SUPPLEMENT TO THE PROXY STATEMENT
FOR THE 2019 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON MAY 15, 2019
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This proxy statement supplement, dated March 25, 2019 (the “Proxy Supplement”), supplements the definitive proxy statement (which we refer to as the “Proxy Statement”) of the Board of Directors of Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc. (the “Company”, “we” or “us”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 19, 2019, relating to the Company’s 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”), which will be held at 11:00 a.m. Eastern daylight time, on Wednesday, May 15, 2019, at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta Perimeter at Villa Christina, 4000 Summit Boulevard, Atlanta, GA 30319. This Proxy Supplement should be read in conjunction with the Proxy Statement, which should be read in its entirety. Capitalized terms used in this Proxy Supplement and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings given to them in the Proxy Statement.
Death of Raymond G. Milnes, Jr.
We regret to inform you that on March 22, 2019, Raymond G. Milnes who served as a valued member of our Board of Directors since 2011 tragically passed away. Mr. Milnes most recently acted as the Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Board and as a member of the Capital Committee of the Board.
The Board of Directors wishes to recognize Mr. Milnes’ tireless service to the Company through his leadership of the Audit Committee and work with the Board generally, as well as his role as a valued mentor and cherished friend to all those who knew him, particularly his fellow directors on the Board and the members of the Company’s management team. We express our deepest sympathies and extend our sincere condolences to Mr. Milnes’ family.
Naming of Kelly H. Barrett as Chairman of the Audit Committee, Appointment of Frank C. McDowell to the Audit Committee, and Reduction of the size of the Board of Directors
Due to Mr. Milnes’ untimely passing, the Board of Directors named Kelly H. Barrett as Chairman of the Audit Committee, and appointed Frank C. McDowell to serve as a member of the Audit Committee, both effective as of March 25, 2019. Ms. Barrett currently serves as a member of the Audit Committee and is also a member of the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board. Mr. McDowell will continue to serve as Chairman of the Compensation Committee and as a member of the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board in addition to his appointment to serve on the Audit Committee.
The Board has determined that Mr. McDowell is “independent” under applicable SEC rules, New York Stock Exchange listing standards and the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines for purposes of serving on the Audit Committee. Both Ms. Barrett and Mr. McDowell are standing for reelection at the Annual Meeting with terms that expire at the 2020 annual meeting of stockholders.
The Board of Directors also reduced the size of the Company’s Board of Directors from nine to eight members, effective March 25, 2019, in accordance with the Company’s Bylaws, and will only solicit proxies for the election of eight director nominees at the Annual Meeting.
Proxy Voting
A revised proxy card, reflecting the decrease in the number of nominees to eight for purposes of the election of the Company’s directors under “Proposal 1: Election of Directors” as set forth in the Proxy Statement, accompanies this Proxy Supplement.
The Board of Directors continues to unanimously recommend a vote “FOR” all eight nominees listed for election as directors.
We urge you to review the information contained in this Proxy Supplement in addition to the Proxy Statement.