 50,716 shares owned by Mr. Caraci’s spouse in an individual retirement account. Mr. Caraci disclaims beneficial ownership of 50,716 shares owned by his spouse. Includes 2,500 shares subject to currently exercisable options held by Mr. Caraci. Excludes 1,334,914 shares owned by the Employee Trust. Mr. Caraci is one of four Trustees for the Employee Trust.

 

(5) Includes 2,500 shares subject to currently exercisable options held by Mr. Chapoton.

 

(6) Includes 2,500 shares subject to currently exercisable options held by Mr. Grosvenor

 

(7) Includes 2,500 shares subject to currently exercisable options held by Mr. Jackson. Includes 2,800 shares owned by Mr. Jackson’s spouse. Mr. Jackson disclaims beneficial ownership of 2,800 shares owned by his spouse.

 

(8) Includes 2,500 shares subject to currently exercisable options held by Mr. Kay.

 

(9) Includes 2,500 shares subject to currently exercisable options held by Mr. Kelley.

 

(10) Includes 2,500 shares subject to currently exercisable options held by Mr. Longsworth.

 

(11) Includes 2,500 shares subject to currently exercisable options held by Mr. Noonan. Includes 6,016 shares owned by Mr. Noonan’s spouse. Mr. Noonan disclaims beneficial ownership of 6,016 shares owned by his spouse.

 

(12) Includes 22,500 shares subject to currently exercisable options held by Mr. Saul III.

 

(13) Includes 2,500 shares subject to currently exercisable options held by Mr. Symington.

 

(14) Includes 2,500 shares subject to currently exercisable options held by Mr. Whitmore.

 

(15) Includes 7,500 shares subject to currently exercisable options.

 

(16) Includes 329 shares owned by Mr. Netter’s spouse. Mr. Netter disclaims beneficial ownership of the 329 shares owned by his spouse.

 

(17) Includes 7,500 shares subject to currently exercisable options and 1,375 shares owned by Mr. Schneider’s children.

 

17

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND TRANSACTIONS

 

Certain relationships existing between (i) the Company and its subsidiaries, including Saul Holdings Limited Partnership (the “Partnership”) and two subsidiary limited partnerships (the “Subsidiary Partnerships”, and collectively with the Partnership, the “Partnerships”), and (ii) B.F. Saul Real Estate Investment Trust, the B.F. Saul Company, Chevy Chase Bank, F.S.B. and certain other affiliated entities, each of which is controlled by B. Francis Saul II and his family members (collectively, “The Saul Organization”) are discussed below.

 

Management of the Current Portfolio Properties. The Company and its subsidiaries entered into a shared services agreement (the “agreement”) with The Saul Organization that provides for the sharing of certain personnel and ancillary functions, such as computer hardware, software and support services, payroll services, benefits administration, in-house legal services and other direct and indirect administrative personnel. The method of determining the cost of the shared services is provided in the Agreement and, depending on the service, is based upon head count, estimates of usage or estimates of time incurred, as applicable. The Saul Organization also subleases office space to the Company (see below for description of terms of corporate headquarters lease). The terms of all sharing arrangements, including payments related thereto, are deemed reasonable by management and are approved annually by the Audit Committee of the Company, which consists entirely of independent directors under the Company’s Articles and NYSE rules. Billings by The Saul Organization for the Company’s share of these ancillary costs and expenses, which included $621,000 of rental payments for the Company’s headquarters lease, for the year ended December 31, 2004 totaled $3,139,000. At December 31, 2004, $259,000 was owed to The Saul Organization. Although the Company believes that the amounts allocated to it for such shared services represent a fair allocation between it and The Saul Organization, the Company has not obtained a third party appraisal of the value of these services.

 

Related Party Rents. Chevy Chase Bank leases space in 14 of the shopping centers owned by the Company and its subsidiaries. The total rental income from Chevy Chase Bank from January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2004 was $1,733,000. Although the Company believes that these leases have comparable terms to leases it has entered into with third-party tenants, the terms of these leases were not set as a result of arm’s-length negotiation. The terms of any lease with Chevy Chase Bank are approved in advance by the Audit Committee, which is comprised solely of independent directors.

 

The Company’s corporate headquarters lease commenced in March 2002. The Company leases space from a member of The Saul Organization. The 10-year lease provides for an annual rental payment for the year ended December 31, 2004 of $621,000, escalated at 3% per year, with payment of a pro-rata share of operating expenses over a base year amount. The lease also provides for annual adjustments of rent based on the square footage used by the Company during the year. Although the Company believes that this lease has comparable terms to what would have been obtained from a third party landlord, it did not seek bid proposals from any independent third parties when entering into its new corporate headquarters lease.

 

Management Personnel. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and President are also officers of various members of The Saul Organization. Although the Company believes that these officers spend sufficient management time to meet their responsibilities as its officers, the amount of management time devoted to the Company will depend on its specific circumstances at any given point in time. As a result, in a given period, these officers may spend less than a majority of their management time on the Company’s matters. Over extended periods of time, the Company believes that its Chief Executive Officer will spend less than a majority of his management time on Company matters, while the Chief Accounting Officer and President may or may not spend less than a majority of their management time on the Company’s matters.

