345 Park Avenue, 24th Floor
New York, New York 10154
April 30, 2025
Dear Fellow Stockholders:
You are cordially invited to attend the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders of Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation, which will be held at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on Friday, June 27, 2025, at the offices of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, 425 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017. At the annual meeting, stockholders will be asked to:
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elect eight director nominees listed herein; |
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ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP (“Deloitte”) as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2025; |
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consider a non-binding vote on executive compensation of our named executive officers; |
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consider a non-binding vote on the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation; and |
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consider such other business as may properly come before the annual meeting and any postponements or adjournments thereof. |
Details concerning those matters to come before stockholders at the annual meeting are described in the attached notice of annual meeting of stockholders and proxy statement.
Your management and your board of directors unanimously recommend that you vote FOR all nominees for directors, FOR the ratification of the appointment of Deloitte as the company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2025, FOR the approval of the advisory resolution relating to the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in the accompanying proxy statement, and ONE YEAR with respect to the frequency which stockholders should be provided an advisory vote on executive compensation.
As in prior years, we will be using the “Notice and Access” method of providing proxy materials to you via the Internet. We believe that this process will provide you with a convenient and environmentally friendly way to access the proxy materials, including our proxy statement and 2024 annual report to stockholders, and authorize a proxy to vote your shares, while allowing us to conserve natural resources and reduce the costs of printing and distributing the proxy materials.
The proxy statement and form of proxy will be distributed or made available on or about April 30, 2025. We will mail to our stockholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, which we refer to as the Notice and Access Card, containing instructions on how to access our proxy statement and our 2024 annual report to stockholders and authorize a proxy to vote electronically via the Internet or by telephone. The Notice and Access Card also contains instructions as to how you can receive a paper copy of our proxy materials and authorize a proxy to vote by mail.
It is important that your shares be represented at the annual meeting and voted in accordance with your wishes. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, we urge you to complete a proxy as promptly as possible — by Internet, telephone or mail — so that your shares will be voted at the annual meeting. This will not limit your right to vote in person or to attend the meeting.
On behalf of the board of directors, I thank you for your continuing support.
Sincerely,
/s/ Katharine A. Keenan
Katharine A. Keenan Chief Executive Officer, President and Director
The Board of Directors; Committees
Our business is managed by our Manager, subject to the oversight and direction of our board of directors. Our board of directors has eight members and is currently composed of Messrs. Johnson, Cotton, Nash and Nassau, Mses. Keenan, Lynch and Perez-Alvarado and Dr. Sagalyn.
Director Independence
Under our corporate governance guidelines and NYSE rules, the board of directors must be composed of at least a majority of directors who qualify as “independent” directors. A director is not independent unless the board of directors affirmatively determines that he or she does not have a “material relationship” with us, and the director must meet the independence requirements set forth by the NYSE rules. Our corporate governance guidelines also require all members of the audit committee, the compensation committee, the corporate governance committee and the investment risk management committee to be “independent” directors. Based upon its review, the board of directors has affirmatively determined that each of Messrs. Cotton and Nassau, Mses. Lynch and Perez-Alvarado and Dr. Sagalyn is independent under all applicable criteria for independence set forth in the listing standards of the NYSE, including with respect to committee service. Additionally, the board of directors previously determined that Thomas E. Dobrowski, who resigned from the board effective January 15, 2025, was “independent.”
In making its determination that Mr. Nassau is an independent director, the board of directors considered that he is a partner at Dechert LLP, a law firm that from time to time has provided us with legal representation with respect to various matters and has served as counsel for certain lenders in our master repurchase facilities. Payments made by the Company to Dechert LLP were immaterial to Dechert LLP’s annual consolidated gross revenues during its last completed fiscal year. Mr. Nassau was not involved in any of the legal representations that his firm participated in described above, and any compensation that he received as a result of his firm’s representation of the Company or the underwriters, placement agents or lenders in connection with our public offerings and repurchase facilities was indirect and de minimis.
Board of Directors Composition
The board of directors seeks to ensure that it is composed of members whose particular experience, qualifications, attributes and skills, when taken together, will allow the board of directors to satisfy its oversight responsibilities effectively. In that regard, the corporate governance committee is responsible for recommending candidates for all directorships to be filled by the board of directors or by the stockholders at an annual or special meeting. In identifying candidates, the corporate governance committee will review all nominees for director in accordance with the requirements and qualifications contained in the corporate governance guidelines and, subject to the requirements in the Purchase Agreement (as defined under “Transactions with Related Persons, Promoters and Certain Control Persons—Agreements with Blackstone”), recommend that the board of directors select those nominees from a broad pool of candidates with diverse professional and personal backgrounds who combine a broad spectrum of experience and expertise with a reputation for integrity and whose attributes the corporate governance committee believes would be most beneficial to us. In identifying candidates for membership on the board of directors, the corporate governance committee takes into account (i) minimum individual qualifications, such as personal integrity and moral character, willingness to apply sound business judgment, industry knowledge or experience and an ability to work collegially with the other members of the board of directors and (ii) all other factors it considers appropriate, including elements of a candidate’s background and experience that would inform his or her abilities to contribute to the board. The corporate governance committee has previously utilized the services of professional search firms and has also sought referrals from other members of the board of directors, management, stockholders and other sources.
Our board of directors currently has four standing committees: an audit committee, a compensation committee, a corporate governance committee and an investment risk management committee, the members of which are all independent directors. The current written charters for each of the committees are available on our website, www.blackstonemortgagetrust.com, under the “Investor Relations” tab by selecting “Corporate Governance.”
Audit Committee
The audit committee is currently composed of Mr. Cotton, Ms. Lynch and Dr. Sagalyn, with Dr. Sagalyn serving as the committee’s chairperson. All audit committee members meet the independence criteria and have the qualifications set forth in the listing standards of the NYSE and Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The board of directors has determined that each member of the audit committee is “financially literate” within the meaning of the listing standards of the NYSE. Our board of directors has also determined that Mr. Cotton is qualified as an audit committee financial expert within the meaning of Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act, and our board of directors has determined that he has the required accounting and related financial management expertise within the meaning of the listing standards of the NYSE. The SEC has determined that the audit committee financial expert designation does not impose on a person with that designation any duties, obligations or liability that are greater than the duties, obligations or liability imposed on such person as a member of the audit committee of the board of directors in the absence of such designation.
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The corporate governance committee is also responsible for evaluating the performance of our Manager on an annual basis, in light of the goals and objectives of the Company and the terms of the Management Agreement, and reports its views regarding the performance of our Manager to the board of directors. The corporate governance committee oversees the Company’s corporate responsibility strategy, including policies and practices relating to sustainability, sustainability reporting and disclosures and related processes and controls, including internal and external communications, and other public policy or social issues significant to the Company, in accordance with the corporate governance committee charter, which is available on our website, www.blackstonemortgagetrust.com under the “Investor Relations” tab by selecting “Corporate Governance.”
Investment Risk Management Committee
The investment risk management committee is composed of independent directors and currently consists of Mr. Cotton and Mses. Lynch and Perez-Alvarado, with Mr. Cotton serving as the committee’s chairperson. The investment risk management committee is currently responsible for the supervision of our Manager’s compliance with our investment guidelines, and reviewing and approving proposed investments as set forth in the investment guidelines, including any proposed investment in excess of $350 million and any proposed investment involving affiliates of Blackstone (other than investments in which such affiliate is investing at the same level of the capital structure on a pari passu basis) that involves amounts equal to or greater than $175 million. In addition, the investment risk management committee reviews and approves any proposed investment for which our investment guidelines (as in effect at such time) contemplate such review and approval.
