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Make-Whole Redemption Price
means, for any shares of Series F preferred stock at any date of redemption, the sum of (i) $25.00 per share, (ii) all accrued and unpaid dividends
thereon to, but excluding, such date of redemption, and (iii) the present value as of the date of redemption of all remaining scheduled dividend
payments for such shares of Series F preferred stock until the fifth anniversary date, calculated using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate
(determined on the date of the notice of redemption) plus 50 basis points.
Parity preferred means all
other series of preferred stock ranking on a parity with the Series D or F preferred stock, as applicable, as to dividends or upon liquidation and upon
which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable.
Preferred dividends means
dividends accrued in respect of all preferred stock held by persons other than us.
Regulated person means with
respect to Series D, any bank holding company, subsidiary of a bank holding company or other person or entity that is subject to the Bank Holding
Company Act of 1956, as amended from time to time.
Treasury Rate means, with
respect to any date of determination, the yield to maturity at the time of computation of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity
(as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15(519) that has become publicly available at least two business
days prior to such date of determination (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market
data)) most nearly equal to the period from such date of redemption to the fifth anniversary date; provided, however, that if the period from such date
of redemption to the fifth anniversary date is not equal to the constant maturity of the United States Treasury security for which a weekly average
yield is given, the Treasury Rate will be obtained by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a year) from the weekly average
yields of United States Treasury securities for which such yields are given, except that if the period from the date of redemption to the fifth
anniversary date is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity
of one year will be used.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for
each of our Series D preferred stock and Series F preferred stock is Computershare Inc.
Description of Depositary Shares
General
We may, at our option, elect to offer
fractional shares of our preferred stock, rather than full shares of preferred stock. In such event, we will issue to the public receipts for
depositary shares, each of which will represent a fraction (to be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of preferred
stock) of a share of a particular series of our preferred stock as described below.
The shares of any series of our
preferred stock represented by depositary shares will be deposited under a deposit agreement between us and the depositary named in the applicable
prospectus supplement. Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, each owner of a depositary share will be entitled, in proportion to the
applicable fraction of a share of our preferred stock represented by such depositary share, to all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock
represented thereby (including dividend, voting, redemption and liquidation rights).
The depositary shares will be evidenced
by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the deposit agreement. Depositary receipts will be distributed to those persons purchasing the fractional
shares of our preferred stock in accordance with the terms of the offering. If
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depositary shares are issued, copies
of the forms of deposit agreement and depositary receipt will be incorporated by reference in the registration statement of which this prospectus is a
part, and the following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to those documents.
Pending the preparation of definitive
engraved depositary receipts, the depositary may, upon our written order, issue temporary depositary receipts substantially identical to (and entitling
the holders thereof to all the rights pertaining to) the definitive depositary receipts but not in definitive form. Definitive depositary receipts will
be prepared thereafter without unreasonable delay, and temporary depositary receipts will be exchangeable for definitive depositary receipts at our
expense.
Dividends and Other Distributions
The depositary will distribute all cash
dividends or other cash distributions received in respect of our preferred stock to the record holders of depositary shares relating to the preferred
stock in proportion to the number of depositary shares owned by the holders. The depositary will distribute only such amount, however, as can be
distributed without attributing to any holder of depositary shares a fraction of one cent, and the balance that is not distributed will be added to and
treated as part of the next sum received by the depositary for distribution to record holders of depositary shares.
In the event of a distribution other
than in cash, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the record holders of depositary shares entitled thereto, unless the depositary
determines that it is not feasible to make the distribution, in which case the depositary may, with our approval, sell the property and distribute the
net proceeds from the sale to the holders.
The deposit agreement will also contain
provisions relating to the manner in which any subscription or similar rights offered by us to holders of the preferred stock shall be made available
to the holders of depositary shares.
Redemption of Depositary Shares
If a series of our preferred stock
represented by depositary shares is subject to redemption, the depositary shares will be redeemed from the proceeds received by the depositary
resulting from the redemption, in whole or in part, of the series of preferred stock held by the depositary. The redemption price per depositary share
will be equal to the applicable fraction of the redemption price per share payable with respect to the series of preferred stock. Whenever we redeem
shares of preferred stock held by the depositary, the depositary will redeem as of the same redemption date the number of depositary shares
representing the shares of preferred stock that have been redeemed. If fewer than all the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares
to be redeemed will be selected by lot or pro rata as may be determined by the depositary.
After the date fixed for redemption, the
depositary shares that are called for redemption will no longer be outstanding and all rights of the holders of the depositary shares will cease,
except the right to receive the money, securities, or other property payable upon the redemption and any money, securities, or other property to which
the holders of the depositary shares were entitled upon the redemption upon surrender to the depositary of the depositary receipts evidencing the
depositary shares.
Voting the Preferred Stock
Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at
which the holders of our preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail the information contained in the notice of meeting to the
record holders of the depositary shares relating to the preferred stock. Each record holder of the depositary shares on the record date (which will be
the same date as the record date for the preferred stock) will be entitled to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of the voting
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rights pertaining to the amount of
preferred stock represented by that holders depositary shares. The depositary will endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote the amount of
preferred stock represented by the depositary shares in accordance with the instructions, and we will agree to take all action which may be deemed
necessary by the depositary in order to enable the depositary to do so. The depositary may abstain from voting shares of preferred stock to the extent
it does not receive specific instructions from the holders of depositary shares representing the preferred stock.
Amendment and Termination of the Depositary
Agreement
The form of depositary receipt
evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the deposit agreement may at any time be amended by agreement between us and the depositary.
However, any amendment that materially and adversely alters the rights of the holders of depositary shares will not be effective unless the amendment
has been approved by the holders of at least a majority of the depositary shares then outstanding. The deposit agreement may be terminated by us or the
depositary only if (a) all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed or (b) there has been a final distribution in respect of our preferred
stock in connection with any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs and the distribution has been distributed to the holders of
depositary receipts.
Charges of Depositary
We will pay all transfer and other taxes
and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. We will pay charges of the depositary in connection with the
initial deposit of the preferred stock and any redemption of the preferred stock. Holders of depositary receipts will pay other transfer and other
taxes and governmental charges and such other charges, including a fee for the withdrawal of shares of preferred stock upon surrender of depositary
receipts, as are expressly provided to be for their accounts in the deposit agreement.
Miscellaneous
The depositary will forward to holders
of depositary receipts all reports and communications from us that are delivered to the depositary and that we are required to furnish to holders of
our preferred stock. Neither we nor the depositary will be liable if it is prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond its control in
performing its obligations under the deposit agreement. Our obligations and those of the depositary under the deposit agreement will be limited to
performance in good faith of our respective duties thereunder and neither we nor the depositary will be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal
proceeding in respect of any depositary shares or preferred stock unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. We and the depositary may rely upon
written advice of counsel or accountants, or upon information provided by persons presenting our preferred stock for deposit, holders of depositary
receipts or other persons believed to be competent and on documents believed to be genuine.
Resignation and Removal of Depositary
The depositary may resign at any time by
delivering to us notice of its election to do so, and we may at any time remove the depositary in which event we will appoint a successor depositary
after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal.
Restrictions on Ownership
In order to safeguard us against an
inadvertent loss of our REIT status, the deposit agreement will contain provisions restricting the ownership and transfer of depositary shares. These
restrictions will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement and will be referenced on the applicable depositary receipts.
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Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer
To qualify as a REIT under the Internal
Revenue Code, we must meet several requirements regarding the number of our stockholders and concentration of ownership of our shares. Our Charter
contains provisions that restrict the ownership and transfer of our equity securities to assist us in complying with these Internal Revenue Code
requirements. We refer to these restrictions as the ownership limit.
The ownership limit provides that, in
general, no person may own more than 7.5% of the aggregate value of all outstanding stock of our Company. It also provides that:
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a transfer that violates the limitation is void; |
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a transferee gets no rights to the shares that violate the
limitation; |
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shares transferred to a stockholder in excess of the ownership
limit are automatically exchanged, by operation of law, for shares of excess xtock; and |
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the excess stock will be held by us as trustee of a trust for the
exclusive benefit of future transferees to whom the shares of stock will ultimately be transferred without violating the ownership limit. |
Pursuant to authority under our Charter,
our Board of Directors has determined that the ownership limit does not apply to any stock of the company beneficially owned by Mr. Charles J. Urstadt,
our Chairman and Director, or Mr. Willing L. Biddle, our President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, for holdings which, in aggregate value, are
not in excess of 27% of the aggregate value of all of our outstanding securities. Mr. Urstadt and Mr. Biddle currently own in the aggregate 46.9% and
28.3% of the outstanding shares of our common stock, respectively, and 0.25% and 0.24% of the outstanding shares of our Class A common stock,
respectively . Such holdings represent approximately 66.66% of our outstanding voting interests. The ownership limitation may discourage a takeover or
other transaction that some of our stockholders may otherwise believe to be desirable.
Ownership of our stock is subject to
attribution rules under the Internal Revenue Code, which may result in a person being deemed to own stock held by other persons. Our Board of Directors
may waive the ownership limit if it determines that the waiver will not jeopardize our status as a REIT. As a condition of such a waiver, the Board of
Directors may require an opinion of counsel satisfactory to it or undertakings or representations from the applicant with respect to preserving our
REIT status. We required no such waiver, opinion or undertakings with respect to Mr. Urstadts or Mr. Biddles ownership
rights.
Any person who acquires our stock must,
on our demand, immediately provide us with any information we may request in order to determine the effect of the acquisition on our status as a REIT.
If our Board of Directors determines that it is no longer in our best interests to qualify as a REIT the ownership limitation will not be relevant.
Otherwise, the ownership limit may be changed only by an amendment to our Charter by a vote of a majority of the voting power of our common equity
securities.
Our Charter provides that any purported
transfer that results in a direct or indirect ownership of shares of stock in excess of the ownership limit or that would result in the loss of our
Companys status as a REIT will be null and void, and the intended transferee will acquire no rights to the shares of stock. The foregoing
restrictions on transferability and ownership will not be relevant if our Board of Directors determines that it is no longer in our best interests to
attempt to qualify, or to continue to qualify, as a REIT. Our Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, waive the ownership limit if evidence
satisfactory to our Board of Directors and our tax counsel is presented that the changes in ownership will not then or in the future jeopardize our
REIT status and our Board of Directors otherwise decides that such action is in our best interests.
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Shares of stock owned, or deemed to be
owned, or transferred to a stockholder in excess of the ownership limit will automatically be exchanged for shares of excess stock that
will be transferred, by operation of law, to us as trustee of a trust for the exclusive benefit of the transferees to whom such shares of stock may be
ultimately transferred without violating the ownership limit. While the excess stock is held in trust, it will not be entitled to vote, it will not be
considered for purposes of any stockholder vote or the determination of a quorum for such vote, and except upon liquidation it will not be entitled to
participate in dividends or other distributions. Any distribution paid to a proposed transferee of excess stock prior to the discovery by us that stock
has been transferred in violation of the provision of our Charter is required to be repaid to us upon demand.
The excess stock is not treasury stock,
but rather constitutes a separate class of our issued and outstanding stock. The original transferee-stockholder may, at any time the excess stock is
held by us in trust, transfer the interest in the trust representing the excess stock to any person whose ownership of shares of capital stock
exchanged for such excess stock would be permitted under the ownership limit, at a price not in excess of:
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the price paid by the original transferee-stockholders for shares
of stock that were exchanged into excess stock, or |
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if the original transferee-stockholder did not give value for
such shares (e.g., the shares were received through a gift, devise or other transaction), the average closing price for the class of stock from which
such shares of excess stock were exchanged for the ten days immediately preceding such sale, gift or other transaction. |
Immediately upon the transfer to the
permitted transferee, the excess stock will automatically be exchanged back into shares of stock from which it was converted. If the foregoing transfer
restrictions are determined to be void or invalid by virtue of any legal decision, statute, rule or regulation, then the intended transferee of any
shares of excess stock may be deemed, at our option, to have acted as an agent on behalf of us in acquiring the excess stock and to hold the excess
stock on behalf of us.
In addition, we will have the right, for
a period of 90 days during the time any shares of excess stock are held by us in trust, to purchase the excess stock from the purported
transferee-stockholder at the lesser of:
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the price initially paid for such shares by the purported
transferee-stockholder, or if the purported transferee-stockholder did not give value for such shares (e.g., the shares were received through a gift,
devise or other transaction), the average closing price for the class of stock from which such shares of excess stock were converted for the 30 days
immediately preceding the date we elect to purchase the shares, and |
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the average closing price for the class of stock from which such
shares of excess stock were converted for the ten trading days immediately preceding the date we elect to purchase such shares. |
The 90-day period begins on the date
notice is received of the violative transfer if the purported transferee-stockholder gives notice to us of the transfer, or, if no such notice is
given, the date our Board of Directors determines that a violative transfer has been made.
