As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 16, 2010

Registration No. 333-158418

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Amendment No. 3

to

Form S-11

FOR REGISTRATION UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

OF SECURITIES OF CERTAIN REAL ESTATE COMPANIES

 

HEALTHCARE TRUST OF AMERICA, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its governing instruments)

 

The Promenade, Suite 440
16427 North Scottsdale Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
(480) 998-3478

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

Scott D. Peters
Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman
The Promenade, Suite 440
16427 North Scottsdale Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
(480) 998-3478

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)

 

Copies to:

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to public:  As soon as practicable after the effectiveness of the registration statement.

 

If any of the Securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, check the following box:  þ

 

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  o

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  o

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  o

 

If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, please check the following box.  o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

 

The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

This Pre-Effective Amendment No. 3 consists of the following:

 

1. The registrant’s prospectus dated March      , 2010, included herewith.

 

2. Supplement No. 1 dated March      , 2010, filed herewith, which will be delivered as an unattached document along with the prospectus dated March      , 2010.

 

3. Part II, included herewith.

 

4. Signatures, included herewith.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, MARCH 16, 2010

 

 

Maximum Offering of $2,200,000,000

 

We are a self-managed Maryland corporation formed to invest in a diversified portfolio of medical office buildings and healthcare-related facilities. We qualified and elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust, or REIT, for federal income tax purposes beginning with our taxable year ended December 31, 2007 and we intend to continue to be taxed as a REIT.

 

We commenced our initial public offering of shares of our common stock on September 20, 2006, which we refer to as our initial offering. As of March 12, 2010, we had raised gross offering proceeds of $1,448,044,000 from approximately 39,000 stockholders pursuant to our initial offering, which terminated on March 19, 2010. As of March 12, 2010, we had made 55 geographically diverse acquisitions comprising 184 buildings with approximately 7.5 million square feet of gross leasable area, in 21 states.

 

In this follow-on offering, we are offering to the public up to $2,000,000,000 in shares of our common stock in our primary offering for $10.00 per share and $200,000,000 in shares of our common stock to be issued pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan for $9.50 per share during our primary offering. We reserve the right to reallocate the shares of common stock we are offering between the primary offering and the distribution reinvestment plan.

 

This investment involves a high degree of risk. You should purchase these securities only if you can afford the complete loss of your investment. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 19 to read about risks you should consider before buying shares in our common stock. These risks include:

 

 

 

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Attorney General of the State of New York nor any other state securities regulator has approved or disapproved of these securities, passed on or endorsed the merits of this offering or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. The use of projections or forecasts in this offering is prohibited. Any representation to the contrary and any predictions, written or oral, as to the cash benefits or tax consequences you will receive from an investment in shares of our common stock is prohibited.

 

 

Our shares will be offered to investors on a best efforts basis through Realty Capital Securities, LLC, the dealer manager for this offering. The minimum initial investment is $1,000 ($2,500 for Tennessee residents), except for purchases by our existing stockholders, which may be in lesser amounts. We will sell shares until the earlier of March   , 2012, two years from this date of the prospectus, unless extended. If we extend beyond March   , 2012, we will supplement the prospectus accordingly.

 

The date of this prospectus is March   , 2010.

 

The shares we are offering are suitable only as a long-term investment for persons of adequate financial means. There currently is no public market for our shares. Therefore, it likely will be difficult for you to sell your shares and, if you are able to sell your shares, it is likely you would sell them at a substantial discount. You should not buy these shares if you need to sell them immediately, will need to sell them quickly in the future or cannot bear the loss of your entire investment.

 

In consideration of these factors, we have established suitability standards for all stockholders, including subsequent transferees. These suitability standards require that investors have either:

 

 

For purposes of determining suitability of an investor, in all cases net worth and liquid net worth should be calculated excluding the value of an investor’s home, home furnishings and automobiles.

 

Some states have established suitability standards different from those we have established. Shares will be sold only to investors in these states who meet the special suitability standards set forth below.

 

Alabama — Investors must represent that their liquid net worth equals at least 10 times their investment in this program and other similar programs and that they meet the above suitability standards.

 

California — Investors must have either: (i) a net worth of least $250,000; or (ii) an annual gross income of at least $85,000 and a net worth of at least $150,000. In addition, an investor’s investment in our common stock may not exceed 10.0% of that investor’s net worth.

 

Iowa — Investors must have either: (i) a net worth of least $350,000; or (ii) an annual gross income of at least $70,000 and a net worth of at least $100,000.

 

Kansas — It is recommended by the Office of the Kansas Securities Commissioner that Kansas investors not invest, in the aggregate, more than 10% of their liquid net worth in this and similar direct participation investments.

 

Kentucky, Michigan, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Tennessee — An investor’s investment in our common stock may not exceed 10.0% of that investor’s liquid net worth.

 

In the case of sales to fiduciary accounts (such as an individual retirement account, or IRA, Keogh Plan, or pension or profit sharing plan), these suitability standards must be met by the beneficiary, the fiduciary account or by the person who directly or indirectly supplied the funds for the purchase of the shares if that person is the fiduciary. In the case of gifts to minors, the suitability standards must be met by the custodian account or by the donor.

 

These suitability standards are intended to help ensure that, given the long-term nature of an investment in our shares, our investment objectives and the relative illiquidity of our shares, our shares are an appropriate investment for those of you who become stockholders. Each participating broker-dealer must make every reasonable effort to determine that the purchase of shares is a suitable and appropriate investment for each stockholder based on information provided by the stockholder in the subscription agreement or otherwise.

 

Each participating broker-dealer is required to maintain records of the information used to determine that an investment in shares is suitable and appropriate for each stockholder for a period of six years. Our subscription agreement requires you to represent that you meet the applicable suitability standards. We will not sell any shares to you unless you are able to make these representations.

 

The minimum initial investment is 100 shares ($1,000) ($2,500 for Tennessee residents), except for purchases by our existing stockholders, which may be in lesser amounts. In order to satisfy the minimum purchase requirements for retirement plans, unless otherwise prohibited by state law, a husband and wife may jointly contribute funds from their separate IRAs, provided that each such contribution is made in increments of $100. You should note that an investment in shares of our common stock will not, in itself, create a

retirement plan and that, in order to create a retirement plan, you must comply with all applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Internal Revenue Code.

 

The shares we are offering may not be offered, sold, transferred or delivered, directly or indirectly, to any “unacceptable investor.” “Unacceptable investor” means any person who is a:

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

Set forth below are some of the more frequently asked questions and answers relating to our structure, our management, our business and an offering of this type.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

earnings and profits, the distribution will be treated first as a tax-free return of capital, reducing the tax basis in your shares, and the amount of each distribution in excess of your tax basis in your shares will be taxable

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

 

Healthcare Trust of America, Inc.

 

Summary Risk Factors

	•	No public market exists for our common stock and therefore it will be difficult for you to sell your shares. If you are able to sell your shares, you would likely have to sell them at a substantial discount.
	•	Current dislocations in the credit markets and real estate markets could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and ability to pay distributions to stockholders.
	•	Our success depends to a significant degree upon the continued contributions of certain key personnel, each of whom would be difficult to replace. If we were to lose the benefit of the experience, efforts and abilities of one or more of these individuals, our operating results could suffer.
	•	The amount of distributions we may pay, if any, is uncertain. Due to the risks involved in the ownership of real estate and securities, there is no guarantee of any return on your investment in us and you may lose money.
	•	Under our charter, we are permitted to incur substantial debt, which could lead to an inability to pay distributions to our stockholders, or could decrease the value of your investment in the event that income on, or the value of, the property securing the debt falls.

	•	We have paid distributions from sources other than our cash flow from operations, including from the proceeds of our initial offering or from borrowed funds; if we pay future distributions from sources other than our cash flow from operations, we will have fewer funds for real estate investments and your overall return may be reduced. Our organizational documents do not establish a limit on the amount of net proceeds we may use to fund distributions.

	•	Distributions we pay to our stockholders may include a return of capital, which will lower your tax basis in our shares.
	•	There are limitations on the ownership, transferability and redemption of our shares which significantly limit the liquidity of an investment in shares of our common stock.
	•	You will not have the opportunity to evaluate the investments we intend to make with the proceeds from this offering prior to purchasing shares of our common stock.
	•	Our board of directors may change our investment objective without seeking stockholder approval.
	•	This is a “best efforts” offering and if we are unable to continue to raise substantial funds, then we will be limited in the number and type of investments we may make.
	•	The healthcare industry is heavily regulated, and new laws or regulations, changes to existing laws or regulations, loss of licensure or failure to obtain licensure could result in the inability of our tenants to make lease payments to us.
	•	If we do not remain qualified as a REIT, it would adversely affect our operations and our ability to make distributions to stockholders.

 

Investment Objectives

	•	to acquire quality properties that generate sustainable growth in cash flow from operations to pay regular cash distributions;
	•	to preserve, protect and return your capital contribution;
	•	to realize growth in the value of our investments upon our ultimate sale of such investments; and
	•	to be prudent, patient and deliberate, taking into account current real estate markets.

 

Our Board of Directors and Executive Officers

 

Our Dealer Manager

 

Targeted Investments

 

Our Operating Partnership

 

Our Structure

1		Our former advisor owns less than a 0.01% interest in our company and in our operating partnership.

 

Cost Structure

	•	selling commissions equal to 7.0% of our gross offering proceeds;

	•	marketing support fees equal to 2.5% of our gross offering proceeds;

	•	acquisition fees (1) prior to the amendment of the advisory agreement, 3.0% of the contract purchase price for acquired properties and (2) after the amendment of the advisory agreement, ranging from 2.5% to 1.5% with an expected average of 2.25% of the contract purchase price of acquired properties;

	•	asset management fees (1) prior to the amendment of the advisory agreement, 1.0% of our average invested assets and (2) after the amendment of our advisory agreement, 0.5% of our average invested assets;

	•	property management fees equal to 4.0% of gross cash receipts from each property our former advisor managed directly and up to 1.0% of gross cash receipts from each property managed directly by other entities; and

	•	disposition fees of up to the lesser of 1.75% of the contract sales price or 50% of a customary competitive real estate commission.

 

Management Incentive Plan

 

Distributions

 

Distribution Policy

 

Distribution Reinvestment Plan

 

Borrowing Policy

 

Liquidity Events

 

Share Repurchase Plan

	•	for stockholders who have continuously held their shares for at least one year, the lower of $9.25 or 92.5% of the price paid to acquire shares from us;
	•	for stockholders who have continuously held their shares for at least two years, the lower of $9.50 or 95.0% of the price paid to acquire shares from us;
	•	for stockholders who have continuously held their shares for at least three years, the lower of $9.75 or 97.5% of the price paid to acquire shares from us; and
	•	for stockholders who have continuously held their shares for at least four years, a price determined by our board of directors, but in no event less than 100% of the price paid to acquire shares from us.

 

Market Outlook

 

Employee Benefit Plan and IRA Considerations

 

Restrictions on Share Ownership

 

About this Prospectus

 

Your purchase of shares of our common stock involves a number of risks. In addition to other risks discussed in this prospectus, you should specifically consider the following risks before you decide to buy shares of our common stock.

 

There is currently no public market for shares of our common stock. Therefore, it will be difficult for you to sell your shares and, if you are able to sell your shares, you will likely sell them at a substantial discount.

 

There currently is no public market for shares of our common stock. We do not expect a public market for our stock to develop prior to the listing of our shares on a national securities exchange, which we do not expect to occur in the near future and which may not occur at all. Additionally, our charter contains restrictions on the ownership and transfer of our shares, and these restrictions may inhibit your ability to sell your shares. We have adopted a share repurchase plan but it is limited in terms of the amount of shares which may be repurchased annually. Our board of directors may also limit, suspend, terminate or amend our share repurchase plan upon 30 days’ notice. Therefore, it will be difficult for you to sell your shares promptly or at all. If you are able to sell your shares, you may only be able to sell them at a substantial discount from the price you paid. This may be the result, in part, of the fact that, at the time we make our investments, the amount of funds available for investment will be reduced by up to 11.5% of the gross offering proceeds which will be used to pay selling commissions and the dealer manager fee and organizational and offering expenses. We will also be required to use gross offering proceeds to pay acquisition expenses. Unless our aggregate investments increase in value to compensate for these fees and expenses, which may not occur, it is unlikely that you will be able to sell your shares, whether pursuant to our share repurchase plan or otherwise, without incurring a substantial loss. We cannot assure you that your shares will ever appreciate in value to equal the price you paid for your shares. Thus, prospective stockholders should consider the purchase of shares of our common stock as illiquid and a long-term investment, and you must be prepared to hold your shares for an indefinite length of time. Please see “Description of Capital Stock — Restriction on Ownership of Shares” for a more complete discussion on certain restrictions regarding your ability to transfer your shares.

