firt424b3_061507.htm
Filed
pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration
Statement No. 333-142472
PROSPECTUS
SUPPLEMENT NO. 2
(to
prospectus dated April 30, 2007)
3,927,120
Shares
First
Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.
Common
Stock
This
prospectus supplement supplements the prospectus dated April 30, 2007, as
previously supplemented, relating to the potential offer and sale from time
to
time of up to 3,927,120 shares of common stock of First Industrial Realty
Trust,
Inc. (the “Company”).
The
table
below reflects the following transactions:
Name
|
Number
of Shares and Units Owned
|
Number
of Shares
|
Arctos
Partners Inc. (13)
|
697,063
|
697,063*
|
This
prospectus supplement is not complete without, and may not be delivered or
used
except in connection with, the prospectus dated April 30, 2007, including
any
supplements or amendments to such prospectus. The date of this
prospectus supplement is June 15, 2007.
Filed
pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration
Statement No. 333-142472
PROSPECTUS
SUPPLEMENT NO. 1
(to
prospectus dated April 30, 2007)
3,927,120
Shares
First
Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.
Common
Stock
This
prospectus supplement supplements the prospectus dated April 30, 2007 (the
“Prospectus”) relating to the potential offer and sale from time to time of up
to 3,927,120 shares of common stock of First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.
(the
“Company”). A current report filed by the Company on Form 8-K dated
May 18, 2007, modifies the language in the Prospectus in the Section titled
“Selling Stockholders”.
This
prospectus supplement is not complete without, and may not be delivered or
used
except in connection with, the Prospectus dated April 30, 2007, including
any
supplements or amendments to such prospectus. The date of this
prospectus supplement is May 18, 2007.
Filed
pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration
Statement No. 333-142472
FIRST
INDUSTRIAL REALTY TRUST, INC.
3,927,120
Shares
Common
Stock
This
prospectus relates to the offer and sale from time to time of up to 3,927,120
shares (the “Registered Shares”) of common stock, par value $.01 per share (the
“Common Stock”), of First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc. (the “Company”) by
persons who receive such shares in exchange for the 4.625% Exchangeable Senior
Notes due 2011 (the “notes”) issued and sold by First Industrial, L.P. (the
“Operating Partnership”) in a private transaction on September 25, 2006. The
notes are fully guaranteed by us. Under certain circumstances, we may issue
shares of Common Stock upon the exchange or redemption of the notes. In such
circumstances, the recipients of such Common Stock, whom we refer to
collectively herein as the “Selling Stockholders”, may use this prospectus to
resell from time to time the shares of Common Stock that we may issue to them
upon the exchange or redemption of the notes. Additional Selling Stockholders
may be named in a prospectus supplement, in a post-effective amendment, or
in
filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC” or the
“Commission”) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the
“Exchange Act”), which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus. See
“Selling Stockholders.” The registration of the Common Stock to which this
prospectus relates does not necessarily mean that any of the Selling
Stockholders will exchange their notes for Common Stock, that upon any exchange
or redemption of the notes we will elect, in our sole and absolute discretion,
to exchange or redeem some or all of the notes for shares of Common Stock rather
than cash, or that any shares of Common Stock received upon exchange or
redemption of the notes will be sold by the Selling Stockholders.
The
Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the
symbol “FR.” In order to maintain our qualification as a real estate investment
trust (“REIT”), ownership by any person of the Company’s capital stock is
limited, with certain exceptions, to an aggregate of 9.9% in value of the
outstanding capital stock of the Company.
Investing
in the Common Stock involves risks that are described in
the“Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year endedDecember 31, 2006, Current Report on Form 8-K
dated April 30, 2007 and otherreports that we may file from
time to time with the Securities and
ExchangeCommission.
The
Selling Stockholders from time to time may offer and sell Registered Shares
held
by them directly or through agents or broker-dealers on terms to be determined
at the time of sale. To the extent required, the names of any agent or
broker-dealer and applicable commissions or discounts and any other required
information with respect to any particular offer will be set forth in a
prospectus supplement. See “Plan of Distribution.” Each of the Selling
Stockholders reserves the right to accept or reject, in whole or in part, any
proposed purchase of Registered Shares to be made directly or through
agents.
The
Selling Stockholders and any agents or broker-dealers that participate with
the
Selling Stockholders in the distribution of Registered Shares may be deemed
to
be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the “Securities Act”), and any commissions received by them and any profit on
the sale of Registered Shares may be deemed to be underwriting commissions
or
discounts under the Securities Act.
Neither
the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state
securitiescommission has approved or disapproved of these securities or
passed upon theadequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any
representation to the contrary isa criminal offense.
The
date
of this prospectus is April 30, 2007.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
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Page
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ABOUT
THIS PROSPECTUS
|
3 |
THE
COMPANY
|
4 |
USE
OF PROCEEDS
|
4 |
DESCRIPTION
OF COMMON STOCK
|
4 |
CERTAIN
PROVISIONS OF MARYLAND LAW AND THE COMPANY’S ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND
BYLAWS
|
6 |
RESTRICTIONS
ON TRANSFER OF CAPITAL STOCK
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8 |
SELLING
STOCKHOLDERS
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9 |
PLAN
OF DISTRIBUTION
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13 |
CERTAIN
U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
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13 |
FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
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20 |
WHERE
YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
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20 |
DOCUMENTS
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
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21 |
EXPERTS
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21 |
LEGAL
MATTERS
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21 |
________________
The
Company has not authorized any dealer, salesperson or other person to give
you
written information other than this prospectus or any prospectus supplement
or
to make representations as to matters not stated in this prospectus or any
prospectus supplement. You must not rely on unauthorized information. This
prospectus and any prospectus supplement are not an offer to sell these
securities or our solicitation of your offer to buy the securities in any
jurisdiction where that would not be permitted or legal. The delivery of this
prospectus or any prospectus supplement at any time does not create an
implication that the information contained herein or therein is correct as
of
any time subsequent to their respective dates.
ABOUT
THIS PROSPECTUS
This
prospectus is part of a registration statement that the Company has filed with
the SEC, utilizing the “shelf” registration process, relating to the Common
Stock described in this prospectus.
You
should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with
the
additional information described under the headings “Where You Can Find More
Information” and “Documents Incorporated by Reference.”
As
used
in this prospectus, “we,” “us” and “our” refer to the Company and its
subsidiaries, including the Operating Partnership, unless the context otherwise
requires.
THE
COMPANY
The
Company is a real estate investment trust, or REIT, subject to Sections 856
through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The
Company and its consolidated partnerships, corporations and limited liability
companies are a self-administered and fully integrated real estate company
which
owns, manages, acquires, sells and develops industrial real estate. As of
December 31, 2006, we owned 931 industrial properties (inclusive of developments
in progress) located in 28 states in the United States and one province in
Canada, containing an aggregate of approximately 76.9 million square feet of
gross leasable area.
Our
interests in our properties and land parcels are held through partnerships,
corporations and limited liability companies controlled by the Company,
including the Operating Partnership, of which the Company is the sole general
partner. As of December 31, 2006, the Company held approximately 87.3% of the
outstanding limited partnership units of the Operating Partnership. At that
date, approximately 12.7% of the outstanding limited partnership units were
held
by outside investors, including certain members of the management of the
Company. Each limited partnership unit, other than those held by the Company,
may be exchanged for cash or, at the Company’s option, one share of First
Industrial Common Stock, subject to adjustments. Upon each exchange, the number
of limited partnership units held by the Company, and its ownership percentage
of the Operating Partnership, increase. As of December 31, 2006, the Company
also owned preferred general partnership interests in the Operating Partnership
with an aggregate liquidation priority of $325,000,000
We
utilize an operating approach that combines the effectiveness of decentralized,
locally based property, management, acquisition, sales and development functions
with the cost efficiencies of centralized acquisition, sales and development
support, capital markets expertise, asset management and fiscal control
systems.
We
have
grown and will seek to continue to grow through the acquisition and development
of industrial properties.
The
Company, a Maryland corporation organized on August 10, 1993, completed its
initial public offering in June 1994. The Operating Partnership is a Delaware
limited partnership organized in November 1993. Our principal executive offices
are located at 311 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 4000, Chicago, Illinois 60606,
telephone number (312) 344-4300. Our web site is www.firstindustrial.com. The
information on or linked to our web site is not a part of, and is not
incorporated by reference into, this prospectus.
USE
OF PROCEEDS
The
Company will not receive any proceeds from the sale of any Registered Shares
by
the Selling Stockholders. The Company will bear certain expenses of the
registration of the Registered Shares under federal and state securities laws.
To the extent that the Company issues shares, the Partnership issues partnership
units to the Company.
DESCRIPTION
OF COMMON STOCK
The
following is a summary of the material terms of our Common Stock. You should
read our articles of incorporation and bylaws, which are incorporated by
reference to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a
part.
General
Under
our
articles of incorporation, the Company has authority to issue 100 million shares
of its Common Stock, par value $.01 per share. Under Maryland law, stockholders
generally are not responsible for the corporation’s debts or obligations. At
March 20, 2007, we had outstanding 45,378,060 shares of Common
Stock.
