e424b3
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration No. 333-157818
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proposed |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proposed |
|
|
Maximum |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maximum |
|
|
Aggregate |
|
|
|
|
Title of Each Class of |
|
|
Amount to be |
|
|
Offering Price |
|
|
Offering |
|
|
Amount of |
|
Securities to be Registered |
|
|
registered |
|
|
Per Share(1) |
|
|
Price(1) |
|
|
Registration Fee |
|
Common Shares of Beneficial Interest, par value, $0.01 per share |
|
|
1,234,552 |
|
|
$ |
5.31 |
|
|
$ |
6,555,471.12 |
|
|
$ |
257.63 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the registration fee on the basis of the average of the high and low prices
for the Common Shares as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on March 3, 2009. |
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus dated March 10, 2009)
1,234,552 Common Shares
This prospectus supplement relates to 1,234,552 of our common shares that may be offered for
resale by the selling shareholders identified herein. The common shares that may be offered by the
selling shareholders using this prospectus supplement were acquired by the selling shareholders
upon the redemption of their units of limited partnership interest in ProLogis Limited Partnership
I, ProLogis Fraser, L.P. and Meridian Realty Partners, L.P. We will not receive any of the
proceeds from the sale of these common shares by the selling shareholders.
The selling shareholders may offer their common shares through public or private transactions,
on or off the New York Stock Exchange, at prevailing market prices, or at privately negotiated
prices. They may sell the common shares in ordinary brokerage transactions, in block transactions,
in privately negotiated transactions, pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933 or
otherwise. If the holders sell the common shares through brokers, they expect to pay customary
brokerage commissions and charges.
Our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol PLD. On March
9, 2009, the last reported sale price of our common shares on the New York Stock Exchange was $5.61
per share.
Investing
in our common shares involves risks. See Risk Factors beginning on page 1 of the accompanying prospectus.
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR
ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE
SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT. ANY
REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
The date of this Prospectus Supplement is March 10, 2009.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prospectus Supplement
Prospectus
|
|
|
|
|
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION |
|
|
ii |
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS |
|
|
iv |
PROLOGIS |
|
|
1 |
|
RISK FACTORS |
|
|
1 |
|
RATIOS |
|
|
1 |
|
USE OF PROCEEDS |
|
|
1 |
|
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES |
|
|
2 |
|
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED SHARES |
|
|
26 |
|
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON SHARES |
|
|
32 |
|
FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS |
|
|
34 |
|
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION |
|
|
48 |
|
EXPERTS |
|
|
49 |
|
LEGAL MATTERS |
|
|
50 |
|
S-i
PROLOGIS
We are a leading global provider of industrial distribution facilities. We are a Maryland
real estate investment trust and have elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Internal Revenue
Code. Our world headquarters is located at 4545 Airport Way Denver, Colorado 80239 and our phone
number is (303) 567-5000. Our European headquarters is located in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
with our European customer service headquarters located in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Our primary
office in Asia is located in Tokyo, Japan.
We were formed in 1991, primarily as a long-term owner of industrial distribution space
operating in the United States. Over time, our business strategy evolved to include the
development of property for contribution to property funds in which we maintain an ownership
interest and the management of those property funds and the properties they own. Originally, we
sought to differentiate ourselves from our competition by focusing on our corporate customers
distribution space requirements on a national, regional and local basis and providing customers
with consistent levels of service throughout the United States. However, as our customers needs
expanded to markets outside the United States, so did our portfolio and our management team. Today
we are an international real estate company with operations in North America, Europe and Asia. Our
business strategy is to integrate international scope and expertise with a strong local presence in
our markets, thereby becoming an attractive choice for our targeted customer base, the largest
global users of distribution space, while achieving long-term sustainable growth in cash flow.
USE OF PROCEEDS
All net proceeds from the sale of the common shares will go to the shareholders who may offer
their common shares using this prospectus supplement. Accordingly, we will not receive any
proceeds from the sale of the common shares referred to in this prospectus supplement.
SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
The table below sets forth the name of each selling shareholder and relationship, if any, with
ProLogis. The table also shows as of March 10, 2009 the number of common shares to be issued to
each of the selling shareholders upon redemption of units of limited partnership in ProLogis
Limited Partnership I, ProLogis Fraser, L.P. and Meridian Realty Partners, L.P., as noted with
respect to each selling shareholder, and the maximum number of common shares which may be offered
for the account of each selling shareholder under this prospectus supplement.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common Shares to be Issued to Selling |
|
|
|
|
Shareholder Upon Redemption of |
|
Common Shares |
Selling Shareholder |
|
Partnership Units |
|
Being Offered |
Northeastern Industrial Park, Inc. (1) |
|
|
249,372 |
|
|
|
249,372 |
|
Washington Avenue Ventures, Inc. (1) |
|
|
37,654 |
|
|
|
37,654 |
|
Rotterdam Ventures, Inc. (1) |
|
|
67,831 |
|
|
|
67,831 |
|
Michael F. Bette (1) |
|
|
56,188 |
|
|
|
56,188 |
|
Gary F. Mazurkowitz (1) |
|
|
24,123 |
|
|
|
24,123 |
|
John W. Adams (1) |
|
|
12,254 |
|
|
|
12,254 |
|
The Lyons Family Trust (CP) (2)(3) |
|
|
203,642 |
|
|
|
203,642 |
|
The Lyons Family Trust (2)(3) |
|
|
436,471 |
|
|
|
436,471 |
|
The Kirby Anderson and Rebecca Jane Anderson Trust (2) |
|
|
136,124 |
|
|
|
136,124 |
|
Evans Family Trust (4) |
|
|
10,893 |
|
|
|
10,893 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Common shares issuable upon redemption of units of limited partnership in ProLogis Fraser, L.P. |
|
(2) |
|
Common shares issuable upon redemption of units of limited partnership in ProLogis Limited Partnership I. |
|
(3) |
|
Irving F. Lyons, III, a former trustee and executive officer of ProLogis, is the trustee and a
beneficiary of The Lyons Family Trust (CP) and The Lyons Family Trust. |
|
(4) |
|
Common shares issuable upon redemption of units of limited partnership in Meridian Realty Partners, L.P. |
We are party to registration rights agreements with each of the selling shareholders (other
than Evans Family Trust), which requires us to register the resale of the common shares identified
in this prospectus supplement. Pursuant to the registration rights
S-1
agreement, we have agreed to indemnify the selling shareholders against liabilities in
connection with the resale of their common shares, including liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933. Additionally, we will pay all of the fees and expenses of registering the
common shares offered in this prospectus supplement and in connection with any prospectus
supplement subsequently filed as referenced below in Plan of Distribution.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The common shares listed in the table appearing in the Selling Shareholders section of this
prospectus supplement are being registered to permit secondary trading of these shares by the
selling shareholders from time to time after the date of this prospectus supplement. Registration
of the common shares offered by this prospectus supplement does not mean, however, that those
shares necessarily will be offered or sold. Sales may be made directly or through brokers or
dealers in connection with trades by the selling shareholders through the New York Stock Exchange
or otherwise. To the extent required by applicable law, a prospectus supplement with respect to
the common shares being offered will set forth the terms of the offering of the common shares,
including the name or names of any underwriters, dealers, or agents, the purchase price of the
common shares and the proceeds to the selling shareholders from such sale, any delayed delivery
arrangements, any underwriting discounts and other items constituting underwriters compensation,
the initial public offering price, and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to
dealers.
Selling shareholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers, which may in
turn engage in short sales of the common shares in the course of hedging the positions they assume
and such selling shareholders may also sell short the common shares and deliver such shares to
close short positions, or loan or pledge common shares to broker-dealers that may in turn sell such
securities.
If dealers are used in the sale of common shares with respect to which this prospectus
supplement is delivered or with respect to any block trades, the selling shareholder will sell such
common shares to the dealers as principals. The dealers may then resell such common shares to the
public at varying prices to be determined by such dealers at the time of resale. The name of the
dealers and the terms of the transaction will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating
thereto to the extent required by law.
In connection with the sale of the common shares agents may receive compensation from the
selling shareholders or from purchasers of common shares for whom they may act as agents in the
form of discounts, concessions, or commissions. Agents and dealers participating in the
distribution of the common shares may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the
Securities Act of 1933, and any discounts or commissions received by them from the selling
shareholders and any profit on the resale of the common shares by them may be deemed to be
underwriting discounts or commissions under the Securities Act of 1933.
The selling shareholders may sell any of the common shares directly to purchasers. In this
case, the selling shareholders may not engage underwriters or agents in the offer or sale of such
shares.
Upon notification to us by a selling shareholder of any change in the identity of the selling
shareholder or that any material arrangement has been entered into with a broker or dealer for the
sale of any common shares through a secondary distribution, or a purchase by a broker or dealer, a
prospectus supplement will be filed, if required, pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act
of 1933, disclosing:
|
(1) |
|
the names of such brokers or dealers and the number of common shares to be sold; |
|
|
(2) |
|
the price at which such common shares are being sold; |
|
|
(3) |
|
the commissions paid or the discounts or concessions allowed to such brokers or
dealers; |
|
|
(4) |
|
where applicable, that such broker or dealer did not conduct any investigation to
verify the information set out or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, as
supplemented or amended; |
|
|
(5) |
|
any change in the identity of the selling shareholder; and |
|
|
(6) |
|
other facts material to the transaction. |
Agents and dealers may be entitled under agreements entered into with the selling shareholders
to indemnification by the selling shareholders against civil liabilities, including liabilities
under the Securities Act of 1933, or to contribution with respect to payments that such agents,
dealers, or underwriters may be required to make with respect thereto. Agents and dealers may be
customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us and/or the selling
shareholders in the ordinary course of business.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the offered securities will be passed upon for us by Mayer Brown LLP, Chicago,
Illinois.
S-2
DEBT
SECURITIES
PREFERRED SHARES
COMMON SHARES
We may offer and sell from time to time debt securities, common
shares of beneficial interest, preferred shares of beneficial
interest and rights to purchase common shares of beneficial
interest covered by this prospectus independently, or together
in any combination that may include other securities set forth
in an accompanying prospectus supplement, in one or more
offerings, for sale directly to purchasers or through
underwriters, dealers or agents to be designated at a future
date. Our outstanding common shares, Series F cumulative
redeemable preferred shares of beneficial interest and
Series G cumulative redeemable preferred shares of
beneficial interest, are listed on the New York Stock Exchange
under the symbols PLD,
PLD-PRF
and PLD-PRG, respectively. This prospectus provides
you with a general description of the securities we may offer.
We may sell securities to or through underwriters, dealers or
agents. For additional information on the method of sale, you
should refer to the section entitled Plan of
Distribution. The names of any underwriters, dealers or
agents involved in the sale of any securities and the specific
manner in which they may be offered will be set forth in the
prospectus supplement covering the sale of those securities.
This prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions
contained in some of the documents described herein, but
reference is made to the actual documents for complete
information. All of the summaries are qualified in their
entirety by the actual documents. Copies of some of the
documents referred to herein have been filed or will be filed or
incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration
statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain
copies of those documents as described below under Where
You Can Find More Information.
Investment in any securities offered by this prospectus
involves risk. See Risk Factors on page 1 of
this prospectus, in our periodic reports filed from time to time
with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in the
applicable prospectus supplement.
These securities have not been approved or disapproved by the
Securities and Exchange Commission or any state securities
commission, nor has the securities and exchange commission or
any state securities commission passed upon the accuracy or
adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary
is a criminal offense.
The date of this Prospectus is March 10, 2009.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ii
|
|
|
|
|
iv
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
26
|
|
|
|
|
32
|
|
|
|
|
34
|
|
|
|
|
48
|
|
|
|
|
49
|
|
|
|
|
50
|
|
i
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (which we
refer to in this prospectus as the SEC) utilizing a
shelf registration process. Under this shelf
process, we may sell any combination of our securities, as
described in this prospectus, from time to time and in one or
more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general
description of the securities we may offer. When we sell
securities, we may provide a prospectus supplement that will
contain specific information about the terms of that offering.
The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change
information contained in this prospectus. You should read both
this prospectus and any prospectus supplement and any free
writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us together with
additional information described below under Where You Can
Find More Information.
WHERE YOU
CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are subject to the informational requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (which we refer to herein as the
Exchange Act) and, in accordance therewith, file reports, proxy
statements and other information with the SEC. Such reports,
proxy statements and other information can be inspected and
copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC
at 100 F Street NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. You
may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference
Room by calling
1-800-SEC-0330.
This material can also be obtained from the SECs worldwide
web site at
http://www.sec.gov.,
and all such reports, proxy statements and other information
filed by us with the New York Stock Exchange may be inspected at
the New York Stock Exchanges offices at 20 Broad
Street, New York, New York 10005. You can also obtain
information about us at our web site, www.prologis.com.
Information available on or through our web site is not intended
to constitute part of the prospectus.
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on
Form S-3
under the Securities Act of 1933 (which we refer to herein as
the Securities Act) with respect to our securities being
offered. This prospectus, which constitutes part of the
registration statement, does not contain all of the information
set forth in the registration statement. Parts of the
registration statement are omitted from this prospectus in
accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. For
further information, your attention is directed to the
registration statement. Statements made in this prospectus
concerning the contents of any documents referred to herein are
not necessarily complete, and in each case are qualified in all
respects by reference to the copy of such document filed with
the SEC.
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the
information we file with the SEC, which means that we can
disclose important information to you by referring you to those
documents. The information incorporated by reference is an
important part of this prospectus, and information that we file
later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this
information.
We incorporate by reference the documents listed below:
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
Our annual report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2008, filed on
March 2, 2009;
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
Our periodic reports on
Form 8-K
filed January 7, 2009, January 13, 2009,
February 9, 2009 and February 13, 2009;
|
|
|
|
|
(c)
|
The description of our common shares contained or incorporated
by reference in our registration statement on
Form 8-A
filed February 23, 1994;
|
|
|
|
|
(d)
|
The description of Series F cumulative redeemable preferred
shares of beneficial interest contained or incorporated by
reference in our registration statement on
Form 8-A
filed November 26, 2003; and
|
|
|
|
|
(e)
|
The description of Series G cumulative redeemable preferred
shares of beneficial interest contained or incorporated by
reference in our registration statement on
Form 8-A
filed December 24, 2003.
|
The SEC has assigned file number 1-12846 to the reports and
other information that ProLogis files with the SEC.
ii
All documents subsequently filed (other than any portions of the
respective filings that were furnished, under applicable SEC
rules, rather than filed) by us pursuant to Section 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the termination
of the offering, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference
into this prospectus.
Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to
be incorporated herein shall be deemed modified or superseded
for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement
contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document
that is deemed to be incorporated herein modifies or supersedes
such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall
not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to
constitute a part of this prospectus.
You should rely only on the information contained in this
document or to which we have referred you. We have not
authorized anyone to provide you with information that is
inconsistent with information contained in this document or any
document incorporated herein. This prospectus is not an offer to
sell these securities in any state where the offer and sale of
these securities is not permitted. The information in this
prospectus is current as of the date it is mailed to security
holders, and not necessarily as of any later date. If any
material change occurs during the period that this prospectus is
required to be delivered, this prospectus will be supplemented
or amended.
You may request a copy of each of the above-listed ProLogis
documents at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the
following address or telephone number.
Investor Relations Department
ProLogis
4545 Airport Way
Denver, Colorado 80239
(800) 820-0181
http://ir.prologis.com
iii
FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
This prospectus, the prospectus supplement, the documents
incorporated by reference in this prospectus and other written
reports and oral statements made from time to time by the
company may contain forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Such forward-looking statements may include:
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
statements, including our possible or assumed future results of
operations including any forecasts, projections and descriptions
of anticipated cost savings or other synergies referred to in
such statements, and any such statements incorporated by
reference from documents filed with the SEC by us, including any
statements contained in such documents or this prospectus
regarding the development or possible or assumed future results
of operations of our businesses, the markets for our services
and products, anticipated capital expenditures or competition;
|
|
|
(2)
|
any statements preceded by, followed by or that include the
words believes, expects,
anticipates, intends, plans,
seeks, estimates or similar
expressions; and
|
|
|
(3)
|
other statements contained or incorporated by reference in this
prospectus regarding matters that are not historical facts.
|
Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties,
actual results may differ materially from those expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements. Investors are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements, which
speak only as of the date the statements were made.
Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially are: national, international, regional and local
economic climates, changes in financial markets, interest rates
and foreign currency exchange rates, increased or unanticipated
competition for our properties, risks associated with
acquisitions, maintenance of real estate investment trust
status, availability of financing and capital, changes in demand
for developed properties, and other risks detailed from time to
time in the reports filed with the SEC by us.
Except for our ongoing obligations to disclose material
information as required by the federal securities laws, we do
not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions
to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or
circumstances after the date of the filing of this prospectus or
to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
iv
PROLOGIS
We are a leading global provider of industrial distribution
facilities. We are a Maryland real estate investment trust and
have elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Internal Revenue
Code. Our world headquarters is located at 4545 Airport Way
Denver, Colorado 80239 and our phone number is
(303) 567-5000. Our European headquarters is located in the
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg with our European customer service
headquarters located in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Our primary
office in Asia is located in Tokyo, Japan.
We were formed in 1991, primarily as a long-term owner of
industrial distribution space operating in the United States.
Over time, our business strategy evolved to include the
development of property for contribution to property funds in
which we maintain an ownership interest and the management of
those property funds and the properties they own. Originally, we
sought to differentiate ourselves from our competition by
focusing on our corporate customers distribution space
requirements on a national, regional and local basis and
providing customers with consistent levels of service throughout
the United States. However, as our customers needs
expanded to markets outside the United States, so did our
portfolio and our management team. Today we are an international
real estate company with operations in North America, Europe and
Asia. Our business strategy is to integrate international scope
and expertise with a strong local presence in our markets,
thereby becoming an attractive choice for our targeted customer
base, the largest global users of distribution space, while
achieving long-term sustainable growth in cash flow.
RISK
FACTORS
Investment in any securities offered pursuant to this prospectus
involves risks. You should carefully consider the risk factors
incorporated by reference to our most recent Annual Report on
Form 10-K
and our subsequent Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q
and the other information contained in this prospectus, as
updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act and the
risk factors and other information contained in the applicable
prospectus supplement before acquiring any of such securities.
RATIOS
For purposes of computing these ratios:
(i) earnings consist of earnings from
continuing operations, excluding income taxes, minority interest
share in earnings and fixed charges, other than capitalized
interest, and (ii) fixed charges consist of
interest on borrowed funds, including amounts that have been
capitalized, and amortization of capitalized debt issuance
costs, debt premiums and debt discounts.
The following table shows our ratio of earnings to fixed charges
for each of our last five fiscal years:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
2008(1)
|
|
2007
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
2004
|
|
0.4
|
|
|
2.9
|
|
|
|
2.7
|
|
|
|
2.1
|
|
|
|
2.2
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
|
The loss from continuing operations
for 2008 includes impairment charges of $901.8 million that
are discussed in the Consolidated Financial Statements in
Item 8 of our
10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2008. Due to these impairment
charges, our fixed charges exceed our earnings as adjusted by
$272.2 million.
|
The following table shows our ratio of earnings to combined
fixed charges and preferred share dividends for each of our last
five fiscal years:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
2008(1)
|
|
2007
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
2004
|
|
0.4
|
|
|
2.8
|
|
|
|
2.5
|
|
|
|
1.9
|
|
|
|
1.9
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
|
The loss from continuing operations
for 2008 includes impairment charges of $901.8 million that
are discussed in the Consolidated Financial Statements in
Item 8 of our
10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2008. Due to these impairment
charges, our fixed charges exceed our earnings as adjusted by
$297.7 million.
|
USE OF
PROCEEDS
Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus
supplement, the net proceeds from the sale of the offered
securities will be used for the acquisition and development of
properties as suitable opportunities arise, for the repayment of
any outstanding indebtedness, for capital improvements to
properties and for general corporate purposes.
DESCRIPTION
OF DEBT SECURITIES
The debt securities are to be issued under an Indenture, dated
as of March 1, 1995, (the Original Indenture)
between us and U.S. Bank National Association (successor in
interest to State Street Bank and Trust Company), as
trustee. The Indenture has been supplemented by a First
Supplemental Indenture dated February 9, 2005, a Second
Supplemental Indenture dated November 2, 2005, a Third
Supplemental Indenture dated November 2, 2005, a Fourth
Supplemental Indenture dated March 26, 2007, a Fifth
Supplemental Indenture dated November 8, 2007, a Sixth
Supplemental Indenture dated May 7, 2008 and a Seventh
Supplemental Indenture dated May 7, 2008. We collectively
refer to the Original Indenture as amended and supplemented by
the First Supplemental Indenture, Second Supplemental Indenture,
Third Supplemental Indenture, Fourth Supplemental Indenture,
Fifth Supplemental Indenture, Sixth Supplemental Indenture and
Seventh Supplemental Indenture as the Indenture. The
Indenture has been incorporated by reference as an exhibit to
the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part
and is available for inspection at the corporate trust office of
the trustee at 100 Wall Street, Suite 1600, New York, New
York 10005 or as described above under Where You Can Find
More Information. The Indenture is subject to, and
governed by, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. The
statements made in this prospectus relating to the Indenture and
the debt securities to be issued pursuant to the Indenture are
summaries of some of the provisions of the Indenture and do not
purport to be complete. The statements are subject to and are
qualified in their entirety by reference to all the provisions
of the Indenture and the debt securities. As used in this
section, Description of Debt Securities, the terms
we, our, and us refer to
ProLogis and not to any of its subsidiaries.