All stock certificates bear a legend
referring to the restrictions described above.
Every owner of more than 5%, or any
lower percentage set by federal income tax laws, of outstanding stock generally must file a completed questionnaire with us containing information
regarding his or her ownership. In addition, each stockholder must, upon demand, disclose in writing any information we may request in order to
determine the effect, if any, of such stockholders actual and constructive ownership of stock on our status as a REIT and to ensure compliance
with the ownership limitation.
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CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF OUR CHARTER AND
BYLAWS, MARYLAND LAW, OUR STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN AND CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENTS
Provisions of Our Charter and Bylaws
Classification of Board, Vacancies and Removal of
Directors
Our Charter provides that our Board of
Directors is divided into three classes. Directors of each class serve for staggered terms of three years each, with the terms of each class beginning
in different years. We currently have ten directors. The number of directors in each class and the expiration of the current term of each class is as
follows:
Class
I |
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3 directors |
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Expires 2016 |
Class
II |
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3 directors |
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Expires 2017 |
Class
III |
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4 directors |
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Expires 2015 |
At each annual meeting of our
stockholders, successors of the directors whose terms expire at that meeting will be elected for a three-year term and the directors in the other two
classes will continue in office. A classified board may delay, defer or prevent a change in control or other transaction that might involve a premium
over the then-prevailing market price for our common stock and Class A common stock or other attributes that our stockholders may consider desirable.
In addition, a classified board could prevent stockholders who do not agree with the policies of our Board of Directors from replacing a majority of
the Board of Directors for two years, except in the event of removal for cause.
Our Charter provides that, subject to
the rights of holders of our preferred stock, any director may be removed (a) only for cause and (b) only by the affirmative vote of not less than
two-thirds of the common equities then outstanding and entitled to vote for the election of directors. Our Charter additionally provides that any
vacancy occurring on our Board of Directors (other than as a result of the removal of a director) will be filled only by a majority of the remaining
directors except that a vacancy resulting from an increase in the number of directors will be filled by a majority of the entire Board of Directors. A
vacancy resulting from the removal of a director may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of all the votes cast at a meeting of the
stockholders called for that purpose.
The provisions of our Charter relating
to the removal of directors and the filling of vacancies on our Board of Directors could preclude a third party from removing incumbent directors
without cause and simultaneously gaining control of our Board of Directors by filling, with its own nominees, the vacancies created by such removal.
The provisions also limit the power of stockholders generally, and those with a majority interest, to remove incumbent directors and to fill vacancies
on our Board of Directors without the support of incumbent directors.
Stockholder Action by Written Consent
Our Charter provides that any action
required or permitted to be taken by our stockholders may be effected by a consent in writing signed by the holders of all of our outstanding shares of
common equity securities entitled to vote on the matter. This requirement could deter a change of control because it could delay or deter the
stockholders ability to take action with respect to us without convening a meeting.
Meetings of Stockholders
Our Bylaws provide for annual
stockholder meetings to elect directors. Special stockholder meetings may be called by our Chairman, President or a majority of the Board of Directors
or may be called by our Secretary at the written request of stockholders entitled to cast at least a majority of all votes entitled to be cast at the
meeting. This requirement could deter a change
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of control because it could delay or
deter the stockholders ability to take action with respect to us.
Stockholder Proposals and Director
Nominations
Under our Bylaws, in order to have a
stockholder proposal or director nomination considered at an annual meeting of stockholders, stockholders are generally required to deliver to us
certain information concerning themselves and their stockholder proposal or director nomination not less than 75 days nor more than 120 days prior to
the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting (the annual meeting anniversary date); provided, however, that, if the
annual meeting is scheduled to be held on a date more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after the annual meeting anniversary date, notice must
be delivered to us not later than the close of business on the later of:
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the 75th day prior to the scheduled date of such annual meeting
or |
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the 15th day after public disclosure of the date of such
meeting. |
Failure to comply with such timing and
informational requirements will result in such proposal or director nomination not being considered at the annual meeting. The purpose of requiring
stockholders to give us advance notice of nominations and other business, and certain related information is to ensure that we and our stockholders
have sufficient time and information to consider any matters that are proposed to be voted on at an annual meeting, thus promoting orderly and informed
stockholder voting. Such Bylaw provisions could have the effect of precluding a contest for the election of our directors or the making of stockholder
proposals if the proper procedures are not followed, and of delaying or deterring a third party from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its
own slate of directors or to have its own proposals approved.
Authorization of Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of
Assets
Our Charter provides that any
consolidation, merger, share exchange or transfer of all or substantially all of our assets must first be approved by the affirmative vote of a
majority of our Board of Directors (including a majority of the Continuing Directors, as defined in our Charter) and thereafter must be approved by a
vote of at least a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on such matter.
Amendment of our Charter and Bylaws
Our Charter may be amended with the
approval of a majority of the Board of Directors (including a majority of the Continuing Directors) and the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes
entitled to be cast by our stockholders on the matter. Our Bylaws may be amended only by the Board of Directors. In addition, our Board of Directors
may amend our Charter without action by our stockholders to increase or decrease the number of shares of stock of any class that we are authorized to
issue.
Indemnification; Limitation of Directors and
Officers Liability
Our Charter provides that we have the
power, by our Bylaws or by resolution of the Board of Directors, to indemnify directors, officers, employees and agents, provided that indemnification
is consistent with applicable law. Our Bylaws provide that we will indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted from time to time by applicable law, our
directors, officers, employees and agents and any person serving at our request as a director, officer or employee of another corporation or entity,
who by reason of that status or service is or is threatened to be made a party to, or is otherwise involved in, any action, suit or proceeding.
According to our Bylaws, indemnification will be against all liability and loss suffered and expenses, including attorneys fees, judgments,
fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement, reasonably incurred by the indemnified person in connection with the proceeding. Our
Bylaws
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provide, however, that we will not
be required to indemnify a person in connection with an action, suit or proceeding initiated by that person unless it was authorized by the Board of
Directors. Our Bylaws provide that we will pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding and without requiring a
preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, provided that the individual seeking payment provides (a) a written
affirmation of the individuals good faith belief that the individual meets the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification under the laws
of the State of Maryland, and (b) a written undertaking to repay the amount advanced if it is ultimately determined that the applicable standard of
conduct has not been met. Our Charter limits the liability of our officers and directors to us and our stockholders for money damages to the maximum
extent permitted by Maryland law.
We have entered into indemnification
agreements with certain of our directors, indemnifying them against expenses, settlements, judgments and levies incurred in connection with any action,
suit or proceeding, whether civil or criminal, where the individuals involvement is by reason of the fact that he is or was a
director.
The MGCL permits a corporation to
indemnify its directors, officers and certain other parties against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred
by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made a party by reason of their service to the corporation or at the corporations
request, unless it is established that (i) the act or omission of the person was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (a) was
committed in bad faith or (b) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, or (ii) the person actually received an improper personal benefit in
money, property or services, or (iii) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the person had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was
unlawful. The MGCL does not permit indemnification in respect of any proceeding in which the person seeking indemnification is adjudged to be liable to
the corporation. Further, a person may not be indemnified for a proceeding brought by that person against the corporation, except (i) for a proceeding
brought to enforce indemnification or (ii) if the corporations charter or bylaws, a resolution of the board of directors or an agreement approved
by the board of directors to which the corporation is a party expressly provides otherwise. Under the MGCL, reasonable expenses incurred by a director
or officer who is a party to a proceeding may be paid or reimbursed by the corporation in advance of final disposition of the proceeding upon receipt
by the corporation of (i) a written affirmation by the person of his or her good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for
indemnification has been met and (ii) a written undertaking by or on behalf of the person to repay the amount if it shall ultimately be determined that
the standard of conduct has not been met. The MGCL also requires a corporation (unless limited by the corporations charter) to indemnify a
director or officer who is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding against reasonable expenses incurred by the
director in connection with the proceeding in which the director or officer has been successful. Our Charter contains no such limitation. The MGCL
permits a corporation to limit the liability of its officers and directors to the extent that (i) it is proved that the person actually received an
improper benefit or profit in money, property or services; or (ii) a final judgment adverse to the person is entered based on a finding that the
persons act or omission was the result of active or deliberate dishonesty and was material to the cause of action adjudicated.
Insofar as indemnification for
liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling our company pursuant to the foregoing
provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and
is therefore unenforceable.
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Provisions of Maryland Law
Business Combinations
Under Maryland law, certain
business combinations between us and any person who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the voting power of our
stock, an affiliate of ours who, at any time within the previous two years was the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of our stock
(who the statute terms an interested stockholder), or an affiliate of an interested stockholder, are prohibited for five years after the
most recent date on which the person became an interested stockholder. The business combinations that are subject to this law include mergers,
consolidations, share exchanges or, in certain circumstances, asset transfers or issuances or reclassifications of equity securities. After the
five-year period has elapsed, a proposed business combination with any such party must be recommended by the Board of Directors and approved by the
affirmative vote of at least:
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80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of our
outstanding voting stock; and |
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two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of the
outstanding voting stock, excluding shares held by the interested stockholder, unless, among other conditions, the stockholders receive a fair price,
as defined by Maryland law, for their shares and the consideration is received in cash or in the same form as previously paid by the interested
stockholder for its shares. |
These provisions do not apply, however,
to business combinations that the Board of Directors approves or exempts before the time that the interested stockholder becomes an interested
stockholder. Our Charter provides that these provisions do not apply to transactions between us and any person who owned 20% of the common stock of a
predecessor to the Company as of December 31, 1996, or such persons affiliates. As of that date, only Mr. Charles J. Urstadt, Chairman and Chief
Executive Office of the Company, owned that percentage of our common stock.
Our Board of Directors has from time to
time authorized issuances of our stock to Mr. Willing L. Biddle, with the effect that he is not an interested stockholder and these provisions do not
apply to transactions between us and Mr. Biddle or his affiliates. In addition, our Board of Directors has, by resolution, determined that the Maryland
law provisions restricting business combinations will not be applicable to spouses, children and other descendants of Mr. Urstadt or Mr. Biddle and
certain trusts created for their benefit, and any of their affiliates.
Control Share Acquisitions
Maryland law provides that control
shares acquired in a control share acquisition have no voting rights unless approved by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of all
votes entitled to be cast on the matter, excluding shares owned by the acquiror or by officers of ours or employees of ours who are also directors.
Control shares are voting shares which, if aggregated with all other shares previously acquired by the acquiring person, or in respect of
which the acquiring person is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power, other than by revocable proxy, would entitle the acquiring
person to exercise voting power in electing directors within one of the following ranges of voting power:
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one-tenth or more but less than one-third; |
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one-third or more but less than a majority; or |
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a majority of all voting power. |
Control shares do not include shares the
acquiring person is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained stockholder approval. A control share
acquisition
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means the acquisition of ownership
of, or the power to direct the voting power of control shares, subject to certain exceptions.
A person who has made or proposes to
make a control share acquisition, upon satisfaction of certain conditions, including an undertaking to pay expenses, may compel our Board of Directors
to call a special meeting of stockholders to be held within 50 days of demand to consider the voting rights of the shares. If no request for a meeting
is made, we may present the question at any stockholders meeting.
If voting rights are not approved at the
stockholders meeting or if the acquiring person does not deliver the statement required by Maryland law, then, subject to certain conditions and
limitations, we may redeem any or all of the control shares, except those for which voting rights have previously been approved, for fair value. Fair
value is determined without regard to the absence of voting rights for the control shares and as of the date of the last control share acquisition or
of any meeting of stockholders at which the voting rights of the shares were considered and not approved. If voting rights for control shares are
approved at a stockholders meeting and the acquiror is then entitled to direct the exercise of a majority of all voting power, then all other
stockholders may exercise appraisal rights. The fair value of the shares for purposes of these appraisal rights may not be less than the highest price
per share paid by the acquiror in the control share acquisition. The control share acquisition statute does not apply to shares acquired in a merger,
consolidation or share exchange if we are a party to the transaction, nor does it apply to acquisitions of our stock approved or exempted by our
Charter or Bylaws.
Our Bylaws exempt from the Maryland
control share statute any and all acquisitions of our common stock or preferred stock by any person. The Board of Directors has the right, however to
withdraw this exemption at any time in the future.
Dissolution Requirements
Maryland law generally permits the
dissolution of a corporation if approved (a) first by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors declaring such dissolution to
be advisable and directing that the proposed dissolution be submitted for consideration at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and (b) upon
proper notice being given as to the purpose of the meeting, then by the stockholders of the corporation by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of all
the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, although our Charter reduces the required vote (as permitted by Maryland law) to a majority of the votes
entitled to be cast on the matter.
