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EX-10.1 - EXHIBIT 10.1 - PARKWAY PROPERTIES INCpky-20160707x8kxex101jimhe.htm



UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
__________________________________

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 7, 2016

__________________________________

PARKWAY PROPERTIES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Maryland
 
1-11533
 
74-2123597
(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
 
(Commission File Number)
 
(IRS Employer Identification No.)

Bank of America Center, 390 North Orange Avenue, Suite 2400, Orlando, Florida 32801
(Address of Principal Executive Offices, including zip code)

(407) 650-0593
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o      Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
x      Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o      Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))







Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On July 7, 2016, Parkway Properties, Inc. (the “Company”) and James R. Heistand, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, entered into an amendment (the “Amendment”) to such executive’s existing employment agreement, as amended (the “Employment Agreement”). The Employment Agreement was due to expire on July 8, 2016, and the Amendment extends the term of the Employment Agreement for nine additional months, until April 8, 2017, subject to extension if the parties mutually agree on such terms on or before April 8, 2017. The Employment Agreement, as amended, is expected to be assumed by Parkway, Inc. (“New Parkway”) following the consummation of the pending merger (the “Merger”) of the Company and Cousins Properties Incorporated (“Cousins”) and the related transactions.

The foregoing summary of the Amendment is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Amendment attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1, which is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.02.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This document may include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. All statements other than statements of historical fact are “forward-looking statements” for purposes of federal and state securities laws. These forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the industry and markets in which Cousins and the Company operate and beliefs of and assumptions made by Cousins management and the Company management, involve uncertainties that could significantly affect the financial or operating results of Cousins, the Company, the combined company or any company spun-off by the combined company. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “will,” variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the proposed transactions involving Cousins and the Company, including future financial and operating results, plans, objectives, expectations and intentions. All statements that address operating performance, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will occur in the future - including statements relating to creating value for stockholders, benefits of the proposed transactions to tenants, employees, stockholders and other constituents of the combined company, integrating the companies, cost savings and the expected timetable for completing the proposed transactions - are forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, the Company can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained and, therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. For example, these forward-looking statements could be affected by factors including, without limitation, risks associated with the ability to consummate the proposed Merger and the timing of the closing of the proposed Merger; risks associated with the ability to consummate the proposed spin-off of New Parkway, a company holding the Houston assets of Cousins and the Company, and the timing of the closing of the proposed spin-off; risks associated with the ability to list the common stock of New Parkway on the New York Stock Exchange following the proposed spin-off; risks associated with the ability to consummate certain asset sales contemplated by the Company and the timing of the closing of such proposed asset sales; risks associated with the ability to consummate the proposed reorganization of certain assets and liabilities of Cousins and the Company, including the contemplated structuring of Cousins and New Parkway as “UPREITs” following the consummation of the proposed transactions; the failure to obtain the necessary debt financing arrangements set forth in the commitment letter received in connection with the proposed transactions; the ability to secure favorable interest rates on any borrowings incurred in connection with the proposed transactions; the impact of such indebtedness incurred in connection with the proposed transactions; the ability to successfully integrate the companies’ operations and employees; the ability to realize anticipated benefits and synergies of the proposed transactions; the potential liability for a failure to meet regulatory requirements, including the maintenance of REIT status; material changes in the dividend rates on securities or the ability to pay dividends on common stock or other securities; potential changes to tax legislation; changes in demand for developed properties; adverse changes in financial condition of joint venture partner(s) or major tenants; risks associated with the acquisition, development, expansion, leasing and management of properties; risks associated with the geographic concentration of Cousins, the Company or New Parkway; risks associated with the industry concentration





of tenants; the potential impact of announcement of the proposed transactions or consummation of the proposed transactions on relationships, including with tenants, employees, customers and competitors; the unfavorable outcome of any legal proceedings that have been or may be instituted against Cousins, the Company or any company spun-off by the combined company; significant costs related to uninsured losses, condemnation, or environmental issues; the ability to retain key personnel; the amount of the costs, fees, expenses and charges related to the proposed transactions and the actual terms of the financings that may be obtained in connection with the proposed transactions; changes in local, national and international financial market, insurance rates and interest rates; and those additional risks and factors discussed in reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) by Cousins and the Company. Cousins and the Company do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking statement.

Additional Information about the Proposed Transactions and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed transaction, Cousins has filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 that includes a preliminary joint proxy statement of Cousins and the Company that also constitutes a prospectus of Cousins. Investors and security holders are urged to read the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents filed with the SEC, when they become available, because they will contain important information about the proposed transaction. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of these documents, when they become available, and other documents filed with the SEC at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Cousins by contacting Cousins Investor Relations at (404) 407-1898. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC by the Company by contacting Parkway Investor Relations at (407) 650-0593.

Cousins and the Company and their respective directors and executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction. Information about Cousins’ directors and executive officers is available in Cousins’ proxy statement for its 2016 Annual Meeting, which was filed with the SEC on March 22, 2016. Information about directors and executive officers of the Company is available in the proxy statement for its 2016 Annual Meeting, which was filed with the SEC on March 28, 2016. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials filed with the SEC regarding the Merger when they become available. Investors should read the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus carefully before making any voting or investment decisions when it becomes available before making any voting or investment decisions. You may obtain free copies of these documents from Cousins or the Company using the sources indicated above.

This communication and the information contained herein shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d)    Exhibits.
Exhibit No.
 
Description
10.1
 
Amendment Number Two to the Employment Agreement, dated as of July 7, 2016, by and between Parkway Properties, Inc. and James R. Heistand






SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
PARKWAY PROPERTIES, INC.
Date: July 11, 2016
By: /s/ Jeremy R. Dorsett
Name: Jeremy R. Dorsett
Title: Executive Vice President and General Counsel








Exhibit No.
 
Description
10.1
 
Amendment Number Two to the Employment Agreement, dated as of July 7, 2016, by and between Parkway Properties, Inc. and James R. Heistand