Meetings
Directors are expected to attend board meetings and meetings of the committees on which they serve, to spend the time needed and to meet as frequently as necessary, in order to properly discharge their responsibilities. Our board of directors conducts its business through meetings of the board of directors, actions taken by written consent in lieu of meetings and by actions of its committees. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, the board of directors held eight meetings. During the fiscal year 2024, (i) the audit committee held four meetings, (ii) the compensation committee held four meetings, (iii) the corporate governance committee held two meetings and (iv) the investment risk management committee held six meetings. Each incumbent director attended at least 75% of the combined number of meetings of the board of directors and meetings of committees on which he or she served during the period in 2024 in which he or she served as a director or member of such committee, as applicable.
We do not have a formal policy regarding attendance by directors at our annual meeting of stockholders but invite and encourage all directors to attend. We make every effort to schedule our annual meeting of stockholders at a time and date to permit attendance by directors, taking into account the directors’ schedules and the timing requirements of applicable law. Five of our directors attended our last annual stockholders meeting, which was held on June 21, 2024. The meeting was routine in nature.
Executive Sessions
In accordance with applicable NYSE listing requirements, our non-management directors periodically hold executive sessions at which management is not present. Our corporate governance guidelines provide that the lead independent director, if any, or if he or she is not present, the chairperson of the corporate governance committee, or if he or she is not present, any non-management independent director shall serve as such presiding director.
Board Leadership Structure and Role in Risk Oversight
Our board of directors benefits from the service of three members of the board who also serve, or have served, in leadership and risk oversight roles at Blackstone: Timothy Johnson, a senior managing director and Global Head of BREDS, serves as Chair of the board of directors; Katharine A. Keenan, Global Co-Chief Investment Officer of BREDS and a senior managing director of BREDS, serves as our Chief Executive Officer and President and as a member of the board of directors; and Michael B. Nash, the co-founder and former Global Chairman of BREDS and a former senior managing director of BREDS, serves as a member of the board of directors. Mr. Johnson serves as the Chair of the board of directors. In his capacity as Chair of the board of directors, Mr. Johnson leads the investment strategy of the Company with Ms. Keenan, who is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the Company as our Chief Executive Officer. We believe separating the Chair of the board of directors and the Chief Executive Officer positions is appropriate as it helps the board of directors meet its responsibilities of overseeing management and setting our strategic direction as well as fostering long-term value of the Company. In addition, our board of directors has elected Mr. Cotton to serve as our lead independent director. Mr. Cotton’s responsibilities in this role include, among others, presiding over executive sessions of the independent directors, calling meetings of the independent directors, as necessary, serving as the main liaison between the independent directors and the Company’s leadership and in particular its Chief Executive Officer, overseeing any special projects as they may arise from time to time, assisting with setting agendas for meetings of the board of directors, and other responsibilities consistent with such role and as the board of directors may determine from time to time in its discretion.
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Executive Compensation
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Our Compensation Discussion and Analysis describes our compensation program, objectives and policies for our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, our “named executive officers,” as such term is defined in Item 402(a) of Regulation S-K of the Exchange Act (our “Named Executive Officers”), for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 (“fiscal 2024”).
Our Named Executive Officers for fiscal 2024 were:
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Katharine A. Keenan, our President, Chief Executive Officer and Director; and |
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Anthony F. Marone, Jr., our Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary. |
Overview of Compensation Program and Philosophy
We are externally managed and advised by our Manager pursuant to the Management Agreement and our Named Executive Officers do not receive cash compensation from us.
Our Manager is a part of Blackstone, which is the world’s largest alternative asset manager. Blackstone’s assets under management includes investment vehicles focused on private equity, real estate, public debt and equity, infrastructure, life sciences, growth equity, opportunistic, non-investment grade credit, real assets, and secondary funds, all on a global basis. Through its different businesses, Blackstone had total assets under management of over $1.1 trillion as of December 31, 2024. In connection with the performance of its duties, we believe our Manager benefits from the resources, relationships, and expertise of the 839 professionals in Blackstone Real Estate, which is the largest owner of commercial real estate globally with over 12,500 commercial assets and $315.4 billion of investor capital under management as of December 31, 2024. This includes the BREDS business, of which our Manager is a part, which had 172 dedicated professionals and $77.2 billion of investor capital as of December 31, 2024. Our Manager’s Investment Committee consists of, among others: (i) Kenneth Caplan, Co-Chief Investment Officer of Blackstone overseeing business areas including real estate; (ii) Kathleen McCarthy and Nadeem Meghji, Global Co-Heads of Blackstone Real Estate; (iii) Giovanni Cutaia, Global COO of Blackstone Real Estate and Global Head of Blackstone Real Estate Asset Management; (iv) Mr. Johnson, the Chair of the board of directors, who is also the Global Head of BREDS; and (v) Ms. Keenan, our Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors, who is also the Global Co-Chief Investment Officer of BREDS.
Our Manager provides the day-to-day management of the Company’s operations. Our Chief Executive Officer and President, Chief Financial Officer, and our other senior officers are senior BREDS professionals, and we do not have any employees. Because our Management Agreement provides that our Manager is responsible for managing our affairs, our Named Executive Officers for fiscal year 2024 do not currently receive any cash compensation from us or any of our subsidiaries for serving as our Named Executive Officers. Additionally, the Management Agreement does not require our Named Executive Officers to dedicate a specific amount of time to fulfilling our Manager’s obligations to us under the Management Agreement and does not require a specified amount or percentage of the fees paid to the Manager to be allocated to our Named Executive Officers. Our Manager does not compensate our Named Executive Officers or any other employees of affiliates of our Manager specifically for services to us because these individuals also provide investment management and other services to other Blackstone-advised investment vehicles. As a result, our Manager has informed us that it cannot identify the portion of the compensation awarded to our Named Executive Officers by affiliates of our Manager that relates solely to our Named Executive Officers’ services to us. Accordingly, we are unable to provide complete compensation information for any of our Named Executive Officers, including our Chief Executive Officer, as the total compensation of our Named Executive Officers reflects the performance of all the investment vehicles for which they provide services, including, but not limited to, us.
For context of our Named Executive Officers’ compensation, affiliates of our Manager paid our Named Executive Officers aggregate base salary, cash bonus and Company incentive fee participation of $2.4 million during fiscal year 2024, which amount represented 3.0% of the management and incentive fees we paid to our Manager in 2024. This aggregate compensation amount excludes (i) incentive payments to our Named Executive Officers by affiliates of our Manager specifically related to the performance of other Blackstone-advised investment vehicles, (ii) equity grants of Blackstone common stock by affiliates of our Manager to our Named Executive Officers, and (iii) the compensation, disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table, paid by us directly to our Named Executive Officers during fiscal year 2024, including equity grants of our restricted class A common stock.
We do not determine the cash compensation payable by affiliates of our Manager to our Named Executive Officers. Affiliates of our Manager determine the salaries, bonuses and other wages earned by our Named Executive Officers from affiliates of our Manager. Affiliates of our Manager also determine whether and to what extent our Named Executive Officers will be provided with employee benefit plans. We do not have employment agreements with our Named Executive Officers, we do not provide pension or retirement benefits, perquisites or other personal benefits to our Named Executive Officers and we do not have arrangements to make payments to our Named Executive Officers upon their termination or in the event of a change in control of the Company.