 

We may not have sufficient cash available from operations to pay distributions, and, therefore, distributions may include a return of capital.

 

Distributions payable to stockholders may include a return of capital, rather than a return on capital. We expect to continue to make monthly distributions to our stockholders. The actual amount and timing of distributions will be determined by our board of directors in its discretion and typically will depend on the amount of funds available for distribution, which will depend on items such as current and projected cash requirements and tax considerations. As a result, our distribution rate and payment frequency may vary from time to time. We may not have sufficient cash available from operations to pay distributions required to maintain our status as a REIT and may need to use proceeds from this offering or borrowed funds to make such cash distributions. Additionally, if the aggregate amount of cash distributed in any given year exceeds the amount of our “REIT taxable income” generated during the year, the excess amount will be deemed a return of capital, which will decrease your tax basis in your investment in shares of our common stock. Our organizational documents do not establish a limit on the amount of net proceeds we may use to fund distributions.

 

We may not have sufficient cash available from operations to pay distributions, and, therefore, distributions may be paid, without limitation, with offering proceeds or borrowed funds.

 

The amount of the distributions we make to our stockholders will be determined by our board of directors and is dependent on a number of factors, including funds available for payment of distributions, our financial condition, capital expenditure requirements and annual distribution requirements needed to maintain our status as a REIT. We have and may continue to use, without limitation, proceeds from the initial offering and this

offering in order to pay distributions, which reduces the amount of proceeds available for investment and operations. If we were to use borrowed funds to pay distributions it could also cause us to incur additional interest expense.

 

On February 14, 2007, our board of directors approved a 7.25% per annum, or $0.725 per common share, distribution to be paid to our stockholders beginning with our February 2007 monthly distribution, which was paid in March 2007, and we continued to pay distributions at that rate through March 2010. It is our intent to continue to pay distributions. However, we cannot guarantee the amount of distributions paid in the future, if any. If distributions are in excess of our taxable income, such distributions will result in a return of capital to our stockholders. For the year ended December 31, 2009, we paid distributions of $78,059,000 ($39,499,000 in cash and $38,559,000 in shares of our common stock pursuant to the DRIP), as compared to cash flows from operations of $21,001,000. The $56,128,000 in distributions paid in excess of our cash flow from operations, or 71.9%, were paid using proceeds from our initial offering.

 

As of March 12, 2010, we had made 55 geographically diverse acquisitions and have identified a limited number of additional properties to acquire with the net proceeds we will receive from this offering, and stockholders are therefore unable to evaluate the economic merits of most of our future investments prior to purchasing shares of our common stock.

 

As of March 12, 2010, we have made 55 geographically diverse acquisitions with the net proceeds from our initial offering. As of March 12, 2010, we have identified a limited number of additional potential properties to acquire with the net proceeds we will receive from our offerings. Other than these 55 geographically diverse acquisitions, our stockholders are unable to evaluate the manner in which the net proceeds are invested and the economic merits of our future investments prior to purchasing shares of our common stock. Additionally, our stockholders do not have the opportunity to evaluate the transaction terms or other financial or operational data concerning other investment properties or other real estate related assets.

 

Our operations have resulted in net losses to date, which makes our future performance and the performance of an investment in our shares difficult to predict.

 

For the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009, our operations resulted in a net loss of approximately $7.67 million, $28.45 million and $25.08 million, respectively. The decrease in net loss for the year ended December 31, 2009 as compared to December 31, 2008 is primarily due to an increase in total depreciation and amortization, acquisition expenses and an increase in net expenses on our indebtedness offset by a gain on derivatives. The increase in net loss for the year ended December 31, 2008 as compared to December 31, 2007 is primarily due to an increase in total depreciation and amortization, and an increase in net expenses on our indebtedness. Our net losses have increased substantially from December 31, 2007 to December 31, 2008, and have slightly decreased for the year ended December 31, 2009. Our net losses may increase in the future. Our net losses increase the risk and uncertainty investors face in making an investment in our shares, including risks related to our ability to pay future distributions.

 

If we are unable to find suitable investments, we may not be able to achieve our investment objectives.

 

You must rely on us to evaluate our investment opportunities, and we may not be able to achieve our investment objectives or may make unwise decisions. We cannot assure you that acquisitions of real estate or other real estate related assets made using the proceeds of this offering will produce a return on our investment or will generate cash flow to enable us to make distributions to our stockholders.

 

We face competition for the acquisition of medical office buildings and other healthcare-related facilities, which may impede our ability to make future acquisitions or may increase the cost of these acquisitions.

 

We compete with many other entities engaged in real estate investment activities for acquisitions of medical office buildings and healthcare-related facilities, including national, regional and local operators, acquirers and developers of healthcare real estate properties. The competition for healthcare real estate properties may significantly increase the price we must pay for medical office buildings and healthcare-related

facilities or other real estate related assets we seek to acquire and our competitors may succeed in acquiring those properties or assets themselves. In addition, our potential acquisition targets may find our competitors to be more attractive because they may have greater resources, may be willing to pay more for the properties or may have a more compatible operating philosophy. In particular, larger healthcare REITs may enjoy significant competitive advantages that result from, among other things, a lower cost of capital and enhanced operating efficiencies. In addition, the number of entities and the amount of funds competing for suitable investment properties may increase. This competition will result in increased demand for these assets and therefore increased prices paid for them. Because of an increased interest in single-property acquisitions among tax-motivated individual purchasers, we may pay higher prices if we purchase single properties in comparison with portfolio acquisitions. If we pay higher prices for medical office buildings and healthcare-related facilities, our business, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to make distributions to you may be materially and adversely affected.

 

You may be unable to sell your shares because your ability to have your shares repurchased pursuant to our share repurchase plan is subject to significant restrictions and limitations.

 

Even though our share repurchase plan may provide you with a limited opportunity to sell your shares to us after you have held them for a period of one year or in the event of death or qualifying disability, you should be fully aware that our share repurchase plan contains significant restrictions and limitations. Further, our board may limit, suspend, terminate or amend any provision of the share repurchase plan upon 30 days’ notice. Repurchases of shares, when requested, will generally be made quarterly. Repurchases will be limited to: (1) those that could be funded from the net proceeds from the sale of shares under the DRIP in the prior 12 months plus any additional amounts set aside by our board of directors for such purpose, and (2) 5.0% of the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the prior calendar year. In addition, you must present at least 25.0% of your shares for repurchase and until you have held your shares for at least four years, repurchases will be made for less than you paid for your shares. Therefore, in making a decision to purchase shares of our common stock, you should not assume that you will be able to sell any of your shares back to us pursuant to our share repurchase plan at any particular time or at all. Please see “Description of Capital Stock — Share Repurchase Plan” for more information regarding our share repurchase plan.

 

This is a “best efforts” offering and if we are unable to raise substantial proceeds in this offering, we will be limited in the number and type of investments we may make, which will result in a less diversified portfolio.

 

This offering is being made on a “best efforts” basis, whereby our dealer manager and the broker-dealers participating in the offering are only required to use their best efforts to sell our shares and have no firm commitment or obligation to purchase any of the shares. As a result, if we are unable to raise substantial proceeds in this offering, we will have limited diversification in terms of the number of investments owned, the geographic regions in which our investments are located and the types of investments that we make. Your investment in our shares will be subject to greater risk to the extent that we lack a diversified portfolio of investments. In such event, the likelihood of our profitability being affected by the poor performance of any single investment will increase.

 

This is a fixed price offering and the fixed offering price may not accurately represent the current value of our assets at any particular time. Therefore the purchase price you paid for shares of our common stock may be higher than the value of our assets per share of our common stock at the time of your purchase.

 

This is a fixed price offering, which means that the offering price for shares of our common stock is fixed and will not vary based on the underlying value of our assets at any time during this offering. The offering price for shares of our common stock during this offering is the same price as shares of our common stock during our initial offering. Our board of directors arbitrarily determined the offering price in its sole discretion. The fixed offering price for shares of our common stock has not been based on appraisals for any assets we may own nor do we intend to obtain such appraisals. Therefore, the fixed offering price established

for shares of our common stock may not accurately represent the current value of our assets per share of our common stock at any particular time and may be higher or lower than the actual value of our assets per share at such time.

 

Payments to our former advisor related to its subordinated participation interest in our operating partnership will reduce cash available for distribution to our stockholders.

 

Our former advisor may have certain rights, subject to a number of conditions, to a subordinated participation interest in our operating partnership, pursuant to which it may be entitled to receive distributions upon the occurrence of certain events, including in connection with dispositions of our assets, certain mergers of our company with another company or the listing of our common stock on a national securities exchange. The distribution, if payable to our former advisor, will equal or approximate 15.0% of the net proceeds from the sale of our properties only after we have made distributions to our stockholders of the total amount raised from stockholders in the initial offering (less amounts paid to repurchase shares through our share repurchase plan) plus an annual 8.0% cumulative, non-compounded return on average invested capital raised in the initial offering. Any distributions to our former advisor by our operating partnership upon dispositions of our assets and such other events will reduce cash available for distribution to our stockholders.

 

We presently intend to effect a liquidity event by September 20, 2013; however, we cannot assure you that we will effect a liquidity event by such time or at all. If we do not effect a liquidity event, it will be very difficult for you to have liquidity for your investment in shares of our common stock.

 

On a limited basis, you may be able to sell shares through our share repurchase plan. However, in the future we may also consider various forms of liquidity events, including but not limited to (1) the listing of shares of our common stock on a national securities exchange, (2) our sale or merger in a transaction that provides our stockholders with a combination of cash and/or securities of a publicly traded company, and (3) the sale of all or substantially all of our real property for cash or other consideration. We presently intend to effect a liquidity event by September 20, 2013. However, we cannot assure you that we will effect a liquidity event within such time or at all. If we do not effect a liquidity event, it will be very difficult for you to have liquidity for your investment in shares of our common stock other than limited liquidity through our share repurchase plan.

 

Because a portion of the offering price from the sale of shares is used to pay expenses and fees, the full offering price paid by stockholders is not invested in real estate investments. As a result, stockholders will only receive a full return of their invested capital if we either (1) sell our assets or our company for a sufficient amount in excess of the original purchase price of our assets, or (2) the market value of our company after we list our shares of common stock on a national securities exchange is substantially in excess of the original purchase price of our assets.

 

Continued volatility in the credit markets and real estate markets could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and ability to pay distributions to our stockholders.

 

Domestic and international financial markets currently are experiencing continued volatility which has been brought about in large part by failures in the U.S. banking system. This volatility has severely impacted the availability of credit and have contributed to rising costs associated with obtaining credit. If debt financing is not available on terms and conditions we find acceptable, we may not be able to obtain financing for investments. If this volatility in the credit markets persists, our ability to borrow monies to finance the purchase of, or other activities related to, properties and other real estate related assets will be negatively impacted. If we are unable to borrow monies on terms and conditions that we find acceptable, we likely will have to reduce the number of properties we can purchase, and the return on the properties we do purchase may be lower. In addition, we may find it difficult, costly or impossible to refinance indebtedness which is maturing. If interest rates are higher when the properties are refinanced, we may not be able to finance the properties and our income could be reduced. In addition, if we pay fees to lock-in a favorable interest rate,

falling interest rates or other factors could require us to forfeit these fees. All of these events would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and ability to pay distributions.

 

In addition to volatility in the credit markets, the real estate market is subject to fluctuation and can be impacted by factors such as general economic conditions, supply and demand, availability of financing and interest rates. To the extent we purchase real estate in an unstable market, we are subject to the risk that if the real estate market ceases to attract the same level of capital investment in the future that it attracts at the time of our purchases, or the number of companies seeking to acquire properties decreases, the value of our investments may not appreciate or may decrease significantly below the amount we pay for these investments.

 

Finally, the pervasive and fundamental disruptions that the global financial markets are currently undergoing have led to extensive and unprecedented governmental intervention. Although the government intervention is intended to stimulate the flow of capital and to undergird the U.S. economy in the short term, it is impossible to predict the actual effect of the government intervention and what effect, if any, additional interim or permanent governmental intervention may have on the financial markets and/or the effect of such intervention on us and our results of operations. In addition, there is a high likelihood that regulation of the financial markets will be significantly increased in the future, which could have a material impact on our operating results and financial condition.

 

We may suffer from delays in locating suitable investments, which could reduce our ability to make distributions to our stockholders and reduce your return on your investment.