Additional Provisions of Maryland Law
Maryland law also provides that Maryland
corporations that are subject to the Exchange Act and have at least three outside directors can elect by resolution of the board of directors to be
subject to some corporate governance provisions that may be inconsistent with the corporations charter and bylaws. Under the applicable statute,
a board of directors may classify itself without the vote of stockholders. A board of directors classified in that manner cannot be altered by
amendment to the charter of the corporation. Further, the board of directors may, by electing into applicable statutory provisions and notwithstanding
the charter or bylaws:
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provide that a special meeting of stockholders will be called
only at the request of stockholders, entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting; |
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reserve for itself the right to fix the number of
directors; |
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provide that a director may be removed only by the vote of the
holders of two-thirds of the stock entitled to vote; |
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retain for itself sole authority to fill vacancies created by the
death, removal or resignation of a director; and |
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provide that all vacancies on the board of directors may be
filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors, in office, even if the remaining directors do not constitute a
quorum. |
In addition, a director elected to fill
a vacancy under this provision will serve for the balance of the unexpired term and until a successor is elected and qualifies instead of until the
next annual meeting of stockholders. A board of directors may implement all or any of these provisions without amending the charter or bylaws and
without stockholder approval. A corporation may be prohibited by its charter or by resolution of its board of directors from electing any of the
provisions of the statute. We are not prohibited from implementing any or all of the statute.
Under Maryland law, our Board of
Directors may amend our Charter without stockholder action to effect a reverse stock split with respect to any class of shares, provided the Board does
not cause a combination of more than 10 shares of stock into one share in any 12-month period. According to the terms of our Series D and F preferred
stock, no such amendment may materially and adversely affect the provision of such series without the consent of the holders thereof.
While certain of these provisions are
already contemplated by our Charter and Bylaws, the law would permit our Board of Directors to override further changes to the Charter or Bylaws. If
implemented, these provisions could discourage offers to acquire our common stock or Class A common stock and could increase the difficulty of
completing an offer.
Stockholder Rights Plan
We have adopted a stockholder rights
plan. Under the terms of this plan, we can in effect prevent a person or a group from acquiring more than 10% of the combined voting power of our
outstanding shares of common stock and Class A common stock because, after (a) the person acquires more than 10% of the combined voting power of our
outstanding common stock and Class A common stock, or (b) the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer by any person (other than us, any one of
our wholly owned subsidiaries or any of our employee benefit plans, or any exempted person (as defined below)), if, upon consummation of the tender
offer or exchange offer, the person or group would beneficially own 30% or more of the combined voting power of our outstanding shares of common stock
and Class A common stock, all other stockholders will have the right to purchase securities from us at a price that is less than their fair market
value, which would substantially reduce the value and influence of the stock owned by the acquiring person. Our Board of Directors can prevent the plan
from operating by approving of the transaction and redeeming the rights. This gives our Board of Directors significant power to approve or disapprove
of the efforts of a person or group to acquire a large interest in our Company. The rights plan exempts acquisitions of common stock and Class A common
stock by Mr. Charles J. Urstadt, members of his family and certain of his affiliates.
Change of Control Agreements
We have entered into change of control
agreements with certain of our senior executives providing for the payment of money to these executives upon the termination of employment following
the occurrence of a change of control of our Company as defined in these agreements. If, within 18 months following a change of control, we terminate
the executives employment other than for cause, or if the executive elects to terminate his employment with us for reasons specified in the
agreement, we will pay the executive an amount equal to twelve months of the executives base salary in effect at the date of the change of
control and will: (a) continue in effect for a period of twelve months, for the benefit of the executive and his family, life and health insurance,
disability, medical and other benefit programs in which
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the executive participates, provided
that the executives continued participation is possible, or (b) if such continued participation is not possible, arrange to provide for the
executive and his family similar benefits for the same period. In addition, our Compensation Committee has the discretion under our restricted stock
plan to accelerate the vesting of outstanding restricted stock awards in the event of a change of control. These provisions may deter changes of
control of our Company because of the increased cost for a third party to acquire control of our Company.
Possible Anti-Takeover Effect of Certain Provisions of Our
Charter and Bylaws, Maryland Law, Stockholder Rights Plan and Change of Control Agreements
Certain provisions of our Charter and
Bylaws, certain provisions of Maryland law, our stockholder rights plan and our change of control agreements with our officers could have the effect of
delaying or preventing a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for stockholders or that they otherwise may believe is
desirable.
Interests of Mr. Charles J. Urstadt and Mr. Willing L.
Biddle
Mr. Charles J. Urstadt, our Chairman and
Director, and Mr. Willing L. Biddle, our President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, beneficially own 4,309,093 and 2,599,697 shares of common
stock, respectively and 58,500 and 55,824 shares of Class A common stock, respectively, constituting approximately 66.66% of the voting power of our
outstanding common equity securities. In view of the common equity securities beneficially owned by Mr. Urstadt and Mr. Biddle, Mr. Urstadt and Mr.
Biddle may control a sufficient percentage of the voting power of our common equity securities to effectively block certain proposals which require a
vote of our stockholders.
UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX
CONSIDERATIONS
This section summarizes certain material
federal income tax consequences to us and to holders of our shares generally relating to our treatment as a REIT.
The laws governing the federal income
tax treatment of a REIT and its shareholders are highly technical and complex. This summary is for general information only, and does not purport to
address all of the tax issues that may be important to you. In addition, this section does not address the tax issues that may be important to certain
types of shareholders that are subject to special treatment under the federal income tax laws, such as:
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tax-exempt organizations (except to the extent discussed in
Taxation of Tax Exempt Shareholders, below); |
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financial institutions or broker-dealers; |
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non-U.S. individuals and foreign corporations (except to the
extent discussed in Taxation of Non-U.S. Shareholders, below); |
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persons who mark-to-market our shares; |
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subchapter S corporations; |
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U.S. shareholders (as defined below) whose functional currency is
not the U.S. dollar; |
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regulated investment companies and REITs; |
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persons who receive our shares through the exercise of employee
options or otherwise as compensation; |
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persons holding our shares as part of a straddle,
hedge, conversion transaction, synthetic security or other integrated investment; |
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persons subject to the alternative minimum tax provisions of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code); and |
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persons holding our shares through a partnership or similar
pass-through entity. |
This summary assumes that shareholders
hold our shares as capital assets for federal income tax purposes, which generally means property held for investment.
The statements in this section are not
intended to be, and should not be, construed as tax advice. This summary is based upon the Code, the regulations promulgated by the U.S. Treasury
Department, rulings and other administrative pronouncements issued by the Internal Revenue Service (the IRS), and judicial decisions, all
as currently in effect, and all of which are subject to differing interpretations or to change, possibly with retroactive effect. The reference to
administrative pronouncements issued by the IRS includes pronouncements issued in private letter rulings, which are not binding on the IRS except with
respect to the taxpayer that receives the ruling. Future legislation, regulations, administrative pronouncements and judicial decisions could change
the current law or adversely affect existing interpretations of current law on which the information in this section is based and any such change could
apply retroactively. No assurance can be given that the IRS would not assert, or that a court would not sustain, a position contrary to any of the tax
consequences described below. We have not sought and will not seek an advance ruling from the IRS regarding any matter discussed
herein.
WE URGE YOU TO CONSULT YOUR OWN TAX
ADVISOR REGARDING THE SPECIFIC TAX CONSEQUENCES TO YOU OF INVESTING IN OUR SHARES AND OF OUR ELECTION TO BE TAXED AS A REIT. SPECIFICALLY, YOU SHOULD
CONSULT YOUR OWN TAX ADVISOR REGARDING THE FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN, AND OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH INVESTMENT AND ELECTION, AND REGARDING
POTENTIAL CHANGES IN APPLICABLE TAX LAWS.
Taxation of the Company
We elected to be taxed as a REIT under
the federal income tax laws beginning with our taxable year ended October 31, 1970. We believe that we have operated in a manner qualifying us as a
REIT since our election and intend to continue to so operate.
In connection with this prospectus,
Baker & McKenzie LLP has rendered an opinion that we qualified to be taxed as a REIT under the federal income tax laws for our taxable years ended
October 31, 2011 through October 31, 2013, and our organization and current method of operation will enable us to continue to qualify as a REIT for our
taxable year ending October 31, 2014 and in the future. You should be aware that the opinion is based on current law and is not binding on the IRS or
any court. In addition, the opinion is based on customary assumptions and on our representations as to factual matters.
It must be emphasized that the opinion
of tax counsel is based on various assumptions relating to our organization and operation, and is conditioned upon representations and covenants made
by our management regarding our organization, assets, income, and the past, present and future conduct of our business operations. Baker & McKenzie
LLPs opinion is not binding upon the IRS, or any court and only speaks as of the date issued. In addition, Baker & McKenzies opinion is
based on existing federal income tax law governing qualification as a REIT, which is subject to change either prospectively or retroactively. While we
intend to operate so that we will continue to qualify as a REIT, given the highly complex nature of the rules governing REITs, the ongoing importance
of factual determinations, and the possibility of future changes in our circumstances, no assurance can be given by tax counsel or by us that we will
qualify as a REIT for any particular year.
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Moreover, our qualification as a REIT
depends on our ability to meet, on a continuing basis, qualification tests mandated by the federal tax laws. Those qualification tests involve the
percentage of income that we earn from specified sources, the percentages of our assets that fall within specified categories, the diversity of our
share ownership, and the percentage of our earnings that we distribute. Baker & McKenzie will not review our compliance with those tests on a
continuing basis. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that our actual results of operations will satisfy these requirements. Baker &
McKenzies opinion does not foreclose the possibility that we may have to use one or more of the REIT savings provisions described below, which
could require us to pay an excise or penalty tax (which could be material) in order to maintain our qualification as a REIT. We describe the REIT
qualification tests in more detail below. For a discussion of the tax treatment of us and our shareholders if we fail to qualify as a REIT, see
Failure to Qualify, below.
As a REIT, we generally are not subject
to federal income tax on the taxable income that we distribute to our shareholders. The benefit of that tax treatment is that it avoids the
double taxation, or taxation at both the corporate and shareholder levels, that generally results from owning stock in a corporation.
However, we generally will be subject to federal tax in the following circumstances:
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We will pay federal income tax on taxable income, including net
capital gain, that we do not distribute to shareholders during, or within a specified time period after, the calendar year in which the income is
earned. |
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We may be subject to the alternative minimum tax on
any items of tax preference that we do not distribute or allocate to shareholders. |
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We will pay income tax at the highest corporate rate
on: |
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net income from the sale or other disposition of property
acquired through foreclosure (foreclosure property) that we hold primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business,
and |
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other non-qualifying income from foreclosure
property. |
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We will pay a 100% tax on net income from sales or other
dispositions of property, other than foreclosure property, that we hold primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business. |
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If we fail to satisfy the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross
income test, as described below under Income Tests, and nonetheless continue to qualify as a REIT because we meet other requirements,
we generally will pay a 100% tax on: |
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the greater of the amount by which we fail the 75% gross income
test or the 95% gross income test, multiplied, in either case, by |
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a fraction intended to reflect our profitability. |
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If during a calendar year we fail to distribute at least the sum
of: (1) 85% of our REIT ordinary income for the year, (2) 95% of our REIT capital gain net income for the year, and (3) any undistributed taxable
income from earlier periods, we will be subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the excess of the required distribution over the amount we actually
distributed. |
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In the event of a failure to satisfy any of the asset tests
(other than a de minimis failure of the 5% asset test, the 10% vote test or the 10% value test as described below under Asset Tests),
as long as the failure was due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect, we dispose of the assets or otherwise comply with the asset tests within
six months after the last day of the quarter in which we identify such failure and we file a schedule with the IRS describing the assets causing such
failure, we will pay a tax equal to the greater of $50,000 or the amount determined by multiplying the net income from |
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the nonqualifying assets during the period in which we failed to
satisfy the asset tests by the highest corporate tax rate (currently 35%). |
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In the event we fail to satisfy one or more requirements for REIT
qualification, other than the gross income tests and the asset tests, and such failure is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect, we will
be required to pay a penalty of $50,000 for each such failure. |
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We may elect to retain and pay income tax on our net long-term
capital gain. In that case, a U.S. shareholder would be taxed on its proportionate share of our undistributed long-term capital gain (to the extent
that we make a timely designation of such gain to the shareholder) and would receive a credit or refund for its proportionate share of the tax we
paid. |
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We will be subject to a 100% excise tax on transactions with a
taxable REIT subsidiary that are not conducted on an arms-length basis. |
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If we acquire any asset from a C corporation, or a corporation
that generally is subject to full corporate-level tax, in a merger or other transaction in which we acquire a basis in the asset that is determined by
reference either to the C corporations basis in the asset or to another asset, we will pay tax at the highest regular corporate rate applicable
if we recognize gain on the sale or disposition of the asset during the 10-year period after we acquire the asset. The amount of gain on which we will
pay tax is the lesser of: |
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the amount of gain that we recognize at the time of the sale or
disposition, and |
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the amount of gain that we would have recognized if we had sold
the asset at the time we acquired it. |
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We may be required to pay monetary penalties to the IRS in
certain circumstances, including if we fail to meet record-keeping requirements intended to monitor our compliance with rules relating to the
composition of a REITs shareholders, as described below in Recordkeeping Requirements. |
Requirements for Qualification
A REIT is an entity that meets each of
the following requirements:
1. |
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It is managed by trustees or directors. |
2. |
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Its beneficial ownership is evidenced by transferable shares, or
by transferable certificates of beneficial interest. |
3. |
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It would be taxable as a domestic corporation, but for the REIT
provisions of the federal income tax laws. |
4. |
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It is neither a financial institution nor an insurance company
subject to special provisions of the federal income tax laws. |
5. |
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At least 100 persons are beneficial owners of its shares or
ownership certificates. |
6. |
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Not more than 50% of the value of its outstanding shares or
ownership certificates is owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals, which the federal income tax laws define to include certain
entities, during the last half of any taxable year (the closely held test). |
7. |
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It elects to be a REIT, or has made such election for a previous
taxable year, and satisfies all relevant filing and other administrative requirements established by the IRS that must be met in order to elect and
maintain REIT status. |
8. |
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It meets certain other qualification tests, described below,
regarding the nature of its income and assets and the amount of its distributions to shareholders. |
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9. |
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It complies with the recordkeeping requirements of the federal
income tax laws. |
We must meet requirements 1 through 4
during our entire taxable year and must meet requirement 5 during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months, or during a proportionate part of a
taxable year of less than 12 months. If we comply with all the requirements for ascertaining the ownership of our outstanding shares in a taxable year
and have no reason to know that we violated the closely held test, we will be deemed to have satisfied requirement 6 for that taxable year. For
purposes of determining share ownership under the closely held test, an individual generally includes a supplemental unemployment
compensation benefits plan, a private foundation, or a portion of a trust permanently set aside or used exclusively for charitable purposes. An
individual, however, generally does not include a trust that is a qualified employee pension or profit sharing trust under the federal
income tax laws, and beneficiaries of such a trust will be treated as holding our shares in proportion to their actuarial interests in the trust for
purposes of the closely held test.
