424b5
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PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5) |
(To prospectus dated November 21, 2008)
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Registration No. 333-155586 |
Up
to 9,000,000 Shares
Lexington Realty Trust
Common Shares of Beneficial Interest
We have entered into a sales agreement with each of Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. and Merrill Lynch,
Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, collectively, the Sales Agents, relating to shares of
beneficial interest classified as common stock, which we refer to as common shares offered by this
prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. In accordance with the terms of the sales
agreements, we may offer and sell up to 9,000,000 of our common shares from time to time through
the Sales Agents, as our agents for the offer and sale of the common shares.
Our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LXP. On
December 11, 2008, the last reported sale price of our common shares on the New York Stock Exchange
was $3.75 per share.
Sales of common shares, if any, under this prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus may be made in negotiated transactions or transactions that are deemed to be at the
market offerings as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, including sales made
directly on the New York Stock Exchange or sales made to or through a market maker other than on an
exchange.
The
Sales Agents will be entitled to compensation not to exceed 2.75% of the gross sales price per share
for the common shares sold under the sales agreements. In connection with the sale of the common
shares on our behalf, the Sales Agents each may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning
of the Securities Act of 1933, and the compensation of the Sales Agents may be deemed to be
underwriting commissions or discounts.
Investing in our common shares involves risks. See the risk factors set forth in our Current
Report on Form 8-K filed on June 25, 2008 and the information under Risk Factors on page S-1 of
this prospectus supplement for a discussion of factors you should carefully consider before
deciding to purchase our common shares.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has
approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the
accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offense.
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Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.
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Merrill Lynch & Co. |
The
date of this prospectus supplement is December 12, 2008
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Prospectus Supplement |
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S-ii |
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S-ii |
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S-1 |
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S-3 |
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S-16 |
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S-16 |
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S-16 |
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Prospectus |
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS |
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3 |
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CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION |
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OUR COMPANY |
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RISK FACTORS |
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USE OF PROCEEDS |
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RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED SHARE DIVIDENDS |
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DESCRIPTION OF OUR COMMON SHARES |
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DESCRIPTION OF OUR PREFERRED SHARES |
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DESCRIPTION OF OUR DEBT SECURITIES |
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DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES |
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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS |
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DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS |
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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS |
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RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERS OF CAPITAL STOCK AND ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS |
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UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS |
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SELLING SHAREHOLDER |
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION |
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LEGAL MATTERS |
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EXPERTS |
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION |
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference into this
prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. We have not, and the underwriter has not,
authorized anyone to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different
or additional information, you should not rely on it. We are not, and the underwriter is not,
making an offer to sell these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted. You
should not assume that the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus
supplement or the accompanying prospectus is accurate as of any date other than their respective
dates. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed
since those dates.
This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which adds to and
updates information contained in the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by
reference into the accompanying prospectus. The second part is the accompanying prospectus, which
gives more general information, some of which may not apply to this offering of common shares. This
prospectus supplement adds, updates and changes information contained in the accompanying
prospectus and the information incorporated by reference. To the extent the information contained
in this prospectus supplement differs or varies from the information contained in the accompanying
prospectus or any document incorporated by reference, the information in this prospectus supplement
shall control.
All references to we, our and us in this prospectus supplement mean Lexington Realty
Trust and all entities owned or controlled by us except where it is made clear that the term means
only the parent company. The term you refers to a prospective investor.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This prospectus supplement and the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus
supplement include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and as such may involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to
be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by
these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain
assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, are generally identifiable
by use of the words may, will, should, expect, anticipate, estimate, believe,
intend, project, or the negative of these words or other similar words or terms. Factors which
could have a material adverse effect on our operations and future prospects include, but are not
limited to:
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changes in general business and economic conditions; |
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competition; |
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increases in real estate construction costs; |
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changes in interest rates; |
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changes in accessibility of debt and equity capital markets; and |
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the other risk factors set forth in our Current Report on Form
8-K filed on June 25, 2008, and the other documents
incorporated by reference herein. |
These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating any forward-looking
statements contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. We caution you
that any forward-looking statement reflects only our belief at the time the statement is made.
Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are
reasonable, we cannot guarantee our future results, levels of activity, performance or
achievements. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any of the
forward-looking statements to reflect events or developments after the date of this prospectus
supplement.
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RISK FACTORS
Investing in our common shares involves risks and uncertainties that could affect us and our
business as well as the real estate industry generally. You should carefully consider the risks
described and discussed under the caption Risk Factors included in our Current Report on Form 8-K
filed on June 25, 2008, and in any other documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus
supplement, including without limitation any updated risks included in our subsequent quarterly
reports on Form 10-Q. These risk factors may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to
time by risk factors contained in any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment we may file
or in other reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the Commission, in the
future. In addition, new risks may emerge at any time and we cannot predict such risks or estimate
the extent to which they may affect our financial performance.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Upon written instructions from us, either Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. or Merrill Lynch, Pierce,
Fenner & Smith Incorporated will use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its sales
and trading practices, to solicit offers to purchase common shares under the terms and subject to
the conditions set forth in the sales agreements. Either Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.s or Merrill
Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporateds solicitation will continue until we instruct it to
suspend the solicitations and offers. We will instruct either Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. or Merrill
Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated as to the amount of common shares to be sold by it. We
may instruct Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated not to
sell common shares if the sales cannot be effected at or above the price designated by us in any
instruction. We or either Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. or Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated may suspend the offering of common shares upon proper notice and subject to other
conditions.
Either Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. or Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated will
provide written confirmation to us no later than the opening of the trading day on the New York
Stock Exchange following the trading day in which common shares are sold under the sales agreement.
Each confirmation will include the number of shares sold on the preceding day, the net proceeds to
us and the compensation payable by us to either Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. or Merrill Lynch, Pierce,
Fenner & Smith Incorporated in connection with the sales.
We will pay Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
commissions for their services in acting as agent in the sales of common shares. Cantor Fitzgerald
& Co. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated will be entitled to compensation not to exceed
2.75% of the gross sales price per common share sold under the applicable sales agreement. We
estimate that the total expenses for the offering, excluding compensation payable to Cantor
Fitzgerald & Co. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated under the terms of the
sales agreements, will be approximately $65,000.
Settlement for sales of common shares will occur on the third business day following the date
on which any sales are made, or on some other date that is agreed upon by us and either Cantor
Fitzgerald & Co. or Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as applicable, in
connection with a particular transaction, in return for payment of the net proceeds to us. There
is no arrangement for funds to be received in an escrow, trust or similar arrangement.
In connection with the sale of the common shares on our behalf, Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. and
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated may, and will with respect to sales effected in
an at the market offering, each be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the
Securities Act of 1933, and the compensation of Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce,
Fenner & Smith Incorporated may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have
agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. and Merrill Lynch,
Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under
the Securities Act. We have also agreed to reimburse Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. and Merrill Lynch,
Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated for other specified expenses.
The offering of common shares pursuant to the sales agreements will terminate upon the earlier
of (1) the sale of all common shares subject to the agreements, whether by Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.,
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated or any other agent pursuant to an at the market
offering or (2) termination of the sales agreements. The sales agreements may be terminated by us
in our sole discretion at any time by giving 10 days notice to Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. and Merrill
Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated. Either Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. or Merrill
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Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated may terminate the applicable sales agreement under the
circumstances specified in the sales agreement and in its sole discretion at any time by giving 10
days notice to us.
S-2
UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following discussion summarizes the material United States federal income tax
considerations to you as a prospective holder of our common shares and assumes that you will hold
such shares as capital assets (within the meaning of section 1221 of the Code). The following
discussion is for general information purposes only, is not exhaustive of all possible tax
considerations and is not intended to be and should not be construed as tax advice. For example,
this summary does not give a detailed discussion of any state, local or foreign tax considerations.
In addition, this discussion is intended to address only those federal income tax considerations
that are generally applicable to all of our shareholders. It does not discuss all of the aspects of
federal income taxation that may be relevant to you in light of your particular circumstances or to
certain types of shareholders who are subject to special treatment under the federal income tax
laws including, without limitation, regulated investment companies, insurance companies, tax-exempt
entities, financial institutions or broker-dealers, expatriates, persons subject to the alternative
minimum tax and partnerships or other pass through entities.
The information in this section is based on the Code, existing, temporary and proposed
regulations under the Code, the legislative history of the Code, current administrative rulings and
practices of the IRS and court decisions, all as of the date hereof. No assurance can be given that
future legislation, regulations, administrative interpretations and court decisions will not
significantly change current law or adversely affect existing interpretations of current law. Any
such change could apply retroactively to transactions preceding the date of the change. In
addition, we have not received, and do not plan to request, any rulings from the IRS. Thus no
assurance can be provided that the statements set forth herein (which do not bind the IRS or the
courts) will not be challenged by the IRS or that such statements will be sustained by a court if
so challenged. PROSPECTIVE HOLDERS OF OUR COMMON SHARES ARE ADVISED TO CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX
ADVISORS REGARDING THE FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND FOREIGN TAX CONSEQUENCES OF INVESTING IN OUR
COMMON SHARES IN LIGHT OF THEIR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES.
Taxation of the Company
General. We elected to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code, commencing
with our taxable year ended December 31, 1993. We believe that we have been organized, and have
operated, in such a manner so as to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the Code and intend to
conduct our operations so as to continue to qualify for taxation as a REIT. No assurance, however,
can be given that we have operated in a manner so as to qualify or will be able to operate in such
a manner so as to remain qualified as a REIT. Qualification and taxation as a REIT depend upon our
ability to meet on a continuing basis, through actual annual operating results, the required
distribution levels, diversity of share ownership and the various qualification tests imposed under
the Code discussed below, the results of which will not be reviewed by counsel. Given the highly
complex nature of the rules governing REITs, the ongoing importance of factual determinations, and
the possibility of future changes in our circumstances, no assurance can be given that the actual
results of our operations for any one taxable year have satisfied or will continue to satisfy such
requirements.
In
the opinion of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP issued in
connection with the accompanying prospectus, based on certain assumptions and
factual representations that are described in this section and in officers certificates provided
by us, Concord Debt Holdings LLC and Concord Debt Funding Trust (both subsidiaries in which we
indirectly hold interests), commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 1993, we have been
organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification as a REIT and our
current and proposed method of operation will enable us to continue to meet the requirements for
qualification and taxation as a REIT. It must be emphasized that this opinion is based on various
assumptions and is conditioned upon certain representations made by us, Concord Debt Holdings LLC
and Concord Debt Funding Trust as to factual matters including, but not limited to, those set forth
herein, and those concerning our business and properties as set forth in this prospectus. An
opinion of counsel is not binding on the IRS or the courts.
The following is a general summary of the Code provisions that govern the federal income tax
treatment of a REIT and its shareholders. These provisions of the Code are highly technical and
complex. This summary is qualified in its entirety by the applicable Code provisions, Treasury
Regulations and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof, all of which are subject to
change prospectively or retroactively.
If we qualify for taxation as a REIT, we generally will not be subject to federal corporate
income taxes on our net income that is currently distributed to shareholders. This treatment
substantially eliminates the double taxation (at
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the corporate and shareholder levels) that generally results from investment in a corporation.
However, we will be subject to federal income tax as follows:
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First, we will be taxed at regular corporate rates on any undistributed REIT taxable
income, including undistributed net capital gains. |
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Second, under certain circumstances, we may be subject to the alternative minimum tax on
our items of tax preference. |
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Third, if we have (a) net income from the sale or other disposition of foreclosure
property, which is, in general, property acquired on foreclosure or otherwise on default on a
loan secured by such real property or a lease of such property, which is held primarily for
sale to customers in the ordinary course of business or (b) other nonqualifying income from
foreclosure property, we will be subject to tax at the highest corporate rate on such income. |
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Fourth, if we have net income from prohibited transactions such income will be subject to a
100% tax. Prohibited transactions are, in general, certain sales or other dispositions of
property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business other than
foreclosure property. |
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Fifth, if we should fail to satisfy the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test
(as discussed below), but nonetheless maintain our qualification as a REIT because certain
other requirements have been met, we will be subject to a 100% tax on an amount equal to (a)
the gross income attributable to the greater of the amount by which we fail the 75% gross
income test or the amount by which 95% (90% for taxable years ending on or prior to December
31, 2004) of our gross income exceeds the amount of income qualifying under the 95% gross
income test multiplied by (b) a fraction intended to reflect our profitability. |
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Sixth, if we should fail to satisfy the asset tests (as discussed below) but nonetheless
maintain our qualification as a REIT because certain other requirements have been met and we
do not qualify for a de minimis exception, we may be subject to a tax that would be the
greater of (a) $50,000; or (b) an amount determined by multiplying the highest rate of tax for
corporations by the net income generated by the assets for the period beginning on the first
date of the failure and ending on the day we dispose of the nonqualifying assets (or otherwise
satisfy the requirements for maintaining REIT qualification). |
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Seventh, if we should fail to satisfy one or more requirements for REIT qualification,
other than the 95% and 75% gross income tests and other than the asset tests, but nonetheless
maintain our qualification as a REIT because certain other requirements have been met, we may
be subject to a $50,000 penalty for each failure. |
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Eighth, if we should fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of (a)
85% of our REIT ordinary income for such year, (b) 95% of our REIT capital gain net income for
such year, and (c) any undistributed taxable income from prior periods, we would be subject to
a nondeductible 4% excise tax on the excess of such required distribution over the amounts
actually distributed. |
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Ninth, if we acquire any asset from a C corporation (i.e., a corporation generally subject
to full corporate level tax) in a transaction in which the basis of the asset in our hands is
determined by reference to the basis of the asset (or any other property) in the hands of the
C corporation and we do not elect to be taxed at the time of the acquisition, we would be
subject to tax at the highest corporate rate if we dispose of such asset during the ten-year
period beginning on the date that we acquired that asset, to the extent of such propertys
built-in gain (the excess of the fair market value of such property at the time of our
acquisition over the adjusted basis of such property at such time) (we refer to this tax as
the Built-in Gains Tax). |
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Tenth, we will incur a 100% excise tax on transactions with a taxable REIT subsidiary that
are not conducted on an arms-length basis. |
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Finally, if we own a residual interest in a real estate mortgage investment conduit, or
REMIC, we will be taxable at the highest corporate rate on the portion of any excess
inclusion income that we derive from the REMIC residual interests equal to the percentage of
our shares that is held in record name by disqualified organizations. Similar rules apply if
we own an equity interest in a taxable mortgage pool. A disqualified organization includes
the United States, any state or political subdivision thereof, any foreign government or
international organization, any |
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agency or instrumentality of any of the foregoing, any rural electrical or telephone cooperative
and any tax-exempt organization (other than a farmers cooperative described in Section 521 of
the Code) that is exempt from income taxation and from the unrelated business taxable income
provisions of the Code. However, to the extent that we own a REMIC residual interest or a
taxable mortgage pool through a taxable REIT subsidiary, we will not be subject to this tax. See
the heading Requirements for Qualification below. |
Requirements for Qualification. A REIT is a corporation, trust or association (1) that is managed
by one or more trustees or directors, (2) the beneficial ownership of which is evidenced by
transferable shares, or by transferable certificates of beneficial interest, (3) that would be
taxable as a domestic corporation, but for Sections 856 through 859 of the Code, (4) that is
neither a financial institution nor an insurance company subject to certain provisions of the Code,
(5) that has the calendar year as its taxable year, (6) the beneficial ownership of which is held
by 100 or more persons, (7) during the last half of each taxable year, not more than 50% in value
of the outstanding stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals
(as defined in the Code to include certain entities), and (8) that meets certain other tests,
described below, regarding the nature of its income and assets. The Code provides that conditions
(1) through (5), inclusive, must be met during the entire taxable year and that condition (6) must
be met during at least 335 days of a taxable year of twelve (12) months, or during a proportionate
part of a taxable year of less than twelve (12) months.
We may redeem, at our option, a sufficient number of shares or restrict the transfer thereof
to bring or maintain the ownership of the shares in conformity with the requirements of the Code.
In addition, our declaration of trust includes restrictions regarding the transfer of our shares
that are intended to assist us in continuing to satisfy requirements (6) and (7). Moreover, if we
comply with regulatory rules pursuant to which we are required to send annual letters to our
shareholders requesting information regarding the actual ownership of our shares, and we do not
know, or exercising reasonable diligence would not have known, whether we failed to meet
requirement (7) above, we will be treated as having met the requirement.
The Code allows a REIT to own wholly-owned corporate subsidiaries which are qualified REIT
subsidiaries. The Code provides that a qualified REIT subsidiary is not treated as a separate
corporation, and all of its assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit are
treated as assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of the REIT. Thus, in
applying the requirements described herein, our qualified REIT subsidiaries will be ignored, and
all assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of such subsidiaries will be
treated as our assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit.
For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2001, a REIT may also hold any direct or
indirect interest in a corporation that qualifies as a taxable REIT subsidiary, as long as the
REITs aggregate holdings of taxable REIT subsidiary securities do not exceed 20% of the value of
the REITs total assets (for taxable years beginning after July 30, 2008, 25% of the value of the
REITs total assets). A taxable REIT subsidiary is a fully taxable corporation that generally is
permitted to engage in businesses (other than certain activities relating to lodging and health
care facilities), own assets, and earn income that, if engaged in, owned, or earned by the REIT,
might jeopardize REIT status or result in the imposition of penalty taxes on the REIT. To qualify
as a taxable REIT subsidiary, the subsidiary and the REIT must make a joint election to treat the
subsidiary as a taxable REIT subsidiary. A taxable REIT subsidiary also includes any corporation
(other than a REIT or a qualified REIT subsidiary) in which a taxable REIT subsidiary directly or
indirectly owns more than 35% of the total voting power or value. See Asset Tests below. A
taxable REIT subsidiary will pay tax at regular corporate income rates on any taxable income it
earns. Moreover, the Code contains rules, including rules requiring the imposition of taxes on a
REIT at the rate of 100% on certain reallocated income and expenses, to ensure that contractual
arrangements between a taxable REIT subsidiary and its parent REIT are at arms-length.
In the case of a REIT which is a partner in a partnership, Treasury Regulations provide that
the REIT will be deemed to own its proportionate share of each of the assets of the partnership and
will be deemed to be entitled to the income of the partnership attributable to such share for
purposes of satisfying the gross income and assets tests (as discussed below). In addition, the
character of the assets and items of gross income of the partnership will retain the same character
in the hands of the REIT. Thus, our proportionate share (based on equity capital) of the assets,
liabilities, and items of gross income of the partnerships in which we own an interest are treated
as our assets, liabilities and items of gross income for purposes of applying the requirements
described herein. The treatment described above also applies with respect to the ownership of
interests in limited liability companies or other entities that are treated as partnerships for tax
purposes.
S-5
A significant number of our investments are held through partnerships. If any such
partnerships were treated as an association, the entity would be taxable as a corporation and
therefore would be subject to an entity level tax on its income. In such a situation, the character
of our assets and items of gross income would change and might preclude us from qualifying as a
REIT. We believe that each partnership in which we hold a material interest (either directly or
indirectly) is properly treated as a partnership for tax purposes (and not as an association
taxable as a corporation).
Special rules apply to a REIT, a portion of a REIT, or a qualified REIT subsidiary that is a
taxable mortgage pool. An entity or portion thereof may be classified as a taxable mortgage pool
under the Code if:
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substantially all of the assets consist of debt obligations or interests in debt
obligations; |
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more than 50% of those debt obligations are real estate mortgage loans or interests
in real estate mortgage loans as of specified testing dates; |
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the entity has issued debt obligations that have two or more maturities; and |
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the payments required to be made by the entity on its debt obligations bear a
relationship to the payments to be received by the entity on the debt obligations that
it holds as assets. |
Under Treasury Regulations, if less than 80% of the assets of an entity (or the portion
thereof) consist of debt obligations, these debt obligations are considered not to comprise
substantially all of its assets, and therefore the entity would not be treated as a taxable
mortgage pool.
An entity or portion thereof that is classified as a taxable mortgage pool is generally
treated as a taxable corporation for federal income tax purposes. However, the portion of the
REITs assets, held directly or through a qualified REIT subsidiary, that qualifies as a taxable
mortgage pool is treated as a qualified REIT subsidiary that is not subject to corporate income tax
and therefore the taxable mortgage pool classification does not change that treatment. The
classification of a REIT, qualified REIT subsidiary or portion thereof as a taxable mortgage pool
could, however, result in taxation of a REIT and certain of its shareholders as described below.
IRS guidance indicates that a portion of income from a taxable mortgage pool arrangement, if
any, could be treated as excess inclusion income. Excess inclusion income is an amount, with
respect to any calendar quarter, equal to the excess, if any, of (i) income allocable to the holder
of a REMIC residual interest or taxable mortgage pool interest over (ii) the sum of an amount for
each day in the calendar quarter equal to the product of (a) the adjusted issue price at the
beginning of the quarter multiplied by (b) 120% of the long-term federal rate (determined on the
basis of compounding at the close of each calendar quarter and properly adjusted for the length of
such quarter). Under the recent guidance, such income would be allocated among our shareholders in
proportion to dividends paid and, generally, may not be offset by net operating losses of the
shareholder, would be taxable to tax exempt shareholders who are subject to the unrelated business
income tax rules of the Code and would subject non-U.S. shareholders to a 30% withholding tax
(without exemption or reduction of the withholding rate). To the extent that excess inclusion
income is allocated from a taxable mortgage pool to any disqualified organizations that hold our
shares, we may be taxable on this income at the highest applicable corporate tax rate (currently
35%). Because this tax would be imposed on the REIT, all of the REITs shareholders, including
shareholders that are not disqualified organizations, would bear a portion of the tax cost
associated with the classification of any portion of our assets as a taxable mortgage pool.
If we own less than 100% of the ownership interests in a subsidiary that is a taxable mortgage
pool, the foregoing rules would not apply. Rather, the subsidiary would be treated as a corporation
for federal income tax purposes and would potentially be subject to corporate income tax. In
addition, this characterization would affect our REIT income and asset test calculations and could
adversely affect our ability to qualify as a REIT.
We have made and in the future intend to make investments or enter into financing and
securitization transactions that may give rise to our being considered to own an interest, directly
or indirectly, in one or more taxable mortgage pools. Prospective holders are urged to consult
their own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of the taxable mortgage pool rules to them in
light of their particular circumstances.
Income Tests. In order to maintain qualification as a REIT, we must satisfy annually certain gross
income requirements. First, at least 75% of our gross income (excluding gross income from
prohibited transactions) for each
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taxable year must be derived directly or indirectly from investments relating to real property or
mortgages on real property (including rents from real property; gain from the sale of real
property other than property held for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business;
dividends from, and gain from the sale of shares of, other qualifying REITs; certain interest
described further below; and certain income derived from a REMIC) or from certain types of
qualified temporary investments. Second, at least 95% of our gross income (excluding gross income
from prohibited transactions) for each taxable year must be derived from income that qualifies
under the foregoing 75% gross income test, other types of dividends and interest, gain from the
sale or disposition of stock or securities and certain other specified sources. Any income from a
hedging transaction entered into after December 31, 2004 that is clearly and timely identified and
hedges indebtedness incurred or to be incurred to acquire or carry real estate assets will not
constitute gross income, rather than being treated as qualifying or nonqualifying income, for
purposes of the 95% gross income test and, with respect to such hedging transactions entered into
after July 30, 2008, for purposes of the 75% gross income test as well. For transactions entered
into after July 30, 2008, a hedging transaction includes a transaction entered into to manage
foreign currency risks with respect to items of income and gain (or any property which generates
such income or gain) that would be qualifying income under the 75% or 95% gross income tests, but
only if such transaction is clearly identified before the close of the day it was acquired,
originated or entered into. In addition, certain foreign currency gains recognized after July 30,
2008 will be excluded from gross income for purposes of one or both of the gross income tests.
Rents received by us will qualify as rents from real property in satisfying the gross income
requirements for a REIT described above only if several conditions are met. First, the amount of
rent must not be based in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person. However, an
amount received or accrued generally will not be excluded from the term rents from real property
solely by reason of being based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales. Second,
the Code provides that rents received from a tenant will not qualify as rents from real property
in satisfying the gross income tests if we, or an owner of 10% or more of our shares, actually or
constructively own 10% or more of such tenant. Third, 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 (based on the
ratio of fair market value of personal and real property) will not qualify as rents from real
property. Finally, in order for rents received to qualify as rents from real property, we
generally must not operate or manage the property (subject to a de minimis exception as described
below) or furnish or render services to the tenants of such property, other than through an
independent contractor from whom we derive no revenue or through a taxable REIT subsidiary. We may,
however, directly perform certain services that are usually or customarily rendered in connection
with the rental of space for occupancy only and are not otherwise considered rendered to the
occupant of the property (Permissible Services).
For our taxable years commencing on or after January 1, 1998, rents received generally will
qualify as rents from real property notwithstanding the fact that we provide services that are not
Permissible Services so long as the amount received for such services meets a de minimis standard.
The amount received for impermissible services with respect to a property (or, if services are
available only to certain tenants, possibly with respect to such tenants) cannot exceed one percent
of all amounts received, directly or indirectly, by us with respect to such property (or, if
services are available only to certain tenants, possibly with respect to such tenants). The amount
that we will be deemed to have received for performing impermissible services will be the greater
of the actual amounts so received or 150% of the direct cost to us of providing those services.
We believe that substantially all of our rental income will be qualifying income under the
gross income tests, and that our provision of services will not cause the rental income to fail to
be qualifying income under those tests.
Generally, interest on debt secured by a mortgage on real property or interests in real
property qualifies for purposes of satisfying the 75% gross income test described above. However,
if the highest principal amount of a loan outstanding during a taxable year exceeds the fair market
value of the real property securing the loan as of the date the REIT agreed to originate or acquire
the loan, a proportionate amount of the interest income from such loan will not be qualifying
income for purposes of the 75% gross income test, but will be qualifying income for purposes of the
95% gross income test. In addition, any interest amount that is based in whole or in part on the
income or profits of any person does not qualify for purposes of the foregoing 75% and 95% income
tests except (a) amounts that are based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales
and (b) amounts that are based on the income or profits of a debtor, as long as the debtor derives
substantially all of its income from the real property securing the debt from leasing substantially
all of its interest in the property, and only to the extent that the amounts received by the debtor
would be qualifying rents from real property if received directly by the REIT.
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If a loan contains a provision that entitles a REIT to a percentage of the borrowers gain
upon the sale of the real property securing the loan or a percentage of the appreciation in the
propertys value as of a specific date, income attributable to that loan provision will be treated
as gain from the sale of the property securing the loan, which is generally qualifying income for
purposes of both gross income tests.