General
The debt securities will be our direct, unsubordinated
obligations and will rank equally with all of our other
unsubordinated indebtedness outstanding from time to time,
unless otherwise stated in the prospectus supplement relating to
the series of debt securities being offered. Additionally,
unless otherwise stated in the prospectus supplement relating to
the debt securities being offered, the debt securities will be
included as Designated Senior Debt and the holders
of the debt securities will be included as Credit
Parties that receive the benefit of the Security Agency
Agreement described below under Security and
Sharing Agreements. The Indenture provides that the debt
securities may be issued without limit as to aggregate principal
amount, in one or more series. Each series may be as established
from time to time in or pursuant to authority granted by a
resolution of our board of trustees or as established in one or
more indentures supplemental to the Indenture. All debt
securities of one series need not be issued at the same time
and, unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened for
issuances of additional debt securities of that series without
the consent of the holders of the debt securities of that series.
Please refer to the prospectus supplement relating to the series
of debt securities being offered for the specific terms of the
securities, including:
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
the title of the series of debt securities;
|
|
|
(2)
|
the aggregate principal amount of the series of debt securities
and any limit on the principal amount;
|
|
|
(3)
|
the percentage of the principal amount at which the debt
securities of the series will be issued and, if other than the
full principal amount of the debt securities, the portion of the
principal amount of the debt securities payable upon declaration
of acceleration of the maturity of the securities, or the method
by which any portion will be determined;
|
|
|
(4)
|
the date or dates, or the method by which the date or dates will
be determined, on which the principal of the debt securities of
the series will be payable and the amount of principal payable
on the debt securities;
|
|
|
(5)
|
the rate or rates at which the debt securities will bear
interest, if any which may be fixed or
variable or the method by which the rate or rates
will be determined;
|
2
|
|
|
|
(6)
|
the date or dates, or the method by which the date or dates will
be determined, from which any interest will accrue, the interest
payment dates on which any interest will be payable, the regular
record dates for the interest payment dates, or the method by
which the dates will be determined, the person to whom, and the
manner in which, the interest will be payable, and the basis
upon which interest will be calculated if other than that of a
360-day year
comprised of twelve
30-day months;
|
|
|
(7)
|
the place or places where the principal of and
premium or make-whole amounts, if any and interest
and additional amounts, if any, on the debt securities of the
series will be payable, where the debt securities may be
surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where
notices or demands to or upon us in respect of the debt
securities and the Indenture may be served;
|
|
|
(8)
|
the period or periods within which, the price or prices,
including the premium or make-whole amounts, if any, at which,
the currency or currencies in which, and the other terms and
conditions upon which the debt securities of the series may be
redeemed, as a whole or in part, at our option, if we are to
have such an option;
|
|
|
(9)
|
our obligation, if any, to redeem, repay or purchase the debt
securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or
analogous provision or at the option of a holder of the debt
securities, and the period or periods within which, the date or
dates upon which, the price or prices at which, the currency or
currencies, currency unit or units or composite currency or
currencies in which, and the other terms and conditions upon
which the debt securities shall be redeemed, repaid or
purchased, as a whole or in part, pursuant to that obligation;
|
|
|
(10)
|
if other than United States dollars, the currency or currencies
in which the debt securities of the series are denominated and
payable, which may be a foreign currency or units of two or more
foreign currencies or a composite currency or currencies, and
the terms and conditions relating to the currency;
|
|
|
(11)
|
whether the amount of payments of principal and
premium or make-whole amounts, if any or interest,
if any, on the debt securities of the series may be determined
with reference to an index, formula or other method, and the
manner in which those amounts will be determined; the index,
formula or method may be, but need not be, based on a currency,
currencies, currency unit or units or composite currency or
currencies;
|
|
|
(12)
|
whether the principal and premium or make-whole
amounts, if any or interest or additional amounts,
if any, on the debt securities of the series are to be payable,
at our election or at the election of a holder of debt
securities, in a currency or currencies, currency unit or units
or composite currency or currencies, other than that in which
the debt securities are denominated or stated to be payable, the
period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions
upon which, the election may be made, and the time and manner
of, and identity of the exchange rate agent with responsibility
for, determining the exchange rate between the currency or
currencies in which the debt securities are denominated or
stated to be payable and the currency or currencies in which the
debt securities are to be so payable;
|
|
|
(13)
|
any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the terms
of the series of debt securities with respect to the events of
default or covenants set forth in the Indenture;
|
|
|
(14)
|
whether the debt securities of the series will be issued in
certificated or book-entry form;
|
|
|
(15)
|
whether the debt securities of the series will be in registered
or bearer form and, if in registered form, the denominations of
the debt securities if other than $1,000 and any integral
multiple of the debt securities and, if in bearer form, the
denominations of the debt securities if other than $5,000 and
the terms and conditions relating to the debt securities;
|
3
|
|
|
|
(16)
|
the applicability, if any, of the defeasance and covenant
defeasance provisions of Article Fourteen of the Indenture
to the series of debt securities and any additions to or
substitutions of the provisions;
|
|
|
(17)
|
if the debt securities of the series are to be issued upon the
exercise of debt warrants, the time, manner and place for the
debt securities to be authenticated and delivered;
|
|
|
(18)
|
whether and under what circumstances we will pay additional
amounts as contemplated in the Indenture on the debt securities
of the series in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental
charge and, if so, whether we will have the option to redeem the
debt securities rather than pay the additional amounts; and
|
|
|
(19)
|
any other terms of the series of debt securities not
inconsistent with the provisions of the Indenture.
|
We may issue original issue discount securities. Original
issue discount securities refer to debt securities which
may provide that less than the entire principal amount of the
debt securities will be paid if their maturity is accelerated,
or bear no interest or bear interest at a rate which at the time
of issuance is below market rates. Special U.S. federal
income tax, accounting and other considerations apply to
original issue discount securities and will be described in the
applicable prospectus supplement.
Under the Indenture, in addition to the ability to issue debt
securities with terms different from those of debt securities
previously issued, we will have the ability to reopen a previous
issue of a series of debt securities and issue additional debt
securities of the series without the consent of the holders.
Except as set forth below under
Covenants Limitations on
incurrence of debt, the Indenture does not contain any
other provisions that would limit our ability to incur
indebtedness or that would afford holders of debt securities
protection in the event of a highly leveraged or similar
transaction involving us or in the event of a change of control.
However, our Declaration of Trust restricts beneficial ownership
of our outstanding shares of beneficial interest by a single
person, or persons acting as a group, to 9.8% of such shares,
with exceptions. See Description of Common
Shares Restriction on size of holdings.
Additionally, the articles supplementary relating to the
Series C preferred shares, Series F preferred shares
and Series G preferred shares restrict beneficial ownership
of such shares by a person, or persons acting as a group, to 25%
of the Series C preferred shares, Series F preferred
shares and Series G preferred shares, respectively, with
limited exceptions. Similarly, the articles supplementary for
each other series of preferred shares will contain specific
provisions restricting the ownership and transfer of the
preferred shares. See Description of Preferred
Shares Restrictions on ownership. These
restrictions are designed to preserve our status as a real
estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code and may
act to prevent or hinder a change of control. Refer to the
applicable prospectus supplement for information with respect to
any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the events
of default or covenants that are described below, including any
addition of a covenant or other provision providing event risk
or similar protection.
Denominations
Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus
supplement, the debt securities of any series issued in
registered form will be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and
integral multiples of $1,000. Unless otherwise described in the
applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities of any
series issued in bearer form will be issuable in denominations
of $5,000.
Principal
and interest
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus
supplement, the principal of and premium or
make-whole amounts, if any and interest on any
series of debt securities will be payable at the corporate trust
office of U.S. Bank National Association, initially located
at 100 Wall Street, Suite 1600, New York, New York 10005;
provided that, at our option, payment of interest may be made by
check mailed to the address of the person entitled to the
payment as it appears in the security register or by wire
transfer of funds to the person to an account maintained within
the United States.
4
If any interest payment date, principal payment date or the
maturity date falls on a day that is not a business day, the
required payment will be made on the next business day as if it
were made on the date the payment was due and no interest will
accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after
the interest payment date, principal payment date or the
maturity date, as the case may be. Business day
means any day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, on
which banks in Boston, Massachusetts or New York, New York are
not authorized or required by law or executive order to close.
Any interest not punctually paid or duly provided for on any
interest payment date with respect to a debt security, will
cease to be payable to the holder on the applicable regular
record date and either may be paid to the person in whose name
the debt security is registered at the close of business on a
special record date for the payment of the defaulted interest to
be fixed by the trustee, notice of which will be given to the
holder of the debt security not less than 10 days prior to
the special record date, or may be paid at any time in any other
lawful manner, all as more completely described in the Indenture.
Security
and sharing arrangements
Pursuant to various pledge agreements, ProLogis and certain of
its subsidiaries have pledged specified intercompany loans to
Bank of America, N.A., as collateral agent, for the benefit of
the Credit Parties under and as defined in the
Security Agency Agreement. The Credit Parties under the Security
Agency Agreement include the holders of specified credit
obligations of ProLogis, including, all obligations arising
under ProLogis global credit facility, certain hedging
obligations of ProLogis, other Designated Senior
Debt specified therein, as well as any other senior debt
of ProLogis designated from time to time by ProLogis as
Designated Senior Debt in accordance with the
Security Agency Agreement. Unless otherwise stated in the
prospectus supplement relating to the debt securities being
offered the debt securities are included within the definition
of Designated Senior Debt and holders of the debt
securities will be Credit Parties under the Security
Agency Agreement and will be entitled to a pro rata share in the
proceeds of the collateral granted under the pledge agreements.
To the extent the notes become entitled to the benefits of the
sharing arrangements described below, the notes will be entitled
to share ratably in any recoveries received by the holders of
the subsidiary debt subject to such arrangements, so as to
effectively eliminate or mitigate the consequence of any
structural subordination of the notes that might otherwise exist.
The Security Agency Agreement also provides that, upon the
occurrence of a triggering event (which includes bankruptcy or
insolvency events of ProLogis or any other borrower under its
global credit facility, the acceleration of indebtedness under
the global credit facility or other indebtedness in excess of
$50 million and similar events), the Credit Parties will,
subject to certain exceptions and limitations (including, in the
case of the holders of the debt securities, the requirements set
forth in the following paragraph), share payments and other
recoveries received from ProLogis and its subsidiaries to be
applied toward the credit obligations held by such Credit
Parties in such a manner that all Credit Parties receive payment
of substantially the same percentage of their respective credit
obligations. These sharing arrangements are intended to
eliminate or mitigate structural subordination issues that
otherwise might entitle some Credit Parties (such as Credit
Parties that lend directly to a subsidiary of ProLogis or that
have the benefit of guarantees from one or more subsidiaries of
ProLogis) to recover a higher percentage of their credit
obligations than other Credit Parties that do not have the
benefit of such arrangements.
Within 45 days after a triggering event, the collateral
agent will deliver a notice of such event to the trustee. As
promptly as practicable, but in any event within 90 days
after receiving any notice from the collateral agent with
respect to the occurrence of a triggering event, the trustee
will (x) forward such notice to holders of the debt
securities, (y) execute and deliver, on behalf of the
holders, an acknowledgment entitling the holders to participate
in the sharing arrangements described in the preceding paragraph
and (z) take such further actions as a majority of the
holders (voting as a single class) may request with respect
thereto and with respect to any rights such holders or the
trustee may have under the Security Agency Agreement; provided
that, in the case of this clause (z), such holders shall have
offered the trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the
costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in
compliance with such request or
5
direction. Upon delivery of such acknowledgement by the trustee,
the holders of the debt securities will be entitled to
participate in the sharing arrangements described above.
The Security Agency Agreement allows ProLogis to
(i) designate other senior debt of ProLogis as Designated
Senior Debt; (ii) specify which Credit Parties are entitled
to vote on issues arising under the Security Agency Agreement
(and the holders of the debt securities will be non-voting
Credit Parties);
and/or
(iii) revoke its designation of the debt securities as
Designated Senior Debt effective not less than 90 days
after disclosing such revocation (in a footnote or otherwise) in
a
Form 10-Q
or
Form 10-K
filed with the SEC. In the event that ProLogis elects to revoke
its designation of the debt securities as Designated Senior Debt
under the Security Agency Agreement, the holders of the debt
securities will cease to be Credit Parties and will no longer be
entitled to any benefit of the security and sharing arrangements
contemplated by the Security Agency Agreement and the related
pledge agreements. In addition, a majority of the voting Credit
Parties under the Security Agency Agreement may elect
(a) to release some or all of the collateral held pursuant
to the Security Agency Agreement
and/or
(b) under certain circumstances, to defer payments to
Credit Parties pursuant to the sharing arrangements either
(i) generally for various reasons or (ii) specifically
to certain holders of debt (including the holders of the debt
securities) if the collateral agent or the voting Credit Parties
determine, in their sole discretion, that such holders might
receive more than their share of payments and other recoveries
pursuant to the Security Agency Agreement. Without notice to or
consent of the holders of the debt securities, the Security
Agency Agreement may be amended by ProLogis, the collateral
agent and a majority of the voting Credit Parties, even if such
amendment is adverse to the interests of the holders of the debt
securities.
The Security Agency Agreement provides that whenever the
majority voting Credit Parties are granted and exercise the
right to make decisions under the Security Agency Agreement,
including decisions with respect to pledged collateral or how
and when recoveries are shared, such decisions will be made in
their sole and complete discretion. The voting Credit Parties
will have no obligation or duty (including implied obligations
of reasonableness, good faith or fair dealing) to any holder of
debt securities and have no obligation or duty to take into
consideration the interests of the holders of the debt
securities when taking any action or making any determination
contemplated by the Security Agency Agreement. By accepting the
benefits of the Security Agency Agreement, each holder of debt
securities expressly waives and disclaims any claim or cause of
action based upon any vote, decision or determination (including
the giving or withholding of consent) made by the majority
voting Credit Parties in accordance with the terms of the
Security Agency Agreement. Bank of America, N.A., which acts as
the collateral agent under the Security Agency Agreement and
under the various pledge agreements, is also a voting Credit
Party under the Security Agency Agreement and its interests in
such capacity may conflict with the interests of the holders of
the debt securities.
Notwithstanding any benefit to which a holder of notes may
become entitled pursuant to the security and sharing
arrangements referred to above, the notes will be effectively
subordinated to (1) our indebtedness that is secured by
collateral other than the intercompany loans referred to above,
to the extent of the value of such collateral and
(2) liabilities of our subsidiaries that are not subject
to, or are owing to creditors not parties to, the sharing
arrangements.
Investors in Designated Senior Debt should refer to the Security
Agency Agreement for further information regarding the
collateral subject thereto, the sharing arrangements set forth
therein and the restrictions and limitations on the rights of
the holders of the debt securities thereunder. By purchasing a
debt security that falls within the definition of Designated
Senior Debt, each investor will be deemed to acknowledge that
its right to share in the benefits of such collateral and
participate in such sharing arrangements are limited as
described above and as more fully set forth in the Security
Agency Agreement.
Merger,
consolidation or sale
We may consolidate with or merge with or into another entity, or
sell, lease or convey all or substantially all of our assets to
another entity, provided that the following three conditions are
met:
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
After the transaction, we, or a person organized and existing
under the laws of the United States or one of the fifty states
are the continuing entity. If the continuing entity is an entity
other than
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
us, that entity must also assume our payment obligations under
the Indenture, as well as, the due and punctual performance and
observance of all of the covenants contained in the Indenture;
|
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
After giving effect to the transaction and treating any
indebtedness which became an obligation of ours or any of our
subsidiaries as a result of the transaction as having been
incurred by us or such subsidiary at the time of such
transaction, an event of default (or an event which, with notice
or lapse of time or both, would become an event of default) has
not occurred under the Indenture. Additionally, the transaction
may not cause an event which, after notice or a lapse of time,
or both, would become an event of default; and
|
|
|
(3)
|
The continuing entity delivers an officers certificate and
legal opinion covering (1) and (2) above.
|
Covenants
This section describes covenants we make in the Indenture for
the benefit of the holders of the debt securities. The covenants
contained in the Original Indenture, as supplemented, are
described under the caption Limitations on
incurrence of debt. Additional covenants are contained in
the Seventh Supplemental Indenture and are applicable to debt
securities issued on and after May 7, 2008. These
additional covenants are described below under the caption
Debt covenants contained in the Seventh
Supplemental Indenture.
As explained below, the covenants contained in the Original
Indenture, as supplemented, apply to all debt securities issued
under the Indenture for so long as any debt securities issued
under the Indenture prior to November 2, 2005 remain
outstanding. Following the repayment in full of each series of
debt securities issued under the Indenture prior to
November 2, 2005, the covenants contained in the Seventh
Supplemental Indenture will be the only covenants applicable to
debt securities issued on or after May 7, 2008 that limit
our incurrence of Debt, unless the Indenture is further modified
or supplemented.
Limitations
on incurrence of debt
As noted above, the following covenants will apply to the debt
securities issued under the Indenture but only for so long as
any of our debt securities issued prior to November 2, 2005
that are currently outstanding remain outstanding. The covenants
provide that we will not, and will not permit any subsidiary to,
incur any Debt if, immediately after giving effect to the
incurrence of such additional Debt and the application of the
proceeds of the additional Debt, the aggregate principal amount
of all our outstanding Debt and that of our subsidiaries on a
consolidated basis determined in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles is greater than 60% of the sum
(without duplication) of:
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
our Total Assets,
|
|
|
(2)
|
the purchase price of any real estate assets or mortgages
receivable acquired, and
|
|
|
(3)
|
the amount of any securities offering proceeds received by us or
any subsidiary since the end of the last calendar quarter,
including those proceeds obtained in connection with the
incurrence of the additional Debt.
|
Our Total Assets will be measured at the end of the calendar
quarter covered in our annual report on
Form 10-K
or quarterly report on
Form 10-Q,
as the case may be, most recently filed with the SEC. If such
filing is not permitted under the Exchange Act, we will provide
this information to the trustee, prior to the incurrence of such
additional Debt. To the extent that any real estate assets or
mortgages had been previously included in our Total Assets, or
the proceeds from a securities offering were used to purchase
real estate assets, their accounting will not be duplicated.
In addition to this limitation on the incurrence of Debt, we and
our subsidiaries will not allow our outstanding Debt that is
secured by any mortgage, lien, charge, pledge, encumbrance or
security interest of any kind upon any of our property or the
property of any of our subsidiaries, if the aggregate principal
amount of all of our outstanding Debt and that of our
subsidiaries so secured would be greater than 40% of the sum of
our Total Assets, and the purchase price of real estate or
mortgage receivables acquired, and proceeds from the
7
sale of securities, determined as described above. This ratio
will be measured immediately after giving effect to the
incurrence of such additional Debt and the application of the
proceeds of the additional Debt. In making this calculation, we
are not required to include the amount of the debt securities
issued under the Indenture if the debt securities are equally
and ratably secured and the mortgage, lien, charge, pledge,
encumbrance or security interest securing the debt securities
arises under the Security Agency Agreement described above under
Security and sharing arrangements.
In addition to these limitations on the incurrence of Debt, no
subsidiary may incur any Unsecured Debt other than intercompany
Debt subordinate to the debt securities; provided, however, that
we or a subsidiary may acquire an entity that becomes a
subsidiary that has Unsecured Debt if the incurrence of such
Debt, including any guarantees of such Debt assumed by us or any
subsidiary, was not intended to evade the restrictions on
incurring Unsecured Debt and the incurrence of such Debt,
including any guarantees of such Debt assumed by us or any
subsidiary, would otherwise be permitted under the Indenture.
We and our subsidiaries may not at any time own Total
Unencumbered Assets equal to less than 150% of the aggregate
outstanding principal amount of our Unsecured Debt and that of
our subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.
In addition to these limitations on the incurrence of Debt, we
will not, and will not permit any subsidiary to, incur any Debt
if the ratio of Consolidated Income Available for Debt Service
to the Annual Service Charge or the four consecutive fiscal
quarters most recently ended prior to the date on which such
additional Debt is to be incurred shall have been less than 1.5,
on a pro forma basis after giving effect the incurrence of such
Debt and to the application of the proceeds therefrom, and
calculated on the assumption that:
|
|
|
|
|
such Debt and any other Debt incurred by us and our subsidiaries
since the first day of such four-quarter period and the
application of the proceeds therefrom, including to refinance
other Debt, had occurred at the beginning of such period;
|
|
|
|
the repayment or retirement of any other Debt by us and our
subsidiaries since the first day of such four-quarter period had
been incurred, repaid or retired at the beginning of such
period, except that, in making such computation, the amount of
Debt under any revolving credit facility shall be computed based
upon the average daily balance of such Debt during such period;
|
|
|
|
in the case of acquired Debt or Debt incurred in connection with
any acquisition since the first day of such four-quarter period,
the related acquisition had occurred as of the first day of such
period with the appropriate adjustments with respect to such
acquisition being included in such pro forma
calculation; and
|
|
|
|
in the case of any acquisition or disposition by us or our
subsidiaries of any asset or group of assets since the first day
of such four-quarter period, whether by merger, stock purchase
or sale, or asset purchase or sale, such acquisition or
disposition or any related repayment of Debt had occurred as of
the first day of such period with the appropriate adjustments
with respect to such acquisition or disposition being included
in such pro forma calculation.
|
For purposes of the foregoing covenants, the following
definitions apply:
Annual Service Charge as of any date means the
maximum amount which is payable in any period for interest on,
and original issue discount of, our or our subsidiaries
Debt and the amount of dividends which are payable in respect of
any Disqualified Stock.