We have issued sufficient shares with
sufficient diversity of ownership to satisfy requirements 5 and 6. In addition, our Charter restricts the ownership and transfer of our shares so that
we should continue to satisfy these requirements. The provisions of our Charter restricting the ownership and transfer of our shares are described
under Description of Capital Stock Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer. These restrictions, however, may not ensure that we will,
in all cases, be able to satisfy the share ownership requirements. If we fail to satisfy these requirements, our qualification as a REIT may
terminate.
We have several corporate subsidiaries,
including qualified REIT subsidiaries, and interests in unincorporated domestic entities. For federal income tax purposes, a corporation
that is a qualified REIT subsidiary is not treated as a corporation separate from its parent REIT. All assets, liabilities and items of
income, deduction and credit of a qualified REIT subsidiary are treated as assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of
the REIT. A qualified REIT subsidiary is a corporation all of the capital stock of which is owned by the REIT and for which no election has
been made to treat such corporation as a taxable REIT subsidiary. Thus, in applying the requirements described herein, any qualified
REIT subsidiary that we own will be ignored, and all assets, liabilities, and items of income, deduction, and credit of such subsidiary will be
treated as our assets, liabilities, and items of income, deduction, and credit.
An unincorporated domestic entity, such
as a partnership or limited liability company, that has a single owner generally is not treated as an entity separate from its parent for federal
income tax purposes. An unincorporated domestic entity with two or more owners is generally treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.
In the case of a REIT that is a partner in a partnership that has other partners, the REIT is treated as owning its proportionate share of the assets
of the partnership and as earning its allocable share of the gross income of the partnership for purposes of the applicable REIT qualification tests.
Our proportionate share for purposes of the 10% value test (see Asset Tests) is based on our proportionate interest in the equity
interests and certain debt securities issued by the partnership, and, for purposes of the gross income tests (see Income Tests), we
will be deemed to be entitled to the income of the partnership attributable to such share. For all of the other asset tests, our proportionate shares
are based on our proportionate interest in the capital interests in the partnership. Our proportionate share of the assets, liabilities, and items of
income of any partnership, joint venture, or limited liability company that is treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes in which we
acquire an equity interest, directly or indirectly, will be treated as our assets and gross income for purposes of applying the various REIT
qualification requirements.
We intend to control any subsidiary
partnerships and limited liability companies, and we intend to operate them in a manner consistent with the requirements for our qualification as a
REIT. We may from time to time be a limited partner or non-managing member in some of our partnerships and limited liability companies. If a
partnership or limited liability company in which we own an interest takes or expects to take actions that could jeopardize our status as
a
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REIT or require us to pay tax, we
may be forced to dispose of our interest in such entity. In addition, it is possible that a partnership or limited liability company could take an
action which could cause us to fail a gross income or asset test, and that we would not become aware of such action in time to dispose of our interest
in the partnership or limited liability company or take other corrective action on a timely basis. In that case, we could fail to qualify as a REIT
unless we were entitled to relief, as described below.
A REIT may own up to 100% of the stock
of a taxable REIT subsidiary, or TRS. A TRS is a fully taxable corporation that may earn income that would not be qualifying income if
earned directly by the parent REIT. Both the subsidiary and the REIT must jointly elect to treat the subsidiary as a TRS. A corporation, of which a TRS
directly or indirectly owns more than 35% of the voting power or value of the securities, will automatically be treated as a TRS. We will not be
treated as holding the assets of a TRS or as receiving any income that the TRS earns. Rather, the stock issued by a TRS to us will be an asset in our
hands, and we will treat the distributions paid to us from such TRS, if any, as income. This treatment may affect our compliance with the gross income
and asset tests. Because we will not include the assets and income of TRSs in determining our compliance with the REIT requirements, we may use such
entities to undertake activities indirectly, such as earning fee income, that the REIT rules might otherwise preclude us from doing directly or through
pass-through subsidiaries. Overall, no more than 25% of the value of a REITs assets may consist of stock or securities of one or more TRSs. A TRS
will pay income tax at regular corporate rates on any income that it earns. In addition, the TRS rules limit the deductibility of interest paid or
accrued by a TRS to its parent REIT to assure that the TRS is subject to an appropriate level of corporate taxation. Further, the rules impose a 100%
excise tax on transactions between a TRS and its parent REIT or the REITs tenants that are not conducted on an arms-length basis. A TRS may
not directly or indirectly operate or manage any health care facilities or lodging facilities or provide rights to any brand name under which any
health care facility or lodging facility is operated. We currently own stock of four TRSs, and may form one or more TRSs in the
future.
Income Tests
We must satisfy two gross income tests
annually to maintain our qualification as a REIT. First, at least 75% of our gross income for each taxable year must consist of defined types of income
that we derive, directly or indirectly, from investments relating to real property or mortgages on real property or qualified temporary investment
income. Qualifying income for purposes of that 75% gross income test generally includes:
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rents from real property; |
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interest on debt secured by mortgages on real property or on
interests in real property; |
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dividends or other distributions on, and gain from the sale of,
shares in other REITs; |
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gain from the sale of real estate assets, other than property
held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business; |
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income from the operation, and gain from the sale of, certain
property acquired at or in lieu of foreclosure on a lease of, or indebtedness secured by, such property (foreclosure property);
and |
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income derived from the temporary investment of new capital that
is attributable to the issuance of our shares of beneficial interest or a public offering of our debt with a maturity date of at least five years and
that we receive during the one-year period beginning on the date on which we receive such new capital. |
Second, in general, at least 95% of our
gross income for each taxable year must consist of income that is qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test, other types of interest
and dividends, or gain from the sale or disposition of stock or securities. Certain types of gross income, including cancellation of indebtedness
income and gross income from our
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sale of property that we hold
primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business, is excluded from both the numerator and the denominator for purposes of the income
tests. In addition, income and gain from hedging transactions that we enter into to hedge indebtedness incurred or to be incurred to
acquire or carry real estate assets that are clearly and timely identified as such will be excluded from both the numerator and the denominator for
purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests. Certain foreign currency gains will also be excluded from gross income for purposes of one or both of
the gross income tests.
A REIT will incur a 100% tax on the net
income derived from any sale or other disposition of property, other than foreclosure property, that the REIT holds primarily for sale to customers in
the ordinary course of a trade or business. We believe that none of our assets are held primarily for sale to customers and that a sale of any of our
assets would not be in the ordinary course of our business. Whether a REIT holds an asset primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course
of a trade or business depends, however, on the facts and circumstances in effect from time to time, including those related to a particular
asset. A safe harbor to the characterization of the sale of property by a REIT as a prohibited transaction and the 100% prohibited transaction tax is
available if the following requirements are met:
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the REIT has held the property for not less than two
years; |
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the aggregate expenditures made by the REIT, or any partner of
the REIT, during the two-year period preceding the date of the sale that are includible in the basis of the property do not exceed 30% of the selling
price of the property; |
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either (i) during the year in question, the REIT did not make
more than seven sales of property other than foreclosure property or sales to which Section 1033 of the Code applies, (ii) the aggregate adjusted bases
of all such properties sold by the REIT during the year did not exceed 10% of the aggregate bases of the assets of the REIT at the beginning of the
year, or (iii) the aggregate fair market value of all such properties sold by the REIT during the year did not exceed 10% of the aggregate fair market
value of all of the assets of the REIT at the beginning of the year; |
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in the case of property not acquired through foreclosure or lease
termination, the REIT has held the property for at least two years for the production of rental income; and |
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if the REIT has made more than seven sales of non-foreclosure
property during the taxable year, substantially all of the marketing and development expenditures with respect to the property were made through an
independent contractor from whom the REIT derives no income. |
We will attempt to comply with the terms
of these safe-harbor provisions in the federal income tax laws prescribing when an asset sale will not be characterized as a prohibited transaction. We
cannot assure you, however, that we can comply with the safe-harbor provisions or that we will avoid owning property that may be characterized as
property that we hold primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business. The 100% tax will not apply to gains
from the sale of property that is held through a TRS or other taxable corporation, although such income will be taxed to the corporation at regular
corporate income tax rates.
We will generally be subject to tax at
the maximum corporate rate on any net income from foreclosure property, which includes certain foreign currency gains and related deductions, other
than income that otherwise would be qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test, less expenses directly connected with the production
of that income. However, income and gains from foreclosure property will qualify under the 75% and 95% gross income tests. Foreclosure property is any
real property, including interests in real property, and any personal property incident to such real property:
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that is acquired by a REIT as the result of the REIT having bid
on such property at foreclosure, or having otherwise reduced such property to ownership or possession by agreement or process of law, after there was a
default, or when default was imminent on a lease of such property or on indebtedness that such property secured; |
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for which the related loan was acquired by the REIT at a time
when the default was not imminent or anticipated; and |
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for which the REIT makes a proper election to treat the property
as foreclosure property. |
A REIT will not be considered to have
foreclosed on a property where the REIT takes control of the property as a mortgagee-in-possession and cannot receive any profit or sustain any loss
except as a creditor of the mortgagor. Property generally ceases to be foreclosure property at the end of the third taxable year following the taxable
year in which the REIT acquired the property, although foreclosure property status may be terminated earlier upon the occurrence of certain events or
may be extended if an extension is granted by the IRS. However, this grace period terminates and foreclosure property ceases to be foreclosure property
on the first day:
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on which a lease is entered into for the property that, by its
terms, will give rise to income that does not qualify for purposes of the 75% gross income test, or any amount is received or accrued, directly or
indirectly, pursuant to a lease entered into on or after such day that will give rise to income that does not qualify for purposes of the 75% gross
income test; |
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on which any construction takes place on the property, other than
completion of a building or any other improvement where more than 10% of the construction was completed before default became imminent; or |
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which is more than 90 days after the day on which the REIT
acquired the property and the property is used in a trade or business which is conducted by the REIT, other than through an independent contractor from
whom the REIT itself does not derive or receive any income. |
Any gain from the sale of property with
respect to which a foreclosure property election is made will not be subject to the 100% tax described above, even if the property would otherwise
constitute inventory or property that is held for sale to customer in the ordinary course of business. We have no foreclosure property as of the date
of this prospectus.
Rent that we receive from real property
that we own and lease to tenants will qualify as rents from real property, which is qualifying income for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross
income tests, only if each of the following conditions is met:
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The rent must not be based, in whole or in part, on the income or
profits of any person, but may be based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales. |
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Neither we nor a direct or indirect owner of 10% or more of our
shares may own, actually or constructively, 10% or more of a tenant from whom we receive rent (other than a TRS). Rent we receive from a TRS will
qualify as rents from real property if at least 90% of the leased space of the property is rented to persons other than TRSs and 10%-owned
tenants, and the amount of rent paid by the TRS is substantially comparable to the rent paid by the other tenants of the property for comparable space.