 

There may be a substantial period of time before the proceeds of this offering are invested in additional suitable investments. Because we are conducting this offering on a “best efforts” basis over time, our ability to commit to purchase specific assets will also depend, in part, on the amount of proceeds we have received at a given time. If we are delayed or unable to find additional suitable investments, we may not be able to achieve our investment objectives or make distributions to you.

 

The availability and timing of cash distributions to our stockholders is uncertain.

 

We expect to make monthly distributions to our stockholders. However, we bear all expenses incurred in our operations, which are deducted from cash funds generated by operations prior to computing the amount of cash distributions to our stockholders. In addition, our board of directors, in its discretion, may retain any portion of such funds for working capital. We cannot assure you that sufficient cash will be available to make distributions to you or that the amount of distributions will increase over time. Should we fail for any reason to distribute at least 90.0% of our REIT taxable income, we would not qualify for the favorable tax treatment accorded to REITs.

 

We may structure acquisitions of property in exchange for limited partnership units in our operating partnership on terms that could limit our liquidity or our flexibility.

 

We may acquire properties by issuing limited partnership units in our operating partnership in exchange for a property owner contributing property to the partnership. If we enter into such transactions, in order to induce the contributors of such properties to accept units in our operating partnership, rather than cash, in exchange for their properties, it may be necessary for us to provide them additional incentives. For instance, our operating partnership’s limited partnership agreement provides that any holder of units may exchange limited partnership units on a one-for-one basis for shares of our common stock, or, at our option, cash equal to the value of an equivalent number of our shares. We may, however, enter into additional contractual arrangements with contributors of property under which we would agree to repurchase a contributor’s units for shares of our common stock or cash, at the option of the contributor, at set times. If the contributor required us to repurchase units for cash pursuant to such a provision, it would limit our liquidity and thus our ability to use cash to make other investments, satisfy other obligations or make distributions to stockholders. Moreover, if we were required to repurchase units for cash at a time when we did not have sufficient cash to fund the repurchase, we might be required to sell one or more properties to raise funds to satisfy this obligation. Furthermore, we might agree that if distributions the contributor received as a limited partner in our operating

partnership did not provide the contributor with a defined return, then upon redemption of the contributor’s units we would pay the contributor an additional amount necessary to achieve that return. Such a provision could further negatively impact our liquidity and flexibility. Finally, in order to allow a contributor of a property to defer taxable gain on the contribution of property to our operating partnership, we might agree not to sell a contributed property for a defined period of time or until the contributor exchanged the contributor’s units for cash or shares. Such an agreement would prevent us from selling those properties, even if market conditions made such a sale favorable to us.

 

Our success may be hampered by the current slow down in the real estate industry.

 

Our business is sensitive to trends in the general economy, as well as the commercial real estate and credit markets. The current macroeconomic environment and accompanying credit crisis has negatively impacted the value of commercial real estate assets, contributing to a general slow down in our industry, which may continue through 2010 and beyond. A prolonged and pronounced recession could continue or accelerate the reduction in overall transaction volume and size of sales and leasing activities that we have already experienced, and would continue to put downward pressure on our revenues and operating results. To the extent that any decline in our revenues and operating results impacts our performance, our results of operations, financial condition and ability to pay distributions to our stockholders could also suffer.

 

Our results of operations, our ability to pay distributions to our stockholders and our ability to dispose of our investments are subject to international, national and local economic factors we cannot control or predict.

 

Our results of operations are subject to the risks of an international or national economic slow down or downturn and other changes in international, national and local economic conditions. The following factors may affect income from our properties, our ability to acquire and dispose of properties, and yields from our properties:

 

 

The length and severity of any economic slow down or downturn cannot be predicted. Our results of operations, our ability to pay distributions to our stockholders and our ability to dispose of our investments may be negatively impacted to the extent an economic slowdown or downturn is prolonged or becomes more severe.

 

The failure of any bank in which we deposit our funds could reduce the amount of cash we have available to pay distributions and make additional investments.

 

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or FDIC, will only insure amounts up to $250,000 per depositor per insured bank through December 31, 2013. Beginning January 14, 2014, the FDIC will only insure up to $100,000 per depositor per bank. We currently have cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash deposited in certain financial institutions in excess of federally insured levels. If any of the banking institutions in which we have deposited funds ultimately fail, we may lose any amount of our deposits over any federally-insured amounts. The loss of our deposits could reduce the amount of cash we have available to distribute or invest and could result in a decline in the value of our stockholders’ investment.

 

Our success depends to a significant degree upon the continued contributions of certain key personnel, each of whom would be difficult to replace. If we were to lose the benefit of the experience, efforts and abilities of one or more of these individuals, our operating results could suffer.

 

As a self-managed company, our ability to achieve our investment objectives and to pay distributions is increasingly dependent upon the performance of our board of directors, Scott D. Peters as our Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Board, Kellie S. Pruitt as our Chief Accounting Officer, Treasurer and Secretary, Mark Engstrom as our Executive Vice President — Acquisitions, and our other employees, in the identification and acquisition of investments, the determination of any financing arrangements, the asset management of our investments and operation of our day-to-day activities. You will have no opportunity to evaluate the terms of transactions or other economic or financial data concerning our investments that are not described in this prospectus or other periodic filings with the SEC. We rely primarily on the management ability of our Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers and the governance of our board of directors, each of whom would be difficult to replace. We do not have any key man life insurance on Messrs. Peters, Engstrom or Ms. Pruitt. We have entered into employment agreements with each of Messrs. Peters, Engstrom and Ms. Pruitt; however, the employment agreements contain various termination rights. If we were to lose the benefit of their experience, efforts and abilities, our operating results could suffer. In addition, if any member of our board of directors were to resign, we would lose the benefit of such director’s governance and experience. As a result of the foregoing, we may be unable to achieve our investment objectives or to pay distributions to our stockholders.

 

The subordinated incentive payments or subordinated distributions payable to certain members of our management team and directors, as applicable, will reduce cash available for distribution to our stockholders.

 

Certain members of our management team and directors will hold the right to receive subordinated incentive payments or subordinated distributions, as applicable, upon the occurrence of certain events, such as in connection with dispositions of certain of our assets or the listing of our common stock on a national securities exchange. Any incentive payments or distributions to members of our management team or directors upon dispositions of our assets or a listing will reduce cash available for distribution to our stockholders. In addition, we bear all of the risk associated with the properties but, as a result of these subordinated incentive payments and distributions, we are not entitled to all of the proceeds from a property sale.

The subordinated incentive payments or subordinated distributions that may become payable to certain members of our management team and directors, as applicable, may influence our decisions about dispositions of our investments or the listing of our shares of our common stock on a national securities exchange.

 

We may be required to make subordinated incentive payments or subordinated distributions to certain members of our management team and directors, as applicable, upon the sale of certain of our assets or the listing of our shares of our common stock on a national securities exchange, if the performance thresholds for stockholder returns required for each are met. As a result of the requirements to make these subordinated incentive payments or subordinated distributions, our independent directors may determine that it is not the best interest of our stockholders to sell certain assets or list our shares of our common stock, even though, but for the requirement to make these payments or distributions, such sale or listing would be in the best interest of our stockholders. The requirement to make these incentive payments and distributions could influence the decision-making of our independent directors with respect to investments or dispositions or listing our shares of common stock on a national securities exchange.

 

We may issue preferred stock or other classes of common stock, which issuance could adversely affect the holders of our common stock issued pursuant to this offering.

 

Investors in this offering do not have preemptive rights to any shares issued by us in the future. We may issue, without stockholder approval, preferred stock or other classes of common stock with rights that could dilute the value of your shares of our common stock. Our charter authorizes us to issue 1,200,000,000 shares of capital stock, of which 1,000,000,000 shares of capital stock are designated as common stock and 200,000,000 shares of capital stock are designated as preferred stock. Our board of directors may amend our charter to increase the aggregate number of authorized shares of capital stock or the number of authorized shares of capital stock of any class or series without stockholder approval. If we ever created and issued preferred stock with a distribution preference over our common stock, payment of any distribution preferences of outstanding preferred stock would reduce the amount of funds available for the payment of distributions on our common stock. Further, holders of preferred stock are normally entitled to receive a preference payment in the event we liquidate, dissolve or wind up before any payment is made to our common stockholders, likely reducing the amount our common stockholders would otherwise receive upon such an occurrence. In addition, under certain circumstances, the issuance of preferred stock or a separate class or series of common stock may render more difficult or tend to discourage:

 

 

Your ability to control our operations is severely limited.

 

Our board of directors determines our major strategies, including our strategies regarding investments, financing, growth, debt capitalization, REIT qualification and distributions. Our board of directors may amend or revise these and other strategies without a vote of the stockholders. Our charter sets forth the stockholder voting rights required to be set forth therein under the Statement of Policy Regarding Real Estate Investment Trusts adopted by the North American Securities Administrators Association, or the NASAA Guidelines. Under our charter and Maryland law, you will have a right to vote only on the following matters:

 

 

 

All other matters are subject to the discretion of our board of directors.

 

The limit on the percentage of shares of our common stock that any person may own may discourage a takeover or business combination that may have benefited our stockholders.

 

Our charter restricts the direct or indirect ownership by one person or entity to no more than 9.8% of the value of our then outstanding capital stock (which includes common stock and any preferred stock we may issue) and no more than 9.8% of the value or number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of our then outstanding common stock. This restriction may discourage a change of control of us and may deter individuals or entities from making tender offers for shares of our common stock on terms that might be financially attractive to stockholders or which may cause a change in our management. This ownership restriction may also prohibit business combinations that would have otherwise been approved by our board of directors and our stockholders. In addition to deterring potential transactions that may be favorable to our stockholders, these provisions may also decrease your ability to sell your shares of our common stock.

 

Our board of directors may change our investment objectives without seeking stockholder approval.

 

Our board of directors may change our investment objectives without seeking stockholder approval. Although our board of directors has fiduciary duties to our stockholders and intends only to change our investment objectives when our board of directors determines that a change is in the best interests of our stockholders, a change in our investment objectives could reduce our payment of cash distributions to our stockholders or cause a decline in the value of our investments.

 

Maryland law and our organizational documents limit your right to bring claims against our officers and directors.

 

Maryland law provides that a director will not have any liability as a director so long as he or she performs his or her duties in good faith, in a manner he or she reasonably believes to be in our best interests, and with the care that an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would use under similar circumstances. In addition, our charter provides that, subject to the applicable limitations set forth therein or under Maryland law, no director or officer will be liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages. Our charter also provides that we will generally indemnify our directors, and our officers for losses they may incur by reason of their service in those capacities unless: (1) their act or omission was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and was committed in bad faith or was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (2) they actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or (3) in the case of any criminal proceeding, they had reasonable cause to believe the act or omission was unlawful. Moreover, we have entered into separate indemnification agreements with each of our directors and some of our executive officers. As a result, we and our stockholders may have more limited rights against these persons than might otherwise exist under common law. In addition, we may be obligated to fund the defense costs incurred by these persons in some cases. However, our charter does provide that we may not indemnify our directors for any liability suffered by them or hold our directors harmless for any liability suffered by us unless (1) they have determined that the course of conduct that caused the loss or liability was in our best interests, (2) they were acting on our behalf or performing services for us, (3) the liability was not the result of negligence or misconduct by our non-independent directors, or gross negligence or willful misconduct by our independent directors and (4) the indemnification or agreement to hold harmless is recoverable only out of our net assets or the proceeds of insurance and not from our stockholders.

Certain provisions of Maryland law could restrict a change in control even if a change in control was in our stockholders’ interests.

 

Certain provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law applicable to us prohibit business combinations with:

 

 

These prohibitions last for five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder became an interested stockholder. Thereafter, any business combination with the interested stockholder must be recommended by our board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of at least 80.0% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of our outstanding shares of our voting stock and two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of shares of our voting stock other than shares held by the interested stockholder or by an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder. These requirements could have the effect of inhibiting a change in control even if a change in control were in our stockholders’ interest. These provisions of Maryland law do not apply, however, to business combinations that are approved or exempted by our board of directors prior to the time that someone becomes an interested stockholder. Our board of directors has adopted a resolution providing that any business combination between us and any other person is exempted from this statute, provided that such business combination is first approved by our board. This resolution, however, may be altered or repealed in whole or in part at any time.

 

Your investment return may be reduced if we are required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.

 

We are not registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or the Investment Company Act. If for any reason, we were required to register as an investment company, we would have to comply with a variety of substantive requirements under the Investment Company Act imposing, among other things:

 

 

We intend to continue to operate in such a manner that we will not be subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act. In order to maintain our exemption from regulation under the Investment Company Act, we must comply with technical and complex rules and regulations.