Consolidated Income Available for Debt Service for
any period means earnings from operations (defined as net
earnings, excluding gains and losses on sales of investments,
net, as reflected in our consolidated financial statements),
plus amounts which have been deducted, and minus amounts which
have been added, for the following, without duplication:
|
|
|
|
|
interest on Debt;
|
|
|
|
provision for taxes based on income;
|
8
|
|
|
|
|
amortization of debt discount;
|
|
|
|
provisions for gains and losses on properties and property
depreciation and amortization;
|
|
|
|
the effect of any noncash charge resulting from a change in
accounting principles in determining earnings from operations
for the applicable period; and
|
|
|
|
amortization of deferred charges.
|
Debt means any of our or our subsidiaries
indebtedness, whether or not contingent, in respect of:
|
|
|
|
|
borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or
similar instruments to the extent it appears as a liability on
our consolidated balance sheet,
|
|
|
|
indebtedness secured by any mortgage, pledge, lien, charge,
encumbrance or any security interest existing on property that
we own to the extent it appears as a liability on our
consolidated balance sheet,
|
|
|
|
the reimbursement obligations, contingent or otherwise, in
connection with any letters of credit actually issued or amounts
representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase
price of any property or services, except any such balance that
constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable, or all
conditional sale obligations or obligations under any title
retention agreement to the extent it (other than a letter of
credit) appears as a liability on our consolidated balance sheet,
|
|
|
|
the principal amount of all of our and our subsidiaries
obligations with respect to redemption, repayment or other
repurchase of any Disqualified Stock,
|
|
|
|
any lease of property by us or any of our subsidiaries as lessee
which is reflected on our consolidated balance sheet as a
capitalized lease to the extent not otherwise included, any
obligation by us or any of our subsidiaries to be liable for, or
to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, other than for
purposes of collection in the ordinary course of business, Debt
of another person other than us or any of our subsidiaries.
|
Disqualified Stock means, with respect to any
person, any capital stock of such person which by the terms of
such capital stock (or by the terms of any security into which
it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable or
exercisable), upon the happening of any event or otherwise,
(i) matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a
sinking fund obligation or otherwise, (ii) is convertible
into or exchangeable or exercisable for Debt or Disqualified
Stock or (iii) is redeemable at the option of the holder
thereof, in whole or in part, in each case on or prior to the
stated maturity of a series of debt securities.
Encumbrance means any mortgage, pledge, lien,
charge, encumbrance or any security interest existing on
property owned by us or any of our subsidiaries securing
indebtedness for borrowed money, other than a Permitted
Encumbrance.
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles
as used in the United States applied on a consistent basis as in
effect from time to time; provided, that solely for purposes of
calculating these financial covenants, GAAP means
generally accepted accounting principles as used in the United
States on March 1, 1995 consistently applied.
Permitted Encumbrances means leases, Encumbrances
securing taxes, assessments and similar charges, mechanics liens
and other similar Encumbrances.
Total Assets means, as of any date, the sum of
(i) Undepreciated Real Estate Assets and (ii) all of
our and our subsidiaries other assets, but excluding
accounts receivable and intangibles, determined in accordance
with GAAP.
Total Unencumbered Assets means the sum of our and
our subsidiaries Undepreciated Real Estate Assets and the
value determined in accordance with GAAP of all our and our
subsidiaries other assets, other than accounts receivable
and intangibles, in each case not subject to an Encumbrance.
9
Undepreciated Real Estate Assets as of any date
means the cost (original cost plus capital improvements) of our
real estate assets and those of our subsidiaries, before
depreciation and amortization determined on a consolidated basis
in accordance with GAAP.
Unsecured Debt means Debt of the types described in
the first, third and fourth points of the definition of Debt
which is not secured by any mortgage, lien, charge, pledge or
security interest of any kind upon any of or properties or those
of our subsidiaries.
Debt
covenants contained in the Seventh Supplemental
Indenture
The Seventh Supplemental Indenture contains covenants that are
currently in effect, and which are in addition to the covenants
contained in the Original Indenture and described in this
prospectus. From and after the time that no debt securities
issued pursuant to the Indenture prior to November 2, 2005
remain outstanding, the covenants contained in the Seventh
Supplemental Indenture will be the only covenants applicable to
debt securities issued on or after May 7, 2008 that limit
our incurrence of Debt, unless the Indenture is further modified
or supplemented.
The covenants contained in the Seventh Supplemental Indenture
provide that we will not, and will not permit any subsidiary to,
incur any Debt if, immediately after giving effect to the
incurrence of such additional Debt and the application of the
net proceeds of the additional Debt, the aggregate principal
amount of all our outstanding Debt determined in accordance with
GAAP and that of our Subsidiaries is greater than 65% of the sum
of
(1) our Total Assets, and
(2) the purchase price of any real estate assets or
mortgages receivable acquired and the amount of any securities
offering proceeds received by us or any Subsidiary since the end
of the last calendar quarter, including those proceeds obtained
in connection with the incurrence of the additional Debt.
Our Total Assets will be measured at the end of the calendar
quarter covered in our annual report on
Form 10-K
or quarterly report on
Form 10-Q,
as the case may be, most recently filed with the SEC. If such
filing is not permitted under the Exchange Act, we will provide
this information to the trustee, prior to the incurrence of such
additional Debt. To the extent that any assets or mortgage
receivables had been previously included in our Total Assets, or
the proceeds from a securities offering were used to purchase
assets or mortgage receivables, their accounting will not be
duplicated.
In addition to this limitation on the incurrence of Debt, we and
our Subsidiaries will not incur or suffer to exist any Debt that
is secured by an Encumbrance to be greater than 40% of the sum
(without duplication) of our Total Assets, the purchase price of
real estate or mortgage receivables, and proceeds from the sale
of securities, determined as described above. This ratio will be
measured immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of
such additional Debt and the application of the proceeds of the
additional Debt. In making this calculation, we are not required
to include the amount of any Pari Passu Debt.
Our and our Subsidiaries Total Unencumbered Assets may not
at any time be less than 125% of the aggregate outstanding
principal amount of our Unsecured Debt and that of our
Subsidiaries.
In addition to these limitations on the incurrence of Debt, we
will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, incur any
additional Debt if the ratio of Consolidated Income Available
for Debt Service to the Annual Service Charge for the four
consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended prior to the
date on which such additional Debt is to be incurred shall have
been less than 1.5 to 1.0 on a pro forma basis after giving
effect to the incurrence of such Debt and to the application of
the net proceeds therefrom and calculated on the assumption that
the additional Debt had been incurred and, the application of
the proceeds (including projected income therefrom) had
occurred, at the beginning of the relevant period.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in the above covenants
shall prevent (a) us from incurring Debt owed to any of our
Subsidiaries, provided that such Debt is unsecured and expressly
subordinated to the notes, (b) any of our Subsidiaries from
incurring Debt owed to us or (c) any other Subsidiary or us
or any Subsidiary from incurring Refinancing Debt.
10
For purposes of the covenants described under this caption the
following definitions apply (all other terms used but not
defined have the meanings as described above under
Limitations on incurrence of debt):
Annual Service Charge for any period means interest
expense and the amount of dividends, which are payable in
respect of Disqualified Stock, as recognized in our consolidated
statement of earnings, adjusted to include interest amounts that
were capitalized and not included in such interest expense, and
to exclude amounts that represent amortization of non-cash
items, such as the amortization of premiums or discounts, loan
issuance costs, hedging gains or losses or fair value
adjustments, and to exclude items classified as extraordinary
items.
Capitalized Value means, as of any date, the
annualized amount of Net Operating Income for the most recently
completed fiscal quarter divided by 7%.
CDFS means our business segment described in our
annual report on
Form 10-K
and referred to as the corporate distribution facilities
services or CDFS segment (or successor
descriptions).
Consolidated Income Available for Debt Service for
any period means our net earnings before preferred share
dividends determined in accordance with GAAP and as reported in
our Consolidated Statements of Earnings plus amounts which have
been deducted, and minus amounts which have been added, for the
following, without duplication:
|
|
|
|
|
losses (gains) from the disposition or impairment of properties
that are classified in our consolidated financial statements as
non-CDFS assets (or successor descriptions);
|
|
|
|
losses (gains) resulting from (i) foreign currency exchange
effects of settlement of intercompany Debt and mark-to-market
adjustments associated with intercompany Debt between us and our
foreign Subsidiaries and our foreign Unconsolidated Affiliates,
(ii) foreign currency effects from the remeasurement of
third party Debt of our foreign Subsidiaries and
(iii) mark-to-market adjustments to foreign exchange and
interest rate contracts (or other derivatives), in each case to
the extent included in our net earnings and the net earnings of
our Subsidiaries;
|
|
|
|
losses (gains) from early extinguishment of Debt;
|
|
|
|
excess (deficit) of redemption value over carrying value of
preferred shares redeemed;
|
|
|
|
extraordinary losses (extraordinary gains) determined in
accordance with GAAP;
|
|
|
|
cumulative charges (benefits) from a change in accounting
principle;
|
|
|
|
minority interest;
|
|
|
|
interest expense and the amount of dividends, which are payable
in respect of Disqualified Stock, as recognized in our
consolidated statement of earnings, adjusted to include interest
amounts that were capitalized and not included in such interest
expense, and to exclude amounts that represent amortization of
non-cash items, such as the amortization of premiums or
discounts, loan issuance costs, hedging gains or losses or fair
value adjustments, and to exclude items classified as
extraordinary items;
|
|
|
|
income taxes; and
|
|
|
|
depreciation and amortization.
|
Debt means any of our or our Subsidiaries
indebtedness (without duplication), in respect of:
|
|
|
|
|
borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, notes, mortgages,
debentures or similar instruments, but excluding any
mark-to-market increase or decrease in indebtedness due to the
purchase accounting impact of corporate or portfolio
acquisitions and from the remeasurement of intercompany
indebtedness of our Subsidiaries or Unconsolidated Affiliates,
to the extent it appears as a liability on our consolidated
balance sheet;
|
11
|
|
|
|
|
indebtedness secured by an Encumbrance existing on any of our
property or that of any Subsidiary, whether or not such
obligation shall have been assumed by us or any Subsidiary;
provided that the amount of any Debt under this clause that has
not been assumed by us or any Subsidiary shall be equal to the
lesser of the stated amount of such Debt or the fair market
value of the property securing such Debt, in each case, to the
extent it appears as a liability on our consolidated balance
sheet;
|
|
|
|
the principal amount of all our or any of our Subsidiaries
obligations with respect to redemption, repayment or other
repurchase of any Disqualified Stock;
|
|
|
|
any capitalized lease of property by us or any of our
Subsidiaries, as lessee, to the extent it appears as a liability
on our consolidated balance sheet; or
|
|
|
|
to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation of ours or
any of our Subsidiaries to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor
or guarantor, other than for purposes of collection in the
ordinary course of business, Debt of another person other than
us or any of our Subsidiaries, excluding, in each case,
indemnification obligations, capital contribution obligations
and similar obligations that are not required to be reflected on
our consolidated balance sheet.
|
Encumbrance means any mortgage, pledge, lien,
charge, encumbrance or any security interest existing on
property owned by us or any of our Subsidiaries securing
indebtedness for borrowed money, other than a Permitted
Encumbrance.
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles
as in effect from time to time in the United States or
other accounting method that we are subsequently using and that
has been accepted by the SEC.
Net Operating Income means, as of any date for any
of our Stabilized Assets and our Subsidiaries Stabilized
Assets, the difference, if positive between (a) any
rentals, proceeds, expense reimbursements, and revenue received
from such Stabilized Assets, and (b) all costs and expenses
incurred as a result of, or in connection with, the operation
and leasing of the applicable Stabilized Assets, in each case
determined in accordance with GAAP, but excluding depreciation,
amortization, interest expense, impairment and any capital
expenditures related to such Stabilized Assets.
Pari Passu Debt means any of our or our
Subsidiaries unsubordinated Debt that is unsecured, is
secured only by Encumbrances on property that secure the debt
securities issued under the Indenture on an equal and ratable
basis with such Debt or the debt securities provided the debt
securities are equally and ratably secured.
Permitted Encumbrances means
|
|
|
|
|
pledges or deposits made to secure payment of workers
compensation, or to participate in any fund in connection with
workers compensation insurance, unemployment insurance,
pensions, or social security programs;
|
|
|
|
Encumbrances consisting of zoning restrictions, easements, or
other restrictions on the use of real property, provided that
such items do not materially impair the use of such property for
the purposes intended and none of which is violated in any
material respect by existing or proposed structures or land use;
|
|
|
|
Encumbrances imposed by mandatory provisions of law such as for
materialmens, mechanics, warehousemens, and
other like Encumbrances arising in the ordinary course of
business, securing payment of any liability whose payment is not
yet due;
|
|
|
|
Encumbrances for taxes not yet due and payable or for taxes,
assessments, and governmental charges or assessments that are
being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings
diligently conducted;
|
|
|
|
Encumbrances on properties where we or the applicable Subsidiary
is insured against such Encumbrances by title insurance or other
similar arrangements;
|
12
|
|
|
|
|
Encumbrances securing assessments or charges payable to a
property owner association or similar entity, which assessments
are not yet due and payable or are being contested in good faith
by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted;
|
|
|
|
Encumbrances securing assessment bonds and similar facilities
district bonds so long as we or the applicable Subsidiary is not
in material default under the terms thereof;
|
|
|
|
Encumbrances granted to us by any of our Subsidiaries;
|
|
|
|
leases to tenants of space in properties that are entered into
in the ordinary course of business;
|
|
|
|
any netting or set-off arrangement entered into by us or any of
our Subsidiaries in the normal course of its banking
arrangements for the purpose of netting debit and credit
balances, or any set-off arrangement which arises by operation
of law as a result of us or any of our Subsidiaries opening a
bank account;
|
|
|
|
any title transfer or retention of title arrangement entered
into by us or any of our Subsidiaries in the normal course of
its trading activities on the counterpartys standard or
usual terms;
|
|
|
|
Encumbrances over goods and documents of title to goods arising
out of letter of credit transactions entered into in the
ordinary course of business; and
|
|
|
|
any Encumbrance which secures the Pari Passu Debt.
|
Refinancing Debt means Debt issued in exchange for,
or the net proceeds of which are used to refinance or refund,
then outstanding Debt (including the principal amount, accrued
interest and premium, if any, of such Debt plus any fees and
expenses incurred in connection with such refinancing); provided
that (a) if such new Debt, or the proceeds of such new
Debt, are used to refinance or refund Debt that is subordinated
in right of payment to the notes, such new Debt shall only be
permitted if it is expressly made subordinate in right of
payment to the notes at least to the extent that the Debt to be
refinanced is subordinated to the notes and (b) such new
Debt does not mature prior to the stated maturity of the Debt to
be refinanced or refunded, and the weighted average life of such
new Debt is at least equal to the remaining weighted average
life of the Debt to be refinanced or refunded.
Stabilized Asset means, as of any date, any of our
real estate assets and any real estate assets of our
Subsidiaries, at least 90% of the rentable area of which was
leased pursuant to bona fide tenant leases, licenses, or other
agreements requiring current rent or other similar payments for
the entire three months of the most recently completed fiscal
quarter.
Subsidiary means any entity in which we, directly or
indirectly, hold an ownership interest, the operations and
results of which are consolidated in our financial statements
included in our annual report on
Form 10-K
or quarterly report on
Form 10-Q.
An entity in which we, directly or indirectly, hold a 50% or
less equity ownership interest and do not consolidate in our
financial statements as of March 31, 2008 that later
becomes a consolidated entity in our financial statements solely
due to a change in GAAP after March 31, 2008 will not be
deemed a Subsidiary and will remain an
Unconsolidated Affiliate. In no event shall an entity be
included as both a Subsidiary and an
Unconsolidated Affiliate for purposes of the
Indenture.
Total Assets means, as of any date, the sum of the
Capitalized Value of Stabilized Assets plus the aggregate book
value of all of our and our Subsidiaries other assets
before accumulated depreciation and amortization, as reflected
on our consolidated balance sheet for the applicable date.
Total Unencumbered Assets means Total Assets,
determined on a basis not including any assets that are subject
to an Encumbrance.
Unconsolidated Affiliate means any entity in which
we, directly or indirectly, hold an ownership interest, the
operations and results of which are not consolidated in our
financial statements included in our annual report on
Form 10-K
or quarterly report on
Form 10-Q.
An entity in which we, directly or indirectly, hold a 50% or
less equity ownership interest and do not consolidate in our
financial statements as of March 31, 2008 that later
becomes a consolidated entity in our financial statements solely
due to a change in GAAP after
13
March 31, 2008 will not be deemed a Subsidiary
and will remain an Unconsolidated Affiliate. In no event shall
an entity be included as both a Subsidiary and an
Unconsolidated Affiliate for purposes of the
Indenture.
Unsecured Debt means Debt, including Pari Passu
Debt, which is not otherwise secured by an Encumbrance upon any
of our or our Subsidiaries properties.
Existence
Except as permitted under Merger,
consolidation or sale, we will do or cause to be done all
things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect
our and our subsidiaries existence, rights, both charter
and statutory, and franchises; provided, however, that we will
not be required to preserve any right or franchise if we
determine that the preservation of the right or franchise is no
longer desirable in the conduct of our business and that the
loss of the right or franchise is not disadvantageous in any
material respect to the holders of the debt securities.
Maintenance
of properties
We will cause all of our properties used or useful in the
conduct of our business or the business of any subsidiary to be
maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order
and supplied with all necessary equipment and will cause to be
made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments
and improvements of our properties, all as in our judgment may
be necessary so that the business carried on in connection
therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted at all
times; provided, however, that we and our subsidiaries will not
be prevented from selling or otherwise disposing for value our
properties in the ordinary course of business.
Insurance
We will, and will cause each of our subsidiaries to, keep all of
our insurable properties insured against loss or damage at least
equal to their then full insurable value with financially sound
and reputable insurance companies.
Payment
of taxes and other claims
We will pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged,
before the same shall become delinquent, all taxes, assessments
and governmental charges levied or imposed upon us or any
subsidiary or upon our income, profits or property or any
subsidiary and all lawful claims for labor, materials and
supplies which, if unpaid, might by law become a lien upon our
property or any subsidiary; provided, however, that we will not
be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or
discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or claim whose
amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good
faith by appropriate proceedings.
Provision
of financial information
Whether or not we are subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act, we will file with the SEC, to the extent permitted
under the Exchange Act, the annual reports, quarterly reports
and other documents which we would have been required to file
with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) if we were so
subject. We will file the documents with the SEC on or prior to
the respective filing dates by which we would have been required
so to file the documents if we were so subject. We will also in
any event within 15 days of each required filing date
transmit to all holders of debt securities, as their names and
addresses appear in the security register, without cost to such
holders, copies of the annual reports and quarterly reports
which we would have been required to file with the SEC pursuant
to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act if we were
subject to Section 13 or 15(d). Additionally, we will
provide the trustee with copies of the annual reports, quarterly
reports and other documents which we would have been required to
file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act if we were subject to such sections. If filing the
documents by us with the SEC is not permitted under the Exchange
Act, we will promptly upon written request and payment of the
reasonable cost of duplication and delivery, supply copies of
such documents to any prospective holder.
14
Events of
default, notice and waiver
The Indenture provides that the following events are events of
default with respect to any series of debt securities issued
pursuant to it:
(1) default in the payment of any installment of interest
or additional amounts payable on any debt security of such
series which continues for 30 days;
(2) default in the payment of the principal, or premium or
make-whole amount, if any, on, any debt security of such series
at its maturity or redemption date;
(3) default in making any sinking fund payment as required
for any debt security of such series;
(4) default in the performance of any other of our
covenants contained in the Indenture, other than a covenant
added to the Indenture solely for the benefit of another series
of debt securities issued under the Indenture, which continues
for 60 days after written notice as provided in the
Indenture;
(5) default in the payment of an aggregate principal amount
exceeding $10,000,000 ($50,000,000 with respect to debt
securities issued after the date of the Second Supplemental
Indenture, after such time as any debt securities issued under
the Indenture prior to the date of the Second Supplemental
Indenture are no longer outstanding) under any bond, note or
other evidence of indebtedness or any mortgage, indenture or
other instrument under which such indebtedness is issued or by
which such indebtedness is secured (or any such indebtedness of
any of our subsidiaries, which we have guaranteed), such default
having occurred after the expiration of any applicable grace
period and having resulted in the acceleration of the maturity
of such indebtedness, but only if such indebtedness is not
discharged or such acceleration is not rescinded or annulled
within 10 days after written notice as provided in the
Indenture;
(6) the entry by a court of competent jurisdiction of one
or more judgments, orders or decrees against us or any of our
subsidiaries in an aggregate amount, excluding amounts fully
covered by insurance, in excess of $10,000,000 ($50,000,000 with
respect to debt securities issued after the date of the Second
Supplemental Indenture after such time as any debt securities
issued under the Indenture prior to the date of the Second
Supplemental Indenture are no longer outstanding) and such
judgments, orders or decrees remain undischarged, unstayed and
unsatisfied in an aggregate amount, excluding amounts fully
covered by insurance, in excess of $10,000,000 ($50,000,000 with
respect to debt securities issued after the date of the Second
Supplemental Indenture after such time as any debt securities
issued under the Indenture prior to the date of the Second
Supplemental Indenture are no longer outstanding) for a period
of 30 consecutive days;
(7) events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, or
court appointment of a receiver, liquidator or trustee for us or
any significant subsidiary or for all or substantially all of
our or our significant subsidiarys property; and
(8) any other event of default provided with respect to a
particular series of debt securities.