The substantially comparable requirement is treated as satisfied if such requirement is satisfied under the terms of a lease when the lease
is entered into, when it is extended, and when the lease is modified, if the modification increases the rent paid by the TRS. If the requirement that
at least 90% of the leased space in the property is rented to unrelated tenants is met when a lease is entered into, extended, or modified, such
requirement will continue to be met as long as there is no increase in the space leased to any TRS or related party tenant. Any increased rent that is
attributable to a modification of a lease with a controlled TRS (i.e., a TRS in which we own, directly or |
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indirectly, more than 50% of the voting power or value of the
stock) will not be treated as rents from real property. |
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We generally must not operate or manage our real property or
furnish or render services to our tenants, other than through an independent contractor who is adequately compensated and from whom we do not derive
revenue. However, we need not provide services through an independent contractor, but instead may provide services directly, if the services are
usually or customarily rendered in connection with the rental of space for occupancy only and are not considered to be provided for the
tenants convenience. In addition, we may provide a minimal amount of noncustomary services to the tenants of a property, other than
through an independent contractor, as long as our income from the services (valued at not less than 150% of our direct cost of performing such
services) does not exceed 1% of our income from the related property. Such income will not disqualify all rents from tenants of the property as rents
from real property, but income from such services will not qualify as rents from real property. Further, we may own up to 100% of the stock of a TRS
which may provide customary and noncustomary services to our tenants without tainting our rental income from the related properties. |
In addition, the amount of rent that is
attributable to personal property leased in connection with a lease of real property will qualify as rents from real property but only if
such amount is no more than 15% of the total rent received under the lease. The allocation of rent between real and personal property is based on the
relative fair market values of the real and personal property.
If a portion of the rent that we receive
from a property does not qualify as rents from real property because the rent attributable to personal property exceeds 15% of the total
rent for a taxable year, the portion of the rent that is attributable to personal property will not be qualifying income for purposes of either the 75%
or 95% gross income test. Thus, if such rent attributable to personal property, plus any other income that is nonqualifying income for purposes of the
95% gross income test, during a taxable year exceeds 5% of our gross income during the year, we would lose our REIT qualification. If, however, the
rent from a particular property does not qualify as rents from real property because either (i) the rent is considered based on the income
or profits of the tenant, (ii) the tenant either is a related party tenant or fails to qualify for the exception to the related party tenant rule for
qualifying TRSs, or (iii) we furnish noncustomary services to the tenants of the property in excess of the 1% threshold, or manage or operate the
property, other than through a qualifying independent contractor or a TRS, none of the rent from that property would qualify as rents from real
property.
We do not currently lease and do not
anticipate leasing significant amounts of personal property pursuant to our leases. Moreover, we do not intend to perform any services other than
customary ones for our tenants, unless such services are provided through independent contractors from whom we do not receive or derive income or
through a TRS. Accordingly, we believe that our leases will generally produce rent that qualifies as rents from real property for purposes
of the 75% and 95% gross income tests.
In addition to rent, tenants may be
required to pay certain additional charges. To the extent that such additional charges represent reimbursements of amounts that we are obliged to pay
to third parties, such charges will generally qualify as rents from real property. To the extent that such additional charges represent
penalties for nonpayment or late payment of such amounts, they should also qualify as rents from real property. However, to the extent that
late charges do not qualify as rents from real property, they may instead be treated as interest that qualifies for the 95% gross income
test.
Income and gain from certain hedging
transactions that we enter into to hedge indebtedness incurred or to be incurred to acquire or carry real estate assets and that are clearly and timely
identified as such are excluded from gross income for purposes of the 95%
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gross income test. A hedging
transaction means either (i) any transaction entered into in the normal course of our trade or business primarily to manage the risk of interest
rate, price changes, or currency fluctuations with respect to borrowings made or to be made, or ordinary obligations incurred or to be incurred to
acquire or carry real estate assets, or (ii) any transaction entered into primarily to manage the risk of currency fluctuations with respect to any
item of income or gain that would be qualifying income under the 75% or 95% gross income tests (or any property which generates such income or gain).
We are required to clearly identify any such hedging transaction before the close of the day on which it was acquired or entered into and to satisfy
other identification requirements. We intend to structure our hedging transactions so as not to jeopardize our status as a REIT.
Certain foreign currency gains will be
excluded from gross income for purposes of both of the gross income tests. Real estate foreign exchange gain will be excluded from gross
income for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests. Real estate foreign exchange gain generally includes foreign currency gain attributable to
any item of income or gain that is qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test, foreign currency gain attributable to the acquisition
or ownership of (or becoming or being the obligor under) obligations secured by mortgages on real property or an interest in real property, and certain
foreign currency gain attributable to certain qualified business units of a REIT. Passive foreign exchange gain will be
excluded from gross income for purposes of the 95% gross income test. Passive foreign exchange gain generally includes real estate foreign exchange
gain as described above, and also includes foreign currency gain attributable to any item of income or gain that is qualifying income for purposes of
the 95% gross income test and foreign currency gain attributable to the acquisition or ownership of (or becoming the obligor under) obligations. These
exclusions for real estate foreign exchange gain and passive foreign exchange gain do not apply to any foreign currency gain derived from dealing, or
engaging in substantial or regular trading, in securities. Such gain is treated as nonqualifying income for purposes of both the 75% and 95% gross
income tests.
If we fail to satisfy one or both of the
gross income tests for any taxable year, we nevertheless may qualify as a REIT for that year if we qualify for relief under certain provisions of the
federal income tax laws. Those relief provisions generally will be available if:
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our failure to meet such tests is due to reasonable cause and not
due to willful neglect; and |
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following such failure for any taxable year, a schedule of the
sources of our income is filed in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury. |
We cannot predict, however, whether in
all circumstances we would qualify for the relief provisions. In addition, as discussed above in Taxation of the Company, even if the
relief provisions apply, we generally would incur a 100% tax on the gross income attributable to the greater of the amounts by which we fail the 75% or
the 95% gross income test, multiplied by a fraction intended to reflect our profitability.
For purposes of the 75% and 95% gross
income tests, the term interest generally does not include any amount received or accrued, directly or indirectly, if the determination of
such amount depends in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person. However, interest generally includes the following:
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an amount that is based on a fixed percentage or percentages of
receipts or sales; and |
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an amount that is based on the income or profits of a debtor, as
long as the debtor derives substantially all of its income from leasing substantially all of its interest in the real property securing the debt, and
only to the extent that the amounts received by the debtor would be qualifying rents from real property if received directly by a
REIT. |
If a loan contains a provision that
entitles a REIT to a percentage of the borrowers gain upon the sale of the real property securing the loan or a percentage of the appreciation in
the
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propertys value as of a
specific date, income attributable to that loan provision will be treated as gain from the sale of the property securing the loan, which generally is
qualifying income for purposes of both gross income tests.
Interest on debt secured by a mortgage
on real property or on interests in real property generally is qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test. However, if a loan is
secured by real property and other property and the highest principal amount of a loan outstanding during a taxable year exceeds the fair market value
of the real property securing the loan as of the date the REIT agreed to originate or acquire the loan (or, if the loan has experienced a
significant modification that was not related to default or anticipated default since its origination or acquisition by the REIT, then as
of the date of that significant modification), a portion of the interest income from such loan will not be qualifying income for purposes
of the 75% gross income test, but will be qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test. The portion of the interest income that will not
be qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test will be equal to the interest income attributable to the portion of the principal amount
of the loan that is not secured by real propertythat is, the amount by which the loan exceeds the value of the real estate that is security for
the loan.
Our share of any dividends received from
any corporation (including any TRS, but excluding any REIT) in which we own an equity interest will qualify for purposes of the 95% gross income test
but not for purposes of the 75% gross income test. Our share of any dividends received from any other REIT in which we own an equity interest, if any,
will be qualifying income for purposes of both gross income tests.
Asset Tests
To maintain our qualification as a REIT,
we also must satisfy the following asset tests at the end of each quarter of each taxable year. First, at least 75% of the value of our total assets
must consist of:
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cash or cash items, including certain receivables, money market
funds, and, in certain circumstances, foreign currencies; |
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interests in real property, including leaseholds and options to
acquire real property and leaseholds; |
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interests in mortgages on real property; |
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stock in other REITs; and |
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investments in stock or debt instruments during the one-year
period following our receipt of new capital that we raise through equity offerings or offerings of debt with at least a five-year term. |
Under a second set of asset tests,
except for securities in the 75% asset class, securities in a TRS or qualified REIT subsidiary, and equity interests in partnerships:
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not more than 5% of the value of our total assets may be
represented by securities of any one issuer (the 5% value test); |
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we may not own securities that possess more than 10% of the total
voting power of the outstanding securities of any one issuer (the 10% vote test); and |
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subject to certain exceptions, we may not own securities that
have a value of more than 10% of the total value of the outstanding securities of any one issuer (the 10% value test). |
In addition, no more than 25% of the
value of our total assets may consist of securities (other than those that are qualifying assets for purposes of the 75% asset test), and not
more
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than 25% of the value of our total
assets may be represented by securities of one or more TRSs.
The term securities
generally includes debt securities. However, for purposes of the 10% value test, the term securities does not include:
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straight debt securities, which is defined as a
written unconditional promise to pay on demand or on a specified date a sum certain in money if (i) the debt is not convertible, directly or
indirectly, into equity, and (ii) the interest rate and interest payment dates are not contingent on profits, the borrowers discretion, or
similar factors (except that straight debt securities do not include any securities issued by a partnership or a corporation in which we or
any controlled TRS (i.e., a TRS in which we own directly or indirectly more than 50% of the voting power or value of the shares) hold
non-straight debt securities that have an aggregate value of more than 1% of the issuers outstanding securities) but straight
debt securities include debt subject to the following contingencies: |
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a contingency relating to the time of payment of interest or
principal, as long as either (i) there is no change to the effective yield of the debt obligation, other than a change to the annual yield that does
not exceed the greater of 0.25% or 5% of the annual yield, or (ii) neither the aggregate issue price nor the aggregate face amount of the issuers
debt obligations held by us exceeds $1 million and no more than twelve months of unaccrued interest on the debt obligations can be required to be
prepaid; or |
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a contingency relating to the time or amount of payment upon a
default or prepayment of a debt obligation, as long as the contingency is consistent with customary commercial practice; |
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any loan to any individual or estate; |
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any section 467 rental agreement other than an
agreement with a related party tenant; |
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any accrued obligation to pay rents from real
property; |
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certain securities issued by government entities; |
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any security issued by a REIT; |
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any debt instrument issued by an entity treated as a partnership
for federal income tax purposes in which we are a partner to the extent of our proportionate interest in the equity and debt securities of the
partnership; and |
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any debt instrument issued by an entity treated as a partnership
for federal income tax purposes not described in the preceding bullet point if at least 75% of the partnerships gross income, excluding income
from prohibited transactions, is qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test described above in Income
Tests. |
We believe that our existing assets are
qualifying assets for purposes of the 75% asset test. We also believe that any additional real property that we acquire, loans that we extend and
temporary investments that we make generally will be qualifying assets for purposes of the 75% asset test, except to the extent that the value of the
loan exceeds the value of the associated real property securing the loan (determined as of the date we agreed to originate or acquire the loan) or to
the extent the asset is a loan that is not deemed to be an interest in real property. We intend to monitor the status of our acquired assets for
purposes of the various asset tests and manage our portfolio in order to comply at all times with such tests. However, there is no assurance that we
will not inadvertently fail to comply with such tests. We will also not obtain independent appraisals to support our conclusions as to the value of our
assets. Moreover, the values of some assets may not be susceptible to a precise determination. As a result, there can be no assurance that the IRS will
not contend that our
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ownership of assets violates one or
more of the asset tests applicable to REITS. If we fail to satisfy the asset tests at the end of a calendar quarter, we will not lose our REIT status
if:
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we satisfied the asset tests at the end of the preceding calendar
quarter; and |
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the discrepancy between the value of our assets and the asset
test requirements arose from changes in the market values of our assets and was not wholly or partly caused by the acquisition of one or more
non-qualifying assets. |
If we did not satisfy the condition
described in the second item above, we still could avoid disqualification by eliminating any discrepancy within 30 days after the close of the calendar
quarter in which it arose.
In the event that we violate the 5%
value test, 10% vote test, or 10% value test described above at the end of any quarter of each taxable year, we will not lose our REIT qualification if
(i) the failure is de minimis (up to the lesser of 1% of the value of our assets or $10 million) and (ii) we dispose of the assets that caused the
failure or otherwise comply with the asset tests within six months after the last day of the quarter in which we identified such failure. In the event
of a more than de minimis failure of any of the asset tests, as long as the failure was due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect, we will not
lose our REIT qualification if we (i) dispose of the assets that caused the failure or otherwise comply with the asset tests within six months after
the last day of the quarter in which we identified such failure, (ii) file a schedule with the IRS describing the assets that caused such failure and
(iii) pay a tax equal to the greater of $50,000 or 35% of the net income from the nonqualifying assets during the period in which we failed to satisfy
the asset tests.