Terms
Subject
to the preferential rights of any other shares or series of stock, including
preferred stock outstanding from time to time, and to the provisions of our
articles of incorporation regarding excess stock, common stockholders will
be
entitled to receive dividends on shares of Common Stock if, as and when
authorized and declared by our board of directors out of assets legally
available for that purpose. Subject to the preferential rights of any other
shares or series of stock, including preferred stock outstanding from time
to
time, and to the provisions of our articles of incorporation regarding excess
stock, common stockholders will share ratably in the assets of the Company
legally available for distribution to its stockholders in the event of its
liquidation, dissolution or winding up after payment of, or adequate provision
for, all known debts and liabilities of the Company. For a discussion of excess
stock, please see “Restrictions on Transfer of Capital Stock.”
Subject
to the provisions of our articles of incorporation regarding excess stock,
each
outstanding share of Common Stock entitles the holder to one vote on all matters
submitted to a vote of stockholders, including the election of directors, and,
except as otherwise required by law or except as provided with respect to any
other class or series of stock, common stockholders will possess the exclusive
voting power. There is no cumulative voting in the election of directors, which
means that the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
can elect all of the directors then standing for election, and the holders
of
the remaining shares of Common Stock will not be able to elect any
directors.
Common
stockholders have no conversion, sinking fund or redemption rights, or
preemptive rights to subscribe for any securities of the Company.
Subject
to the provisions of our articles of incorporation regarding excess stock,
all
shares of Common Stock will have equal dividend, distribution, liquidation
and
other rights, and will have no preference, appraisal or exchange
rights.
Under
Maryland General Corporate Law (the “MGCL”), a corporation generally cannot,
subject to certain exceptions, dissolve, amend its articles of incorporation,
merge, sell all or substantially all of its assets, engage in a share exchange
or engage in similar transactions outside the ordinary course of business unless
approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders holding at least two-thirds
of
the shares entitled to vote on the matter unless the corporation’s articles of
incorporation set forth a lesser percentage, which percentage shall not be
less
than a majority of all of the votes to be cast on the matter. Our articles
of
incorporation do not provide for a lesser percentage in such
situations.
Restrictions
on Ownership
For
the
Company to qualify as a REIT under the Code, not more than 50% in value of
its
outstanding capital stock may be owned, actually or by attribution, 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 individuals of our outstanding equity securities. See
“Restrictions on Transfer of Capital Stock.”
Transfer
Agent
The
transfer agent and registrar for the Common Stock is Computershare Trust
Company, N.A.
Shareholder
Rights Plan
On
September 4, 1997, the board of directors of the Company adopted a shareholder
rights plan. Under the shareholder rights plan, one right attached to each
outstanding share of Common Stock at the close of business on October 19, 1997,
and one right will attach to each share of Common Stock thereafter issued.
Each
right entitles the holder to purchase, under certain conditions, one
one-hundredth of a share of our junior participating preferred stock for
$125.00. The rights may also, under certain conditions, entitle the holders
to
receive Common Stock, or Common Stock of an entity acquiring the Company, or
other consideration, each having a value equal to twice the exercise price
of
each right ($250.00). We have designated 1,000,000 shares as junior
participating preferred stock and have reserved such shares for issuance under
the shareholder rights plan. In the event of any merger, consolidation,
combination or other transaction in which shares of Common Stock are exchanged
for or changed into other stock or securities, cash and/or other property,
each
share of junior participating preferred stock will be entitled to receive 100
times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or other property
into
which or for which each share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged, subject
to certain adjustments. The rights will expire on October 19, 2007, unless
redeemed earlier by the holders at $.001 per right or exchanged by the holder
at
an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per right. The description and
terms of the rights are set forth in a shareholder rights agreement between
us
and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (formerly First Chicago Trust Company
of
New York).
CERTAIN
PROVISIONS OF MARYLAND LAW AND THE
COMPANY’S
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS
The
following summary of certain provisions of Maryland law is not complete and
is
qualified by reference to Maryland law and our articles of incorporation and
bylaws, which are incorporated by reference to the registration statement of
which this prospectus is a part.
Business
Combinations
Under
the
MGCL, certain “business combinations” (as defined in the MGCL) between a
Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder are prohibited for five
years
after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder became an
interested stockholder. Under the MGCL, an “interested stockholder” includes a
person who is
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the
beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10 percent or more of
the
voting power of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation;
or
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an
affiliate or associate of the corporation and was the beneficial
owner,
directly or indirectly, of 10 percent or more of the voting power
of the
then outstanding stock of the corporation at any time within the
two-year
period immediately prior to the date in
question.
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Business
combinations for the purposes of the preceding paragraph are defined by the
MGCL
to include certain mergers, consolidations, share exchanges and asset transfers,
some issuances and reclassifications of equity securities, the adoption of
a
plan of liquidation or dissolution or the receipt by an interested stockholder
or its affiliate of any loan advance, guarantee, pledge or other financial
assistance or tax advantage provided by the Company. After the five-year
moratorium period, any such business combination must be recommended by the
board of directors of the corporation and approved by the affirmative vote
of at
least
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80%
of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding shares
of
voting stock of the corporation voting together as a single group
and
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two-thirds
of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of voting stock of the
corporation other than voting stock held by the interested stockholder
with whom (or with whose affiliate) the business combination is to
be
effected or by any affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder
voting together as a single voting
group.
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The
super-majority vote requirements will not apply if, among other things, the
corporation’s stockholders receive a minimum price (as defined in the MGCL) for
their shares and the consideration is received in cash or in the same form
as
previously paid by the interested stockholder for its shares. These provisions
of Maryland law do not apply, however, to business combinations that are
approved or exempted by the board of directors of the corporation prior to
the
most recent time that the interested stockholder becomes an interested
stockholder. Our articles of incorporation exempt from these provisions of
the
MGCL any business combination in which there is no interested stockholder other
than Jay H. Shidler, the Chairman of our board of directors, or any entity
controlled by Mr. Shidler unless Mr. Shidler is an interested stockholder
without taking into account his ownership of shares of Common Stock and the
right to acquire shares of Common Stock in an aggregate amount that does not
exceed the number of shares of Common Stock that he owned and had the right
to
acquire, including through the exchange of limited partnership units of the
Operating Partnership, at the time of the consummation of our initial public
offering.
Control
Share Acquisitions
The
MGCL
provides that “control shares” (as defined in the MGCL) of a Maryland
corporation acquired in a “control share acquisition” (as defined in the MGCL)
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, excluding shares of stock owned
by
the acquiror or by officers or directors who are also employees of the
corporation. “Control shares” are voting shares of stock that, if aggregated
with all other shares of stock previously acquired by that person, would entitle
the acquiror to exercise voting power in electing directors within one of the
following ranges of voting power:
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one-tenth
or more but less than one-third,
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one-third
or more but less than a majority,
or
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a
majority or more of all voting
power.
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Control
shares do not include shares that the acquiring person is then entitled to
vote
as a result of having previously obtained stockholder approval. A “control share
acquisition” means the acquisition of ownership of or power to direct the voting
power of issued and outstanding control shares, subject to certain
exceptions.
A
person
who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition may compel the
board of directors, upon satisfaction of certain conditions, including an
undertaking to pay certain expenses, to call a special meeting of stockholders
to be held within 50 days after receiving a demand to consider the voting rights
of the shares. If no request for a meeting is made, the corporation may itself
present the question at any meeting of stockholders.
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 MGCL, then, subject
to
certain conditions and limitations, the corporation may redeem any or all of
the
control shares, except those for which voting rights have previously been
approved. The corporation’s redemption of the control shares will be for fair
value determined, without regard to the absence of voting rights, as of the
date
of the last control share acquisition or of any meeting of stockholders at
which
the voting rights of the control shares are considered and not approved. If
voting rights for control shares are approved at a stockholders meeting and
the
acquiror becomes entitled to vote a majority of the shares entitled to vote,
all
other stockholders may exercise appraisal rights. The fair value of the shares
as determined for purposes of the appraisal rights may not be less than the
highest price per share paid in the control share acquisition. Certain
limitations and restrictions otherwise applicable to the exercise of dissenters’
rights do not apply in the context of a control share acquisition.
The
control share acquisition statute does not apply to
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shares
acquired in a merger, consolidation or share exchange if the corporation
is a party to the transaction or
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acquisitions
approved or exempted by our articles of incorporation or
bylaws.
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Our
bylaws contain a provision exempting any and all acquisitions of its shares
of
capital stock from the control share provisions of the MGCL. There can be no
assurance that this bylaw provision will not be amended or eliminated in the
future.
Amendment
of Articles of Incorporation
Our
articles of incorporation, including the provisions on classification of the
board of directors discussed below, may be amended only by the affirmative
vote
of the holders of not less than two-thirds of all of the votes entitled to
be
cast on the matter.
Meetings
of Stockholders
Our
bylaws provide for annual meetings of stockholders to be held on the third
Wednesday in April or on any other day as may be established from time to time
by our board of directors. Special meetings of stockholders may be called
by
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our
Chairman of the board or our
President,
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a
majority of the board of directors
or
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stockholders
holding at least a majority of our outstanding capital stock entitled
to
vote at the meeting.