The term significant subsidiary means each of our significant
subsidiaries, as defined in
Regulation S-X
promulgated under the Securities Act.
If an event of default under the Indenture with respect to a
series of debt securities occurs and is continuing, then in
every such case, unless the principal of all of the debt
securities shall already have become due and payable, the
trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount
of a particular series of debt securities may declare the
principal and the make-whole amount on the debt securities of
that series to be due and payable immediately by written notice
to us that payment of the debt securities is due, and to the
trustee if given by the holders. However, at any time after such
a declaration of acceleration with respect to a series of debt
securities has been made, but before a judgment or decree for
payment of the money due has been obtained by the trustee, the
holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the
debt securities
15
may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if
we shall have deposited with the trustee all required payments
of the principal of, and premium or make-whole amount and
interest, on the debt securities, plus fees, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the trustee and all events of
default, other than the nonpayment of accelerated principal, and
the make-whole amount or interest, with respect to debt
securities have been cured or waived as provided in the
Indenture. The Indenture also provides that the holders of not
less than a majority in principal amount of the debt securities
may waive any past default with respect to such series and its
consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal
of, or premium or make-whole amount or interest payable on the
debt securities or in respect of a covenant or provision
contained in the Indenture that cannot be modified or amended
without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt
security affected by the proposed modification or amendment.
The trustee is required to give notice to the holders of the
debt securities within 90 days of a default under the
Indenture known to the trustee, unless the default has been
cured or waived; provided, however, that the trustee may
withhold notice to the holders of the debt securities of any
default with respect to such series, except a default in the
payment of the principal of, or premium or make-whole amount, if
any, or interest payable on the debt securities if the
responsible officers of the trustee consider such withholding to
be in the interest of such holders.
The Indenture provides that no holders of the debt securities
may institute any proceedings, judicial or otherwise, with
respect to the Indenture or for any remedy which the Indenture
provides, except in the case of failure of the trustee, for
60 days, to act after it has received a written request to
institute proceedings in respect of an event of default from the
holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the
outstanding debt securities, as well as an offer of reasonable
indemnity. This provision will not prevent, however, any holder
of the debt securities from instituting suit for the enforcement
of payment of the principal of, and premium or make-whole
amount, or interest on the debt securities at the due date of
the debt securities.
Subject to provisions in the Indenture relating to its duties in
case of default, the trustee is under no obligation to exercise
any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request
or direction of any holders of any series of debt securities
then outstanding under the Indenture, unless such holders shall
have offered to the trustee reasonable security or indemnity.
The holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of
the debt securities of a series shall have the right to direct
the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any
remedy available to the trustee, or of exercising any trust or
power conferred upon the trustee with respect to that series.
However, the trustee may refuse to follow any direction which is
in conflict with any law or the Indenture, which may involve the
trustee in personal liability or which may be unduly prejudicial
to the holders of the debt securities not joining in the
proceeding.
Within 120 days after the close of each fiscal year, we
must deliver to the trustee a certificate, signed by one of
several specified officers, stating whether or not such officer
has knowledge of any default under the Indenture and, if so,
specifying each such default and the nature and status of the
default.
Modification
of the Indenture
Modifications and amendments of the Indenture may be made with
the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in
principal amount of all outstanding debt securities which are
affected by such modification or amendment; provided, however,
that no such modification or amendment may, without the consent
of the holder of each debt security affected by the modification
or amendment:
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
change the stated maturity of the principal of, or premium or
make-whole amounts, if any, or any installment of principal of
or interest or additional amounts payable on, any such debt
security;
|
|
|
(2)
|
reduce the principal amount of, or the rate or amount of
interest on, or any premium or make-whole amounts payable on
redemption of, or any additional amounts payable with respect
to, any such debt security, or reduce the amount of principal of
an original issue discount security or make-whole amount, if
any, that would be due and payable upon declaration of
acceleration
|
16
|
|
|
|
|
of the maturity of the security or would be provable in
bankruptcy, or adversely affect any right of repayment of the
holder of any such debt security;
|
|
|
|
|
(3)
|
change the place of payment, or the coin or currency, for
payment of principal of, and premium or make-whole amounts, if
any, or interest on, or any additional amounts payable with
respect to, any such debt security;
|
|
|
(4)
|
impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any
payment on or with respect to any such debt security;
|
|
|
(5)
|
reduce the above-stated percentage of outstanding debt
securities of any series necessary to modify or amend the
Indenture, to waive compliance with a provisions of the debt
security or defaults and consequences under the Indenture or to
reduce the quorum or voting requirements set forth in the
Indenture; or
|
|
|
(6)
|
modify any of the provisions relating to modification of the
Indenture or any of the provisions relating to the waiver of
past defaults or covenants, except to increase the required
percentage to effect such action or to provide that other
provisions may not be modified or waived without the consent of
the holder of the effected debt security.
|
The holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of
outstanding debt securities have the right to waive our
compliance with covenants in the Indenture.
Modifications and amendments of the Indenture may be made by us
and the trustee without the consent of any holder of debt
securities for any of the following purposes:
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
to evidence the succession of another person to us as obligor
under the Indenture;
|
|
|
(2)
|
to add to our covenants for the benefit of the holders of all or
any series of debt securities or to surrender any right or power
conferred upon us in the Indenture;
|
|
|
(3)
|
to add events of default for the benefit of the holders of all
or any series of debt securities;
|
|
|
(4)
|
to add or change any provisions of the Indenture to facilitate
the issuance of, or to liberalize terms of, debt securities in
bearer form, or to permit or facilitate the issuance of debt
securities in uncertificated form, provided that such action
shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the
debt securities of any series in any material respect;
|
|
|
(5)
|
to change or eliminate any provisions of the Indenture, provided
that any such change or elimination will become effective only
when there are no debt securities outstanding of any series
created prior to such change which are entitled to the benefit
of that provision;
|
|
|
(6)
|
to secure the debt securities;
|
|
|
(7)
|
to establish the form or terms of debt securities of any series
and any related coupons;
|
|
|
(8)
|
to provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor
trustee or facilitate the administration of the trust under the
Indenture by more than one trustee;
|
|
|
(9)
|
to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the Indenture
or to make any other changes, provided that in each case, the
action shall not adversely affect the interests of holders of
debt securities of any series in any material respect;
|
|
|
(10)
|
to close the Indenture with respect to the authentication and
delivery of additional series of debt securities or to qualify,
or maintain qualification of, the Indenture under the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939; or
|
|
|
(11)
|
to supplement any of the provisions of the Indenture to the
extent necessary to permit or facilitate defeasance and
discharge of any series of such debt securities, provided that
the action shall not adversely affect the interests of the
holders of the debt securities of any series in any material
respect.
|
17
The Indenture provides that in determining whether the holders
of the requisite principal amount of outstanding debt securities
of a series have given any request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent or waiver under the Indenture or
whether a quorum is present at a meeting of holders of debt
securities:
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
the principal amount of an original issue discount security that
will be deemed to be outstanding shall be the amount of the
principal of the security that would be due and payable as of
the date of the determination upon declaration of acceleration
of the maturity of the debt security;
|
|
|
(2)
|
the principal amount of a debt security denominated in a foreign
currency that will be deemed outstanding shall be the United
States dollar equivalent, determined on the issue date for the
debt security, of the principal amount, or, in the case of an
original issue discount security, the United States dollar
equivalent on the issue date of the debt security of the amount
determined as provided in (1) above;
|
|
|
(3)
|
the principal amount of an indexed security that shall be deemed
outstanding will be the principal face amount of the indexed
security at original issuance, unless otherwise provided with
respect to the indexed security pursuant to Section 301 of
the Indenture; and
|
|
|
(4)
|
debt securities owned by us or any other obligor upon the debt
securities or any of our affiliates or of the other obligor will
be disregarded.
|
The Indenture contains provisions for convening meetings of the
holders of debt securities of a series. A meeting may be called
at any time by the trustee, and also, upon request, by us or the
holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the outstanding
debt securities of that series, in any such case upon notice
given as provided in the Indenture.
Except for any consent that must be given by the holder of each
debt security affected by modifications and amendments of the
Indenture, any resolution presented at a meeting or at an
adjourned meeting duly reconvened, at which a quorum is present,
may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities
of that series; provided, however, that, except as referred to
above, any resolution with respect to any request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other
action that may be made, given or taken by the holders of a
specified percentage, which is less than a majority, in
principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series
may be adopted at a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened
at which a quorum is present by the affirmative vote of the
holders of the specified percentage in principal amount of the
outstanding debt securities of that series. Any resolution
passed or decision taken at any meeting of holders of debt
securities of any series duly held in accordance with the
Indenture will be binding on all holders of debt securities of
that series. The quorum at any meeting called to adopt a
resolution, and at any reconvened meeting, will be persons
holding or representing a majority in principal amount of the
outstanding debt securities of a series; provided, however, that
if any action is to be taken at the meeting with respect to a
consent or waiver which may be given by the holders of not less
than a specified percentage in principal amount of the
outstanding debt securities of a series, the persons holding or
representing the specified percentage in principal amount of the
outstanding debt securities of that series will constitute a
quorum.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, if any action is to be
taken at a meeting of holders of debt securities of any series
with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction,
notice, consent, waiver or other action that the Indenture
expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the holders of
a specified percentage in principal amount of all outstanding
debt securities affected by the action, or of the holders of
that series and one or more additional series:
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
there shall be no minimum quorum requirement for the
meeting; and
|
|
|
(2)
|
the principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that
series that vote in favor of the request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action will be taken
into account in determining whether the request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other
action has been made, given or taken under the Indenture.
|
18
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent,
waiver or other action provided by the Indenture to be given or
taken by a specified percentage in principal amount of the
holders of any or all series of debt securities may be embodied
in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially
similar tenor signed by the specified percentage of holders in
person or by agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as
otherwise expressly provided in the Indenture, the action will
become effective when the instrument or instruments are
delivered to the trustee. Proof of execution of any instrument
or of a writing appointing any the agent will be sufficient for
any purpose of the Indenture and, subject to the Indenture
provisions relating to the appointment of any such agent,
conclusive in favor of the trustee and us, if made in the manner
specified above.
Discharge,
defeasance and covenant defeasance
We may discharge various obligations to holders of any series of
debt securities that have not already been delivered to the
trustee for cancellation and that either have become due and
payable or will become due and payable within one year, or that
are scheduled for redemption within one year. The discharge will
be completed by irrevocably depositing with the trustee the
funds needed to pay the principal, any make-whole amounts,
interest and additional amounts payable to the date of deposit
or to the date of maturity, as the case may be.
If the defeasance provisions are appliable to a series of debt
securities, we may take either of the following actions with
respect to that series of debt securities:
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
We may elect to defease and be discharged from any and all
obligations with respect to that series of debt securities.
However, we would continue to be obligated to pay any additional
amounts resulting from tax events, assessment or governmental
charges with respect to payments on the series of debt
securities and the obligations to register the transfer or
exchange of the series of debt securities. Additionally, we
would remain responsible for replacing temporary or mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities, for maintaining an
office or agency in respect of the series of debt securities and
for holding moneys for payment in trust.
|
|
|
(2)
|
With respect to the series of debt securities, we may elect to
effect covenant defeasance and be released from our obligations
to fulfill the covenants contained under the heading
Covenants in this prospectus. Further,
we may elect to be released from our obligations with respect to
any other covenant in the Indenture, if such a provision is
included in the series of debt securities at the time that they
are issued. Once we have made this election, any omission to
comply with those covenants shall not constitute a default or an
event of default with respect to the series of debt securities.
|
In either case, we must irrevocably deposit the needed funds in
trust, with the trustee.
The trust may only be established if, among other things, we
have delivered an opinion of counsel to the trustee. The opinion
of counsel shall state that the holders of the series of debt
securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for United
States federal income tax purposes as a result of the defeasance
or covenant defeasance and will be subject to United States
federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and
at the same times as would have been the case if the defeasance
or covenant defeasance had not occurred. The opinion of counsel,
in the case of defeasance, must refer to and be based upon a
ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or a change in applicable
United States federal income tax law occurring after the date of
the Indenture.
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus
supplement, if after we have deposited funds
and/or
government obligations to effect defeasance or covenant
defeasance with respect to debt securities of any series and
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
the holder of a series of debt securities is entitled to and
elects to receive payment in a currency, currency unit or
composite currency other than that in which the deposit has been
made in respect of the debt security or
|
19
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
a conversion event occurs in respect of the currency, currency
unit or composite currency in which such deposit has been made,
|
the indebtedness represented by the debt security will be deemed
to have been, and will be, fully discharged. The indebtedness
will be satisfied through the payment of the principal of, and
premium or any make-whole amount and interest on, the debt
security as they become due out of the proceeds yielded by
converting the amount so deposited in respect of the debt
security into the currency, currency unit or composite currency
in which the debt security becomes payable as a result of the
holders election or the cessation of usage based on the
applicable market exchange rate.
Conversion event means the cessation of use of:
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
a currency, currency unit or composite currency, other than the
European Community Unit or other currency unit, both by the
government of the country which issued such currency and for the
settlement of transactions by a central bank or other public
institutions of or within the international banking community;
|
|
|
(2)
|
the European Community Unit both within the European Monetary
System and for the settlement of transactions by public
institutions of or within the European Communities; or
|
|
|
(3)
|
any currency unit or composite currency other than the European
Community Unit for the purposes for which it was established.
|
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus
supplement, all payments of principal of, and premium or any
make-whole amount and interest on any debt security that is
payable in a foreign currency that ceases to be used by its
government of issuance shall be made in United States dollars.
In the event we effect covenant defeasance with respect to any
debt securities and the debt securities are declared due and
payable because of the occurrence of any event of default, other
than the events of default that would no longer be applicable
because of the covenant defeasance or an event of default
triggered by an event of bankruptcy or other insolvency
proceeding, the amount of funds on deposit with the trustee,
will be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities at
the time of their stated maturity, but may not be sufficient to
pay amounts due on the debt securities at the time of the
acceleration resulting from the event of default. However, we
would remain liable to make payment of the amounts due at the
time of acceleration.
The applicable prospectus supplement may further describe the
provisions, if any, permitting such defeasance or covenant
defeasance, including any modifications to the provisions
described above, with respect to the debt securities of or
within a particular series.
Registration
and transfer
Subject to limitations imposed upon debt securities issued in
book-entry form, the debt securities of any series will be
exchangeable for other debt securities of the same series and of
a like aggregate principal amount and tenor of different
authorized denominations upon surrender of the debt securities
at the corporate trust office of the trustee referred to above.
In addition, subject to the limitations imposed upon debt
securities issued in book-entry form, the debt securities of any
series may be surrendered for conversion or registration of
transfer of the security at the corporate trust office of the
trustee referred to above. Every debt security surrendered for
registration of transfer or exchange will be duly endorsed or
accompanied by a written instrument of transfer. No service
charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange
of any debt securities, but we may require payment of a sum
sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable
in connection therewith. We may at any time designate a transfer
agent, in addition to the trustee, with respect to any series of
debt securities. If we have designated such a transfer agent or
transfer agents, we may at any time rescind the designation of
any such transfer agent or approve a change in the location at
which any such transfer agent acts, except that we will be
required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment
for the series.
20
Neither we nor the trustee will be required to:
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
issue, register the transfer of or exchange debt securities of
any series during a period beginning at the opening of business
15 days before any selection of debt securities of that
series to be redeemed and ending at the close of business on the
day of mailing of the relevant notice of redemption;
|
|
|
(2)
|
register the transfer of or exchange any debt security, or
portion of security, called for redemption, except the
unredeemed portion of any debt security being redeemed in
part; or
|
|
|
(3)
|
issue, register the transfer of or exchange any debt security
which has been surrendered for repayment at the option of the
holder, except the portion, if any, of such debt security not to
be so repaid.
|
Global
securities
The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in
part in the form of one or more global securities that will be
deposited with, or on behalf of, a depository identified in the
applicable prospectus supplement relating to the series. Global
securities, if any, are expected to be deposited with The
Depository Trust Company (DTC) as depository.
Each global security will be issued:
|
|
|
|
|
only in fully registered form; and
|
|
|
|
without interest coupons.
|
You may hold your beneficial interests in the global securities
directly through DTC if you have an account at DTC, or
indirectly through organizations that have accounts at DTC.
What is a global security? A global security is a special type
of indirectly held security in the form of a certificate held by
a depository for the investors in a particular issue of
securities. If we choose to issue the debt securities in the
form of a global security, the ultimate beneficial owners can
only be indirect holders. We do this by requiring that the
global securities be registered in the name of a financial
institution we select and by requiring that the debt securities
included in the global securities not be transferred to the name
of any other direct holder unless the special circumstances
described below occur. The financial institution that acts as
the sole direct holder of the global securities is called the
Depository. Any person wishing to own a debt
security must do so indirectly by virtue of an account with a
broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an
account with the Depository.
Except as described below, each global security may be
transferred, in whole and not in part, only to DTC, to another
nominee of DTC or to a successor of DTC or its nominee.
Beneficial interests in global securities will be represented,
and transfers of such beneficial interests will be made, through
accounts of financial institutions acting on behalf of
beneficial owners either directly as account holders, or
indirectly through account holders, at DTC.
Special
investor considerations for global securities.
As an indirect holder, an investors rights relating to
global securities will be governed by the account rules of the
investors financial institution and of the Depository,
DTC, as well as general laws relating to securities transfers.
We do not recognize this type of investor as a holder of debt
securities and instead deal only with DTC, the Depository that
holds global securities.
An investor in global securities should be aware that because
the debt securities are issued only in the form of global
securities:
|
|
|
|
|
The investor cannot get debt securities registered in his or her
own name.
|
|
|
|
The investor cannot receive physical certificates for his or her
interest in the debt securities.
|
21
|
|
|
|
|
The investor will be a street name holder and must
look to his or her own bank or broker for payments on the debt
securities and protection of his or her legal rights relating to
the debt securities.
|
|
|
|
The investor may not be able to sell interests in the debt
securities to some insurance companies and other institutions
that are required by law to own their securities in the form of
physical certificates.
|
|
|
|
DTCs policies will govern payments, transfers, exchanges
and other matters relating to the investors interest in
the global notes. We and the trustee have no responsibility for
any aspect of DTCs actions or for its records of ownership
interests in the global securities. We and the trustee also do
not supervise DTC in any way.
|
Exchanges
among the global securities
Any beneficial interest in one of the global securities that is
transferred to a person who takes delivery in the form of an
interest in another global security will, upon transfer, cease
to be an interest in such global note and become an interest in
the other global security and, accordingly, will thereafter be
subject to all transfer restrictions, if any, and other
procedures applicable to beneficial interests in such other
global security for as long as it remains such an interest.
Certain
book-entry procedures for the global securities
The descriptions of the operations and procedures of DTC,
Euroclear and Clearstream set forth below are provided solely as
a matter of convenience. These operations and procedures are
solely within the control of the respective settlement systems
and are subject to change by them from time to time. Neither we
nor the underwriters take any responsibility for these
operations or procedures, and investors are urged to contact the
relevant system or its participants directly to discuss these
matters.
Beneficial interests in the global securities will be
represented through book-entry accounts of financial
institutions acting on behalf of beneficial owners as direct and
indirect participants in DTC. Investors may elect to hold
interests in the global securities through DTC either directly
if they are participants in DTC or indirectly through
organizations that are participants in DTC.
Clearstream. Clearstream is incorporated under the
laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg as a professional
depositary. Clearstream holds securities for its participating
organizations (Clearstream Participants) and
facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities
transactions between Clearstream Participants through electronic
book-entry changes in accounts of Clearstream Participants,
thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of
certificates. Clearstream provides Clearstream Participants
with, among other things, services for safekeeping,
administration, clearance and establishment of internationally
traded securities and securities lending and borrowing.
Clearstream interfaces with domestic markets in several
countries. As a professional depositary, Clearstream is subject
to regulation by the Luxembourg Monetary Institute. Clearstream
Participants are recognized financial institutions around the
world, including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers,
banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other
organizations, and may include the underwriters. Indirect access
to Clearstream is also available to others, such as banks,
brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or
maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream Participant
either directly or indirectly.
Distributions with respect to debt securities held beneficially
through Clearstream will be credited to cash accounts of
Clearstream Participants in accordance with its rules and
procedures to the extent received by the U.S. Depositary
for Clearstream.