We believe that the assets that we will
hold will satisfy the foregoing asset test requirements. However, we will not obtain independent appraisals to support our conclusions as to the value
of our assets. Moreover, the values of some assets may not be susceptible to a precise determination. As a result, there can be no assurances that the
IRS will not contend that our ownership of assets violates one or more of the asset tests applicable to REITs.
Distribution Requirements
Each taxable year, we must distribute
dividends, other than capital gain dividends and deemed distributions of retained capital gain, to our shareholders in an aggregate amount at least
equal to:
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90% of our REIT taxable income, computed without
regard to the dividends paid deduction and our net capital gain or loss, and |
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90% of our after-tax income, if any, from foreclosure property,
minus |
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the sum of certain items of non-cash income (to the extent such
items of income exceed 5% of our REIT taxable income, computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction and our net capital gain or
loss). |
We must pay such distributions in the
taxable year to which they relate, or in the following taxable year if we declare the distribution before we timely file our federal income tax return
for the year and pay the distribution on or before the first regular dividend payment date after such declaration.
We will pay federal income tax on
taxable income, including net capital gain, that we do not distribute to shareholders. Furthermore, if we fail to distribute during a calendar year, or
by the end of January following the calendar year in the case of distributions with declaration and record dates falling in the last three-months of
the calendar year, at least the sum of:
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85% of our REIT ordinary income for such year, |
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95% of our REIT capital gain income for such year,
and |
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any undistributed taxable income from prior periods, |
we will incur a 4% nondeductible excise
tax on the excess of such required distribution over the amounts we actually distribute. We may elect to retain and pay income tax on the net long-term
capital gain we receive in a taxable year. See Taxation of Taxable U.S. Shareholders below. If we so elect, we will be treated as
having distributed any such retained amount for purposes of the 4% nondeductible excise tax described above.
We have made, and we intend to continue
to make, timely distributions sufficient to satisfy the annual distribution requirements.
It is possible that, from time to time,
we may experience timing differences between:
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the actual receipt of income and actual payment of deductible
expenses, and |
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the inclusion of that income and deduction of such expenses in
arriving at our REIT taxable income. |
For example, we may not deduct
recognized capital losses from our REIT taxable income. Further, it is possible that, from time to time, we may be allocated a share of net
capital gain attributable to the sale of depreciated property that exceeds our allocable share of cash attributable to that sale.
As a result of the foregoing, unless,
for example, we raise funds by a borrowing or pay taxable dividends of our shares or debt securities, we may have less cash than is necessary to
distribute taxable income sufficient to avoid corporate income tax and the 4% excise tax described above or even to meet the 90% distribution
requirement.
We may satisfy the 90% distribution
requirement with taxable distributions of our equity or debt securities. The IRS has issued private letter rulings to other REITs treating certain
distributions that are paid partly in cash and partly in stock as dividends that would satisfy the REIT annual distribution requirement and qualify for
the dividends paid deduction for federal income tax purposes. Those rulings may be relied upon only by taxpayers to whom they were issued, but we could
request a similar ruling from the IRS. In addition, the IRS previously issued a revenue procedure authorizing publicly traded REITs to make elective
cash/stock dividends, but that revenue procedure does not apply to distributions with respect to our taxable year ending October 31, 2012 and future
taxable years. Accordingly, it is unclear whether and to what extent we will be able to make taxable dividends payable in cash and shares. We have no
current intention to make a taxable dividend payable in cash and our shares.
Under certain circumstances, we may be
able to correct a failure to meet the distribution requirement for a year by paying deficiency dividends to our shareholders in a later
year. We may include such deficiency dividends in our deduction for dividends paid for the earlier year. Although we may be able to avoid income tax on
amounts distributed as deficiency dividends, we will be required to pay interest to the IRS based upon the amount of any deduction we take for
deficiency dividends.
Recordkeeping Requirements
We must maintain certain records in
order to qualify as a REIT. In addition, to avoid a monetary penalty, we must request on an annual basis information from our shareholders designed to
disclose the actual ownership of our outstanding shares. We have complied, and we intend to continue to comply, with these
requirements.
Failure to Qualify
If we fail to satisfy one or more
requirements for REIT qualification, other than the gross income tests and the asset tests, we could avoid disqualification if our failure is due to
reasonable cause and not to willful neglect and we pay a penalty of $50,000 for each such
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failure. In addition, there are
relief provisions for a failure of the gross income tests and asset tests, as described in Income Tests and Asset
Tests.
If we fail to qualify as a REIT in any
taxable year, and no relief provision applies, we would be subject to federal income tax and any applicable alternative minimum tax on our taxable
income at regular corporate rates. In addition, we may be required to pay penalties and/or interest in respect of such tax. In calculating our taxable
income in a year in which we fail to qualify as a REIT, we would not be able to deduct amounts paid out to shareholders. In fact, we would not be
required to distribute any amounts to shareholders in that year. To the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, any distributions
to shareholders in any such year generally would be taxed as ordinary dividend income. Distributions to individual, trust and estate shareholders may
be eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income, which currently is taxed at capital gains rates. Subject to certain limitations of the federal
income tax laws, corporate shareholders might be eligible for the dividends received deduction. Unless we qualified for relief under specific statutory
provisions, we also would be disqualified from taxation as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which we ceased to qualify as a
REIT. We cannot predict whether we would qualify for such statutory relief in all circumstances.
Taxation of Taxable U.S. Shareholders
This section is a summary of rules
governing the federal income taxation of U.S. shareholders (defined below) for general information only. WE URGE YOU TO CONSULT YOUR OWN TAX ADVISORS
TO DETERMINE THE IMPACT OF FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL INCOME TAX LAWS ON OWNERSHIP OF OUR SHARES. For purposes of this summary, the term U.S.
shareholder means a holder of our shares that, for federal income tax purposes, is:
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a citizen or resident of the United States, |
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a corporation (including an entity treated as a corporation for
federal income tax purposes) created or organized under the laws of the United States, or of any state thereof, or the District of
Columbia, |
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an estate whose income is includible in gross income for federal
income tax purposes regardless of its source, or |
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any trust (i) with respect to which a United States court is able
to exercise primary supervision over its administration, and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all of its substantial
decisions or (ii) that has a valid election in place to be treated as a U.S. person. |
If a partnership, including for this
purpose any entity that is treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, holds our shares, the tax treatment of a partner in the
partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. A shareholder that is a partnership and the
partners in such partnership should consult their tax advisors about the federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition
of our shares.
As long as we qualify as a REIT, a
taxable U.S. shareholder must take into account as ordinary income distributions made out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits that we do
not designate as capital gain dividends or retained long-term capital gain. A U.S. shareholder will not qualify for the dividends received deduction
generally available to corporations.
A U.S. shareholder will generally
recognize distributions that we properly designate as capital gain dividends as long-term capital gain without regard to the period for which the U.S.
shareholder has held its shares. A corporate U.S. shareholder, however, may be required to treat up to 20% of certain capital gain dividends as
ordinary income.
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We may elect to retain and pay income
tax on the net long-term capital gain that we receive in a taxable year. In that case, to the extent that we timely designate the amount, a U.S.
shareholder would be taxed on its proportionate share of our undistributed long-term capital gain. The U.S. shareholder would receive a credit or
refund for its proportionate share of the tax we paid. The U.S. shareholder would increase the basis in our shares by the amount of its proportionate
share of our undistributed long-term capital gain, minus its share of the tax we paid. If we make such an election, we may, if supported by reasonable
authority that it will not jeopardize our status as a REIT, make such an election only with respect to capital gains allocable to our
shares.
A U.S. shareholder will not incur tax on
a distribution in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits if the distribution does not exceed the adjusted basis of the U.S.
shareholder in our shares. Instead, the distribution will reduce the U.S. shareholders adjusted basis in our shares. A U.S. shareholder will
recognize a distribution in excess of both our current and accumulated earnings and profits and the U.S. shareholders adjusted basis in our
shares as long-term capital gain, or short-term capital gain if the shares have been held for one year or less, assuming the shares are a capital asset
in the hands of the U.S. shareholder. For purposes of determining whether a distribution is made out of our current or accumulated earnings and
profits, our earnings and profits will be allocated first to dividends on our preferred shares and then to dividends on our common shares. If, for any
taxable year, we elect to designate as capital gain dividends any portion of the distributions paid for the year to our shareholders, the portion of
the amount so designated (not in excess of our net capital gain for the year) that will be allocable to the holders of our preferred shares will be the
amount so designated, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which will be the total dividends (within the meaning of the Code) paid to the holders
of our preferred shares for the year and the denominator of which will be the total dividends paid to the holders of all classes of our shares for the
year.
Dividends paid to a U.S. shareholder
generally will not qualify for the favorable tax rate for qualified dividend income. Currently the maximum federal income tax rate for
qualified dividend income received by U.S. shareholders taxed at individual rates is 20%. The maximum tax rate on qualified dividend income is lower
than the maximum tax rate on ordinary income, which is currently 39.6%. Qualified dividend income generally includes dividends paid by domestic C
corporations and certain qualified foreign corporations to U.S. shareholders that are taxed at individual rates. Because we are not generally subject
to federal income tax on the portion of our REIT taxable income distributed to our shareholders (see Taxation of the Company above),
our dividends generally will not be eligible for the 20% rate applicable to qualified dividend income. As a result, our ordinary REIT dividends will be
taxed at the higher tax rate applicable to ordinary income. However, the 20% tax rate for qualified dividend income will apply to our ordinary REIT
dividends, if any, that are (1) attributable to dividends received by us from non-REIT corporations, such as a TRS, and (2) attributable to income upon
which we have paid corporate income tax (e.g., to the extent that we distribute less than 100% of our taxable income). In general, to qualify for the
reduced tax rate on qualified dividend income, a U.S. shareholder must hold our shares for more than 60 days during the 121-day period beginning on the
date that is 60 days before the date on which our shares become ex-dividend.
Individuals, trusts and estates whose
income exceeds certain thresholds are also subject to an additional 3.8% Medicare tax on dividends received from us. U.S. shareholders are urged to
consult their own tax advisors regarding the implications of the additional Medicare tax resulting from an investment in our shares.
Distributions made by us and gain
arising from the sale or exchange by a U.S. shareholder of our shares will not be treated as passive activity income, and as a result, U.S.
shareholders generally will not be able to apply any passive activity losses, such as losses from certain types of limited partnerships in
which the U.S. shareholder is a limited partner, against this income or gain. In addition, distributions from us and gain from the disposition
of
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our shares will generally be treated
as investment income for purposes of the investment interest limitations.
U.S. shareholders may not include in
their individual income tax returns any of our net operating losses or capital losses. Instead, these losses are generally carried over by us for
potential offset against our future income.
We will notify U.S. shareholders after
the close of our taxable year as to the portions of our distributions attributable to that year that constitute ordinary income, return of capital and
capital gain.
Taxation of U.S. Shareholders on the Disposition of
Shares
In general, a U.S. shareholder who is
not a dealer in securities must treat any gain or loss realized upon a taxable disposition of our shares as long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S.
shareholder has held the shares for more than one year and otherwise as short-term capital gain or loss. In general, a U.S. shareholder will realize
gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the sum of the fair market value of any property and the amount of cash received in such
disposition and the U.S. shareholders adjusted tax basis. A shareholders adjusted tax basis generally will equal the U.S.
shareholders acquisition cost, increased by the excess of net capital gains deemed distributed to the U.S. shareholder (as described above) less
tax deemed paid on such gains and reduced by any return of capital. However, a U.S. shareholder must treat any loss upon a sale or exchange of the
shares held by such shareholder for six months or less as a long-term capital loss to the extent of capital gain dividends and other distributions from
us that such U.S. shareholder treats as long-term capital gain. All or a portion of any loss that a U.S. shareholder realizes upon a taxable
disposition of our shares may be disallowed if the U.S. shareholder purchases other shares of substantially identical stock within 30 days before or
after the disposition.
Individuals, trusts and estates whose
income exceeds certain thresholds are also subject to an additional 3.8% Medicare tax on gain from the sale of our shares. U.S. shareholders are urged
to consult their own tax advisors regarding the implications of the additional Medicare tax resulting from an investment in our
shares.
If a U.S. shareholder has shares
redeemed by us, such U.S. shareholder will be treated as having sold the redeemed shares if (1) all of the U.S. shareholders shares of our stock
are redeemed (after taking into consideration certain ownership attribution rules set forth in the Code) or (2) such redemption is (a) not essentially
equivalent to a dividend within the meaning of Section 302(b)(1) of the Code or (b) substantially disproportionate within the meaning of Section
302(b)(2) of the Code. If a redemption is not treated as a sale of the redeemed shares, it will be treated as a distribution made with respect to the
U.S. shareholders shares. U.S. shareholders should consult with their tax advisors regarding the taxation of any particular redemption of our
shares.