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Affiliates of our Manager compensate their employees, including our Named Executive Officers, in accordance with the Blackstone compensation philosophy. The compensation of senior employees at Blackstone, including our Named Executive Officers, is primarily composed of (a) annual cash bonus payments tied to Blackstone’s overall performance and the performance of the applicable business unit(s) in which such employee works, (b) performance interests (composed primarily of carried interest and/or incentive fee interests) tied to the performance of the investments made by the Blackstone-advised investment vehicles in the business unit in which such employee works or for which he or she has responsibility, including the Company and (c) deferred equity awards reflecting the value of Blackstone’s common stock and/or our class A common stock. Base salary, which is the fixed element of Blackstone’s senior employee compensation philosophy, generally represents a significantly lesser component of an employee’s total compensation. Blackstone believes that the appropriate combination of annual cash bonus payments and performance interests or deferred equity awards encourages senior employees, including our Named Executive Officers, to focus on the underlying performance of their investments, as well as the overall performance of the firm and the Company. To that end, the primary form of compensation to Blackstone’s senior employees, including our Named Executive Officers, is variable, performance-based compensation. For 2024, our Named Executive Officers’ compensation from Blackstone, in the aggregate, was apportioned 26.7% to fixed compensation and 73.3% to performance-based compensation.
While we may not pay our Named Executive Officers any cash compensation, we pay our Manager the management and incentive fees described under the heading “Transactions With Related Persons, Promoters and Certain Control Persons — Agreements with Blackstone” and, in the discretion of the compensation committee, we may also grant our Manager and our Named Executive Officers equity awards pursuant to our equity compensation plans. The management and incentive fees compensate our Manager for the services that it provides to the Company and the equity grants serve to further align the interests of our Manager and our Named Executive Officers with those of the Company and mitigate the possibility of excessive risk taking. As of December 31, 2024, our consolidated balance sheet included $18.5 million of accrued management fees payable to our Manager. During the year ended December 31, 2024, we paid $82.6 million of management and incentive fees to our Manager. In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2024, we incurred expenses of $1.6 million that were paid by our Manager and have been reimbursed by us.
The corporate governance committee evaluates the performance of our Manager on an annual basis, in light of the goals and objectives of the Company and the terms of the Management Agreement, and reports its views regarding the performance of our Manager to the board of directors. The board of directors reviews the Company’s long-term strategic plan and the fundamental factors affecting the Company’s successful operation of its business, including the management and performance of the Company’s business in light of the goals and objectives of the Company and the terms of the Management Agreement during at least one meeting a year.
Role of Compensation Committee
Currently, we do not have any employees and our Named Executive Officers do not receive any cash compensation from us or any of our subsidiaries for serving as executive officers. Accordingly, our compensation committee does not currently make any recommendations regarding the base salaries and target bonus levels of our Named Executive Officers. Our compensation committee reviews and approves the equity-based awards to be paid or made by us to our Named Executive Officers based on recommendations from the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and outside compensation consultants. The compensation committee also assesses risk and incentive considerations when determining to grant equity awards to the Manager.
Role of Compensation Consultant
In 2024, the compensation committee engaged the services of a compensation consultant, FPL Associates, L.P. (“FPL”), to review and advise the compensation committee regarding the size of the Company’s equity award pool for 2024. The compensation committee has reviewed FPL’s independence and determined that FPL is independent under NYSE rules and that FPL’s work for the compensation committee did not raise any conflict of interest pursuant to NYSE rules.
Role of Executive Officers
The compensation committee is responsible for approving compensation by us for our Named Executive Officers. Our Chief Executive Officer annually reviews the financial performance of the Company, current market conditions and the performance of each executive officer of the Company and based on these reviews, provides a recommendation regarding the appropriate equity-based grants, if any, to be presented to the compensation committee for approval.
Say-On-Pay Vote
At our 2024 annual meeting of stockholders, we provided our stockholders with the opportunity to vote to approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation of our Named Executive Officers. Approximately 95% of the votes cast at our 2024 annual meeting of stockholders voted to approve our executive compensation as described in our proxy statement for the 2024
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Transactions with Related Persons, Promoters and Certain Control Persons
Agreements with Blackstone
On December 19, 2012, pursuant to the Purchase and Sale Agreement by and between us and Huskies Acquisition LLC (as amended, the “Purchase Agreement”), and an Assignment Agreement, dated as of December 19, 2012, by and among us, Huskies Acquisition LLC and Blackstone Holdings III L.P. (“Holdings III”), affiliates of Blackstone, we completed the sale of our investment management and special servicing business. In accordance with the Purchase Agreement, Blackstone has the right to designate two members to our board of directors until such time as Blackstone and its affiliates own fewer than 250,000 shares of our class A common stock. The Purchase and Sale Agreement also requires Blackstone’s consent for the number of directors constituting our board of directors to exceed nine members.
Pursuant to the terms of the registration rights agreement we entered into pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, Holdings III or our Manager or their permitted transferees may require us to prepare and file a shelf registration statement relating to the resale of all shares of class A common stock currently held or later acquired by them or their permitted transferees and under certain circumstances they may require us to file up to four resale registration statements on demand and provide unlimited “piggyback” rights with respect to the resale of such shares (subject to certain cutback and other provisions).
Pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, we entered into a management agreement with our Manager (which was subsequently amended and superseded by the Management Agreement), pursuant to which we are externally managed by our Manager. The Management Agreement requires our Manager to manage our investments and our day-to-day business and affairs in conformity with our investment guidelines and other policies that are approved and monitored by our board of directors. The current term of the Management Agreement expires on December 19, 2025, and will be automatically renewed for a one-year term upon such date and each anniversary thereafter unless earlier terminated.
Pursuant to the terms of the Management Agreement, our Manager is entitled to receive from us a base management fee payable in cash quarterly in arrears with respect to each calendar quarter in an amount equal to the greater of (i) $250,000 per annum and (ii) 1.50% per annum of our Equity (as defined in the Management Agreement), and, if earned, certain quarterly incentive compensation. We are also required to reimburse our Manager for certain expenses incurred on our behalf during any given year. So long as the Management Agreement remains in effect, we are required to continue to make quarterly payments of the base management fee and, if applicable, incentive compensation to the Manager and to reimburse the Manager for certain expenses. See Notes 16 and 21 to our consolidated financial statements in our 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 12, 2025 for additional details. Our relationship with our Manager and its affiliates subjects us to various risks, including without limitation risks related to conflicts of interest. See “Risks Related to Our Relationship with Our Manager and its Affiliates” in Part I. Item 1A. Risk Factors in our 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 12, 2025.
As of March 31, 2025, our consolidated balance sheet included $17.2 million of accrued management fees payable to our Manager and no accrued incentive fees. During the year ended December 31, 2024, we paid aggregate management and incentive fees of $82.6 million. During the three months ended March 31, 2025, we paid aggregate management fees of $18.5 million. In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2024 and the three months ended March 31, 2025, we incurred expenses of $1.6 million and $264,000, respectively, that were paid by our Manager and have been or will be reimbursed by us. In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2024, we granted 652,537 shares of restricted stock to our Manager under the Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. Manager Incentive Plan.
We have entered into a trademark license agreement with an affiliate of Blackstone pursuant to which it has granted us a fully paid-up, royalty-free, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the names “Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc.” and “BXMT.” Under this agreement, we have a right to use these names for so long as our Manager (or another affiliate of Blackstone that serves as the licensor) serves as our Manager (or another managing entity) and our Manager remains an affiliate of the licensor under the trademark license agreement. We do not make any payments under this agreement.
As of March 31, 2025, our Manager held 1,211,048 shares of unvested restricted class A common stock, which had an aggregate grant date fair value of $25.4 million. These shares vest in installments over three years from the date of issuance. During the year ended December 31, 2024 and the three months ended March 31, 2025 we recorded non-cash expenses related to shares held by our Manager of $16.6 million and $3.6 million, respectively.