 

Specifically, so that we will not be subject to regulation as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, we intend to engage primarily in the business of investing in interests in real estate and to make these investments within one year after the offering ends. If we are unable to invest a significant portion of the proceeds of this offering in properties within one year of the termination of the offering, we may avoid being required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act by temporarily investing any unused proceeds in government securities with low returns. Investments in government securities likely would reduce the cash available for distribution to stockholders and possibly lower your returns.

 

In order to avoid coming within the application of the Investment Company Act, either as a company engaged primarily in investing in interests in real estate or under another exemption from the Investment Company Act, we may be required to impose limitations on our investment activities. In particular, we may limit the percentage of our assets that fall into certain categories specified in the Investment Company Act,

which could result in us holding assets we otherwise might desire to sell and selling assets we otherwise might wish to retain. In addition, we may have to acquire additional assets that we might not otherwise have acquired or be forced to forgo investment opportunities that we would otherwise want to acquire and that could be important to our investment strategy. In particular, we will monitor our investments in other real estate related assets to ensure continued compliance with one or more exemptions from “investment company” status under the Investment Company Act and, depending on the particular characteristics of those investments and our overall portfolio, we may be required to limit the percentage of our assets represented by real estate related assets.

 

If we were required to register as an investment company, our ability to enter into certain transactions would be restricted by the Investment Company Act. Furthermore, the costs associated with registration as an investment company and compliance with such restrictions could be substantial. In addition, registration under and compliance with the Investment Company Act would require a substantial amount of time on the part of our management, thereby decreasing the time they spend actively managing our investments. If we were required to register as an investment company but failed to do so, we would be prohibited from engaging in our business, and criminal and civil actions could be brought against us. In addition, our contracts would be unenforceable unless a court were to require enforcement, and a court could appoint a receiver to take control of us and liquidate our business.

 

Several potential events could cause your investment in us to be diluted, which may reduce the overall value of your investment.

 

Your investment in us could be diluted by a number of factors, including:

 

 

To the extent we issue additional equity interests after you purchase shares of our common stock in this offering, your percentage ownership interest in us will be diluted. In addition, depending upon the terms and pricing of any additional offerings and the value of our real properties and other real estate related assets, you may also experience dilution in the book value and fair market value of your shares.

 

Your interests may be diluted in various ways, which may reduce your returns.

 

Our board of directors is authorized, without your approval, to cause us to issue additional shares of our common stock or to raise capital through the issuance of preferred stock, options, warrants and other rights, on terms and for consideration as our board of directors in its sole discretion may determine, subject to certain restrictions in our charter in the instance of options and warrants. Any such issuance could result in dilution of the equity of our stockholders. Our board of directors may, in its sole discretion, authorize us to issue common stock or other equity or debt securities to: (1) persons from whom we purchase properties, as part or all of the purchase price of the property, or (2) our former advisor in lieu of cash payments required under the advisory agreement or other contract or obligation. Our board of directors, in its sole discretion, may determine the value of any common stock or other equity securities issued in consideration of properties or services provided, or to be provided, to us, except that while shares of our common stock are offered by us to the public, the public offering price of the shares of our common stock will be deemed their value.

You may not receive any profits resulting from the sale of one of our properties, or receive such profits in a timely manner, because we may provide financing to the purchaser of such property.

 

If we sell one of our properties during liquidation, you may experience a delay before receiving your share of the proceeds of such liquidation. In a forced or voluntary liquidation, we may sell our properties either subject to or upon the assumption of any then outstanding mortgage debt or, alternatively, may provide financing to purchasers. We may take a purchase money obligation secured by a mortgage as partial payment. We do not have any limitations or restrictions on our taking such purchase money obligations. To the extent we receive promissory notes or other property instead of cash from sales, such proceeds, other than any interest payable on those proceeds, will not be included in net sale proceeds until and to the extent the promissory notes or other property are actually paid, sold, refinanced or otherwise disposed of. In many cases, we will receive initial down payments in the year of sale in an amount less than the selling price and subsequent payments will be spread over a number of years. Therefore, you may experience a delay in the distribution of the proceeds of a sale until such time.

 

Changes in national, regional or local economic, demographic or real estate market conditions may adversely affect our results of operations and our ability to pay distributions to our stockholders or reduce the value of your investment.

 

We are subject to risks generally incident to the ownership of real property, including changes in national, regional or local economic, demographic or real estate market conditions. We are unable to predict future changes in national, regional or local economic, demographic or real estate market conditions. For example, a recession or rise in interest rates could make it more difficult for us to lease real properties or dispose of them. In addition, rising interest rates could also make alternative interest-bearing and other investments more attractive and therefore potentially lower the relative value of our existing real estate investments. These conditions, or others we cannot predict, may adversely affect our results of operations and our ability to pay distributions to our stockholders or reduce the value of your investment.

 

Some or all of our properties may incur vacancies, which may result in reduced revenue and resale value, a reduction in cash available for distribution and a diminished return on your investment.

 

Some or all of our properties may incur vacancies either by a default of tenants under their leases or the expiration or termination of tenant leases. If vacancies continue for a long period of time, we may suffer reduced revenues resulting in less cash distributions to our stockholders. In addition, the resale value of the property could be diminished because the market value of a particular property will depend principally upon the value of the leases of such property.

 

We are dependent on tenants for our revenue, and lease terminations could reduce our distributions to our stockholders.

 

The successful performance of our real estate investments is materially dependent on the financial stability of our tenants. Lease payment defaults by tenants would cause us to lose the revenue associated with such leases and could cause us to reduce the amount of distributions to our stockholders. If the property is subject to a mortgage, a default by a significant tenant on its lease payments to us may result in a foreclosure on the property if we are unable to find an alternative source of revenue to meet mortgage payments. In the event of a tenant default, we may experience delays in enforcing our rights as landlord and may incur substantial costs in protecting our investment and re-leasing our property. Further, we cannot assure you that we will be able to re-lease the property for the rent previously received, if at all, or that lease terminations will not cause us to sell the property at a loss.

 

We may incur additional costs in acquiring or re-leasing properties which could adversely affect the cash available for distribution to you.

 

We may invest in properties designed or built primarily for a particular tenant of a specific type of use known as a single-user facility. If the tenant fails to renew its lease or defaults on its lease obligations, we may not be able to readily market a single-user facility to a new tenant without making substantial capital improvements or incurring other significant re-leasing costs. We also may incur significant litigation costs in enforcing our rights as a landlord against the defaulting tenant. These consequences could adversely affect our revenues and reduce the cash available for distribution to you.

 

Uninsured losses relating to real estate and lender requirements to obtain insurance may reduce your returns.

 

There are types of losses relating to real estate, generally catastrophic in nature, such as losses due to wars, acts of terrorism, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, pollution or environmental matters, for which we do not intend to obtain insurance unless we are required to do so by mortgage lenders. If any of our properties incurs a casualty loss that is not fully covered by insurance, the value of our assets will be reduced by any such uninsured loss. In addition, other than any reserves we may establish, we have no source of funding to repair or reconstruct any uninsured damaged property, and we cannot assure you that any such sources of funding will be available to us for such purposes in the future. Also, to the extent we must pay unexpectedly large amounts for uninsured losses, we could suffer reduced earnings that would result in less cash to be distributed to stockholders. In cases where we are required by mortgage lenders to obtain casualty loss insurance for catastrophic events or terrorism, such insurance may not be available, or may not be available at a reasonable cost, which could inhibit our ability to finance or refinance our properties. Additionally, if we obtain such insurance, the costs associated with owning a property would increase and could have a material adverse effect on the net income from the property, and, thus, the cash available for distribution to our stockholders.

 

We may obtain only limited warranties when we purchase a property and would have only limited recourse in the event our due diligence did not identify any issues that lower the value of our property.

 

The seller of a property often sells such property in its “as is” condition on a “where is” basis and “with all faults,” without any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular use or purpose. In addition, purchase and sale agreements may contain only limited warranties, representations and indemnifications that will only survive for a limited period after the closing. The purchase of properties with limited warranties increases the risk that we may lose some or all of our invested capital in the property, as well as the loss of rental income from that property.

 

Terrorist attacks and other acts of violence or war may affect the markets in which we operate and have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and ability to pay distributions to you.

 

Terrorist attacks may negatively affect our operations and our stockholders’ investment. We may acquire real estate assets located in areas that are susceptible to attack. These attacks may directly impact the value of our assets through damage, destruction, loss or increased security costs. Although we may obtain terrorism insurance, we may not be able to obtain sufficient coverage to fund any losses we may incur. Risks associated with potential acts of terrorism could sharply increase the premiums we pay for coverage against property and casualty claims. Further, certain losses resulting from these types of events are uninsurable or not insurable at reasonable costs.

 

More generally, any terrorist attack, other act of violence or war, including armed conflicts, could result in increased volatility in, or damage to, the United States and worldwide financial markets and economy, all of which could adversely affect our tenants’ ability to pay rent on their leases or our ability to borrow money or issue capital stock at acceptable prices and have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and ability to pay distributions you.

Delays in the acquisition, development and construction of real properties may have adverse effects on our results of operations and returns to our stockholders.

 

Delays we encounter in the selection, acquisition and development of real properties could adversely affect your returns. Where properties are acquired prior to the start of constructions or during the early stages of construction, it will typically take several months to complete construction and rent available space. Therefore, you could suffer delays in the receipt of cash distributions attributable to those particular real properties. Delays in completion of construction could give tenants the right to terminate preconstruction leases for space at a newly developed project. We may incur additional risks when we make periodic progress payments or other advances to builders prior to completion of construction. Each of those factors could result in increased costs of a project or loss of our investment. In addition, we are subject to normal lease-up risks relating to newly constructed projects. Furthermore, the price we agree to for a real property will be based on our projections of rental income and expenses and estimates of the fair market value of real property upon completion of construction. If our projections are inaccurate, we may pay too much for a property.

 

Uncertain market conditions relating to the future disposition of properties could cause us to sell our properties at a loss in the future.

 

We intend to hold our various real estate investments until such time as we determine that a sale or other disposition appears to be advantageous to achieve our investment objectives. Our Chief Executive Officer and our board of directors may exercise their discretion as to whether and when to sell a property, and we will have no obligation to sell properties at any particular time. We generally intend to hold properties for an extended period of time, and we cannot predict with any certainty the various market conditions affecting real estate investments that will exist at any particular time in the future. Because of the uncertainty of market conditions that may affect the future disposition of our properties, we cannot assure you that we will be able to sell our properties at a profit in the future or at all. Additionally, we may incur prepayment penalties in the event we sell a property subject to a mortgage earlier than we otherwise had planned. Accordingly, the extent to which you will receive cash distributions and realize potential appreciation on our real estate investments will, among other things, be dependent upon fluctuating market conditions. Any inability to sell a property could adversely impact our ability to pay distributions to you.

 

We face possible liability for environmental cleanup costs and damages for contamination related to properties we acquire, which could substantially increase our costs and reduce our liquidity and cash distributions to stockholders.

 

Because we own and operate real estate, we are subject to various federal, state and local environmental laws, ordinances and regulations. Under these laws, ordinances and regulations, a current or previous owner or operator of real estate may be liable for the cost of removal or remediation of hazardous or toxic substances on, under or in such property. The costs of removal or remediation could be substantial. Such laws often impose liability whether or not the owner or operator knew of, or was responsible for, the presence of such hazardous or toxic substances. Environmental laws also may impose restrictions on the manner in which property may be used or businesses may be operated, and these restrictions may require substantial expenditures. Environmental laws provide for sanctions in the event of noncompliance and may be enforced by governmental agencies or, in certain circumstances, by private parties. Certain environmental laws and common law principles could be used to impose liability for release of and exposure to hazardous substances, including the release of asbestos-containing materials into the air, and third parties may seek recovery from owners or operators of real estate for personal injury or property damage associated with exposure to released hazardous substances. In addition, new or more stringent laws or stricter interpretations of existing laws could change the cost of compliance or liabilities and restrictions arising out of such laws. The cost of defending against these claims, complying with environmental regulatory requirements, conducting remediation of any contaminated property, or of paying personal injury claims could be substantial, which would reduce our liquidity and cash available for distribution to you. In addition, the presence of hazardous substances on a property or the failure to meet environmental regulatory requirements may materially impair our ability to use, lease or sell a property, or to use the property as collateral for borrowing.

 

Our property investments are geographically concentrated in certain states and subject to economic fluctuations in those states.

 

As of December 31, 2009, we had interests in ten consolidated properties located in Texas, which accounted for 16.9% of our total rental income, interests in two consolidated properties located in South Carolina, which accounted for 13.0% of our total rental income, and interests in five consolidated properties located in Arizona, which accounted for 12.2% of our total rental income. This rental income is based on contractual base rent from leases in effect as of December 31, 2009. Accordingly, there is a geographic concentration of risk subject to fluctuations in each state’s economy.