Euroclear. Euroclear was created in 1968 to hold
securities for participants of Euroclear (Euroclear
Participants) and to clear and settle transactions between
Euroclear Participants through simultaneous electronic
book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the
need for physical movement of certificates and any risk from
lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Euroclear
includes various other services, including securities lending
and borrowing and interfaces with domestic markets in several
22
markets in several countries. Euroclear is operated by Euroclear
Bank S.A./N.V. (the Euroclear Operator), under
contract with Euro-clear Clearance Systems S.C., a Belgian
cooperative corporation (the Cooperative). All
operations are conducted by the Euroclear Operator, and all
Euroclear securities clearance accounts and Euroclear cash
accounts are accounts with the Euroclear Operator, not the
Cooperative. The Cooperative establishes policy for Euroclear on
behalf of Euroclear Participants. Euroclear Participants include
banks (including central banks), securities brokers and dealers
and other professional financial intermediaries and may include
the underwriters. Indirect access to Euroclear is also available
to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial
relationship with a Euroclear Participant, either directly or
indirectly.
The Euroclear Operator is regulated and examined by the Belgian
Banking Commission.
DTC. DTC has advised us that it is:
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York
State Banking Law;
|
|
|
(2)
|
a banking organization within the meaning of the New
York State Banking Law;
|
|
|
(3)
|
a member of the Federal Reserve System;
|
|
|
(4)
|
a clearing corporation within the meaning of the New
York Uniform Commercial Code, as amended; and
|
|
|
(5)
|
a clearing agency registered pursuant to
Section 17A of the Exchange Act.
|
DTC was created to hold securities for its participants and
facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities
transactions between participants through electronic book-entry
changes to the accounts of its participants, thereby eliminating
the need for physical transfer and delivery of certificates.
DTCs participants include securities brokers and dealers,
banks and trust companies, clearing corporations and certain
other organizations. Indirect access to DTCs system is
also available to other entities such as banks, brokers, dealers
and trust companies (collectively, the Indirect
Participants) that clear through or maintain a custodial
relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly.
Investors who are not participants may beneficially own
securities held by or on behalf of DTC only through participants
or Indirect Participants.
We expect that pursuant to procedures established by DTC
(1) upon deposit of each global security, DTC will credit
the accounts of participants with an interest in the global
security and (2) ownership of the debt securities will be
shown on, and the transfer of ownership thereof will be effected
only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to the
interests of participants) and the records of participants and
the Indirect Participants (with respect to the interests of
persons other than participants).
The laws of some jurisdictions may require that certain
purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such
securities in definitive form. Accordingly, the ability to
transfer interests in the debt securities represented by a
global security to such persons may be limited. In addition,
because DTC can act only on behalf of its participants, who in
turn act on behalf of persons who hold interests through
participants, the ability of a person having an interest in debt
securities represented by a global security to pledge or
transfer such interest to persons or entities that do not
participate in DTCs system, or to otherwise take actions
in respect of such interest, may be affected by the lack of a
physical definitive security in respect of such interest.
So long as DTC or its nominee is the registered owner of a
global security, DTC or such nominee, as the case may be, will
be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities
represented by the global note for all purposes under the
Indenture. Owners of beneficial interests in a global security
will not be entitled to have debt securities represented by such
global security registered in their names, will not receive or
be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated notes,
and will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under
the Indenture for any purpose, including with respect to the
giving of any direction, instruction or approval to the trustee
thereunder. Accordingly, each holder owning a beneficial
interest in a global security must rely on the procedures of DTC
and, if such holder is not a participant or an Indirect
23
Participant, on the procedures of the participant through which
such holder owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a
holder of debt securities under the Indenture or such global
security. We understand that under existing industry practice,
in the event that we request any action of holders of debt
securities, or a holder that is an owner of a beneficial
interest in a global security desires to take any action that
DTC, as the holder of such global security, is entitled to take,
DTC would authorize the participants to take such action and the
participants would authorize holders owning through such
participants to take such action or would otherwise act upon the
instruction of such holders. Neither we nor the trustee will
have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the
records relating to or payments made on account of debt
securities by DTC, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing
any records of DTC relating to such debt securities.
Payments with respect to the principal of, and premium, if any,
additional interest, if any, and interest on, any debt
securities represented by a global security registered in the
name of DTC or its nominee on the applicable record date will be
payable by the trustee to or at the direction of DTC or its
nominee in its capacity as the registered holder of the global
note representing such debt securities under the Indenture.
Under the terms of the Indenture, we and the trustee may treat
the persons in whose names the debt securities, including the
global securities, are registered as the owners thereof for the
purpose of receiving payment thereon and for any and all other
purposes whatsoever. Accordingly, neither we nor the trustee has
or will have any responsibility or liability for the payment of
such amounts to owners of beneficial interests in a global
security (including principal, premium, if any, additional
interest, if any, and interest). Payments by the participants
and the Indirect Participants to the owners of beneficial
interests in a global security will be governed by standing
instructions and customary industry practice and will be the
responsibility of the participants or the Indirect Participants
and DTC.
Transfers between participants in DTC will be effected in
accordance with DTCs procedures, and will be settled in
same-day
funds. Transfers between participants in Euroclear or
Clearstream will be effected in the ordinary way in accordance
with their respective rules and operating procedures. Subject to
compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the debt
securities, cross-market transfers between the participants in
DTC, on the one hand, and Euroclear or Clearstream participants,
on the other hand, will be effected through DTC in accordance
with DTCs rules on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, as
the case may be, by its respective depositary; however, such
cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions
to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by the
counterparty in such system in accordance with the rules and
procedures and within the established deadlines (Brussels,
Belgium time) of such system. Euroclear or Clearstream, as the
case may be, will, if the transaction meets its settlement
requirements, deliver instructions to DTC to take action to
effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving
interests in the relevant global securities in DTC, and making
or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for
same-day
funds settlement applicable to DTC. Euroclear participants and
Clearstream participants may not deliver instructions directly
to the depositaries for Euroclear or Clearstream.
Because of time zone differences, the securities account of a
Euroclear or Clearstream participant purchasing an interest in a
global security from a participant in DTC will be credited, and
any such crediting will be reported to the relevant Euroclear or
Clearstream participant, during the securities settlement
processing day (which must be a business day for Euroclear and
Clearstream) immediately following the settlement date of DTC.
Cash received in Euroclear or Clearstream as a result of sales
of interests in a global security by or through a Euroclear or
Clearstream participant to a participant in DTC will be received
with value on the settlement date of DTC but will be available
in the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream cash account only as of
the business day for Euroclear or Clearstream following
DTCs settlement date.
Although DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream have agreed to the
foregoing procedures to facilitate transfers of interests in
global securities among participants in DTC, Euroclear and
Clearstream, they are under no obligation to perform or to
continue to perform such procedures, and such procedures may be
discontinued at any time. Neither we nor the trustee will have
any responsibility for the performance by DTC, Euroclear or
Clearstream or their respective participants or indirect
participants of their respective obligations under the rules and
procedures governing their operations.
24
Definitive
securities
A global security is exchangeable for definitive securities in
registered certificated form (Certificated
Securities) if:
(1) DTC (a) notifies the issuer that it is unwilling
or unable to continue as depositary for the global securities or
(b) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the
Exchange Act, and in each cash the issuer fails to appoint a
successor depositary;
(2) the issuer, at its option, notifies the trustee in
writing that it elects to cause the issuance of the Certificated
Securities; or
(3) there shall have occurred and be continuing a default
or event of default with respect to the debt securities.
In all cases, Certificated Securities delivered in exchange for
any global security or beneficial interests in global securities
will be registered in the names, and issued in any approved
denominations, requested by or on behalf of DTC (in accordance
with its customary procedures).
No
personal liability
No past, present or future trustee, officer, employee or
shareholder of ours or any successor to us will have any
liability for any of our obligations under the debt securities
or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by
reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each holder of
debt securities by accepting the debt securities waives and
releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of
the consideration for the issue of debt securities.
Trustee
The Indenture provides that there may be more than one trustee,
each with respect to one or more series of debt securities. Any
trustee under the Indenture may resign or be removed with
respect to one or more series of debt securities, and a
successor trustee may be appointed to act with respect to the
series. In the event that two or more persons are acting as
trustee with respect to different series of debt securities,
each such trustee will be a trustee of a trust under the
Indenture separate and apart from the trust administered by any
other trustee. Except as otherwise indicated in this prospectus,
any action described in this prospectus to be taken by the
trustee may be taken by each such trustee with respect to, and
only with respect to, the one or more series of debt securities
for which it is trustee under the Indenture.
25
DESCRIPTION
OF PREFERRED SHARES
General
Subject to limitations prescribed by Maryland law and the
declaration of trust, the board of trustees is authorized to
issue, from the authorized but unissued shares of beneficial
interest, preferred shares in series and to establish from time
to time the number of preferred shares to be included in the
series and to fix the designation and any preferences,
conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions,
limitations as to dividends, qualifications and terms and
conditions of redemption of the shares of each series, and such
other subjects or matters as may be fixed by resolution of the
board of trustees or one of its duly authorized committees. At
December 31, 2008, 2,000,000 Series C preferred shares
were issued and outstanding, 5,000,000 Series F preferred
shares were issued and outstanding and 5,000,000 Series G
preferred shares were issued and outstanding.
Reference is made to the prospectus supplement relating to the
series of preferred shares being offered in such prospectus
supplement for the specific terms of the series, including:
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
the title and stated value of the series of preferred shares;
|
|
|
(2)
|
the number of shares of the series of preferred shares offered,
the liquidation preference per share and the offering price of
such preferred shares;
|
|
|
(3)
|
the dividend rate(s), period(s)
and/or
payment date(s) or the method(s) of calculation for those values
relating to the preferred shares of the series;
|
|
|
(4)
|
the date from which dividends on preferred shares of the series
shall cumulate, if applicable;
|
|
|
(5)
|
the procedures for any auction and remarketing, if any, for
preferred shares of the series;
|
|
|
(6)
|
the provision for a sinking fund, if any, for preferred shares
of the series;
|
|
|
(7)
|
the provision for redemption, if applicable, of preferred shares
of the series;
|
|
|
(8)
|
any listing of the series of preferred shares on any securities
exchange;
|
|
|
(9)
|
the terms and conditions, if applicable, upon which preferred
shares of the series will be convertible into common shares,
including the conversion price, or manner of calculating the
conversion price;
|
|
|
(10)
|
whether interests in preferred shares of the series will be
represented by global securities;
|
|
|
(11)
|
any other specific terms, preferences, rights, limitations or
restrictions of the series of preferred shares;
|
|
|
(12)
|
a discussion of federal income tax considerations applicable to
preferred shares of the series;
|
|
|
(13)
|
the relative ranking and preferences of preferred shares of the
series as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of our affairs;
|
|
|
(14)
|
any limitations on issuance of any series of preferred shares
ranking senior to or on a parity with the series of preferred
shares as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of our affairs; and
|
|
|
(15)
|
any limitations on direct or beneficial ownership and
restrictions on transfer of preferred shares of the series, in
each case as may be appropriate to preserve our status as a real
estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code.
|
26
Rank
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus
supplement, the preferred shares of each series will rank with
respect to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of our affairs:
|
|
|
|
|
senior to all classes or series of common shares, and to all
equity securities ranking junior to the series of preferred
shares;
|
|
|
|
on a parity with all equity securities issued by us the terms of
which specifically provide that such equity securities rank on a
parity with preferred shares of the series; and
|
|
|
|
junior to all equity securities issued by us the terms of which
specifically provide that such equity securities rank senior to
preferred shares of the series.
|
Dividends
Holders of preferred shares of each series shall be entitled to
receive cash dividends at such rates and on such dates as will
be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. When and
if declared by the board of trustees, dividends shall be payable
out of our assets legally available for payment of dividends.
Each such dividend shall be payable to holders of record as they
appear on our share transfer books on such record dates as shall
be fixed by the board of trustees.
Dividends on any series of the preferred shares may be
cumulative or noncumulative, as provided in the applicable
prospectus supplement. Dividends, if cumulative, will be
cumulative from and after the date set forth in the applicable
prospectus supplement. If the board of trustees fails to declare
a dividend payable on a dividend payment date on any series of
the preferred shares for which dividends are noncumulative, then
the holders of the series of the preferred shares will have no
right to receive a dividend in respect of the dividend period
ending on such dividend payment date, and we will have no
obligation to pay the dividend accrued for such period, whether
or not dividends on the series are declared payable on any
future dividend payment date.
If preferred shares of any series are outstanding, no full
dividends shall be declared or paid or set apart for payment on
the preferred shares of any other series ranking, as to
dividends, on a parity with or junior to the preferred shares of
the series for any period unless full dividends, including
cumulative dividends if applicable, for the then current
dividend period have been or contemporaneously are declared and
paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment of the
dividend set apart for such payment on the preferred shares of
the series. When dividends are not paid in full, or a sum
sufficient for the full payment is not so set apart, upon the
preferred shares of any series and the shares of any other
series of preferred shares ranking on a parity as to dividends
with the preferred shares of the series, all dividends declared
upon preferred shares of the series and any other series of
preferred shares ranking on a parity as to dividends with the
preferred shares shall be declared pro rata so that the amount
of dividends declared per share on the preferred shares of the
series and the other series of preferred shares shall in all
cases bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends
per share on the preferred shares of the series and the other
series of preferred shares bear to each other. The pro rata
amount shall not include any cumulation in respect of unpaid
dividends for prior dividend periods if the series of preferred
shares does not have a cumulative dividend. No interest, or sum
of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any
dividend payment or payments on preferred shares of the series
which may be in arrears.
Except as provided in the immediately preceding paragraph,
unless full dividends, including cumulative dividends, if
applicable, on the preferred shares of the series have been or
contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum
sufficient for the payment of the dividend set apart for payment
for the then current dividend period, and any past period, if
any, no dividends shall be declared or paid or set aside for
payment or other distribution shall be declared or made upon the
common shares or any other capital shares ranking junior to or
on a parity with the preferred shares of the series as to
dividends or upon liquidation. Additionally, shares ranking
junior to or in parity with the series of preferred shares may
not be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired for any
consideration in such circumstances, except by conversion into
or exchange for other capital shares ranking junior to the
preferred shares of the series as to dividends and upon
liquidation. We also may not pay any money or make any money
available for a sinking fund for the
27
redemption of junior or parity shares in such circumstances.
Notwithstanding the preceding sentences, we may make dividends
of common shares or other capital shares ranking junior to the
preferred shares of the series of preferred shares, although
full dividends may not have been paid or set aside.
Any dividend payment made on a series of preferred shares shall
first be credited against the earliest accrued but unpaid
dividend due with respect to shares of the series which remains
payable.
Redemption
If so provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, the
preferred shares of a series will be subject to mandatory
redemption or redemption at our option, as a whole or in part,
in each case upon the terms, at the times and at the redemption
prices set forth in such prospectus supplement.
The prospectus supplement relating to a series of preferred
shares that is subject to mandatory redemption will specify the
number of preferred shares of the series that shall be redeemed
by us in each year commencing after a date to be specified, at a
redemption price per share to be specified, together with an
amount equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon, which
shall not, if the series of preferred shares does not have a
cumulative dividend, include any cumulation in respect of unpaid
dividends for prior dividend periods, to the date of redemption.
The redemption price may be payable in cash or other property,
as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. If the
redemption price for preferred shares of any series is payable
only from the net proceeds of the issuance of capital shares,
the terms of the series of preferred shares may provide that, if
no such capital shares shall have been issued or to the extent
the net proceeds from any issuance are insufficient to pay in
full the aggregate redemption price then due, preferred shares
of the series shall automatically and mandatorily be converted
into shares of the applicable capital shares pursuant to
conversion provisions specified in the applicable prospectus
supplement.
If full dividends on all preferred shares of any series,
including cumulative dividends if applicable, have not been or
contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum
sufficient for the payment of the dividend set apart for payment
for the then current dividend period and any past dividends, if
any, we may not redeem preferred shares of any series unless all
outstanding preferred shares of the series are simultaneously
redeemed. This shall not prevent, however, the purchase or
acquisition of preferred shares of the series pursuant to a
purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to holders of
all outstanding preferred shares of the series, and, unless full
dividends, including cumulative dividends if applicable, on all
preferred shares of any series shall have been or
contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum
sufficient for the payment of the dividend set apart for payment
for the then current dividend period and any past period, if
any, we will not purchase or otherwise acquire directly or
indirectly any preferred shares of the series, except by
conversion into or exchange for capital shares ranking junior to
the preferred shares of the series as to dividends and upon
liquidation.
If fewer than all of the outstanding preferred shares of any
series are to be redeemed, the number of shares to be redeemed
will be determined by us and such shares may be redeemed pro
rata from the holders of record of preferred shares of the
series in proportion to the number of preferred shares of the
series held by such holders with adjustments to avoid redemption
of fractional shares or by lot in a manner determined by us.
Notice of redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but
not more than 90 days before the redemption date to each
holder of record of preferred shares of any series to be
redeemed at the address shown on our share transfer books. Each
notice shall state:
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
the redemption date;
|
|
|
(2)
|
the number of shares and series of the preferred shares to be
redeemed;
|
|
|
(3)
|
the redemption price;
|
|
|
(4)
|
the place or places where certificates for such preferred shares
are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price;
|
28
|
|
|
|
(5)
|
that dividends on the preferred shares to be redeemed will cease
to accrue on such redemption date; and
|
|
|
(6)
|
the date upon which the holders conversion rights, if any,
as to such preferred shares shall terminate.
|
If fewer than all the preferred shares of any series are to be
redeemed, the notice mailed to each such holder of the series
shall also specify the number of preferred shares to be redeemed
from each such holder. If notice of redemption of any preferred
shares has been given and if the funds necessary for such
redemption have been set aside by us in trust for the benefit of
the holders of any preferred shares so called for redemption,
then from and after the redemption date dividends will cease to
accrue on such preferred shares, and all rights of the holders
of such preferred shares will terminate, except the right to
receive the redemption price.
Liquidation
preference
Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of our affairs, then, before any distribution or
payment shall be made to the holders of any common shares or any
other class or series of shares of beneficial interest ranking
junior to the series of preferred shares in the distribution of
assets upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the
holders of each series of preferred shares shall be entitled to
receive out of our assets legally available for distribution to
shareholders liquidating distributions in the amount of the
liquidation preference per share, set forth in the applicable
prospectus supplement, plus an amount equal to all dividends
accrued and unpaid thereon, which shall not include any
cumulation in respect of unpaid dividends for prior dividend
periods if the series of preferred shares does not have a
cumulative dividend. After payment of the full amount of the
liquidating distributions to which they are entitled, the
holders of preferred shares of the series will have no right or
claim to any of our remaining assets.
In the event that, upon any such voluntary or involuntary
liquidation, dissolution or winding up, our available assets are
insufficient to pay the amount of the liquidating distributions
on all outstanding preferred shares of the series and the
corresponding amounts payable on all shares of other classes or
series of capital shares ranking on a parity with preferred
shares of the series in the distribution of assets, then the
holders of preferred shares of the series and all other such
classes or series of capital shares shall share ratably in any
such distribution of assets in proportion to the full
liquidating distributions to which they would otherwise be
respectively entitled.
If liquidating distributions shall have been made in full to all
holders of preferred shares of the series, our remaining assets
shall be distributed among the holders of any other classes or
series of capital shares ranking junior to the preferred shares
of the series upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up,
according to their respective rights and preferences and in each
case according to their respective number of shares. For such
purposes, the consolidation or merger of us with or into any
other entity, or the sale, lease or conveyance of all or
substantially all of our property or business, shall not be
deemed to constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of
us.
Voting
rights
Holders of the preferred shares of each series will not have any
voting rights, except as set forth below or in the applicable
prospectus supplement or as otherwise required by applicable
law. The following is a summary of the voting rights that,
unless provided otherwise in the applicable prospectus
supplement, will apply to each series of preferred shares.
If six quarterly dividends, whether or not consecutively payable
on the preferred shares of the series or any other series of
preferred shares ranking on a parity with the series of
preferred shares with respect in each case to the payment of
dividends, amounts upon liquidation, dissolution and winding up
are in arrears, whether or not earned or declared, the number of
trustees then constituting the board of trustees will be
increased by two, and the holders of preferred shares of the
series, voting together as a class with the holders of any other
series of shares ranking in parity with such shares, will have
the right to elect two additional trustees to serve
29
on the board of trustees at any annual meeting of shareholders
or a properly called special meeting of the holders of preferred
shares of the series and other preferred shares ranking in
parity with such shares and at each subsequent annual meeting of
shareholders until all such dividends and dividends for the
current quarterly period on the preferred shares of the series
and other preferred shares ranking in parity with such shares
have been paid or declared and set aside for payment. Such
voting rights will terminate when all such accrued and unpaid
dividends have been declared and paid or set aside for payment.
The term of office of all trustees so elected will terminate
with the termination of such voting rights.
The approval of two-thirds of the outstanding preferred shares
of the series and all other series of preferred shares similarly
affected, voting as a single class, is required in order to:
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
amend the declaration of trust to affect materially and
adversely the rights, preferences or voting power of the holders
of the preferred shares of the series or other preferred shares
ranking in parity with such shares;
|
|
|
(2)
|
enter into a share exchange that affects the preferred shares of
the series, consolidate with or merge into another entity, or
permit another entity to consolidate with or merge into us,
unless in each such case each preferred share of the series
remains outstanding without a material and adverse change to its
terms and rights or is converted into or exchanged for preferred
shares of the surviving entity having preferences, conversion or
other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to
dividends, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption
of the series identical to that of a preferred share of the
series, except for changes that do not materially and adversely
affect the holders of the preferred shares of the series; or
|
|
|
(3)
|
authorize, reclassify, create, or increase the authorized amount
of any class of shares having rights senior to the preferred
shares of the series with respect to the payment of dividends or
amounts upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up.
|
However, we may create additional classes of parity shares and
other series of preferred shares ranking junior to the series of
preferred shares with respect in each case to the payment of
dividends, amounts upon liquidation, dissolution and winding up
junior shares, increase the authorized number of parity shares
and junior shares and issue additional series of parity shares
and junior shares without the consent of any holder of preferred
shares of the series.