If we fail to satisfy one or both of the 75% or 95% gross income tests for any taxable year,
we may nevertheless qualify as a REIT for such year if such failure was due to reasonable cause and
not willful neglect and we file a schedule describing each item of our gross income for such
taxable year in accordance with Treasury Regulations (and for taxable years beginning on or before
October 22, 2004, any incorrect information on the schedule was not due to fraud with intent to
evade tax). It is not possible, however, to state whether in all circumstances we would be entitled
to the benefit of this relief provision. Even if this relief provision applied, a 100% penalty tax
would be imposed on the amount by which we failed the 75% gross income test or the amount by which
95% (90% for taxable years ending on or prior to December 31, 2004) of our gross income exceeds the
amount of income qualifying under the 95% gross income test (whichever amount is greater),
multiplied by a fraction intended to reflect our profitability.
Subject to certain safe harbor exceptions, any gain (including certain foreign currency gain
recognized after July 30, 2008) realized by us on the sale of any property held as inventory or
other property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business will be
treated as income from a prohibited transaction that is subject to a 100% penalty tax. Such
prohibited transaction income may also have an adverse effect upon our ability to qualify as a
REIT. In June 2007, we announced a restructuring of our investment strategy, focusing on core and
core plus assets. While we believe that the dispositions of our assets pursuant to the
restructuring of our investment strategy should not be treated as prohibited transactions, and
although we intend to conduct our operations so that we will not be treated as holding our
properties for sale, whether a particular sale will be treated as a prohibited transaction depends
on all the facts and circumstances with respect to the particular transaction. We have not sought
and do not intend to seek a ruling from the IRS regarding any dispositions. Accordingly, there can
be no assurance that the IRS will not successfully assert a contrary position with respect to our
dispositions. If all or a significant portion of our dispositions were treated as prohibited
transactions, we would incur a significant U.S. federal tax liability, which could have a material
adverse effect on our results of operations.
We will be subject to tax at the maximum corporate rate on any income from foreclosure
property (including certain foreign currency gains and related deductions recognized after July 30,
2008), other than income that otherwise would be qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross
income test, less expenses directly connected with the production of that income. However, gross
income from foreclosure property will qualify under the 75% and 95% gross income tests.
Foreclosure property is any real property, including interests in real property, and any personal
property incident to such real property (1) that is acquired by a REIT as the result of the REIT
having bid on such property at foreclosure, or having otherwise reduced such property to ownership
or possession by agreement or process of law, after there was a default or default was imminent on
a lease of such property or on indebtedness that such property secured; (2) for which the related
loan was acquired by the REIT at a time when the default was not imminent or anticipated; and (3)
for which the REIT makes a proper election to treat the property as foreclosure property. Any gain
from the sale of property for which a foreclosure property election has been made will not be
subject to the 100% tax on gains from prohibited transactions described above, even if the property
would otherwise constitute inventory or dealer property.
A REIT will not be considered to have foreclosed on a property where the REIT takes control of
the property as a mortgagee-in-possession and cannot receive any profit or sustain any loss except
as a creditor of the mortgagor. Property generally ceases to be foreclosure property at the end of
the third taxable year following the taxable year in which the REIT acquired the property, unless a
longer extension is granted by the Secretary of the Treasury or the grace period terminates earlier
due to certain nonqualifying income or activities generated with respect to the property.
Asset Tests. At the close of each quarter of our taxable year, we must also satisfy the following
tests relating to the nature of our assets. At least 75% of the value of our total assets,
including our allocable share of assets held by partnerships in which we own an interest, must be
represented by real estate assets, stock or debt instruments held for not more than one year
purchased with the proceeds of an offering of equity securities or a long-term (at least five
years) public debt offering by us, cash, cash items (including certain receivables) and government
securities. For this purpose, real estate assets include interests in real property, such as land,
buildings, leasehold interests in real property, stock of other corporations that qualify as REITs,
and certain kinds of mortgage-backed securities (including regular or residual interests in a REMIC
to the extent provided in the Code) and mortgage loans. In addition, not more than 25%
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of our total assets may be represented by securities other than those in the 75% asset class. Not
more than 20% of the value of our total assets (for taxable years beginning after July 30, 2008,
25% of the value of our total assets) may be represented by securities of one or more taxable REIT
subsidiaries (as defined above under Requirements for Qualification). Except for investments
included in the 75% asset class, securities in a taxable REIT subsidiary or qualified REIT
subsidiary and certain partnership interests and debt obligations, (1) not more than 5% of the
value of our total assets may be represented by securities of any one issuer (the 5% asset test),
(2) we may not hold securities that possess more than 10% of the total voting power of the
outstanding securities of a single issuer (the 10% voting securities test) and (3) we may not
hold securities that have a value of more than 10% of the total value of the outstanding securities
of any one issuer (the 10% value test).
The following assets are not treated as securities held by us for purposes of the 10% value
test (i) straight debt meeting certain requirements, unless we hold (either directly or through
our controlled taxable REIT subsidiaries) certain other securities of the same corporate or
partnership issuer that have an aggregate value greater than 1% of such issuers outstanding
securities; (ii) loans to individuals or estates; (iii) certain rental agreements calling for
deferred rents or increasing rents that are subject to Section 467 of the Code, other than with
certain related persons; (iv) obligations to pay us amounts qualifying as rents from real
property under the 75% and 95% gross income tests; (v) securities issued by a state or any
political subdivision of a state, the District of Columbia, a foreign government, any political
subdivision of a foreign government, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, but only if the
determination of any payment received or accrued under the security does not depend in whole or in
part on the profits of any person not described in this category, or payments on any obligation
issued by such an entity; (vi) securities issued by another qualifying REIT; and (vii) other
arrangements identified in Treasury Regulations (which have not yet been issued or proposed). In
addition, any debt instrument issued by a partnership will not be treated as a security under the
10% value test if at least 75% of the partnerships gross income (excluding gross income from
prohibited transactions) is derived from sources meeting the requirements of the 75% gross income
test. If the partnership fails to meet the 75% gross income test, then the debt instrument issued
by the partnership nevertheless will not be treated as a security to the extent of our interest
as a partner in the partnership. Also, in looking through any partnership to determine our
allocable share of any securities owned by the partnership, our share of the assets of the
partnership, solely for purposes of applying the 10% value test in taxable years beginning on or
after January 1, 2005, will correspond not only to our interest as a partner in the partnership but
also to our proportionate interest in certain debt securities issued by the partnership.
Through our investment in Concord Debt Holdings LLC, we may hold mezzanine loans that are
secured by equity interests in a non-corporate entity that directly or indirectly owns real
property. IRS Revenue Procedure 2003-65 provides a safe harbor pursuant to which a mezzanine loan
to such a non-corporate entity, if it meets each of the requirements contained in the Revenue
Procedure, will be treated by the IRS as a real estate asset for purposes of the REIT asset tests,
and interest derived from it will be treated as qualifying mortgage interest for purposes of the
75% gross income test. Although the Revenue Procedure provides a safe harbor on which taxpayers may
rely, it does not prescribe rules of substantive tax law. Moreover, not all of the mezzanine loans
that we hold meet all of the requirements for reliance on this safe harbor. We have invested, and
intend to continue to invest, in mezzanine loans in a manner that will enable us to continue to
satisfy the gross income and asset tests.
We may also hold through our investment in Concord Debt Holdings LLC certain participation
interests, or B-Notes, in mortgage loans and mezzanine loans originated by other lenders. A
B-Note is an interest created in an underlying loan by virtue of a participation or similar
agreement, to which the originator of the loan is a party, along with one or more participants. The
borrower on the underlying loan is typically not a party to the participation agreement. The
performance of a participants investment depends upon the performance of the underlying loan, and
if the underlying borrower defaults, the participant typically has no recourse against the
originator of the loan. The originator often retains a senior position in the underlying loan, and
grants junior participations, which will be a first loss position in the event of a default by the
borrower. The appropriate treatment of participation interests for federal income tax purposes is
not entirely certain. We believe that we have invested, and intend to continue to invest, in
participation interests that qualify as real estate assets for purposes of the asset tests, and
that generate interest that will be treated as qualifying mortgage interest for purposes of the 75%
gross income test, but no assurance can be given that the IRS will not challenge our treatment of
their participation interests.
We believe that substantially all of our assets consist of (1) real properties, (2) stock or
debt investments that earn qualified temporary investment income, (3) other qualified real estate
assets, including qualifying REITs, and (4) cash, cash items and government securities. We also
believe that the value of our securities in our taxable REIT subsidiaries will not exceed 20% of
the value of our total assets (or, beginning with our 2009 taxable year, 25% of the
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value of our total assets). We may also invest in securities of other entities, provided that such
investments will not prevent us from satisfying the asset and income tests for REIT qualification
set forth above. If any interest we hold in any REIT (including Concord Debt Funding Trust) or
other category of permissible investment described above does not qualify as such, we would be
subject to the 5% asset test and the 10% voting securities and value tests with respect to such
investment.
After initially meeting the asset tests at the close of any quarter, we will not lose our
status as a REIT for failure to satisfy the asset tests at the end of a later quarter solely by
reason of changes in asset values (including, for taxable years beginning after July 30, 2008,
discrepancies caused solely by a change in the foreign currency exchange rate used to value a
foreign asset). If we inadvertently fail one or more of the asset tests at the end of a calendar
quarter because we acquire securities or other property during the quarter, we can cure this
failure by disposing of sufficient nonqualifying assets within 30 days after the close of the
calendar quarter in which it arose. If we were to fail any of the asset tests at the end of any
quarter without curing such failure within 30 days after the end of such quarter, we would fail to
qualify as a REIT, unless we were to qualify under certain relief provisions enacted in 2004. Under
one of these relief provisions, if we were to fail the 5% asset test, the 10% voting securities
test, or the 10% value test, we nevertheless would continue to qualify as a REIT if the failure was
due to the ownership of assets having a total value not exceeding the lesser of 1% of our assets at
the end of the relevant quarter or $10,000,000, and we were to dispose of such assets (or otherwise
meet such asset tests) within six months after the end of the quarter in which the failure was
identified. If we were to fail to meet any of the REIT asset tests for a particular quarter, but we
did not qualify for the relief for de minimis failures that is described in the preceding sentence,
then we would be deemed to have satisfied the relevant asset test if: (i) following our
identification of the failure, we were to file a schedule with a description of each asset that
caused the failure; (ii) the failure was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect;
(iii) we were to dispose of the non-qualifying asset (or otherwise meet the relevant asset test)
within six months after the last day of the quarter in which the failure was identified, and (iv)
we were to pay a penalty tax equal to the greater of $50,000, or the highest corporate tax rate
multiplied by the net income generated by the non-qualifying asset during the period beginning on
the first date of the failure and ending on the date we dispose of the asset (or otherwise cure the
asset test failure). These relief provisions will be available to us in our taxable years beginning
on or after January 1, 2005, although it is not possible to predict whether in all circumstances we
would be entitled to the benefit of these relief provisions.
Annual Distribution Requirement. With respect to each taxable year, we must distribute to our
shareholders as dividends (other than capital gain dividends) at least 90% of our taxable income.
Specifically, we must distribute an amount equal to (1) 90% of the sum of our REIT taxable income
(determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and by excluding any net capital
gain), and any after-tax net income from foreclosure property, minus (2) the sum of certain items
of excess noncash income such as income attributable to leveled stepped rents, cancellation of
indebtedness and original issue discount. REIT taxable income is generally computed in the same
manner as taxable income of ordinary corporations, with several adjustments, such as a deduction
allowed for dividends paid, but not for dividends received.
We will be subject to tax on amounts not distributed at regular United States federal
corporate income tax rates. In addition, a nondeductible 4% excise tax is imposed on the excess of
(1) 85% of our ordinary income for the year plus 95% of capital gain net income for the year and
the undistributed portion of the required distribution for the prior year over (2) the actual
distribution to shareholders during the year (if any). Net operating losses generated by us may be
carried forward but not carried back and used by us for 15 years (or 20 years in the case of net
operating losses generated in our tax years commencing on or after January 1, 1998) to reduce REIT
taxable income and the amount that we will be required to distribute in order to remain qualified
as a REIT. As a REIT, our net capital losses may be carried forward for five years (but not carried
back) and used to reduce capital gains.
In general, a distribution must be made during the taxable year to which it relates to satisfy
the distribution test and to be deducted in computing REIT taxable income. However, we may elect to
treat a dividend declared and paid after the end of the year (a subsequent declared dividend) as
paid during such year for purposes of complying with the distribution test and computing REIT
taxable income, if the dividend is (1) declared before the regular or extended due date of our tax
return for such year and (2) paid not later than the date of the first regular dividend payment
made after the declaration, but in no case later than 12 months after the end of the year. For
purposes of computing the nondeductible 4% excise tax, a subsequent declared dividend is considered
paid when actually distributed. Furthermore, any dividend that is declared by us in October,
November or December of a calendar year, and payable to shareholders of record as of a specified
date in such quarter of such year will be deemed to have been paid by us (and received by
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shareholders) on December 31 of such calendar year, but only if such dividend is actually paid by
us in January of the following calendar year.
For purposes of complying with the distribution test for a taxable year as a result of an
adjustment in certain of our items of income, gain or deduction by the IRS or us, we may be
permitted to remedy such failure by paying a deficiency dividend in a later year together with
interest. Such deficiency dividend may be included in our deduction of dividends paid for the
earlier year for purposes of satisfying the distribution test. For purposes of the nondeductible 4%
excise tax, the deficiency dividend is taken into account when paid, and any income giving rise to
the deficiency adjustment is treated as arising when the deficiency dividend is paid.
We believe that we have distributed and intend to continue to distribute to our shareholders
in a timely manner such amounts sufficient to satisfy the annual distribution requirements.
However, it is possible that timing differences between the accrual of income and its actual
collection, and the need to make nondeductible expenditures (such as capital improvements or
principal payments on debt) may cause us to recognize taxable income in excess of our net cash
receipts, thus increasing the difficulty of compliance with the distribution requirement. In
addition, excess inclusion income might be non-cash accrued income, or phantom taxable income,
which could therefore adversely affect our ability to satisfy our distribution requirements. In
order to meet the distribution requirement, we might find it necessary to arrange for short-term,
or possibly long-term, borrowings.
Failure to Qualify. Commencing with our taxable year beginning January 1, 2005, if we were to fail
to satisfy one or more requirements for REIT qualification, other than an asset or income test
violation of a type for which relief is otherwise available as described above, we would retain our
REIT qualification if the failure was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, and if we
were to pay a penalty of $50,000 for each such failure. It is not possible to predict whether in
all circumstances we would be entitled to the benefit of this relief provision. If we fail to
qualify as a REIT for any taxable year, and if certain relief provisions of the Code do not apply,
we would be subject to federal income tax (including applicable alternative minimum tax) on our
taxable income at regular corporate rates. Distributions to shareholders in any year in which we
fail to qualify will not be deductible from our taxable income nor will they be required to be
made. As a result, our failure to qualify as a REIT would reduce the cash available for
distribution by us to our shareholders. In addition, if we fail to qualify as a REIT, all
distributions to shareholders will be taxable as ordinary income, to the extent of our current and
accumulated earnings and profits. Subject to certain limitations of the Code, corporate
distributees may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction and shareholders taxed as
individuals may be eligible for a reduced tax rate on qualified dividend income from regular C
corporations.
If our failure to qualify as a REIT is not due to reasonable cause but results from willful
neglect, we would not be permitted to elect REIT status for the four taxable years after the
taxable year for which such disqualification is effective. In the event we were to fail to qualify
as a REIT in one year and subsequently requalify in a later year, we may elect to recognize taxable
income based on the net appreciation in value of our assets as a condition to requalification. In
the alternative, we may be taxed on the net appreciation in value of our assets if we sell
properties within ten years of the date we requalify as a REIT under federal income tax laws.
Taxation of Shareholders
As used herein, the term U.S. shareholder means a beneficial owner of our common shares who
(for United States federal income tax purposes) (1) is a citizen or resident of the United States,
(2) is a corporation or other entity treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes
created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any political subdivision
thereof, (3) is an estate the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation
regardless of its source or (4) is a trust whose administration is subject to the primary
supervision of a United States court and which has one or more United States persons who have the
authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or a trust that has a valid election to
be treated as a U.S. person pursuant to applicable Treasury Regulations. As used herein, the term
non U.S. shareholder means a beneficial owner of our common shares who is not a U.S. shareholder
or a partnership.
If a partnership (including any entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax
purposes) is a shareholder, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership generally will depend
upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. A shareholder that is a
partnership and the partners in such partnership should consult their own tax advisors concerning
the U.S. federal income tax consequences of acquiring, owning and disposing of our common shares.
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Taxation of Taxable U.S. Shareholders.
As long as we qualify as a REIT, distributions made to our 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 income and corporate shareholders will not be eligible for the
dividends-received deduction as to such amounts. For purposes of computing our earnings and
profits, depreciation for depreciable real estate will be computed on a straight-line basis over a
40-year period. For purposes of determining whether distributions on the shares constitute
dividends for tax purposes, our earnings and profits will be allocated first to distributions with
respect to the Series B Preferred Shares, Series C Preferred Shares, Series D Preferred Shares and
all other series of preferred shares that are equal in rank as to distributions and upon
liquidation with the Series B Preferred Shares, Series C Preferred Shares and Series D Preferred
Shares, and second to distributions with respect to our common shares. There can be no assurance
that we will have sufficient earnings and profits to cover distributions on any common shares.
Certain qualified dividend income received by domestic non-corporate shareholders in taxable
years prior to 2011 is subject to tax at the same tax rates as long-term capital gain (generally a
maximum rate of 15% for such taxable years). Dividends paid by a REIT generally do not qualify as
qualified dividend income because a REIT is not generally subject to federal income tax on the
portion of its REIT taxable income distributed to its shareholders. Therefore, our dividends will
continue to be subject to tax at ordinary income rates, subject to two narrow exceptions. Under the
first exception, dividends received from a REIT may be treated as qualified dividend income
eligible for the reduced tax rates to the extent that the REIT itself has received qualified
dividend income from other corporations (such as taxable REIT subsidiaries) in which the REIT has
invested. Under the second exception, dividends paid by a REIT in a taxable year may be treated as
qualified dividend income in an amount equal to the sum of (i) the excess of the REITs REIT
taxable income for the preceding taxable year over the corporate-level federal income tax payable
by the REIT for such preceding taxable year and (ii) the excess of the REITs income that was
subject to the Built-in Gains Tax (as described above) in the preceding taxable year over the tax
payable by the REIT on such income for such preceding taxable year. We do not expect to distribute
a material amount of qualified dividend income, if any.
Distributions that are properly designated as capital gain dividends will be taxed as gains
from the sale or exchange of a capital asset held for more than one year (to the extent they do not
exceed our actual net capital gain for the taxable year) without regard to the period for which the
shareholder has held its shares. However, corporate shareholders may be required to treat up to 20%
of certain capital gain dividends as ordinary income under the Code. Capital gain dividends, if
any, will be allocated among different classes of shares in proportion to the allocation of
earnings and profits discussed above.
Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits will constitute a
non-taxable return of capital to a shareholder to the extent that such distributions do not exceed
the adjusted basis of the shareholders shares, and will result in a corresponding reduction in the
shareholders basis in the shares. Any reduction in a shareholders tax basis for its shares will
increase the amount of taxable gain or decrease the deductible loss that will be realized upon the
eventual disposition of the shares. We will notify shareholders at the end of each year as to the
portions of the distributions which constitute ordinary income, capital gain or a return of
capital. Any portion of such distributions that exceeds the adjusted basis of a U.S. shareholders
shares will be taxed as capital gain from the disposition of shares, provided that the shares are
held as capital assets in the hands of the U.S. shareholder.
Aside from the different income tax rates applicable to ordinary income and capital gain
dividends for noncorporate taxpayers, regular and capital gain dividends from us will be treated as
dividend income for most other federal income tax purposes. In particular, such dividends will be
treated as portfolio income for purposes of the passive activity loss limitation and shareholders
generally will not be able to offset any passive losses against such dividends. Capital gain
dividends and qualified dividend income may be treated as investment income for purposes of the
investment interest limitation contained in Section 163(d) of the Code, which limits the
deductibility of interest expense incurred by noncorporate taxpayers with respect to indebtedness
attributable to certain investment assets.
In general, dividends paid by us will be taxable to shareholders in the year in which they are
received, except in the case of dividends declared at the end of the year, but paid in the
following January, as discussed above.
In general, a U.S. shareholder will realize capital gain or loss on the disposition of shares
equal to the difference between (1) the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property
received on such disposition and
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(2) the shareholders adjusted basis of such shares. Such gain or loss will generally be short-term
capital gain or loss if the shareholder has not held such shares for more than one year and will be
long-term capital gain or loss if such shares have been held for more than one year. Loss upon the
sale or exchange of shares by a shareholder who has held such shares for six months or less (after
applying certain holding period rules) will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of
distributions from us required to be treated by such shareholder as long-term capital gain.
We may elect to retain and pay income tax on net long-term capital gains. If we make such an
election, you, as a holder of shares, will (1) include in your income as long-term capital gains
your proportionate share of such undistributed capital gains (2) be deemed to have paid your
proportionate share of the tax paid by us on such undistributed capital gains and thereby receive a
credit or refund for such amount and (3) in the case of a U.S. shareholder that is a corporation,
appropriately adjust its earnings and profits for the retained capital gains in accordance with
Treasury Regulations to be promulgated by the IRS. As a holder of shares you will increase the
basis in your shares by the difference between the amount of capital gain included in your income
and the amount of tax you are deemed to have paid. Our earnings and profits will be adjusted
appropriately.
Taxation of Non-U.S. Shareholders.
The following discussion is only a summary of the rules governing United States federal income
taxation of non-U.S. shareholders such as nonresident alien individuals and foreign corporations.
Prospective non-U.S. shareholders should consult with their own tax advisors to determine the
impact of federal, state and local income tax laws with regard to an investment in shares,
including any reporting requirements.
Distributions. Distributions that are not attributable to gain from sales or exchanges by us of
United States real property interests or otherwise effectively connected with the non-U.S.
shareholders conduct of a U.S. trade or business and that are not designated by us as capital gain
dividends will be treated as dividends of ordinary income to the extent that they are made out of
our current or accumulated earnings and profits. Such distributions ordinarily will be subject to a
withholding tax equal to 30% of the gross amount of the distribution unless an applicable tax
treaty reduces or eliminates that tax. Certain tax treaties limit the extent to which dividends
paid by a REIT can qualify for a reduction of the withholding tax on dividends. Our dividends that
are attributable to excess inclusion income will be subject to 30% U.S. withholding tax without
reduction under any otherwise applicable tax treaty. See Taxation of the CompanyRequirements for
Qualification above. Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits
will not be taxable to a non-U.S. shareholder to the extent that they do not exceed the adjusted
basis of the shareholders shares, but rather will reduce the adjusted basis of such shares. To the
extent that such distributions exceed the adjusted basis of a non-U.S. shareholders shares, they
will give rise to tax liability if the non-U.S. shareholder would otherwise be subject to tax on
any gain from the sale or disposition of his shares, as described below. If a distribution is
treated as effectively connected with the non-U.S. shareholders conduct of a U.S. trade or
business, the non-U.S. shareholder generally will be subject to federal income tax on the
distribution at graduated rates, in the same manner as U.S. shareholders are taxed with respect to
such distribution, and a non-U.S. shareholder that is a corporation also may be subject to the 30%
branch profits tax with respect to the distribution.
For withholding tax purposes, we are generally required to treat all distributions as if made
out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits and thus intend to withhold at the rate of
30% (or a reduced treaty rate if applicable) on the amount of any distribution (other than
distributions designated as capital gain dividends) made to a non-U.S. shareholder. We would not be
required to withhold at the 30% rate on distributions we reasonably estimate to be in excess of our
current and accumulated earnings and profits. If it cannot be determined at the time a distribution
is made whether such distribution will be in excess of current and accumulated earnings and
profits, the distribution will be subject to withholding at the rate applicable to ordinary
dividends. However, the non-U.S. shareholder may seek a refund of such amounts from the IRS if it
is subsequently determined that such distribution was, in fact, in excess of our current or
accumulated earnings and profits, and the amount withheld exceeded the non-U.S. shareholders
United States tax liability, if any, with respect to the distribution.
For any year in which we qualify as a REIT, distributions to non-U.S. shareholders who own
more than 5% of our shares and that are attributable to gain from sales or exchanges by us of
United States real property interests will be taxed under the provisions of the Foreign Investment
in Real Property Tax Act of 1980 (FIRPTA). Under FIRPTA, a non-U.S. shareholder is taxed as if
such gain were effectively connected with a United States business. Non-U.S. shareholders who own
more than 5% of our shares would thus be taxed at the normal capital gain rates applicable to U.S.
shareholders (subject to applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax
in the case of
S-13
non-resident alien individuals). Also, distributions made to non-U.S. shareholders who own more
than 5% of our shares may be subject to a 30% branch profits tax in the hands of a corporate
non-U.S. shareholder not entitled to treaty relief or exemption. We are required by applicable
regulations to withhold 35% of any distribution that could be designated by us as a capital gain
dividend regardless of the amount actually designated as a capital gain dividend. This amount is
creditable against the non-U.S. shareholders FIRPTA tax liability.
Under the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 (TIPRA), enacted on May 17,
2006, distributions, made to REIT or regulated investment company (RIC) shareholders, that are
attributable to gain from sales or exchanges of United States real property interests will retain
their character as gain subject to the rules of FIRPTA discussed above when distributed by such
REIT or RIC shareholders to their respective shareholders. This provision is effective for taxable
years beginning after December 31, 2005.
If a non-U.S. shareholder does not own more than 5% of our shares during the one-year period
prior to a distribution attributable to gain from sales or exchanges by us of United States real
property interests, such distribution will not be considered to be gain effectively connected with
a U.S. business as long as the class of shares continues to be regularly traded on an established
securities market in the United States. As such, a non-U.S. shareholder who does not own more than
5% of our shares would not be required to file a U.S. Federal income tax return by reason of
receiving such a distribution. In this case, the distribution will be treated as a REIT dividend to
that non-U.S. shareholder and taxed as a REIT dividend that is not a capital gain distribution as
described above. In addition, the branch profits tax will not apply to such distributions. If our
common shares cease to be regularly traded on an established securities market in the United
States, all non-U.S. shareholders of our common shares would be subject to taxation under FIRPTA
with respect to capital gain distributions attributable to gain from the sale or exchange of United
States real property interests.
Dispositions. Gain recognized by a non-U.S. shareholder upon a sale or disposition of our common
shares generally will not be taxed under FIRPTA if we are a domestically controlled REIT, defined
generally as a REIT in which at all times during a specified testing period less than 50% in value
of our shares was held directly or indirectly by non-U.S. persons. We believe, but cannot
guarantee, that we have been a domestically controlled REIT. However, because our shares are
publicly traded, no assurance can be given that we will continue to be a domestically controlled
REIT.