 

Certain of our properties may not have efficient alternative uses, so the loss of a tenant may cause us not to be able to find a replacement or cause us to spend considerable capital to adapt the property to an alternative use.

 

Some of the properties we seek to acquire are specialized medical facilities. If we or our tenants terminate the leases for these properties or our tenants lose their regulatory authority to operate such properties, we may not be able to locate suitable replacement tenants to lease the properties for their specialized uses. Alternatively, we may be required to spend substantial amounts to adapt the properties to other uses. Any loss of revenues or additional capital expenditures required as a result may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.

 

Our medical office buildings, healthcare-related facilities and tenants may be unable to compete successfully.

 

Our medical office buildings and healthcare-related facilities often face competition from nearby hospitals and other medical office buildings that provide comparable services. Some of those competing facilities are owned by governmental agencies and supported by tax revenues, and others are owned by nonprofit corporations and may be supported to a large extent by endowments and charitable contributions. These types of support are not available to our buildings.

 

Similarly, our tenants face competition from other medical practices in nearby hospitals and other medical facilities. Our tenants’ failure to compete successfully with these other practices could adversely affect their ability to make rental payments, which could adversely affect our rental revenues. Further, from time to time and for reasons beyond our control, referral sources, including physicians and managed care organizations, may change their lists of hospitals or physicians to which they refer patients. This could adversely affect our tenants’ ability to make rental payments, which could adversely affect our rental revenues.

 

Any reduction in rental revenues resulting from the inability of our medical office buildings and healthcare-related facilities and our tenants to compete successfully may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.

 

Our costs associated with complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act may reduce our cash available for distributions.

 

Our properties may be subject to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, or the ADA. Under the ADA, all places of public accommodation are required to comply with federal requirements related to access and use by disabled persons. The ADA has separate compliance requirements for “public accommodations” and “commercial facilities” that generally require that buildings and services be made accessible and available to people with disabilities. The ADA’s requirements could require removal of access barriers and could result in the imposition of injunctive relief, monetary penalties or, in some cases, an award of damages. We attempt to acquire properties that comply with the ADA or place the burden on the seller or other third party, such as a tenant, to ensure compliance with the ADA. However, we cannot assure you that we will be able to acquire properties or allocate responsibilities in this manner. If we cannot, our funds used for ADA compliance may reduce cash available for distributions and the amount of distributions to you.

Our real properties are subject to property taxes that may increase in the future, which could adversely affect our cash flow.

 

Our real properties are subject to real and personal property taxes that may increase as tax rates change and as the real properties are assessed or reassessed by taxing authorities. Some of our leases generally provide that the property taxes or increases therein are charged to the tenants as an expense related to the real properties that they occupy while other leases will generally provide that we are responsible for such taxes. In any case, as the owner of the properties, we are ultimately responsible for payment of the taxes to the applicable government authorities. If real property taxes increase, our tenants may be unable to make the required tax payments, ultimately requiring us to pay the taxes even if otherwise stated under the terms of the lease. If we fail to pay any such taxes, the applicable taxing authority may place a lien on the real property and the real property may be subject to a tax sale. In addition, we are generally responsible for real property taxes related to any vacant space.

 

Costs of complying with governmental laws and regulations related to environmental protection and human health and safety may be high.

 

All real property investments and the operations conducted in connection with such investments are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to environmental protection and human health and safety. Some of these laws and regulations may impose joint and several liability on customers, owners or operators for the costs to investigate or remediate contaminated properties, regardless of fault or whether the acts causing the contamination were legal.

 

Under various federal, state and local environmental laws, a current or previous owner or operator of real property may be liable for the cost of removing or remediating hazardous or toxic substances on such real property. Such laws often impose liability whether or not the owner or operator knew of, or was responsible for, the presence of such hazardous or toxic substances. In addition, the presence of hazardous substances, or the failure to properly remediate those substances, may adversely affect our ability to sell, rent or pledge such real property as collateral for future borrowings. Environmental laws also may impose restrictions on the manner in which real property may be used or businesses may be operated. Some of these laws and regulations have been amended so as to require compliance with new or more stringent standards as of future dates. Compliance with new or more stringent laws or regulations or stricter interpretation of existing laws may require us to incur material expenditures. Future laws, ordinances or regulations may impose material environmental liability. Additionally, our tenants’ operations, the existing condition of land when we buy it, operations in the vicinity of our real properties, such as the presence of underground storage tanks, or activities of unrelated third parties may affect our real properties. In addition, there are various local, state and federal fire, health, life-safety and similar regulations with which we may be required to comply, and which may subject us to liability in the form of fines or damages for noncompliance. In connection with the acquisition and ownership of our real properties, we may be exposed to such costs in connection with such regulations. The cost of defending against environmental claims, of any damages or fines we must pay, of compliance with environmental regulatory requirements or of remediating any contaminated real property could materially and adversely affect our business, lower the value of our assets or results of operations and, consequently, lower the amounts available for distribution to you.

 

Reductions in reimbursement from third party payors, including Medicare and Medicaid, could adversely affect the profitability of our tenants and hinder their ability to make rent payments to us.

 

Sources of revenue for our tenants may include the federal Medicare program, state Medicaid programs, private insurance carriers and health maintenance organizations, among others. Efforts by such payors to reduce healthcare costs will likely continue, which may result in reductions or slower growth in reimbursement for certain services provided by some of our tenants. In addition, the failure of any of our tenants to comply with various laws and regulations could jeopardize their ability to continue participating in Medicare, Medicaid and other government sponsored payment programs.

The healthcare industry continues to face various challenges, including increased government and private payor pressure on healthcare providers to control or reduce costs. It is possible that our tenants will continue to experience a shift in payor mix away from fee-for-service payors, resulting in an increase in the percentage of revenues attributable to managed care payors, and general industry trends that include pressures to control healthcare costs. Pressures to control healthcare costs and a shift away from traditional health insurance reimbursement to managed care plans have resulted in an increase in the number of patients whose healthcare coverage is provided under managed care plans, such as health maintenance organizations and preferred provider organizations. These changes could have a material adverse effect on the financial condition of some or all of our tenants. The financial impact on our tenants could restrict their ability to make rent payments to us, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.

 

The healthcare industry is heavily regulated and currently there is pending legislation on healthcare reform. New laws or regulations, the current pending legislation, changes to existing laws or regulations, loss of licensure or failure to obtain licensure could result in the inability of our tenants to make rent payments to us.

 

The healthcare industry is heavily regulated by federal, state and local governmental bodies. Our tenants generally are subject to laws and regulations covering, among other things, licensure, certification for participation in government programs, and relationships with physicians and other referral sources. Changes in these laws and regulations could negatively affect the ability of our tenants to make lease payments to us and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.

 

Many of our medical properties and their tenants may require a license or certificate of need, or CON, to operate. Failure to obtain a license or CON, or loss of a required license or CON would prevent a facility from operating in the manner intended by the tenant. These events could materially adversely affect our tenants’ ability to make rent payments to us. State and local laws also may regulate expansion, including the addition of new beds or services or acquisition of medical equipment, and the construction of healthcare- related facilities, by requiring a CON or other similar approval. State CON laws are not uniform throughout the United States and are subject to change. We cannot predict the impact of state CON laws on our development of facilities or the operations of our tenants.

 

In addition, state CON laws often materially impact the ability of competitors to enter into the marketplace of our facilities. The repeal of CON laws could allow competitors to freely operate in previously closed markets. This could negatively affect our tenants’ abilities to make rent payments to us.

 

In limited circumstances, loss of state licensure or certification or closure of a facility could ultimately result in loss of authority to operate the facility and require new CON authorization to re-institute operations. As a result, a portion of the value of the facility may be reduced, which would adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.

 

Some tenants of our medical office buildings and healthcare-related facilities are subject to fraud and abuse laws, the violation of which by a tenant may jeopardize the tenant’s ability to make rent payments to us.

 

There are various federal and state laws prohibiting fraudulent and abusive business practices by healthcare providers who participate in, receive payments from or are in a position to make referrals in connection with government-sponsored healthcare programs, including the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Our lease arrangements with certain tenants may also be subject to these fraud and abuse laws.

 

These laws include:

 

 

 

Each of these laws includes criminal and/or civil penalties for violations that range from punitive sanctions, damage assessments, penalties, imprisonment, denial of Medicare and Medicaid payments and/or exclusion from the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Certain laws, such as the False Claims Act, allow for individuals to bring whistleblower actions on behalf of the government for violations thereof. Additionally, states in which the facilities are located may have similar fraud and abuse laws. Investigation by a federal or state governmental body for violation of fraud and abuse laws or imposition of any of these penalties upon one of our tenants could jeopardize that tenant’s ability to operate or to make rent payments, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.

 

Adverse trends in healthcare provider operations may negatively affect our lease revenues and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.

 

The healthcare industry is currently experiencing:

 

 

These factors may adversely affect the economic performance of some or all of our healthcare-related tenants and, in turn, our lease revenues and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.

 

Our healthcare-related tenants may be subject to significant legal actions that could subject them to increased operating costs and substantial uninsured liabilities, which may affect their ability to pay their rent payments to us.

 

As is typical in the healthcare industry, our healthcare-related tenants may often become subject to claims that their services have resulted in patient injury or other adverse effects. Many of these tenants may have experienced an increasing trend in the frequency and severity of professional liability and general liability insurance claims and litigation asserted against them. The insurance coverage maintained by these tenants may not cover all claims made against them nor continue to be available at a reasonable cost, if at all. In some states, insurance coverage for the risk of punitive damages arising from professional liability and general liability claims and/or litigation may not, in certain cases, be available to these tenants due to state law prohibitions or limitations of availability. As a result, these types of tenants of our medical office buildings and healthcare-related facilities operating in these states may be liable for punitive damage awards that are either not covered or are in excess of their insurance policy limits. We also believe that there has been, and will continue to be, an increase in governmental investigations of certain healthcare providers, particularly in the area of Medicare/Medicaid false claims, as well as an increase in enforcement actions resulting from these

investigations. Insurance is not available to cover such losses. Any adverse determination in a legal proceeding or governmental investigation, whether currently asserted or arising in the future, could have a material adverse effect on a tenant’s financial condition. If a tenant is unable to obtain or maintain insurance coverage, if judgments are obtained in excess of the insurance coverage, if a tenant is required to pay uninsured punitive damages, or if a tenant is subject to an uninsurable government enforcement action, the tenant could be exposed to substantial additional liabilities, which may affect the tenant’s ability to pay rent, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.

 

We may experience adverse effects as a result of potential financial and operational challenges faced by the operators of our senior healthcare facilities.

 

Operators of our senior healthcare facilities may face operational challenges from potentially reduced revenue streams and increased demands on their existing financial resources. Our skilled nursing operators’ revenues are primarily derived from governmentally-funded reimbursement programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid. Accordingly, our facility operators are subject to the potential negative effects of decreased reimbursement rates offered through such programs. Our operators’ revenue may also be adversely affected as a result of falling occupancy rates or slow lease-ups for assisted and independent living facilities due to the recent turmoil in the capital debt and real estate markets. In addition, our facility operators may incur additional demands on their existing financial resources as a result of increases in senior healthcare operator liability, insurance premiums and other operational expenses. The economic deterioration of an operator could cause such operator to file for bankruptcy protection. The bankruptcy or insolvency of an operator may adversely affect the income produced by the property or properties it operates. Our financial position could be weakened and our ability to make distributions could be limited if any of our senior healthcare facility operators were unable to meet their financial obligations to us.

 

Our operators’ performance and economic condition may be negatively affected if they fail to comply with various complex federal and state laws that govern a wide array of referrals, relationships and licensure requirements in the senior healthcare industry. The violation of any of these laws or regulations by a senior healthcare facility operator may result in the imposition of fines or other penalties that could jeopardize that operator’s ability to make payment obligations to us or to continue operating its facility. In addition, legislative proposals are commonly being introduced or proposed in federal and state legislatures that could affect major changes in the senior healthcare sector, either nationally or at the state level. It is impossible to say with any certainty whether this proposed legislation will be adopted or, if adopted, what effect such legislation would have on our facility operators and our senior healthcare operations.

 

The unique nature of our senior healthcare properties may make it difficult to lease or transfer such properties and, as a result, may negatively affect our performance.