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balance sheet. We have originated and may continue to originate loans to third parties in connection with which LNLS act as title insurance agent. We do not incur any expenses to or receive any revenues form LNLS as a result of these loan origination transactions. The costs included above were capitalized into REO assets on our consolidated balance sheet. |
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In the fourth quarter of 2024, Blackstone Securities Partners L.P. (“BSP”), an affiliate of our Manager, was engaged as a member of the syndicates led by third-party banks for our senior term B-5 loan facility (the “B-5 Term Loan”) and our 2029 Senior Secured Notes. Our engagements of BSP are on terms equivalent to those of unaffiliated parties. |
CT Investment Management Co., LLC (“CTIMCO”) serves as the special servicer of all of our collateralized loan obligations (the “CLOs”), and the Manager serves as the collateral manager and benchmark agent for our CLO issued in the first quarter of 2025 (“FL5”). As of March 31, 2025, two of our assets were in special servicing under the CLOs. CTIMCO and the Manager have waived any fees that would be payable to a third party serving in such roles pursuant to the applicable agreements, and no such fees have been paid or will become payable to CTIMCO or the Manager.
Other Transactions
In the first quarter of 2025, we invested $439.1 million in one senior loan and $60.0 million in one mezzanine loan to unaffiliated third parties in which Blackstone-advised investment vehicles also invested at the same level of the capital structure on a pari passu basis.
In the first quarter of 2025, as part of a broad syndication led by third-party banks, Blackstone-advised investment vehicles acquired an aggregate $75.0 million of notes in our $1.0 billion FL5 CLO offering. All of these transactions were on terms equivalent to those of unaffiliated parties.
In the fourth quarter of 2024, we entered into a joint venture (our “Net Lease Joint Venture”) with a Blackstone-advised investment vehicle to invest in triple net lease properties. As of March 31, 2025, the aggregate value of our equity investment in the Net Lease Joint Venture was $29.0 million and our ownership interest was 75%. As part of these arrangements, we, our Net Lease Joint Venture and the Blackstone-advised investment vehicle, together, have engaged and may in the future engage in certain financing, derivative and/or hedging arrangements.
In the fourth quarter of 2024, pursuant to an agreement (our “Agency Multifamily Lending Partnership”) with M&T Realty Capital Corporation (“MTRCC”), we referred three loans to MTRCC for origination where the borrower was a Blackstone-advised investment vehicle. The loan terms and pricing were on market terms negotiated by MTRCC. Pursuant to our Agency Multifamily Lending Partnership, we received $217,000 of origination, servicing and other fees for referring these loans during the fourth quarter of 2024.
In the fourth quarter of 2024, as part of broad syndications led by third-party banks, Blackstone-advised investment vehicles acquired (i) an aggregate $62.5 million participation in our $650.0 million B-5 Term Loan, and (ii) an aggregate $80.0 million of our $450.0 million 2029 Senior Secured Notes. All of these transactions were on terms equivalent to those of unaffiliated parties. BSP was engaged as a member of the syndicate for both transactions. See “– Affiliate Services” for more information.
In the fourth quarter of 2024, in connection with the modification of one of our senior loans, a Blackstone-advised investment vehicle purchased a pari passu participation in the loan from a third party at a discount to par.
In the fourth quarter of 2024, the senior lenders negotiated a discounted payoff of a senior loan in which we held an interest. As part of the discounted payoff, a Blackstone-advised investment vehicle’s mezzanine loan, which had been part of the total financing, received a small repayment.
In the third quarter of 2024, we acquired $94.4 million of a total $560.0 million senior loan to an unaffiliated third party. One Blackstone-advised investment vehicle holds a portion of the senior loan and another holds a mezzanine loan. We will forgo all non-economic rights under our loan, including voting rights, so long as any Blackstone-advised investment vehicle controls the mezzanine loan. The intercreditor agreement between the senior loan lender and the mezzanine lender was negotiated on market terms by a third party without our involvement, and our 17% interest in the senior loan was made on such market terms.
In 2019 and 2021, we acquired an aggregate participation of €350.0 million in a senior loan to a borrower that is partially owned by a Blackstone-advised investment vehicle. We forgo all non-economic rights under the loan, including voting rights, so long as the Blackstone-advised investment vehicle controls the borrower. The loan was negotiated by third parties on market terms without our involvement, and our interest in the senior loan was subject to such market terms. In the third quarter of 2024, the borrower completed a refinancing transaction involving new lenders and the existing lenders. We elected to sell €232.0 million of our then remaining €347.0 million loan position to the new lenders at par and extend the remainder on modified terms. The terms of the modification (which included, among other changes, an extension of the maturity date, and increase in the interest rate, and additional guarantees) were negotiated by our third-party co-lender.
In the fourth quarter of 2018, we originated £148.7 million of a total £303.5 million senior loan to a borrower that is wholly owned by a Blackstone-advised investment vehicle. The loan terms were negotiated by our third-party co-lender, and we will forgo all non-economic rights under the loan, including voting rights, so long as a Blackstone-advised investment vehicle controls the borrower. In the third quarter of 2024, we agreed to a refinancing transaction pursuant to which £46.4 million of our
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£148.7 million participation in an existing £303.5 million loan to a borrower that is wholly owned by a Blackstone-advised investment vehicle was repaid, and we received a £100.0 million participation in a new loan made to the same borrower that continues to be controlled by a Blackstone-advised investment vehicle, and the terms of the loan were modified to include, among other changes, an expanded collateral pool, an extension of the maturity date and an increase in the interest rate. The transaction, including the terms of the modification, was negotiated by our third-party co-lender.
In the second quarter of 2024, a Blackstone-advised investment vehicle acquired a portfolio of assets from an unaffiliated third-party borrower. The proceeds of this transaction repaid a £46.5 million performing junior loan owned by us, and a £186.0 million performing senior loan owned by an unaffiliated third-party, both of which were included in our consolidated balance sheets, with the senior loan also recorded as a loan participation sold liability. The transaction was initiated by the third-party borrower with the sale pricing on market terms and the repayment completed in accordance with the loan agreements between the lenders and the unaffiliated third-party borrower.
In the first quarter of 2024, a Blackstone-advised investment vehicle originated a loan to one of our unaffiliated third-party borrowers, the proceeds of which repaid a $98.6 million performing senior loan owned by us. The transaction was initiated by the third-party borrower with the loan terms and pricing on market terms.
Indemnification Agreements with Directors and Officers
We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and officers. We refer to such indemnification agreements as “Indemnification Agreements” and our directors and officers party thereto as “Indemnitees.” The Indemnification Agreements provide that we will, subject to certain limitations and exceptions, indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted under Maryland law, and advance expenses to, each Indemnitee, in connection with (among other things) the Indemnitee’s capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company. This obligation includes, subject to certain terms and conditions, indemnification for any expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, penalties and settlement amounts actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with any threatened or pending action, suit or proceeding. In certain instances, we may be required to advance such expenses, in which case the Indemnitee will be obligated to reimburse us for the amounts advanced if it is later determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification for such expenses.
Related Person Transaction Policies
Our board of directors recognizes the fact that transactions with related persons may present risks of conflicts or the appearance of conflicts of interest. Our board of directors has adopted a written policy on transactions with related persons that is in conformity with the requirements upon issuers having publicly-held common stock that is listed on the NYSE. Under the policy, which is subject to the terms of the Management Agreement, a committee of our board of directors composed solely of independent directors who are disinterested (which has been designated as the audit committee) or the disinterested independent members of our board of directors must review and approve or ratify any “related person transaction” (defined as any transaction that would be required to be disclosed by us under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K in which we were or are to be a participant, other than an employment relationship or transaction involving an executive officer and any related compensation, and the amount involved exceeds $120,000 and in which any “related person” (as defined as in paragraph (a) of Item 404 of Regulation S-K) had or will have a direct or indirect material interest) and all material facts with respect thereto. No related person transaction will be executed without the approval or ratification of a committee of our board of directors composed solely of independent directors who are disinterested or by the disinterested independent members of our board of directors.