Notwithstanding the general FIRPTA exception for sales of domestically controlled REIT stock
discussed above, a disposition of domestically controlled REIT stock will be taxable if the
disposition occurs in a wash sale transaction relating to a distribution on such stock. In
addition, FIRPTA taxation will apply to substitute dividend payments received in securities lending
transactions or sale-repurchase transactions of domestically controlled REIT stock to the extent
such payments are made to shareholders in lieu of distributions that would have otherwise been
subject to FIRPTA taxation. The foregoing rules regarding wash sales and substitute dividend
payments with respect to domestically controlled REIT stock will not apply to stock that is
regularly traded on an established securities market within the United States and held by a
non-U.S. shareholder that held five percent or less of such stock during the one-year period prior
to the related distribution. These rules are effective for distributions on and after June 16,
2006. Prospective purchasers are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the
applicability of the new rules enacted under TIPRA to their particular circumstances.
In addition, a non-U.S. shareholder that owns, actually or constructively, 5% or less of a
class of our shares through a specified testing period, whether or not our shares are domestically
controlled, will not be subject to tax on the sale of its shares under FIRPTA if the shares are
regularly traded on an established securities market. If the gain on the sale of shares were to be
subject to taxation under FIRPTA, the non-U.S. shareholder would be subject to the same treatment
as U.S. shareholders with respect to such gain (subject to applicable alternative minimum tax,
special alternative minimum tax in the case of nonresident alien individuals and possible
application of the 30% branch profits tax in the case of foreign corporations) and the purchaser
would be required to withhold and remit to the IRS 10% of the purchase price.
Gain not subject to FIRPTA will be taxable to a non-U.S. shareholder if (1) investment in the
shares is effectively connected with the non-U.S. shareholders U.S. trade or business, in which
case the non-U.S. shareholder will be subject to the same treatment as U.S. shareholders with
respect to such gain, or (2) the non-U.S. shareholder is a nonresident alien individual who was
present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and such nonresident
alien individual has a tax home in the United States, in which case the nonresident alien
individual will be subject to a 30% tax on the individuals capital gain.
S-14
Taxation of Tax-Exempt Shareholders.
Tax-exempt entities, including qualified employee pension and profit sharing trusts and
individual retirement accounts (Exempt Organizations), generally are exempt from federal income
taxation. However, they are subject to taxation on their unrelated business taxable income
(UBTI). While investments in real estate may generate UBTI, the IRS has issued a published ruling
to the effect that dividend distributions by a REIT to an exempt employee pension trust do not
constitute UBTI, provided that the shares of the REIT are not otherwise used in an unrelated trade
or business of the exempt employee pension trust. Based on that ruling, amounts distributed by us
to Exempt Organizations generally should not constitute UBTI. However, if an Exempt Organization
finances its acquisition of our shares with debt, a portion of its income from us, if any, will
constitute UBTI pursuant to the debt-financed property rules under the Code. In addition, our
dividends that are attributable to excess inclusion income will constitute UBTI for most Exempt
Organizations. See Taxation of the CompanyRequirements for Qualification above. Furthermore,
social clubs, voluntary employee benefit associations, supplemental unemployment benefit trusts,
and qualified group legal services plans that are exempt from taxation under specified provisions
of the Code are subject to different UBTI rules, which generally will require them to characterize
distributions from us as UBTI.
In addition, a pension trust that owns more than 10% of our shares is required to treat a
percentage of the dividends from us as UBTI (the UBTI Percentage) in certain circumstances. The
UBTI Percentage is our gross income derived from an unrelated trade or business (determined as if
we were a pension trust) divided by our total gross income for the year in which the dividends are
paid. The UBTI rule applies only if (i) the UBTI Percentage is at least 5%, (ii) we qualify as a
REIT by reason of the modification of the 5/50 Rule that allows the beneficiaries of the pension
trust to be treated as holding our shares in proportion to their actuarial interests in the pension
trust, and (iii) either (A) one pension trust owns more than 25% of the value of our shares or (B)
a group of pension trusts individually holding more than 10% of the value of our capital shares
collectively owns more than 50% of the value of our capital shares.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
U.S. Shareholders.
We will report to U.S. shareholders and the IRS the amount of dividends paid during each
calendar year, and the amount of tax withheld, if any, with respect thereto. Under the backup
withholding rules, a U.S. shareholder may be subject to backup withholding, currently at a rate of
28%, with respect to dividends paid unless such holder (a) is a corporation or comes within certain
other exempt categories and, when required, demonstrates this fact, or (b) provides a taxpayer
identification number, certifies as to no loss of exemption from backup withholding and otherwise
complies with the applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. A U.S. shareholder who
does not provide us with its correct taxpayer identification number also may be subject to
penalties imposed by the IRS. Amounts withheld as backup withholding will be creditable against the
shareholders income tax liability if proper documentation is supplied. In addition, we may be
required to withhold a portion of capital gain distributions made to any shareholders who fail to
certify their non-foreign status to us.
Non-U.S. Shareholders.
Generally, we must report annually to the IRS the amount of dividends paid to a non-U.S.
shareholder, such holders name and address, and the amount of tax withheld, if any. A similar
report is sent to the non-U.S. shareholder. Pursuant to tax treaties or other agreements, the IRS
may make its reports available to tax authorities in the non-U.S. shareholders country of
residence. Payments of dividends or of proceeds from the disposition of stock made to a non-U.S.
shareholder may be subject to information reporting and backup withholding unless such holder
establishes an exemption, for example, by properly certifying its non-United States status on an
IRS Form W-8BEN or another appropriate version of IRS Form W-8. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
backup withholding and information reporting may apply if either we have or our paying agent has
actual knowledge, or reason to know, that a non-U.S. shareholder is a United States person.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, the United States income tax liability of
persons subject to backup withholding will be reduced by the amount of tax withheld. If withholding
results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund or credit may be obtained, provided that the required
information is furnished to the IRS.
S-15
LEGAL MATTERS
The legal matters described under United States Federal Income Tax Considerations beginning
on page S-3 of this prospectus supplement will be passed upon for us by Paul, Hastings, Janofsky &
Walker LLP, New York, New York. Legal matters relating to this offering will be passed upon for the
Sales Agents by DLA Piper USA LLP, New York, New York. Certain matters of Maryland law, including
the validity of the common shares offered, will be passed upon for us by Venable LLP, Baltimore,
Maryland.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements and related financial statement schedule of Lexington
Realty Trust and subsidiaries included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2007
and 2006, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2007, and
Managements Annual Report on Internal Controls over Financial Reporting as of December 31, 2007,
have been incorporated by reference herein and in the Registration Statement in reliance upon the
reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference
herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the
Commission. Our filings with the Commission are available to the public on the Internet at the
Commissions website at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document that we file
with the Commission at its Public Reference Room, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549.
Please call the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the Public Reference Room
and its copy charges.
The information incorporated by reference herein is an important part of this prospectus
supplement. Any statement contained in a document which is incorporated by reference in this
prospectus supplement is automatically updated and superseded if information contained in a
subsequent filing or in this prospectus supplement, or information that we later file with the
Commission prior to the termination of this offering, modifies or replaces this information. The
following documents filed with the Commission are incorporated by reference into this prospectus
supplement, except for any document or portion thereof furnished to the Commission:
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our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2007, filed with the Commission on February 29, 2008; |
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our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods
ended (1) March 31, 2008, filed with the Commission on May
9, 2008, (2) June 30, 2008, filed with the Commission on
August 8, 2008 and (3) September 30, 2008, filed with the
Commission on November 10, 2008; |
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our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 7, 2008,
January 11, 2008 (two separate filings), February 21, 2008,
March 24, 2008 (except for the information furnished
pursuant to Item 7.01), March 28, 2008, April 18, 2008, May
1, 2008, June 25, 2008, June 26, 2008, June 30, 2008,
August 4, 2008, November 6, 2008 and November 26, 2008; |
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our definitive proxy statement filed April 14, 2008; and |
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all documents that we file with the Commission pursuant to
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act),
after the date of this prospectus supplement and prior to
the termination of this offering. |
S-16
To receive a free copy of any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus
supplement (other than exhibits, unless they are specifically incorporated by reference in the
documents), write us at the following address or call us at the telephone number listed below:
Lexington Realty Trust
One Penn Plaza
Suite 4015
Attention: Investor Relations
New York, New York 10119-4015
(212) 692-7200
We also maintain a website at http://www.lxp.com through which you can obtain copies of
documents that we filed with the Commission. The contents of that website are not incorporated by
reference in or otherwise a part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.
S-17
PROSPECTUS
$500,000,000
Offered by
Lexington Realty Trust
Common Shares of Beneficial Interest
Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest
Debt Securities
Depositary Shares
Warrants
Subscription Rights
Units
8,000,000 Common Shares of Beneficial Interest
Offered by
Selling Shareholder
We are Lexington Realty Trust, a self-managed and self-administered real estate investment
trust formed under the laws of the State of Maryland. This prospectus relates to the public offer
and sale by us of one or more series or classes of (i) shares of beneficial interest classified as
common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, or common shares, (ii) shares of beneficial interest
classified as preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, or preferred shares, (iii) senior or
subordinated debt securities, (iv) depositary shares, (v) warrants, (vi) subscription rights and
(vii) units. The aggregate public offering price of the common shares, preferred shares, debt
securities, depositary shares, warrants, subscription rights and units covered by this prospectus,
which we refer to collectively as the securities, will not exceed $500,000,000 (or its equivalent
based on the exchange rate at the time of sale). The securities may be offered, separately or
together, in separate classes or series, in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined at the
time of the offering and set forth in one or more supplements to this prospectus.
The specific terms of the securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus
supplement. Such specific terms may include limitations on direct or beneficial ownership and
restrictions on transfer of the securities, in each case as may be consistent with our declaration
of trust or otherwise appropriate to preserve our status as a real estate investment trust for
federal income tax purposes. See Restrictions on Transfers of Capital Stock and Anti-Takeover
Provisions beginning on page 33 of this prospectus.
The applicable prospectus supplement will also contain information, where appropriate, about
the risk factors and federal income tax considerations relating to, and any listing on a securities
exchange of, the securities covered by that prospectus supplement.
We may offer the securities directly, through agents designated by us from time to time, or to
or through underwriters or dealers. If any agents or underwriters are involved in the sale of any
of the securities, their names, and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount
arrangement between or among them will be set forth or will be calculable from the information set
forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. See Plan of Distribution. No securities may be
sold without delivery of a prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering of
those securities.
This prospectus also relates to the resale from time to time of up to an aggregate of
8,000,000 common shares held by Vornado LXP LLC (and/or its permitted transferees). Such common
shares may be offered for resale from time to time in one or more transactions at prevailing prices
on the New York Stock Exchange, as described in more detail in this prospectus. See Selling
Shareholder and Plan of Distribution.
We will receive no proceeds from any sale of such common shares by the selling shareholder,
but we have agreed to pay certain registration expenses relating to such common shares.
Our common shares, 8.05% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, 6.50% Series C
Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, and 7.55% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols LXP, LXP_pb, LXP_pc, and
LXP_pd, respectively.
Investing in our securities involves risks. In our filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus, we identify and discuss risk
factors that you should consider before investing in our securities.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved
or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus.
Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is November 21, 2008.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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2
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, which we refer to as the SEC, using a shelf registration process or
continuous offering process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, sell
the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you
with a general description of the securities that may be offered by us. We may also file, from time
to time, a prospectus supplement or an amendment to the registration statement of which this
prospectus forms a part containing additional information about us and the terms of the offering of
the securities. That prospectus supplement or amendment may include additional risk factors or
other special considerations applicable to the securities. Any prospectus supplement or amendment
may also add, update or change information in this prospectus. If there is any supplement or
amendment, you should rely on the information in that prospectus supplement or amendment.
This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement do not contain all of the
information included in the registration statement. For further information, we refer you to the
registration statement and any amendments to such registration statement, including its exhibits.
Statements contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement about the
provisions or contents of any agreement or other document are not necessarily complete. If the
SECs rules and regulations require that an agreement or document be filed as an exhibit to the
registration statement, please see that agreement or document for a complete description of these
matters.
You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional
information described below under the heading Where You Can Find More Information. Information
incorporated by reference with the SEC after the date of this prospectus, or information included
in any prospectus supplement or an amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus
forms a part, may add, update or change information in this prospectus or any prospectus
supplement. If information in these subsequent filings, prospectus supplements or amendments is
inconsistent with this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, the information incorporated by
reference or included in the subsequent prospectus supplement or amendment will supersede the
information in this prospectus or any earlier prospectus supplement. You should not assume that the
information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than
the date on the front of each document.
All references to the Company, we and us in this prospectus means Lexington Realty Trust
and all entities owned or controlled by us except where it is clear that the term means only the
parent company. The term you refers to a prospective investor.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This prospectus and the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus include
forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, or the Exchange Act, and as such may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially
different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and
describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, are generally identifiable by use of the
words may, will, should, expect, anticipate, estimate, believe, intend, project,
or the negative of these words or other similar words or terms. Factors which could have a material
adverse effect on our operations and future prospects include, but are not limited to:
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competition; |
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increases in real estate construction costs; |
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changes in interest rates; |
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changes in accessibility of debt and equity capital markets; and |
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the other risk factors set forth in our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 25,
2008 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 10, 2008, and the other
documents incorporated by reference herein. |
These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating any forward-looking
statements contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We caution you that any
forward-looking statement reflects only our belief at the time the statement is made. Although we
believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot
guarantee our future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Except as required
by law, we undertake no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements to reflect
events or developments after the date of this prospectus.
4
OUR COMPANY
We are a self-managed and self-administered real estate investment trust, or a REIT, formed
under the laws of the State of Maryland. Our primary business is the acquisition, ownership and
management of a geographically diverse portfolio of net leased office and industrial properties.
Substantially all of our properties are subject to triple net leases, which are generally
characterized as leases in which the tenant bears all or substantially all of the costs and cost
increases for real estate taxes, utilities, insurance and ordinary repairs and maintenance.
We elected to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended, or the Code, commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 1993. If we
qualify for taxation as a REIT, we generally will not be subject to federal corporate income taxes
on our net income that is currently distributed to shareholders.
Our principal executive offices are located at One Penn Plaza, Suite 4015, New York, New York
10119-4015 and our telephone number is (212) 692-7200.
RISK FACTORS
Investing in our securities involves risks and uncertainties that could affect us and our
business as well as the real estate industry generally. You should carefully consider the risks
described and discussed under the caption Risk Factors included in our Current Report on Form 8-K
filed on June 25, 2008 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 10, 2008, and in any
other documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including without limitation any
updated risks included in our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and annual reports on Form
10-K. These risk factors may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by risk
factors contained in any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment we may file or in other
reports we file with the Commission in the future. In addition, new risks may emerge at any time
and we cannot predict such risks or estimate the extent to which they may affect our financial
performance.
5
USE OF PROCEEDS
Primary Offerings
Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net
proceeds from our sale of the securities for general corporate purposes, which may include the
repayment of outstanding indebtedness, the improvement of certain properties already in our
portfolio or the acquisition of additional properties.
Secondary Offerings
The common shares which may be sold under this prospectus by the selling shareholder will be
sold for the account of the selling shareholder. Accordingly, we will not receive any of the
proceeds from the resale of our common shares covered by this prospectus from time to time by such
selling shareholder.
The selling shareholder will pay any underwriting discounts and commissions and expenses it
incurs for brokerage, accounting, tax or legal services or any other expenses it incurs in
disposing of the common shares. We will bear all other costs, fees and expenses incurred in
effecting the registration of the common shares covered by this prospectus. These may include,
without limitation, all registration and filing fees, NYSE listing fees, fees and expenses of our
counsel and accountants and blue sky fees and expenses.
RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES
AND PREFERRED SHARE DIVIDENDS
The following table sets forth our historical ratios of earnings to fixed charges and earnings
to combined fixed charges and preferred share dividends for the periods indicated:
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2006 |
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2005 |
|
2004 |
|
2003 |
Ratio of Earnings
to Fixed Charges |
|
|
1.37 |
|
|
|
N/A |
(1) |
|
|
1.17 |
|
|
|
1.51 |
|
|
|
1.75 |
|
|
|
1.69 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of Earnings
to Combined Fixed
Charges and
Preferred Share
Dividends |
|
|
1.10 |
|
|
|
N/A |
(2) |
|
|
N/A |
(2) |
|
|
1.15 |
|
|
|
1.47 |
|
|
|
1.52 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Ratio is less than 1.0, deficit of $57,281 exists at December 31, 2007.
|
|
(2) |
|
Ratio is less than 1.0, deficit of $84,014 and $6,503 exists at December 31, 2007 and 2006,
respectively. |
The ratios of earnings to fixed charges were computed by dividing earnings by fixed charges.
The ratios of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred share dividends were computed by
dividing earnings by the sum of fixed charges and preferred share dividends. For these purposes,
earnings consist of income (loss) before the benefit (provision) for
income taxes, minority interest, equity in earnings of
non-consolidated entities, gains on sale
of properties-affiliate and discontinued operations, plus fixed charges (excluding capitalized interest) and cash received from
joint ventures. Fixed charges consist of interest expense (including capitalized interest), the
amortization of debt issuance costs and debt satisfaction charges.
6
DESCRIPTION OF OUR COMMON SHARES
The following summary of the material terms and provisions of our common shares does not
purport to be complete and is subject to the detailed provisions of our declaration of trust and
our By-Laws, each as supplemented, amended or restated, each of which is incorporated by reference
into this prospectus. You should carefully read each of these documents in order to fully
understand the terms and provisions of our common shares. For information on incorporation by
reference, and how to obtain copies of these documents, see the section entitled Where You Can
Find More Information on page 58 of this prospectus.
General
Under our declaration of trust, we have the authority to issue up to 1,000,000,000 shares of
beneficial interest, par value $0.0001 per share, of which 400,000,000 shares are classified as
common shares, 500,000,000 are classified as excess stock, or excess shares, and 100,000,000 shares
are classified as preferred shares.
Terms
Subject to the preferential rights of any other shares or series of equity securities and to
the provisions of our declaration of trust regarding excess shares, holders of our common shares
are entitled to receive dividends on our common shares if, as and when authorized by our board of
trustees and declared by the Company out of assets legally available therefor and to share ratably
in those of our assets legally available for distribution to our shareholders in the event that we
liquidate, dissolve or wind up, after payment of, or adequate provision for, all of our known debts
and liabilities and the amount to which holders of any class of shares classified or reclassified
or having a preference on distributions in liquidation, dissolution or winding up have a right.
Subject to the provisions of our declaration of trust regarding excess shares, each
outstanding common share entitles the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of
shareholders, including the election of trustees and, except as otherwise required by law or except
as otherwise provided in our declaration of trust with respect to any other class or series of
shares, the holders of our common shares will possess exclusive voting power. There is no
cumulative voting in the election of trustees, which means that the holders of a majority of our
outstanding common shares can elect all of the trustees then standing for election, and the holders
of the remaining common shares will not be able to elect any trustees.
Holders of our common shares have no conversion, sinking fund, redemption rights or preemptive
rights to subscribe for any of our securities.
We furnish our shareholders with annual reports containing audited consolidated financial
statements and an opinion thereon expressed by an independent public accounting firm.
Subject to the provisions of our declaration of trust regarding excess shares, all of our
common shares will have equal dividend, distribution, liquidation and other rights and will
generally have no preference, appraisal or exchange rights.
Pursuant to Maryland statutory law governing real estate investment trusts organized under
Maryland law, a real estate investment trust generally cannot amend its declaration of trust or
merge unless approved by the affirmative vote of shareholders holding at least two-thirds of the
shares entitled to vote on the matter unless a lesser percentage (but not less than a majority of
all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter) is set forth in our declaration of trust. Our
declaration of trust provides that those actions, with the exception of certain amendments to our
declaration of trust for which a higher vote requirement has been set, will be valid and effective
if authorized by holders of a majority of the total number of shares of all classes outstanding and
entitled to vote thereon.
Restrictions on Ownership
For the Company to qualify as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(which is commonly referred to as the Code), not more than 50% in value of its outstanding capital
shares may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code
to include certain entities) during the last half of a taxable year. To assist the Company in
meeting this requirement, the Company may take certain actions to
7
limit the beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, by a single person of the Companys
outstanding equity securities. See Restrictions on Transfers of Capital Stock and Anti-Takeover
Provisions beginning on page 34 of this prospectus.
Transfer Agent
The transfer agent and registrar for our common shares is BNY Mellon Shareowner Services.
8
DESCRIPTION OF OUR PREFERRED SHARES
The following summary of the material terms and provisions of our preferred shares does not
purport to be complete and is subject to the detailed provisions of our declaration of trust
(including any applicable articles supplementary, amendment or annex to our declaration of trust
designating the terms of a series of preferred shares) and our By-Laws, each as supplemented,
amended or restated, each of which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You should
carefully read each of these documents in order to fully understand the terms and provisions of our
preferred shares. For information on incorporation by reference, and how to obtain copies of these
documents, see the section entitled Where You Can Find More Information on page 57 of this
prospectus.
General
Under our declaration of trust, we have the authority to issue up to 100,000,000 preferred
shares, of which 3,160,000 shares are classified as Series B Preferred Shares, 3,100,000 shares are
classified as Series C Preferred Shares, 8,000,000 shares are classified as Series D Preferred
Shares and one share is classified as special voting preferred stock.
Subject to limitations prescribed by Maryland law and our declaration of trust, our board of
trustees is authorized to fix the number of shares constituting each series of preferred shares and
the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to
dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption. The
preferred shares will, when issued against payment therefor, be fully paid and nonassessable and
will not be subject to preemptive rights. Our board of trustees could authorize the issuance of
preferred shares with terms and conditions that could have the effect of discouraging a takeover or
other transaction that holders of common shares might believe to be in their best interests or in
which holders of common shares might receive a premium for their common shares over the
then-current market price of their shares.
Special Voting Preferred Stock
The special voting preferred stock gives certain holders of limited partnership interests
issued by the MLP, which we refer to as MLP Units, voting rights generally similar to those of
our common shareholders. We refer to these MLP Units as voting MLP Units. Each voting MLP Unit
is entitled to one vote per voting MLP Unit. As of September 30, 2008, the number of voting MLP
Units was 34.01 million, subject to reduction by the number of voting MLP Units that are
subsequently redeemed by us. Pursuant to a voting trustee agreement and the MLPs limited
partnership agreement, NKT Advisors LLC, the holder of the special voting preferred stock, will
cast the votes attached to the special voting preferred stock in proportion to the votes it
receives from holders of voting MLP Units, subject to the following limitations. NKT Advisors LLC
is an affiliate of Michael L. Ashner, our former Executive Chairman and Director of Strategic
Acquisitions.
Unitholders in our other Operating Partnerships do not have such a voting right. Accordingly,
based on our common shares and MLP Units outstanding as of September 30, 2008, holders of MLP Units
will be entitled to cast and/or direct the voting of approximately 34.12% of our votes.
Terms
Reference is made to the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the preferred shares
offered thereby for specific terms, including:
(1) the title and stated value of the preferred shares;
(2) the number of preferred shares offered, the liquidation preference per share and
the offering price of the preferred shares;
(3) the dividend rate(s), period(s), and/or payment date(s) or method(s) of calculation
thereof applicable to the preferred shares;
(4) the date from which dividends on the preferred shares shall accumulate, if
applicable;
9
(5) the provisions for a sinking fund, if any, for the preferred shares;
(6) the provisions for redemption, if applicable, of the preferred shares;
(7) any listing of the preferred shares on any securities exchange;
(8) the terms and conditions, if applicable, upon which the preferred shares will be
convertible into common shares, including the conversion price (or manner of calculation
thereof);
(9) a discussion of federal income tax considerations applicable to the preferred
shares;
(10) the relative ranking and preferences of the preferred shares as to dividend rights
and rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of our affairs;
(11) any limitations on issuance of any series of preferred shares ranking senior to or
on a parity with the preferred shares as to dividend rights and rights upon our liquidation,
dissolution or winding-up of our affairs;
(12) any limitations on direct or beneficial ownership of our securities and
restrictions on transfer of our securities, in each case as may be appropriate to preserve
our status as a REIT; and
(13) any other specific terms, preferences, rights, limitations or restrictions of the
preferred shares.
Rank
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the preferred shares rank,
with respect to dividend rights and rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, and
allocation of our earnings and losses: (i) senior to all classes or series of our common shares,
and to all equity securities ranking junior to the preferred shares; (ii) 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 the preferred shares; and (iii) junior to all equity securities issued by us
the terms of which specifically provide that such equity securities rank senior to the preferred
shares. As used in this prospectus, the term equity securities does not include convertible debt
securities.
Dividends
Subject to any preferential rights of any outstanding securities or series of securities, the
holders of preferred shares will be entitled to receive dividends, when, as and if declared by our
board of trustees, out of assets legally available for payment. Dividends will be paid at such
rates and on such dates as will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Dividends
will be payable to the holders of record of preferred shares as they appear on our share transfer
books on the applicable record dates fixed by our board of trustees. Dividends on any series of
our preferred shares may be cumulative or non-cumulative, as provided in the applicable prospectus
supplement.
Redemption
If so provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, the preferred shares offered thereby
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.
Liquidation Preference
Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of our affairs, and
before any distribution or payment shall be made to the holders of any common shares or any other
class or series of shares ranking junior to our preferred shares, the holders of our preferred
shares shall be entitled to receive, after payment
10
or provision for payment of our debts and other liabilities, out of our assets legally available
for distribution to shareholders, liquidating distributions in the amount of the liquidation
preference per share, if any, set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, plus an amount
equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon (which shall not include any accumulation in
respect of unpaid noncumulative dividends for prior dividend periods). After payment of the full
amount of the liquidating distributions to which they are entitled, the holders of preferred shares
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 of our affairs, the legally
available assets are insufficient to pay the amount of the liquidating distributions on all of our
outstanding preferred shares and the corresponding amounts payable on all of our other outstanding
equity securities ranking on a parity with the preferred shares in the distribution of assets upon
our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of our affairs, then the holders of our preferred shares
and the holders of such other outstanding equity securities 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 are made in full to all holders of our preferred shares, our
remaining assets shall be distributed among the holders of any other classes or series of equity
securities ranking junior to the preferred shares in the distribution of assets upon our
liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of our affairs, according to their respective rights and
preferences and in each case according to their respective number of shares.
If we consolidate or merge with or into, or sell, lease or convey all or substantially all of
our property or business to, any corporation, trust or other entity, such transaction shall not be
deemed to constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of our affairs.
Voting Rights
Unless otherwise from time to time required by law, or as otherwise indicated in the
applicable prospectus supplement, holders of our preferred shares will not have any voting rights.
Conversion Rights
The terms and conditions, if any, upon which our preferred shares are convertible into common
shares will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Such terms will include the
number of common shares into which the preferred shares are convertible, the conversion price (or
manner of calculation thereof), the conversion period, provisions as to whether conversion will be
at the option of the holders of the preferred shares or at our option, the events requiring an
adjustment of the conversion price and provisions affecting conversion in the event of the
redemption of such preferred shares.