 

Senior healthcare facilities present unique challenges with respect to leasing and transferring the same. Skilled nursing, assisted living and independent living facilities are typically highly customized and may not be easily modified to accommodate non-healthcare-related uses. As a result, these property types may not be suitable for lease to traditional office tenants or other healthcare tenants with unique needs without significant expenditures or renovations. These renovation costs may materially adversely affect our revenues, results of operations and financial condition. Furthermore, because transfers of healthcare facilities may be subject to regulatory approvals not required for transfers of other types of property, there may be significant delays in transferring operations of senior healthcare facilities to successor operators. If we are unable to efficiently transfer our senior healthcare properties our revenues and operations may suffer.

 

Real estate related equity securities in which we may invest are subject to specific risks relating to the particular issuer of the securities and may be subject to the general risks of investing in subordinated real estate securities.

 

We may invest in the common and preferred stock of both publicly traded and private real estate companies, which involves a higher degree of risk than debt securities due to a variety of factors, including the fact that such investments are subordinate to creditors and are not secured by the issuer’s property. Our investments in real estate related equity securities will involve special risks relating to the particular issuer of the equity securities, including the financial condition and business outlook of the issuer. Issuers of real estate related common equity securities generally invest in real estate or other real estate related assets and are subject to the inherent risks associated with other real estate related assets discussed in this prospectus, including risks relating to rising interest rates.

 

The mortgage loans in which we may invest may be impacted by unfavorable real estate market conditions, which could decrease their value.

 

If we make additional investments in mortgage loans, we will be at risk of loss on those investments, including losses as a result of defaults on mortgage loans. These losses may be caused by many conditions beyond our control, including economic conditions affecting real estate values, tenant defaults and lease expirations, interest rate levels and the other economic and liability risks associated with real estate described above under the heading “— Risks Related to Investments in Real Estate.” If we acquire property by foreclosure following defaults under our mortgage loan investments, we will have the economic and liability risks as the owner described above. We do not know whether the values of the property securing any of our investments in other real estate related assets will remain at the levels existing on the dates we initially make the related investment. If the values of the underlying properties drop, our risk will increase and the values of our interests may decrease.

 

Delays in liquidating defaulted mortgage loan investments could reduce our investment returns.

 

If there are defaults under our mortgage loan investments, we may not be able to foreclose on or obtain a suitable remedy with respect to such investments. Specifically, we may not be able to repossess and sell the underlying properties quickly which could reduce the value of our investment. For example, an action to foreclose on a property securing a mortgage loan is regulated by state statutes and rules and is subject to many of the delays and expenses of lawsuits if the defendant raises defenses or counterclaims. Additionally, in the event of default by a mortgagor, these restrictions, among other things, may impede our ability to foreclose on or sell the mortgaged property or to obtain proceeds sufficient to repay all amounts due to us on the mortgage loan.

 

We expect a portion of our investments in other real estate related assets to be illiquid and we may not be able to adjust our portfolio in response to changes in economic and other conditions.

 

We may purchase other real estate related assets in connection with privately negotiated transactions which are not registered under the relevant securities laws, resulting in a prohibition against their transfer, sale, pledge or other disposition except in a transaction that is exempt from the registration requirements of, or is otherwise in accordance with, those laws. As a result, our ability to vary our portfolio in response to changes in economic and other conditions may be relatively limited.

 

Interest rate and related risks may cause the value of our investments in other real estate related assets to be reduced.

 

Interest rate risk is the risk that fixed income securities such as preferred and debt securities, and to a lesser extent dividend paying common stocks, will decline in value because of changes in market interest rates. Generally, when market interest rates rise, the market value of such securities will decline, and vice

versa. Our investment in such securities means that the net asset value and market price of the common shares may tend to decline if market interest rates rise.

 

During periods of rising interest rates, the average life of certain types of securities may be extended because of slower than expected principal payments. This may lock in a below-market interest rate, increase the security’s duration and reduce the value of the security. This is known as extension risk. During periods of declining interest rates, an issuer may be able to exercise an option to prepay principal earlier than scheduled, which is generally known as call or prepayment risk. If this occurs, we may be forced to reinvest in lower yielding securities. This is known as reinvestment risk. Preferred and debt securities frequently have call features that allow the issuer to repurchase the security prior to its stated maturity. An issuer may redeem an obligation if the issuer can refinance the debt at a lower cost due to declining interest rates or an improvement in the credit standing of the issuer. These risks may reduce the value of our investments in other real estate related assets.

 

If we liquidate prior to the maturity of our investments in real estate assets, we may be forced to sell those investments on unfavorable terms or at a loss.

 

Our board of directors may choose to effect a liquidity event in which we liquidate our assets, including our investments in other real estate related assets. If we liquidate those investments prior to their maturity, we may be forced to sell those investments on unfavorable terms or at loss. For instance, if we are required to liquidate mortgage loans at a time when prevailing interest rates are higher than the interest rates of such mortgage loans, we would likely sell such loans at a discount to their stated principal values.

 

We have and intend to incur mortgage indebtedness and other borrowings, which may increase our business risks, could hinder our ability to make distributions and could decrease the value of your investment.

 

We have and intend to continue to finance a portion of the purchase price of our investments in real estate and other real estate related assets by borrowing funds. We anticipate that, after an initial phase of our operations when we may employ greater amounts of leverage to enable us to purchase properties more quickly and therefore generate distributions for our stockholders sooner, our overall leverage will not exceed 60.0% of our properties’ and other real estate related assets’ combined fair market value of our assets. Under our charter, we have a limitation on borrowing which precludes us from borrowing in excess of 300.0% of the value of our net assets, without the approval of a majority of our independent directors. In addition, any excess borrowing must be disclosed to stockholders in our next quarterly report following the borrowing, along with justification for the excess. Net assets for purposes of this calculation are defined to be our total assets (other than intangibles), valued at cost prior to deducting depreciation or other non-case reserves, less total liabilities. Generally speaking, the preceding calculation is expected to approximate 75.0% of the sum of: (1) the aggregate cost of our real property investments before non-cash reserves and depreciation and (2) the aggregate cost of our investments in other real estate related assets. In addition, we may incur mortgage debt and pledge some or all of our real properties as security for that debt to obtain funds to acquire additional real properties or for working capital. We may also borrow funds to satisfy the REIT tax qualification requirement that we distribute at least 90.0% of our annual REIT taxable income to our stockholders. Furthermore, we may borrow if we otherwise deem it necessary or advisable to ensure that we maintain our qualification as a REIT for federal income tax purposes.

 

High debt levels will cause us to incur higher interest charges, which would result in higher debt service payments and could be accompanied by restrictive covenants. If there is a shortfall between the cash flow from a property and the cash flow needed to service mortgage debt on that property, then the amount available for distributions to our stockholders may be reduced. In addition, incurring mortgage debt increases the risk of loss since defaults on indebtedness secured by a property may result in lenders initiating foreclosure actions. In that case, we could lose the property securing the loan that is in default, thus reducing the value of your investment. For tax purposes, a foreclosure on any of our properties will be treated as a sale of the property

for a purchase price equal to the outstanding balance of the debt secured by the mortgage. If the outstanding balance of the debt secured by the mortgage exceeds our tax basis in the property, we will recognize taxable income on foreclosure, but we would not receive any cash proceeds. We may give full or partial guarantees to lenders of mortgage debt to the entities that own our properties. When we give a guaranty on behalf of an entity that owns one of our properties, we will be responsible to the lender for satisfaction of the debt if it is not paid by such entity. If any mortgage contains cross collateralization or cross default provisions, a default on a single property could affect multiple properties. If any of our properties are foreclosed upon due to a default, our ability to pay cash distributions to our stockholders will be adversely affected.

 

Higher mortgage rates may make it more difficult for us to finance or refinance properties, which could reduce the number of properties we can acquire and the amount of cash distributions we can make to our stockholders.

 

If mortgage debt is unavailable on reasonable terms as a result of increased interest rates or other factors, we may not be able to finance the initial purchase of properties. In addition, if we place mortgage debt on properties, we run the risk of being unable to refinance such debt when the loans come due, or of being unable to refinance on favorable terms. If interest rates are higher when we refinance debt, our income could be reduced. We may be unable to refinance debt at appropriate times, which may require us to sell properties on terms that are not advantageous to us, or could result in the foreclosure of such properties. If any of these events occur, our cash flow would be reduced. This, in turn, would reduce cash available for distribution to you and may hinder our ability to raise more capital by issuing securities or by borrowing more money.

 

Increases in interest rates could increase the amount of our debt payments and therefore negatively impact our operating results.

 

Interest we pay on our debt obligations reduces cash available for distributions. Whenever we incur variable rate debt, increases in interest rates would increase our interest costs, which would reduce our cash flows and our ability to make distributions to you. If we need to repay existing debt during periods of rising interest rates, we could be required to liquidate one or more of our investments in properties at times which may not permit realization of the maximum return on such investments.

 

Lenders may require us to enter into restrictive covenants relating to our operations, which could limit our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.

 

When providing financing, a lender may impose restrictions on us that affect our ability to incur additional debt and affect our distribution and operating policies. Loan documents we enter into may contain covenants that limit our ability to further mortgage the property or discontinue insurance coverage. These or other limitations may adversely affect our flexibility and our ability to achieve our investment objectives.

 

Hedging activity may expose us to risks.

 

To the extent that we use derivative financial instruments to hedge against interest rate fluctuations, we will be exposed to credit risk and legal enforceability risks. In this context, credit risk is the failure of the counterparty to perform under the terms of the derivative contract. If the fair value of a derivative contract is positive, the counterparty owes us, which creates credit risk for us. Legal enforceability risks encompass general contractual risks, including the risk that the counterparty will breach the terms of, or fail to perform its obligations under, the derivative contract. If we are unable to manage these risks effectively, our results of operations, financial condition and ability to pay distributions to you will be adversely affected.

 

If we enter into financing arrangements involving balloon payment obligations, it may adversely affect our ability to refinance or sell properties on favorable terms, and to make distributions to stockholders.

 

Some of our financing arrangements may require us to make a lump-sum or “balloon” payment at maturity. Our ability to make a balloon payment at maturity is uncertain and may depend upon our ability to obtain additional financing or our ability to sell the particular property. At the time the balloon payment is

due, we may or may not be able to refinance the balloon payment on terms as favorable as the original loan or sell the particular property at a price sufficient to make the balloon payment. The refinancing or sale could affect the rate of return to stockholders and the projected time of disposition of our assets. In an environment of increasing mortgage rates, if we place mortgage debt on properties, we run the risk of being unable to refinance such debt if mortgage rates are higher at a time a balloon payment is due. In addition, payments of principal and interest made to service our debts, including balloon payments, may leave us with insufficient cash to pay the distributions that we are required to pay to maintain our qualification as a REIT. Any of these results would have a significant, negative impact on your investment.

 

The terms of joint venture agreements or other joint ownership arrangements into which we have entered and may enter could impair our operating flexibility and our results of operations.

 

In connection with the purchase of real estate, we have entered and may continue to enter into joint ventures with third parties. We may also purchase or develop properties in co-ownership arrangements with the sellers of the properties, developers or other persons. These structures involve participation in the investment by other parties whose interests and rights may not be the same as ours. Our joint venture partners may have rights to take some actions over which we have no control and may take actions contrary to our interests. Joint ownership of an investment in real estate may involve risks not associated with direct ownership of real estate, including the following:

 

 

Under certain joint venture arrangements, neither venture partner may have the power to control the venture, and an impasse could occur, which might adversely affect the joint venture and decrease potential returns to you. If we have a right of first refusal or buy/sell right to buy out a venture partner, we may be unable to finance such a buy-out or we may be forced to exercise those rights at a time when it would not otherwise be in our best interest to do so. If our interest is subject to a buy/sell right, we may not have sufficient cash, available borrowing capacity or other capital resources to allow us to purchase an interest of a venture partner subject to the buy/sell right, in which case we may be forced to sell our interest when we would otherwise prefer to retain our interest. In addition, we may not be able to sell our interest in a joint venture on a timely basis or on acceptable terms if we desire to exit the venture for any reason, particularly if our interest is subject to a right of first refusal of our venture partner.

 

We may structure our joint venture relationships in a manner which may limit the amount we participate in the cash flow or appreciation of an investment.

 

We may enter into joint venture agreements, the economic terms of which may provide for the distribution of income to us otherwise than in direct proportion to our ownership interest in the joint venture. For example, while we and a co-venturer may invest an equal amount of capital in an investment, the investment may be structured such that we have a right to priority distributions of cash flow up to a certain target return while the co-venturer may receive a disproportionately greater share of cash flow than we are to receive once such target return has been achieved. This type of investment structure may result in the co-venturer receiving more of the cash flow, including appreciation, of an investment than we would receive. If

we do not accurately judge the appreciation prospects of a particular investment or structure the venture appropriately, we may incur losses on joint venture investments or have limited participation in the profits of a joint venture investment, either of which could reduce our ability to make cash distributions to our stockholders.