Except as provided above and as required by law, the holders of
preferred shares of each series will not be entitled to vote on
any merger or consolidation involving us or a sale of all or
substantially all of our assets.
Conversion
rights
The terms and conditions, if any, upon which preferred shares of
any series are convertible into common shares will be set forth
in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the series.
Such terms will include the number of common shares into which
the preferred shares of the series are convertible, the
conversion price, or manner of calculation of the conversion
price, the conversion period, provisions as to whether
conversion will be at the option of the holders of the preferred
shares of the series or us, the events requiring an adjustment
of the conversion price and provisions affecting conversion in
the event of the redemption of the preferred shares of the
series.
Restrictions
on ownership
As discussed below under Description of Common
Shares Restriction on size of holdings, for us
to qualify as a real estate investment trust under the Internal
Revenue Code, not more than 50% in value of our outstanding
shares of beneficial interest may be owned by five or fewer
individuals at any time during the last half of any taxable
year. Therefore, the articles supplementary for each series of
preferred shares will contain various provisions restricting the
ownership and transfer of the preferred shares. Except as
otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement
relating to the relevant series of preferred shares, the
provisions of each articles supplementary relating to the
preferred shares ownership limit will provide, as in
30
the case of the Series C preferred shares, Series F
preferred shares and Series G preferred shares, ownership
restriction similar to the ownership restrictions described
below.
The preferred shares ownership limit provision will provide
that, subject to the exceptions contained in such articles
supplementary, no person, or persons acting as a group, may
beneficially own more than 25% of the series of preferred shares
outstanding at any time, except as a result of our redemption of
preferred shares. Shares acquired in excess of the preferred
shares ownership limit provision must be redeemed by us at a
price equal to the average daily per share closing sale price
during the
30-day
period ending on the business day prior to the redemption date.
Such redemption is not applicable if a persons ownership
exceeds the limitations due solely to our redemption of
preferred shares; provided that thereafter any additional
preferred shares acquired by such person shall be excess shares.
See Description of Common Shares Restriction
on size of holdings. From and after the date of notice of
such redemption, the holder of the preferred shares thus
redeemed shall cease to be entitled to any distribution, other
than distributions declared prior to the date of notice of
redemption, voting rights and other benefits with respect to
such shares except the right to receive payment of the
redemption price determined as described above. The preferred
shares ownership limit provision may not be waived with respect
to some of our affiliates.
All certificates representing shares of preferred shares will
bear a legend referring to the restrictions described above.
31
DESCRIPTION
OF COMMON SHARES
General
The declaration of trust authorizes us to issue up to
750,000,000 shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01
per share, consisting of 737,580,000 common shares, par value
$0.01 per share, 2,300,000 Series C preferred shares, par
value $0.01 per share, 5,060,000 Series F preferred shares,
par value $0.01 per share, and 5,060,000 Series G preferred
shares, par value $0.01 per share. At February 20, 2009,
approximately 267,604,300 common shares were issued and
outstanding and held of record by approximately
8,900 shareholders.
The following description sets forth general terms and
provisions of the common shares to which any prospectus
supplement may relate, including a prospectus supplement which
provides for common shares issuable pursuant to subscription
offerings or rights offerings or upon conversion of preferred
shares which are offered pursuant to such prospectus supplement
and convertible into common shares for no additional
consideration. The statements below describing the common shares
are in all respects subject to and qualified in their entirety
by reference to the applicable provisions of the declaration of
trust and our bylaws.
The outstanding common shares are fully paid and, except as set
forth below under Shareholder liability,
non-assessable. Each common share entitles the holder to one
vote on all matters requiring a vote of shareholders, including
the election of trustees. Holders of common shares do not have
the right to cumulate their votes in the election of trustees,
which means that the holders of a majority of the outstanding
common shares can elect all of the trustees then standing for
election. Holders of common shares are entitled to such
distributions as may be declared from time to time by the board
of trustees out of funds legally available therefor. Holders of
common shares have no conversion, redemption, preemptive or
exchange rights to subscribe to any of our securities. In the
event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our
affairs, the holders of the common shares are entitled to share
ratably in our assets remaining after provision for payment of
all liabilities to creditors and payment of liquidation
preferences and accrued dividends, if any, on the Series C
preferred shares, Series F preferred shares and
Series G preferred shares, and subject to the rights of
holders of other series of preferred shares, if any. The right
of holders of the common shares are subject to the rights and
preferences established by the board of trustees for the
Series C preferred shares, Series F preferred shares
and Series G preferred shares and any other series of
preferred shares which may subsequently be issued by us. See
Description of Preferred Shares.
Transfer
agent
The transfer agent and registrar for the common shares is
Computershare Trust Company, N.A., 150 Royall Street,
Canton, Massachusetts 02021. The common shares are listed on the
New York Stock Exchange under the symbol PLD.
Restriction
on size of holdings
The declaration of trust restricts beneficial ownership of our
outstanding shares of beneficial interest by a single person, or
persons acting as a group, to 9.8% of such shares. The purposes
of the restriction are to assist in protecting and preserving
our real estate investment trust status under the Internal
Revenue Code and to protect the interest of shareholders in
takeover transactions by preventing the acquisition of a
substantial block of shares without the prior consent of the
board of trustees. For us to qualify as a real estate investment
trust under the Internal Revenue Code, not more than 50% in
value of our outstanding shares of beneficial interest may be
owned by five or fewer individuals at any time during the last
half of any taxable year. The restriction permits five persons
to acquire up to a maximum of 9.8% each, or an aggregate of 49%
of the outstanding shares, and, thus, assists the board of
trustees in protecting and preserving our real estate investment
trust status under the Internal Revenue Code.
Excess shares of beneficial interest owned by a person or group
of persons in excess of 9.8% of the outstanding shares of
beneficial interest, other than, 30% in the case of shareholders
who acquired shares prior to our initial public offering, are
subject to redemption by us, at our option, upon
30 days notice, at a price
32
equal to the average daily per share closing sale price during
the 30-day
period ending on the business day prior to the redemption date.
We may make payment of the redemption price at any time or times
up to the earlier of five years after the redemption date or
liquidation. We may refuse to effect the transfer of any shares
of beneficial interest which would make the transferee a holder
of excess shares. Shareholders are required to disclose, upon
demand of the board of trustees, such information with respect
to their direct and indirect ownership of shares as the board of
trustees deems necessary to comply with the provisions of the
Internal Revenue Code pertaining to qualification, for tax
purposes, of real estate investment trusts, or to comply with
the requirements of any other appropriate taxing authority.
The 9.8% restriction does not apply to acquisitions by an
underwriter in a public offering and sale of shares of
beneficial interest or to any transaction involving the issuance
of shares of beneficial interest in which a majority of the
board of trustees determines that our eligibility to qualify as
a real estate investment trust for federal income tax purposes
will not be jeopardized or our disqualification as a real estate
investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code is advantageous
to the shareholders. The board of trustees has permitted the
shareholders who acquired shares prior to our initial public
offering to acquire up to 30% of the outstanding shares of
beneficial interest.
Trustee
liability
The declaration of trust provides that trustees shall not be
individually liable for any obligation or liability incurred by
or on our behalf or by trustees for our benefit and on our
behalf. Under the declaration of trust and Maryland law
governing real estate investment trusts, trustees are not liable
to us or the shareholders for any act or omission except for
acts or omissions which constitute bad faith, willful
misfeasance or gross negligence in the conduct of their duties.
Shareholder
liability
Both Maryland statutory law governing real estate investment
trusts organized under the laws of that state and the
declaration of trust provide that shareholders shall not be
personally or individually liable for any debt, act, omission or
obligation of ProLogis or the board of trustees. The declaration
of trust further provides that we shall indemnify and hold each
shareholder harmless from all claims and liabilities to which
the shareholder may become subject by reason of his being or
having been a shareholder and that we will reimburse each
shareholder for all legal and other expenses reasonably incurred
by the shareholder in connection with any such claim or
liability, except to the extent that such claim or liability
arises out of the shareholders bad faith, willful
misconduct or gross negligence and provided that such
shareholder gives us prompt notice of any such claim or
liability and permits us to conduct the defense of the
shareholder. Nevertheless, with respect to tort claims,
contractual claims where shareholder liability is not so
negated, claims for taxes and statutory liability, the
shareholders may, in some jurisdictions, be personally liable to
the extent that such claims are not satisfied by us. Inasmuch as
we carry public liability insurance which we consider adequate,
any risk of personal liability to our shareholders is limited to
situations in which our assets plus our insurance coverage would
be insufficient to satisfy the claims against us and our
shareholders.
33
FEDERAL
INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
ProLogis intends to operate in a manner that permits it to
satisfy the requirements for qualification and taxation as a
real estate investment trust under the applicable provisions of
the Internal Revenue Code. No assurance can be given, however,
that such requirements will be met. The following is a
description of (a) the U.S. federal income tax
consequences to ProLogis and its shareholders of the treatment
of ProLogis as a real estate investment trust and (b) the
U.S. federal income tax consequences of the ownership and
disposition of ProLogis shares. The tax consequences of
owning and disposing of debt securities are not summarized in
this discussion. Since these provisions are highly technical and
complex, each prospective purchaser of debt securities,
preferred shares or common shares is urged to consult his, her
or its own tax advisor with respect to the U.S. federal,
state, local, foreign and other tax consequences of the
purchase, ownership and disposition of the debt securities,
preferred shares or common shares.
Based upon representations of ProLogis with respect to the facts
as set forth and explained in the discussion below, in the
opinion of Mayer Brown LLP, counsel to ProLogis, ProLogis has
been organized and has operated in conformity with the
requirements for qualification as a real estate investment trust
beginning with its taxable year ended December 31, 2000
through and including its taxable year ended December 31,
2008, and its actual and proposed method of operation described
in this prospectus and as represented by management will enable
it to satisfy the requirements for qualification and taxation as
a real estate investment trust commencing with its taxable year
ending on December 31, 2009 and each year thereafter.
This opinion is based on representations made by ProLogis as to
factual matters relating to ProLogis organization and its
actual and intended or expected manner of operation. In
addition, this opinion is based on the law existing and in
effect on the date of this prospectus. ProLogis
qualification and taxation as a real estate investment trust
will depend upon ProLogis ability to meet on a continuing
basis, through actual operating results, asset composition,
distribution levels and diversity of share ownership, the
various qualification tests imposed under the Internal Revenue
Code discussed below. Mayer Brown LLP will not review compliance
with these tests on a continuing basis. No assurance can be
given that ProLogis will satisfy such tests on a continuing
basis.
In brief, if the conditions imposed by the real estate
investment trust provisions of the Internal Revenue Code are
met, entities, such as ProLogis, that invest primarily in real
estate and that otherwise would be treated for U.S. federal
income tax purposes as corporations, are allowed a deduction for
dividends paid to shareholders. This treatment substantially
eliminates the double taxation at both the corporate
and shareholder levels that generally results from the use of
corporations. However, as discussed in greater detail below,
entities, such as ProLogis, remain subject to tax in certain
circumstances even if they qualify as a real estate investment
trust.
If ProLogis fails to qualify as a real estate investment trust
in any year, however, it will be subject to U.S. federal
income taxation as if it were a domestic corporation, and its
shareholders will be taxed in the same manner as shareholders of
ordinary corporations. In this event, ProLogis could be subject
to potentially significant tax liabilities, and therefore the
amount of cash available for distribution to its shareholders
would be reduced or eliminated. In addition, ProLogis would not
be obligated to make distributions to shareholders.
ProLogis elected real estate investment trust status effective
beginning with its taxable year ended December 31, 1993,
and the ProLogis board of trustees believes that ProLogis has
operated and currently intends that ProLogis will operate in a
manner that permits it to qualify as a real estate investment
trust in each taxable year thereafter. There can be no
assurance, however, that this expectation will be fulfilled,
since qualification as a real estate investment trust depends on
ProLogis continuing to satisfy numerous asset, income and
distribution tests described below, which in turn will be
dependent in part on ProLogis operating results.
The following summary is based on the Internal Revenue Code, its
legislative history, administrative pronouncements, judicial
decisions and Treasury regulations, subsequent changes to any of
which may affect the tax consequences described in this
prospectus, possibly on a retroactive basis. The following
summary is not exhaustive of all possible tax considerations and
does not give a detailed discussion of any state, local, or
34
foreign tax considerations, nor does it discuss all of the
aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be
relevant to a prospective shareholder in light of his, her or
its particular circumstances or to various types of
shareholders, including insurance companies, tax-exempt
entities, financial institutions or broker-dealers, foreign
corporations and persons who are not citizens or residents of
the United States, subject to special treatment under the
U.S. federal income tax laws.
The following summary applies only to shareholders who hold
preferred shares or common shares as capital assets. For
purposes of the following summary, a U.S. shareholder is a
beneficial owner of preferred shares or common shares that for
U.S. federal income tax purposes is: a citizen of the
United States or an individual who is a resident of the United
States, a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation)
created or organized under the laws of the United States or any
political subdivision thereof, an estate, the income of which is
subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its
source, or a trust, if either (i) it was in existence on
August 20, 1996, and has a valid election in effect under
applicable Treasury regulations to be treated as a
U.S. trust or (ii) a court within the United States is
able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of
the trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority
to control all substantial decisions of the trust. A foreign
shareholder is any shareholder that is not a
U.S. shareholder. For U.S. federal income tax
purposes, income earned through a foreign or domestic
partnership or other flow-through entity is generally attributed
to its partners or owners. Accordingly, the U.S. federal
income tax treatment of a partner in a partnership or owner in a
flow-through entity that holds shares will generally depend on
the status of the partner or other owner and the activities of
the partnership or other flow-through entity.
Prospective shareholders that are partnerships or flow-through
entities should consult their tax advisers concerning the
U.S. federal income tax consequences to their partners or
owners of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of ProLogis
debt securities, preferred shares and common shares.
Taxation
of ProLogis
General
In any year in which ProLogis qualifies as a real estate
investment trust, in general it will not be subject to
U.S. federal income tax on that portion of its real estate
investment trust taxable income or capital gain that is
distributed to shareholders. ProLogis may, however, be subject
to U.S. federal income tax at normal corporate rates upon
any taxable income or capital gain not distributed.
A real estate investment trust is permitted to designate in a
notice mailed to shareholders within 60 days of the end of
the taxable year, or in a notice mailed with its annual report
for the taxable year, such amount of undistributed net long-term
capital gains it received during the taxable year, which its
shareholders are to include in their taxable income as long-term
capital gains. Thus, if ProLogis made this designation, the
shareholders of ProLogis would include in their income as
long-term capital gains their proportionate share of the
undistributed net capital gains as designated by ProLogis and
ProLogis would have to pay the tax on such gains within
30 days of the close of its taxable year. Each shareholder
of ProLogis would be deemed to have paid such shareholders
share of the tax paid by ProLogis on such gains, which tax would
be credited or refunded to the shareholder. A shareholder would
increase his, her or its tax basis in such shareholders
ProLogis shares by the difference between the amount of income
to the holder resulting from the designation less the
holders credit or refund for the tax paid by ProLogis.
Notwithstanding its qualification as a real estate investment
trust, ProLogis may also be subject to taxation in other
circumstances. If ProLogis should fail to satisfy either the 75%
or the 95% gross income test, as discussed below, and
nonetheless maintains its qualification as a real estate
investment trust because other requirements are met, it will be
subject to a 100% tax on the greater of the amount by which
ProLogis fails to satisfy either the 75% or the 95% gross income
test, multiplied by a fraction intended to reflect
ProLogis profitability. Furthermore, if ProLogis fails to
satisfy the 5% asset test or the 10% vote and value test (and
does not qualify for a de minimis safe harbor) or fails to
satisfy the other asset tests, each of which are discussed
below, and nonetheless maintains its qualification as a real
estate investment trust because certain other requirements are
met, ProLogis will be subject to a tax equal to the greater of
$50,000 or an amount determined (pursuant to regulations
prescribed by the Treasury) by multiplying the highest corporate
tax rate
35
by the net income generated by the assets that caused the
failure for the period beginning on the first date of the
failure to meet the tests and ending on the date (which must be
within 6 months after the last day of the quarter in which
the failure is identified) that ProLogis disposes of the assets
or otherwise satisfies the tests. If ProLogis fails to satisfy
one or more real estate investment trust requirements other than
the 75% or the 95% gross income tests and other than the asset
tests, but nonetheless maintains its qualification as a real
estate investment trust because certain other requirements are
met, ProLogis will be subject to a penalty of $50,000 for each
such failure. ProLogis will also be subject to a tax of 100% on
net income from any prohibited transaction, as
described below, and if ProLogis has net income from the sale or
other disposition of foreclosure property which is
held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of
business or other nonqualifying income from foreclosure
property, it will be subject to tax on such income from
foreclosure property at the highest corporate rate. ProLogis
will also be subject to a tax of 100% on the amount of any rents
from real property, deductions or excess interest that would be
reapportioned under Internal Revenue Code Section 482 to
one of its taxable REIT subsidiaries in order to
more clearly reflect income of the taxable REIT subsidiary. A
taxable REIT subsidiary is any corporation for which a joint
election has been made by a real estate investment trust and
such corporation to treat such corporation as a taxable REIT
subsidiary with respect to such real estate investment trust.
See Other Tax Considerations
Investments in taxable REIT subsidiaries. In addition, if
ProLogis should fail to distribute during each calendar year at
least the sum of:
(1) 85% of its real estate investment trust ordinary income
for such year;
(2) 95% of its real estate investment trust capital gain
net income for such year, other than capital gains ProLogis
elects to retain and pay tax on as described below; and
(3) any undistributed taxable income from prior years,
ProLogis would be subject to a 4% excise tax on the excess of
such required distribution over the amounts actually
distributed. To the extent that ProLogis elects to retain and
pay income tax on its long-term capital gain, such retained
amounts will be treated as having been distributed for purposes
of the 4% excise tax. ProLogis may also be subject to the
corporate alternative minimum tax, as well as tax in
various situations and on some types of transactions not
presently contemplated. ProLogis will use the calendar year both
for U.S. federal income tax purposes and for financial
reporting purposes.
In order to qualify as a real estate investment trust, ProLogis
must meet, among others, the following requirements:
Share
ownership test
ProLogis shares must be held by a minimum of
100 persons for at least 335 days in each taxable year
or a proportional number of days in any short taxable year. In
addition, at all times during the second half of each taxable
year, no more than 50% in value of the ProLogis shares may be
owned, directly or indirectly and by applying constructive
ownership rules, by five or fewer individuals, which for this
purpose includes some tax-exempt entities. For this purpose, any
shares held by a qualified domestic pension or other retirement
trust will be treated as held directly by its beneficiaries in
proportion to their actuarial interest in such trust rather than
by such trust. If ProLogis complies with the Treasury
regulations for ascertaining its actual ownership and did not
know, or exercising reasonable diligence would not have reason
to know, that more than 50% in value of its outstanding shares
was held, actually or constructively, by five or fewer
individuals, then it will be treated as meeting such requirement.
In order to ensure compliance with the 50% test, ProLogis has
placed restrictions on the transfer of its shares to prevent
additional concentration of ownership. Moreover, to evidence
compliance with these requirements under Treasury regulations,
ProLogis must maintain records which disclose the actual
ownership of its outstanding shares and such regulations impose
penalties against ProLogis for failing to do so. In fulfilling
its obligations to maintain records, ProLogis must and will
demand written statements each year from the record holders of
designated percentages of its shares disclosing the actual
owners of such shares as prescribed by Treasury regulations. A
list of those persons failing or refusing to comply with such
demand
36
must be maintained as a part of ProLogis records. A
shareholder failing or refusing to comply with ProLogis
written demand must submit with his, her or its tax returns a
similar statement disclosing the actual ownership of
ProLogis shares and other information. In addition,
ProLogis declaration of trust provides restrictions
regarding the transfer of shares that are intended to assist
ProLogis in continuing to satisfy the share ownership
requirements. ProLogis intends to enforce the percentage
limitations on ownership of its shares to assure that its
qualification as a real estate investment trust will not be
compromised.