Restrictions on Ownership
For us to qualify as a REIT under the Code, not more than 50% in value of our outstanding
capital shares may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in
the Code to include certain entities) during the last half of a taxable year. To assist us in
meeting this requirement, we may take certain actions to limit the beneficial ownership, directly
or indirectly, by a single person of our outstanding equity securities, including any series of our
preferred shares. Therefore, the applicable amendment or annex to our declaration of trust
designating the terms of a series of preferred shares may contain provisions restricting the
ownership and transfer of such preferred shares. The applicable prospectus supplement will specify
any additional ownership limitation relating to the preferred shares being offered thereby. See
Restrictions on Transfers of Capital Stock and Anti-Takeover Provisions beginning on page 34 of
this prospectus.
Transfer Agent
The transfer agent and registrar for our Series B Preferred Shares, Series C Preferred Shares
and Series D Preferred Shares is BNY Mellon Shareowner Services. The transfer agent and registrar
for our other series of preferred shares will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
11
Terms of Our 8.05% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
General. In June 2003, we sold 3,160,000 Series B Preferred Shares. The Series B Preferred
Shares are not convertible into our common shares and are listed on the New York Stock Exchange
under the symbol LXP_pb.
Dividends. The holders of the Series B Shares are entitled to receive cumulative cash
dividends at a rate of 8.05% of the $25.00 liquidation preference per year (equivalent to $2.0125
per year per share).
Liquidation Preference. If we liquidate, dissolve or wind-up, holders of our Series B
Preferred Shares will have the right to receive $25.00 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends
(whether or not declared) to and including the date of payment before any payments are made to the
holders of our common shares and any other capital shares ranking junior to the Series B Preferred
Shares as to liquidation rights. The rights of the holders of the Series B Preferred Shares to
receive their liquidation preference will be subject to the proportionate rights of the Series C
Preferred Shares, Series D Preferred Shares and each other series or class of our capital shares
ranking, as to liquidation rights, on a parity with the Series B Preferred Shares.
Redemption. We may not redeem the Series B Preferred Shares prior to June 19, 2008, except in
limited circumstances relating to the preservation of our status as a REIT. On or after June 19,
2008, we may, at our option, redeem the Series B Preferred Shares, in whole or in part, at any time
and from time to time, for cash equal to $25.00 per share, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends,
if any, to and including the date of redemption.
Conversion. The Series B Preferred Shares are not convertible into, or exchangeable for, any
other property or securities, except that we may exchange shares of the Series B Preferred Shares
for shares of excess stock in order to ensure that we remain a qualified REIT for federal income
tax purposes.
Rank. With respect to the payment of dividends and amounts upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up, the Series B Preferred Shares rank (i) senior to all classes or series of our common
shares and to all equity securities ranking junior to our Series B Preferred Shares, (ii) on a
parity with our Series C Preferred Shares, Series D Preferred Shares and all equity securities
issued by us the terms of which specifically provide that such equity securities rank on a parity
with our Series B Preferred Shares, and (iii) junior to all equity securities issued by us the
terms of which specifically provide that such equity securities rank senior to our Series B
Preferred Shares.
Voting Rights. Holders of the Series B Preferred Shares generally have no voting rights.
However, if we do not pay dividends on the Series B Preferred Shares for six or more quarterly
periods (whether or not consecutive), the holders of the Series B Preferred Shares voting together
as a class with the holders of Series C Preferred Shares, Series D Preferred Shares and all other
classes or series of our equity securities ranking on parity with the Series B Preferred Shares
which are entitled to similar voting rights, will be entitled to vote at the next annual meeting of
our shareholders for the election of two additional trustees to serve on our board of trustees
until all unpaid cumulative dividends have been paid or declared and set apart for payment. The
holders of Series B Preferred Shares, Series C Preferred Shares, Series D Preferred Shares and all
other classes or series of our equity securities ranking on parity with the Series B Preferred
Shares which are entitled to similar voting rights will vote in proportion to the liquidation
preference of $25.00 (i.e., one vote for each Series B Preferred Share; two votes for each Series C
Preferred Share; one vote for each Series D Preferred Share).
Terms of Our 6.50% Series C Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock
General. In December 2004 and January 2005, we sold an aggregate 3,100,000 Series C Preferred
Shares. The Series C Preferred Shares are convertible into our common shares and are listed on the
New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LXP_pc. As of the date of this prospectus, 2,598,300
Series C Preferred Shares remain outstanding.
Dividends. The holders of the Series C Shares are entitled to receive cumulative cash
dividends at a rate of 6.50% of the $50.00 liquidation preference per year (equivalent to $3.25 per
year per share).
12
Liquidation Preference. If we liquidate, dissolve or wind-up, holders of our Series C
Preferred Shares will have the right to receive $50.00 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends
(whether or not declared) to and including the date of payment before any payments are made to the
holders of our common shares and any other capital shares ranking junior to the Series C Preferred
Shares as to liquidation rights. The rights of the holders of the Series C Preferred Shares to
receive their liquidation preference will be subject to the proportionate rights of the Series B
Preferred Shares, Series D Preferred Shares and each other series or class of our capital shares
ranking, as to liquidation rights, on a parity with the Series C Preferred Shares.
Redemption. We may not redeem the Series C Preferred Shares unless necessary to preserve our
status as a REIT.
Conversion Rights. The Series C Preferred Shares may be converted by the holder, at its
option, into our common shares initially at a conversion rate of 1.8643 common shares per $50.00
liquidation preference, which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $26.82
per common share (subject to adjustment in certain events). The current conversion rate is 2.1683
common shares per $50.00 liquidation preference.
Company Conversion Option. On or after November 16, 2009, we may, at our option, cause the
Series C Preferred Shares to be automatically converted into that number of common shares that are
issuable at the then prevailing conversion rate (the Company Conversion Option). We may exercise
our conversion right only if, for twenty (20) trading days within any period of thirty (30)
consecutive trading days (including the last trading day of such period), the closing price of our
common shares equals or exceeds 125% of the then prevailing conversion price of the Series C
Preferred Shares.
Settlement. Upon conversion (pursuant to a voluntary conversion or the Company Conversion
Option) we may choose to deliver the conversion value to investors in cash, our common shares, or a
combination of cash and our common shares.
We can elect at any time to obligate ourselves to satisfy solely in cash the portion of the
conversion value that is equal to 100% of the liquidation preference amount of the Series C
Preferred Shares, with any remaining amount of the conversion value to be satisfied in cash, common
shares or a combination of cash and common shares. If we elect to do so, we will notify holders at
any time that we intend to settle in cash the portion of the conversion value that is equal to the
liquidation preference amount of the Series C Preferred Shares (referred to as the ''liquidation
preference conversion settlement election). This notification, once provided to holders, will be
irrevocable and will apply to future conversions of the Series C Preferred Shares even if the
shares cease to be convertible but subsequently become convertible again.
Payment of Dividends Upon Conversion. Upon any conversion, a holder of such converted Series
C Preferred Shares will not receive any cash payment representing accrued and unpaid dividends on
the Series C Preferred Shares, whether or not in arrears, except in certain circumstances,
including upon the exercise of the Company Conversion Option if the conversion date in connection
therewith is after the record date for payment of dividends and before the corresponding dividend
payment date. Upon the exercise of the Company Conversion Option, a holder of such converted Series
C Preferred Shares will receive a cash payment for all unpaid dividends in arrears.
Conversion Rate Adjustments. The conversion rate is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence
of certain events, including if we distribute in any quarter to all or substantially all holders of
our common shares, any cash, including quarterly cash dividends (subject to adjustment), in excess
of:
$0.36 per common share through and including November 15, 2005
$0.37 per common share from November 16, 2005 through and including November 15, 2006
$0.38 per common share thereafter
Fundamental Change. Upon the occurrence of certain fundamental changes in the Company, a
holder may require us to purchase for cash all or part of its Series C Preferred Shares at a price
equal to 100% of their
13
liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends, if any, up to, but
not including, the fundamental change purchase date.
If a holder elects to convert its Series C Preferred Shares in connection with certain
fundamental changes that occur on or prior to November 15, 2014, we will in certain circumstances
increase the conversion rate by a number of additional common shares upon conversion or, in lieu
thereof, we may in certain circumstances elect to adjust the conversion rate and related conversion
obligation so that the Series C Preferred Shares are convertible into shares of the acquiring or
surviving company.
Rank. With respect to the payment of dividends and amounts upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up, the Series C Preferred Share rank (i) senior to all classes or series of our common
shares and to all equity securities ranking junior to our Series C Preferred Shares, (ii) on a
parity with our Series B Preferred Shares, Series D Preferred Shares and all equity securities
issued by us the terms of which specifically provide that such equity securities rank on a parity
with our Series C Preferred Shares, and (iii) junior to all equity securities issued by us the
terms of which specifically provide that such equity securities rank senior to our Series C
Preferred Shares.
Voting Rights. Holders of the Series C Preferred Shares generally have no voting rights.
However, if we do not pay dividends on the Series C Preferred Shares for six or more quarterly
periods (whether or not consecutive), the holders of the Series C Preferred Shares voting together
as a class with the holders of Series B Preferred Shares, Series D Preferred Shares and all other
classes or series of our equity securities ranking on parity with the Series C Preferred Shares
which are entitled to similar voting rights, will be entitled to vote at the next annual meeting of
our shareholders for the election of two additional trustees to serve on our board of trustees
until all unpaid cumulative dividends have been paid or declared and set apart for payment. The
holders of Series C Preferred Shares, Series B Preferred Shares, Series D Preferred Shares and all
other classes or series of our equity securities ranking on parity with the Series C Preferred
Shares which are entitled to similar voting rights will vote in proportion to the liquidation
preference of $25.00 (i.e., two votes for each Series C Preferred Share; one vote for each Series B
Preferred Share; one vote for each Series D Preferred Share).
Terms of Our 7.55% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares
General. On February 14, 2007 and February 20, 2007, we sold an aggregate of 6,200,000 Series
D Preferred Shares. The Series D Preferred Shares are listed on the NYSE under the symbol
LXP_pd.
Dividends. The holders of the Series D Preferred Shares are entitled to receive cumulative
cash dividends at a rate of 7.55% per year of the $25.00 liquidation preference (equivalent to
$1.8875 per year per share).
Liquidation Preference. If we liquidate, dissolve or wind-up, the holders of our Series D
Preferred Shares will have the right to receive $25.00 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends
to the date of payment (whether or not declared), before any distribution or payment may be made to
holders of our common shares and any other capital shares ranking junior to the Series D Preferred
Shares as to liquidation rights. The rights of the holders of the Series D Preferred Shares to
receive their liquidation preference will be subject to the proportionate rights of the Series B
Preferred Shares and the Series C Preferred Shares and each other series or class of our capital
shares ranking, as to liquidation rights, on parity with the Series D Preferred Shares.
Redemption. We may not redeem the Series D Preferred Shares prior to February 14, 2012,
except in limited circumstances relating to the preservation of our status as a REIT or a
de-listing pursuant to a change of control. On or after February 14, 2012, we may, at our option,
redeem the Series D Preferred Shares, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, for
cash equal to $25.00 per share, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not declared) to
and including the date of redemption.
Conversion. The Series D Preferred Shares are not convertible into, or exchangeable for, any
other property or securities, except that we may exchange shares of the Series D Preferred Shares
for shares of excess stock in order to ensure that we remain a qualified REIT for federal income
tax purposes.
Rank. With respect to payment of dividends and amounts upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up, the Series D Preferred Shares rank (i) senior to all classes or series of our common
shares and to all equity securities
14
ranking junior to our Series D Preferred Shares, (ii) on parity
with our Series B Preferred Shares, Series C Preferred Shares and all equity securities issued by
us the terms of which specifically provide that such equity securities rank
on parity with our Series D Preferred Shares, and (iii) junior to all equity securities issued by
us the terms of which specifically provide that such equity securities rank senior to our Series D
Preferred Shares.
Voting Rights. Holders of the Series D Preferred Shares will generally have no voting rights.
However, if we are in arrears on dividends on the Series D Preferred Shares for six or more
quarterly periods, whether or not consecutive, the holders of the Series D Preferred Shares, voting
together as a class with the holders of our Series B Preferred Shares, Series C Preferred Shares
and all other classes or series of our equity securities ranking on parity with the Series D
Preferred Shares which are entitled to similar voting rights, will be entitled to vote at the next
annual meeting of our shareholders for the election of two additional trustees to serve on our
board of trustees until all unpaid cumulative dividends have been paid or declared and set apart
for payment. The holders of Series D Preferred Shares, Series B Preferred Shares, Series C
Preferred Shares and all other classes or series of our equity securities ranking on parity with
the Series D Preferred Shares which are entitled to similar voting rights will vote in proportion
to the liquidation preference of $25.00 (i.e., one vote for each Series D Preferred Share; one vote
for each Series B Preferred Share; two votes for each Series C Preferred Share). In addition, the
affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the Series D Preferred Shares, voting together as a
class with the holders of our Series B Preferred Shares, Series C Preferred Shares and all other
classes or series of our equity securities ranking on parity with the Series D Preferred Shares
which are entitled to similar voting rights, is required for us to authorize, create or increase
capital shares ranking senior to the Series D Preferred Shares or to amend our declaration of trust
in a manner that materially and adversely affects the rights of the Series D Preferred Shares.
15
DESCRIPTION OF OUR DEBT SECURITIES
We will issue our debt securities under one or more separate indentures between us and a
trustee that we will name in the applicable supplement to this prospectus. A form of the indenture
is attached as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
Following its execution, the indenture will be filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference in
the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
The following summary describes certain material terms and provisions of the indenture and our
debt securities. This summary is not complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to, the provisions of the indenture. When we offer to sell a particular series of debt
securities, we will describe the specific terms of the series in the applicable supplement to this
prospectus. You should read the indenture for more details regarding the provisions we describe
below and for other provisions that may be important to you. For information on incorporation by
reference, and how to obtain a copy of the indenture, see the section entitled Where You Can Find
More Information on page 57 of this prospectus.
General
The debt securities will be direct obligations of the Company, which may be secured or
unsecured and may be either senior debt securities (Senior Securities) or subordinated debt
securities (Subordinated Securities). The debt securities will be issued under one or more
indentures in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this prospectus
is a part (the Form of Indenture). As provided in the Form of Indenture, the specific terms of
any Debt Security issued pursuant to an indenture will be set forth in one or more Supplemental
Indentures, each dated as of a date of or prior to the issuance of the debt securities to which it
relates (the Supplemental Indentures and each a Supplemental Indenture). Senior Securities and
Subordinated Securities may be issued pursuant to separate indentures (respectively, a Senior
Indenture and a Subordinated Indenture), in each case between the Company and a trustee (an
Indenture Trustee), which may be the same Indenture Trustee, subject to such amendments or
supplements as may be adopted from time to time. The Senior Indenture and the Subordinated
Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time, are sometimes hereinafter referred to
collectively as the Indentures. The Indentures will be subject to and governed by the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. The statements made under this heading relating to the debt
securities and the Indentures are summaries of the provisions thereof, do not purport to be
complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the Indentures and such debt
securities.
Capitalized terms used herein and not defined shall have the meanings assigned to them in the
applicable Indenture.
Terms
The indebtedness represented by the Senior Securities will rank equally with all other
unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company. The indebtedness represented by
Subordinated Securities will be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of
the Senior Debt of the Company as described under Subordination. The particular terms of the
debt securities offered by a prospectus supplement will be described in the applicable prospectus
supplement, along with any applicable federal income tax considerations unique to such debt
securities. Accordingly, for a description of the terms of any series of debt securities,
reference must be made to both the prospectus supplement relating thereto and the description of
the debt securities set forth in this prospectus.
Except as set forth in any prospectus supplement, the debt securities may be issued without
limits as to aggregate principal amount, in one or more series, in each case as established from
time to time by the Company or as set forth in the applicable Indenture or in one or more
Supplemental Indentures. All debt securities of one series need not be issued at the same time
and, unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened, without the consent of the holders of the
debt securities of such series, for issuance of additional debt securities of such series.
The Form of Indenture provides that the Company may, but need not, designate more than one
Indenture Trustee thereunder, each with respect to one or more series of debt securities. Any
Indenture Trustee under an
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Indenture may resign or be removed with respect to one or more series of debt securities and a
successor Indenture Trustee may be appointed to act with respect to such series. If two or more
persons are acting as Indenture Trustee with respect to different series of debt securities, each
such Indenture Trustee shall be an Indenture Trustee of a trust under the applicable Indenture
separate and apart from the trust administered by any other Indenture Trustee, and, except as
otherwise indicated herein, any action described herein to be taken by each Indenture Trustee may
be taken by each such Indenture Trustee with respect to, and only with respect to, the one or more
series of debt securities for which it is Indenture Trustee under the applicable Indenture.
The following summaries set forth certain general terms and provisions of the Indentures and
the debt securities. The prospectus supplement relating to the series of debt securities being
offered will contain further terms of such debt securities, including the following specific terms:
(1) The title of such debt securities and whether such debt securities are secured or
unsecured or Senior Securities or Subordinated Securities;
(2) The aggregate principal amount of such debt securities and any limit on such
aggregate principal amount;
(3) The price (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof) at which such
debt securities will be issued and, if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion
of the principal amount thereof payable upon declaration of the maturity thereof, or (if
applicable) the portion of the principal amount of such debt securities that is convertible
into common shares or preferred shares, or the method by which any such portion shall be
determined;
(4) If convertible, the terms on which such debt securities are convertible, including
the initial conversion price or rate and the conversion period and any applicable
limitations on the ownership or transferability of the common shares or preferred shares
receivable on conversion;
(5) The date or dates, or the method for determining such date or dates, on which the
principal of such debt securities will be payable;
(6) The rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable), or the method by which such
rate or rates shall be determined, at which such debt securities will bear interest, if any;
(7) The date or dates, or the method for determining such date or dates, from which any
such interest will accrue, the dates on which any such interest will be payable, the record
dates for such interest payment dates, or the method by which such dates shall be
determined, the persons to whom such interest shall be payable, and the basis upon which
interest shall be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;
(8) The place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if
any, on such debt securities will be payable, where such debt securities may be surrendered
for conversion or registration of transfer or exchange and where notices or demands to or
upon the Company with respect to such debt securities and the applicable Indenture may be
served;
(9) The period or periods, if any, within which, the price or prices at which and the
other terms and conditions upon which such debt securities may, pursuant to any optional or
mandatory redemption provisions, be redeemed, as a whole or in part, at the option of the
Company;
(10) The obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, repay or purchase such debt
securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the option of a holder
thereof, and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the other
terms and conditions upon which such debt securities will be redeemed, repaid or purchased,
as a whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
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(11) If other than U.S. dollars, the currency or currencies in which such debt
securities 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 thereto;
(12) Whether the amount of payments of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest,
if any, on such debt securities may be determined with reference to an index, formula or
other method (which index, formula or method may, but need not, be based on a currency,
currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies) and the manner in
which such amounts shall be determined;
(13) Whether such debt securities will be issued in certificated or book-entry form
and, if so, the identity of the depository for such debt securities;
(14) Whether such debt securities will be in registered or bearer form or both and, if
in registered form, the denominations thereof if other than $1,000 and any integral multiple
thereof and, if in bearer form, the denominations thereof and terms and conditions relating
thereto;
(15) The applicability, if any, of the defeasance and covenant defeasance provisions
described herein or set forth in the applicable Indenture, or any modification thereof;
(16) Whether and under what circumstances the Company will pay any additional amounts
on such debt securities in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge and, if so,
whether the Company will have the option to redeem such debt securities in lieu of making
such payment;
(17) Any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the events of default or
covenants of the Company, to the extent different from those described herein or set forth
in the applicable Indenture with respect to such debt securities, and any change in the
right of any Trustee or any of the holders to declare the principal amount of any of such
debt securities due and payable;
(18) The provisions, if any, relating to the security provided for such debt
securities; and
(19) Any other terms of such debt securities not inconsistent with the provisions of
the applicable Indenture.
If so provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities may be issued at a
discount below their principal amount and provide for less than the entire principal amount thereof
to be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof (Original Issue Discount
Securities). In such cases, any special U.S. federal income tax, accounting and other
considerations applicable to Original Issue Discount Securities will be described in the applicable
prospectus supplement.
Except as may be set forth in any prospectus supplement, neither the debt securities nor the
Indenture will contain any provisions that would limit the ability of the Company to incur
indebtedness or that would afford holders of debt securities protection in the event of a highly
leveraged or similar transaction involving the Company or in the event of a change of control,
regardless of whether such indebtedness, transaction or change of control is initiated or supported
by the Company, any affiliate of the Company or any other party. However, certain restrictions on
ownership and transfers of the common shares and preferred shares are designed to preserve the
Companys status as a REIT and, therefore, may act to prevent or hinder a change of control. See
Restrictions on Transfers of Capital Stock and Anti-Takeover Provisions beginning on page 34 of
this prospectus. Reference is made to the applicable prospectus supplement for information with
respect to any deletions from, modifications of, or additions to, the events of default or
covenants of the Company that are described below, including any addition of a covenant or other
provision providing event risk or similar protection.
Denomination, Interest, Registration and Transfer
Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities of any
series will be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof.
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Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the principal of (and
applicable premium, if any) and interest on any series of debt securities will be payable at the
corporate trust office of the applicable Indenture Trustee, the address of which will be stated in
the applicable prospectus supplement; provided, however, that, at the option of the Company,
payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as it
appears in the applicable register for such debt securities or by wire transfer of funds to such
person at an account maintained within the United States.
Subject to certain limitations imposed upon debt securities issued in book-entry form, the
debt securities of any series will be exchangeable for any authorized denomination of other debt
securities of the same series and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor upon surrender of
such debt securities at the corporate trust office of the applicable Indenture Trustee or at the
office of any transfer agent designated by the Company for such purpose. In addition, subject to
certain 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 or exchange thereof at the
corporate trust office of the applicable Indenture Trustee or at the office of any transfer agent
designated by the Company for such purpose. Every Debt Security surrendered for conversion,
registration of transfer or exchange must be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument
of transfer, and the person requesting such action must provide evidence of title and identity
satisfactory to the applicable Indenture Trustee or transfer agent. No service charge will be made
for any registration of transfer or exchange of any debt securities, but the Company may require
payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection
therewith. If the applicable prospectus supplement refers to any transfer agent (in addition to
the applicable Indenture Trustee) initially designated by the Company with respect to any series of
debt securities, the Company may at any time rescind the designation of any such transfer agent or
approve a change in the location through which any such transfer agent acts, except that the
Company will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for such series.
The Company may at any time designate additional transfer agents with respect to any series of debt
securities.
Neither the Company nor any Indenture Trustee shall be required (i) to issue, register the
transfer of or exchange debt securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of
business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of any debt securities that
may be selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing; (ii)
to register the transfer of or exchange any Debt Security, or portion thereof, so selected for
redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Debt Security being redeemed
in part; or (iii) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Debt Security that 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.
Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets
The Indentures will provide that the Company may, without the consent of the holders of any
outstanding debt securities, consolidate with, or sell, lease or convey all or substantially all of
its assets to, or merge with or into, any other entity provided that (a) either the Company shall
be the continuing entity, or the successor entity (if other than the Company) formed by or
resulting from any such consolidation or merger or which shall have received the transfer of such
assets, is organized under the laws of any domestic jurisdiction and assumes the Companys
obligations to pay principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all of the debt securities
and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions
contained in each Indenture; (b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction and treating
any indebtedness that becomes an obligation of the Company or any subsidiary as a result thereof as
having been incurred by the Company or such subsidiary at the time of such transaction, no event of
default under the Indentures, and no event which, after notice or the lapse of time, or both, would
become such an event of default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and (c) an officers
certificate and legal opinion covering such conditions shall be delivered to each Indenture
Trustee.
Certain Covenants
Existence. Except as permitted under Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets, the
Indentures will require the Company to do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and
keep in full force and effect its corporate existence, rights (by declaration of trust, by-laws and
statute) and franchises; provided, however, that the Company will not be required to preserve any
right or franchise if its board of trustees determines that the preservation thereof is no longer
desirable in the conduct of its business by appropriate proceedings.
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Maintenance of Properties. The Indentures will require the Company to cause all of its
material properties used or useful in the conduct of its 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 thereof, all as in the judgment of the Company may be necessary so
that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted
at all times; provided, however, that the Company and its subsidiaries shall not be prevented from
selling or otherwise disposing of their properties for value in the ordinary course of business.
Insurance. The Indentures will require the Company to cause each of its and its subsidiaries
insurable properties to be insured against loss or damage with insurers of recognized
responsibility and, if described in the applicable prospectus supplement, having a specified rating
from a recognized insurance rating service, in such amounts and covering all such risks as shall be
customary in the industry in accordance with prevailing market conditions and availability.
Payment of Taxes and Other Claims. The Indentures will require the Company to pay or
discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, (i) all
taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed upon it or any subsidiary or upon the
income, profits or property of the Company or any subsidiary and (ii) all lawful claims for labor,
materials and supplies which, if unpaid, might by law become a lien upon the property of the
Company or any subsidiary; provided, however, that the Company shall 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.
Provision of Financial Information. Whether or not the Company is subject to Section 13 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Indentures will require the Company, within 15 days of each of the
respective dates by which the Company would have been required to file annual reports, quarterly
reports and other documents with the Commission if the Company were so subject, (i) to file with
the applicable Indenture Trustee copies of the annual reports, quarterly reports and other
documents that the Company would have been required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section
13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act if the Company were subject to such Sections and (ii) to supply,
promptly upon written request and payment of the reasonable cost of duplication and delivery,
copies of such documents to any prospective holder.
Additional Covenants. Any additional covenants of the Company with respect to any series of
debt securities will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating thereto.
Events of Default, Notice and Waiver
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, each Indenture will provide
that the following events are Events of Default with respect to any series of debt securities
issued thereunder (i) default for 30 days in the payment of any installment of interest on any Debt
Security of such series; (ii) default in the payment of principal of (or premium, if any, on) any
Debt Security of such series at its maturity; (iii) default in making any sinking fund payment as
required for any Debt Security of such series; (iv) default in the performance or breach of any
other covenant or warranty of the Company contained in the Indenture (other than a covenant added
to the Indenture solely for the benefit of a series of debt securities issued thereunder other than
such series), continued for 60 days after written notice as provided in the applicable Indenture;
(v) a default under any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness for money borrowed
by the Company or any of its subsidiaries (including obligations under leases required to be
capitalized on the balance sheet of the lessee under generally accepted accounting principles but
not including any indebtedness or obligations for which recourse is limited to property purchased)
in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $30,000,000 or under any mortgage, indenture or
instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any
indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any its subsidiaries (including such leases, but
not including such indebtedness or obligations for which recourse is limited to property purchased)
in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $30,000,000, whether such indebtedness exists on the
date of such Indenture or shall thereafter be created, with such obligations being accelerated and
not rescinded or annulled; (vi) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, or
court appointment of a receiver, liquidator or trustee of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary
of the Company; and (vii) any other event of default provided with respect to a particular series
of debt securities. The term Significant Subsidiary has the meaning ascribed to such term in
Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act.