Pursuant to our code of business conduct and ethics and the audit committee charter, our audit committee is required to review on a quarterly basis all material related person transactions involving the Manager and/or its affiliates. In reviewing a related person transaction or proposed related person transaction, the audit committee will consider all relevant facts and circumstances, including:
∎ |
|
the nature of the related person’s interest in the transaction; |
∎ |
|
the material terms of the transaction; |
∎ |
|
the business purpose of the transaction; |
∎ |
|
the importance of the transaction both to the Company and the related person; |
∎ |
|
whether the transaction would likely impair the judgment of a director or executive officer to act in the best interest of the Company; |
∎ |
|
whether the value and the terms of the transaction are substantially similar as compared to those of similar transactions previously entered into by the Company with non-related persons, if any; and |
∎ |
|
any other matters that management or the audit committee or disinterested independent directors, as applicable, deem appropriate. |
In addition, the related person transaction policy provides that the audit committee or disinterested independent directors, as applicable, in connection with any approval or ratification of a related person transaction involving a non-employee director or
40
Proposal 2 — Ratification of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The audit committee of the board of directors has appointed Deloitte to be our independent public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025 and has directed that the appointment of such independent registered public accounting firm be submitted for ratification by our stockholders at the annual meeting. Deloitte also serves as the independent registered public accounting firm of Blackstone, the parent of our Manager.
We have been advised by Deloitte that neither that firm nor any of its associates has any relationship with us or our subsidiaries other than the usual relationship that exists between an independent registered public accounting firm and its clients.
We expect that representatives of Deloitte will be present at the annual meeting, will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and will be available to respond to appropriate questions. If the appointment of Deloitte is not ratified, our board of directors will reconsider the appointment.
Stockholder ratification of the appointment of Deloitte as our independent registered public accounting firm is not required by our charter or otherwise. However, our board of directors is submitting the appointment of Deloitte to the stockholders for ratification as a matter of what it considers to be good corporate practice. Even if the appointment is ratified, our audit committee, in its discretion, may direct the appointment of different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in our best interests.
Audit and Non-Audit Fees
Aggregate fees that we were billed for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 by our independent registered public accounting firm, Deloitte, were as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal Year ended December 31, |
|
|
|
|
Name |
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
|
|
Audit fees(a) |
|
$ |
1,023,000 |
|
|
$ |
959,000 |
|
|
|
|
Audit-related fees |
|
|
56,000 |
|
|
|
55,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total audit and audit-related fees |
|
|
1,079,000 |
|
|
|
1,014,000 |
|
|
|
|
Tax fees |
|
|
34,878 |
|
|
|
115,133 |
|
|
|
|
All other fees(b) |
|
|
193,593 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
1,307,471 |
|
|
$ |
1,129,133 |
|
(a) |
Audit fees include amounts billed to us related to annual financial statement audit work, quarterly financial statement reviews and comfort letters related to review of SEC registration statements. |
(b) |
All other fees in 2024 include amounts related to due diligence performed on transactional activity. |
The audit committee of our board of directors was advised that there were no services provided by Deloitte that were unrelated to the audit of the annual fiscal year-end financial statements and the review of interim financial statements that could impair Deloitte from maintaining its independence as our independent auditor and concluded that it was.
Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policy
In accordance with our audit committee pre-approval policy, all audit and non-audit services performed for us by our independent registered public accounting firm were pre-approved by the audit committee of our board of directors, which concluded that the provision of such services by Deloitte was compatible with the maintenance of that firm’s independence in the conduct of its auditing functions.
The pre-approval policy provides for categorical pre-approval of specified audit and permissible non-audit services. Services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm that are not within the category of pre- approved services must be approved by the audit committee prior to engagement, regardless of the service being requested or the dollar amount involved.
Requests or applications for services that require specific separate approval by the audit committee are required to be submitted to the audit committee, and must include a description of the services to be provided and a statement by the independent registered public accounting firm and principal accounting officer of the Company confirming that the provision of the proposed services does not impair the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm.
42
Proposal 3 — Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation
Pursuant to Section 14A of the Exchange Act, we are providing stockholders with an opportunity to vote, on a non-binding advisory basis, on the compensation of our Named Executive Officers as disclosed in this proxy statement in accordance with SEC rules. The advisory vote on executive compensation described in this proposal is commonly referred to as a “say-on-pay vote.” Approximately 95% of the votes cast at our 2024 annual meeting voted to approve our executive compensation. At our 2019 annual meeting, we asked our stockholders to indicate if we should hold an advisory vote on the compensation of our Named Executive Officers every one, two or three years. Because at our 2019 annual meeting our stockholders voted in favor of an annual advisory vote, we again are asking our stockholders to approve the compensation of our Named Executive Officers as disclosed in this proxy statement in accordance with the SEC’s rules.
As described under “Executive Compensation — Compensation Discussion and Analysis” elsewhere in this proxy statement, we are externally managed and advised by our Manager pursuant to the Management Agreement. Our Named Executive Officers for fiscal 2024 currently serve as officers of our Manager, and we have no employees. Because our Management Agreement provides that our Manager is responsible for managing our affairs, our Named Executive Officers for fiscal 2024 do not currently receive any cash compensation from us or any of our subsidiaries for serving as our executive officers. Additionally, we do not have any agreements with any of our Named Executive Officers with respect to their cash compensation and do not intend to directly pay any cash compensation to them. However, from time to time we may grant to our Named Executive Officers and our Manager equity-based awards pursuant to our equity incentive plans, which we believe serve to further align the interests of our Named Executive Officers and our Manager with the interests of our stockholders in receiving attractive risk-adjusted dividends and growth.
We do not determine the cash compensation payable by affiliates of the Manager to our Named Executive Officers. Affiliates of the Manager determine the salaries, bonuses and other wages earned by our Named Executive Officers from affiliates of our Manager. Affiliates of the Manager also determine whether and to what extent our Named Executive Officers will be provided with employee benefit plans.
This proposal gives our stockholders the opportunity to express their views on the overall compensation of our Named Executive Officers provided by us and the philosophy, policies and practices described in this proxy statement. For the reasons discussed above, we are asking our stockholders to indicate their support for our Named Executive Officer compensation by voting FOR the following resolution at the annual meeting:
“RESOLVED, that the Company’s stockholders approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Named Executive Officers, as disclosed pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC (which disclosure includes the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables and any related material disclosed in this proxy statement).”
The say-on-pay vote is advisory only, and therefore it will not bind the Company or our board of directors. However, the board of directors and the compensation committee will consider the voting results as appropriate when making future decisions regarding executive compensation.
VOTING RECOMMENDATION
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE ADVISORY RESOLUTION RELATING TO THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AS DISCLOSED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT.
45
Annual Report
Our annual report is being concurrently made available for distribution to our stockholders.
We make available, free of charge on our website, all of our filings that are made electronically with the SEC, including Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. To access these filings, go to our website (www.blackstonemortgagetrust.com) and click “Financial Disclosure & SEC Filings” under the “Investor Relations” tab. Copies of our annual report, including financial statements and schedules thereto, filed with the SEC, are also available without charge to stockholders upon written request addressed to Secretary, Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc., 345 Park Avenue, 24th Floor, New York, New York 10154.
Other Matters
Our management does not know of any other matters to come before the annual meeting. If, however, any other matters do come before the annual meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof, it is the intention of the persons designated as proxies to vote in accordance with their discretion on such matters.
Stockholder Proposals for the 2026 Annual Meeting
If you wish to submit a stockholder proposal pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act for inclusion in our proxy statement and proxy card for our 2026 annual meeting of stockholders, your proposal must be received by our Secretary on or before December 31, 2025. Your proposal should be mailed by certified mail return receipt requested to our Secretary at Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc., 345 Park Avenue, 24th Floor, New York, New York 10154. Failure to deliver a proposal in accordance with this procedure may result in it not being deemed timely received. In addition, if you desire to bring business (including director nominations) before our 2026 annual meeting, you must comply with our bylaws, which currently require that you provide written notice of such business to our Secretary no earlier than December 1, 2025 and no later than 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) on December 31, 2025. For additional requirements, stockholders should refer to our bylaws, Article II, Section 12, “Advance Notice of Stockholder Nominees for Director and Other Stockholder Proposals,” a current copy of which may be obtained from our Secretary.