Asset
tests
At the close of each quarter of ProLogis taxable year,
ProLogis must satisfy tests relating to the nature of its assets
determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles. Where ProLogis invests in a partnership or other
business entity taxed as a partnership or disregarded entity,
ProLogis will be deemed to own a proportionate share of the
partnerships or other business entitys assets. In
addition, when ProLogis owns 100% of a corporation that is not a
taxable REIT subsidiary, it will be deemed to own 100% of the
corporations assets. First, at least 75% of the value of
ProLogis total assets must be represented by interests in
real property, interests in mortgages on real property, shares
in other real estate investment trusts, cash, cash items,
government securities, and qualified temporary investments. For
this purpose, cash includes foreign currency if (i) the
real estate investment trust or its qualified business unit uses
such foreign currency as its functional currency, (ii) the
foreign currency is held for use in the normal course of the
activities of the real estate investment trust or the qualified
business unit giving rise to income or gain described in the
gross income tests below or directly related to acquiring or
holding assets described in the asset test herein, and
(iii) it is not held in connection with a trade or business
of trading or dealing with securities. Second, although the
remaining 25% of ProLogis assets generally may be invested
without restriction, ProLogis is prohibited from owning
securities representing more than 10% of either the vote or
value of the outstanding securities of any non-government issuer
other than a qualified real estate investment trust subsidiary,
another real estate investment trust or a taxable REIT
subsidiary. Further, no more than 25% of the value of
ProLogis total assets may be represented by securities of
one or more taxable REIT subsidiaries, and no more than 5% of
the value of ProLogis total assets may be represented by
securities of any non-government issuer other than a qualified
real estate investment trust subsidiary, another real estate
investment trust or a taxable REIT subsidiary. Finally, if a
real estate investment trust has met the asset tests as of the
close of any quarter it will not fail them in a subsequent
quarter solely because of a discrepancy due to variations in
value that are not attributable to the acquisition of
investments but rather caused solely by the change in the
foreign currency exchange rate used to value a foreign asset.
As discussed above, ProLogis generally may not own more than 10%
by vote or value of any one issuers securities and no more
than 5% of the value of the total assets of ProLogis generally
may be represented by the securities of any issuer. If ProLogis
fails to meet either of these tests at the end of any quarter
and such failure is not cured within 30 days thereafter,
ProLogis would fail to qualify as a real estate investment
trust. After the
30-day cure
period, ProLogis could dispose of sufficient assets to cure such
a violation that does not exceed the lesser of 1% of
ProLogis assets at the end of the relevant quarter or
$10,000,000 if the disposition occurs within 6 months after
the last day of the calendar quarter in which ProLogis
identifies the violation. For violations of these tests that are
larger than this amount and for violations of the other asset
tests described above, where such violations are due to
reasonable cause and not willful neglect, ProLogis can avoid
disqualification as a real estate investment trust, after the
30-day cure
period, by taking steps including the disposition of sufficient
assets to meet the asset tests (within 6 months after the
last day of the calendar quarter in which ProLogis identifies
the violation) and paying a tax equal to the greater of $50,000
or an amount determined (pursuant to Treasury regulations) by
multiplying the highest corporate tax rate by the net income
generated by the non-qualifying assets for the period beginning
on the first date of the failure to meet the tests and ending on
the date that ProLogis disposes of the assets or otherwise
satisfies the asset tests.
37
Gross
income tests
There are currently two separate percentage tests relating to
the sources of ProLogis gross income that must be
satisfied for each taxable year. For purposes of these tests,
where ProLogis invests in a partnership or other business entity
taxed as a partnership or disregarded entity, ProLogis will be
treated as receiving its share of the income and loss of the
partnership or other business entity, and the gross income of
the partnership or other business entity will retain the same
character in the hands of ProLogis as it has in the hands of the
partnership or other business entity. The two tests are as
follows:
1. The 75% Gross Income Test. At least 75% of
ProLogis gross income for the taxable year must be
qualifying income. Qualifying income generally
includes:
(1) rents from real property, except as modified below;
(2) interest on obligations secured by mortgages on, or
interests in, real property;
(3) gains from the sale or other disposition of
non-dealer property, which means interests in real
property and real estate mortgages, other than gain from
property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary
course of ProLogis trade or business;
(4) dividends or other distributions on shares in other
real estate investment trusts, as well as gain from the sale of
such shares;
(5) abatements and refunds of real property taxes;
(6) income from the operation, and gain from the sale, of
foreclosure property, which means property acquired
at or in lieu of a foreclosure of the mortgage secured by such
property;
(7) commitment fees received for agreeing to make loans
secured by mortgages on real property, or to purchase or lease
real property; and
(8) certain qualified temporary investment income
attributable to the investment of new capital received by
ProLogis in exchange for its shares or certain publicly offered
debt, which income is received or accrued during the one-year
period following the receipt of such capital.
Rents received from a tenant will not, however, qualify as rents
from real property in satisfying the 75% gross income test, or
the 95% gross income test described below, if ProLogis, or an
owner of 10% or more of ProLogis, directly or constructively
owns 10% or more of such tenant, unless the tenant is a taxable
REIT subsidiary of ProLogis and certain other requirements are
met with respect to the real property being rented. In addition,
if rent attributable to personal property leased in connection
with a lease of real property is greater than 15% of the total
rent received under the lease, then the portion of rent
attributable to such personal property will not qualify as rents
from real property. Moreover, an amount received or accrued will
not qualify as rents from real property or as interest income
for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests if it is
based in whole or in part on the income or profits of any
person, although an amount received or accrued generally will
not be excluded from rents from real property or
interest solely by reason of being based on a fixed
percentage or percentages of receipts or sales. Finally, for
rents received to qualify as rents from real property, ProLogis
generally must not furnish or render services to tenants, other
than through a taxable REIT subsidiary, or an independent
contractor from whom ProLogis derives no income, except
that ProLogis may directly provide services that are
usually or customarily rendered in connection with
the rental of properties for occupancy only, or are not
otherwise considered rendered to the occupant for his
convenience. A real estate investment trust is permitted
to render a de minimis amount of impermissible services to
tenants, or in connection with the management of property, and
still treat amounts received with respect to that property
(other than the amounts attributable to the provision of the de
minimis impermissible services) as rent from real property. The
amount received or accrued by the real estate investment trust
during the taxable year for the impermissible services with
respect to a property may not exceed 1% of all amounts received
or accrued by the real estate investment trust directly or
indirectly from the property. If this 1% threshold is exceeded,
none of the amounts received with respect to that property will
qualify as rent from real property. The amount received for any
service or management operation for this purpose shall be deemed
to
38
be not less than 150% of the direct cost of the real estate
investment trust in furnishing or rendering the service or
providing the management or operation. Furthermore, ProLogis may
furnish such impermissible services to tenants through a taxable
REIT subsidiary and still treat amounts otherwise received with
respect to the property as rent from real property.
2. The 95% Gross Income Test. In addition to
deriving 75% of its gross income from the sources listed above,
at least 95% of ProLogis gross income for the taxable year
must be derived from the above-described qualifying income, or
from dividends, interest or gains from the sale or disposition
of stock or other securities that are not dealer property.
Dividends, other than on real estate investment trust shares,
and interest on any obligations not secured by an interest in
real property are included for purposes of the 95% gross income
test, but not for purposes of the 75% gross income test.
Any income from (i) a hedging transaction that is clearly
and timely identified and that hedges indebtedness incurred or
to be incurred to acquire or carry real estate assets or
(ii) a clearly and timely identified transaction entered
into primarily to manage the risk of currency fluctuations with
respect to any item of income that would qualify under the 75%
or the 95% gross income tests, will not constitute gross income
(rather than being treated either as qualifying income or
non-qualifying income) for purposes of the 75% and the 95% gross
income tests. Income from such transactions that does not meet
these requirements will be treated as non-qualifying income for
purposes of the 75% and the 95% gross income tests. Any income
from foreign currency gain that is real estate foreign
exchange gain as defined in the Internal Revenue Code will
not constitute gross income for purposes of the 75% gross income
test. Real estate foreign exchange gain includes
foreign currency gains attributable to (i) any item of
income or gain that would qualify under the 75% gross income
test, (ii) the acquisition or ownership of obligations
secured by mortgages on real property or interests in real
property, (iii) becoming or being the obligor under
obligations secured by mortgages on real property or on
interests in real property, (iv) remittances from qualified
business units that meet the 75% gross income test for the
taxable year and the 75% asset test at the close of each
quarter, and (v) any other foreign currency gain as
determined by the Internal Revenue Service. Other foreign
currency gain, if such foreign currency gain is passive
foreign exchange gain as defined in the Internal Revenue
Code, will not constitute gross income for purposes of the 95%
gross income test (but will be treated as income that does not
qualify under the 75% gross income test). Passive foreign
exchange gain includes foreign currency gains attributable
to (i) real estate foreign exchange gain, (ii) any
item of income or gain that would qualify under the 95% gross
income test, (iii) the acquisition or ownership of
obligations, (iv) becoming or being the obligor under
obligations, and (v) any other foreign currency gain as
determined by the Internal Revenue Service.
For purposes of determining whether ProLogis complies with the
75% and 95% gross income tests, gross income does not include
income from prohibited transactions. A prohibited
transaction is a sale of property held primarily for sale
to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business,
excluding foreclosure property (described below), unless such
property is held by ProLogis for at least two years and other
requirements relating to the number of properties sold in a
year, their tax bases or fair market values, and the cost of
improvements made to the property are satisfied. See
Taxation of ProLogis General.
Foreclosure property is real property (including interests in
real property) and any personal property incident to such real
property (i) that is acquired by a real estate investment
trust as a result of the real estate investment trust having bid
in the property at foreclosure, or having otherwise reduced the
property to ownership or possession by agreement or process of
law, after there was a default (or default was imminent) on a
lease of the property or a mortgage loan held by the real estate
investment trust and secured by the property, (ii) for
which the related loan or lease was made, entered into or
acquired by the real estate investment trust at a time when
default was not imminent or anticipated and (iii) for which
such real estate investment trust makes an election to treat the
property as foreclosure property. Real estate investment trusts
generally are subject to tax at the maximum corporate tax rate
(currently 35%) on any net income from foreclosure property,
including any gain from the disposition of the foreclosure
property, other than income that would otherwise be qualifying
income for purposes of the 75% gross income test. Any gain from
the sale of property for which a foreclosure property election
has been made will not be subject to the 100% penalty
39
tax on gains from prohibited transactions described below, even
if the property was held primarily for sale to customers in the
ordinary course of a trade or business.
Even if ProLogis fails to satisfy one or both of the 75% or 95%
gross income tests for any taxable year, it may still qualify as
a real estate investment trust for such year if it is entitled
to relief under provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. These
relief provisions will generally be available if:
(1) following ProLogis identification of the failure,
it files a schedule with a description of each item of gross
income that caused the failure in accordance with regulations
prescribed by the Treasury; and
(2) ProLogis failure to comply was due to reasonable
cause and not due to willful neglect.
If these relief provisions apply, however, ProLogis will
nonetheless be subject to a special tax equal to the greater of
the amount by which it fails either the 75% or 95% gross income
test for that year multiplied by a fraction the numerator of
which is the real estate investment trust taxable income for the
taxable year (adjusted for certain items) and the denominator of
which is the gross income for the taxable year (adjusted for
certain items).
Annual
distribution requirements
In order to qualify as a real estate investment trust, ProLogis
is required to make distributions, other than capital gain
dividends, to its shareholders each year in an amount at least
equal to the sum of 90% of ProLogis real estate investment
trust taxable income, computed without regard to the dividends
paid deduction and real estate investment trust net capital
gain, plus 90% of its net income after tax, if any, from
foreclosure property, minus the sum of some items of excess
non-cash income. Such distributions must be paid in the taxable
year to which they relate, or in the following taxable year if
declared before ProLogis timely files its tax return for such
year and if paid on or before the first regular dividend payment
after such declaration. To the extent that ProLogis does not
distribute all of its net capital gain or distributes at least
90%, but less than 100%, of its real estate investment trust
taxable income, as adjusted, it will be subject to tax on the
undistributed amount at regular capital gains or ordinary
corporate tax rates, as the case may be. A real estate
investment trust is permitted, with respect to undistributed net
long-term capital gains it received during the taxable year, to
designate in a notice mailed to shareholders within 60 days
of the end of the taxable year, or in a notice mailed with its
annual report for the taxable year, such amount of such gains
which its shareholders are to include in their taxable income as
long-term capital gains. Thus, if ProLogis made this
designation, the shareholders of ProLogis would include in their
income as long-term capital gains their proportionate share of
the undistributed net capital gains as designated by ProLogis
and ProLogis would have to pay the tax on such gains within
30 days of the close of its taxable year. Each shareholder
of ProLogis would be deemed to have paid such shareholders
share of the tax paid by ProLogis on such gains, which tax would
be credited or refunded to the shareholder. A shareholder would
increase his, her or its tax basis in his, her or its ProLogis
shares by the difference between the amount of income to the
holder resulting from the designation less the
shareholders credit or refund for the tax paid by ProLogis.
ProLogis intends to make timely distributions sufficient to
satisfy the annual distribution requirements. It is possible
that ProLogis may not have sufficient cash or other liquid
assets to meet the 90% distribution requirement, due to timing
differences between the actual receipt of income and actual
payment of expenses on the one hand, and the inclusion of such
income and deduction of such expenses in computing
ProLogis real estate investment trust taxable income on
the other hand. To avoid any problem with the 90% distribution
requirement, ProLogis will closely monitor the relationship
between its real estate investment trust taxable income and cash
flow and, if necessary, may borrow funds in order to satisfy the
distribution requirement. However, there can be no assurance
that such borrowing would be available at such time.
Additionally, the Internal Revenue Service has recently issued a
revenue procedure in which it provided that certain stock
distributions declared by a publicly-traded real estate
investment trust with respect to a taxable year ending on or
before December 31, 2009 may qualify as dividends for
purposes of the distribution requirement so long as shareholders
are given the choice of receiving stock or cash distributions,
the aggregate amount of cash distributions are not limited to
less than 10% of the aggregate distribution, and certain other
requirements are
40
met. ProLogis may declare a share distribution in 2009 that
would meet the requirements set out in the revenue procedure for
treatment as a dividend.
ProLogis generally must make distributions during the taxable
year to which they relate. ProLogis may pay dividends in the
following year in two circumstances. First, ProLogis may declare
and pay dividends in the following year if the dividends are
declared before it timely files its tax return for the year and
if it pays the dividends before the first regular dividend
payment made after such declaration. Second, if ProLogis
declares a dividend in October, November, or December of any
year with a record date in one of these months and pays the
dividend on or before January 31 of the following year, it will
be treated as having paid the dividend on December 31 of the
year in which the dividend was declared. To the extent that
ProLogis does not distribute all of its net capital gain or if
it distributes at least 90%, but less than 100% of its real
estate investment trust taxable income, as adjusted, it will be
subject to tax on the undistributed amount at regular capital
gains or ordinary corporate tax rates, as the case may be.
If ProLogis fails to meet the 90% distribution requirement as a
result of an adjustment to ProLogis tax return by the
Internal Revenue Service, or if ProLogis determines that it has
failed to meet the 90% distribution requirement in a prior
taxable year, ProLogis may retroactively cure the failure by
paying a deficiency dividend, plus applicable
penalties and interest, within a specified period.
Tax
aspects of ProLogis investments in partnerships
A portion of ProLogis investments are owned through
business entities treated as partnerships for U.S. federal
income tax purposes. As previously mentioned, ProLogis will
include its proportionate share of (i) each
partnerships income, gains, losses, deductions and credits
for purposes of the various real estate investment trust gross
income tests and in its computation of its real estate
investment trust taxable income and (ii) the assets held by
each partnership for purposes of the real estate investment
trust asset tests.
ProLogis interest in the partnerships involves special tax
considerations, including the possibility of a challenge by the
Internal Revenue Service of the status of the partnerships as
partnerships, as opposed to associations taxable as
corporations, for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If a
partnership were to be treated as an association, such
partnership would be taxable as a corporation and therefore
subject to an entity-level tax on its income, in the case of a
U.S. corporation or a foreign corporation with
U.S. source income or income that is effectively connected
with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business. In such a
situation, regardless of whether or not the corporation would be
treated as U.S. or foreign, the character of ProLogis
assets and items of gross income would change, which may
preclude ProLogis from satisfying the real estate investment
trust asset tests and may preclude ProLogis from satisfying the
real estate investment trust gross income tests. See
Failure to qualify below, for a
discussion of the effect of ProLogis failure to meet such
tests.
Failure
to qualify
If ProLogis fails to qualify for taxation as a real estate
investment trust in any taxable year and relief provisions do
not apply, ProLogis will be subject to tax, including applicable
alternative minimum tax, on its taxable income at regular
corporate rates. Distributions to shareholders in any year in
which ProLogis fails to qualify as a real estate investment
trust will not be deductible by ProLogis, nor generally will
they be required to be made under the Internal Revenue Code. In
such event, to the extent of current or accumulated earnings and
profits, all distributions to shareholders will be taxable as
ordinary income, and subject to limitations in the Internal
Revenue Code, corporate distributees may be eligible for the
dividends-received deduction. Unless entitled to relief under
specific statutory provisions, ProLogis also will be
disqualified from re-electing taxation as a real estate
investment trust for the four taxable years following the year
during which qualification was lost.
In the event that ProLogis fails to satisfy one or more
requirements for qualification as a real estate investment
trust, other than the 75% and the 95% gross income tests and
other than the asset tests, each of which is subject to the cure
provisions described above, ProLogis will retain its real estate
investment trust
41
qualification if (i) the violation is due to reasonable
cause and not willful neglect and (ii) ProLogis pays a
penalty of $50,000 for each failure to satisfy the provision.
Taxation
of ProLogis shareholders
Taxation
of U.S. shareholders
As long as ProLogis qualifies as a real estate investment trust,
distributions made to ProLogis U.S. shareholders out
of current or accumulated earnings and profits, and not
designated as capital gain dividends, will be taken into account
by them as ordinary dividends and will not be eligible for the
dividends-received deduction for corporations. Ordinary
dividends will be taxable to ProLogis domestic
shareholders as ordinary income, except that prior to
January 1, 2011, such dividends will be taxed at the rate
applicable to long-term capital gains to the extent that such
dividends are attributable to dividends received by ProLogis
from non-real estate investment trust corporations (such as
U.S. and certain qualifying foreign taxable REIT
subsidiaries) or are attributable to income upon which ProLogis
has paid corporate income tax (e.g., to the extent that ProLogis
distributes less than 100% of its taxable income). Distributions
and undistributed amounts that are designated as capital gain
dividends will be taxed as long-term capital gains, to the
extent they do not exceed ProLogis actual net capital gain
for the taxable year, without regard to the period for which the
shareholder has held his, her or its shares. However, corporate
shareholders may be required to treat up to 20% of some capital
gain dividends as ordinary income. To the extent that ProLogis
makes distributions in excess of current and accumulated
earnings and profits, these distributions are treated first as a
tax-free return of capital to its shareholders, reducing the tax
basis of a shareholders shares by the amount of such
distribution, but not below zero, with distributions in excess
of the shareholders tax basis taxable as capital gains, if
the shares are held as a capital asset. In addition, any
dividend declared by ProLogis in October, November or December
of any year and payable to a shareholder of record on a specific
date in any such month shall be treated as both paid by ProLogis
and received by the shareholder on December 31 of such year,
provided that the dividend is actually paid by ProLogis during
January of the following calendar year. Shareholders may not
include in their individual income tax returns any net operating
losses or capital losses of ProLogis. Instead, ProLogis will
generally carry over these losses for potential offset against
its future taxable income. U.S. federal income tax rules
may also require that minimum tax adjustments and preferences be
apportioned to ProLogis shareholders.
In general, any loss upon a sale or exchange of shares by a
shareholder who has held such shares for six months or less,
after applying holding period rules, will be treated as a
long-term capital loss, to the extent of distributions from
ProLogis required to be treated by such shareholder as long-term
capital gains. In addition, under the so-called wash
sale rules, all or a portion of any loss that a
shareholder realizes upon a taxable disposition of ProLogis
common shares may be disallowed if the shareholder purchases
other common shares within 30 days before or after the
disposition. A non-corporate taxpayer may deduct capital losses
not offset by capital gains against ordinary income only up to a
maximum annual amount of $3,000. A non-corporate taxpayer may
carry forward unused capital losses indefinitely. A corporate
taxpayer must pay tax on its net capital gain at ordinary
corporate rates. A corporate taxpayer may deduct capital losses
only to the extent of capital gains, with unused losses being
carried back three years and forward five years.
Gain from the sale or exchange of shares held for more than one
year is taxed as long-term capital gain. Net long-term capital
gains of non-corporate taxpayers are taxed at a maximum capital
gain rate of 15% for sales or exchanges occurring prior to
January 1, 2011 (and 20% for sales or exchanges occurring
thereafter). Pursuant to Internal Revenue Service guidance,
ProLogis may classify portions of its capital gain dividends as
gains eligible for the 15% (or 20%) maximum capital gains rate
or as unrecaptured Internal Revenue Code Section 1250 gain
taxable at a maximum rate of 25%.
Shareholders of ProLogis should consult their tax advisors with
respect to taxation of capital gains and capital gain dividends
and with regard to state, local and foreign taxes on capital
gains.
Taxable distributions that ProLogis pays and gain from the
disposition of its common shares will not be treated as passive
activity income and, therefore, shareholders generally will not
be able to apply any passive activity losses, such
as losses from certain types of limited partnerships in which
the shareholder is a
42
limited partner, against such income or gain. In addition,
taxable distributions that ProLogis pays and gain from the
disposition of its common shares generally will be treated as
investment income for purposes of the investment interest
limitations. ProLogis will notify shareholders after the close
of its taxable year as to the portions of the distributions
attributable to that year that constitute ordinary income,
return of capital and capital gain.