 

Failure to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes would subject us to federal income tax on our taxable income at regular corporate rates, which would substantially reduce our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.

 

We elected to be taxed as a REIT for federal income tax purposes beginning with our taxable year ended December 31, 2007 and we intend to continue to be taxed as a REIT. To qualify as a REIT, we must meet various requirements set forth in the Internal Revenue Code concerning, among other things, the ownership of our outstanding common stock, the nature of our assets, the sources of our income and the amount of our distributions to our stockholders. The REIT qualification requirements are extremely complex, and interpretations of the federal income tax laws governing qualification as a REIT are limited. Accordingly, we cannot be certain that we will be successful in operating so as to qualify as a REIT. At any time, new laws, interpretations or court decisions may change the federal tax laws relating to, or the federal income tax consequences of, qualification as a REIT. It is possible that future economic, market, legal, tax or other considerations may cause our board of directors to revoke our REIT election, which it may do without stockholder approval.

 

Although we have not requested, and do not expect to request, a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, that we qualify as a REIT, our counsel, Alston & Bird LLP, has delivered an opinion to us that, commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 2007 (the first year for which we elected to be taxed as a REIT), based on certain assumptions and representations, we have been organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code, and our proposed method of operation will enable us to continue to operate in conformity with the requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code.

 

The validity of the opinion of our counsel and of our qualification as a REIT will depend on our continuing ability to meet the various REIT requirements under the Internal Revenue Code and described herein. You should be aware, however, that opinions of counsel are not binding on the IRS or any court. The REIT qualification opinion only represents the view of our counsel based on its review and analysis of law existing at the time of the opinion and therefore could be subject to modification or withdrawal based on subsequent legislative, judicial or administrative changes to the federal income tax laws, any of which could be applied retroactively.

 

If we were to fail to qualify as a REIT for any taxable year, we would be subject to federal income tax on our taxable income at corporate rates. In addition, we would generally be disqualified from treatment as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year in which we lose our REIT status. Losing our REIT status would reduce our net earnings available for investment or distribution to stockholders because of the additional tax liability. In addition, distributions to stockholders would no longer be deductible in computing our taxable income, and we would no longer be required to make distributions. To the extent that distributions had been made in anticipation of our qualifying as a REIT, we might be required to borrow funds or liquidate some investments in order to pay the applicable corporate income tax. In addition, although we intend to operate in a manner intended to qualify as a REIT, it is possible that future economic, market, legal, tax or other considerations may cause our board of directors to recommend that we revoke our REIT election.

 

As a result of all these factors, our failure to qualify as a REIT could impair our ability to expand our business and raise capital, and would substantially reduce our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.

 

To continue to qualify as a REIT and to avoid the payment of federal income and excise taxes and maintain our REIT status, we may be forced to borrow funds, use proceeds from the issuance of

securities (including this offering), or sell assets to pay distributions, which may result in our distributing amounts that may otherwise be used for our operations.

 

To obtain the favorable tax treatment accorded to REITs, we normally will be required each year to distribute to our stockholders at least 90.0% of our real estate investment trust taxable income, determined without regard to the deduction for distributions paid and by excluding net capital gains. We will be subject to federal income tax on our undistributed taxable income and net capital gain and to a 4.0% nondeductible excise tax on any amount by which distributions we pay with respect to any calendar year are less than the sum of: (1) 85.0% of our ordinary income, (2) 95.0% of our capital gain net income and (3) 100% of our undistributed income from prior years. These requirements could cause us to distribute amounts that otherwise would be spent on acquisitions of properties and it is possible that we might be required to borrow funds, use proceeds from the issuance of securities (including this offering) or sell assets in order to distribute enough of our taxable income to maintain our REIT status and to avoid the payment of federal income and excise taxes.

 

If our operating partnership fails to maintain its status as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, its income would be subject to taxation and our REIT status would be terminated.

 

We intend to maintain the status of our operating partnership as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. However, if the IRS were to successfully challenge the status of our operating partnership as a partnership, it would be taxable as a corporation. In such event, this would reduce the amount of distributions that our operating partnership could make to us. This would also result in our losing REIT status and becoming subject to a corporate level tax on our own income. This would substantially reduce our cash available to pay distributions and the return on your investment. In addition, if any of the entities through which our operating partnership owns its properties, in whole or in part, loses its characterization as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, it would be subject to taxation as a corporation, thereby reducing distributions to our operating partnership. Such a recharacterization of our operating partnership or an underlying property owner could also threaten our ability to maintain our REIT status.

 

You may have a current tax liability on distributions you elect to reinvest in shares of our common stock.

 

If you participate in our distribution reinvestment plan, you will be deemed to have received, and for income tax purposes will be taxed on, the amount reinvested in shares of our common stock to the extent the amount reinvested was not a tax-free return of capital. As a result, unless you are a tax-exempt entity, you may have to use funds from other sources to pay your tax liability on the value of the common stock received.

 

Dividends paid by REITs do not qualify for the reduced tax rates that apply to other corporate dividends.

 

Tax legislation enacted in 2003 and 2006 generally reduces the maximum tax rate for qualified dividends paid by corporations to individuals to 15.0% through 2010. Dividends paid by REITs, however, generally continue to be taxed at the normal rate applicable to the individual recipient, rather than the 15.0% preferential rate. Although this legislation does not adversely affect the taxation of REITs or dividends paid by REITs, the more favorable rates applicable to regular corporate dividends could cause potential investors who are individuals to perceive investments in REITs to be relatively less attractive than investments in the stocks of non-REIT corporations that pay qualified dividends, which could adversely affect the value of the stock of REITs, including our common stock. See “Federal Income Tax Considerations — Taxation of Taxable U.S. Stockholders — Distributions Generally.”

 

In certain circumstances, we may be subject to federal and state income taxes as a REIT, which would reduce our cash available for distribution to you.

 

Even if we qualify and maintain our status as a REIT, we may be subject to federal income taxes or state taxes. For example, net income from a “prohibited transaction” will be subject to a 100% tax. We may not be able to make sufficient distributions to avoid excise taxes applicable to REITs. We may also decide to retain capital gains we earn from the sale or other disposition of our property and pay income tax directly on such income. In that event, our stockholders would be treated as if they earned that income and paid the tax on it

directly. However, our stockholders that are tax-exempt, such as charities or qualified pension plans, would have no benefit from their deemed payment of such tax liability. We may also be subject to state and local taxes on our income or property, either directly or at the level of the companies through which we indirectly own our assets. Any federal or state taxes we pay will reduce our cash available for distribution to you.

 

Distributions to tax-exempt stockholders may be classified as unrelated business taxable income.

 

Neither ordinary nor capital gain distributions with respect to our common stock nor gain from the sale of common stock should generally constitute unrelated business taxable income to a tax-exempt stockholder. However, there are certain exceptions to this rule. In particular:

 

 

See “Federal Income Tax Considerations — Treatment of Tax-Exempt Stockholders” section of this prospectus for further discussion of this issue if you are a tax-exempt investor.

 

Complying with the REIT requirements may cause us to forego otherwise attractive opportunities.

 

To continue to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, we must continually satisfy tests concerning, among other things, the sources of our income, the nature and diversification of our assets, the amounts we distribute to our stockholders and the ownership of shares of our common stock. We may be required to make distributions to our stockholders at disadvantageous times or when we do not have funds readily available for distribution, or we may be required to liquidate otherwise attractive investments in order to comply with the REIT tests. Thus, compliance with the REIT requirements may hinder our ability to operate solely on the basis of maximizing profits.

 

Changes to federal income tax laws or regulations could adversely affect stockholders.

 

In recent years, numerous legislative, judicial and administrative changes have been made to the federal income tax laws applicable to investments in REITs and similar entities. Additional changes to tax laws are likely to continue to occur in the future, and we cannot assure you that any such changes will not adversely affect the taxation of a stockholder. Any such changes could have an adverse effect on an investment in shares of our common stock. We urge you to consult with your own tax advisor with respect to the status of legislative, regulatory or administrative developments and proposals and their potential effect on an investment in shares of our common stock.

 

Foreign purchasers of shares of our common stock may be subject to FIRPTA tax upon the sale of their shares of our common stock.

 

A foreign person disposing of a U.S. real property interest, including shares of stock of a U.S. corporation whose assets consist principally of U.S. real property interests, is generally subject to the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980, as amended, or FIRPTA, on the gain recognized on the disposition. Such FIRPTA tax does not apply, however, to the disposition of stock in a REIT if the REIT is “domestically controlled.” A REIT is “domestically controlled” if less than 50.0% of the REIT’s stock, by

value, has been owned directly or indirectly by persons who are not qualifying U.S. persons during a continuous five-year period ending on the date of disposition or, if shorter, during the entire period of the REIT’s existence. We cannot assure you that we will continue to qualify as a “domestically controlled” REIT. If we were to fail to continue to so qualify, gain realized by foreign investors on a sale of shares of our common stock would be subject to FIRPTA tax, unless the shares of our common stock were traded on an established securities market and the foreign investor did not at any time during a specified testing period directly or indirectly own more than 5.0% of the value of our outstanding common stock.

 

Foreign stockholders may be subject to FIRPTA tax upon the payment of a capital gains dividend.

 

A foreign stockholder also may be subject to FIRPTA upon the payment of any capital gain dividends by us, which dividend is attributable to gain from sales or exchanges of U.S. real property interests.

 

Employee Benefit Plan and IRA Risks

 

We, and our stockholders that are employee benefit plans or individual retirement accounts, or IRAs, will be subject to risks relating specifically to our having employee benefit plans and IRAs as stockholders, which risks are discussed below. The “Employee Benefit Plan and IRA Considerations” section of this prospectus provides a more detailed discussion of these employee benefit plan and IRA investor risks.

 

If you fail to meet the fiduciary and other standards under ERISA or the Internal Revenue Code as a result of an investment in our common stock, you could be subject to criminal and civil penalties.

 

There are special considerations that apply to pension, profit-sharing trusts or IRAs investing in our common stock. If you are investing the assets of a pension, profit sharing or 401(k) plan, health or welfare plan, or an IRA in us, you should consider:

 

 

In addition to considering their fiduciary responsibilities under ERISA and the prohibited transaction rules of ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code, trustees or others purchasing shares should consider the effect of the plan asset regulations of the U.S. Department of Labor. To avoid our assets from being considered plan assets under those regulations, our charter prohibits “benefit plan investors” from owning 25.0% or more of our common stock prior to the time that the common stock qualifies as a class of publicly-offered securities, within the meaning of the ERISA plan asset regulations. However, we cannot assure you that those provisions in our charter will be effective in limiting benefit plan investor ownership to less than the 25.0% limit. For example, the limit could be unintentionally exceeded if a benefit plan investor misrepresents its status as a benefit plan. Even if our assets are not considered to be plan assets, a prohibited transaction could occur if we or any of our affiliates is a fiduciary (within the meaning of ERISA) with respect to an employee benefit plan or IRA purchasing shares, and, therefore, in the event any such persons are fiduciaries (within the meaning of ERISA) of your plan or IRA, you should not purchase shares unless an administrative or statutory exemption applies to your purchase.

Governmental plans, church plans, and foreign plans generally are not subject to ERISA or the prohibited transaction rules of the Internal Revenue Code, but may be subject to similar restrictions under other laws. A plan fiduciary making an investment in our shares on behalf of such a plan should consider whether the investment is in accordance with applicable law and governing plan documents.

 

Statements included in this prospectus that are not historical facts (including any statements concerning investment objectives, other plans and objectives of management for future operations or economic performance, or assumptions or forecasts related thereto) are forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions. We caution that forward-looking statements are not guarantees. Actual events or our investments and results of operations could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by the use of terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “could,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “continue,” “predict,” “potential” or the negative of such terms and other comparable terminology.

 

The forward-looking statements included in this prospectus are based upon our current expectations, plans, estimates, assumptions and beliefs that involve numerous risks and uncertainties. Assumptions relating to the foregoing involve judgments with respect to, among other things, future economic, competitive and market conditions and future business decisions, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of which are beyond our control. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, our actual results and performance could differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Factors which could have a material adverse effect on our operations and future prospects include, but are not limited to:

 

 

Any of the assumptions underlying forward-looking statements could be inaccurate. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements included in this prospectus. All forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this prospectus and the risk that actual results will differ materially from the expectations expressed in this prospectus will increase with the passage of time. Except as otherwise required by the federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date of this prospectus, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included in this prospectus, including, without limitation, the risks described under “Risk Factors,” the inclusion of such forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by us or any other person that the objectives and plans set forth in this prospectus will be achieved.