Householding of Proxy Materials
SEC rules permit companies and intermediaries such as brokers to satisfy delivery requirements for proxy statements and notices with respect to two or more stockholders sharing the same address by delivering a single proxy statement or a single notice addressed to those stockholders. This process, which is commonly referred to as “householding,” provides cost savings for companies by reducing printing and mailing costs and helps the environment by conserving natural resources. Some brokers household proxy materials, delivering a single proxy statement or notice to multiple stockholders sharing an address unless contrary instructions have been received from the affected stockholders. Once you have received notice from your broker that they will be householding materials to your address, householding will generally continue until you are notified otherwise or until you revoke your consent. If, at any time, you no longer wish to participate in householding and would prefer to receive a separate proxy statement or notice, or if your household is receiving multiple copies of these documents and you wish to request that future deliveries be limited to a single copy, please notify your broker. You can also request prompt delivery of a copy of the proxy statement and annual report by contacting Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. Stockholders Relations Department, 345 Park Avenue, 24th Floor, New York, New York 10154, (212) 655-0220.
47
Pay vs Performance Disclosure - USD ($)
|
12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2024 |
Dec. 31, 2023 |
Dec. 31, 2022 |
Dec. 31, 2021 |
Dec. 31, 2020 |
Pay vs Performance Disclosure |
|
|
|
|
|
Pay vs Performance Disclosure, Table |
Pay Versus Performance Disclosure The Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this proxy statement describes our compensation program, objectives and policies for our Chief Executive Officer and other Named Executive Officers for the 2024 performance year. As required by Item 402(v) (the “Rule”) of Regulation S-K, the following sets forth information regarding compensation of our principal executive officer (the “PEO), and our other non-PEO Named Executive Officers. In accordance with the Rule, the table below and the discussion that follows includes an amount referred to as “compensation actually paid” as defined in Item 402(v)(2)(iii). The calculation of this amount includes, among other things, the revaluation of unvested and outstanding equity awards. In accordance with the Rule, the revaluation of stock awards includes, as applicable:
|
∎ |
|
the year-end fair value of the awards granted in the covered fiscal year (e.g., 2024) that are outstanding and unvested as of the end of the covered fiscal year; |
|
∎ |
|
the change in fair value from the end of the prior fiscal year (e.g., 2023) to the end of the covered fiscal year with respect to any awards granted in prior years that are outstanding and unvested as of the end of the covered fiscal year; |
|
∎ |
|
the fair value, as of the vesting date, of any awards that were granted and vested in the same covered year; |
|
∎ |
|
the change in fair value from the end of the prior fiscal year to the vesting date or forfeiture date with respect to any awards granted in prior years that vested or failed to vest, as applicable, in the covered fiscal year; and |
|
∎ |
|
the dollar value of any dividends or other earnings paid on awards in the covered fiscal year prior to the vesting date that are not otherwise included in the total compensation for the covered fiscal year. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Summary Compensation Table Total for Katharine A. Keenan ($) |
|
|
Compensation Actually Paid |
|
|
Summary Compensation Table |
|
|
Paid to Stephen A. Plavin |
|
|
Average Summary Compensation Table Total Named Executive Officers ($) |
|
|
Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO Named Executive Officers ($) |
|
|
Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based On: |
|
|
Net Income ($ in millions) |
|
|
Distributable Earnings ($ in millions) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2024 |
|
|
990,854 |
|
|
|
762,181 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
229,320 |
|
|
|
176,681 |
|
|
|
78 |
|
|
|
80 |
|
|
|
(204.1 |
) |
|
|
(5.5 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2023 |
|
|
1,167,400 |
|
|
|
1,293,085 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
269,400 |
|
|
|
299,595 |
|
|
|
85 |
|
|
|
80 |
|
|
|
246.6 |
|
|
|
526.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2022 |
|
|
1,284,920 |
|
|
|
761,432 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
148,260 |
|
|
|
(325,341 |
) |
|
|
75 |
|
|
|
69 |
|
|
|
248.6 |
|
|
|
489.8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
1,620,840 |
|
|
|
1,860,444 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
457,734 |
|
|
|
483,135 |
|
|
|
637,264 |
|
|
|
99 |
|
|
|
94 |
|
|
|
419.2 |
|
|
|
396.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2020 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
928,556 |
|
|
|
130,062 |
|
|
|
811,124 |
|
|
|
470,503 |
|
|
|
82 |
|
|
|
81 |
|
|
|
137.7 |
|
|
|
352.0 |
|
(1) |
The dollar amounts reported in this column are the amounts of total compensation reported for Ms. Keenan for 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2021, and Stephen D. Plavin for 2021 and 2020, who served as our Chief Executive Officer, for the applicable corresponding year as reported in the “Total” column of the “Summary Compensation Table” for such corresponding year’s proxy statement. Mr. Plavin resigned as Chief Executive Officer of the Company effective June 30, 2021 and did not receive any compensation from the Company in 2021, 2022, 2023 or 2024 for service as an officer of the Company as reported in the Summary Compensation Table. For 2021, only that portion of Mr. Plavin’s compensation that was earned or paid to him in connection with his role as CEO of the Company and relating to his previously granted equity awards is included in the calculation of “compensation actually paid” to Mr. Plavin. |
(2) |
In accordance with the requirements of Item 402(v)(2)(iii) of Regulation S-K, the following adjustments were made to the amounts reported for Ms. Keenan as Chief Executive Officer in the Summary Compensation Table. Importantly, the dollar amounts do not reflect the actual amount of compensation earned by, or paid to, our Chief Executive Officer during the applicable year. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reported Summary Compensation Total |
|
|
990,854 |
|
|
|
Value of Stock Awards Reported in the Summary Compensation Table Deduction |
|
|
(990,854 |
) |
|
|
Stock Awards Adjustment (a) |
|
|
762,181 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Compensation Actually Paid |
|
|
762,181 |
|
(a) |
The amounts added or deducted in calculated stock award adjustments include: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year End Fair Value of Unvested Equity Awards Granted in the Covered Year |
|
Year over Year Change in Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Equity Awards |
|
Fair Value as of Vesting Date of Equity Awards Granted and Vested in the Year |
|
Year over Year Change in Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Prior Years that Vested in the Year |
|
Fair Value at the End of the Prior Year of Equity Awards that Failed to Meet Vesting Conditions in the Year |
|
Value of Dividends or other Earnings Paid on Stock Awards not Otherwise Reflected in Fair Value or Total Compensation |
|
Total Stock Award Adjustments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2024 |
|
|
|
902,709 |
|
|
|
|
(200,716 |
) |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
(142,308 |
) |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
202,496 |
|
|
|
|
762,181 |
|
(3) |
The dollar amounts reported in this column represent the average of the total amounts reported for our other named executive officers in the “Total” column of the “Summary Compensation Table” in the corresponding year’s proxy statement as follows: | 2020: Ms. Keenan, Douglas N. Armer and Mr. Marone 2021: Messrs. Armer and Marone. Ms. Keenan, whose 2021 compensation is included in the PEO column, is excluded from this calculation. 2022: Messrs. Armer and Marone 2023: Mr. Marone 2024: Mr. Marone
(4) |
In accordance with the requirements of Item 402(v)(2)(iii) of Regulation S-K, when calculating the “average compensation actually paid” for our other named executive officers the following adjustments were made to the amounts reported in the Summary Compensation Table. Importantly, the dollar amounts do not reflect the actual average amount of compensation earned by, or paid to, our other named executive officers as a group during the applicable year. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reported Summary Compensation Total |
|
229,320 |
|
|
Value of Stock Awards Reported in the Summary Compensation Table Deduction |
|
(229,320) |
|
|
Stock Awards Adjustment (a) |
|
176,681 |
|
|
|
|
|
Compensation Actually Paid |
|
176,681 |
(a) |
The amounts added or deducted in calculated stock award adjustments include: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year End Fair Value of Unvested Equity Awards Granted in the Covered Year |
|
|
Year over Year Change in Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Equity Awards |
|
|
Fair Value as of Vesting Date of Equity Awards Granted and Vested in the Year |
|
|
Year over Year Change in Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Prior Years that Vested in the Year |
|
|
Fair Value at the End of the Prior Year of Equity Awards that Failed to Meet Vesting Conditions in the Year |
|
|
Value of Dividends or other Earnings Paid on Stock Awards not Otherwise Reflected in Fair Value or Total Compensation |
|
|
Total Equity Award Adjustments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2024 |
|
|
208,920 |
|
|
|
(46,320 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(32,397 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
46,478 |
|
|
|
176,681 |
|
(5) |
When calculating amounts of “compensation actually paid” for purposes of this table, the fair value of awards of restricted shares of class A common stock calculated under the Financial Accounting Standard Board’s ASC Topic 718. Under ASC Topic 718, the grant date fair value is calculated using the closing market price of our class A common stock on the date of grant. Adjustments have been made using the stock price as of year-end and as of each vesting date, as applicable. |
(6) |
Total shareholder return as calculated based on a fixed investment of one hundred dollars measured from the market close on December 31, 2019 (the last trading day of 2019) through and including the end of the fiscal year for each year reported in the table as required by the Rule. |
(7) |