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Our
bylaws provide that any stockholder of record wishing to nominate a director
or
have a stockholder proposal considered at an annual meeting must provide written
notice and certain supporting documentation to the Company relating to the
nomination or proposal not less than 75 days nor more than 180 days prior to
the
anniversary date of the prior year’s annual meeting or special meeting in lieu
thereof (the “Anniversary Date”). In the event that the annual meeting is called
for a date more than seven calendar days before the Anniversary Date,
stockholders generally must provide written notice within 20 calendar days
after
the date on which notice of the meeting is mailed to stockholders or the date
of
the meeting is publicly disclosed.
The
purpose of requiring stockholders to give us advance notice of nominations
and
other business is to afford our board of directors a meaningful opportunity
to
consider the qualifications of the proposed nominees or the advisability of
the
other proposed business and, to the extent deemed necessary or desirable by
our
board of directors, to inform stockholders and make recommendations about the
qualifications or business, as well as to provide a more orderly procedure
for
conducting meetings of stockholders. Although our bylaws do not give our board
of directors any power to disapprove stockholder nominations for the election
of
directors or proposals for action, they may have the effect of precluding a
contest for the election of directors or the consideration of stockholder
proposals if the proper procedures are not followed and of discouraging or
deterring a third party from
conducting
a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or to approve
its
own proposal. Our bylaws may have those effects without regard to whether
consideration of the nominees or proposal might be harmful or beneficial to
us
and our stockholders.
Classification
of the Board of Directors
Our
bylaws provide that the number of directors may be established by the board
of
directors but may not be fewer than the minimum number required by Maryland
law
nor more than twelve. Any vacancy will be filled, at any regular meeting or
at
any special meeting called for that purpose, by a majority of the remaining
directors, except that a vacancy resulting from an increase in the number of
directors will be filled by a majority of the entire board of directors. Under
the terms of our articles of incorporation, the directors are divided into
three
classes holding office for terms expiring at the annual meetings of stockholders
to be held in 2007, 2008 and 2009. As the term of each class expires, directors
in that class will be elected for a term of three years and until their
successors are duly elected and qualified. We believe that classification of
our
board of directors will help to assure the continuity and stability of our
business strategies and policies as determined by our board of
directors.
The
classified board provision could have the effect of making the removal of
incumbent directors more time consuming and difficult, which could discourage
a
third party from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control
of the Company, even though such an attempt might be beneficial to us and our
stockholders. At least two annual meetings of stockholders, instead of one,
will
generally be required to effect a change in a majority of our board of
directors. Thus, the classified board provision could increase the likelihood
that incumbent directors will retain their positions. Holders of shares of
Common Stock will have no right to cumulative voting for the election of
directors. Consequently, at each annual meeting of stockholders, the holders
of
a majority of the shares of Common Stock will be able to elect all of the
successors of the class of directors whose term expires at that
meeting.
RESTRICTIONS
ON TRANSFER OF CAPITAL STOCK
For
the
Company to qualify as a REIT under the Code, among other things, not more than
50% in value of its outstanding capital stock may be owned, actually or by
attribution, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include
certain entities) during the last half of a taxable year. Our capital stock
must
also 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 tax year.
See “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.” To ensure that we remain a
qualified REIT, our articles of incorporation, subject to certain exceptions,
provide that no holder may own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the attribution
provisions of the Code, more than an aggregate of 9.9% in value of our capital
stock. Any transfer of capital stock or any security convertible into capital
stock that would create a direct or indirect ownership of capital stock in
excess of the ownership limit or that would result in our disqualification
as a
REIT, including any transfer that results in the capital stock being owned
by
fewer than 100 persons or results in us being “closely held” within the meaning
of Section 856(h) of the Code, shall be null and void, and the intended
transferee will acquire no rights to the capital stock.
Capital
stock owned, or deemed to be owned, or transferred to a stockholder in excess
of
the ownership limit will automatically be exchanged for shares of “excess
stock,” as defined in our articles of incorporation, 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 capital stock may be ultimately transferred without
violating the ownership limit. While the excess stock is held in trust, it
will
not be entitled to vote, it will not be considered for purposes of any
stockholder vote or the determination of a quorum for such vote, and it will
not
be entitled to participate in the accumulation or payment of dividends or other
distributions. A transferee of excess stock may, at any time such excess stock
is held by us in trust, designate as beneficiary of the transferee stockholder’s
interest in the trust representing the excess stock any individual whose
ownership of the capital stock exchanged into such excess stock would be
permitted under the ownership limit, and may transfer that interest to the
beneficiary at a price not in excess of the price paid by the original
transferee-stockholder for the capital stock that was exchanged into excess
stock. Immediately upon the transfer to the permitted beneficiary, the excess
stock will automatically be exchanged for capital stock of the class from which
it was converted.
In
addition, we will have the right, for a period of 90 days during the time any
excess stock is held by us in trust, and, with respect to excess stock resulting
from the attempted transfer of our preferred stock, at any time when any
outstanding shares of preferred stock of the series are being redeemed, to
purchase all or any portion of the excess stock from the original
transferee-stockholder at the lesser of the price paid for the capital stock
by
the original transferee-stockholder and the market price, as determined in
the
manner set forth in our articles of incorporation, of the capital stock on
the
date we exercise our option to purchase or, in the case of a purchase of excess
stock attributed to preferred stock which has been called for redemption, at
its
stated value, plus all accumulated and unpaid dividends to the date of
redemption. The 90-day period begins on the date of the violative transfer
if
the original transferee-stockholder gives notice to us of the transfer or,
if no
such notice is given, the date the board of directors determines that a
violative transfer has been made.
SELLING
STOCKHOLDERS
The
notes
were originally issued by the Operating Partnership and sold by the initial
purchasers of the notes in transactions exempt from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act to persons reasonably believed by the initial
purchasers to be qualified institutional buyers as defined by Rule 144A under
the Securities Act. Under certain circumstances, we may issue shares of Common
Stock upon the exchange or redemption of the notes. In such circumstances,
the
recipients of shares of Common Stock, including their transferees, pledges
or
donors or their successors, whom we refer to as the Selling Stockholders, may
use this prospectus to resell from time to time the shares of Common Stock
that
we may issue to them upon the exchange or redemption of the notes. Information
about Selling Stockholders is set forth herein and information about additional
Selling Stockholders may be set forth in a prospectus supplement, in a
post-effective amendment, or in filings we make with the SEC under the Exchange
Act which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
The
table
below provides, as of March 13, 2007, the names of each Selling Stockholder
and
the number of shares of Common Stock offered by each Selling Stockholder. As
we
are not obligated to issue Common Stock upon exchange or redemption of the
notes
and the Selling Stockholders may sell all, some or none of their shares of
Common Stock, no estimate can be made of the aggregate number of shares of
Common Stock that are to be offered hereby, or the aggregate number of shares
of
Common Stock that will be owned by each Selling Stockholder upon completion
of
the offering to which this prospectus relates. The number of shares in the
column “Number of shares offered hereby” includes the number of shares of Common
Stock the Selling Stockholder may receive in exchange for the notes, except
as
noted. Amounts shown in the column “Number of shares owned before the offering”
represent the number of securities shown in the column “Number of shares offered
hereby” plus shares of Common Stock owned by the Selling Stockholders that are
not covered by the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a
part.
The
number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exchange or redemption of
the
notes shown in the table below assumes exchange of the full amount of notes
held
by each Selling Stockholder at the maximum exchange rate of 19.6356 shares
of
Common Stock per $1,000 principal amount of notes and a cash payment in lieu
of
any fractional share. This exchange rate is subject to adjustment in certain
events. Accordingly, the number of shares of Common Stock issued upon the
exchange or redemption of the notes may increase or decrease from time to
time.
With
respect to the information presented concerning the Selling Stockholders listed
in the table below, we have not conducted any independent inquiry or
investigation to ascertain that information and have relied on written
questionnaires furnished to us by the Selling Stockholders for the express
purpose of including that information in this prospectus. Based upon information
provided by the Selling Stockholders, none of the Selling Stockholders has,
or
within the past three years has had, any position, office or other material
relationship with us or any of our affiliates.