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If an event of default under any Indenture with respect to debt securities of any series at
the time outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the applicable Indenture
Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the debt securities of that
series will have the right to declare the principal amount (or, if the debt securities of that
series are Original Issue Discount Securities or indexed securities, such portion of the principal
amount as may be specified in the terms thereof) of all the debt securities of that series to be
due and payable immediately by written notice thereof to the Company (and to the applicable
Indenture Trustee if given by the holders). However, at any time after such a declaration of
acceleration with respect to debt securities of such series (or of all debt securities then
outstanding under any Indenture, as the case may be) has been made, but before a judgment or decree
for payment of the money due has been obtained by the applicable Indenture Trustee, the holders of
not less than a majority in principal amount of outstanding debt securities of such series (or of
all debt securities then outstanding under the applicable Indenture, as the case may be) may
rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if (i) the Company shall have deposited
with the applicable Indenture Trustee all required payments of the principal of (and premium, if
any) and interest on the debt securities of such series (or of all debt securities than outstanding
under the applicable Indenture, as the case may be), plus certain fees, expenses, disbursements and
advances of the applicable Indenture Trustee and (ii) all events of default, other than the
non-payment of accelerated principal (or specified portion thereof), with respect to debt
securities of such series (or of all debt securities then outstanding under the applicable
Indenture, as the case may be) have been cured or waived as provided in such Indenture. The
Indentures will also provide that the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of
the outstanding debt securities of any series (or of all debt securities then outstanding under the
applicable Indenture, as the case may be) may waive any past default with respect to such series
and its consequences, except a default (x) in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any)
or interest on any Debt Security of such series or (y) in respect of a covenant or provision
contained in the applicable Indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the
holder of each outstanding Debt Security affected thereby.
The Indentures will require each Indenture Trustee to give notice to the holders of debt
securities within 90 days of a default under the applicable Indenture unless such default shall
have been cured or waived; provided, however, that such Indenture Trustee may withhold notice to
the holders of any series of debt securities of any default with respect to such series (except a
default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Debt Security of
such series or in the payment of any sinking fund installment in respect to any Debt Security of
such series) if specified responsible officers of such Indenture Trustee consider such withholding
to be in the interest of such holders.
The Indentures will provide that no holder of debt securities of any series may institute any
proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to such Indenture or for any remedy thereunder,
except in the case of failure of the applicable Indenture 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 of such series,
as well as an offer of indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it. This provision will not prevent,
however, any holder of debt securities from instituting suit for the enforcement of payment of the
principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such debt securities at the respective due dates
thereof.
The Indentures will provide that, subject to provisions in each Indenture relating to its
duties in case of default, an Indenture Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its
rights or powers under an Indenture at the request or direction of any holders of any series of
debt securities then outstanding under such Indenture, unless such holders shall have offered to
the Indenture Trustee thereunder reasonable security or indemnity. The holders of not less than a
majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series (or of all debt
securities then outstanding under an Indenture, as the case may be) shall have the right to direct
the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the applicable
Indenture Trustee, or of exercising any trust or power conferred upon such Indenture Trustee.
However, an Indenture Trustee may refuse to follow any direction which is in conflict with any law
or the applicable Indenture, which may involve such Indenture Trustee in personal liability or
which may be unduly prejudicial to the holders of debt securities of such series not joining
therein.
Within 120 days after the close of each fiscal year, the Company will be required to deliver
to each Indenture Trustee a certificate, signed by one of several specified officers of the
Company, stating whether or not such officer has knowledge of any default under the applicable
Indenture and, if so, specifying each such default and the nature and status thereof.
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Modification of the Indentures
Modifications and amendments of an Indenture will be permitted to be made only with the
consent of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of all outstanding debt
securities issued under such Indenture affected by such modification or amendment; provided,
however, that no such modification or amendment may, without the consent of the holder of each such
Debt Security affected thereby, (i) change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any
installment of interest (or premium, if any) on, any such Debt Security; (ii) reduce the principal
amount of, or the rate or amount of interest on, or any premium payable on redemption of, any such
Debt Security, or reduce the amount of principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would
be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof or would be provable in
bankruptcy, or adversely affect any right of repayment of the holder of any such Debt Security;
(iii) change the place of payment, or the coin or currency, for payment of principal of, premium,
if any, or interest on any such Debt Security; (iv) impair the right to institute suit for the
enforcement of any payment on or with respect to any such Debt Security; (v) reduce the
above-stated percentage of outstanding debt securities of any series necessary to modify or amend
the applicable Indenture, to waive compliance with certain provisions thereof or certain defaults
and consequences thereunder or to reduce the quorum or voting requirements set forth in the
applicable Indenture; or (vi) modify any of the foregoing provisions or any of the provisions
relating to the waiver of certain past defaults or certain covenants, except to increase the
required percentage to effect such action or to provide that certain other provisions may not be
modified or waived without the consent of the holder of such Debt Security.
The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of
each series may, on behalf of all holders of debt securities of that series, waive, insofar as that
series is concerned, compliance by the Company with certain restrictive covenants of the applicable
Indenture.
Modifications and amendments of an Indenture will be permitted to be made by the Company and
the respective Indenture Trustee thereunder without the consent of any holder of debt securities
for any of the following purposes: (i) to evidence the succession of another person to the Company
as obligor under such Indenture; (ii) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the
holders of all or any series of debt securities or to surrender any right or power conferred upon
the Company in such Indenture; (iii) to add events of default for the benefit of the holders of all
or any series of debt securities; (iv) to add or change any provisions of an Indenture to
facilitate the issuance of, or to liberalize certain 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 interest of the holders of the debt securities of any series
in any material respect; (v) to change or eliminate any provisions of an Indenture; provided that
any such change or elimination shall be effective only when there are no debt securities
outstanding of any series created prior thereto which are entitled to the benefit of such
provision; (vi) to secure the debt securities; (vii) to establish the form or terms of debt
securities of any series, including the provisions and procedures, if applicable, for the
conversion of such debt securities into common shares or preferred shares; (viii) to provide for
the acceptance of appointment by a successor Indenture Trustee or facilitate the administration of
the trusts under an Indenture by more than one Indenture Trustee; (ix) to cure any ambiguity,
defect or inconsistency in an Indenture; provided that such action shall not adversely affect the
interests of holders of debt securities of any series issued under such Indenture; or (x) to
supplement any of the provisions of an Indenture to the extent necessary to permit or facilitate
defeasance and discharge of any series of such debt securities; provided that such action shall not
adversely affect the interests of the holders of the outstanding debt securities of any series.
The Indentures will provide 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 thereunder or whether a quorum is present at a
meeting of holders of debt securities, (i) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount
Security that shall be deemed to be outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof that
would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon declaration of acceleration of
the maturity thereof (ii) the principal amount of any Debt Security denominated in a foreign
currency that shall be deemed outstanding shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined on the
issue date for such Debt Security, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue
Discount Security, the U.S. dollar equivalent on the issue date of such debt securities of the
amount determined as provided in (i) above), (iii) the principal amount of an indexed security that
shall be deemed outstanding shall be the principal face amount of such indexed security at original
issuance, unless otherwise provided with respect to such indexed security pursuant to such
Indenture, and (iv) debt
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securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the debt securities or an affiliate
of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded.
The Indentures will contain provisions for convening meetings of the holders of debt
securities of a series issued thereunder. A meeting may be called at any time by the applicable
Indenture Trustee, and also, upon request by the Company or the holders of at least 25% in
principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series, in any such case upon notice
given as provided in such Indenture. Except for any consent that must be given by the holder of
each Debt Security affected by certain modifications and amendments of an Indenture, any resolution
presented at a meeting or 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 such 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 an 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 such 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 such specified percentage in principal amount of the
outstanding debt securities of such series will constitute a quorum.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, the Indentures will provide that 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 and other action that such 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 thereby, or of the holders of such
series and one or more additional series; (i) there shall be no minimum quorum requirement for such
meeting, and (ii) the principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series that vote
in favor of such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action
shall be taken into account in determining whether such request, demand, authorization, direction,
notice, consent, waiver or other action has been made, given or taken under such Indenture.
Subordination
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, Subordinated Securities
will be subject to the following subordination provisions.
Upon any distribution to creditors of the Company in a liquidation, dissolution or
reorganization, the payment of the principal of and interest on any Subordinated Securities will be
subordinated to the extent provided in the applicable Indenture in right of payment to the prior
payment in full of all Senior Debt (as defined below), but the obligation of the Company to make
payments of the principal of and interest on such Subordinated Securities will not otherwise be
affected. No payment of principal or interest will be permitted to be made on Subordinated
Securities at any time if a default on Senior Debt exists that permits the holders of such Senior
Debt to accelerate its maturity and the default is the subject of judicial proceedings or the
Company receives notice of the default. After all Senior Debt is paid in full and until the
Subordinated Securities are paid in full, holders will be subrogated to the rights of holders of
Senior Debt to the extent that distributions otherwise payable to holders have been applied to the
payment of Senior Debt. The Subordinated Indenture will not restrict the amount of Senior
Indebtedness or other indebtedness of the Company and its subsidiaries. As a result of these
subordination provisions in the event of a distribution of assets upon insolvency, holders of
Subordinated Indebtedness may recover less, ratably, than senior creditors of the Company.
Senior Debt will be defined in the applicable Indenture as the principal of and interest on,
or substantially similar payments to be made by the Company in respect of, the following, whether
outstanding at the date of execution of the applicable Indenture or thereafter incurred, created or
assumed: (i) indebtedness of the Company for
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money borrowed or represented by purchase-money obligations, (ii) indebtedness of the Company
evidenced by notes, debentures, or bonds, or other securities issued under the provisions of an
indenture, fiscal agency agreement or other agreement, (iii) obligations of the Company as lessee
under leases of property either made as part of any sale and leaseback transaction to which the
Company is a part or otherwise, (iv) indebtedness of partnerships and joint ventures which is
included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company, (v) indebtedness obligations and
liabilities of others in respect of which the Company is liable contingently or otherwise to pay or
advance money or property or as guarantor, endorser or otherwise or which the Company has agreed to
purchase or otherwise acquire, and (vi) any binding commitment of the real estate investment, in
each case other than (a) any such indebtedness, obligation or liability referred to in clauses (i)
through (vi) above as to which, in the instrument creating or evidencing the same pursuant to which
the same is outstanding, it is provided that such indebtedness, obligation or liability is not
superior in right of payment to the Subordinated Securities or ranks pari passu with the
Subordinated Securities, (b) any such indebtedness obligation or liability which is subordinated to
indebtedness of the Company to substantially the same extent as or to a greater extent than the
Subordinated Securities are subordinated, and (c) the Subordinated Securities. There will not be
any restriction in any Indenture relating to Subordinated Securities upon the creation of
additional Senior Debt.
If this prospectus is being delivered in connection with a series of Subordinated Securities,
the accompanying prospectus supplement or the information incorporated herein by reference will set
forth the approximate amount of Senior Debt outstanding as of the end of the Companys most recent
fiscal quarter.
Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the Company will be
permitted, at its option, to discharge certain obligations to holders of any series of debt
securities issued under any Indenture that have not already been delivered to the applicable
Indenture Trustee for cancellation and that either have become due and payable or will become due
and payable within one year (or scheduled for redemption within one year) by irrevocably depositing
with the applicable Indenture Trustee, in trust, funds in such currency or currencies, currency
unit or units or composite currency or currencies in which such debt securities are payable in an
amount sufficient to pay the entire indebtedness on such debt securities with respect to principal
(and premium, if any) and interest to the date of such deposit (if such debt securities have become
due and payable) or to the stated maturity or redemption date, as the case may be.
The Indentures will provide that, unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus
supplement, the Company may elect either (i) to defease and be discharged from any and all
obligations (except for the obligation to pay additional amounts, if any, upon the occurrence of
certain events of tax assessment or governmental charge with respect to payments on such debt
securities and the obligations to register the transfer or exchange of such debt securities, to
replace temporary or mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities, to maintain an office or
agency in respect of such debt securities, to hold moneys for payment in trust and, with respect to
Subordinated debt securities which are convertible or exchangeable, the right to convert or
exchange) with respect to such debt securities (defeasance) or (ii) to be released from its
obligations with respect to such debt securities under the applicable Indenture ( being the
restrictions described under Certain Covenants) or, if provided in the applicable prospectus
supplement, its obligations with respect to any other covenant, and any omission to comply with
such obligations shall not constitute an event of default with respect to such debt securities
(covenant defeasance), in either case upon the irrevocable deposit by the Company with the
applicable Indenture Trustee, in trust, of an amount in such currency or currencies, currency unit
or units or composite currency or currencies in which such debt securities are payable at stated
maturity, or Government Obligations (as defined below), or both, applicable to such debt
securities, which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in accordance with their
terms will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and
interest on such debt securities, and any mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments thereon, on
the scheduled due dates therefor.
Such a trust will only be permitted to be established if, among other things, the Company has
delivered to the applicable Indenture Trustee an opinion of counsel (as specified in the applicable
Indenture) to the effect that the holders of such debt securities will not recognize income, gain
or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance or covenant defeasance
and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the
same times as would have been the case if such defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred,
and such opinion of counsel, in the case of defeasance, will be required to refer to and
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be based upon a ruling received from or published by the Internal Revenue Service or a change
in applicable United States federal income tax law occurring after the date of the Indenture. In
the event of such defeasance, the holders of such debt securities would thereafter be able to look
only to such trust fund for payment of principal (and premium, if any) and interest.
Government Obligations means securities that are (i) direct obligations of the United States
of America or the government which issued the foreign currency in which the debt securities of a
particular series are payable, for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged, or
(ii) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality
of the United States of America or such government which issued the foreign currency in which the
debt securities of such series are payable, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a
full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America or such other government, which,
in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also
include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any
such Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such Government
Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt; provided
that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the
amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian
in respect of the Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of the
Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, if after the Company has
deposited funds and/or Government Obligations to effect defeasance or covenant defeasance with
respect to debt securities of any series, (i) the holder of a Debt Security of such series is
entitled to, and does, elect pursuant to the applicable Indenture or the terms of such Debt
Security to receive payment in a currency, currency unit or composite currency other than that in
which such deposit has been made in respect of such Debt Security, or (ii) a Conversion Event (as
defined below) occurs in respect of the currency, currency unit or composite currency in which such
deposit has been made, the indebtedness represented by such Debt Security will be deemed to have
been, and will be, fully discharged and satisfied through the payment of the principal of (and
premium, if any) and interest on such Debt Security as they become due out of the proceeds yielded
by converting the amount so deposited in respect of such Debt Security into the currency, currency
unit or composite currency in which such Debt Security becomes payable as a result of such election
or such cessation of usage based on the applicable market exchange rate. Conversion Event means
the cessation of use of (a) a currency, currency unit or composite currency 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, (b) the ECU both
within the European Monetary System and for the settlement of transactions by public institutions
of or within the European Communities, or (c) any currency unit or composite currency other than
the ECU for the purposes for which it was established. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable
prospectus supplement, all payments of principal of (and premium, if any) 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 U.S. dollars.
If the Company effects covenant defeasance with respect to any debt securities and such debt
securities are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any event of default other
than the event of default described in clause (iv) under Events of Default, Notice and Waiver
with respect to specified sections of an Indenture (which sections would no longer be applicable to
such debt securities) or described in clause (vii) under Events of Default, Notice and Waiver
with respect to any other covenant as to which there has been covenant defeasance, the amount in
such currency, currency unit or composite currency in which such debt securities are payable, and
Government Obligations on deposit with the applicable Indenture Trustee, will be sufficient to pay
amounts due on such debt securities at the time of their stated maturity but may not be sufficient
to pay amounts due on such debt securities at the time of the acceleration resulting from such
event of default. However, the Company would remain liable to make payment of such 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.
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Conversion Rights
The terms and conditions, if any, upon which the debt securities are convertible into common
shares or preferred shares will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating
thereto. Such terms will include whether such debt securities are convertible into common shares
or preferred shares, the conversion price (or manner of calculation thereof), the conversion
period, provisions as to whether conversion will be at the option of the holders or the Company,
the events requiring an adjustment of the conversion price and provisions affecting conversion in
the event of the redemption of such debt securities and any restrictions on conversion, including
restrictions directed at maintaining the Companys REIT status.
Payment
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the principal of (and
applicable premium, if any) and interest on any series of debt securities will be payable at the
corporate trust office of the Indenture Trustee, the address of which will be stated in the
applicable prospectus supplement; provided that, at the option of the Company, payment of interest
may be made by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as it appears in the
applicable register for such debt securities or by wire transfer of funds to such person at an
account maintained within the United States.
All moneys paid by the Company to a paying agent or an Indenture Trustee for the payment of
the principal of or any premium or interest on any Debt Security which remain unclaimed at the end
of one year after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable will be repaid to
the Company, and the holder of such Debt Security thereafter may look only to the Company for
payment thereof.
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 (the Global Securities) that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a
depositary identified in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to such series. Global
Securities may be issued in either registered or bearer form and in either temporary or permanent
form. The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to a series of debt securities
will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to such series.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
The following description contains general terms and provisions of the depositary shares to
which any prospectus supplement may relate. The particular terms of the depositary shares offered
by any prospectus supplement and the extent, if any, to which such general provisions may not apply
to the depositary shares so offered will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such
debt securities. For more information, please refer to the provisions of the deposit agreement we
will enter into with a depositary to be selected, our declaration, including the form of articles
supplementary for the applicable series of preferred shares.
General
We may, at our option, elect to offer depositary shares rather than full preferred shares. In
the event such option is exercised, each of the depositary shares will represent ownership of and
entitlement to all rights and preferences of a fraction of a preferred share of a specified series
(including dividend, voting, redemption and liquidation rights). The applicable fraction will be
specified in a prospectus supplement. The preferred shares represented by the depositary shares
will be deposited with a depositary named in the applicable prospectus supplement, under a deposit
agreement, among us, the depositary and the holders of the certificates evidencing depositary
shares, or depositary receipts. Depositary receipts will be delivered to those persons purchasing
depositary shares in the offering. The depositary will be the transfer agent, registrar and
dividend disbursing agent for the depositary shares. Holders of depositary receipts agree to be
bound by the deposit agreement, which requires holders to take certain actions such as filing proof
of residence and paying certain charges.
Dividends
The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received in
respect of the series of preferred shares represented by the depositary shares to the record
holders of depositary receipts in proportion to the number of depositary shares owned by such
holders on the relevant record date, which will be the same date as the record date fixed by us for
the applicable series of preferred shares. The depositary, however, will distribute only such
amount as can be distributed without attributing to any depositary share a fraction of one cent,
and any balance not so distributed will be added to and treated as part of the next sum received by
the depositary for distribution to record holders of depositary receipts then outstanding.
In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property
received by it to the record holders of depositary receipts entitled thereto, in proportion, as
nearly as may be practicable, to the number of depositary shares owned by such holders on the
relevant record date, unless the depositary determines (after consultation with us) that it is not
feasible to make such distribution, in which case the depositary may (with our approval) adopt any
other method for such distribution as it deems equitable and appropriate, including the sale of
such property (at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem equitable and
appropriate) and distribution of the net proceeds from such sale to such holders.
Liquidation Preference
In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company,
whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of each depositary share will be entitled to the
fraction of the liquidation preference accorded each share of the applicable series of preferred
shares as set forth in the prospectus supplement.
Redemption
If the series of preferred shares represented by the applicable series of depositary shares is
redeemable, such depositary shares will be redeemed from the proceeds received by the depositary
resulting from the redemption, in whole or in part, of preferred shares held by the depositary.
Whenever we redeem any preferred shares held by the depositary, the depositary will redeem as of
the same redemption date the number of depositary shares representing the preferred shares so
redeemed. The depositary will mail the notice of redemption promptly upon receipt of such notice
from us and not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption of the
preferred shares and the depositary shares to the record holders of the depositary receipts.
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Voting
Promptly upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the series of preferred
shares represented by the applicable series of depositary shares are entitled to vote, the
depositary will mail the information contained in such notice of meeting to the record holders of
the depositary receipts as of the record date for such meeting. Each such record holder of
depositary receipts will be entitled to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of the voting
rights pertaining to the number of preferred shares represented by such record holders depositary
shares. The depositary will endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote such preferred shares
represented by such depositary shares in accordance with such instructions, and we will agree to
take all action which may be deemed necessary by the depositary in order to enable the depositary
to do so. The depositary will abstain from voting any of the preferred shares to the extent that it
does not receive specific instructions from the holders of depositary receipts.
Withdrawal of Preferred Shares
Upon surrender of depositary receipts at the principal office of the depositary, upon payment
of any unpaid amount due the depositary, and subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, the
owner of the depositary shares evidenced thereby is entitled to delivery of the number of whole
preferred shares and all money and other property, if any, represented by such depositary shares.
Fractional preferred shares will not be issued. If the depositary receipts delivered by the holder
evidence a number of depositary shares in excess of the number of depositary shares representing
the number of whole preferred shares to be withdrawn, the depositary will deliver to such holder at
the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing such excess number of depositary shares. Holders
of preferred shares thus withdrawn will not thereafter be entitled to deposit such shares under the
deposit agreement or to receive depositary receipts evidencing depositary shares therefor.
Amendment and Termination of Deposit Agreement
The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the
deposit agreement may at any time and from time to time be amended by agreement between us and the
depositary. However, any amendment which materially and adversely alters the rights of the holders
(other than any change in fees) of depositary shares will not be effective unless such amendment
has been approved by the holders of at least a majority of the depositary shares then outstanding.
No such amendment may impair the right, subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, of any owner
of any depositary shares to surrender the depositary receipt evidencing such depositary shares with
instructions to the depositary to deliver to the holder of preferred shares and all money and other
property, if any, represented thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of
applicable law.
The deposit agreement will be permitted to be terminated by us upon not less than 30 days
prior written notice to the applicable depositary if (i) such termination is necessary to preserve
our qualification as a REIT or (ii) a majority of each series of preferred shares affected by such
termination consents to such termination, whereupon such depositary will be required to deliver or
make available to each holder of depositary receipts, upon surrender of the depositary receipts
held by such holder, such number of whole or fractional preferred shares as are represented by the
depositary shares evidenced by such depositary receipts together with any other property held by
such depositary with respect to such depositary receipts. We will agree that if the deposit
agreement is terminated to preserve our qualification as a REIT, then we will use our best efforts
to list the preferred shares issued upon surrender of the related depositary shares on a national
securities exchange. In addition, the deposit agreement will automatically terminate if (i) all
outstanding depositary shares thereunder shall have been redeemed, (ii) there shall have been a
final distribution in respect of the related preferred shares in connection with any liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of Lexington Realty Trust and such distribution shall have been
distributed to the holders of depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares representing
such preferred shares or (iii) each preferred share shall have been converted into shares of
Lexington Realty Trust not so represented by depositary shares.
Charges of Depositary
We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the
existence of the depositary arrangements. We will pay charges of the depositary in connection with
the initial deposit of the preferred shares and initial issuance of the depositary shares, and
redemption of the preferred shares and all withdrawals of preferred shares by owners of depositary
shares. Holders of depositary receipts will pay transfer,
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income and other taxes and governmental charges and certain other charges as are provided in the
deposit agreement to be for their accounts. In certain circumstances, the depositary may refuse to
transfer depositary shares, may withhold dividends and distributions and sell the depositary shares
evidenced by such depositary receipt if such charges are not paid.
Miscellaneous
The depositary will forward to the holders of depositary receipts all reports and
communications from us which are delivered to the depositary and which we are required to furnish
to the holders of the preferred shares. In addition, the depositary will make available for
inspection by holders of depositary receipts at the principal office of the depositary, and at such
other places as it may from time to time deem advisable, any reports and communications received
from us which are received by the depositary as the holder of preferred shares.
Neither we nor the depositary assumes any obligation or will be subject to any liability under
the deposit agreement to holders of depositary receipts other than for its negligence or willful
misconduct. Neither we nor the depositary will be liable if it is prevented or delayed by law or
any circumstance beyond its control in performing its obligations under the deposit agreement. The
obligations of the Company and the depositary under the deposit agreement will be limited to
performance in good faith of their duties thereunder, and they will not be obligated to prosecute
or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary shares or preferred shares unless
satisfactory indemnity is furnished. We and the depositary may rely on written advice of counsel or
accountants, on information provided by holders of the depositary receipts or other persons
believed in good faith to be competent to give such information and on documents believed to be
genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties. In the event the
depositary shall receive conflicting claims, requests or instructions from any holders of
depositary receipts, on the one hand, and we, on the other hand, the depositary shall be entitled
to act on such claims, requests or instructions received from us.
Resignation and Removal of Depositary
The depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice of its election to do so, and
we may at any time remove the depositary, any such resignation or removal to take effect upon the
appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment. Such successor
depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice for resignation or removal
and must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States of America and
having a combined capital and surplus of at least $150,000,000.
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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
We may issue warrants for the purchase of debt or equity securities described in this
prospectus.
Warrants may be issued independently or together with any offered securities and may be attached to
or separate from such securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant
agreement we will enter into with a warrant agent specified in the agreement. The warrant agent
will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants of that series and will not assume any
obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of
warrants.
A prospectus supplement relating to any series of warrants being offered will include specific
terms relating to the offering. They will include, where applicable:
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the aggregate number of warrants; |
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the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued; |
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the currencies in which the price or prices of the warrants may be payable; |
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the designation, amount and terms of the offered securities purchasable upon exercise of
the warrants; |
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the designation and terms of the other offered securities, if any, with which the
warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with the security; |
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if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the offered securities
purchasable upon exercise of the warrants will be separately transferable; |
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the price or prices at which, and currency or currencies in which, the offered
securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants may be purchased; |
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the date on which the right to exercise the warrants shall commence and the date on
which the right shall expire; |
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the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants which may be exercised at any one time; |
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information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; |
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any listing of warrants on any securities exchange; |
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if appropriate, a discussion of federal income tax consequences; and |
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any other material term of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations
relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants. |
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DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS
The following is a general description of the terms of the subscription rights we may issue
from time to time. Particular terms of any subscription rights we offer will be described in the
prospectus supplement relating to such subscription rights.