Total shareholder return for the group of companies included in the FTSE NAREIT Mortgage REITs Index, which is the industry peer group we use for purposes of Item 201(e) of Regulation S-K. We used the Bloomberg REIT Mortgage Index in fiscal year 2024 to measure peer group total shareholder return. Because the Bloomberg REIT Mortgage Index was discontinued on February 29, 2024, we have changed the published industry index we use to measure peer group total shareholder return to the FTSE NAREIT Mortgage REITS Index. Assuming a $100 investment on December 31, 2019, the cumulative total shareholder return for the Bloomberg REIT Mortgage Index for the period from December 31, 2019 to |
|
February 29, 2024, the date such index was discontinued, was $74.90. Assuming the $100 investment on December 31, 2019, the cumulative total shareholder return for the period from December 31, 2019 to December 31, 2024 for the Company and the FTSE NAREIT Mortgage REITs Index was $78.49 and $79.62, respectively. |
(8) |
Represents net income attributable to Blackstone Mortgage Trust. |
(9) |
For purposes of the Rule, we have identified Distributable Earnings as our Company-Selected Metric. We define Distributable Earnings as GAAP net income (loss), including realized gains and losses not otherwise recognized in current period GAAP net income (loss), and excluding (i) non-cash equity compensation expense, (ii) depreciation and amortization, (iii) unrealized gains (losses), and (iv) certain non-cash items. Distributable Earnings may also be adjusted from time to time to exclude one-time events pursuant to changes in GAAP and certain other non-cash charges as determined by our Manager, subject to approval by a majority of our independent directors. Distributable Earnings mirrors the terms of our Management Agreement for purposes of calculating our incentive fee expense. Although Distributable Earnings is one important financial performance measure, among others, that the compensation committee considers when making compensation decisions with the intent of aligning compensation with Company performance, the compensation committee has not historically and does not currently evaluate ‘compensation actually paid’ as calculated pursuant to Item 402(v)(2) as part of its executive compensation determinations; accordingly, the compensation committee does not actually use any financial performance measure specifically to link executive compensation “actually paid” to Company performance. |
|
|
|
|
|
Company Selected Measure Name |
Distributable Earnings
|
|
|
|
|
Named Executive Officers, Footnote |
(3) |
The dollar amounts reported in this column represent the average of the total amounts reported for our other named executive officers in the “Total” column of the “Summary Compensation Table” in the corresponding year’s proxy statement as follows: | 2020: Ms. Keenan, Douglas N. Armer and Mr. Marone 2021: Messrs. Armer and Marone. Ms. Keenan, whose 2021 compensation is included in the PEO column, is excluded from this calculation. 2022: Messrs. Armer and Marone 2023: Mr. Marone 2024: Mr. Marone
|
|
|
|
|
Peer Group Issuers, Footnote |
(7) |
Total shareholder return for the group of companies included in the FTSE NAREIT Mortgage REITs Index, which is the industry peer group we use for purposes of Item 201(e) of Regulation S-K. We used the Bloomberg REIT Mortgage Index in fiscal year 2024 to measure peer group total shareholder return. Because the Bloomberg REIT Mortgage Index was discontinued on February 29, 2024, we have changed the published industry index we use to measure peer group total shareholder return to the FTSE NAREIT Mortgage REITS Index. Assuming a $100 investment on December 31, 2019, the cumulative total shareholder return for the Bloomberg REIT Mortgage Index for the period from December 31, 2019 to |
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February 29, 2024, the date such index was discontinued, was $74.90. Assuming the $100 investment on December 31, 2019, the cumulative total shareholder return for the period from December 31, 2019 to December 31, 2024 for the Company and the FTSE NAREIT Mortgage REITs Index was $78.49 and $79.62, respectively. |
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Adjustment To PEO Compensation, Footnote |
(2) |
In accordance with the requirements of Item 402(v)(2)(iii) of Regulation S-K, the following adjustments were made to the amounts reported for Ms. Keenan as Chief Executive Officer in the Summary Compensation Table. Importantly, the dollar amounts do not reflect the actual amount of compensation earned by, or paid to, our Chief Executive Officer during the applicable year. |
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Reported Summary Compensation Total |
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990,854 |
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Value of Stock Awards Reported in the Summary Compensation Table Deduction |
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(990,854 |
) |
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Stock Awards Adjustment (a) |
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762,181 |
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Compensation Actually Paid |
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762,181 |
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(a) |
The amounts added or deducted in calculated stock award adjustments include: |
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Year End Fair Value of Unvested Equity Awards Granted in the Covered Year |
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Year over Year Change in Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Equity Awards |
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Fair Value as of Vesting Date of Equity Awards Granted and Vested in the Year |
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Year over Year Change in Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Prior Years that Vested in the Year |
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Fair Value at the End of the Prior Year of Equity Awards that Failed to Meet Vesting Conditions in the Year |
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Value of Dividends or other Earnings Paid on Stock Awards not Otherwise Reflected in Fair Value or Total Compensation |
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Total Stock Award Adjustments |
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2024 |
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902,709 |
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(200,716 |
) |
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— |
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(142,308 |
) |
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— |
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202,496 |
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762,181 |
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Non-PEO NEO Average Total Compensation Amount |
$ 229,320
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$ 269,400
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$ 148,260
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$ 483,135
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$ 811,124
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Non-PEO NEO Average Compensation Actually Paid Amount |
$ 176,681
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299,595
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(325,341)
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637,264
|
470,503
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Adjustment to Non-PEO NEO Compensation Footnote |
(4) |
In accordance with the requirements of Item 402(v)(2)(iii) of Regulation S-K, when calculating the “average compensation actually paid” for our other named executive officers the following adjustments were made to the amounts reported in the Summary Compensation Table. Importantly, the dollar amounts do not reflect the actual average amount of compensation earned by, or paid to, our other named executive officers as a group during the applicable year. |
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Reported Summary Compensation Total |
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229,320 |
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Value of Stock Awards Reported in the Summary Compensation Table Deduction |
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(229,320) |
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Stock Awards Adjustment (a) |
|
176,681 |
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Compensation Actually Paid |
|
176,681 |
(a) |
The amounts added or deducted in calculated stock award adjustments include: |
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Year End Fair Value of Unvested Equity Awards Granted in the Covered Year |
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Year over Year Change in Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Equity Awards |
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Fair Value as of Vesting Date of Equity Awards Granted and Vested in the Year |
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Year over Year Change in Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Prior Years that Vested in the Year |
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Fair Value at the End of the Prior Year of Equity Awards that Failed to Meet Vesting Conditions in the Year |
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Value of Dividends or other Earnings Paid on Stock Awards not Otherwise Reflected in Fair Value or Total Compensation |
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Total Equity Award Adjustments |
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2024 |
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208,920 |
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(46,320 |
) |
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— |
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(32,397 |
) |
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— |
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46,478 |
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176,681 |
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Compensation Actually Paid vs. Total Shareholder Return |
The following charts show the relationship between (1) the compensation actually paid to our PEO and the average compensation actually paid to the non-PEO named executive officers (“Other-NEO”) (each as calculated pursuant to Item 402(v)(2)(iii) of Regulation S-K) and (2) the cumulative total shareholder return of the Company for its last three completed fiscal (calendar) years. The charts also provide a comparison of the Company’s Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”) to the Compensation Comparison Group (“CCG”) total shareholder return for the four-year period.