If a domestic shareholder recognizes a loss upon a subsequent
disposition of ProLogis common shares in an amount that
exceeds a prescribed threshold, it is possible that the
provisions of Treasury regulations involving reportable
transactions could apply, with a resulting requirement to
separately disclose the loss generating transactions to the
Internal Revenue Service. While these regulations are directed
towards tax shelters, they are written quite
broadly, and apply to transactions that would not typically be
considered tax shelters. Significant penalties apply for failure
to comply with these requirements. You should consult your tax
advisor concerning any possible disclosure obligation with
respect to the receipt or disposition of ProLogis common
shares, or transactions that might be undertaken directly or
indirectly by ProLogis. Moreover, you should be aware that
ProLogis and other participants in transactions involving
ProLogis (including their advisors) might be subject to
disclosure or other requirements pursuant to these regulations.
Information
and reporting and backup withholding
ProLogis will report to its domestic shareholders and to the
Internal Revenue Service the amount of distributions paid during
each calendar year, and the amount of tax withheld, if any, with
respect to the paid distributions. Under the backup withholding
rules, a shareholder may be subject to backup withholding at
applicable rates with respect to distributions paid unless such
shareholder is a corporation or comes within other exempt
categories and, when required, demonstrates this fact or
provides a taxpayer identification number, certifies as to no
loss of exemption from backup withholding, and otherwise
complies with applicable requirements of the backup withholding
rules. A shareholder that does not provide ProLogis with its
correct taxpayer identification number may also be subject to
penalties imposed by the Internal Revenue Service. Any amount
paid as backup withholding will be credited against the
shareholders income tax liability. In addition, ProLogis
may be required to withhold a portion of capital gain
distributions made to any shareholders who fail to certify their
non-foreign status to ProLogis.
Taxation
of tax-exempt shareholders
The Internal Revenue Service has issued a revenue ruling in
which it held that amounts distributed by a real estate
investment trust to a tax-exempt employees pension trust
do not constitute unrelated business taxable income. Subject to
the discussion below regarding a pension-held real estate
investment trust, based upon the ruling, the analysis in
the ruling and the statutory framework of the Internal Revenue
Code, distributions by ProLogis to a shareholder that is a
tax-exempt entity should also not constitute unrelated business
taxable income, provided that the tax-exempt entity has not
financed the acquisition of its shares with acquisition
indebtedness within the meaning of the Internal Revenue
Code, that the shares are not otherwise used in an unrelated
trade or business of the tax-exempt entity, and that ProLogis,
consistent with its present intent, does not hold a residual
interest in a real estate mortgage investment conduit. Social
clubs, voluntary employee benefit associations, supplemental
unemployment benefit trusts, and qualified group legal services
plans that are exempt from taxation under special provisions of
the U.S. federal income tax laws are subject to different
unrelated business taxable income rules, which generally will
require them to characterize distributions that they receive
from ProLogis as unrelated business taxable income.
However, if any pension or other retirement trust that qualifies
under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code holds
more than 10% by value of the interests in a pension-held
real estate investment trust at any time during a taxable
year, a portion of the dividends paid to the qualified pension
trust by such real estate investment trust may constitute
unrelated business taxable income. For these purposes, a
pension-held real estate investment trust is defined
as a real estate investment trust if such real estate investment
trust would not have qualified as a real estate investment trust
but for the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code which look
through such a qualified pension trust in determining ownership
of shares of the real estate investment trust and at least one
qualified pension trust holds more than 25% by value of the
interests of such
43
real estate investment trust or one or more qualified pension
trusts, each owning more than a 10% interest by value in the
real estate investment trust, hold in the aggregate more than
50% by value of the interests in such real estate investment
trust. ProLogis believes that it is not a pension-held
real estate investment trust.
Taxation
of foreign shareholders
Distributions of cash generated by ProLogis real estate
operations, but not by its sale or exchange of such properties,
that are paid to foreign persons generally will be subject to
U.S. withholding tax at a rate of 30%, unless an applicable
tax treaty or statutory provision reduces that tax and the
foreign shareholder files an Internal Revenue Service
Form W-8BEN
(or other acceptable substitute or applicable form) with
ProLogis or unless the foreign shareholder files an Internal
Revenue Service
Form W-8ECI
with ProLogis claiming that the distribution is
effectively connected income. Under applicable
Treasury regulations, foreign shareholders generally must
provide the Internal Revenue Service
Form W-8ECI
or
Form W-8BEN
(or other acceptable substitute or applicable form) beginning
January 1, 2000 and every three years thereafter unless the
information on the form changes before that date. However, if
such form includes a taxpayer identification number, the form
will remain in effect until a change in circumstances makes the
information incorrect provided the withholding agent reports on
Form 1042 at least one payment annually to the foreign
shareholder. If a distribution is treated as effectively
connected with a foreign shareholders conduct of a
U.S. trade or business, the foreign shareholder generally
will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the
distribution at graduated rates, in the same manner as domestic
shareholders are taxed on distributions, and also may be subject
to the 30% branch profits tax (or reduced tax treaty rate, if
applicable) in the case of a foreign shareholder that is a
corporation.
A foreign shareholder will not incur tax on a distribution in
excess of ProLogis current and accumulated earnings and
profits if the excess portion of the distribution does not
exceed the adjusted tax basis of the shareholders common
shares. Instead, the excess portion of the distribution will
reduce the foreign shareholders adjusted tax basis for its
common shares. A foreign shareholder will be subject to tax on a
distribution that exceeds both ProLogis current and
accumulated earnings and profits and the adjusted tax basis for
its common shares, if the foreign shareholder otherwise would be
subject to tax on gain from the disposition of its common shares
as described herein. Because ProLogis generally cannot determine
at the time it makes a distribution whether or not the
distribution will exceed its current and accumulated earnings
and profits, it generally will withhold tax on the entire amount
of any distribution at the same rate at which it would withhold
on a dividend. However, a foreign shareholder may obtain a
refund of amounts that ProLogis withholds if it is subsequently
determined that a distribution was in excess of ProLogis
current and accumulated earnings and profits.
Distributions of proceeds attributable to the sale or exchange
by ProLogis of U.S. real property interests are subject to
income and withholding taxes pursuant to the Foreign Investment
in Real Property Tax Act of 1980, (FIRPTA). Under
FIRPTA, gains are considered effectively connected with a
U.S. trade or business of the foreign shareholder and are
taxed at the normal graduated rates applicable to
U.S. shareholders. Moreover, gains may be subject to branch
profits tax in the hands of a shareholder that is a foreign
corporation if it is not entitled to treaty relief or exemption.
However, distributions of proceeds attributable to the sale or
exchange by ProLogis of U.S. real property interests will
not be subject to tax under FIRPTA or the branch profits tax,
and will instead be taxed in the same manner as distributions of
cash generated by ProLogis real estate operations other
than the sale or exchange of properties (as described above) if
(i) the distribution is made with regard to a class of
shares that is regularly traded on an established securities
market in the United States and (ii) the recipient
shareholder does not own more than 5% of that class of shares at
any time during the
1-year
period ending on the date the distribution is received. ProLogis
is required to withhold 35% (or less to the extent provided in
applicable Treasury regulations) of any distribution to a
foreign person owning more than 5% of the relevant class of
shares (or otherwise has held more than 5% at any time during
the 1-year
period ending on the date the distribution is received) that
could be designated by ProLogis as a capital gain dividend; this
amount is creditable against the foreign shareholders
FIRPTA tax liability.
ProLogis will qualify as a domestically controlled
qualified investment entity so long as it qualifies as a
real estate investment trust and less than 50% in value of its
shares is held by foreign persons (e.g.,
44
nonresident aliens and foreign corporations). It is currently
anticipated that ProLogis will qualify as a domestically
controlled qualified investment entity. Under these
circumstances, except as described in the next sentence, gain
from the sale of the shares of ProLogis by a foreign person
should not be subject to U.S. taxation, unless such gain is
effectively connected with such persons U.S. trade or
business or, in the case of an individual foreign person, such
person is present within the U.S. for 183 days or more
in such taxable year. Even if ProLogis is a domestically
controlled qualified investment entity, upon a foreign
shareholders disposition of its common shares (subject to
the 5% exception applicable to regularly traded
shares described above), such foreign shareholder may be treated
as having taxable gain from the sale or exchange of a
U.S. real property interest (within the meaning of FIRPTA)
if the foreign shareholder (i) disposes of ProLogis
common shares within a
30-day
period preceding the ex-dividend date of a distribution, any
portion of which, but for the disposition, would have been
treated as gain from the sale or exchange of a U.S. real
property interest (within the meaning of FIRPTA) and
(ii) acquires, or enters into a contract or option to
acquire, other common shares of ProLogis within 30 days
after such ex-dividend date.
In the event that ProLogis does not constitute a domestically
controlled qualified investment entity, a foreign
shareholders sale of its common shares nonetheless will
generally not be subject to tax under FIRPTA as a sale of a
U.S. real property interest (within the meaning of FIRPTA)
provided that (i) ProLogis common shares are
regularly traded (as defined by applicable Treasury
regulations) on an established securities market and
(ii) the selling foreign shareholder held (taking into
account constructive ownership rules) 5% or less of
ProLogis outstanding common shares at all times during a
specified testing period. If gain on a foreign
shareholders sale of ProLogis common shares were
subject to taxation under FIRPTA, the foreign shareholder would
be subject to the same treatment as a domestic shareholder with
respect to such gain (subject to applicable alternative minimum
tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of
nonresident alien individuals). In addition, the purchaser of
the common shares could be required to withhold 10% of the
purchase price and remit such amount to the Internal Revenue
Service.
The U.S. federal income taxation of foreign shareholders is
a highly complex matter that may be affected by many other
considerations. Accordingly, foreign investors in ProLogis
should consult their own tax advisors regarding the income and
withholding tax considerations with respect to their investment
in ProLogis.
Tax
Rates
Long-term capital gains and qualified dividends
received by an individual are generally subject to
U.S. federal income tax at a maximum rate of 15%. Because
ProLogis is not generally subject to U.S. federal income
tax on the portion of its real estate investment trust taxable
income or capital gains distributed to its shareholders,
ProLogis dividends generally are not eligible for the 15%
maximum tax rate on dividends. As a result, ProLogis
ordinary real estate investment trust dividends are taxed at the
higher tax rates applicable to ordinary income. However, the 15%
maximum tax rate for long-term capital gains and qualified
dividends generally applies to:
|
|
|
|
|
a shareholders long-term capital gains, if any, recognized
on the disposition of ProLogis shares;
|
|
|
|
ProLogis distributions designated as long-term capital
gain dividends (except to the extent attributable to real estate
depreciation, in which case such distributions continue to be
subject to a 25% tax rate);
|
|
|
|
ProLogis distributions attributable to dividends received
by ProLogis from non-real estate investment trust corporations,
such as U.S. and certain qualifying foreign taxable REIT
subsidiaries; and
|
|
|
|
ProLogis distributions to the extent attributable to
income upon which ProLogis has paid corporate income tax (e.g.,
to the extent that ProLogis distributes less than 100% of its
taxable income).
|
Without future congressional action, the maximum tax rate on
long-term capital gains will increase to 20% in 2011, and the
maximum rate on qualified dividends will increase to 39.6% in
2011.
45
Other Tax
Considerations
Investments
in taxable REIT subsidiaries
Several ProLogis subsidiaries have made timely elections to be
treated as taxable REIT subsidiaries of ProLogis. As taxable
REIT subsidiaries of ProLogis, these entities will pay
U.S. federal and state income taxes at the full applicable
corporate rates on their income prior to payment of any
dividends to the extent such entities are either
U.S. taxable REIT subsidiaries or foreign taxable REIT
subsidiaries earning income that is effectively connected with
the conduct of a U.S. trade or business. ProLogis
taxable REIT subsidiaries will attempt to minimize the amount of
such taxes, but there can be no assurance whether or the extent
to which measures taken to minimize taxes will be successful. To
the extent a taxable REIT subsidiary of ProLogis is required to
pay U.S. federal, state or local taxes, the cash available
for distribution by such taxable REIT subsidiary to its
shareholders, including ProLogis, will be reduced accordingly.
While taxable REIT subsidiaries may be subject to full corporate
level taxation on their earnings, they are permitted to engage
in certain types of activities that cannot be performed directly
by real estate investment trusts without jeopardizing their real
estate investment trust status. Taxable REIT subsidiaries are
subject to limitations on the deductibility of payments made to
the associated real estate investment trust that could
materially increase the taxable income of the taxable REIT
subsidiary and are subject to prohibited transaction taxes on
certain other payments made to the associated real estate
investment trust. ProLogis will be subject to a tax of 100% on
the amount of any rents from real property, deductions or excess
interest that would be reapportioned under Section 482 of
the Internal Revenue Code to one of its taxable REIT
subsidiaries in order to more clearly reflect income of the
taxable REIT subsidiary.
Under the taxable REIT subsidiary provision, ProLogis and any
taxable entity in which ProLogis owns an interest are allowed to
jointly elect to treat such entity as a taxable REIT
subsidiary. In addition, if any of ProLogis taxable
REIT subsidiaries owns, directly or indirectly, securities
representing 35% or more of the vote or value of an entity
treated as a corporation for tax purposes, that subsidiary will
also automatically be treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary of
ProLogis. As described above, taxable REIT subsidiary elections
have been made for certain entities in which ProLogis owns an
interest. Additional taxable REIT subsidiary elections may be
made in the future for additional entities in which ProLogis
owns an interest.
Tax on
built-in gain
ProLogis has previously acquired assets from taxable
U.S. C-corporations (and in one instance a foreign
corporation holding a U.S. real property interest) in
carry-over basis transactions, and may acquire additional assets
in such manner in the future. As a result of such acquisitions,
ProLogis could be liable for specified liabilities that are
inherited from such C-corporations. If ProLogis recognizes gain
on the disposition of such assets during the
10-year
period beginning on the date on which such assets were acquired
by ProLogis, then to the extent of such assets
built-in gains (in other words, the excess of the
fair market value of such assets at the time of the acquisition
by ProLogis over the adjusted basis of such assets, determined
at the time of such acquisition), ProLogis will be subject to
tax on such gain at the highest corporate rate applicable. The
results described above with respect to the recognition of
built-in gain assume that the
C-corporation
whose assets are acquired does not make an election to recognize
such built-in gain at the time of such acquisition.
Affiliated
real estate investment trust
Palmtree Acquisition Corporation is a corporate subsidiary of
ProLogis which intends to qualify as a real estate investment
trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Palmtree
Acquisition Corporation therefore needs to satisfy the real
estate investment trust tests discussed in this prospectus. The
failure of Palmtree Acquisition Corporation to qualify as a real
estate investment trust could cause ProLogis to fail to qualify
as a real estate investment trust because ProLogis would then
own more than 10% of the securities of an issuer that was not a
real estate investment trust, a qualified real estate investment
trust subsidiary or a taxable REIT subsidiary. ProLogis believes
that Palmtree Acquisition Corporation has been organized and
operated in a manner that will permit it to qualify as a real
estate investment trust. As a real estate investment trust,
46
Palmtree Acquisition Corporation will be subject to the built-in
gain rules discussed in the section entitled Tax on
built-in gain above. Palmtree Acquisition Corporation is
the successor of Catellus Development Corporation, which was a
C-corporation that elected to be treated as a real estate
investment trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes
effective January 1, 2004. Therefore, Palmtree Acquisition
Corporation could be subject to a U.S. federal corporate
level tax at the highest regular corporate rate (currently 35%)
on any gain recognized within ten years of Catellus Development
Corporations conversion to a real estate investment trust
from the sale of any assets that Catellus Development
Corporation held at the effective time of its election to be a
real estate investment trust, but only to the extent of the
built-in gain based on the fair market value of those assets as
of the effective date of the real estate investment trust
election. ProLogis does not currently expect Palmtree
Acquisition Corporation to dispose of any assets if such
disposition would result in the imposition of a material tax
liability unless ProLogis can effect a tax-deferred exchange of
the property. However, certain assets are subject to third party
purchase options that may require Palmtree Acquisition
Corporation to sell such assets, and those assets may carry
deferred tax liabilities that would be triggered on such sales.
Possible
legislative or other actions affecting tax
consequences
Prospective shareholders should recognize that the present
U.S. federal income tax treatment of an investment in
ProLogis may be modified by legislative, judicial or
administrative action at any time and that any such action may
affect investments and commitments previously made. The rules
dealing with U.S. federal income taxation are constantly
under review by persons involved in the legislative process and
by the Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury, resulting in
revisions of regulations and revised interpretations of
established concepts as well as statutory changes. Revisions in
federal tax laws and interpretations of these laws could
adversely affect the tax consequences of an investment in
ProLogis.
State and
local taxes
ProLogis and its shareholders may be subject to state or local
taxation in various jurisdictions, including those in which it
or they transact business or reside. The state and local tax
treatment of ProLogis and its shareholders may not conform to
the U.S. federal income tax consequences discussed above.
Consequently, prospective shareholders should consult their own
tax advisors regarding the effect of state and local tax laws on
an investment in the offered securities of ProLogis.
Foreign
taxes
Various ProLogis subsidiaries and entities in which ProLogis and
its subsidiaries invest may be subject to taxation in various
foreign jurisdictions. Each of the parties will pay any such
foreign taxes prior to payment of any dividends. Each entity
will attempt to minimize the amount of such taxes, but there can
be no assurance whether or the extent to which measures taken to
minimize taxes will be successful. To the extent that any of
these entities is required to pay foreign taxes, the cash
available for distribution to ProLogis shareholders will be
reduced accordingly.
You are advised to consult with your own tax advisor
regarding the specific tax consequences to you of the ownership
and sales of ProLogis debt securities, preferred shares and
common shares, including the U.S. federal, state, local,
foreign, and other tax consequences of such purchase and
ownership and of potential changes in applicable tax laws.
47
PLAN OF
DISTRIBUTION
We may sell the offered securities to one or more underwriters
for public offering and sale by them or may sell the offered
securities to investors directly or through agents, which agents
may be affiliated with us. Direct sales to investors may be
accomplished through subscription offerings or through
subscription rights distributed to our shareholders. In
connection with subscription offerings or the distribution of
subscription rights to shareholders, if all of the underlying
offered securities are not subscribed for, we may sell such
unsubscribed offered securities to third parties directly or
through agents and, in addition, whether or not all of the
underlying offered securities are subscribed for, we may
concurrently offer additional offered securities to third
parties directly or through agents, which agents may be
affiliated with us. Any underwriter or agent involved in the
offer and sale of the offered securities will be named in the
applicable prospectus supplement.
The distribution of the offered securities may be effected from
time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or
prices, which may be changed, or at prices related to the
prevailing market prices at the time of sale, such as an
at the market offering, or at negotiated prices, any
of which may represent a discount from the prevailing market
price. We also may, from time to time, authorize underwriters
acting as our agents to offer and sell the offered securities
upon the terms and conditions set forth in the applicable
prospectus supplement. In connection with the sale of offered
securities, underwriters may be deemed to have received
compensation from us in the form of underwriting discounts or
commissions and may also receive commissions from purchasers of
offered securities for whom they may act as agent. Underwriters
may sell offered securities to or through dealers, and such
dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts,
concessions or commissions from the underwriters
and/or
commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agent.
Any underwriting compensation paid by us to underwriters or
agents in connection with the offering of offered securities,
and any discounts, concessions or commissions allowed by
underwriters to participating dealers, will be set forth in the
applicable prospectus supplement. Underwriters, dealers and
agents participating in the distribution of the offered
securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts
and commissions received by them and any profit realized by them
on resale of the offered securities may be deemed to be
underwriting discounts and commissions, under the Securities
Act. Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled, under
agreements entered into with us, to indemnification against and
contribution toward civil liabilities, including liabilities
under the Securities Act. Any such indemnification agreements
will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
If so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will
authorize dealers acting as our agents to solicit offers by
institutions to purchase offered securities from us at the
public offering price set forth in such prospectus supplement
pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and
delivery on the date or dates stated in such prospectus
supplement. Each contract will be for an amount not less than,
and the aggregate principal amount of offered securities sold
pursuant to contracts shall be not less nor more than, the
respective amounts stated in the applicable prospectus
supplement. Institutions with whom contracts, when authorized,
may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance
companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and
charitable institutions, and other institutions but will in all
cases be subject to our approval.
Contracts will not be subject to any conditions except the
purchase by an institution of the offered securities covered by
its contracts shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited
under the laws of any jurisdiction in the United States to which
such institution is subject, and if the offered securities are
being sold to underwriters, we shall have sold to such
underwriters the total principal amount of the offered
securities less the principal amount of the securities covered
by contracts. Some of the underwriters and their affiliates may
be customers of, engage in transactions with and perform
services for us and our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of
business.
48
EXPERTS
The consolidated balance sheets of ProLogis as of
December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related consolidated
statements of earnings, shareholders equity and
comprehensive income (loss) and cash flows, for each of the
years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2008, the
related financial statement schedule and the effectiveness of
internal control over financial reporting of ProLogis as of
December 31, 2008, and the consolidated balance sheets of
ProLogis North American Industrial Fund, LP and subsidiaries as
of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the related consolidated
statements of earnings, partners capital and comprehensive
loss, and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2007
and for the period from March 1, 2006 (inception) through
December 31, 2006, have been incorporated by reference
herein in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent
registered public accounting firm on such financial statements,
incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said
firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
49
LEGAL
MATTERS
The validity of the offered securities will be passed upon for
us by Mayer Brown LLP Chicago, Illinois.
50