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):

May 4, 2016

 

QTS Realty Trust, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

         
Maryland   001-36109   46-2809094

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File No.) 

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.) 

 

12851 Foster Street

Overland Park, KS

  66213
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

(913) 814-9988

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

 

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

 

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:

 

¨Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 

 

 

Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

 

On May 4, 2016, QTS Realty Trust, Inc. (the “Company”) held its 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) at which (i)  eight directors were elected, (ii) the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers was approved in an advisory vote, (iii) an advisory vote was taken on the frequency of future advisory shareholder votes related to named executive officer compensation and (iv) the appointment  of Ernst & Young LLP (“Ernst & Young”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016 was ratified. The proposals are described in detail in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 18, 2016. The final voting results for each proposal are set forth below.

 

Election of Directors

 

At the Annual Meeting, stockholders elected eight directors of the Company to serve until the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. The table below sets forth the voting results for each director nominee:

 

Nominee     Votes For     Votes Withheld       Broker Non-Votes  
Chad L. Williams     35,987,137     2,097,247       947,710  
John W. Barter     37,986,096     98,288       947,710  
William O. Grabe     37,965,292     119,092       947,710  
Catherine R. Kinney     36,139,217     1,945,167       947,710  
Peter A. Marino     37,985,089     99,295       947,710  
Scott D. Miller     37,986,492     97,892       947,710  
Philip P. Trahanas     37,984,712     99,672       947,710  
Stephen E. Westhead     26,990,965     11,093,419       947,710  

 

Advisory Vote to Approve Named Executive Officer Compensation

 

At the Annual Meeting, the Company’s stockholders voted on a non-binding resolution to approve the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers. The table below sets forth the voting results for this proposal:

 

Votes For   Votes Against   Abstentions   Broker Non-Votes
34,826,991   3,055,254   202,139   947,710

  

Advisory Vote on the Frequency of the Advisory Vote to Approve Named Executive Officer Compensation

 

At the Annual Meeting, the Company’s stockholders voted on the frequency of the advisory vote related to named executive officer compensation. The table below sets forth the voting results for this proposal:

 

One Year   Two Years   Three Years   Abstentions   Broker Non-Votes
33,627,847   2,615,611   1,826,124   14,802   947,710

 

Ratification of Ernst & Young as the Company’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

At the Annual Meeting, the Company’s stockholders ratified the appointment of Ernst & Young as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016. The table below sets forth the voting results for this proposal:

 

Votes For   Votes Against   Abstentions
39,000,409   27,870   3,815

  

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

  QTS Realty Trust, Inc.
   
   
  By: /s/ Shirley E. Goza  
    Shirley E. Goza
    Secretary and General Counsel

 

May 5, 2016