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Compensation Actually Paid vs. Net Income |
Net Income and Distributable Earnings The following charts show the relationship between (1) the compensation actually paid to our PEO and the average compensation actually paid to the Other-NEOs (each as calculated pursuant to Item 402(v)(2)(iii) of Regulation S-K) and (2) both the net income and Distributable Earnings of the Company for the last four fiscal years.
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Compensation Actually Paid vs. Company Selected Measure |
Net Income and Distributable Earnings The following charts show the relationship between (1) the compensation actually paid to our PEO and the average compensation actually paid to the Other-NEOs (each as calculated pursuant to Item 402(v)(2)(iii) of Regulation S-K) and (2) both the net income and Distributable Earnings of the Company for the last four fiscal years.
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Total Shareholder Return Vs Peer Group |
The following charts show the relationship between (1) the compensation actually paid to our PEO and the average compensation actually paid to the non-PEO named executive officers (“Other-NEO”) (each as calculated pursuant to Item 402(v)(2)(iii) of Regulation S-K) and (2) the cumulative total shareholder return of the Company for its last three completed fiscal (calendar) years. The charts also provide a comparison of the Company’s Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”) to the Compensation Comparison Group (“CCG”) total shareholder return for the four-year period.
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Tabular List, Table |
Tabular List of Financial Performance Measures For purposes of the Rule, we have identified the following performance measures, which the compensation committee considered, among others, when making executive compensation decisions for performance year 2024, in response to the Tabular List disclosure requirement pursuant to Item 402(v)(6) of Regulation S-K.
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Total Shareholder Return Amount |
$ 78
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85
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75
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99
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82
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Peer Group Total Shareholder Return Amount |
80
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80
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69
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94
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81
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Net Income (Loss) |
$ (204,100,000)
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$ 246,600,000
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$ 248,600,000
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$ 419,200,000
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$ 137,700,000
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Company Selected Measure Amount |
(5,500,000)
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526,300,000
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489,800,000
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396,700,000
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352,000,000
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Measure:: 1 |
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Pay vs Performance Disclosure |
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Name |
Company TSR
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Measure:: 2 |
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Pay vs Performance Disclosure |
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Name |
Net Income
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Measure:: 3 |
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Pay vs Performance Disclosure |
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Name |
Distributable Earnings
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Katharine A. Keenan [Member] |
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Pay vs Performance Disclosure |
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PEO Total Compensation Amount |
$ 990,854
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$ 1,167,400
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$ 1,284,920
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$ 1,620,840
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PEO Actually Paid Compensation Amount |
$ 762,181
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$ 1,293,085
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$ 761,432
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$ 1,860,444
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PEO Name |
Ms. Keenan
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Ms. Keenan
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Ms. Keenan
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Ms. Keenan
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Stephen D. Plavin [Member] |
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Pay vs Performance Disclosure |
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PEO Total Compensation Amount |
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$ 928,556
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PEO Actually Paid Compensation Amount |
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$ 457,734
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$ 130,062
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PEO Name |
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Stephen D. Plavin
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Stephen D. Plavin
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PEO | Katharine A. Keenan [Member] | Equity Awards Adjustments |
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Pay vs Performance Disclosure |
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Adjustment to Compensation, Amount |
$ 762,181
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PEO | Katharine A. Keenan [Member] | Year-end Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Covered Year that are Outstanding and Unvested |
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Pay vs Performance Disclosure |
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Adjustment to Compensation, Amount |
902,709
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PEO | Katharine A. Keenan [Member] | Year-over-Year Change in Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Prior Years That are Outstanding and Unvested |
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Pay vs Performance Disclosure |
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Adjustment to Compensation, Amount |
(200,716)
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PEO | Katharine A. Keenan [Member] | Vesting Date Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted and Vested in Covered Year |
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Pay vs Performance Disclosure |
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Adjustment to Compensation, Amount |
0
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PEO | Katharine A. Keenan [Member] | Change in Fair Value as of Vesting Date of Prior Year Equity Awards Vested in Covered Year |
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Pay vs Performance Disclosure |
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Adjustment to Compensation, Amount |
(142,308)
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PEO | Katharine A. Keenan [Member] | Prior Year End Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Any Prior Year that Fail to Meet Applicable Vesting Conditions During Covered Year |
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Pay vs Performance Disclosure |
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Adjustment to Compensation, Amount |
0
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PEO | Katharine A. Keenan [Member] | Dividends or Other Earnings Paid on Equity Awards not Otherwise Reflected in Total Compensation for Covered Year |
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Pay vs Performance Disclosure |
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Adjustment to Compensation, Amount |
202,496
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PEO | Katharine A. Keenan [Member] | Value of Stock Awards Reported in the Summary Compensation Table Deduction [Member] |
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Pay vs Performance Disclosure |
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Adjustment to Compensation, Amount |
(990,854)
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Non-PEO NEO | Equity Awards Adjustments |
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Pay vs Performance Disclosure |
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Adjustment to Compensation, Amount |
176,681
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Non-PEO NEO | Year-end Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Covered Year that are Outstanding and Unvested |
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Pay vs Performance Disclosure |
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Adjustment to Compensation, Amount |
208,920
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Non-PEO NEO | Year-over-Year Change in Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Prior Years That are Outstanding and Unvested |
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Pay vs Performance Disclosure |
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Adjustment to Compensation, Amount |
(46,320)
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Non-PEO NEO | Vesting Date Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted and Vested in Covered Year |
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Pay vs Performance Disclosure |
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Adjustment to Compensation, Amount |
0
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Non-PEO NEO | Change in Fair Value as of Vesting Date of Prior Year Equity Awards Vested in Covered Year |
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Pay vs Performance Disclosure |
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Adjustment to Compensation, Amount |
(32,397)
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Non-PEO NEO | Prior Year End Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Any Prior Year that Fail to Meet Applicable Vesting Conditions During Covered Year |
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Pay vs Performance Disclosure |
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Adjustment to Compensation, Amount |
0
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Non-PEO NEO | Dividends or Other Earnings Paid on Equity Awards not Otherwise Reflected in Total Compensation for Covered Year |
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Pay vs Performance Disclosure |
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Adjustment to Compensation, Amount |
46,478
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Non-PEO NEO | Value of Stock Awards Reported in the Summary Compensation Table Deduction [Member] |
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Pay vs Performance Disclosure |
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Adjustment to Compensation, Amount |
$ (229,320)
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