The
shares of Common Stock offered by this prospectus may be offered from time
to
time by the Selling Stockholders named below:
Name**
|
|
Number
of shares
owned
before
the
offering
|
|
|
Number
of
shares
offered
hereby
(1)
|
|
|
Number
of
shares
owned
after
the
offering
(2)
|
|
|
Percentage
of
shares
owned
after
the
offering
(2)(3)
|
|
Vicis
Capital Master Fund(4)
|
|
|
3,000,000
|
|
|
|
3,000,000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
KBC
Financial Products USA Inc.(5)
|
|
|
5,000,000
|
|
|
|
5,000,000 |
* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
JMG
Capital Partners, L.P.(6)
|
|
|
7,500,000
|
|
|
|
7,500,000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
JMG
Triton Offshore Fund, Ltd(7)
|
|
|
7,500,000
|
|
|
|
7,500,000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
Argent
Classic Convertible Arbitrage Fund, L.P.(8)
|
|
|
530,000
|
|
|
|
530,000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
Xavex
Convertible Arbitrage 10 Fund(9)
|
|
|
210,000
|
|
|
|
210,000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
Credit
Agricole Structured Asset Management(10)
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
Argent
Classic Convertible Arbitrage Fund II, L.P.(11)
|
|
|
120,000
|
|
|
|
120,000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
CNH
CA Master Account L.P.(12)
|
|
|
7,500,000
|
|
|
|
7,500,000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
Arctos
Partners Inc.(13)
|
|
|
20,500,000
|
|
|
|
20,500,000 |
* |
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
Old
Lane US Master Fund L.P.(14)
|
|
|
7,874,000
|
|
|
|
7,874,000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
Old
Lane HMA Master Fund L.P.(15)
|
|
|
5,180,000
|
|
|
|
5,180,000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
Old
Lane Cayman Master Fund L.P.(16)
|
|
|
21,946,000
|
|
|
|
21,946,000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
Merced
Partners Limited Partnership(17)
|
|
|
3,500,000
|
|
|
|
3,500,000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
Tamarack
International, Ltd(18)
|
|
|
1,500,000
|
|
|
|
1,500,000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
DBAG
London(19)
|
|
|
23,000,000
|
|
|
|
23,000,000 |
* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
Marathon
Global Convertible Master Fund, Ltd.(20)
|
|
|
20,000,000
|
|
|
|
20,000,000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
CQS
Convertible and Quantitative Strategies Master Fund
Limited(21)
|
|
|
10,000,000
|
|
|
|
10,000,000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
PNC
Equity Securities LLC(22)
|
|
|
1,500,000
|
|
|
|
1,500,000 |
* |
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
TQA
Master Fund, Ltd.(23)
|
|
|
2,707,000
|
|
|
|
2,707,000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
Name**
|
|
Number
of shares
owned
before
the
offering
|
|
|
Number
of
shares
offered
hereby
(1)
|
|
|
Number
of
shares
owned
after
the
offering
(2)
|
|
|
Percentage
of
shares
owned
after
the
offering
(2)(3)
|
|
TQA
Master Plus Fund, Ltd.(24)
|
|
|
1,255,000
|
|
|
|
1,255,0000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
Zurich
Institutional Benchmarks Master Fund Ltd.(25)
|
|
|
640,000
|
|
|
|
640,000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
MSS
Convertible Arbitrage I Fund (26)
|
|
|
45,000
|
|
|
|
45,000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
LDG
Limited(27)
|
|
|
353,000
|
|
|
|
353,000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
ADI
Alternative Investments c/o Axix Pan(28)
|
|
|
1,000,000
|
|
|
|
1,000,000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
ADI
Alternative Investments c/o Kallista Master Fund
Limited(29)
|
|
|
8,000,000
|
|
|
|
8,000,000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
ADI
Alternative Investments(30)
|
|
|
7,000,000
|
|
|
|
7,000,000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
ADI
Alternative Investments c/o Casam ADI CB Arbitrage(31)
|
|
|
4,000,000
|
|
|
|
4,000,000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
Plexus
Fund Limited(32)
|
|
|
23,000,000
|
|
|
|
23,000,000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
Royal
Bank of Canada(33)
|
|
|
3,000,000
|
|
|
|
3,000,000 |
* |
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
____________
|
*
|
The
Selling Stockholders identified with this symbol have identified
that they
are, or are affiliates of, registered broker-dealers. These Selling
Stockholders have represented that they acquired their securities
in the
ordinary course of business and in the open market, and, at the time
of
the acquisition of the securities, had no agreements or understandings,
directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the securities.
To
the extent that we become aware that any such Selling Stockholder
did not
acquire its securities in the ordinary course of business or did
have such
an agreement or understanding, we will file a post-effective amendment
to
the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part to
designate
such person as an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act
of 1933.
|
|
(1)
|
Represents
the maximum number of common shares issuable in exchange for all
of the
Selling Stockholder’s notes, based on the initial conversion rate of
19.6356 of our common shares per $1,000 principal amount at maturity
of
the notes.This conversion rate is, however, subject to adjustment.
As a
result, the number of our common shares issuable upon conversion
of the
notes may increase or decrease in the
future.
|
|
(2)
|
Assumes
the Selling Stockholder sells all of its shares of Common Stock offered
pursuant to this prospectus.
|
|
(3)
|
Based
on a total of 45,378,060 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of
March
20, 2007.
|
|
(4)
|
Vicis
Capital LLC is the investment manager of Vicis Capital Master Fund.
Shad
Stastney, Sky Lucas and John Succo control Vicis Capital LLC but
disclaim
beneficial ownership of the shares owned by Vicis Capital Master
Fund.
|
|
(5)
|
The
Registered Securities are under the total control of KBC Financial
Products USA Inc. KBC Financial Products USA Inc. is a direct wholly-owned
subsidiary of KBC Financial Holdings, Inc., which in turn is a direct
wholly-owned subsidiary of KBC Bank N,V., which in turn is a direct
wholly-owned subsidiary of KBC Group, N.V., a publicly held
entity.
|
|
(6)
|
JMG
Capital Partners, L.P. is a California limited partnership. Its general
partner is JMG Capital Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company and an investment advisor that has voting and dispositive
power
over JMG Capital Partners, L.P.’s investments, including the Registered
Securities. The equity interests of JMG Capital Management, LLC are
owned
by JMG Capital Management, Inc., a California corporation and Asset
Alliance Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation. Jonathon M. Glaser
is the
Executive Officer and Director of JMG Capital Management, Inc. and
has
sole investment discretion over JMG Capital Partners, L.P.’s portfolio
holdings.
|
|
(7)
|
JMG
Triton Offshore Fund, Ltd. is an international business company organized
under the laws of the British Virgin Islands. JMG Triton Offshore
Fund,
Ltd.’s investment manager is Pacific Assets Management, LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company that has voting and dispositive power over
JMG
Triton Offshore Fund, Ltd.’s investments, including the Registered
Securities. The equity interests of Pacific Assets Management, LLC
are
owned by Pacific Capital Management, Inc., a California corporation
and
Asset Alliance Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation. The equity
interests
of Pacifica Capital Management, Inc. are owned by Messrs. Roger Richter,
Jonathon M. Glaser and Daniel A. David. Messrs. Glaser and Richter
have
sole investment discretion over JMG Triton Offshore Fund, Ltd.’s portfolio
holdings.
|
|
(8)
|
Nathanial
Brown and Robert Richardson are the controlling persons of Argent
Classic
Convertible Arbitrage Fund, L.P.
|
|
(9)
|
Nathanial
Brown and Robert Richardson are the controlling persons of Xavex
Convertible Arbitrage 10 Fund.
|
(10)
|
Nathanial
Brown and Robert Richardson are the controlling persons of Credit
Agricole
Structured Asset Management.
|
(11)
|
Nathanial
Brown and Robert Richardson are the controlling persons of Argent
Classic
Convertible Arbitrage Fund II,
L.P.
|
(12)
|
CNH
Partners, LLC is investment advisor of CNH CA Master Account L.P.
and has
sole voting and dispositive power over the Registered Securities.
Investment principals for CNH Partners, LLC are Robert Krail, Mark
Mitchell and Todd Pulvino.
|
(13)
|
The
Bear Stearns Companies Inc., a publicly held entity, owns Arctos
Partners
Inc. and Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., a
broker/dealer.
|
(14)
|
The
controlling person for Old Lane US Master Fund L.P. is Jonathan
Barton.
|
(15)
|
The
controlling person for Old Lane HMA Master Fund L.P. is Jonathon
Barton.
|
(16)
|
The
controlling person for Old Lane Cayman Master Fund L.P. is Jonathon
Barton.
|
(17)
|
Global
Capital Management, Inc. is a general partner of Merced Partners
Limited
Partnership. John Brandenborg and Michael Frey are Directors of Global
Capital Management, Inc. Mr. Brandenburg and Mr. Frey each disclaim
beneficial ownership of the Registered
Securities.
|
(18)
|
Global
Capital Management, Inc. is the general partner of EBF & Associates,
L.P. which is the general partner of Hunter Capital Management, L.P.,
which is the investment manager of Tamarack International, Ltd. John
Brandenborg and Michael Frey are Directors of Global Capital Management,
Inc. Mr. Brandenburg and Mr. Frey each disclaim beneficial ownership
of
the Registered Securities.
|
(19)
|
DBAG
London is an affiliate of Deutsche Bank Securities Inc, a publicly
held
entity. Patrick Corrigan has dispositive power over the DBAG London
shares.
|
(20)
|
Marathon
Asset Management, LLC, the investment advisor for Marathon Global
Convertible Master Fund, Ltd., exercises voting power and investment
control over any Registered Securities. Bruce Richards and Louis
Hanover
are the Managing Members of Marathon Asset Management,
LLC.
|
(21)
|
Alan
Smith, Blair Gauld, Dennis Hunter, Karla Bolden and Jim Rogers are
the
Directors of CQS Convertible and Quantitative Strategies Master Fund
Limited.
|
(22)
|
PNC
Equity Securities LLC is a subsidiary of The PNC Financial Services
Group,
Inc., a publicly held entity.
|
(23)
|
TQA
Investors, LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser for TQA Master
Fund,
Ltd., has sole investment power and shared voting power over any
Registered Securities. The principals are Robert Butman, John Idone,
Paul
Bucci, George Esser, Bartholomew Tesoriero, DJ Langis and Andrew
Anderson.
|
(24)
|
TQA
Investors, LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser for TQA Master
Plus
Fund Ltd., has sole investment power and shared voting power over
any
Registered Securities. The principals are Robert Butman, John Idone,
Paul
Bucci, George Esser, Bartholomew Tesoriero, DJ Langis and Andrew
Anderson.
|
(25)
|
TQA
Investors, LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser for Zurich
Institutional Benchmarks Master Fund Ltd. c/o TQA Investors, LLC,
has sole
investment power and shared voting power over any Registered Securities.
The principals are Robert Butman, John Idone, Paul Bucci, George
Esser,
Bartholomew Tesoriero, DJ Langis and Andrew
Anderson.
|
(26)
|
TQA
Investors, LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser for MSS Convertible
Arbitrage 1 Fund c/o TQA Investors, LLC, has sole investment power
and
shared voting power over any Registered Securities. The principals
are
Robert Butman, John Idone, Paul Bucci, George Esser, Bartholomew
Tesoriero, DJ Langis and Andrew
Anderson.
|
(27)
|
TQA
Investors, LLC, the investment adviser for LDG Limited, has sole
investment power and shared voting power over any Registered Securities.
The principals are Paul Bucci, Steven Potamis, Darren Langis & Andrew
Anderson.
|
(28)
|
Patrick
Hobin, Makrem Boumlouka, Erich Bonnet, Alain Reinhold and Christopher
Lepistle are the controlling persons of ADI Alternative Investments
c/o
Axix Pan.
|
(29)
|
Patrick
Hobin, Makrem Boumlouka, Erich Bonnet, Alain Reinhold and Christopher
Lepistle are the controlling persons of ADI Alternative Investments
c/o
Kallista Master Fund Limited.
|
(30)
|
Patrick
Hobin, Makrem Boumlouka, Erich Bonnet, Alain Reinhold and Christopher
Lepistle are the controlling persons of ADI Alternative
Investments.
|
(31)
|
Patrick
Hobin, Makrem Boumlouka, Erich Bonnet, Alain Reinhold and Christopher
Lepistle are the controlling persons of ADI Alternative Investments
c/o
Casam ADI CB Arbitrage.
|
(32)
|
Dermot
Keane is the controlling person of Plexus Fund
Limited.
|
(33)
|
Royal
Bank of Canada is a subsidiary of RBC Capital Markets Corp., a publicly
held entity.
|
|
**
|
Additional
Selling Stockholders not named in this prospectus will be not be
able to
use this prospectus for resales until they are named in the Selling
Stockholder table by prospectus supplement, post-effective amendment
or
other filing. Transferees, successors and donees of identified Selling
Stockholders will not be able to use this prospectus for resales
until
they are named in the Selling Stockholders table by prospectus supplement,
post-effective amendment or other
filing.
|
PLAN
OF DISTRIBUTION
This
prospectus relates to the offer and sale from time to time of Registered Shares
by the holders thereof. The Company is registering the Registered Shares for
sale to provide the holders thereof with freely tradable securities, but the
registration of such shares does not necessarily mean that any of such shares
will be issued by the Company or offered or sold by the Selling
Stockholders.
The
Selling Stockholders may, from time to time, offer the Registered Shares in
one
or more transactions (which may involve crosses or block transactions) on the
NYSE or otherwise, in secondary distributions pursuant to and in accordance
with
the rules of the NYSE, in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated
transactions, through the writing of options on the Registered Shares (whether
such options are listed on an options exchange or otherwise), or a combination
of such methods of sale, at fixed prices, at market prices prevailing at the
time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at
negotiated prices. In addition, any Registered Shares that qualify for sale
under Rule 144 under the Securities Act may be sold under that rule rather
than
pursuant to this prospectus.
The
Selling Stockholders may effect such transactions by selling Registered Shares
to or through broker-dealers or through other agents, and such broker-dealers
or
agents may receive compensation in the form of commissions from the Selling
Stockholders and/or the purchasers of Registered Shares for whom they may act
as
agent. The Selling Stockholders and any agents or broker-dealers that
participate in the distribution of Registered Shares may be deemed to be
“underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any commissions
received by them and any profit on the sale of Registered Shares may be deemed
to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities
Act.
In
the
event of a “distribution” of the Registered Shares, Selling Stockholders, any
selling broker-dealer or agent and any “affiliated purchasers” may be subject to
Regulation M under the Exchange Act, which would prohibit, with certain
exceptions, each such person from bidding for or purchasing any security which
is the subject of such distribution until his participation in that distribution
is completed. In addition, Regulation M under the Exchange Act prohibits certain
“stabilizing bids” or “stabilizing purchases” for the purpose of pegging, fixing
or stabilizing the price of Common Stock in connection with this
offering.
At
a time
a particular offer of Registered Shares is made, a prospectus supplement, if
required, will be distributed that will set forth the name or names of any
dealers or agents and any commissions and other terms constituting compensation
from the Selling Stockholders and any other required information. The Registered
Shares may be sold from time to time at varying prices determined at the time
of
sale or at negotiated prices.
In
order
to comply with the securities laws of certain states, if applicable, the
Registered Shares, may be sold only through registered or licensed brokers
or
dealers or, if required, an exemption from issuer-dealer registration is
perfected.
Pursuant
to the registration rights agreement for the benefit of the Selling
Stockholders, the Company has agreed to pay all expenses of effecting the
registration of the Registered Shares offered hereby (in each case, other than
underwriting discounts and commissions, fees and disbursements of accountants
representing the holder and certain transfer taxes, if any) and has agreed
to
indemnify each holder of such Registered Shares and its officers and directors
and any person who controls any holder against certain losses, claims, damages
and expenses arising under the securities laws.
CERTAIN
U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The
following is a general discussion of certain material U.S. federal income tax
consequences of the ownership and disposition of our common stock and of our
qualification and taxation as a REIT. This discussion is based on the U.S.
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), Treasury Regulations and
administrative and judicial interpretations thereof, all as in effect as of
the
date of this prospectus, and all of which are subject to change, possibly with
retroactive effect. This discussion does not purport to deal with all aspects
of
U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to investors subject to
special treatment under the U.S. federal income tax laws, such as dealers in
securities, insurance companies, tax-exempt entities (except as described
herein), expatriates, persons subject to the alternative minimum tax, financial
institutions and partnerships or other pass-through entities. This section
applies only to purchasers of common stock who hold such stock as capital assets
within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code.
Prospective
stockholders should consult their tax advisors with respect to the U.S. federal
income tax consequences of holding and disposing of our common stock in light
of
their particular situations and any consequences to them arising under other
federal tax laws (such as estate and gift tax laws) and the laws of any state,
local or non-U.S. jurisdiction.
As
used
herein, the term “U.S. stockholder” means a holder of common stock that for U.S.
federal income tax purposes is:
|
•
|
an
individual citizen or resident of the United
States,
|
|
•
|
a
corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal
income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of
the
United States or any political subdivision
thereof,
|
|
•
|
an
estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless
of its source, or
|
|
•
|
a
trust if a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over
the
administration of that trust and one or more U.S. persons have the
authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or it
has a
valid election in place to be treated as a U.S.
person.
|
As
used
herein, the term “non-U.S. stockholder” means a holder of our common stock that
for U.S. federal income tax purposes is either a nonresident individual alien
or
a corporation, estate or trust that is not a U.S. stockholder.
The
U.S.
federal income tax treatment of a partner in a partnership holding common stock
will depend on the activities of the partnership and the status of the partner.
A partner in such partnership should consult its own tax advisor regarding
the
federal income treatment to the partner of such partnership holding our common
stock.
Taxable
U.S. Stockholders
Distributions.
Except as discussed below, so long as we qualify for taxation as a REIT,
distributions with respect to our common stock made out of current or
accumulated earnings and profits (and not designated as capital gain dividends)
will be includible by a U.S. stockholder as ordinary income. None of these
distributions will be eligible for the dividends received deduction for a
corporate stockholder. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated
earnings and profits will not be taxable to a U.S. stockholder to the extent
that they do not exceed the adjusted tax basis of the holder’s common stock (as
determined on a share by share basis), but rather will be treated as a return
of
capital and reduce the adjusted tax basis of such common stock. To the extent
that such distributions exceed the adjusted tax basis of a U.S. stockholder’s
common stock, they will be included in income as long-term capital gain if
the
stockholder has held its shares for more than one year and otherwise as
short-term capital gain. Any dividend declared by us in October, November or
December of any year payable to a stockholder of record on a specified date
in
any such month shall be treated as both paid by us and received by the
stockholder on December 31 of such year, provided that the dividend is actually
paid by us during January of the following calendar year.
Dividends
paid to a U.S. stockholder generally will not qualify for the 15% tax rate
applicable to “qualified dividend income.” Qualified dividend income generally
includes dividends paid by domestic C corporations and certain qualified foreign
corporations to most noncorporate U.S. stockholders. Because we are not
generally subject to U.S. federal income tax on the portion of our REIT taxable
income that we distribute to our stockholders, our dividends generally will
not
be eligible for the 15% tax rate (for years through 2010) on qualified dividend
income. As a result, our ordinary REIT dividends will continue to be taxed
at
the higher tax rate applicable to ordinary income. Currently, the highest
marginal individual income tax rate on ordinary income is 35%. However, the
15%
tax rate for qualified dividend income will apply to our ordinary REIT
dividends, if any, that are (i) attributable to dividends received by us from
non-REIT corporations, such as our taxable REIT subsidiaries, or (ii)
attributable to income upon which we have paid corporate income tax
(e.g., to the extent that we distribute less than 100% of our taxable
income). In general, to qualify for the reduced tax rate on qualified dividend
income, a U.S. stockholder must hold our stock (with risk of loss) for more
than
60 days during the 121-day period beginning on the date that is 60 days before
the date on which our stock becomes ex-dividend and must satisfy certain other
conditions.
Distributions
that are designated as capital gain dividends will generally be taxed as
long-term capital gains (to the extent they do not exceed our actual net capital
gain for the taxable year) without regard to the period for which the holder
has
held our common stock. However, corporate holders may be required to treat
up to
20% of certain capital gain dividends as ordinary income.
We
may
elect to retain and pay income tax on our net capital gain received during
the
taxable year. If we so elect for a taxable year, our U.S. stockholders would
include in income as long-term capital gains their proportionate share of such
portion of our undistributed net capital gains for the taxable year as we may
designate. A U.S. stockholder would be deemed to have paid its share of the
tax
paid by us on such undistributed net capital gain, which would be credited
or
refunded to the stockholder. The U.S. stockholder’s basis in our common stock
would be increased by the amount of undistributed net capital gain included
in
such U.S. stockholder’s income, less the capital gains tax paid by
us.
Except
as
noted below, the maximum tax rate on long-term capital gain applicable to
non-corporate taxpayers is 15% for sales and exchanges of assets held for more
than one year occurring in tax years beginning on or before December 31, 2010.
The maximum tax rate on long-term capital gain from the sale or exchange of
“section 1250 property,” or depreciable real property, is 25% to the extent that
such gain would have been treated as ordinary income if the property were
“section 1245 property” (i.e., to the extent of depreciation
recapture). With respect to distributions that we designate as capital gain
dividends and any retained capital gain that we are deemed to distribute, we
generally may designate whether such a distribution is taxable to our
non-corporate U.S. stockholders at a 15% or 25% tax rate. Thus, the tax rate
differential between capital gain and ordinary income for non-corporate
taxpayers may be significant. In addition, the characterization of income as
capital gain or ordinary income may affect the deductibility of capital losses.
A non-corporate taxpayer may deduct capital losses not offset by capital gains
against its ordinary income only up to a maximum annual amount of $3,000. A
non-corporate taxpayer may carry forward unused capital losses indefinitely.
A
corporate taxpayer must pay tax on its net capital gain at ordinary corporate
rates. A corporate taxpayer may deduct capital losses only to the extent of
capital gains, with unused losses being carried back three years and forward
five years.
Stockholders
may not include in their individual income tax returns any of our net operating
losses or capital losses. Instead, such losses would be carried over by us
for
potential offset against our future income (subject to certain limitations).
Taxable distributions from us and gain from the disposition of common stock
will
not be treated as passive activity income and, therefore, stockholders generally
will not be able to apply any “passive activity losses” (such as losses from
certain types of limited partnerships in which the stockholder is a limited
partner) against such income. In addition, taxable distributions from us
generally will be treated as investment income for purposes of the investment
interest limitations. Capital gains from the disposition of common stock (or
distributions treated as such) will be treated as investment income only if
the
stockholder so elects, in which case such capital gains will be taxed at
ordinary income rates. We will notify stockholders after the close of our
taxable year as to the portions of the distributions attributable to that year
that constitute each of (i) distributions taxable at ordinary income tax rates,
(ii) capital gains dividends, (iii) qualified dividend income, if any, and
(iv)
returns of capital.
Sale
or Exchange of Common Stock. Upon the sale, exchange or other taxable
disposition of common stock to or with a person other than us, a stockholder
generally will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between (i) the
amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received (less any
portion thereof attributable to accumulated and declared but unpaid dividends,
which will be taxable as a dividend to the extent of our current and accumulated
earnings and profits attributable thereto) and (ii) the stockholder’s adjusted
tax basis in such stock. Such gain or loss will be capital gain or loss and
will
be long-term capital gain or loss if such stock has been held for more than
one
year. In general, any loss upon a sale or exchange of common stock by a holder
who has held such stock for six months or less (after applying certain holding
period rules) will be treated by such holder as long-term capital loss to the
extent of distributions from us required to be treated by such stockholder
as
long-term capital gain. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable
disposition of common stock may be disallowed if substantially identical stock
is purchased within 30 days before or after the disposition.
Information
Reporting and Backup Withholding. Information reporting (to the IRS) will
apply to dividends paid on our common stock (and the amount of tax withheld,
if
any) and to the proceeds received from the sale or other disposition of our
common stock. Under the back-up withholding rules, a stockholder may be subject
to backup withholding tax at a current rate of 28% (subject to increase to
31%
after 2010) with respect to dividends paid and with respect to any proceeds
for
the sale or other disposition of common stock unless such stockholder (a) is
a
corporation or comes within certain other exempt categories and, when required,
demonstrates this fact or (b) provides a taxpayer identification number and
otherwise complies with applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules.
A stockholder that does not provide us with its correct taxpayer identification
number may also be subject to penalties imposed by the Service. Any amount
paid
as backup withholding will be creditable against such stockholder’s U.S. federal
income tax liability, and may entitle such stockholder to a refund, provided
the
stockholder timely furnishes the required information to the Internal Revenue
Service.
Tax-Exempt
U.S. Stockholders
Distributions
by us to a tax-exempt U.S. stockholder generally should not constitute unrelated
business taxable income (“UBTI”) provided that (i) the U.S. stockholder has not
financed the acquisition of its common stock with “acquisition indebtedness”
within the meaning of the Code and (ii) our common stock is not otherwise used
in an unrelated trade or business of such tax-exempt U.S.
stockholder.
Notwithstanding
the preceding paragraph, under certain circumstances, qualified trusts that
hold
more than 10% (by value) of our shares of stock may be required to treat a
certain percentage of dividends as UBTI. This requirement will only apply if
we
are treated as a “pension-held REIT.” The restrictions on ownership of shares of
stock in our Articles of Incorporation should prevent us from being treated
as a
pension-held REIT, although there can be no assurance that this will be the
case.
Non-U.S.
Stockholders
The
following discussion addresses the rules governing the U.S. federal income
taxation of the ownership and disposition of common stock by non-U.S.
stockholders. These rules are complex, and no attempt is made herein to provide
more than a brief summary of such rules. Accordingly, the discussion does not
address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation and does not address U.S.
estate and gift tax consequences or state, local or foreign tax consequences
that may be relevant to a non-U.S. stockholder in light of its particular
circumstances.
Distributions.
Distributions to a non-U.S. Stockholder that are neither attributable
to
gain from sales or exchanges by us of “U.S. real property interests” nor
designated as capital gains dividends will be treated as dividends of ordinary
income to the extent that they are made out of current or accumulated earnings
and profits. These distributions ordinarily will be subject to withholding
of
U.S. federal income tax on a gross basis at a rate of 30%, or a lower rate
as
permitted under an applicable income tax treaty, unless the dividends are
treated as effectively connected with the conduct by the non-U.S. stockholder
of
a U.S. trade or business. Under some treaties, however, lower withholding rates
generally applicable to dividends do not apply to dividends from REITs.
Applicable certification and disclosure requirements must be satisfied to be
exempt from withholding under the effectively connected income exemption.
Dividends that are effectively connected with a trade or business generally
will
be subject to tax on a net basis, that is, after allowance for deductions,
at
graduated rates, in the same manner as U.S. stockholders are taxed with respect
to these dividends, and are generally not subject to withholding. Any dividends
received by a corporate non-U.S. stockholder that is engaged in a U.S. trade
or
business also may be subject to an additional branch profits tax at a 30% rate,
or lower applicable treaty rate.
Distributions
in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits that exceed the
non-U.S. Stockholder’s adjusted tax basis in its common stock (as determined on
a share by share basis) will be taxable to a non-U.S. stockholder as gain from
the sale of common stock, which is discussed below. Distributions in excess
of
current or accumulated earnings and profits that do not exceed the adjusted
tax
basis of the non-U.S. stockholder in its common stock will reduce the non-U.S.
stockholder’s adjusted tax basis in its common stock and will not be subject to
U.S. federal income tax, but will be subject to U.S. withholding tax as
described below.
We
expect
to withhold U.S. income tax at the rate of 30% on any ordinary dividend
distributions (including distributions that later may be determined to have
been
in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits) made to a non-U.S.
stockholder unless: (i) a lower treaty rate applies and the non-U.S. stockholder
files an IRS Form W-8BEN evidencing eligibility for that reduced treaty rate;
or
(ii) the non-U.S. stockholder files an IRS Form W-8ECI claiming that the
distribution is income effectively connected with the non-U.S. stockholder’s
trade or business.
We
may be
required to withhold at least 10% of any distribution in excess of our current
and accumulated earnings and profits, even if a lower treaty rate applies and
the non-U.S. stockholder is not liable for tax on the receipt of that
distribution. Moreover, because of the uncertainty in estimating earnings and
profits, we may chose to withhold 30% on all distributions. However, a non-U.S.
stockholder may seek a refund of these amounts from the IRS if the non-U.S.
stockholder’s U.S. tax liability with respect to the distribution is less than
the amount withheld.
Distributions
to a non-U.S. stockholder that are designated at the time of the distribution
as
capital gain dividends, other than those arising from the disposition of a
U.S.
real property interest, generally should not be subject to U.S. federal income
taxation unless: (i) the investment in our stock is effectively connected with
the non-U.S. stockholder’s U.S. trade or business, in which case the non-U.S.
stockholder generally will be subject to the same treatment as U.S. stockholders
with respect to any gain, except that a stockholder that is a foreign
corporation also may be subject to the 30% branch profits tax, as discussed
above, or (ii) the non-U.S. stockholder is a nonresident alien individual who
is
present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and
has a “tax home” in the United States, in which case the nonresident alien
individual will be subject to a 30% tax on the individual’s capital
gains.
Except
as
hereinafter discussed, under FIRPTA, distributions to a non-U.S. stockholder
that are attributable to gain from sales or exchanges by us of U.S. real
property interests, whether or not designated as a capital gain dividend, will
cause the non-U.S. stockholder to be treated as recognizing gain that is income
effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business. Non-U.S. stockholders
generally will be taxed on this gain at the same rates applicable to U.S.
stockholders, subject to a special alternative minimum tax in the case of
nonresident alien individuals. Also, this gain may be subject to a 30% branch
profits tax in the hands of a non-U.S. stockholder that is a corporation.
However, even if a distribution is attributable to a sale or exchange of U.S.
real property interests, the distribution will not be treated as gain recognized
from the sale or exchange of U.S. real property interests, but as an ordinary
dividend subject to the general withholding regime discussed above,
if
(i)
the
distribution is made with respect to a class of stock that is considered
regularly traded under applicable Treasury Regulations on an established
securities market located in the United States, such as the New York Stock
Exchange; and
(ii)
the
stockholder owns 5% or less of that class of stock at all times during the
one-year period ending on the date of the distribution.
We
will
be required to withhold and remit to the IRS 35% of any distributions to
non-U.S. stockholders that are, or, if greater, could have been, designated
as
capital gain dividends and are attributable to gain recognized from the sale
or
exchange of U.S. real property interests. Distributions can be designated as
capital gains to the extent of our net capital gain for the taxable year of
the
distribution. The amount withheld, which for individual non-U.S. stockholders
may substantially exceed the actual tax liability, is creditable against the
non-U.S. stockholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and is refundable to
the extent such amount exceeds the non-U.S. stockholder’s actual U.S. federal
income tax liability, and the non-U.S. stockholder timely files an appropriate
claim for refund.
Retention
of Net Capital Gains. Although the law is not clear on the matter, it
appears that amounts designated as undistributed capital gains in respect of
the
common stock held by U.S. stockholders generally should be treated with respect
to non-U.S. stockholders in the same manner as actual distributions by the
Company of capital gain dividends. Under that approach, the non-U.S.
stockholders would be able to offset as a credit against their U.S. federal
income tax liability resulting therefrom an amount equal to their proportionate
share of the tax paid by us on the undistributed capital gains, and to receive
from the IRS a refund to the extent their proportionate share of this tax paid
were to exceed their actual U.S. federal income tax liability, and the non-U.S.
stockholder timely files an appropriate claim for refund.
Sale
of Common Stock. Gain recognized by a non-U.S. stockholder upon the sale,
exchange or other taxable disposition of our common stock generally will not
be
subject to or implicate U.S. taxation unless:
(i)
the
investment in our common stock is effectively connected with the non-U.S.
stockholder’s U.S. trade or business, in which case the non-U.S. stockholder
generally will be subject to the same treatment as domestic stockholders with
respect to any gain and a non-U.S. stockholder that is a corporation may be
subject to a 30% branch profits tax;
(ii)
the
non-U.S. stockholder is a nonresident alien individual who is present in the
United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and has a tax home
in
the United States, in which case the nonresident alien individual will be
subject to a 30% tax on the individual’s net capital gains for the taxable
year;
(iii)
our
common stock constitutes a U.S. real property interest within the meaning of
FIRPTA, as described below; or
(iv)
our
common stock is disposed of in a “wash sale” by a person owning more than 5% of
the common stock.
Whether
Common Stock Is a U.S. Real Property Interest. Our common stock will not
constitute a U.S. real property interest if we are a domestically controlled
REIT. We will be a domestically controlled REIT if, at all times during a
specified testing period, less than 50% in value of our stock is held directly
or indirectly by non-U.S. stockholders. We believe that, currently, we are
a
domestically controlled REIT and, therefore, that the sale of our common stock
would not be subject to taxation under FIRPTA. Because the FIRT common stock
is
publicly traded, however, FIRT cannot guarantee that it is or will continue
to
be a domestically controlled REIT. Even if FIRT does not qualify as a
domestically controlled REIT at the time a non-U.S. stockholder sells our common
stock, gain arising from the sale still would not be subject to FIRPTA tax
if:
(i)
our
common is considered regularly traded under applicable Treasury regulations
on
an established securities market, such as the New York Stock Exchange;
and
(ii)
the
selling non-U.S. stockholder owned, actually or constructively, 5% or less
in
value of our common stock throughout the five-year period ending on the date
of
the sale or exchange.
If
gain
on the sale or exchange of our common stock were subject to taxation under
FIRPTA, the non-U.S. stockholder would be subject to regular U.S. income tax
with respect to any gain in the same manner as a taxable U.S. stockholder,
subject to any applicable alternative minimum tax and special alternative
minimum tax in the case of nonresident alien individuals.
Wash
Sales. In general, a wash sale of common stock occurs if a stockholder
owning more than 5% of the shares of a domestically controlled REIT (at any
time
during the one-year period preceding the taxable distribution discussed in
this
paragraph) avoids a taxable distribution of gain recognized from the sale or
exchange of U.S. real property interests by selling common stock before the
ex-dividend date of the distribution and then, within a designated period,
acquires or enters into an option or contract to acquire common stock. If a
wash
sale occurs, then the seller/repurchaser will be treated as having gain
recognized from the sale or exchange of U.S. real property interests in the
same
amount as if the avoided distribution had actually been
received.
Information
Reporting and Backup Withholding. Information reporting (to the Internal
Revenue Service) will apply to dividends paid on our common stock (and the
amount of tax withheld, if any) and to the proceeds of a sale or other
disposition of our common stock. Backup withholding tax, at a current rate
of
28% (subject to increase to 31% after 2010) generally will not apply to payments
of dividends made by us or our paying agents to a non-U.S. stockholder or to
the
proceeds of a sale or other disposition of our common stock if the holder has
provided the required certification that it is not a U.S. person (generally
a
properly-executed IRS Form W-8BEN).
Taxation
of the Company as a REIT
This
section is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax matters of general
application pertaining to REITs under the Code. This discussion is based upon
current law, which is subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis. The
provisions of the Code pertaining to REITs are highly technical and complex
and
sometimes involve mixed questions of fact and law. This section does not discuss
U.S. federal estate or gift taxation or state, local or foreign
taxation.
In
the
opinion of Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP:
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commencing
with our taxable year ended December 31, 1994, we have been organized
and
operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and
taxation as a REIT under the Code
and
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our
current and proposed method of operation (as represented by us to
Cahill
Gordon & Reindel LLP in a written certificate) will enable us to
continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation
as a REIT
under the Code.
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Cahill
Gordon & Reindel LLP’s opinion is based on various assumptions and is
conditioned upon certain representations made by us as to factual matters with
respect to us and certain partnerships, limited liability companies and
corporations through which we hold substantially all of our assets, including
an
assumption that, if we ultimately were found not to have satisfied the gross
income requirements of the REIT provisions as a result of certain development
agreements entered into by us between 2000 and 2003, or as a result of certain
joint venture fee income derived in 2006, such failure was due to reasonable
cause and not due to willful neglect. Moreover, our qualification and taxation
as a REIT depends upon our ability to meet, as a matter of fact, through actual
annual operating results, distribution levels, diversity of stock ownership
and
various other qualification tests imposed under the Code discussed below, the
results of which will not be reviewed by Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP. No
assurance can be given that the actual results of our operations for any
particular taxable year will satisfy those requirements.
To
qualify as a REIT under the Code for a taxable year, we must meet certain
organizational and operational requirements, which generally require us to
be a
passive investor in real estate and to avoid excessive concentration of
ownership of our capital stock. Generally, at least 75% of the value of our
total assets at the end of each calendar quarter must consist of real estate
assets, cash or governmental securities. We generally may not own securities
possessing more than 10% of the total voting power, or representing more than
10% of the total value, of the outstanding securities of any issuer, and the
value of any one issuer’s securities may not exceed 5% of the value of our
assets. Shares of qualified REITs, qualified temporary investments and shares
of
certain wholly owned subsidiary corporations known as “qualified REIT
subsidiaries” and “taxable REIT subsidiaries” are exempt from these
prohibitions. We hold assets through certain qualified REIT subsidiaries and
taxable REIT subsidiaries. In the opinion of Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP,
based on certain factual representations, these holdings do not violate the
prohibitions in the REIT provisions on ownership of securities.
The
10%
and 5% limitations described above will not apply to the ownership of securities
of a taxable REIT subsidiary. A REIT may own up to 100% of the securities of
a
taxable REIT subsidiary subject only to the limitations that the aggregate
value
of the securities of all taxable REIT subsidiaries owned by the REIT does not
exceed 20% of the value of the assets of the REIT, and the aggregate value
of
all securities owned by the REIT (including the securities of all taxable REIT
subsidiaries, but excluding governmental securities) does not exceed 25% of
the
value of the assets of the REIT. A taxable REIT subsidiary generally is any
corporation (other than another REIT and corporations involved in certain
lodging, healthcare, franchising and licensing activities) owned by a REIT
with
respect to which the REIT and such corporation jointly elect that such
corporation shall be treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary.
For
each
taxable year, at least 75% of a REIT’s gross income must be derived from
specified real estate sources and 95% must be derived from such real estate
sources plus certain other permitted sources. Real estate income for purposes
of
these requirements includes
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gain
from the sale of real property not held primarily for sale to customers
in
the ordinary course of business,
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dividends
on REIT shares,
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interest
on loans secured by mortgages on real
property,
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certain
rents from real property and
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certain
income from foreclosure
property.
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For
rents
to qualify, they may not be based on the income or profits of any person, except
that they may be based on a percentage or percentages of gross receipts. Also,
subject to certain limited exceptions, the REIT may not manage the property
or
furnish services to tenants except through an independent contractor which
is
paid an arm’s-length fee and from which the REIT derives no income. However, a
REIT may render a de minimis amount of otherwise impermissible services to
tenants, or in connection with the management of property, without causing
any
income from the property (other than the portion of the income attributable
to
the impermissible services) to fail to qualify as rents from real property.
In
addition, a taxable REIT subsidiary may provide certain services to tenants
of
the REIT, which services could not otherwise be provided by the REIT or the
REIT’s other subsidiaries.
Substantially
all of our assets are held through certain partnerships. In general, in the
case
of a REIT that is a partner in a partnership, applicable regulations treat
the
REIT as holding directly its proportionate share of the assets of the
partnership and as being entitled to the income of the partnership attributable
to such share based on the REIT’s proportionate share of such partnership
capital.
We
must
satisfy certain ownership restrictions that limit the concentration of ownership
of our capital stock and the ownership by us of our tenants. Our outstanding
capital stock must be held by at least 100 stockholders during at least 335
days
of a taxable year or during a proportionate part of a taxable year of less
than
12 months. No more than 50% in value of our outstanding capital stock, including
in some circumstances capital stock into which outstanding securities might
be
converted, may be owned actually or constructively by five or fewer individuals
or certain entities at any time during the last half of any taxable year.
Accordingly, our articles of incorporation contain certain restrictions
regarding the transfer of our common stock, preferred stock and any other
outstanding securities convertible into stock when necessary to maintain our
qualification as a REIT under the Code. However, because the Code imposes broad
attribution rules in determining constructive ownership, no assurance can be
given that the restrictions contained in our articles of incorporation will
be
effective in maintaining our REIT qualification. See “Restrictions on Transfer
of Capital Stock” above.
So
long
as we qualify for taxation as a REIT, distribute at least 90% of our REIT
taxable income, computed without regard to net capital gain or the dividends
paid deduction, for each taxable year to our stockholders annually and satisfy
certain other distribution requirements, we will not be subject to U.S. federal
income tax on that portion of such income distributed to stockholders. We will
be taxed at regular corporate rates on all income not distributed to
stockholders. Our policy is to distribute at least 90% of our taxable income
annually. We may elect to pass through to our stockholders on a pro rata basis
any taxes paid by us on our undistributed net capital gain income for the
relevant tax year. REITs also may incur taxes for certain other activities
or to
the extent distributions do not satisfy certain other requirements.
Our
failure to qualify during any taxable year as a REIT could have a material
adverse effect upon our stockholders. If disqualified for taxation as a REIT
for
a taxable year, we also would be unable to elect to be taxed as a REIT for
the
next four taxable years, unless certain relief provisions were available. We
would be subject to U.S. federal income tax at corporate rates on all of our
taxable income and would not be able to deduct any dividends paid, which could
have a material adverse effect on our business and could result in a
discontinuation of or substantial reduction in dividends to stockholders. Should
the failure to qualify as a REIT be determined to have occurred retroactively
in
one of our earlier tax years, the imposition of a substantial U.S. federal
income tax liability on us attributable to any nonqualifying tax years could
have a material adverse effect on our business and could result in a
discontinuation of or substantial reduction in dividends to
stockholders.
In
the
event that we fail to meet certain gross income tests applicable to REITs,
we
may retain our qualification as a REIT if we pay a penalty tax equal to the
amount by which 95% (or 90% for taxable years prior to 2005) or 75% of our
gross
income exceeds our gross income qualifying under the 95% or 75% gross income
test, respectively (whichever amount is greater), multiplied by a fraction
intended to reflect our profitability, so long as such failure was considered
to
be due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect and certain other conditions
are satisfied. For taxable years after 2004, if we fail to meet the 5% or 10%
asset tests applicable to REITs at the end of any quarter and do not cure such
failure within 30 days thereafter, we may nonetheless retain our qualification
as a REIT provided that the failure was due to assets the value of which did
not
exceed a specific statutory de minimis amount and certain other
conditions are satisfied. For violations of any of the REIT asset tests not
described in the preceding sentence, we may nonetheless retain our qualification
as a REIT if we pay a tax equal to the greater of $50,000 or 35% of the net
income generated by the non-qualifying assets, so long as any such failure
was
considered to be due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect and certain
other conditions are satisfied. In addition, if we fail to satisfy certain
requirements of the REIT provisions (other than the failures described above
in
the preceding sentences), we may nonetheless retain our qualification as a
REIT
if we pay a penalty of $50,000 for each such failure, so long as each such
failure was considered to be due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect.
Any such taxes or penalty amounts could have a material adverse effect on our
business and could result in a discontinuation of or substantial reduction
in
dividends to stockholders.
FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
This
prospectus contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. We
intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor
provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are including this statement for the purposes
of complying with those safe harbor provisions. 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 “believe,”
“expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project” or similar expressions.
Our ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or
strategies is inherently uncertain. Factors which could have a material adverse
effect on our operations and future prospects of the Company include, but are
not limited to:
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changes
in economic conditions generally and the real estate market
specifically,
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legislative/regulatory
changes (including changes to laws governing the taxation of real
estate
investment trusts),
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availability
of financing,
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supply
and demand for industrial properties in our current and proposed
market
areas,
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potential
environmental liabilities,
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slippage
in development or lease-up
schedules,
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higher
than expected costs, and
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changes
in general accounting principles, policies and guidelines applicable
to
real estate investment trusts.
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These
risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking
statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Further
information concerning us and our business, including additional factors that
could materially affect our financial results, is included elsewhere in this
prospectus and in the documents we incorporate by reference, including the
Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended December 31,
2006.
WHERE
YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
The
Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act, and
in
accordance therewith, files reports and other information with the SEC. You
may
read and copy any of the Company’s reports and other materials filed with the
SEC at the Public Reference Room of the SEC at 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. In addition, the SEC maintains a website that contains
reports and other information regarding registrants that file electronically
with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. The Company’s common stock is listed on the
NYSE and its filings with the SEC can also be inspected and copied at the
offices of the NYSE at 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.
Whenever
a reference is in made in this prospectus to any of our agreements or other
documents, please be aware that the reference herein is only a summary and
that
you should refer to the exhibits that are part of the registration statement
filed with the SEC on Form S-3 for a copy of such agreement or other
document.
DOCUMENTS
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
We
incorporate by reference information we file with the SEC, which means that
we
can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents.
The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this
prospectus and more recent information automatically updates and supersedes
more
dated information contained or incorporated by reference in this
prospectus.
The
Company (file no. 1-13102) filed the following documents with the SEC and
incorporates them by reference into this prospectus:
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Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, filed March
1,
2007.
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Current
Report on Form 8-K filed January 29,
2007.
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Current
Report on Form 8-K filed April 30,
2007.
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All
documents filed by the Company under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this prospectus and prior to the
termination of this offering shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference
in
this prospectus and made a part hereof from the date of the filing of such
documents. Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified
or
superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement
contained herein (in the case of a previously filed document incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated by reference herein) or in any other document
subsequently filed with the SEC which also is incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any
such
statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified
or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.
We
will
provide, without charge, to each person to whom this prospectus is delivered
a
copy of these filings upon written or oral request to First Industrial Realty
Trust, Inc., 311 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 4000, Chicago, Illinois 60606,
Attention: Investor Relations, telephone number (312) 344-4300.
EXPERTS
The
financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of
internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s
Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this
prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of First Industrial
Realty Trust, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2006 and the financial
statements incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the First Industrial
Realty Trust, Inc. Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 30, 2007, have been
so
incorporated in reliance on the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an
independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said
firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
LEGAL
MATTERS
Certain
legal matters will be passed upon for the Company by Cahill Gordon & Reindel
LLP, New York, New York. Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP will rely as to all
matters of Maryland law on the opinion of McGuireWoods LLP, Baltimore, Maryland.
If counsel for any underwriter, dealer or agent passes on legal matters in
connection with an offering made by this prospectus, we will name that counsel
in the prospectus supplement relating to the offering.
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