We may issue subscription rights to purchase our common shares. These subscription rights may
be issued independently or together with any other security offered hereby and may or may not be
transferable by the shareholder receiving the subscription rights in such offering. In connection
with any offering of subscription rights, we may enter into a standby arrangement with one or more
underwriters or other purchasers pursuant to which the underwriters or other purchasers may be
required to purchase any securities remaining unsubscribed for after such offering.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of any offering of
subscription rights for which this prospectus is being delivered, including the following:
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the price, if any, for the subscription rights; |
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the exercise price payable for each common share upon the exercise of the subscription
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the number of subscription rights issued to each shareholder; |
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the number and terms of the common shares which may be purchased per each subscription
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the extent to which the subscription rights are transferable; |
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any other terms of the subscription rights, including the terms, procedures and
limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the subscription rights; |
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the date on which the right to exercise the subscription rights shall commence, and the
date on which the subscription rights shall expire; |
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the extent to which the subscription rights may include an over-subscription privilege
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if applicable, the material terms of any standby underwriting or purchase arrangement
entered into by us in connection with the offering of subscription rights. |
The description in the applicable prospectus supplement of any subscription rights we offer
will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the
applicable subscription rights certificate or subscription rights agreement, which will be filed
with the SEC if we offer subscription rights.
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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
As specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may issue units consisting of one or
more common shares, preferred shares, debt securities, subscription rights, depositary shares,
warrants or any combination of such securities.
The applicable prospectus supplement will specify the following terms of any units in respect
of which this prospectus is being delivered:
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the terms of the units and of any of the common shares, preferred shares, debt
securities, warrants, subscription rights or depositary shares comprising the units,
including whether and under what circumstances the securities comprising the units may be
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a description of the terms of any unit agreement governing the units; and |
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a description of the provisions for the payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the
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RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERS OF CAPITAL STOCK AND ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS
Restrictions Relating To REIT Status
For us to qualify as a REIT under the Code, among other things, not more than 50% in value of
the outstanding shares of our capital stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer
individuals (defined in the Code to include certain entities) during the last half of a taxable
year, and such shares of our capital stock must be beneficially owned by 100 or more persons during
at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months or during a proportionate part of a shorter
taxable year (in each case, other than the first such year). To assist us in continuing to remain
a qualified REIT, our declaration of trust, subject to certain exceptions, provides that no holder
may own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Code, more than 9.8% of
our equity shares, defined as common shares or preferred shares. We refer to this restriction as
the Ownership Limit. Our board of trustees may exempt a person from the Ownership Limit if
evidence satisfactory to our board of trustees is presented that the changes in ownership will not
then or in the future jeopardize our status as a REIT. Any transfer of equity shares or any
security convertible into equity shares that would create a direct or indirect ownership of equity
shares in excess of the Ownership Limit or that would result in our disqualification as a REIT,
including any transfer that results in the equity shares being owned by fewer than 100 persons or
results in us being closely held within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code, will be null
and void, and the intended transferee will acquire no rights to such equity shares. The foregoing
restrictions on transferability and ownership will not apply if our board of trustees determines
that it is no longer in our best interests to attempt to qualify, or to continue to qualify, as a
REIT.
Equity shares owned, or deemed to be owned, or transferred to a shareholder in excess of the
Ownership Limit, will automatically be exchanged for an equal number of excess shares that will be
transferred, by operation of law, to us as trustee of a trust for the exclusive benefit of the
transferees to whom such shares of our capital stock may be ultimately transferred without
violating the Ownership Limit. While the excess shares are held in trust, they will not be
entitled to vote, they will not be considered for purposes of any shareholder vote or the
determination of a quorum for such vote and, except upon liquidation, they will not be entitled to
participate in dividends or other distributions. Any dividend or distribution paid to a proposed
transferee of excess shares prior to our discovery that equity shares have been transferred in
violation of the provisions of our declaration of trust will be repaid to us upon demand. The
excess shares are not treasury shares, but rather constitute a separate class of our issued and
outstanding shares. The original transferee-shareholder may, at any time the excess shares are
held by us in trust, transfer the interest in the trust representing the excess shares to any
individual whose ownership of the equity shares exchanged into such excess shares would be
permitted under our declaration of trust, at a price not in excess of the price paid by the
original transferee-shareholder for the equity shares that were exchanged into excess shares, or,
if the transferee-shareholder did not give value for such shares, a price not in excess of the
market price (as determined in the manner set forth in our declaration of trust) on the date of the
purported transfer. Immediately upon the transfer to the permitted transferee, the excess shares
will automatically be exchanged for equity shares of the class from which they were converted. If
the foregoing transfer restrictions are determined to be void or invalid by virtue of any legal
decision, statute, rule or regulation, then the intended transferee of any excess shares may be
deemed, at our option, to have acted as an agent on our behalf in acquiring the excess shares and
to hold the excess shares on our behalf.
In addition to the foregoing transfer restrictions, we will have the right, for a period of 90
days during the time any excess shares are held by us in trust, to purchase all or any portion of
the excess shares from the original transferee-shareholder for the lesser of the price paid for the
equity shares by the original transferee-shareholder or the market price (as determined in the
manner set forth in our declaration of trust) of the equity shares on the date we exercise our
option to purchase. The 90-day period begins on the date on which we receive written notice of the
transfer or other event resulting in the exchange of equity shares for excess shares.
Each shareholder will be required, upon demand, to disclose to us in writing any information
with respect to the direct, indirect and constructive ownership of beneficial interests as our
board of trustees deems necessary to comply with the provisions of the Code applicable to REITs, to
comply with the requirements of any taxing authority or governmental agency or to determine any
such compliance.
This Ownership Limit may have the effect of precluding an acquisition of control unless our
board of trustees determines that maintenance of REIT status is no longer in our best interests.
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Authorized Capital
Under our declaration of trust, we have authority to issue up to 1,000,000,000 shares of
beneficial interest, par value $0.0001 per share, of which 400,000,000 shares are classified as
common shares, 500,000,000 shares are classified as excess stock and 100,000,000 shares are
classified as preferred shares. We may issue such shares (other than reserved shares) from time to
time in the discretion of our board of trustees to raise additional capital, acquire assets,
including additional real properties, redeem or retire debt or for any other business purpose. In
addition, the undesignated preferred shares may be issued in one or more additional classes or
series with such designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special
rights including, without limitation, preferential dividend or voting rights, and rights upon
liquidation, as will be fixed by our board of trustees. Our board of trustees is authorized to
classify and reclassify any of our unissued shares of our beneficial interest by setting or
changing, in any one or more respects, the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers,
restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of
such shares. This authority includes, without limitation, subject to the provisions of our
declaration of trust, authority to classify or reclassify any unissued shares into a class or
classes of preferred shares, preference shares, special shares or other shares, and to divide and
reclassify shares of any class into one or more series of that class.
In some circumstances, the issuance of preferred shares, or the exercise by our board of
trustees of its right to classify or reclassify shares, could have the effect of deterring
individuals or entities from making tender offers for our common shares or seeking to change
incumbent management.
Maryland Law
Business Combinations. Under Maryland law, business combinations between a Maryland real
estate investment trust and an interested shareholder or an affiliate of an interested shareholder
are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested shareholder
becomes an interested shareholder. These business combinations include a merger, consolidation,
share exchange, or, in circumstances specified in the statute, an asset transfer or issuance or
reclassification of equity securities. An interested shareholder is defined as:
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any person who beneficially owns ten percent or more of the voting power of the
trusts shares; or |
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an affiliate or associate of the trust who, at any time within the two-year period
prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner of ten percent or more of the
voting power of the then outstanding voting shares of the trust. |
A person is not an interested shareholder under the statute if the board of trustees approved
in advance the transaction by which he otherwise would have become an interested shareholder.
However, in approving a transaction, the board of trustees may provide that its approval is subject
to compliance, at or after the time of approval, with any terms or conditions determined by the
board.
After the five-year prohibition, any business combination between the Maryland real estate
investment trust and an interested shareholder generally must be recommended by the board of
trustees of the trust and approved by the affirmative vote of at least:
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eighty percent of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding voting shares
of the trust; and |
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two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of voting shares of the trust
other than shares held by the interested shareholder with whom or with whose affiliate the
business combination is to be effected or held by an affiliate or associate of the
interested shareholder. |
These super-majority vote requirements do not apply if the trusts common shareholders receive
a minimum price, as defined under Maryland law, for their shares in the form of cash or other
consideration in the same form as previously paid by the interested shareholder for its shares.
The statute permits various exemptions from its provisions, including business combinations
that are exempted by the board of trustees prior to the time that the interested shareholder
becomes an interested shareholder.
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In connection with its approval of the December 31, 2006 merger with Newkirk Realty Trust,
Inc., or Newkirk, our board of trustees has exempted from these restrictions, to a limited
extent, certain holders of Newkirk stock and MLP Units who received our common shares in the
merger.
The business combination statute may discourage others from trying to acquire control of us
and increase the difficulty of consummating any offer.
Control Share Acquisitions. Maryland law provides that control shares of a Maryland real
estate investment trust acquired in a control share acquisition have no voting rights except to the
extent approved by a vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Shares
owned by the acquiror, by officers or by employees who are trustees of the trust are excluded from
shares entitled to vote on the matter. Control Shares are voting shares which, if aggregated with
all other shares owned by the acquiror or in respect of which the acquiror is able to exercise or
direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle
the acquiror to exercise voting power in electing trustees within one of the following ranges of
voting power:
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one-tenth or more but less than one-third; |
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one-third or more but less than a majority; or |
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a majority or more of all voting power. |
Control shares do not include shares the acquiring person is then entitled to vote as a result of
having previously obtained shareholder approval. A control share acquisition means the acquisition
of control shares, subject to certain exceptions.
A person who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition may compel the board of
trustees of the trust to call a special meeting of shareholders to be held within 50 days of demand
to consider the voting rights of the shares. The right to compel the calling of a special meeting
is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including an undertaking to pay the expenses
of the meeting. If no request for a meeting is made, the trust may itself present the question at
any shareholders meeting.
If voting rights are not approved at the meeting or if the acquiring person does not deliver
an acquiring person statement as required by the statute, then the trust may redeem for fair value
any or all of the control shares, except those for which voting rights have previously been
approved. The right of the trust to redeem control shares is subject to certain conditions and
limitations. Fair value is determined, without regard to the absence of voting rights for the
control shares, as of the date of the last control share acquisition by the acquiror or of any
meeting of shareholders at which the voting rights of the shares are considered and not approved.
If voting rights for control shares are approved at a shareholders meeting and the acquirer becomes
entitled to vote a majority of the shares entitled to vote, all other shareholders may exercise
appraisal rights. The fair value of the shares as determined for purposes of appraisal rights may
not be less than the highest price per share paid by the acquiror in the control share acquisition.
The control share acquisition statute does not apply (a) to shares acquired in a merger,
consolidation or share exchange if the trust is a party to the transaction or (b) to acquisitions
approved or exempted by the declaration of trust or by-laws of the trust.
Our by-laws contain a provision exempting from the control share acquisition statute any and
all acquisitions by any person of our shares. There can be no assurance that this provision will
not be amended or eliminated at any time in the future.
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Certain Elective Provisions of Maryland Law. Publicly-held Maryland statutory real estate
investment trusts (Maryland REITs) may elect to be governed by all or any part of Maryland law
provisions relating to extraordinary actions and unsolicited takeovers. The election to be
governed by one or more of these provisions can be made by a Maryland REIT in its declaration of
trust or bylaws (charter documents) or by resolution adopted by its board of trustees so long as
the Maryland REIT has at least three trustees who, at the time of electing to be subject to the
provisions, are not:
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officers or employees of the Maryland REIT; |
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persons seeking to acquire control of the Maryland REIT; |
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trustees, officers, affiliates or associates of any person seeking to acquire
control; or |
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nominated or designated as trustees by a person seeking to acquire control. |
Articles supplementary must be filed with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and
Taxation if a Maryland REIT elects to be subject to any or all of the provisions by board
resolution or bylaw amendment. Shareholder approval is not required for the filing of these
articles supplementary.
The Maryland law provides that a Maryland REIT can elect to be subject to all or any portion
of the following provisions, notwithstanding any contrary provisions contained in that Maryland
REITs existing charter documents:
Classified Board: The Maryland REIT may divide its board into three classes which, to the
extent possible, will have the same number of trustees, the terms of which will expire at the third
annual meeting of shareholders after the election of each class;
Two-thirds Shareholder Vote to Remove Trustees: The shareholders may remove any trustee only
by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of all votes entitled to be cast by the shareholders
generally in the election of trustees;
Size of Board Fixed by Vote of Board: The number of trustees will be fixed only by resolution
of the board;
Board Vacancies Filled by the Board for the Remaining Term: Vacancies that result from an
increase in the size of the board, or the death, resignation, or removal of a trustee, may be
filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining trustees even if they do not
constitute a quorum. Trustees elected to fill vacancies will hold office for the remainder of the
full term of the class of trustees in which the vacancy occurred, as opposed to until the next
annual meeting of shareholders, and until a successor is elected and qualified; and
Shareholder Calls of Special Meetings: Special meetings of shareholders may be called by the
secretary of the Maryland REIT only upon the written request of shareholders entitled to cast at
least a majority of all votes entitled to be cast at the meeting and only in accordance with
procedures set out in the Maryland General Corporation Law.
We have not elected to be governed by these specific provisions. However, our declaration of
trust and/or by-laws, as applicable, already provide for an 80% shareholder vote to remove trustees
and then only for cause, and that the number of trustees may be determined by a resolution of our
Board, subject to a minimum number. In addition, we can elect to be governed by any or all of the
provisions of the Maryland law at any time in the future.
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UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following discussion summarizes the material United States federal income tax
considerations to you as a prospective holder of our common shares and assumes that you will hold
such shares as capital assets (within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code). The following
discussion is for general information purposes only, is not exhaustive of all possible tax
considerations and is not intended to be and should not be construed as tax advice. For example,
this summary does not give a detailed discussion of any state, local or foreign tax considerations.
In addition, this discussion is intended to address only those federal income tax considerations
that are generally applicable to all of our shareholders. It does not discuss all of the aspects of
federal income taxation that may be relevant to you in light of your particular circumstances or to
certain types of shareholders who are subject to special treatment under the federal income tax
laws including, without limitation, regulated investment companies, insurance companies, tax-exempt
entities, financial institutions or broker-dealers, expatriates, persons subject to the alternative
minimum tax and partnerships or other pass through entities.
The information in this section is based on the Code, existing, temporary and proposed
regulations under the Code, the legislative history of the Code, current administrative rulings and
practices of the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, and court decisions, all as of the date hereof.
No assurance can be given that future legislation, regulations, administrative interpretations and
court decisions will not significantly change current law or adversely affect existing
interpretations of current law. Any such change could apply retroactively to transactions preceding
the date of the change. In addition, we have not received, and do not plan to request, any rulings
from the IRS. Thus no assurance can be provided that the statements set forth herein (which do not
bind the IRS or the courts) will not be challenged by the IRS or that such statements will be
sustained by a court if so challenged. PROSPECTIVE HOLDERS OF OUR COMMON SHARES ARE ADVISED TO
CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND FOREIGN TAX CONSEQUENCES OF
INVESTING IN OUR COMMON SHARES IN LIGHT OF THEIR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES.
Taxation of the Company
General. We elected to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code, commencing
with our taxable year ended December 31, 1993. We believe that we have been organized, and have
operated, in such a manner so as to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the Code and intend to
conduct our operations so as to continue to qualify for taxation as a REIT. No assurance, however,
can be given that we have operated in a manner so as to qualify or will be able to operate in such
a manner so as to remain qualified as a REIT. Qualification and taxation as a REIT depend upon our
ability to meet on a continuing basis, through actual annual operating results, the required
distribution levels, diversity of share ownership and the various qualification tests imposed under
the Code discussed below, the results of which will not be reviewed by counsel. Given the highly
complex nature of the rules governing REITs, the ongoing importance of factual determinations, and
the possibility of future changes in our circumstances, no assurance can be given that the actual
results of our operations for any one taxable year have satisfied or will continue to satisfy such
requirements.
In the opinion of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP, based on certain assumptions and
factual representations that are described in this section and in officers certificates provided
by us, Concord Debt Holdings LLC and Concord Debt Funding Trust (both subsidiaries in which we
indirectly hold interests), commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 1993, we have been
organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification as a REIT and our
current and proposed method of operation will enable us to continue to meet the requirements for
qualification and taxation as a REIT. It must be emphasized that this opinion is based on various
assumptions and is conditioned upon certain representations made by us, Concord Debt Holdings LLC
and Concord Debt Funding Trust as to factual matters including, but not limited to, those set forth
herein, and those concerning our business and properties as set forth in this prospectus. An
opinion of counsel is not binding on the IRS or the courts.
The following is a general summary of the Code provisions that govern the federal income tax
treatment of a REIT and its shareholders. These provisions of the Code are highly technical and
complex. This summary is qualified in its entirety by the applicable Code provisions, Treasury
Regulations and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof, all of which are subject to
change prospectively or retroactively.
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If we qualify for taxation as a REIT, we generally will not be subject to federal corporate
income taxes on our net income that is currently distributed to shareholders. This treatment
substantially eliminates the double taxation (at the corporate and shareholder levels) that
generally results from investment in a corporation. However, we will be subject to federal income
tax as follows:
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First, we will be taxed at regular corporate rates on any undistributed REIT taxable
income, including undistributed net capital gains. |
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Second, under certain circumstances, we may be subject to the alternative minimum
tax on our items of tax preference. |
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Third, if we have (a) net income from the sale or other disposition of foreclosure
property, which is, in general, property acquired on foreclosure or otherwise on
default on a loan secured by such real property or a lease of such property, which is
held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business or (b) other
nonqualifying income from foreclosure property, we will be subject to tax at the
highest corporate rate on such income. |
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Fourth, if we have net income from prohibited transactions such income will be
subject to a 100% tax. Prohibited transactions are, in general, certain sales or other
dispositions of property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of
business other than foreclosure property. |
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Fifth, if we should fail to satisfy the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross
income test (as discussed below), but nonetheless maintain our qualification as a REIT
because certain other requirements have been met, we will be subject to a 100% tax on
an amount equal to (a) the gross income attributable to the greater of the amount by
which we fail the 75% gross income test or the amount by which 95% (90% for taxable
years ending on or prior to December 31, 2004) of our gross income exceeds the amount
of income qualifying under the 95% gross income test multiplied by (b) a fraction
intended to reflect our profitability. |
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Sixth, if we should fail to satisfy the asset tests (as discussed below) but
nonetheless maintain our qualification as a REIT because certain other requirements
have been met and we do not qualify for a de minimis exception, we may be subject to a
tax that would be the greater of (a) $50,000; or (b) an amount determined by
multiplying the highest rate of tax for corporations by the net income generated by the
assets for the period beginning on the first date of the failure and ending on the day
we dispose of the nonqualifying assets (or otherwise satisfy the requirements for
maintaining REIT qualification). |
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Seventh, if we should fail to satisfy one or more requirements for REIT
qualification, other than the 95% and 75% gross income tests and other than the asset
tests, but nonetheless maintain our qualification as a REIT because certain other
requirements have been met, we may be subject to a $50,000 penalty for each failure. |
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Eighth, if we should fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum
of (a) 85% of our REIT ordinary income for such year, (b) 95% of our REIT capital gain
net income for such year, and (c) any undistributed taxable income from prior periods,
we would be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax on the excess of such required
distribution over the amounts actually distributed. |
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Ninth, if we acquire any asset from a C corporation (i.e., a corporation generally
subject to full corporate level tax) in a transaction in which the basis of the asset
in our hands is determined by reference to the basis of the asset (or any other
property) in the hands of the C corporation and we do not elect to be taxed at the time
of the acquisition, we would be subject to tax at the highest corporate rate if we
dispose of such asset during the ten-year period beginning on the date that we acquired
that asset, to the extent of such propertys built-in gain (the excess of the fair
market value of such property at the time of our acquisition over the adjusted basis of
such property at such time) (we refer to this tax as the Built-in Gains Tax). |
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Tenth, we will incur a 100% excise tax on transactions with a taxable REIT
subsidiary that are not conducted on an arms-length basis. |
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Finally, if we own a residual interest in a real estate mortgage investment conduit,
or REMIC, we will be taxable at the highest corporate rate on the portion of any
excess inclusion income that we derive from the REMIC residual interests equal to the
percentage of our shares that is held in record name by disqualified organizations.
Similar rules apply if we own an equity interest in a taxable mortgage pool. A
disqualified organization includes the United States, any state or political
subdivision thereof, any foreign government or international organization, any agency
or instrumentality of any of the foregoing, any rural electrical or telephone
cooperative and any tax-exempt organization (other than a farmers cooperative
described in Section 521 of the Code) that is exempt from income taxation and from the
unrelated business taxable income provisions of the Code. However, to the extent that
we own a REMIC residual interest or a taxable mortgage pool through a taxable REIT
subsidiary, we will not be subject to this tax. See the heading Requirements for
Qualification below. |
Requirements for Qualification. A REIT is a corporation, trust or association (1) that is managed
by one or more trustees or directors, (2) the beneficial ownership of which is evidenced by
transferable shares, or by transferable certificates of beneficial interest, (3) that would be
taxable as a domestic corporation, but for Sections 856 through 859 of the Code, (4) that is
neither a financial institution nor an insurance company subject to certain provisions of the Code,
(5) that has the calendar year as its taxable year, (6) the beneficial ownership of which is held
by 100 or more persons, (7) during the last half of each taxable year, not more than 50% in value
of the outstanding stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals
(as defined in the Code to include certain entities), and (8) that meets certain other tests,
described below, regarding the nature of its income and assets. The Code provides that conditions
(1) through (5), inclusive, must be met during the entire taxable year and that condition (6) must
be met during at least 335 days of a taxable year of twelve (12) months, or during a proportionate
part of a taxable year of less than twelve (12) months.
We may redeem, at our option, a sufficient number of shares or restrict the transfer thereof
to bring or maintain the ownership of the shares in conformity with the requirements of the Code.
In addition, our declaration of trust includes restrictions regarding the transfer of our shares
that are intended to assist us in continuing to satisfy requirements (6) and (7). Moreover, if we
comply with regulatory rules pursuant to which we are required to send annual letters to our
shareholders requesting information regarding the actual ownership of our shares, and we do not
know, or exercising reasonable diligence would not have known, whether we failed to meet
requirement (7) above, we will be treated as having met the requirement.
The Code allows a REIT to own wholly-owned corporate subsidiaries which are qualified REIT
subsidiaries. The Code provides that a qualified REIT subsidiary is not treated as a separate
corporation, and all of its assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit are
treated as assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of the REIT. Thus, in
applying the requirements described herein, our qualified REIT subsidiaries will be ignored, and
all assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of such subsidiaries will be
treated as our assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit.
For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2001, a REIT may also hold any direct or
indirect interest in a corporation that qualifies as a taxable REIT subsidiary, as long as the
REITs aggregate holdings of taxable REIT subsidiary securities do not exceed 20% of the value of
the REITs total assets (for taxable years beginning after July 30, 2008, 25% of the value of the
REITs total assets). A taxable REIT subsidiary is a fully taxable corporation that generally is
permitted to engage in businesses (other than certain activities relating to lodging and health
care facilities), own assets, and earn income that, if engaged in, owned, or earned by the REIT,
might jeopardize REIT status or result in the imposition of penalty taxes on the REIT. To qualify
as a taxable REIT subsidiary, the subsidiary and the REIT must make a joint election to treat the
subsidiary as a taxable REIT subsidiary. A taxable REIT subsidiary also includes any corporation
(other than a REIT or a qualified REIT subsidiary) in which a taxable REIT subsidiary directly or
indirectly owns more than 35% of the total voting power or value. See Asset Tests below. A
taxable REIT subsidiary will pay tax at regular corporate income rates on any taxable income it
earns. Moreover, the Code contains rules, including rules requiring the imposition of taxes on a
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REIT at the rate of 100% on certain reallocated income and expenses, to ensure that contractual
arrangements between a taxable REIT subsidiary and its parent REIT are at arms-length.
In the case of a REIT which is a partner in a partnership, Treasury Regulations provide that
the REIT will be deemed to own its proportionate share of each of the assets of the partnership and
will be deemed to be entitled to the income of the partnership attributable to such share for
purposes of satisfying the gross income and assets tests (as discussed below). In addition, the
character of the assets and items of gross income of the partnership will retain the same character
in the hands of the REIT. Thus, our proportionate share (based on equity capital) of the assets,
liabilities, and items of gross income of the partnerships in which we own an interest are treated
as our assets, liabilities and items of gross income for purposes of applying the requirements
described herein. The treatment described above also applies with respect to the ownership of
interests in limited liability companies or other entities that are treated as partnerships for tax
purposes.
A significant number of our investments are held through partnerships. If any such
partnerships were treated as an association, the entity would be taxable as a corporation and
therefore would be subject to an entity level tax on its income. In such a situation, the character
of our assets and items of gross income would change and might preclude us from qualifying as a
REIT. We believe that each partnership in which we hold a material interest (either directly or
indirectly) is properly treated as a partnership for tax purposes (and not as an association
taxable as a corporation).
Special rules apply to a REIT, a portion of a REIT, or a qualified REIT subsidiary that is a
taxable mortgage pool. An entity or portion thereof may be classified as a taxable mortgage pool
under the Code if:
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substantially all of the assets consist of debt obligations or interests in debt
obligations; |
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more than 50% of those debt obligations are real estate mortgage loans or interests
in real estate mortgage loans as of specified testing dates; |
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the entity has issued debt obligations that have two or more maturities; and |
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the payments required to be made by the entity on its debt obligations bear a
relationship to the payments to be received by the entity on the debt obligations that
it holds as assets. |
Under Treasury Regulations, if less than 80% of the assets of an entity (or the portion
thereof) consist of debt obligations, these debt obligations are considered not to comprise
substantially all of its assets, and therefore the entity would not be treated as a taxable
mortgage pool.
An entity or portion thereof that is classified as a taxable mortgage pool is generally
treated as a taxable corporation for federal income tax purposes. However, the portion of the
REITs assets, held directly or through a qualified REIT subsidiary, that qualifies as a taxable
mortgage pool is treated as a qualified REIT subsidiary that is not subject to corporate income tax
and therefore the taxable mortgage pool classification does not change that treatment. The
classification of a REIT, qualified REIT subsidiary or portion thereof as a taxable mortgage pool
could, however, result in taxation of a REIT and certain of its shareholders as described below.
Recently issued IRS guidance indicates that a portion of income from a taxable mortgage pool
arrangement, if any, could be treated as excess inclusion income. Excess inclusion income is an
amount, with respect to any calendar quarter, equal to the excess, if any, of (i) income allocable
to the holder of a REMIC residual interest or taxable mortgage pool interest over (ii) the sum of
an amount for each day in the calendar quarter equal to the product of (a) the adjusted issue price
at the beginning of the quarter multiplied by (b) 120% of the long-term federal rate (determined on
the basis of compounding at the close of each calendar quarter and properly adjusted for the length
of such quarter). Under the recent guidance, such income would be allocated among our shareholders
in proportion to dividends paid and, generally, may not be offset by net operating losses of the
shareholder, would be taxable to tax exempt shareholders who are subject to the unrelated business
income tax rules of the Code and would subject non-U.S. shareholders to a 30% withholding tax
(without exemption or reduction of the withholding rate). To the extent that excess inclusion
income is allocated from a taxable mortgage pool to any disqualified
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organizations that hold our shares, we may be taxable on this income at the highest applicable
corporate tax rate (currently 35%). Because this tax would be imposed on the REIT, all of the
REITs shareholders, including shareholders that are not disqualified organizations, would bear a
portion of the tax cost associated with the classification of any portion of our assets as a
taxable mortgage pool.