Dividend Reinvestment Program
Shareholders in our dividend
reinvestment program are treated as having received the gross amount of any cash distributions which would have been paid by us to such shareholders
had they not elected to participate in the program. These distributions will retain the character and tax effect applicable to distributions from us
generally. Participants in the dividend reinvestment program are subject to U.S. federal income and withholding tax on the amount of the deemed
distributions to the extent that such distributions represent dividends or gains, even though they receive no cash. Shares of our stock received under
the program will have a holding period beginning with the day after purchase, and a tax basis equal to their cost.
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Capital Gains and Losses
The tax rate differential between
capital gain and ordinary income for non-corporate taxpayers may be significant. A taxpayer generally must hold a capital asset for more than one year
for gain or loss derived from its sale or exchange to be treated as long-term capital gain or loss. The highest marginal individual income tax rate is
currently 39.6%. The current maximum tax rate on long-term capital gain applicable to taxpayers taxed at individual rates is 20% for sales and
exchanges of assets held for more than one year. The maximum tax rate on long-term capital gain from the sale or exchange of section 1250
property, or depreciable real property, is 25%, which applies to the lesser of the total amount of the gain or the accumulated depreciation on
the section 1250 property. With respect to distributions that we designate as capital gain dividends and any retained capital gain that we are deemed
to distribute, we generally may designate whether such a distribution is taxable to our non-corporate shareholders at a 20% or 25%
rate.
The characterization of income as
capital gain or ordinary income may also affect the deductibility of capital losses. A non-corporate taxpayer may deduct capital losses not offset by
capital gains against its ordinary income only up to a maximum annual amount of $3,000. A non-corporate taxpayer may carry forward unused capital
losses indefinitely. A corporate taxpayer must pay tax on its net capital gain at ordinary corporate rates. A corporate taxpayer can deduct capital
losses only to the extent of capital gains, with unused losses being carried back three years and forward five years.
Taxation of Tax Exempt Shareholders
This section is a summary of rules
governing the federal income taxation of U.S. shareholders that are tax-exempt entities for general information only. WE URGE YOU TO CONSULT YOUR OWN
TAX ADVISORS TO DETERMINE THE IMPACT OF FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL INCOME TAX LAWS ON OWNERSHIP OF OUR SHARES, INCLUDING ANY REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS.
Tax-exempt entities, including qualified
employee pension and profit sharing trusts and individual retirement accounts, are generally exempt from federal income taxation. However, they are
subject to taxation on their unrelated business taxable income. While many investments in real estate generate unrelated business taxable
income, the IRS has issued a ruling that dividend distributions from a REIT to an exempt employee pension trust do not constitute unrelated business
taxable income so long as the exempt employee pension trust does not otherwise use the shares of the REIT in an unrelated trade or business of the
pension trust. Based on that ruling, amounts that we distribute to tax-exempt shareholders generally should not constitute unrelated business taxable
income. However, if a tax-exempt shareholder were to finance its acquisition of our shares with debt, a portion of the income that it receives from us
would constitute unrelated business taxable income pursuant to the debt-financed property rules. Furthermore, certain types of tax-exempt
entities are subject to unrelated business taxable income under rules that are different from the general rules discussed above, which may require them
to characterize distributions that they receive from us as unrelated business taxable income.
In certain circumstances, a qualified
employee pension or profit sharing trust that owns more than 10% of our shares of beneficial interest must treat a percentage of the dividends that it
receives from us as unrelated business taxable income. Such percentage is equal to the gross income we derive from an unrelated trade or business,
determined as if we were a pension trust, divided by our total gross income for the year in which we pay the dividends. This rule applies to a pension
trust holding more than 10% of our shares of beneficial interest, and only if:
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the percentage of our dividends that the tax-exempt trust must
treat as unrelated business taxable income is at least 5%; |
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we qualify as a REIT by reason of the modification of the rule
requiring that no more than 50% of our shares of beneficial interest be owned by five or fewer individuals that allows the beneficiaries of the pension
trust to be treated as holding our shares of beneficial interest in proportion to their actuarial interest in the pension trust, and |
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one pension trust owns more than 25% of the value of our shares
of beneficial interest; or |
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a group of pension trusts individually holding more than 10% of
the value of our shares of beneficial interest collectively own more than 50% of the value of our shares of beneficial interest. |
Certain restrictions on ownership and
transfer of our shares should generally prevent the above rules from applying to dividends paid by us.
Taxation of Non-U.S. Shareholders
This section is a summary of the rules
governing the federal income taxation of non-U.S. shareholders. For purposes of this discussion, the term non-U.S. shareholder means a
holder of our shares that is not a U.S. shareholder or an entity treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. The rules governing the
federal income taxation of non-U.S. shareholders are complex and this summary is for general information only. WE URGE YOU TO CONSULT YOUR OWN TAX
ADVISORS TO DETERMINE THE IMPACT OF FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL INCOME TAX LAWS ON OWNERSHIP OF OUR SHARES, INCLUDING ANY REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS.
A non-U.S. shareholder that receives a
distribution that is not attributable to gain from our sale or exchange of a United States real property interest, as defined below, and
that we do not designate as a capital gain dividend or retained capital gain, will recognize ordinary income to the extent of our current or
accumulated earnings and profits. A withholding tax equal to 30% of the gross amount of the distribution ordinarily will apply unless an applicable tax
treaty reduces or eliminates the tax. However, if a distribution is treated as effectively connected with the non-U.S. shareholders conduct of a
U.S. trade or business, the non-U.S. shareholder generally will be subject to federal income tax on the distribution at graduated rates, in the same
manner as U.S. shareholders are taxed on distributions, and also may be subject to a 30% branch profits tax if the non-U.S. shareholder is
a corporation. The branch profits tax may be reduced by an applicable income tax treaty. We plan to withhold U.S. income tax at the rate of 30% on the
gross amount of any distribution paid to a non-U.S. shareholder unless either:
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a lower treaty rate applies and the non-U.S. shareholder files an
applicable IRS Form W-8 (i.e., IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E, IRS Form W-8IMY or IRS Form W-8EXP) evidencing eligibility for that reduced rate
with us, |
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the non-U.S. shareholder files an IRS Form W-8ECI with us
claiming that the distribution is effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business; or |
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the distribution is treated as attributable to a sale of a
United states real property interest under the FIRPTA rules discussed below. |
A non-U.S. shareholder will not incur
tax on a distribution on our shares in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits if the distribution does not exceed the adjusted
basis of the non-U.S. shareholder in those shares. Instead, the distribution will reduce the adjusted basis of the non-U.S. shareholder in those
shares. A non-U.S. shareholder will be subject to tax on a distribution on our shares that exceeds both our current and accumulated earnings and
profits and the adjusted basis of the non-U.S. shareholder in those shares if the non-U.S. shareholder otherwise would be subject to tax on gain from
the sale or disposition of those shares as described below. Because we generally cannot determine at the time we make
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a distribution whether the
distribution will exceed our current and accumulated earnings and profits, we normally will withhold tax on the entire amount of any distribution at
the same rate as we would withhold on a dividend. However, a non-U.S. shareholder may obtain a refund of amounts that we withhold if we later determine
that a distribution in fact exceeded our current and accumulated earnings and profits.
Under the FIRPTA rules
discussed below, we are generally required to withhold 10% of any distribution that exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits.
Consequently, although we intend to withhold at a rate of 30% on the entire amount of any distribution, to the extent that we do not do so, we
generally will withhold at a rate of 10% on any portion of a distribution not subject to withholding at a rate of 30%.
A non-U.S. shareholder may incur tax on
distributions that are attributable to gain from our sale or exchange of United States real property interests under special provisions of
the federal income tax laws known as the Foreign Investment in Real Property Act of 1980 (or FIRPTA). The term United
States real property interests includes interests in U.S. real property and shares in corporations at least 50% of whose assets consist of
interests in U.S. real property. Under those rules, subject to the exception discussed below for distributions on shares of a class of stock that is
regularly traded on an established securities market to a less-than-5% holder of such class, a non-U.S. shareholder is taxed on distributions
attributable to gain from sales of United States real property interests as if the gain were effectively connected with a U.S. business of the non-U.S.
shareholder. A non-U.S. shareholder thus would be taxed on this distribution at the normal capital gain rates applicable to U.S. shareholders, subject
to applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of a nonresident alien individual. A non-U.S. corporate
shareholder not entitled to treaty relief or exemption also may be subject to the 30% branch profits tax on such a distribution. Unless the exception
described in the next paragraph applies, we must withhold 35% of any distribution that we could designate as a capital gain dividend. A non-U.S.
shareholder may receive a credit against its tax liability for the amount we withhold.
Capital gain distributions to the
holders of shares of a class of our shares that are attributable to our sale of real property will be treated as ordinary dividends rather than as gain
from the sale of a United States real property interest, as long as (1) that class of shares is regularly traded on an established securities market
and (2) the non-U.S. shareholder did not own more than 5% of that class of shares during the one-year period ending on the date of distribution. As a
result, non-U.S. shareholders generally would be subject to withholding tax on such capital gain distributions in the same manner as they are subject
to withholding tax on ordinary dividends.
Our common stock, Class A common stock
and Series D and F preferred stock are currently regularly traded on an established securities market. If a class of our shares is not regularly traded
on an established securities market, capital gain distributions with respect to that class that are attributable to our sale of U.S. real property
interests will be subject to tax under FIRPTA, as described above, and we will have to withhold 35% of any distribution with respect to that class that
we designate as a capital gain dividend. A non-U.S. shareholder could receive a credit against its tax liability for the amount we withhold. Moreover,
if a non-U.S. shareholder disposes of our shares during the 30-day period preceding a dividend payment, and such non-U.S. shareholder (or a person
related to such non-U.S. shareholder) acquires or enters into a contract or option to acquire our shares within 61 days of the 1st day of the 30-day
period described above, and any portion of such dividend payment would, but for the disposition, be treated as a U.S. real property interest capital
gain to such non-U.S. shareholder, then such non-U.S. shareholder will be treated as having U.S. real property interest capital gain in an amount that,
but for the disposition, would have been treated as U.S. real property interest capital gain.
A 30% U.S. withholding tax pursuant to
recently enacted legislation known as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act or FATCA will be imposed on ordinary dividends
paid
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to certain non-U.S. shareholders if
certain disclosure requirements related to U.S. accounts or ownership are not satisfied. Ordinary dividends paid by us will not be subject to
double withholding under FATCA and the regular withholding rules described on the previous page, as the FATCA rules contain
coordination provisions to prevent such double withholding. If withholding taxes are imposed under FATCA, non-U.S. shareholders that are otherwise
eligible for an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. withholding taxes with respect to such dividends will be required to seek a refund from the IRS
to obtain the benefit of such exemption or reduction. We will not pay any additional amounts in respect of any amounts withheld. All shareholders are
strongly urged to consult with their independent tax advisor as to the impact of FATCA on their investment in our shares.
A non-U.S. shareholder generally will
not incur tax under FIRPTA on gain from the sale of our shares as long as at all times non-U.S. persons hold, directly or indirectly, less than 50% of
the value of our shares. We cannot assure you that that test will be met. In addition, a non-U.S. shareholder that owns, actually or constructively, 5%
or less of the shares of a class of stock at all times during a specified testing period will not incur tax on such gain under FIRPTA if the shares of
that class of stock are regularly traded on an established securities market. If the gain on the sale of shares is taxed under FIRPTA, a non-U.S.
shareholder would be taxed on that gain in the same manner as U.S. shareholders, subject to alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum
tax in the case of nonresident alien individuals. Finally, if non-U.S. persons hold, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the value of our shares
at the time our shares are sold and the exemption described above does not apply, under FIRPTA, the purchaser of our shares may also be required to
withhold 10% of the purchase price and remit this amount to the IRS. This 10% withholding tax is credited against the income tax liability of the
selling non-U.S. shareholder on the sale.
A non-U.S. shareholder generally will
incur tax on gain not subject to FIRPTA if:
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the gain is effectively connected with the non-U.S.
shareholders U.S. trade or business, in which case the non-U.S. shareholder will be subject to the same treatment as U.S. shareholders with
respect to such gain, or |
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the non-U.S. shareholder is a nonresident alien individual who
was present in the U.S. for 183 days or more during the taxable year and has a tax home in the United States, in which case the non-U.S.
shareholder will incur a 30% tax on his or her capital gains. |
For payments after December 31, 2016, a
30% U.S. withholding tax under FATCA will be imposed on proceeds from the sale of our shares received by certain non-U.S. shareholders if certain
disclosure requirements related to U.S. accounts or ownership are not satisfied. If withholding taxes are imposed under FATCA, non-U.S. shareholders
that are otherwise eligible for an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. withholding taxes with respect to such proceeds will be required to seek a
refund from the IRS to obtain the benefit of such exemption or reduction. We will not pay any additional amounts in respect of any amounts withheld.