 

Exclusivity and Right of First Refusal Agreements. The Company will acquire, develop, own and manage shopping center properties and will own and manage other commercial properties subject to certain exclusivity agreements and rights of first refusal to which it is a party. The Saul Organization will continue to develop, acquire, own and manage commercial properties and own land suitable for development as, among other things, shopping centers and other commercial properties. The agreement relating to exclusivity and the right of first refusal between the Company and The Saul Organization (other than Chevy Chase Bank, F.S.B.) (the “Exclusivity and Right of First Refusal Agreement”) generally requires The Saul Organization to conduct its shopping center business exclusively through the Company and to grant the Company a right of first refusal to purchase commercial properties and development sites in certain market areas that become available to The Saul Organization. The Saul Organization has granted the right of first refusal to the Company, acting through the Company’s independent directors, in order to minimize potential conflicts with respect to commercial properties and development sites. The Company and The Saul Organization have entered into this agreement in order to minimize conflicts with respect to shopping centers and certain of the Company’s commercial properties.

 

18

Reimbursement Agreement. Pursuant to a reimbursement agreement among the partners in the Partnerships, The Saul Organization and those of its subsidiaries that are partners in the Partnerships have agreed to reimburse the Company and the other partners in the event the Partnerships fail to make payments with respect to certain portions of the Partnerships’ debt obligations and the Company or any such other partners personally make payments with respect to such debt obligations. As of December 31, 2004, the maximum potential obligation of The Saul Organization and its subsidiaries under the agreement was $163,022,000. The Company believes that the Partnerships will be able to make all payments due with respect to their debt obligations.

 

OTHER MATTERS

 

The Board of Directors does not know of any matters to be presented at the annual meeting other than those stated above. If any other business should come before the annual meeting, the persons named in the enclosed proxy will vote thereon as they determine to be in the best interests of the Company.

 

PROPOSALS FOR NEXT ANNUAL MEETING

 

It is presently contemplated that the 2006 annual meeting of stockholders will be held in mid-April 2006. Any stockholder proposal to be considered for inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement and form of proxy for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2006, including a proposal relating to director nominations, must be received at the Company’s office at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1500, Bethesda, Maryland 20814-6522, no later than December 7, 2005.

 

Please note that proposals must comply with all of the requirements of Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, as well as the requirements of the Company’s Bylaws, which are described under the section captioned “Board of Directors – Corporate Governance – Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee - Selection of Director Nominees.” As a result, assuming that our 2006 annual meeting of stockholders is held within 30 days of the anniversary of the Company’s 2005 annual meeting of stockholders, the Company must receive any proposals for consideration at the 2006 annual meeting of stockholders no earlier than January 26, 2006 and no later than February 25, 2006. In addition, the form of proxy that the Board of Directors will solicit in connection with the Company’s 2006 annual meeting of stockholders will confer discretionary authority to vote on any proposal received between December 7, 2005 and January 26, 2006, or after February 25, 2006.

 

ANNUAL REPORT

 

A copy of the Company’s Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2004 accompanies this Proxy Statement.

 

By order of the Board of Directors
LOGO

Scott V. Schneider

Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

 

April 6, 2005

Bethesda, Maryland

 

19

LOGO

 

7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1500

Bethesda, Maryland 20814-6522

 

LOGO

 

The Annual Meeting of Shareholders

will be held at 11:00 a.m., local time,

on May 6, 2005, at the

Hyatt Regency Bethesda,

One Bethesda Metro Center,

Bethesda, MD

(at the southwest corner of

the Wisconsin Avenue and

Old Georgetown Road

intersection, adjacent to the Bethesda

Metro Stop on the Metro Red Line.)

 

 

SAUL CENTERS, INC.

A Proxy for Annual Meeting of Stockholders

May 6, 2005

This Proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors

 

The undersigned hereby appoints B. Francis Saul II and B. Francis Saul III, and each of

them, as proxies, with full power of substitution in each, to vote all shares of the common

stock of Saul Centers, Inc. (the “Company”) which the undersigned is entitled to vote, at

the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held on

May 6, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. local time, and at any adjournment thereof, on all matters set

forth in the Notice of Meeting and Proxy Statement, dated April 6, 2005, a copy of which

has been received by the undersigned as follows:

This Proxy will be voted as directed or, if no directions

given, will be voted “for” the matters stated.

 

(Continued, and to be marked, dated and signed, on the other side)

PROXY

THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED, OR IF NO DIRECTION IS INDICATED, WILL BE VOTED “FOR” THE PROPOSALS. THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

 

Please mark your votes like this X

 

1.   

Election of four directors to serve until the annual meeting

of stockholders in 2008:

(To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee,

strike a line through that nominee’s name in the list below)

1 – B. Francis Saul II           2 – John E. Chapoton

3 – James W. Symington     4 – John R. Whitmore

 

¨  FOR             ¨  WITHHOLD AUTHORITY

2.   

Ratification of Appointment of Ernst &

Young LLP as the Company’s Independent

Registered Public Accounting Firm for 2005.

 

¨  FOR             ¨  AGAINST            ¨  ABSTAIN

3.   

To transact such other business as may

properly come before the meeting or any

adjournment or adjournments thereof.

 

¨  FOR             ¨  AGAINST            ¨  ABSTAIN

 

COMPANY ID:

PROXY NUMBER:

ACCOUNT NUMBER:

 

Signature                     Signature                     Date

NOTE: Please sign exactly as name appears hereon. When shares are held by joint owners, both should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give title as such. If a corporation, please sign full corporate name by President or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.