 

The following table sets forth our best estimates of how we intend to use the proceeds raised in this offering assuming that we sell specified numbers of shares pursuant to the primary offering. The proceeds raised in this offering will only be used for the purposes set forth in this prospectus and in a manner approved by our board of directors, who serve as fiduciaries to our stockholders. The number of shares of our common stock offered pursuant to our primary offering may vary from these assumptions since we have reserved the right to reallocate the shares offered between the primary offering and the distribution reinvestment plan. Shares of our common stock in the primary offering are being offered to the public on a “best efforts” basis at $10.00 per share. The table below assumes that we reach the maximum offering of $2,000,000,000 by selling 200,000,000 shares at $10.00 per share pursuant to our primary offering.

 

We have not given effect to any special sales or volume discounts that could reduce the selling commissions or dealer manager fees for sales pursuant to the primary offering. Reduction in these fees will be accompanied by a corresponding reduction in the per share purchase price, but will not affect the amounts available to us for investments. See “Plan of Distribution” for a description of the special sales and volume discounts.

 

The following table assumes that we do not sell any shares in the DRIP. As long as our shares are not listed on a national securities exchange, it is anticipated that all or substantially all of the proceeds from the sale of shares pursuant to the DRIP will be used to fund repurchases of shares under our share repurchase plan. Because we do not pay selling commissions or dealer manager fees for shares sold pursuant to the DRIP, we receive greater net proceeds from the sale of shares in the DRIP than in the primary offering. As a result, if we reallocate shares from the DRIP to the primary offering, our net proceeds could be less.

 

Many of the figures set forth below represent management’s best estimate since they cannot be precisely calculated at this time. We expect that at least 88.5% of the money you invest will be used to buy investments in real property and other real estate related assets and pay related acquisition expenses, while we expect the remaining 11.5% will be used to pay expenses and fees, including the payment of fees to the dealer manager, for this offering. If we are unable to raise substantial proceeds in this offering, we will make fewer real property investments. See “Risk Factors — Investment Risks — This is a ‘best efforts’ offering and if we are unable to raise substantial proceeds in this offering, we will be limited in the number and type of investments we may make, which will result in a less diversified portfolio.”

 

Our board of directors is responsible for reviewing our fees and expenses on at least an annual basis and with sufficient frequency to determine that the expenses incurred are in the best interest of the stockholders. The fees set forth below may not be increased without approval of the independent directors.

 

 

 

 

Investment Objectives

 

Our investment objectives are:

 

 

Each property we acquire is carefully and diligently reviewed and analyzed to make sure it is consistent with our short-and long-term investment objectives. Our goal is to at all times maintain a strong balance sheet and always have sufficient funds to deal with short- and long-term operating needs. Macro-economic disruptions have broadly impacted the economy and have caused an imbalance between buyers and sellers of real estate assets, including medical office buildings and other healthcare-related real estate assets. We anticipated that these tough economic conditions would create opportunities for our company to acquire such assets at higher capitalization rates, as the real estate market adjusted downward. In the fourth quarter of 2008 and first half of 2009, we opted not to proceed with certain acquisitions which we determined merited re-pricing. We renegotiated other deals to lower pricing points. In December 2009, we closed $253 million of acquisitions and as of March 12, 2010, we had cash on hand of approximately $250 million, which we intend to use to acquire assets that are priced at levels consistent with today’s economy. We believe that during this turbulent economic cycle, our cash on hand will provide our company with opportunities to acquire medical office buildings and other healthcare-related real estate assets at favorable pricing.

 

We cannot assure you that we will attain these objectives or that our capital will not decrease. Our board of directors may change our investment objectives if it determines it is advisable and in the best interests of our stockholders.

 

Decisions relating to the purchase or sale of investments will be made internally by our management, subject to the oversight of our board of directors. See “Management” for a description of the background and experience of our directors and officers.

 

We seek to invest in a diversified portfolio of real estate and other real estate related assets, focusing primarily on investments that produce recurring income. Our real estate investments focus on medical office buildings and healthcare-related facilities. We have also invested to a limited extent in quality commercial office buildings and other real estate related assets. However, we do not presently intend to invest more than 15.0% of our total assets in other real estate related assets. Our investments in other real estate related assets will generally focus on forms of mortgage debt, common and preferred stock of public or private real estate companies, and certain other securities. We seek to maximize long-term stockholder value by generating sustainable growth in cash flow and portfolio value. In order to achieve these objectives, we may invest using a number of investment structures which may include direct acquisitions, joint ventures, leveraged investments, issuing securities for property and direct and indirect investments in real estate. In order to maintain our exemption from regulation as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, we may be required to limit our investments in other real estate related assets. See “— Investment Company Act Considerations” below.

 

In addition, when and as determined appropriate by our Chief Executive Officer, our board of directors and management, the portfolio may also include properties in various stages of development other than those producing current income. These stages would include, without limitation, unimproved land both with and without entitlements and permits, property to be redeveloped and repositioned, newly constructed properties and properties in lease-up or other stabilization, all of which will have limited or no relevant operating

histories and no current income. Our management makes this determination based upon a variety of factors, including the available risk adjusted returns for such properties when compared with other available properties, the appropriate diversification of the portfolio, and our objectives of realizing both recurring income and capital appreciation upon the ultimate sale of properties.

 

For each of our investments, regardless of property type, we seek to invest in properties with the following attributes:

 

 

 

 

We will not invest more than 10.0% of the offering proceeds available for investment in unimproved or non-income producing properties or in other investments relating to unimproved or non-income producing property. A property: (1) not acquired for the purpose of producing rental or other operating income, or (2) with no development or construction in process or planned in good faith to commence within one year will be considered unimproved or non-income producing property for purposes of this limitation. To date, we have not invested in unimproved or non-income producing properties or related investments.

 

We are not limited as to the geographic area where we may acquire properties. We are not specifically limited in the number or size of properties we may acquire or on the percentage of our assets that we may invest in a single property or investment. The number and mix of properties we acquire depends upon real estate and market conditions and other circumstances existing at the time we are acquiring our properties and making our investments and the amount of proceeds we raise in this and potential future offerings.

 

 

We invest in and intend to continue to invest in a diversified portfolio of properties, focusing primarily on properties that produce recurring income. We primarily seek investments in medical office buildings and healthcare-related facilities. We have also invested to a limited extent in quality commercial office properties.

 

We generally seek to acquire properties of the types described above that will best enable us to meet our investment objectives, taking into account the diversification of our portfolio at the time, relevant real estate and financial factors, the location, income-producing capacity and the prospects for long-range appreciation of a particular property and other considerations. As a result, we may acquire properties other than the types described above. In addition, we may acquire properties that vary from the parameters described above for a particular property type.

The consideration for each real estate investment must be authorized by a majority of our directors or a duly authorized committee of our board of directors, ordinarily based on the fair market value of the investment. If the majority of our independent directors or a duly authorized committee of our board of directors so determines, or if the investment is to be acquired from an affiliate, the fair market value determination must be supported by an appraisal obtained from a qualified, independent appraiser selected by a majority of our independent directors.

 

Our investments in real estate generally include our holding fee simple title or long-term leasehold interests. Our investments may be made either directly through our operating partnership or indirectly through investments in joint ventures, limited liability companies, general partnerships or other co-ownership arrangements with the developers of the properties or other persons. See “— Joint Venture Investments” below.

 

In addition, we may purchase properties and lease them back to the sellers of such properties. We will use our best efforts to structure any such sale-leaseback transaction such that the lease will be characterized as a “true lease” and so that we will be treated as the owner of the property for federal income tax purposes. However, we cannot assure you that the IRS will not challenge such characterization. In the event that any such sale-leaseback transaction is re-characterized as a financing transaction for federal income tax purposes, deductions for depreciation and cost recovery relating to such property would be disallowed or significantly reduced.

 

Our obligation to close a transaction involving the purchase of a real property asset is generally conditioned upon the delivery and verification of certain documents from the seller or developer, including, where appropriate:

 

 

In determining whether to purchase a particular property, we may, in circumstances in which our management deems it appropriate, obtain an option on such property, including land suitable for development. The amount paid for an option, if any, is normally surrendered if the property is not purchased, and is normally credited against the purchase price if the property is purchased. We may also enter into arrangements with the seller or developer of a property whereby the seller or developer agrees that if, during a stated period, the property does not generate a specified cash flow, the seller or developer will pay us in cash a sum necessary to reach the specified cash flow level, subject in some cases to negotiated dollar limitations.

 

We will not purchase or lease properties in which our directors or any of their affiliates have an interest without a determination by a majority of our disinterested directors and a majority of our disinterested independent directors that such transaction is fair and reasonable to us and at a price to us no greater than the cost of the property to the affiliated seller or lessor, unless there is substantial justification for the excess amount and the excess amount is reasonable. In no event will we acquire any such property at an amount in excess of its current appraised value as determined by an independent expert selected by our disinterested independent directors.

 

We obtain adequate insurance coverage for all properties in which we invest. However, there are types of losses, generally catastrophic in nature, for which we do not obtain insurance unless we are required to do so

by mortgage lenders. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Investments in Real Estate — Uninsured losses relating to real estate and lender requirements to obtain insurance may reduce your returns.”

 

Medical Office Buildings and Healthcare-Related Facilities

 

We invest and intend to continue to invest a portion of the net proceeds available for investment in medical office buildings and healthcare-related facilities. Healthcare-related facilities include facilities leased to hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, clinics, outpatient facilities, long-term acute care centers, surgery centers, independent living facilities, assisted living facilities, skilled nursing facilities, memory care facilities, specialty medical and diagnostic service providers, laboratories, research firms, pharmaceutical and medical supply manufacturers and health insurance firms. The market for medical office buildings and healthcare-related facilities in the United States continues to expand.

 

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, from 1960 to 2007, health spending as a percent of the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) has increased 11%, from 5.2% to 16.2% and is projected to comprise 17.6% of GDP in 2009 according to the National Health Expenditures report by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services dated January 2009. Such national healthcare expenditures are projected to reach 20.3% of GDP by 2018, as set forth in the below chart. Similarly, overall healthcare expenditures have risen sharply since 2003. In 2008, healthcare expenditures are projected to total $2.4 trillion and are expected to grow at a relatively stable rate of approximately 6.2% per year to reach $4.4 trillion by 2018, as shown below.

 

National Healthcare Expenditures
(2003-2018)

 

We believe that demand for medical office buildings and healthcare-related facilities will increase due to a number of factors, including:

 

 

Projected U.S. Population Aged 65+
(2010-2050)

 

 

Based on the information above, we believe that healthcare expenditures for the population over 65 years of age will continue to rise as a disproportionate share of healthcare dollars is spent on older Americans. This older population group will increasingly require treatment and management of chronic and acute health ailments. This increased demand for healthcare services will create a substantial need for the development of additional medical office buildings and healthcare-related facilities in many regions of the U.S. We believe this will result in a substantial increase in suitable, quality properties meeting our acquisition criteria.

 

We believe that healthcare-related real estate rents and valuations are less susceptible to changes in the general economy than general commercial real estate due to demographic trends and the resistance of rising healthcare expenditures to economic downturns. For this reason, healthcare-related real estate investments could potentially offer a more stable return to investors compared to other types of real estate investments.

 

We believe the confluence of these factors over the last several years has led to the following trends, which encourage third-party ownership of existing and newly developed medical properties:

 

 

 

The current regulatory environment remains an ongoing challenge for healthcare providers, who are under pressure to comply with complex healthcare laws and regulations designed to prevent fraud and abuse. These regulations, for example, prohibit physicians from referring patients to entities in which they have investment interests and prohibit hospitals from leasing space to physicians at below market rates. As a result, healthcare providers seek reduced liability costs and have an incentive to dispose of real estate to third parties, thus reducing the risk of violating fraud and abuse regulations. This environment creates investment opportunities for owners, acquirers and joint venture partners of healthcare real estate who understand the needs of healthcare professionals and can help keep tenant costs low. While the current regulatory environment is positive for healthcare operators, there is uncertainty as to the future of government policies and its potential impact on healthcare provider profitability.

 

We incorporate a demographic-based investment approach to our overall investment strategy. This approach allows us to consider demographic analysis when acquiring our properties. This analysis takes into account fundamental long-term economic and societal trends, including population shifts, generational differences, and domestic migration patterns. Demographic-based investing will assist us in investing in the properties utilized by the industries that serve the country’s largest population groups, and in the regions experiencing the greatest growth. When incorporating this strategy, we consider three factors: (1) the age ranges of the dominant population groups; (2) the essential needs of each dominant population group; and (3) the geographic regions that appeal to each dominant population group.

 

Age.  Our demographic-based investment strategy focuses on the following three population groups: