PROSPECTUS

 

 

KIMCO REALTY CORPORATION

Debt Securities, Preferred Stock,

Depositary Shares, Common Stock and Common Stock Warrants

 

 

 

 

We may from time to time offer the following securities on terms to be determined at the time of the offering:

 

 

Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “KIM.” We will make applications to list any shares of common stock sold pursuant to a supplement to this prospectus on the NYSE. We have not determined whether we will list any other securities we may offer on any exchange or over-the-counter market. If we decide to seek listing of any securities, the supplement to this prospectus will disclose the exchange or market.

 

Our debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares representing shares of preferred stock, common stock and common stock warrants may be offered separately, together or as units, in separate classes or series, in amounts, at prices and on terms to be set forth in a supplement to this prospectus. When we offer securities, we will provide specific terms of such securities in supplements to this prospectus.

 

In addition, the specific terms may include limitations on direct or beneficial ownership and restrictions on transfer of the securities offered by this prospectus, in each case as may be appropriate to preserve our status as a real estate investment trust, or REIT, for federal income tax purposes.

 

The securities offered by this prospectus may be offered directly, through agents designated from time to time by us, or to or through underwriters or dealers. If any agents or underwriters are involved in the sale of any of the securities offered by this prospectus, their names, and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between or among them, will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement. None of the securities offered by this prospectus may be sold without delivery of the applicable prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering of those securities.

 

Each prospectus supplement will also contain information, where applicable, about United States federal income tax considerations and any legend or statement required by state law or the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

 

 

 

Investing in our securities involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 5.

 

 

 

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete and any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

 

The date of this Prospectus is May 8, 2006.

We have not authorized any dealer, salesman or other person to give any information or to make any representation other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the accompanying supplement to this prospectus. You must not rely upon any information or representation not contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement. This prospectus and the accompanying supplement to this prospectus do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the registered securities to which they relate, nor do this prospectus and the accompanying supplement to this prospectus constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. The information contained in this prospectus and the supplement to this prospectus is accurate as of the dates on their covers. When we deliver this prospectus or a supplement or make a sale pursuant to this prospectus or a supplement, we are not implying that the information is current as of the date of the delivery or sale.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

When used in this prospectus, “the Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our” refers to Kimco Realty Corporation and its direct and indirect subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

 

This prospectus is part of an automatic shelf registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or “SEC,” as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the “Securities Act.” Under the automatic shelf registration process, we may, over time, sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus or in any applicable prospectus supplement in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. As allowed by SEC rules, this prospectus does not contain all the information you can find in the registration statement or the exhibits to the registration statement. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. A prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the next heading “Where You Can Find More Information” before considering an investment in the securities offered by that prospectus supplement.

 

We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file with the SEC at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, DC 20549.

 

You may also obtain copies of our SEC filings at prescribed rates by writing to the Public Reference Section of the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, DC 20549. Please call l-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operations at the public reference room. Our SEC filings are also available at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.

 

Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other document are not necessarily complete, and in each instance reference is made to the copy of that contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, each such statement being qualified in all respects by that reference and the exhibits and schedules thereto. For further information about us and the securities offered by this prospectus, you should refer to the registration statement and such exhibits and schedules which may be obtained from the SEC at its principal office in Washington, D.C. upon payment of any fees prescribed by the SEC.

 

The documents listed below have been filed by us under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Securities Exchange Act”), with the SEC and are incorporated by reference in this prospectus:

 

 

We are also incorporating by reference into this prospectus all documents that we have filed or will file with the SEC as prescribed by Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act since the date of this

prospectus and prior to the termination of the sale of the securities offered by this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement.

 

This means that important information about us appears or will appear in these documents and will be regarded as appearing in this prospectus. To the extent that information appearing in a document filed later is inconsistent with prior information, the later statement will control and the prior information, except as modified or superseded, will no longer be a part of this prospectus.

 

Copies of all documents which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement (not including the exhibits to such information, unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference) will be provided without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner of the securities offered by this prospectus, to whom this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement is delivered, upon written or oral request. Requests should be directed to our secretary, 3333 New Hyde Park Road, New Hyde Park, New York 11042-0020 (telephone number: (516) 869-9000). You may also obtain copies of these filings, at no cost, by accessing our website at http://www.kimcorealty.com; however, the information found on our website is not considered part of this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.

 

This prospectus, including the documents that we incorporate by reference, contains certain historical and forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities 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 include this statement for purposes of complying with these 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 may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to, (i) changes in general economic and local real estate conditions, (ii) the inability of major tenants to continue paying their rent obligations due to bankruptcy, insolvency or general downturn in their business, (iii) financing risks, such as the inability to obtain equity or debt financing on favorable terms, (iv) changes in governmental laws and regulations (including changes to laws governing the taxation of REITs), (v) the level and volatility of interest rates, (vi) the availability of suitable acquisition opportunities and (vii) increases in operating costs. The forward-looking statements included in this prospectus are made only as of the date of this prospectus and we undertake no obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or otherwise. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events might or might not occur. Accordingly, there is no assurance that our expectations will be realized.

 

Overview

 

We began operations through a predecessor in 1966, and today are one of the nation’s largest publicly-traded owners and operators of neighborhood and community shopping centers (measured by gross leasable area, which we refer to as “GLA”).

 

As of April 21, 2006, we owned interests in 1,117 properties, totaling approximately 143.2 million square feet of GLA located in 45 states, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico.

 

Our ownership interests in real estate consist of our consolidated portfolio and in portfolios in which we own an economic interest, such as Kimco Income REIT, the RioCan Venture, Kimco Retail Opportunity Portfolio and other properties or portfolios where we also retain management. We believe our portfolio of neighborhood and community shopping center properties is the largest (measured by GLA) currently held by any publicly-traded REIT.

 

We believe that we have operated, and we intend to continue to operate, in such a manner to qualify as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). We are self-administered and self-managed through present management, which has owned and managed neighborhood and community shopping centers for more than 35 years. We have not engaged, nor do we expect to retain, any external advisors in connection with the operation of our properties. Our executive officers are engaged in the day-to-day management and operation of our real estate exclusively, and we administer nearly all operating functions for our properties, including leasing, legal, construction, data processing, maintenance, finance and accounting. Our executive offices are located at 3333 New Hyde Park Road, New Hyde Park, New York 11042-0020 and our telephone number is (516) 869-9000.

 

In order to maintain our qualification as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, we are required to distribute at least 90% of our net taxable income, excluding capital gains, each year. Dividends on any preferred stock issued by us are included as distributions for this purpose. Historically, our distributions have exceeded, and we expect that our distributions will continue to exceed, our net taxable income each year. A portion of such distributions may constitute a return of capital. As a result of the foregoing, our consolidated net worth may decline. We, however, do not believe that consolidated stockholders’ equity is a meaningful reflection of net real estate values.

 

You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below and in our reports we file with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference herein, as well as all of the information set forth in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement before investing in our securities.

 

Loss of our tax status as a real estate investment trust would have significant adverse consequences to us and the value of our securities.

 

We elected to be taxed as a REIT for federal income tax purposes under the Code commencing with our taxable year beginning January 1, 1992. We currently intend to operate so as to qualify as a REIT and believe that our current organization and method of operation comply with the rules and regulations promulgated under the Code to enable us to qualify as a REIT.

 

Qualification as a REIT involves the application of highly technical and complex Code provisions for which there are only limited judicial and administrative interpretations. The determination of various factual matters and circumstances not entirely within our control may affect our ability to qualify as a REIT. For example, in order to qualify as a REIT, at least 95% of our gross income in any year must be derived from qualifying sources, and we must satisfy a number of requirements regarding the composition of our assets. Also, we must make distributions to stockholders aggregating annually at least 90% of our net taxable income, excluding capital gains. In addition, new legislation, regulations, administrative interpretations or court decisions could significantly change the tax laws with respect to qualification as a REIT, the federal income tax consequences of such qualification or the desirability of an investment in a REIT relative to other investments. Although we believe that we are organized and have operated in such a manner, we can give no assurance that we have qualified or will continue to qualify as a REIT for tax purposes.

 

If we lose our REIT status, we will face serious tax consequences that will substantially reduce the funds available to make payment of principal and interest on the debt securities we issue and to pay dividends to our stockholders. If we fail to qualify as a REIT:

 

 

In addition, if we fail to qualify as a REIT, we would not be required to make distributions to stockholders. As a result of all these factors, our failure to qualify as a REIT also could impair our ability to expand our business and raise capital, and would adversely affect the value of our securities.

 

Adverse market conditions and competition may impede our ability to generate sufficient income to pay expenses and maintain properties.

 

The economic performance and value of our properties are subject to all of the risks associated with owning and operating real estate including:

 

 

Downturns in the retailing industry likely will have a direct impact on our performance.

 

Our properties consist primarily of community and neighborhood shopping centers and other retail properties. Our performance therefore is linked to economic conditions in the market for retail space generally. The market for retail space has been or could be adversely affected by weakness in the national, regional and local economies, the adverse financial condition of some large retailing companies, the ongoing consolidation in the retail sector, the excess amount of retail space in a number of markets, and increasing consumer purchases through catalogues and the internet. To the extent that any of these conditions occur, they are likely to impact market rents for retail space.

 

Failure by any anchor tenant with leases in multiple locations to make rental payments to us, because of a deterioration of its financial condition or otherwise, could impact our performance.

 

Our performance depends on our ability to collect rent from tenants. At any time, our tenants may experience a downturn in their business that may significantly weaken their financial condition. As a result, our tenants may delay a number of lease commencements, decline to extend or renew leases upon expiration, fail to make rental payments when due, close stores or declare bankruptcy. Any of these actions could result in the termination of the tenant’s leases and the loss of rental income attributable to the terminated leases. In addition, lease terminations by an anchor tenant or a failure by that anchor tenant to occupy the premises could result in lease terminations or reductions in rent by other tenants in the same shopping centers under the terms of some leases. In that event, we may be unable to re-lease the vacated space at attractive rents or at all. The occurrence of any of the situations described above, particularly if it involves a substantial tenant with leases in multiple locations, could impact our performance.

 

We may be unable to collect balances due from any tenants in bankruptcy.

 

We cannot assure you that any tenant that files for bankruptcy protection will continue to pay us rent. A bankruptcy filing by or relating to one of our tenants or a lease guarantor would bar all efforts by us to collect pre-bankruptcy debts from the tenant or the lease guarantor, or their property, unless we receive an order permitting us to do so from the bankruptcy court. A tenant or lease guarantor bankruptcy could delay our efforts to collect past due balances under the relevant leases, and could ultimately preclude collection of these sums. If a lease is assumed by the tenant in bankruptcy, all pre-bankruptcy balances due under the lease must be paid to us in full. However, if a lease is rejected by a tenant in bankruptcy, we would have only a general unsecured claim for damages. Any unsecured claim we hold may be paid only to the extent that funds are available and only in the same percentage as is paid to all other holders of unsecured claims, and there are restrictions under bankruptcy laws which limit the amount of the claim we can make if a lease is rejected. As a result, it is likely that we will recover substantially less than the full value of any unsecured claims we hold.

Real estate property investments are illiquid, and therefore we may not be able to dispose of properties when appropriate or on favorable terms.

 

Real estate property investments generally cannot be disposed of quickly. In addition, the federal tax code imposes a penalty tax on a REIT’s disposition of certain properties that are not applicable to other types of real estate companies. Therefore, we may not be able to vary our portfolio in response to economic or other conditions promptly or on favorable terms.

 

We do not have exclusive control over our joint venture investments, so we are unable to ensure that our objectives will be pursued.

 

We have invested in some cases as a co-venturer or partner in properties, instead of owning directly. These investments involve risks not present in a wholly owned ownership structure. In these investments, we do not have exclusive control over the development, financing, leasing, management and other aspects of these investments. As a result, the co-venturer or partner might have interests or goals that are inconsistent with our interests or goals, take action contrary to our interests or otherwise impede our objectives. The coventurer or partner also might become insolvent or bankrupt.

 

Our financial covenants may restrict our operating and acquisition activities.

 

Our revolving credit facility and the indenture under which our senior unsecured debt is issued contain certain financial and operating covenants, including, among other things, certain coverage ratios, as well as limitations on our ability to incur secured and unsecured debt, make dividend payments, sell all or substantially all of our assets and engage in mergers and consolidations and certain acquisitions. These covenants may restrict our ability to pursue certain business initiatives or certain acquisition transactions. In addition, failure to meet any of the financial covenants could cause an event of default under and/or accelerate some or all of our indebtedness, which would have a material adverse effect on us.

 

We may be subject to environmental regulations.

 

Under various federal, state, and local laws, ordinances and regulations, we may be considered an owner or operator of real property and may be responsible for paying for the disposal or treatment of hazardous or toxic substances released on or in our property or disposed of by us, as well as certain other potential costs which could relate to hazardous or toxic substances (including governmental fines and injuries to persons and property). This liability may be imposed whether or not we knew about, or were responsible for, the presence of hazardous or toxic substances.

 

Our ability to lease or develop properties is subject to competitive pressures.

 

We face competition in the acquisition, development, operation and sale of real property from individuals and businesses who own real estate, fiduciary accounts and plans and other entities engaged in real estate investment. Some of these competitors have greater financial resources than we do. This results in competition for the acquisition of properties, for tenants who lease or consider leasing space in our existing and subsequently acquired properties and for other real estate investment opportunities.

 

Changes in market conditions could adversely affect the market price of our publicly traded securities.

 

As with other publicly traded securities, the market price of our publicly traded securities depends on various market conditions, which may change from time to time. Among the market conditions that may affect the market price of our publicly traded securities are the following:

 

 

Anti-takeover Effect of Restrictions on Ownership

 

For us to qualify as a REIT under the Code, not more than 50% in value of our outstanding stock may be owned, actually or constructively, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities) during the last half of a taxable year. Our stock also must be beneficially owned by 100 or more persons during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year. In addition, rent from related party tenants (generally, a tenant of a REIT owned, actually or constructively, 10% or more by the REIT, or a 10% owner of the REIT) is not qualifying income for purposes of the income tests under the Code.

 

Subject to the exceptions specified in our charter, no holder may own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the constructive ownership provisions of the Code, more than 9.8% in value of the outstanding shares of our common stock or any class or series of our preferred stock. Our charter also contains restrictions relating to ownership of our shares which would cause our shares to be beneficially owned by less than 100 persons, cause us to be “closely held” within the meaning of the Code or otherwise result in our failure to qualify as a REIT. See “Description of Common Stock — Restrictions on “Ownership” and “Description of Preferred Stock — Restrictions on Ownership.” These ownership limits and other provisions restricting the ownership our common stock and preferred stock could delay or prevent a transaction or a change in control of the Company that might involve a premium price for the stock or otherwise be in the best interest of the stockholders.

 

Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered by this prospectus for general corporate purposes, which may include the acquisition of neighborhood and community shopping centers as suitable opportunities arise, the expansion and improvement of certain properties in our portfolio, and the repayment or refinancing of indebtedness outstanding at that time. The factors which we will consider in any refinancing will include the amount and characteristics of any debt securities issued and may include, among others, the impact of such refinancing on our interest coverage, debt-to-capital ratio, liquidity and earnings per share. If we identify any specific use for the net proceeds from the sale of securities, we will describe such use in the accompanying prospectus supplement.

 

 

All periods presented below have been adjusted to reflect the impact of operating properties sold and classified as discontinued operations during the year ended December 31, 2005 and for properties classified as held for sale as of December 31, 2005, in accordance with SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.

 

Our ratios of earnings to fixed charges for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002 and 2001 were 3.3, 3.4, 3.2, 3.4 and 3.3, respectively. Our ratios of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividend requirements for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002 and 2001 were 3.0, 3.1, 2.8, 2.8 and 2.6, respectively.

 

For purposes of computing these ratios, earnings have been calculated by adding fixed charges (excluding capitalized interest), amortization of capitalized interest and distributed income of equity investees to pre-tax income from continuing operations before adjustment for minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries or income/loss from unconsolidated partnerships. Fixed charges consist of interest costs, whether expensed or capitalized, the interest component of rental expense, and amortization of debt discounts and issue costs, whether expensed or capitalized.

 

 

Our unsecured senior debt securities are to be issued under an indenture, dated as of September 1, 1993, as amended by the first supplemental indenture, dated as of August 4, 1994, the second supplemental indenture, dated as of April 7, 1995, and as further amended or supplemented from time to time, between us and The Bank of New York (successor by merger to IBJ Schroder Bank & Trust Company), as trustee. The indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and is available for inspection at the corporate trust office of the trustee at 101 Barclay Street, 8th Floor, New York, New York 10286 or as described above under “Where You Can Find More Information.” The indenture is subject to, and governed by, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. The statements made hereunder relating to the indenture and the debt securities to be issued thereunder are summaries of some of the provisions thereof and do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all provisions of the indenture and the debt securities. All section references appearing herein are to sections of the indenture.

 

General

 

The debt securities will be our direct, unsecured obligations and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. The indenture provides that the debt securities may be issued without limit as to aggregate principal amount, in one or more series, in each case as established from time to time in or pursuant to authority granted by a resolution of our board of directors or as established in one or more indentures supplemental to the indenture. All debt securities of one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened, without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of such series, for issuances of additional debt securities of that series (Section 301).

 

The indenture provides that there may be more than one trustee thereunder, each with respect to one or

more series of debt securities. Any trustee under the indenture may resign or be removed with respect to one or more series of debt securities, and a successor trustee may be appointed to act with respect to that series (Section 608). In the event that two or more persons are acting as trustee with respect to different series of debt securities, each trustee shall be a trustee of a trust under the indenture separate and apart from the trust administered by any other trustee (Section 609), and, except as otherwise indicated herein, any action described herein to be taken by the trustee may be taken by each trustee with respect to, and only with respect to, the one or more series of debt securities for which it is trustee under the indenture.

 

For a detailed description of a specific series of debt securities, you should consult the prospectus supplement for that series. The prospectus supplement may contain any of the following information, where applicable:

 

(1) the title and series designation of those debt securities;

 

(2) the aggregate principal amount of those debt securities and any limit on the aggregate principal amount;

 

(3) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount thereof payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof, or (if applicable) the portion of the principal amount of those debt securities which is convertible into our common stock or our preferred stock, or the method by which any portion shall be determined;

 

(4) if convertible, any applicable limitations on the ownership or transferability of our common stock or our preferred stock into which those debt securities are convertible which exist to preserve our status as a REIT;

 

(5) the date or dates, or the method for determining the date or dates, on which the principal of those debt securities will be payable;

 

(6) the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable), or the method by which the rate or rates shall be determined, at which those debt securities will bear interest, if any;

 

(7) the date or dates, or the method for determining the date or dates, from which any interest will accrue, the interest payment dates on which that interest will be payable, the regular record dates for the interest payment dates, or the method by which that date shall be determined, the person to whom that interest shall be payable, and the basis upon which interest shall be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;

 

(8) the place or places where (a) the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on those debt securities will be payable, (b) those debt securities may be surrendered for conversion or registration of transfer or exchange and (c) notices or demands to or upon us in respect of those debt securities and the indenture may be served;

 

(9) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, and the terms and conditions upon which those debt securities may be redeemed, as a whole or in part, at our option, if we are to have that option;

 

(10) our obligation, if any, to redeem, repay or purchase those debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the option of a holder of those debt securities and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which those debt securities will be redeemed, repaid or purchased, as a whole or in part, pursuant to that obligation;

 

(11) if other than U.S. dollars, the currency or currencies in which those debt securities are denominated and payable, which may be units of two or more foreign currencies or a composite currency or currencies, and the terms and conditions relating thereto;

(12) whether the amount of payments of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on those debt securities may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method (which index, formula or method may, but need not be, based on a currency, currencies, currency unit or units or composite currency or currencies) and the manner in which those amounts shall be determined;

 

(13) any additions to, modifications of or deletions from the terms of those debt securities with respect to the events of default or covenants set forth in the indenture;

 

(14) whether those debt securities will be issued in certificated or book-entry form or both;

 

(15) whether those debt securities will be in registered or bearer form and, if in registered form, their denominations if other than $1,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 and, if in bearer form, their denominations and the terms and conditions relating thereto;

 

(16) the applicability, if any, of the defeasance and covenant defeasance provisions of article fourteen of the indenture;

 

(17) if those debt securities are to be issued upon the exercise of debt warrants, the time, manner and place for those debt securities to be authenticated and delivered;

 

(18) the terms, if any, upon which those debt securities may be convertible into our common stock or our preferred stock and the terms and conditions upon which that conversion will be effected, including, without limitation, the initial conversion price or rate and the conversion period;

 

(19) whether and under what circumstances we will pay additional amounts as contemplated in the indenture on those debt securities in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge and, if so, whether we will have the option to redeem those debt securities in lieu of making such payment; and

 

(20) any other terms of those debt securities not inconsistent with the provisions of the indenture (Section 301).

 

The debt securities may provide for less than the entire principal amount thereof to be payable upon declaration of acceleration of their maturity. We refer to this type of debt securities as original issue discount securities. Any material or applicable special U.S. federal income tax, accounting and other considerations applicable to original issue discount securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Except as described under “Certain Covenants — Limitations on Incurrence of Debt” and under “Merger, Consolidation or Sale,” the indenture does not contain any other provisions that would limit our ability to incur indebtedness or to substantially reduce or eliminate our assets, which may have an adverse effect on our ability to service our indebtedness (including the debt securities) or that would afford holders of the debt securities protection in the event of:

 

(1) a highly leveraged or similar transaction involving us, our management, or any affiliate of any of those parties,

 

(2) a change of control, or

 

(3) a reorganization, restructuring, merger or similar transaction involving us that may adversely affect the holders of our debt securities.

 

Furthermore, subject to the limitations set forth under “Merger, Consolidation or Sale,” we may, in the future, enter into certain transactions, such as the sale of all or substantially all of our assets or a merger or consolidation involving us, that would increase the amount of our indebtedness or substantially reduce or eliminate

our assets, which may have an adverse effect on our ability to service our indebtedness, including the debt securities. In addition, restrictions on ownership and transfers of our common stock and our preferred stock are designed to preserve our status as a REIT and, therefore, may act to prevent or hinder a change of control. You should refer to the applicable prospectus supplement for information with respect to any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the events of default or our covenants that are described below, including any addition of a covenant or other provision providing event risk or similar protection.

 

A significant number of our properties are owned through our subsidiaries. Therefore, our rights and those of our creditors, including holders of debt securities, to participate in the assets of those subsidiaries upon the liquidation or recapitalization of those subsidiaries or otherwise will be subject to the prior claims of those subsidiaries’ respective creditors (except to the extent that our claims as a creditor may be recognized).

 

Denominations, Interest, Registration and Transfer

 

Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities of any series will be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 (Section 302).

 

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on any series of debt securities will be payable at the corporate trust office of the trustee, initially located at 101 Barclay Street, 8th Floor, New York, New York 10286, provided that, at our option, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as it appears in the security register or by wire transfer of funds to that person at an account maintained within the United States (Sections 301, 305, 306, 307 and 1002).

 

Any interest not punctually paid or duly provided for on any interest payment date with respect to a debt security will forthwith cease to be payable to the holder of that debt security on the applicable regular record date and may either be paid to the person in whose name that debt security is registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of the interest not punctually paid or duly provided for to be fixed by the trustee, notice whereof shall be given to the holder of that debt security not less than 10 days prior to the special record date, or may be paid at any time in any other lawful manner, all as more completely described in the indenture.

 

Subject to certain limitations imposed upon debt securities issued in book-entry form, the debt securities of any series will be exchangeable for other debt securities of the same series and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor of different authorized denominations upon surrender of those debt securities at the corporate trust office of the trustee. In addition, subject to certain limitations imposed upon debt securities issued in book-entry form, the debt securities of any series may be surrendered for conversion or registration of transfer or exchange thereof at the corporate trust office of the trustee. Every debt security surrendered for conversion, registration of transfer or exchange shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer. No service charge will be imposed for any registration of transfer or exchange of any debt securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with the registration of transfer or exchange of debt securities (Section 305). If the applicable prospectus supplement refers to any transfer agent (in addition to the trustee) initially designated by us with respect to any series of debt securities, we may at any time rescind the designation of that transfer agent or approve a change in the location through which that transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for that series. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents with respect to any series of debt securities (Section 1002).

 

Neither we nor any trustee shall be required to:

 

(1) issue, register the transfer of or exchange debt securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before any selection of debt securities of that series to be redeemed and ending at the close of business on the day of mailing of the relevant notice of redemption;

 

(2) register the transfer of or exchange any debt security, or portion thereof, called for redemption, except the unredeemed portion of any debt security being redeemed in part; or

(3) issue, register the transfer of or exchange any debt security which has been surrendered for repayment at the option of the holder of that debt security, except the portion, if any, of that debt security not to be so repaid (Section 305).

 

Merger, Consolidation or Sale

 

We may consolidate with, or sell, lease or convey all or substantially all of our assets to, or merge with or into, any other corporation, provided that:

 

(1) either we shall be the continuing corporation, or the successor corporation (if other than us) formed by or resulting from that consolidation or merger or which shall have received the transfer of our assets, shall expressly assume payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all of the debt securities and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions contained in the indenture;

 

(2) immediately after giving effect to that transaction and treating any indebtedness which becomes an obligation of ours or of any of our subsidiaries as a result thereof as having been incurred by us or that subsidiary at the time of that transaction, no event of default under the indenture, and no event which, after notice or the lapse of time, or both, would become an event of default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

(3) an officer’s certificate and legal opinion covering the above conditions shall be delivered to the trustee (Sections 801 and 803).

 

Certain Covenants

 

Limitations on Incurrence of Debt.  We will not, and will not permit any of our subsidiaries to, incur any Debt (as defined below) if, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of that additional Debt, the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Debt of ours and of our subsidiaries on a consolidated basis determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles is greater than 65% of the sum of:

 

(1) our Undepreciated Real Estate Assets (as defined below) as of the end of the calendar quarter covered in our annual report on Form 10-K or quarterly report on Form 10-Q, as the case may be, most recently filed with the SEC (or, if that filing is not permitted under the Securities Exchange Act, with the trustee) prior to the incurrence of that additional Debt; and

 

(2) the purchase price of any real estate assets acquired by us or any of our subsidiaries since the end of that calendar quarter, including those obtained in connection with the incurrence of that additional Debt (Section 1004).

 

In addition to the foregoing limitation on the incurrence of Debt, we will not, and will not permit any of our subsidiaries to, incur any Debt secured by any mortgage, lien, charge, pledge, encumbrance or security interest of any kind upon any of our property or the property of any of our subsidiaries if, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of that additional Debt, the aggregate principal amount of all of our outstanding Debt and the outstanding Debt of our subsidiaries on a consolidated basis which is secured by any mortgage, lien, charge, pledge, encumbrance or security interest on our property or the property of any of our subsidiaries is greater than 40% of the sum of:

 

(1) our Undepreciated Real Estate Assets as of the end of the calendar quarter covered in our annual report on Form 10-K or quarterly report on Form 10-Q, as the case may be, most recently filed with the SEC (or, if such filing is not permitted under the Securities Exchange Act, with the trustee) prior to the incurrence of that additional Debt; and

(2) the purchase price of any real estate assets acquired by us or any of our subsidiaries since the end of that calendar quarter, including those obtained in connection with the incurrence of that additional Debt (Section 1004).

 

In addition to the foregoing limitations on the incurrence of Debt, we will not, and will not permit any of our subsidiaries to, incur any Debt if Consolidated Income Available for Debt Service (as defined below) for any 12 consecutive calendar months within the 15 calendar months immediately preceding the date on which that additional Debt is to be incurred shall have been less than 1.5 times the Maximum Annual Service Charge (as defined below) on our Debt and the Debt of all of our subsidiaries to be outstanding immediately after the incurring of that additional Debt (Section 1004).

 

Restrictions on Dividends and Other Distributions.  We will not, in respect of any shares of any class of our stock:

 

(1) declare or pay any dividends (other than dividends payable in the form of our stock) on our stock;

 

(2) apply any of our property or assets to the purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement of our stock;

 

(3) set apart any sum for the purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement of our stock; or

 

(4) make any other distribution, by reduction of capital or otherwise if, immediately after that declaration or other action referred to above, the aggregate of all those declarations and other actions since the date on which the indenture was originally executed shall exceed the sum of:

 

(a) Funds from Operations (as defined below) from June 30, 1993 until the end of the calendar quarter covered in our annual report on Form 10-K or quarterly report on Form 10-Q, as the case may be, most recently filed with the SEC (or, if that filing is not permitted under the Securities Exchange Act, with the trustee) prior to that declaration or other action; and

 

(b) $26,000,000; provided, however, that the foregoing limitation shall not apply to any declaration or other action referred to above which is necessary to maintain our status as a REIT under the Code if the aggregate principal amount of all our outstanding Debt and the outstanding Debt of our subsidiaries at that time is less than 65% of our Undepreciated Real Estate Assets as of the end of the calendar quarter covered in our annual report on Form 10-K or quarterly report on Form 10-Q, as the case may be, most recently filed with the SEC (or, if that filing is not permitted under the Securities Exchange Act, with the trustee) prior to that declaration or other action (Section 1005).

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, we will not be prohibited from making the payment of any dividend within 30 days of the declaration of that dividend if at the date of declaration that payment would have complied with the provisions of the immediately preceding paragraph (Section 1005).

 

Existence.  Except as permitted under “Merger, Consolidation or Sale,” we will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect our corporate existence, rights (charter and statutory) and franchises; provided, however, that we will not be required to preserve any right or franchise if we determine that the preservation of that right or franchise is no longer desirable in the conduct of our business and that the loss of that right or franchise is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the holders of the debt securities (Section 1006).

 

Maintenance of Properties.  We will cause all of our properties used or useful in the conduct of our business or the business of any of our subsidiaries to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order and supplied with all necessary equipment and will cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements to those properties, all as in our judgment may be necessary so that the

business carried on in connection with those properties may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times; provided, however, that we and our subsidiaries will not be prevented from selling or otherwise disposing for value our respective properties in the ordinary course of business (Section 1007).

 

Insurance.  We will, and will cause each of our subsidiaries to, keep all of our insurable properties insured against loss or damage at least in an amount equal to their then full insurable value with insurers of recognized responsibility and having a rating of at least A: VIII in Best’s Key Rating Guide (Section 1008).

 

Payment of Taxes and Other Claims.  We will pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent,

 

(1) all taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed upon us or any of our subsidiaries or upon our income, profits or property or the income, profits or property of any of our subsidiaries, and

 

(2) all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which, if unpaid, might by law become a lien upon our property or the property of any of our subsidiaries; provided, however, that we will not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any tax, assessment, charge or claim whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings (Section 1009).

 

Provision of Financial Information.  Whether or not we are subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act, we will, to the extent permitted under the Securities Exchange Act, file with the SEC the annual reports, quarterly reports and other documents which we would have been required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act if we were so subject, those documents to be filed with the SEC on or prior to the respective dates by which we would have been required so to file those documents if we were so subject. We will also in any event:

 

(1) within 15 days of each date by which we would have been required to file those documents with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act:

 

(a) transmit by mail to all holders of debt securities, as their names and addresses appear in the security register, without cost to the holders of debt securities, copies of the annual reports and quarterly reports which we would have been required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act if we were subject to those Sections, and

 

(b) file with the trustee copies of the annual reports, quarterly reports and other documents which we would have been required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act if we were subject to those Sections, and

 

(2) if filing those documents by us with the SEC is not permitted under the Securities Exchange Act, promptly upon written request and payment of the reasonable cost of duplication and delivery, supply copies of those documents to any prospective holder of debt securities (Section 1010).

 

Maintenance of Unencumbered Total Asset Value.  We will at all times maintain an Unencumbered Total Asset Value in an amount of not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the aggregate principal amount of all our outstanding Debt and the outstanding Debt of our subsidiaries that is unsecured (Section 1014).

Definitions Used for the Debt Securities

 

As used in the Indenture and the descriptions thereof herein,

 

“Consolidated Income Available for Debt Service” for any period means our Consolidated Net Income (as defined below) and the Consolidated Net Income of our subsidiaries plus amounts which have been deducted for:

 

(1) interest on our Debt and interest on the Debt of our subsidiaries,

 

(2) provision for our taxes and the taxes of our subsidiaries based on income,

 

(3) amortization of debt discount,

 

(4) property depreciation and amortization, and

 

(5) the effect of any noncash charge resulting from a change in accounting principles in determining Consolidated Net Income for that period.

 

“Consolidated Net Income” for any period means the amount of our consolidated net income (or loss) and the consolidated net income (or loss) of our subsidiaries for that period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

 

“Debt” of ours or any of our subsidiaries means any indebtedness of ours or any of our subsidiaries, whether or not contingent, in respect of:

 

(1) borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments,

 

(2) indebtedness secured by any mortgage, pledge, lien, charge, encumbrance or any security interest existing on property owned by us or any of our subsidiaries,

 

(3) letters of credit or amounts representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property except any balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable, or

 

(4) any lease of property by us or any of our subsidiaries as lessee which is reflected on our consolidated balance sheet as a capitalized lease in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles,

 

in the case of items of indebtedness under (1) through (3) above to the extent that those items (other than letters of credit) would appear as a liability on our consolidated balance sheet in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and also includes, to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation by us or any of our subsidiaries to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise (other than for purposes of collection in the ordinary course of business), indebtedness of another person (other than us or any of our subsidiaries) (it being understood that Debt shall be deemed to be incurred by us or any of our subsidiaries whenever we or that subsidiary shall create, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable in respect thereof).

 

“Funds from Operations” for any period means our Consolidated Net Income and the Consolidated Net Income of our subsidiaries for that period without giving effect to depreciation and amortization, gains or losses from extraordinary items, gains or losses on sales of real estate, gains or losses on investments in marketable securities and any provision/benefit for income taxes for that period, plus funds from operations of unconsolidated joint ventures, all determined on a consistent basis for that period.

 

“Maximum Annual Service Charge” as of any date means the maximum amount which may become payable in any period of 12 consecutive calendar months from that date for interest on, and required amortization of, Debt. The amount payable for amortization shall include the amount of any sinking fund or other analogous fund

for the retirement of Debt and the amount payable on account of principal on any Debt which matures serially other than at the final maturity date of that Debt.

 

“Total Assets” as of any date means the sum of (1) our Undepreciated Real Estate Assets and (2) all our other assets determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (but excluding goodwill and amortized debt costs).

 

“Undepreciated Real Estate Assets” as of any date means the amount of our real estate assets and the real estate assets of our subsidiaries on that date, before depreciation and amortization determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

 

“Unencumbered Total Asset Value” as of any date means the sum of our Total Assets which are unencumbered by any mortgage, lien, charge, pledge or security interest that secures the payment of any obligations under any Debt.

 

Events of Default, Notice and Waiver

 

The indenture provides that the following events are events of default with respect to any series of debt securities issued thereunder:

 

(1) default for 30 days in the payment of any installment of interest on any debt security of that series;

 

(2) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any debt security of that series at its maturity;

 

(3) default in making any sinking fund payment as required for any debt security of that series;

 

(4) default in the performance of any of our other covenants contained in the indenture (other than a covenant added to the indenture solely for the benefit of a series of debt securities issued thereunder other than that series), continued for 60 days after written notice as provided in the indenture;

 

(5) default in the payment of an aggregate principal amount exceeding $10,000,000 of any evidence of our indebtedness or any mortgage, indenture or other instrument under which indebtedness is issued or by which that indebtedness is secured, that default having occurred after the expiration of any applicable grace period and having resulted in the acceleration of the maturity of that indebtedness, but only if that indebtedness is not discharged or that acceleration is not rescinded or annulled;

 

(6) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, or court appointment of a receiver, liquidator or trustee of ours or any of our significant subsidiaries (as defined in Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act) or either of our properties; and

 

(7) any other event of default provided with respect to a particular series of debt securities (Section 501).

 

If an event of default under the indenture with respect to debt securities of any series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in all of those cases the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the principal amount (or, if the debt securities of that series are original issue discount securities or indexed securities, that portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms thereof) of all of the debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately by written notice thereof to us (and to the trustee if given by the holders of debt securities). However, at any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to debt securities of that series (or of all debt securities then outstanding under the indenture, as the case may be) has been made, but before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the trustee, the holders of not less than a majority in principal

amount of outstanding debt securities of that series (or of all debt securities then outstanding under the indenture, as the case may be) may rescind and annul that declaration and its consequences if:

 

(1) we shall have deposited with the trustee all required payments of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the debt securities of that series (or of all debt securities then outstanding under the indenture, as the case may be), plus certain fees, expenses, disbursements and advances of the trustee, and

 

(2) all events of default, other than the non-payment of accelerated principal (or specified portion thereof), with respect to debt securities of that series (or of all debt securities then outstanding under the indenture, as the case may be) have been cured or waived as provided in the indenture (Section 502). The indenture also provides that the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series (or of all debt securities then outstanding under the indenture, as the case may be) may waive any past default with respect to that series and its consequences, except a default:

 

(a) in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any debt security of that series, or

 

(b) in respect of a covenant or provision contained in the indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected thereby (Section 513).

 

The trustee is required to give notice to the holders of debt securities within 90 days of a default under the indenture; provided, however, that the trustee may withhold notice to the holders of any series of debt securities of any default with respect to that series (except a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any debt security of that series or in the payment of any sinking fund installment in respect of any debt security of that series) if the responsible officers of the trustee consider that withholding to be in the interest of those holders of debt securities (Section 601).

 

The indenture provides that no holders of debt securities of any series may institute any proceedings, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the indenture or for any remedy thereunder, except in the case of failure of the trustee, for 60 days, to act after it has received a written request to institute proceedings in respect of an event of default from the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series, as well as an offer of indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it (Section 507). This provision will not prevent, however, any holder of debt securities from instituting suit for the enforcement of payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on those debt securities at the respective due dates thereof (Section 508).

 

Subject to provisions in the indenture relating to its duties in case of default, the trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request or direction of any holders of any series of debt securities then outstanding under the indenture, unless those holders shall have offered to the trustee reasonable security or indemnity satisfactory to it (Section 602). The holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series (or of all debt securities then outstanding under the indenture, as the case may be) shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or of exercising any trust or power conferred upon the trustee. However, the trustee may refuse to follow any direction which is in conflict with any law or the indenture, which may involve the trustee in personal liability or which may be unduly prejudicial to the holders of debt securities of those series not joining therein (Section 512).

 

Within 120 days after the close of each fiscal year, we must deliver to the trustee a certificate, signed by one of several specified officers, stating whether or not that officer has knowledge of any default under the indenture and, if so, specifying each of those defaults and the nature and status thereof (Section 1011).

Modification

 

Modifications and amendments of the indenture and debt securities may be made only with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of all outstanding debt securities which are affected by such modification or amendment; provided, however, that no modification or amendment may, without the consent of the holder of each of the debt securities affected thereby,

 

(1) change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of interest (or premium, if any) on, any debt security;

 

(2) reduce the principal amount of, or the rate or amount of interest on, or any premium payable on redemption of, any debt security, or reduce the amount of principal of an original issue discount security that would be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof or would be provable in bankruptcy, or adversely affect any right of repayment of the holder of any debt security;

 

(3) change the place of payment, or the coin or currency, for payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any debt security;

 

(4) impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to any debt security;

 

(5) reduce the above-stated percentage of outstanding debt securities of any series necessary to modify or amend the indenture, to waive compliance with certain provisions thereof or certain defaults and consequences thereunder or to reduce the quorum or voting requirements set forth in the indenture; or

 

(6) modify any of the foregoing provisions or any of the provisions relating to the waiver of certain past defaults or certain covenants, except to increase the required percentage to effect that action or to provide that certain other provisions may not be modified or waived without the consent of the holder of that debt security (Section 902).

 

The holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of outstanding debt securities have the right to waive compliance by us with some of the covenants in the indenture (Section 1013).

 

Modifications and amendments of the indenture may be made by us and the trustee without the consent of any holder of debt securities for any of the following purposes:

 

(1) to evidence the succession of another person to us as obligor under the indenture;

 

(2) to add to our covenants for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of debt securities or to surrender any right or power conferred upon us in the indenture;

 

(3) to add events of default for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of debt securities;

 

(4) to add or change any provisions of the indenture to facilitate the issuance of, or to liberalize some of the terms of, debt securities in bearer form, or to permit or facilitate the issuance of debt securities in uncertificated form, provided that such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the debt securities of any series in any material respect;

 

(5) to change or eliminate any provisions of the indenture, provided that any of those changes or elimination shall become effective only when there are no debt securities outstanding of any series created prior thereto which are entitled to the benefit of that provision;

 

(6) to secure the debt securities;

(7) to establish the form or terms of debt securities of any series, including the provisions and procedures, if applicable, for the conversion of those debt securities into our common stock or our preferred stock;

 

(8) to provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee or facilitate the administration of the trusts under the indenture by more than one trustee;

 

(9) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the indenture, provided that such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of debt securities of any series in any material respect; or

 

(10) to supplement any of the provisions of the indenture to the extent necessary to permit or facilitate defeasance and discharge of any series of those debt securities, provided that such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the debt securities of any series in any material respect (Section 901).

 

The indenture provides that in determining whether the holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding debt securities of a series have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver thereunder or whether a quorum is present at a meeting of holders of debt securities,

 

(1) the principal amount of an original issue discount security that shall be deemed to be outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of that determination upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof,

 

(2) the principal amount of a debt security denominated in a foreign currency that shall be deemed outstanding shall be the U.S. Dollar equivalent, determined on the issue date for that debt security, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an original issue discount security, the U.S. Dollar equivalent on the issue date of that debt security of the amount determined as provided in (1) above),

 

(3) the principal amount of an indexed security that shall be deemed outstanding shall be the principal face amount of that indexed security at original issuance, unless otherwise provided with respect to that indexed security pursuant to Section 301 of the indenture, and

 

(4) debt securities owned by us or any other obligor upon the debt securities or any of our affiliates or of that other obligor shall be disregarded (Section 101).

 

The indenture contains provisions for convening meetings of the holders of debt securities of a series (Section 1501). A meeting may be called at any time by the trustee, and also, upon request, by us or the holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series, in any of those cases upon notice given as provided in the indenture (Section 1502). Except for any consent that must be given by the holder of each debt security affected by certain modifications and amendments of the indenture, any resolution presented at a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series; provided, however, that, except as referred to above, any resolution with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action that may be made, given or taken by the holders of a specified percentage, which is less than a majority, in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present by the affirmative vote of the holders of that specified percentage in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series. Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of holders of debt securities of any series duly held in accordance with the indenture will be binding on all holders of debt securities of that series. The quorum at any meeting called to adopt a resolution, and at any reconvened meeting, will be persons holding or representing a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series; provided, however, that if any action is to be taken at that meeting with respect to a consent or waiver which may be given by the holders of not less than a specified percentage in principal

amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series, the persons holding or representing that specified percentage in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series will constitute a quorum (Section 1504).

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, if any action is to be taken at a meeting of holders of debt securities of any series with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action that the indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the holders of a specified percentage in principal amount of all outstanding debt securities affected thereby, or of the holders of that series and one or more additional series:

 

(1) there shall be no minimum quorum requirement for that meeting, and

 

(2) the principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series that vote in favor of that request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action shall be taken into account in determining whether that request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action has been made, given or taken under the indenture (Section 1504).