If we own less than 100% of the ownership interests in a subsidiary that is a taxable mortgage
pool, the foregoing rules would not apply. Rather, the subsidiary would be treated as a corporation
for federal income tax purposes and would potentially be subject to corporate income tax. In
addition, this characterization would affect our REIT income and asset test calculations and could
adversely affect our ability to qualify as a REIT.
We have made and in the future intend to make investments or enter into financing and
securitization transactions that may give rise to our being considered to own an interest, directly
or indirectly, in one or more taxable mortgage pools. Prospective holders are urged to consult
their own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of the taxable mortgage pool rules to them in
light of their particular circumstances.
Income Tests. In order to maintain qualification as a REIT, we must satisfy annually certain gross
income requirements. First, at least 75% of our gross income (excluding gross income from
prohibited transactions) for each taxable year must be derived directly or indirectly from
investments relating to real property or mortgages on real property (including rents from real
property; gain from the sale of real property other than property held for sale to customers in
the ordinary course of business; dividends from, and gain from the sale of shares of, other
qualifying REITs; certain interest described further below; and certain income derived from a
REMIC) or from certain types of qualified temporary investments. Second, at least 95% of our gross
income (excluding gross income from prohibited transactions) for each taxable year must be derived
from income that qualifies under the foregoing 75% gross income test, other types of dividends and
interest, gain from the sale or disposition of stock or securities and certain other specified
sources. For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2005, any income from a hedging
transaction that is clearly and timely identified and hedges indebtedness incurred or to be
incurred to acquire or carry real estate assets will not constitute gross income, rather than being
treated as qualifying or nonqualifying income, for purposes of the 95% gross income test and, with
respect to such hedging transactions entered into after July 30, 2008, for purposes of the 75%
gross income test as well. For transactions entered into after July 30, 2008, a hedging
transaction also includes a transaction entered into to manage foreign currency risks with respect
to items of income and gain (or any property which generates such income or gain) that would be
qualifying income under the 75% or 95% gross income tests, but only if such transaction is clearly
identified before the close of the day it was acquired, originated or entered into. In addition,
certain foreign currency gains recognized after July 30, 2008 will be excluded from gross income
for purposes of one or both of the gross income tests.
Rents received by us will qualify as rents from real property in satisfying the gross income
requirements for a REIT described above only if several conditions are met. First, the amount of
rent must not be based in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person. However, an
amount received or accrued generally will not be excluded from the term rents from real property
solely by reason of being based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales. Second,
the Code provides that rents received from a tenant will not qualify as rents from real property
in satisfying the gross income tests if we, or an owner of 10% or more of our shares, actually or
constructively own 10% or more of such tenant. Third, 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 (based on the
ratio of fair market value of personal and real property) will not qualify as rents from real
property. Finally, in order for rents received to qualify as rents from real property, we
generally must not operate or manage the property (subject to a de minimis exception as described
below) or furnish or render services to the tenants of such property, other than through an
independent contractor from whom we derive no revenue or through a taxable REIT subsidiary. We may,
however, directly perform certain services that are usually or customarily rendered in connection
with the rental of space for occupancy only and are not otherwise considered rendered to the
occupant of the property (Permissible Services).
For our taxable years commencing on or after January 1, 1998, rents received generally will
qualify as rents from real property notwithstanding the fact that we provide services that are not
Permissible Services so long as the amount received for such services meets a de minimis standard.
The amount received for impermissible services with respect to a property (or, if services are
available only to certain tenants, possibly with respect to such tenants)
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cannot exceed one percent of all amounts received, directly or indirectly, by us with respect to
such property (or, if services are available only to certain tenants, possibly with respect to such
tenants). The amount that we will be deemed to have received for performing impermissible
services will be the greater of the actual amounts so received or 150% of the direct cost to us of
providing those services.
We believe that substantially all of our rental income will be qualifying income under the
gross income tests, and that our provision of services will not cause the rental income to fail to
be qualifying income under those tests.
Generally, interest on debt secured by a mortgage on real property or interests in real
property qualifies for purposes of satisfying the 75% gross income test described above. However,
if the highest principal amount of a loan outstanding during a taxable year exceeds the fair market
value of the real property securing the loan as of the date the REIT agreed to originate or acquire
the loan, a proportionate amount of the interest income from such loan will not be qualifying
income for purposes of the 75% gross income test, but will be qualifying income for purposes of the
95% gross income test. In addition, any interest amount that is based in whole or in part on the
income or profits of any person does not qualify for purposes of the foregoing 75% and 95% income
tests except (a) amounts that are based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales
and (b) amounts that are based on the income or profits of a debtor, as long as the debtor derives
substantially all of its income from the real property securing the debt from leasing substantially
all of its interest in the property, and only to the extent that the amounts received by the debtor
would be qualifying rents from real property if received directly by the REIT.
If a loan contains a provision that entitles a REIT to a percentage of the borrowers gain
upon the sale of the real property securing the loan or a percentage of the appreciation in the
propertys value as of a specific date, income attributable to that loan provision will be treated
as gain from the sale of the property securing the loan, which is generally qualifying income for
purposes of both gross income tests.
If we fail to satisfy one or both of the 75% or 95% gross income tests for any taxable year,
we may nevertheless qualify as a REIT for such year if such failure was due to reasonable cause and
not willful neglect and we file a schedule describing each item of our gross income for such
taxable year in accordance with Treasury Regulations (and for taxable years beginning on or before
October 22, 2004, any incorrect information on the schedule was not due to fraud with intent to
evade tax). It is not possible, however, to state whether in all circumstances we would be entitled
to the benefit of this relief provision. Even if this relief provision applied, a 100% penalty tax
would be imposed on the amount by which we failed the 75% gross income test or the amount by which
95% (90% for taxable years ending on or prior to December 31, 2004) of our gross income exceeds the
amount of income qualifying under the 95% gross income test (whichever amount is greater),
multiplied by a fraction intended to reflect our profitability.
Subject to certain safe harbor exceptions, any gain (including certain foreign currency gain
recognized after July 30, 2008) realized by us on the sale of any property held as inventory or
other property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business will be
treated as income from a prohibited transaction that is subject to a 100% penalty tax. Such
prohibited transaction income may also have an adverse effect upon our ability to qualify as a
REIT. In June 2007, we announced a restructuring of our investment strategy, focusing on core and
core plus assets. While we believe that the dispositions of our assets pursuant to the
restructuring of our investment strategy should not be treated as prohibited transactions, and
although we intend to conduct our operations so that we will not be treated as holding our
properties for sale, whether a particular sale will be treated as a prohibited transaction depends
on all the facts and circumstances with respect to the particular transaction. We have not sought
and do not intend to seek a ruling from the IRS regarding any dispositions. Accordingly, there can
be no assurance that the IRS will not successfully assert a contrary position with respect to our
dispositions. If all or a significant portion of our dispositions were treated as prohibited
transactions, we would incur a significant U.S. federal tax liability, which could have a material
adverse effect on our results of operations.
We will be subject to tax at the maximum corporate rate on any income from foreclosure
property (including certain foreign currency gains and related deductions recognized after July 30,
2008), other than income that otherwise would be qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross
income test, less expenses directly connected with the production of that income. However, gross
income from foreclosure property will qualify under the 75% and 95% gross income tests.
Foreclosure property is any real property, including interests in real property,
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and any personal property incident to such real property (1) that is acquired by a REIT as the
result of the REIT having bid on such property at foreclosure, or having otherwise reduced such
property to ownership or possession by agreement or process of law, after there was a default or
default was imminent on a lease of such property or on indebtedness that such property secured; (2)
for which the related loan was acquired by the REIT at a time when the default was not imminent or
anticipated; and (3) for which the REIT makes a proper election to treat the property as
foreclosure property. Any gain from the sale of property for which a foreclosure property election
has been made will not be subject to the 100% tax on gains from prohibited transactions described
above, even if the property would otherwise constitute inventory or dealer property.
A REIT will not be considered to have foreclosed on a property where the REIT takes control of
the property as a mortgagee-in-possession and cannot receive any profit or sustain any loss except
as a creditor of the mortgagor. Property generally ceases to be foreclosure property at the end of
the third taxable year following the taxable year in which the REIT acquired the property, unless a
longer extension is granted by the Secretary of the Treasury or the grace period terminates earlier
due to certain nonqualifying income or activities generated with respect to the property.
Asset Tests. At the close of each quarter of our taxable year, we must also satisfy the following
tests relating to the nature of our assets. At least 75% of the value of our total assets,
including our allocable share of assets held by partnerships in which we own an interest, must be
represented by real estate assets, stock or debt instruments held for not more than one year
purchased with the proceeds of an offering of equity securities or a long-term (at least five
years) public debt offering by us, cash, cash items (including certain receivables) and government
securities. For this purpose, real estate assets include interests in real property, such as land,
buildings, leasehold interests in real property, stock of other corporations that qualify as REITs,
and certain kinds of mortgage-backed securities (including regular or residual interests in a REMIC
to the extent provided in the Code) and mortgage loans. In addition, not more than 25% of our
total assets may be represented by securities other than those in the 75% asset class. Not more
than 20% of the value of our total assets (for taxable years beginning after July 30, 2008, 25% of
the value of our total assets) may be represented by securities of one or more taxable REIT
subsidiaries (as defined above under Requirements for Qualification). Except for investments
included in the 75% asset class, securities in a taxable REIT subsidiary or qualified REIT
subsidiary and certain partnership interests and debt obligations, (1) not more than 5% of the
value of our total assets may be represented by securities of any one issuer (the 5% asset test),
(2) we may not hold securities that possess more than 10% of the total voting power of the
outstanding securities of a single issuer (the 10% voting securities test) and (3) we may not
hold securities that have a value of more than 10% of the total value of the outstanding securities
of any one issuer (the 10% value test).
The following assets are not treated as securities held by us for purposes of the 10% value
test (i) straight debt meeting certain requirements, unless we hold (either directly or through
our controlled taxable REIT subsidiaries) certain other securities of the same corporate or
partnership issuer that have an aggregate value greater than 1% of such issuers outstanding
securities; (ii) loans to individuals or estates; (iii) certain rental agreements calling for
deferred rents or increasing rents that are subject to Section 467 of the Code, other than with
certain related persons; (iv) obligations to pay us amounts qualifying as rents from real
property under the 75% and 95% gross income tests; (v) securities issued by a state or any
political subdivision of a state, the District of Columbia, a foreign government, any political
subdivision of a foreign government, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, but only if the
determination of any payment received or accrued under the security does not depend in whole or in
part on the profits of any person not described in this category, or payments on any obligation
issued by such an entity; (vi) securities issued by another qualifying REIT; and (vii) other
arrangements identified in Treasury Regulations (which have not yet been issued or proposed). In
addition, any debt instrument issued by a partnership will not be treated as a security under the
10% value test if at least 75% of the partnerships gross income (excluding gross income from
prohibited transactions) is derived from sources meeting the requirements of the 75% gross income
test. If the partnership fails to meet the 75% gross income test, then the debt instrument issued
by the partnership nevertheless will not be treated as a security to the extent of our interest
as a partner in the partnership. Also, in looking through any partnership to determine our
allocable share of any securities owned by the partnership, our share of the assets of the
partnership, solely for purposes of applying the 10% value test in taxable years beginning on or
after January 1, 2005, will correspond not only to our interest as a partner in the partnership but
also to our proportionate interest in certain debt securities issued by the partnership.
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Through our investment in Concord Debt Holdings LLC, we may hold mezzanine loans that are
secured by equity interests in a non-corporate entity that directly or indirectly owns real
property. IRS Revenue Procedure 2003-65 provides a safe harbor pursuant to which a mezzanine loan
to such a non-corporate entity, if it meets each of the requirements contained in the Revenue
Procedure, will be treated by the IRS as a real estate asset for purposes of the REIT asset tests,
and interest derived from it will be treated as qualifying mortgage interest for purposes of the
75% gross income test. Although the Revenue Procedure provides a safe harbor on which taxpayers may
rely, it does not prescribe rules of substantive tax law. Moreover, not all of the mezzanine loans
that we hold meet all of the requirements for reliance on this safe harbor. We have invested, and
intend to continue to invest, in mezzanine loans in a manner that will enable us to continue to
satisfy the gross income and asset tests.
We may also hold through our investment in Concord Debt Holdings LLC certain participation
interests, or B-Notes, in mortgage loans and mezzanine loans originated by other lenders. A
B-Note is an interest created in an underlying loan by virtue of a participation or similar
agreement, to which the originator of the loan is a party, along with one or more participants. The
borrower on the underlying loan is typically not a party to the participation agreement. The
performance of a participants investment depends upon the performance of the underlying loan, and
if the underlying borrower defaults, the participant typically has no recourse against the
originator of the loan. The originator often retains a senior position in the underlying loan, and
grants junior participations, which will be a first loss position in the event of a default by the
borrower. The appropriate treatment of participation interests for federal income tax purposes is
not entirely certain. We believe that we have invested, and intend to continue to invest, in
participation interests that qualify as real estate assets for purposes of the asset tests, and
that generate interest that will be treated as qualifying mortgage interest for purposes of the 75%
gross income test, but no assurance can be given that the IRS will not challenge our treatment of
these participation interests.
We believe that substantially all of our assets consist of (1) real properties, (2) stock or
debt investments that earn qualified temporary investment income, (3) other qualified real estate
assets, including qualifying REITs, and (4) cash, cash items and government securities. We also
believe that the value of our securities in our taxable REIT subsidiaries will not exceed 20% of
the value of our total assets (or, beginning with our 2009 taxable year, 25% of the value of our
total assets). We may also invest in securities of other entities, provided that such investments
will not prevent us from satisfying the asset and income tests for REIT qualification set forth
above. If any interest we hold in any REIT (including Concord Debt Funding Trust) or other
category of permissible investment described above does not qualify as such, we would be subject to
the 5% asset test and the 10% voting securities and value tests with respect to such investment.
After initially meeting the asset tests at the close of any quarter, we will not lose our
status as a REIT for failure to satisfy the asset tests at the end of a later quarter solely by
reason of changes in asset values (including, for taxable years beginning after July 30, 2008,
discrepancies caused solely by a change in the foreign currency exchange rate used to value a
foreign asset). If we inadvertently fail one or more of the asset tests at the end of a calendar
quarter because we acquire securities or other property during the quarter, we can cure this
failure by disposing of sufficient nonqualifying assets within 30 days after the close of the
calendar quarter in which it arose. If we were to fail any of the asset tests at the end of any
quarter without curing such failure within 30 days after the end of such quarter, we would fail to
qualify as a REIT, unless we were to qualify under certain relief provisions enacted in 2004. Under
one of these relief provisions, if we were to fail the 5% asset test, the 10% voting securities
test, or the 10% value test, we nevertheless would continue to qualify as a REIT if the failure was
due to the ownership of assets having a total value not exceeding the lesser of 1% of our assets at
the end of the relevant quarter or $10,000,000, and we were to dispose of such assets (or otherwise
meet such asset tests) within six months after the end of the quarter in which the failure was
identified. If we were to fail to meet any of the REIT asset tests for a particular quarter, but we
did not qualify for the relief for de minimis failures that is described in the preceding sentence,
then we would be deemed to have satisfied the relevant asset test if: (i) following our
identification of the failure, we were to file a schedule with a description of each asset that
caused the failure; (ii) the failure was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect;
(iii) we were to dispose of the non-qualifying asset (or otherwise meet the relevant asset test)
within six months after the last day of the quarter in which the failure was identified, and (iv)
we were to pay a penalty tax equal to the greater of $50,000, or the highest corporate tax rate
multiplied by the net income generated by the non-qualifying asset during the period beginning on
the first date of the failure and ending on the date we dispose of the asset (or otherwise cure the
asset test failure). These relief provisions will be available to us in our taxable years beginning
on or after January 1, 2005, although it is not possible to predict whether in all circumstances we
would be entitled to the benefit of these relief provisions.
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Annual Distribution Requirement. With respect to each taxable year, we must distribute to our
shareholders as dividends (other than capital gain dividends) at least 90% of our taxable income.
Specifically, we must distribute an amount equal to (1) 90% of the sum of our REIT taxable income
(determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and by excluding any net capital
gain), and any after-tax net income from foreclosure property, minus (2) the sum of certain items
of excess noncash income such as income attributable to leveled stepped rents, cancellation of
indebtedness and original issue discount. REIT taxable income is generally computed in the same
manner as taxable income of ordinary corporations, with several adjustments, such as a deduction
allowed for dividends paid, but not for dividends received.
We will be subject to tax on amounts not distributed at regular United States federal
corporate income tax rates. In addition, a nondeductible 4% excise tax is imposed on the excess of
(1) 85% of our ordinary income for the year plus 95% of capital gain net income for the year and
the undistributed portion of the required distribution for the prior year over (2) the actual
distribution to shareholders during the year (if any). Net operating losses generated by us may be
carried forward but not carried back and used by us for 15 years (or 20 years in the case of net
operating losses generated in our tax years commencing on or after January 1, 1998) to reduce REIT
taxable income and the amount that we will be required to distribute in order to remain qualified
as a REIT. As a REIT, our net capital losses may be carried forward for five years (but not carried
back) and used to reduce capital gains.
In general, a distribution must be made during the taxable year to which it relates to satisfy
the distribution test and to be deducted in computing REIT taxable income. However, we may elect to
treat a dividend declared and paid after the end of the year (a subsequent declared dividend) as
paid during such year for purposes of complying with the distribution test and computing REIT
taxable income, if the dividend is (1) declared before the regular or extended due date of our tax
return for such year and (2) paid not later than the date of the first regular dividend payment
made after the declaration, but in no case later than 12 months after the end of the year. For
purposes of computing the nondeductible 4% excise tax, a subsequent declared dividend is considered
paid when actually distributed. Furthermore, any dividend that is declared by us in October,
November or December of a calendar year, and payable to shareholders of record as of a specified
date in such quarter of such year will be deemed to have been paid by us (and received by
shareholders) on December 31 of such calendar year, but only if such dividend is actually paid by
us in January of the following calendar year.
For purposes of complying with the distribution test for a taxable year as a result of an
adjustment in certain of our items of income, gain or deduction by the IRS or us, we may be
permitted to remedy such failure by paying a deficiency dividend in a later year together with
interest. Such deficiency dividend may be included in our deduction of dividends paid for the
earlier year for purposes of satisfying the distribution test. For purposes of the nondeductible 4%
excise tax, the deficiency dividend is taken into account when paid, and any income giving rise to
the deficiency adjustment is treated as arising when the deficiency dividend is paid.
We believe that we have distributed and intend to continue to distribute to our shareholders
in a timely manner such amounts sufficient to satisfy the annual distribution requirements.
However, it is possible that timing differences between the accrual of income and its actual
collection, and the need to make nondeductible expenditures (such as capital improvements or
principal payments on debt) may cause us to recognize taxable income in excess of our net cash
receipts, thus increasing the difficulty of compliance with the distribution requirement. In
addition, excess inclusion income might be non-cash accrued income, or phantom taxable income,
which could therefore adversely affect our ability to satisfy our distribution requirements. In
order to meet the distribution requirement, we might find it necessary to arrange for short-term,
or possibly long-term, borrowings.
Failure to Qualify. Commencing with our taxable year beginning January 1, 2005, if we were to fail
to satisfy one or more requirements for REIT qualification, other than an asset or income test
violation of a type for which relief is otherwise available as described above, we would retain our
REIT qualification if the failure was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, and if we
were to pay a penalty of $50,000 for each such failure. It is not possible to predict whether in
all circumstances we would be entitled to the benefit of this relief provision. If we fail to
qualify as a REIT for any taxable year, and if certain relief provisions of the Code do not apply,
we would be subject to federal income tax (including applicable alternative minimum tax) on our
taxable income at regular corporate rates. Distributions to shareholders in any year in which we
fail to qualify will not be deductible from our taxable income nor will they be required to be
made. As a result, our failure to qualify as a REIT would reduce the cash available for
distribution by us to our shareholders. In addition, if we fail to qualify as a REIT, all
distributions to shareholders
45
will be taxable as ordinary income, to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and
profits. Subject to certain limitations of the Code, corporate distributees may be eligible for the
dividends-received deduction and shareholders taxed as individuals may be eligible for a reduced
tax rate on qualified dividend income from regular C corporations.
If our failure to qualify as a REIT is not due to reasonable cause but results from willful
neglect, we would not be permitted to elect REIT status for the four taxable years after the
taxable year for which such disqualification is effective. In the event we were to fail to qualify
as a REIT in one year and subsequently requalify in a later year, we may elect to recognize taxable
income based on the net appreciation in value of our assets as a condition to requalification. In
the alternative, we may be taxed on the net appreciation in value of our assets if we sell
properties within ten years of the date we requalify as a REIT under federal income tax laws.
Taxation of Shareholders
As used herein, the term U.S. shareholder means a beneficial owner of our common shares who
(for United States federal income tax purposes) (1) is a citizen or resident of the United States,
(2) is a corporation or other entity treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes
created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any political subdivision
thereof, (3) is an estate the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation
regardless of its source or (4) is a trust whose administration is subject to the primary
supervision of a United States court and which has one or more United States persons who have the
authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or a trust that has a valid election to
be treated as a U.S. person pursuant to applicable Treasury Regulations. As used herein, the term
non U.S. shareholder means a beneficial owner of our common shares who is not a U.S. shareholder
or a partnership.
If a partnership (including any entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax
purposes) is a shareholder, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership generally will depend
upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. A shareholder that is a
partnership and the partners in such partnership should consult their own tax advisors concerning
the U.S. federal income tax consequences of acquiring, owning and disposing of our common shares.
Taxation of Taxable U.S. Shareholders.
As long as we qualify as a REIT, distributions made to our 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 income and corporate shareholders will not be eligible for the
dividends-received deduction as to such amounts. For purposes of computing our earnings and
profits, depreciation for depreciable real estate will be computed on a straight-line basis over a
40-year period. For purposes of determining whether distributions on the shares constitute
dividends for tax purposes, our earnings and profits will be allocated first to distributions with
respect to the Series B Preferred Shares, Series C Preferred Shares, Series D Preferred Shares and
all other series of preferred shares that are equal in rank as to distributions and upon
liquidation with the Series B Preferred Shares, Series C Preferred Shares and Series D Preferred
Shares, and second to distributions with respect to our common shares. There can be no assurance
that we will have sufficient earnings and profits to cover distributions on any common shares.
Certain qualified dividend income received by domestic non-corporate shareholders in taxable
years prior to 2010 is subject to tax at the same tax rates as long-term capital gain (generally a
maximum rate of 15% for such taxable years). Dividends paid by a REIT generally do not qualify as
qualified dividend income because a REIT is not generally subject to federal income tax on the
portion of its REIT taxable income distributed to its shareholders. Therefore, our dividends will
continue to be subject to tax at ordinary income rates, subject to two narrow exceptions. Under the
first exception, dividends received from a REIT may be treated as qualified dividend income
eligible for the reduced tax rates to the extent that the REIT itself has received qualified
dividend income from other corporations (such as taxable REIT subsidiaries) in which the REIT has
invested. Under the second exception, dividends paid by a REIT in a taxable year may be treated as
qualified dividend income in an amount equal to the sum of (i) the excess of the REITs REIT
taxable income for the preceding taxable year over the corporate-level federal income tax payable
by the REIT for such preceding taxable year and (ii) the excess of the REITs income that was
subject to the Built-in Gains Tax (as described above) in the preceding taxable year over the tax
payable by the REIT on such income for such preceding taxable year. We do not expect to distribute
a material amount of qualified dividend income, if any.
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Distributions that are properly designated as capital gain dividends will be taxed as gains
from the sale or exchange of a capital asset held for more than one year (to the extent they do not
exceed our actual net capital gain for the taxable year) without regard to the period for which the
shareholder has held its shares. However, corporate shareholders may be required to treat up to 20%
of certain capital gain dividends as ordinary income under the Code. Capital gain dividends, if
any, will be allocated among different classes of shares in proportion to the allocation of
earnings and profits discussed above.
Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits will constitute a
non-taxable return of capital to a shareholder to the extent that such distributions do not exceed
the adjusted basis of the shareholders shares, and will result in a corresponding reduction in the
shareholders basis in the shares. Any reduction in a shareholders tax basis for its shares will
increase the amount of taxable gain or decrease the deductible loss that will be realized upon the
eventual disposition of the shares. We will notify shareholders at the end of each year as to the
portions of the distributions which constitute ordinary income, capital gain or a return of
capital. Any portion of such distributions that exceeds the adjusted basis of a U.S. shareholders
shares will be taxed as capital gain from the disposition of shares, provided that the shares are
held as capital assets in the hands of the U.S. shareholder.
Aside from the different income tax rates applicable to ordinary income and capital gain
dividends for noncorporate taxpayers, regular and capital gain dividends from us will be treated as
dividend income for most other federal income tax purposes. In particular, such dividends will be
treated as portfolio income for purposes of the passive activity loss limitation and shareholders
generally will not be able to offset any passive losses against such dividends. Capital gain
dividends and qualified dividend income may be treated as investment income for purposes of the
investment interest limitation contained in Section 163(d) of the Code, which limits the
deductibility of interest expense incurred by noncorporate taxpayers with respect to indebtedness
attributable to certain investment assets.
In general, dividends paid by us will be taxable to shareholders in the year in which they are
received, except in the case of dividends declared at the end of the year, but paid in the
following January, as discussed above.
In general, a U.S. shareholder will realize capital gain or loss on the disposition of shares
equal to the difference between (1) the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property
received on such disposition and (2) the shareholders adjusted basis of such shares. Such gain or
loss will generally be short-term capital gain or loss if the shareholder has not held such shares
for more than one year and will be long-term capital gain or loss if such shares have been held for
more than one year. Loss upon the sale or exchange of shares by a shareholder who has held such
shares for six months or less (after applying certain holding period rules) will be treated as
long-term capital loss to the extent of distributions from us required to be treated by such
shareholder as long-term capital gain.
We may elect to retain and pay income tax on net long-term capital gains. If we make such an
election, you, as a holder of shares, will (1) include in your income as long-term capital gains
your proportionate share of such undistributed capital gains (2) be deemed to have paid your
proportionate share of the tax paid by us on such undistributed capital gains and thereby receive a
credit or refund for such amount and (3) in the case of a U.S. shareholder that is a corporation,
appropriately adjust its earnings and profits for the retained capital gains in accordance with
Treasury Regulations to be promulgated by the IRS. As a holder of shares you will increase the
basis in your shares by the difference between the amount of capital gain included in your income
and the amount of tax you are deemed to have paid. Our earnings and profits will be adjusted
appropriately.