All shareholders are strongly urged to consult with their independent tax advisors as to the impact of FATCA on their investment in our
shares.
Information Reporting Requirements and
Withholding
We will report to our shareholders and
to the IRS the amount of distributions we pay during each calendar year, and the amount of tax we withhold, if any. Under the backup withholding rules,
a shareholder may be subject to backup withholding at a rate of 28% with respect to distributions unless the holder:
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comes within certain exempt categories and, when required,
demonstrates this fact; or |
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provides a taxpayer identification number, certifies as to no
loss of exemption from backup withholding, and otherwise complies with the applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. |
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A shareholder who does not provide us
with its correct taxpayer identification number also may be subject to penalties imposed by the IRS. Any amount paid as backup withholding will be
creditable against the shareholders income tax liability. In addition, we may be required to withhold a portion of capital gain distributions to
any shareholders who fail to certify their non-foreign status to us.
Backup withholding will generally not
apply to payments of dividends made by us or our paying agents, in their capacities as such, to a non-U.S. shareholder provided that the non-U.S.
shareholder furnishes to us or our paying agent the required certification as to its non-U.S. status, such as providing a valid IRS Form W-8BEN-E,
W-8BEN or W-8ECI, or certain other requirements are met. Notwithstanding the foregoing, backup withholding may apply if either we or our paying agent
has actual knowledge, or reason to know, that the holder is a U.S. person that is not an exempt recipient. Payments of the proceeds from a disposition
or a redemption effected outside the U.S. by a non-U.S. shareholder made by or through a foreign office of a broker generally will not be subject to
information reporting or backup withholding. However, information reporting (but not backup withholding) generally will apply to such a payment if the
broker has certain connections with the U.S. unless the broker has documentary evidence in its records that the beneficial owner is a non-U.S.
shareholder and specified conditions are met or an exemption is otherwise established. Payment of the proceeds from a disposition by a non-U.S.
shareholder of our shares made by or through the U.S. office of a broker is generally subject to information reporting and backup withholding unless
the non-U.S. shareholder certifies under penalties of perjury that it is not a U.S. person and satisfies certain other requirements, or otherwise
establishes an exemption from information reporting and backup withholding.
Backup withholding is not an additional
tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be refunded or credited against the shareholders federal income tax liability if
certain required information is furnished to the IRS. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisors regarding application of backup withholding to
them and the availability of, and procedure for obtaining, an exemption from backup withholding.
U.S. shareholders who own our shares of
beneficial interest through foreign entities will be impacted by FATCA with respect to ordinary dividends paid by us to such foreign entities, because
such entities will be subject to the 30% FATCA withholding tax on such dividends unless they comply with certain disclosure requirements. Moreover, if
such foreign entities dispose of our shares after December 31, 2016, gross proceeds from such disposition may be subject to the 30% FATCA withholding
tax unless the relevant disclosure requirements are met. We will not pay any additional amounts in respect of amounts withheld. All shareholders are
strongly urged to consult with their independent tax advisors as to the impact of FATCA on their investment in our shares.
State and Local Taxes
We and/or our shareholders may be
subject to taxation by various states and localities, including those in which we or a shareholder transacts business, owns property or resides. The
state and local tax treatment may differ from the federal income tax treatment described above. Consequently, prospective investors should consult
their own tax advisors regarding the effect of state and local tax laws on an investment in our shares.
Possible Legislative or Other Actions Affecting Tax
Considerations
Prospective investors should recognize
that the present U.S. federal income tax treatment of an investment in our shares may be modified by legislative, judicial or administrative action at
any time, and that any such action may affect investments and commitments previously made. The rules dealing with U.S. federal income taxation are
constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process and by the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Treasury Department, resulting
in revisions of the U.S. Treasury regulations and revised
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interpretations of established
concepts as well as statutory changes. Revisions in U.S. federal tax laws and interpretations thereof could adversely affect the tax consequences of an
investment in our shares.
We may sell the securities being offered
hereby from time to time through agents to the public or to investors, to or through one or more underwriters for resale to the public or to investors,
in at the market offerings within the meaning of Rule 415 of the Securities Act, to or through a market maker or into an existing trading
market on the exchange or otherwise, directly to investors in privately negotiated transactions or through a combination of any of these methods of
sale. Any underwriter or agent involved in the offer and sale of the securities will be named in a prospectus supplement.
The distribution of the offered
securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at market prices
prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices, or at negotiated prices, any of which may represent a discount from
the prevailing market price. We also may, from time to time, authorize underwriters acting as agents to offer and sell the securities upon the terms
and conditions set forth in any prospectus supplement. In connection with the sale of offered securities, underwriters may be deemed to have received
compensation from us in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and may also receive commissions from purchasers of offered securities for
whom they may act as agent. Underwriters may sell the securities to or through dealers, and these dealers may receive compensation in the form of
discounts, concessions or commissions (which may be changed from time to time) from the underwriters and/or from the purchasers for whom they may act
as agent.
Any underwriting compensation paid by us
to underwriters or agents in connection with the offering of the securities and any discounts, concessions or commissions allowed by underwriters to
participating dealers will be set forth in a prospectus supplement. Underwriters, dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the
securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts and commissions received by them from us or from purchasers of the securities and any
profit realized by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Underwriters,
dealers and agents may be entitled, under agreements entered into with us, to indemnification against and contribution toward certain civil
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
Unless otherwise specified in a
prospectus supplement, each series of the securities will be a new issue with no established trading market, other than our common stock and Class A
common stock which are both currently traded on the New York Stock Exchange. We may elect to list any series of preferred stock or depositary shares on
the New York Stock Exchange, on the NASDAQ Stock Market or another exchange, but we are not obligated to do so. It is possible that one or more
underwriters may make a market in a series of the securities, but will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time
without notice. Therefore, no assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for the securities.
Rules of the SEC may limit the ability
of any underwriter to bid for or purchase securities before the distribution of the shares of common stock is completed. However, underwriters may
engage in overallotment, stabilizing transactions, short covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act.
Overallotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the
underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. Short covering transactions involve purchases of the securities
in the open market after the distribution is completed to cover short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession
from a dealer when the securities originally sold
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by the dealer are purchased in a
covering transaction to cover short positions. Those activities may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be. If
commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of the activities at any time.
If so indicated in a prospectus
supplement, we will authorize dealers acting as our agents to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase the securities from us at the public
offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on the date or dates
stated in the prospectus supplement. Each delayed delivery contract will be for an amount not less than, and the principal amount of the securities
sold pursuant to the delayed delivery contracts will not be less nor more than, the respective amounts stated in the prospectus
supplement.
Institutions with which delayed delivery
contracts, when authorized, may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and
charitable institutions and other institutions, but will in all cases be subject to our approval. Delayed delivery contracts will not be subject to any
conditions except (i) the purchase by an institution of the securities covered by its delayed delivery contract shall not at the time of delivery be
prohibited under the laws of any jurisdiction in the United States to which such institution is subject and (ii) if the offered securities are being
sold to underwriters, we shall have sold to such underwriters the total principal amount of the securities less the principal amount thereof covered by
delayed delivery contracts. A commission indicated in the prospectus supplement will be paid to agents and underwriters soliciting purchases of the
securities pursuant to delayed delivery contracts accepted by us. Agents and underwriters shall have no responsibility in respect of the delivery or
performance of delayed delivery contracts.
Certain of the underwriters, agents and
their affiliates may be customers of, engage in transactions with, and perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.
INCORPORATION BY
REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to incorporate by
reference certain information we file with the SEC. This permits us to disclose important information to you by referencing these filed documents. Any
information referenced this way is considered part of this prospectus, and any information filed with the SEC subsequent to this prospectus will
automatically be deemed to update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the following documents which have been filed with the
SEC.
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Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October
31, 2013; |
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Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended
January 31, 2014, April 30, 2014 and July 31, 2014; |
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Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on December 17, 2013 (both
reports filed on such date), March 31, 2014, and September 3, 2014; |
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The description of our common stock, which is registered under
Section 12 of the Exchange Act, contained in our Form 8-A, filed on March 12, 1997 with the SEC under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and including
any additional amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description; |
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The description of our Class A common stock, which is registered
under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, contained in our Form 8-A, filed on June 17, 1998, as amended by our Form 8-A/A filed on August 3, 1998 with the
SEC under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and including any additional amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such
description; |
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The description of our Series D Cumulative preferred stock, which
is registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, contained in our Form 8-A, filed on April 11, 2005 with |
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the SEC under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and including any
additional amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description; and |
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The description of our Series F Cumulative Redeemable preferred
stock, which is registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, contained in our Form 8-A, filed on October 22, 2012 with the SEC under Section 12(b)
of the Exchange Act and including any additional amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
We also incorporate by reference into
this prospectus all documents that we may subsequently file pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and prior to the filing
of a post-effective amendment terminating this registration statement, including all documents that we may file pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14
or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of first filing this registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of this registration statement,
provided, however, that we are not incorporating by reference any information furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K,
unless, and to the extent, specified in any such Current Report on Form 8-K. Any statement herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated herein by reference shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained
in any subsequently filed document which also is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement.
Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
prospectus.
We will provide without charge upon
written or oral request to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this prospectus is delivered, a copy of any or all of the
documents which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus (other than exhibits unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference
in such documents). Requests should be directed to Investor Relations, Urstadt Biddle Properties Inc., 321 Railroad Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830, or by
calling Investor Relations directly at (203) 863-8200.
The validity of the securities will be
passed upon for us by Miles & Stockbridge P.C., Baltimore, Maryland. Certain federal income tax matters will be passed upon by Baker & McKenzie
LLP, Chicago, Illinois.
Our consolidated financial statements
and related financial statement schedules for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2013 and October 31, 2012 and the effectiveness of our internal
control over financial reporting as of October 31, 2013 incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended October 31, 2013 have been audited by PKF OConnor Davies, a division of OConnor Davies, LLP, an independent registered public
accounting firm, as set forth in its report thereon, and have been incorporated herein in reliance on said report of such firm given on its authority
as experts in auditing and accounting in giving said report.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE
INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current
reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The reports, proxy statements and other information filed by us may be inspected without
charge at the public reference room of the SEC, which is located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain copies of all or any
part of the reports, proxy statements and other information from the public reference room, upon the payment of the prescribed fees. You may obtain
information on the operation of the public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains a web site at www.sec.gov that
contains reports, proxy statements and other information regarding registrants like us that file
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electronically with the SEC. You can
inspect the reports, proxy statements and other information on this website.
This prospectus, which constitutes part
of a registration statement on Form S-3 filed with the SEC, does not include all of the information, undertakings and exhibits included in such
registration statement. Copies of the full registration statement can be obtained from the SEC as indicated above, or from us.
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You should rely only on the information incorporated by
reference or provided in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. We have not, and the underwriter has not, authorized anyone to
provide you with different information. We are not, and the underwriter is not, making an offer of our securities in any jurisdiction where an offer or
sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the
accompanying prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date of this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or the document
incorporating by reference such information, as the case may be.
Prospectus Supplement
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Special Note
Regarding Forward-Looking Statements |
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S-i |
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Prospectus
Supplement Summary |
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S-1 |
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Risk Factors
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S-5 |
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Use of Proceeds
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Capitalization
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United States
Federal Income Tax Considerations |
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S-9 |
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Underwriting
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S-31 |
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Legal Matters
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S-35 |
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Experts
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S-35 |
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Where You Can
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S-35 |
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Documents
Incorporated by Reference |
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S-36 |
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Special Note
Regarding Forward-Looking Statements |
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1 |
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About this
Prospectus |
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1 |
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Our Company
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2 |
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Risk Factors
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2 |
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Certain Ratios
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3 |
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Use of Proceeds
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3 |
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Description of
Capital Stock |
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3 |
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Certain
Provisions of Our Charter and ByLaws, Maryland Law, Our Stockholder Rights Plan and Change of Control Agreements |
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United States
Federal Income Tax Considerations |
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Plan of
Distribution |
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53 |
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Incorporation by
Reference |
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54 |
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Legal Matters
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55 |
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Experts
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55 |
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Where You Can
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55 |
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This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of the Class A common stock
we are offering and certain other matters relating to us and our financial condition. The second part, the accompanying prospectus, provides more
general information about securities that we may offer from time to time, some of which may not apply to the Class A common stock we are offering
hereby. Generally, when we refer to the prospectus, we are referring to both parts of this document combined. This prospectus supplement adds, updates
and changes information contained in the accompanying prospectus. To the extent information contained in this prospectus supplement differs or varies
from the information contained in the accompanying prospectus or any document incorporated by reference, the information in this prospectus supplement
shall control.
2,500,000
Shares
Class A Common Stock
Deutsche Bank
Securities
Preliminary Prospectus Supplement
October 28, 2014