Taxation of Non-U.S. Shareholders.
The following discussion is only a summary of the rules governing United States federal income
taxation of non-U.S. shareholders such as nonresident alien individuals and foreign corporations.
Prospective non-U.S. shareholders should consult with their own tax advisors to determine the
impact of federal, state and local income tax laws with regard to an investment in shares,
including any reporting requirements.
Distributions. Distributions that are not attributable to gain from sales or exchanges by us of
United States real property interests or otherwise effectively connected with the non-U.S.
shareholders conduct of a U.S. trade or business and that are not designated by us as capital gain
dividends will be treated as dividends of ordinary income
47
to the extent that they are made out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits. Such
distributions ordinarily will be subject to a withholding tax equal to 30% of the gross amount of
the distribution unless an applicable tax treaty reduces or eliminates that tax. Certain tax
treaties limit the extent to which dividends paid by a REIT can qualify for a reduction of the
withholding tax on dividends. Our dividends that are attributable to excess inclusion income will
be subject to 30% U.S. withholding tax without reduction under any otherwise applicable tax treaty.
See Taxation of the CompanyRequirements for Qualification above. Distributions in excess of our
current and accumulated earnings and profits will not be taxable to a non-U.S. shareholder to the
extent that they do not exceed the adjusted basis of the shareholders shares, but rather will
reduce the adjusted basis of such shares. To the extent that such distributions exceed the adjusted
basis of a non-U.S. shareholders shares, they will give rise to tax liability if the non-U.S.
shareholder would otherwise be subject to tax on any gain from the sale or disposition of his
shares, as described below. If a distribution is treated as effectively connected with the
non-U.S. shareholders conduct of a U.S. trade or business, the non-U.S. shareholder generally will
be subject to federal income tax on the distribution at graduated rates, in the same manner as U.S.
shareholders are taxed with respect to such distribution, and a non-U.S. shareholder that is a
corporation also may be subject to the 30% branch profits tax with respect to the distribution.
For withholding tax purposes, we are generally required to treat all distributions as if made
out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits and thus intend to withhold at the rate of
30% (or a reduced treaty rate if applicable) on the amount of any distribution (other than
distributions designated as capital gain dividends) made to a non-U.S. shareholder. We would not be
required to withhold at the 30% rate on distributions we reasonably estimate to be in excess of our
current and accumulated earnings and profits. If it cannot be determined at the time a distribution
is made whether such distribution will be in excess of current and accumulated earnings and
profits, the distribution will be subject to withholding at the rate applicable to ordinary
dividends. However, the non-U.S. shareholder may seek a refund of such amounts from the IRS if it
is subsequently determined that such distribution was, in fact, in excess of our current or
accumulated earnings and profits, and the amount withheld exceeded the non-U.S. shareholders
United States tax liability, if any, with respect to the distribution.
For any year in which we qualify as a REIT, distributions to non-U.S. shareholders who own
more than 5% of our shares and that are attributable to gain from sales or exchanges by us of
United States real property interests will be taxed under the provisions of the Foreign Investment
in Real Property Tax Act of 1980 (FIRPTA). Under FIRPTA, a non-U.S. shareholder is taxed as if
such gain were effectively connected with a United States business. Non-U.S. shareholders who own
more than 5% of our shares would thus be taxed at the normal capital gain rates applicable to U.S.
shareholders (subject to applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax
in the case of non-resident alien individuals). Also, distributions made to non-U.S. shareholders
who own more than 5% of our shares may be subject to a 30% branch profits tax in the hands of a
corporate non-U.S. shareholder not entitled to treaty relief or exemption. We are required by
applicable regulations to withhold 35% of any distribution that could be designated by us as a
capital gain dividend regardless of the amount actually designated as a capital gain dividend. This
amount is creditable against the non-U.S. shareholders FIRPTA tax liability.
Under the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 (TIPRA), enacted on May 17,
2006, distributions, made to REIT or regulated investment company (RIC) shareholders, that are
attributable to gain from sales or exchanges of United States real property interests will retain
their character as gain subject to the rules of FIRPTA discussed above when distributed by such
REIT or RIC shareholders to their respective shareholders. This provision is effective for taxable
years beginning after December 31, 2005.
If a non-U.S. shareholder does not own more than 5% of our shares during the one-year period
prior to a distribution attributable to gain from sales or exchanges by us of United States real
property interests, such distribution will not be considered to be gain effectively connected with
a U.S. business as long as the class of shares continues to be regularly traded on an established
securities market in the United States. As such, a non-U.S. shareholder who does not own more than
5% of our shares would not be required to file a U.S. Federal income tax return by reason of
receiving such a distribution. In this case, the distribution will be treated as a REIT dividend to
that non-U.S. shareholder and taxed as a REIT dividend that is not a capital gain distribution as
described above. In addition, the branch profits tax will not apply to such distributions. If our
common shares cease to be regularly traded on an established securities market in the United
States, all non-U.S. shareholders of our common shares would be subject to taxation under FIRPTA
with respect to capital gain distributions attributable to gain from the sale or exchange of United
States real property interests.
48
Dispositions. Gain recognized by a non-U.S. shareholder upon a sale or disposition of our common
shares generally will not be taxed under FIRPTA if we are a domestically controlled REIT, defined
generally as a REIT in which at all times during a specified testing period less than 50% in value
of our shares was held directly or indirectly by non-U.S. persons. We believe, but cannot
guarantee, that we have been a domestically controlled REIT. However, because our shares are
publicly traded, no assurance can be given that we will continue to be a domestically controlled
REIT.
Notwithstanding the general FIRPTA exception for sales of domestically controlled REIT stock
discussed above, a disposition of domestically controlled REIT stock will be taxable if the
disposition occurs in a wash sale transaction relating to a distribution on such stock. In
addition, FIRPTA taxation will apply to substitute dividend payments received in securities lending
transactions or sale-repurchase transactions of domestically controlled REIT stock to the extent
such payments are made to shareholders in lieu of distributions that would have otherwise been
subject to FIRPTA taxation. The foregoing rules regarding wash sales and substitute dividend
payments with respect to domestically controlled REIT stock will not apply to stock that is
regularly traded on an established securities market within the United States and held by a
non-U.S. shareholder that held five percent or less of such stock during the one-year period prior
to the related distribution. These rules are effective for distributions on and after June 16,
2006. Prospective purchasers are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the
applicability of the new rules enacted under TIPRA to their particular circumstances.
In addition, a non-U.S. shareholder that owns, actually or constructively, 5% or less of a
class of our shares through a specified testing period, whether or not our shares are domestically
controlled, will not be subject to tax on the sale of its shares under FIRPTA if the shares are
regularly traded on an established securities market. If the gain on the sale of shares were to be
subject to taxation under FIRPTA, the non-U.S. shareholder would be subject to the same treatment
as U.S. shareholders with respect to such gain (subject to applicable alternative minimum tax,
special alternative minimum tax in the case of nonresident alien individuals and possible
application of the 30% branch profits tax in the case of foreign corporations) and the purchaser
would be required to withhold and remit to the IRS 10% of the purchase price.
Gain not subject to FIRPTA will be taxable to a non-U.S. shareholder if (1) investment in the
shares is effectively connected with the non-U.S. shareholders U.S. trade or business, in which
case the non-U.S. shareholder will be subject to the same treatment as U.S. shareholders with
respect to such gain, or (2) the non-U.S. shareholder is a nonresident alien individual who was
present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and such nonresident
alien individual has a tax home in the United States, in which case the nonresident alien
individual will be subject to a 30% tax on the individuals capital gain.
Taxation of Tax-Exempt Shareholders.
Tax-exempt entities, including qualified employee pension and profit sharing trusts and
individual retirement accounts (Exempt Organizations), generally are exempt from federal income
taxation. However, they are subject to taxation on their unrelated business taxable income
(UBTI). While investments in real estate may generate UBTI, the IRS has issued a published ruling
to the effect that dividend distributions by a REIT to an exempt employee pension trust do not
constitute UBTI, provided that the shares of the REIT are not otherwise used in an unrelated trade
or business of the exempt employee pension trust. Based on that ruling, amounts distributed by us
to Exempt Organizations generally should not constitute UBTI. However, if an Exempt Organization
finances its acquisition of our shares with debt, a portion of its income from us, if any, will
constitute UBTI pursuant to the debt-financed property rules under the Code. In addition, our
dividends that are attributable to excess inclusion income will constitute UBTI for most Exempt
Organizations. See Taxation of the CompanyRequirements for Qualification above. Furthermore,
social clubs, voluntary employee benefit associations, supplemental unemployment benefit trusts,
and qualified group legal services plans that are exempt from taxation under specified provisions
of the Code are subject to different UBTI rules, which generally will require them to characterize
distributions from us as UBTI.
In addition, a pension trust that owns more than 10% of our shares is required to treat a
percentage of the dividends from us as UBTI (the UBTI Percentage) in certain circumstances. The
UBTI Percentage is our gross income derived from an unrelated trade or business (determined as if
we were a pension trust) divided by our total gross income for the year in which the dividends are
paid. The UBTI rule applies only if (i) the UBTI Percentage is
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at least 5%, (ii) we qualify as a REIT by reason of the modification of the 5/50 Rule that allows
the beneficiaries of the pension trust to be treated as holding our shares in proportion to their
actuarial interests in the pension trust, and (iii) either (A) one pension trust owns more than 25%
of the value of our shares or (B) a group of pension trusts individually holding more than 10% of
the value of our capital shares collectively owns more than 50% of the value of our capital shares.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
U.S. Shareholders.
We will report to U.S. shareholders and the IRS the amount of dividends paid during each
calendar year, and the amount of tax withheld, if any, with respect thereto. Under the backup
withholding rules, a U.S. shareholder may be subject to backup withholding, currently at a rate of
28%, with respect to dividends paid unless such holder (a) is a corporation or comes within certain
other exempt categories and, when required, demonstrates this fact, or (b) provides a taxpayer
identification number, certifies as to no loss of exemption from backup withholding and otherwise
complies with the applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. A U.S. shareholder who
does not provide us with its correct taxpayer identification number also may be subject to
penalties imposed by the IRS. Amounts withheld as backup withholding will be creditable against the
shareholders income tax liability if proper documentation is supplied. In addition, we may be
required to withhold a portion of capital gain distributions made to any shareholders who fail to
certify their non-foreign status to us.
Non-U.S. Shareholders.
Generally, we must report annually to the IRS the amount of dividends paid to a non-U.S.
shareholder, such holders name and address, and the amount of tax withheld, if any. A similar
report is sent to the non-U.S. shareholder. Pursuant to tax treaties or other agreements, the IRS
may make its reports available to tax authorities in the non-U.S. shareholders country of
residence. Payments of dividends or of proceeds from the disposition of stock made to a non-U.S.
shareholder may be subject to information reporting and backup withholding unless such holder
establishes an exemption, for example, by properly certifying its non-United States status on an
IRS Form W-8BEN or another appropriate version of IRS Form W-8. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
backup withholding and information reporting may apply if either we have or our paying agent has
actual knowledge, or reason to know, that a non-U.S. shareholder is a United States person.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, the United States income tax liability of
persons subject to backup withholding will be reduced by the amount of tax withheld. If withholding
results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund or credit may be obtained, provided that the required
information is furnished to the IRS.
50
SELLING SHAREHOLDER
The selling shareholder is Vornado LXP LLC (and/or its permitted transferees), which currently owns
our common shares. The number of shares on the following table represents the number of common
shares held by the selling shareholder as of November 20, 2008, the maximum number of common shares
that the selling shareholder may offer pursuant to this prospectus and the aggregate number of our
common shares and the percentage of our outstanding common shares that the selling shareholder
would hold following the completion of this offering, assuming the sale by the selling shareholder
of all of the offered common shares. There can be no assurance that the selling shareholder will
sell any or all of the offered common shares. Selling shareholder may include the permitted
pledges, donees, transferees or other permitted successors in interest, if any, of the selling
shareholder after the date of this prospectus. As of the date of this prospectus, the selling
shareholder has pledged all of the offered common shares in connection with a loan made to the
selling shareholder that provides, among other things, that the lenders sole recourse under the
loan is to the offered shares.
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Aggregate |
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Shares |
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Beneficially |
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Total Shares |
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Maximum |
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Owned |
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Percentage |
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Beneficially |
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Shares Offered |
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Following |
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of Outstanding |
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Held Prior to |
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Pursuant to this |
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Common Shares |
Selling Shareholder |
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Offering (1) |
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Prospectus |
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Offering (2) |
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(2) |
Vornado LXP LLC (3) |
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8,000,000 |
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8,000,000 |
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Based on information available to us as of November 20, 2008. |
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Assumes that all common shares are sold in this offering pursuant to this prospectus and that
no other transactions with respect to our common shares occur. Percentages in the last column
are based upon 93.937.179 common shares outstanding as of November 20, 2008. |
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(3) |
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The address of Vornado LXP LLC is 888 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019. Vornado LXP LLC is
a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vornado Realty L.P., the managing general partner of which is
Vornado Realty Trust. Vornado Realty Trust and Vornado Realty L.P. beneficially own,
including through Vornado LXP LLC, 16,149,592 common shares. As of the date of this
prospectus, Mr. Clifford Broser, Senior Vice President of Vornado Realty Trust, is a member of
our Board of Trustees. |
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
This prospectus relates to (i) the initial issuance by us of securities described in this
prospectus and (ii) the resale of our common shares by the selling shareholder named in this
prospectus. As used in this section of the prospectus, the term selling shareholder includes the
selling shareholder named in the table under Selling Shareholder and any of its permitted
pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors-in-interest who receive our common shares offered
hereby from the selling shareholder as a gift, pledge, equity distribution, transfer to an
affiliate or other non-sale related transfer and who subsequently sell any of such common shares
after the date of this prospectus.
All costs, expenses and fees in connection with the registration of the common shares offered
by the selling shareholder will be borne by us. Underwriting discounts, brokerage commissions and
similar selling expenses, if any, attributable to the sale of the securities by the selling
shareholder and covered by this prospectus will be borne by the selling shareholder.
The selling shareholder will act independently of us in making decisions as to the timing,
manner and size of each sale.
General
We and/or the selling shareholder (in each case, as applicable depending upon whether we
and/or the selling shareholder is participating in the offering) may sell the securities being
offered by this prospectus in one or more of the following ways from time to time:
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through underwriters or dealers; |
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through agents; |
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in at the market offerings to or through a market maker or into an existing trading
market, or a securities exchange or otherwise; |
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directly to purchasers; or |
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through a combination of any of these methods of sale. |
A distribution of the securities offered by this prospectus may also be effected through the
issuance of derivative securities, including without limitation, warrants, subscriptions,
exchangeable securities, forward delivery contracts and the writing of options. In addition, the
manner in which we and/or the selling shareholder may sell some or all of the securities covered by
this prospectus includes, without limitation, through:
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a block trade in which a broker-dealer will attempt to sell as agent, but may position
or resell a portion of the block, as principal, in order to facilitate the transaction; |
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purchases by a broker-dealer, as principal, and resale by the broker-dealer for its
account; |
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ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which a broker solicits purchasers;
or |
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privately negotiated transactions. |
We and/or the selling shareholder may also enter into hedging transactions. For example, we
and/or the selling shareholder may:
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enter into transactions with a broker-dealer or affiliate thereof in connection with
which such broker-dealer or affiliate will engage in short sales of the common shares
pursuant to this prospectus, in which case such broker-dealer or affiliate may use common
shares received from us and/or the selling shareholder to close out its short positions; |
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sell securities short and redeliver such shares to close out our and/or the selling
shareholders short positions; |
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enter into option or other types of transactions that require us and/or the selling
shareholder to deliver common shares to a broker-dealer or an affiliate thereof, who will
then resell or transfer the common shares under this prospectus; or |
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loan or pledge the common shares to a broker-dealer or an affiliate thereof, who may
sell the loaned shares or, in an event of default in the case of a pledge, sell the pledged
shares pursuant to this prospectus. |
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In addition, we and/or the selling shareholder may enter into derivative or hedging
transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties
in privately negotiated transactions. In connection with such a transaction, the third parties may
sell securities covered by and pursuant to this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement
or pricing supplement, as the case may be. If so, the third party may use securities borrowed from
us, the selling shareholder or others to settle such sales and may use securities received from us
and/or the selling shareholder to close out any related short positions. We may also loan or pledge
securities covered by this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement to third parties, who
may sell the loaned securities or, in an event of default in the case of a pledge, sell the pledged
securities pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement or pricing
supplement, as the case may be.
A prospectus supplement with respect to each series of securities will state the terms of the
offering of the securities, including:
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the terms of the offering; |
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the name or names of any underwriters or agents and the amounts of securities
underwritten or purchased by each of them, if any; |
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the public offering price or purchase price of the securities and the net proceeds to be
received by us and/or the selling shareholder from the sale; |
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any delayed delivery arrangements; |
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the terms of any subscription rights; |
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any initial public offering price; |
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any underwriting discounts or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters or
agents compensation; |
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any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and |
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any securities exchange on which the securities may be listed. |
The offer and sale of the securities described in this prospectus by us and/or the selling
shareholder, the underwriters or the third parties described above may be effected from time to
time in one or more transactions, including privately negotiated transactions, either:
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at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed; |
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at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, including in at the market offerings; |
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at prices related to the prevailing market prices; or |
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at negotiated prices. |
The selling shareholder also may resell all or a portion of its common shares in open market
transactions in reliance upon Rule 144 under the Securities Act, or any other available exemption
from required registration under the Securities Act, provided it meets the criteria and conform to
the requirements of such exemption.
In addition, upon receiving notice from the selling shareholder that a donee, pledgee or
transferee or other successor-in-interest intends to sell more than 500 common shares covered by
this prospectus, we will file a supplement to this prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the
Securities Act to identify the non-sale transferee.
The selling shareholder is not restricted as to the price or prices at which it may sell its
common shares. Sales of such common shares may have an adverse effect on the market price of the
securities, including the market price of the common shares. Moreover, the selling shareholder is
not restricted as to the number of common shares that may be sold at any time, and it is possible
that a significant number of common shares could be sold at the same time, which may have an
adverse effect on the market price of the common shares.
Underwriting Compensation
Any public offering price and any fees, discounts, commissions, concessions or other items
constituting compensation allowed or reallowed or paid to underwriters, dealers, agents or
remarketing firms may be changed from time to time. Underwriters, dealers, agents and remarketing
firms that participate in the distribution of the
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offered securities may be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act. Any discounts or
commissions they receive from us and/or the selling shareholder and any profits they receive on the
resale of the offered securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the
Securities Act. We will identify any underwriters, agents or dealers and describe their fees,
commissions or discounts in the applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case
may be.
Underwriters and Agents
If underwriters are used in a sale, they will acquire the offered securities for their own
account. The underwriters may resell the offered securities in one or more transactions, including
negotiated transactions. We may offer the securities to the public either through an underwriting
syndicate represented by one or more managing underwriters or through one or more underwriter(s).
The underwriters in any particular offering will be identified in the applicable prospectus
supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be.
Unless otherwise specified in connection with any particular offering of securities, the
obligations of the underwriters to purchase the offered securities will be subject to certain
conditions contained in an underwriting agreement that we and/or the selling shareholder will enter
into with the underwriters at the time of the sale to them. The underwriters will be obligated to
purchase all of the securities of the series offered if any of the securities are purchased, unless
otherwise specified in connection with any particular offering of securities. Any initial offering
price and any discounts or concessions allowed, reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from
time to time.
We and/or the selling shareholder may designate agents to sell the offered securities. Unless
otherwise specified in connection with any particular offering of securities, the agents will agree
to use their best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of their appointment. We and/or the
selling shareholder may also sell the offered securities to one or more remarketing firms, acting
as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us and/or the selling shareholder. These
firms will remarket the offered securities upon purchasing them in accordance with a redemption or
repayment pursuant to the terms of the offered securities. A prospectus supplement or pricing
supplement, as the case may be, will identify any remarketing firm and will describe the terms of
its agreement, if any, with us and/or the selling shareholder and its compensation.
In connection with offerings made through underwriters or agents, we and/or the selling
shareholder may enter into agreements with such underwriters or agents pursuant to which we and/or
the selling shareholder receive our outstanding securities in consideration for the securities
being offered to the public for cash. In connection with these arrangements, the underwriters or
agents may also sell securities covered by this prospectus to hedge their positions in these
outstanding securities, including in short sale transactions. If so, the underwriters or agents may
use the securities received from us and/or the selling shareholder under these arrangements to
close out any related open borrowings of securities.
Dealers
We and/or the selling shareholder may sell the offered securities to dealers as principals. We
and/or the selling shareholder may negotiate and pay dealers commissions, discounts or concessions
for their services. The dealer may then resell such securities to the public either at varying
prices to be determined by the dealer or at a fixed offering price agreed to with us and/or the
selling shareholder at the time of resale. Dealers engaged by us and/or the selling shareholder may
allow other dealers to participate in resales.
Direct Sales
We and/or the selling shareholder may choose to sell the offered securities directly to
multiple purchasers or a single purchaser. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be
involved.
Institutional Purchasers
We and/or the selling shareholder may authorize agents, dealers or underwriters to solicit
certain institutional investors to purchase offered securities on a delayed delivery basis pursuant
to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified future date. The
applicable prospectus supplement or
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pricing supplement, as the case may be, will provide the details of any such arrangement, including
the offering price and commissions payable on the solicitations.
We and/or the selling shareholder may enter into such delayed contracts only with
institutional purchasers that we and/or the selling shareholder approve. These institutions may
include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies and
educational and charitable institutions.
Subscription Offerings
Direct sales to investors or our shareholders may be accomplished through subscription
offerings or through shareholder subscription rights distributed to shareholders. In connection
with subscription offerings or the distribution of shareholder subscription rights to shareholders,
if all of the underlying securities are not subscribed for, we may sell any unsubscribed securities
to third parties directly or through underwriters or agents. In addition, whether or not all of the
underlying securities are subscribed for, we may concurrently offer additional securities to third
parties directly or through underwriters or agents. If securities are to be sold through
shareholder subscription rights, the shareholder subscription rights will be distributed as a
dividend to the shareholders for which they will pay no separate consideration. The prospectus
supplement with respect to the offer of securities under shareholder subscription rights will set
forth the relevant terms of the shareholder subscription rights, including:
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whether common shares, preferred shares, or warrants for those securities will be
offered under the shareholder subscription rights; |
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the number of those securities or warrants that will be offered under the shareholder
subscription rights; |
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the period during which and the price at which the shareholder subscription rights will
be exercisable; |
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the number of shareholder subscription rights then outstanding; |
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any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price of the shareholder
subscription rights; and |
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any other material terms of the shareholder subscription rights. |
Indemnification; Other Relationships
We have agreed to indemnify the selling shareholder and we and/or the selling shareholder may
agree to indemnify underwriters, dealers, agents and remarketing firms against civil liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act and to make contribution to them in connection with
those liabilities. Underwriters, dealers, agents and remarketing firms, and their affiliates, may
engage in transactions with, or perform services for us and/or the selling shareholder and their
respective affiliates, in the ordinary course of business, including commercial banking
transactions and services.
Market Making, Stabilization and Other Transactions
Each series of securities will be a new issue of securities and will have no established
trading market other than our common shares and preferred shares which are listed on the NYSE. Any
common shares sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement will be listed on the NYSE, subject to
official notice of issuance. Any underwriters to whom we and/or the selling shareholder sell
securities for public offering and sale may make a market in the securities, but such underwriters
will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice.
The securities, other than the common shares, may or may not be listed on a national securities
exchange, and any such listing if pursued will be described in the applicable prospectus
supplement.
To facilitate the offering of the securities, certain persons participating in the offering
may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain, or otherwise affect the price of the
securities. This may include over-allotments or short sales of the securities, which involves the
sale by persons participating in the offering of more securities than we and/or the selling
shareholder sold to them. In these circumstances, these persons would cover the over-allotments or
short positions by making purchases in the open market or by exercising their over-allotment
option. In addition, these persons may stabilize or maintain the price of the securities by bidding
for or purchasing securities in the open market or by imposing penalty bids, whereby selling
concessions allowed to dealers participating in the offering may be reclaimed if securities sold by
them are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions.
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The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities
at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. These transactions may be
discontinued at any time.
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LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters will be passed upon for us by Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP, New
York, New York. Certain legal matters under Maryland law, including the legality of the securities
covered by this prospectus, will be passed on for us by Venable LLP.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements and related financial statement schedule of Lexington
Realty Trust and subsidiaries included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2007
and 2006, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2007, and
Managements Annual Report on Internal Controls over Financial Reporting as of December 31, 2007,
have been incorporated by reference herein and in the Registration Statement in reliance upon the
reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference
herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the
SEC. Our filings with the SEC are available to the public on the Internet at the SECs website at
http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document that we file with the SEC at its Public
Reference Room, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330
for further information on the Public Reference Room and its copy charges.
The information incorporated by reference herein is an important part of this prospectus. Any
statement contained in a document which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus is
automatically updated and superseded if information contained in a subsequent filing or in this
prospectus, or information that we later file with the SEC prior to the termination of this
offering, modifies or replaces this information. The following documents filed with the SEC are
incorporated by reference into this prospectus, except for any document or portion thereof
furnished to the SEC:
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our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, filed with the SEC
on February 29, 2008; |
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our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2008, filed
with the SEC on May 9, 2008, for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2008, filed with the
SEC on August 8, 2008 and for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2008, filed with the
SEC on November 10, 2008; |
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our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 7, 2008, January 11, 2008 (two separate
filings), February 21, 2008, March 24, 2008 (except for the information furnished pursuant
to Item 7.01), March 28, 2008, April 18, 2008, May 1, 2008, June 25, 2008, June 26, 2008,
June 30, 2008, August 4, 2008 and November 6, 2008; |
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our definitive proxy statement filed April 14, 2008; |
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our Form 8-B filed on August 10, 1994; |
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our Form 8-A filed on December 8, 2004, June 17, 2003 and February 14, 2007; and |
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all documents that we file with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), after the date of
this prospectus and prior to the termination of this offering. |
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To receive a free copy of any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus
(other than exhibits, unless they are specifically incorporated by reference in the documents),
write us at the following address or call us at the telephone number listed below:
Lexington Realty Trust
One Penn Plaza
Suite 4015
Attention: Investor Relations
New York, New York 10119-4015
(212) 692-7200
We also maintain a website at http://www.lxp.com through which you can obtain copies of
documents that we filed with the SEC. The contents of that website are not incorporated by
reference in or otherwise a part of this prospectus.
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Up to 9,000,000 Shares
Common Shares of Beneficial Interest
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
December 12, 2008
Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.
Merrill Lynch & Co.