 

Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

 

We may discharge certain obligations to holders of any series of debt securities that have not already been delivered to the trustee for cancellation and that either have become due and payable or will become due and payable within one year (or scheduled for redemption within one year) by irrevocably depositing with the trustee, in trust, funds in the currency or currencies, currency unit or units or composite currency or currencies in which those debt securities are payable in an amount sufficient to pay the entire indebtedness on those debt securities in respect of principal (and premium, if any) and interest to the date of that deposit (if those debt securities have become due and payable) or to the stated maturity or redemption date, as the case may be (Section 401).

 

The indenture provides that, if the provisions of article fourteen of the indenture are made applicable to the debt securities of or within any series pursuant to Section 301 of the indenture, we may elect either:

 

(1) to defease and be discharged from any and all obligations with respect to those debt securities (except for the obligation to pay additional amounts, if any, upon the occurrence of certain events of tax, assessment or governmental charge with respect to payments on those debt securities and the obligations to register the transfer or exchange of those debt securities, to replace temporary or mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities, to maintain an office or agency in respect of those debt securities and to hold moneys for payment in trust) (“defeasance”) (Section 1402); or

 

(2) to be released from its obligations with respect to those debt securities under Sections 1004 to 1010, inclusive, and Section 1014 of the indenture (being the restrictions described under “Certain Covenants”) or, if provided pursuant to Section 301 of the indenture, its obligations with respect to any other covenant, and any omission to comply with those obligations shall not constitute a default or an event of default with respect to those debt securities (“covenant defeasance”) (Section 1403),

 

in either case upon the irrevocable deposit by us with the trustee, in trust, of an amount, in the currency or currencies, currency unit or units or composite currency or currencies in which those debt securities are payable at stated maturity, or Government Obligations (as defined below), or both, applicable to those debt securities which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in accordance with their terms will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on those debt securities, and any mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments thereon, on the scheduled due dates therefor.

 

That type of trust may only be established if, among other things, we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of those debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of that defeasance or covenant defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if that defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred, and that opinion of counsel, in the case of defeasance,

must refer to and be based upon a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or a change in applicable U.S. federal income tax law occurring after the date of the indenture (Section 1404).

 

“Government Obligations” means securities which are:

 

(1) direct obligations of the United States of America or the government which issued the foreign currency in which the debt securities of a particular series are payable, for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged, or

 

(2) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America or that government which issued the foreign currency in which the debt securities of that series are payable, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America or that other government,

 

which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to that Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of that Government Obligation held by the custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt, provided that (except as required by law) the custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of the depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of the Government Obligation evidenced by the depository receipt (Section 101).

 

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, if after we have deposited funds or Government Obligations or both to effect defeasance or covenant defeasance with respect to debt securities of any series,

 

(1) the holder of a debt security of that series is entitled to, and does, elect pursuant to Section 301 of the indenture or the terms of that debt security to receive payment in a currency, currency unit or composite currency other than that in which the deposit has been made in respect of that debt security, or

 

(2) a Conversion Event (as defined below) occurs in respect of the currency, currency unit or composite currency in which the deposit has been made,

 

then, the indebtedness represented by that debt security shall be deemed to have been, and will be, fully discharged and satisfied through the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on that debt security as they become due out of the proceeds yielded by converting the amount so deposited in respect of that debt security into the currency, currency unit or composite currency in which that debt security becomes payable as a result of that election or cessation of usage based on the applicable market exchange rate (Section 1405). “Conversion Event” means the cessation of use of:

 

(1) a currency, currency unit or composite currency both by the government of the country which issued that currency and for the settlement of transactions by a central bank or other public institutions of or within the international banking community,

 

(2) the European Currency Unit, or ECU, both within the European Monetary System and for the settlement of transactions by public institutions of or within the European Communities, or

 

(3) any currency unit or composite currency other than the ECU for the purposes for which it was established.

 

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, all payments of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on any debt security that is payable in a foreign currency that ceases to be used by its government of issuance shall be made in U.S. Dollars (Section 101).

In the event we effect covenant defeasance with respect to any debt securities and those debt securities are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any event of default other than the event of default described in clause (4) under “Events of Default, Notice and Waiver” with respect to Sections 1004 to 1010, inclusive, and Section 1014 of the indenture (which Sections would no longer be applicable to those debt securities) or described in clause (7) under “Events of Default, Notice and Waiver” with respect to any other covenant as to which there has been covenant defeasance, the amount in such currency, currency unit or composite currency in which those debt securities are payable, and Government Obligations on deposit with the trustee, will be sufficient to pay amounts due on those debt securities at the time of their stated maturity but may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on those debt securities at the time of the acceleration resulting from that event of default. However, we would remain liable to make payment of those amounts due at the time of acceleration.

 

The applicable prospectus supplement may further describe the provisions, if any, permitting that defeasance or covenant defeasance, including any modifications to the provisions described above, with respect to the debt securities of or within a particular series.

 

Conversion Rights

 

The terms and conditions, if any, upon which the debt securities are convertible into other debt securities, our common stock or our preferred stock will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating thereto. Those terms will include whether those debt securities are convertible into other debt securities, our common stock or our preferred stock, the conversion price (or manner of calculation thereof), the conversion period, provisions as to whether conversion will be at our option or the option of the holders of debt securities, the events requiring an adjustment of the conversion price and provisions affecting conversion in the event of the redemption of those debt securities.

 

Global Securities

 

The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary identified in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to that series. Global securities may be issued in either registered or bearer form and in either temporary or permanent form. The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to a series of debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to that series.

 

We have the authority to issue 300,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, and 153,000,000 shares of excess stock, par value $.01 per share. At March 31, 2006, we had outstanding 240,448,614 shares of common stock and no shares of excess stock. Prior to August 4, 1994, we were incorporated as a Delaware corporation. On August 4, 1994, we reincorporated as a Maryland corporation pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger approved by our stockholders.

 

The following description of our common stock sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the common stock to which any prospectus supplement may relate, including a prospectus supplement providing that common stock will be issuable upon conversion of our debt securities or our preferred stock or upon the exercise of common stock warrants issued by us. The statements below describing the common stock are in all respects subject to and qualified in their entirety by reference to the applicable provisions of our charter and bylaws.

 

Holders of our common stock will be entitled to receive dividends when, as and if authorized by our board of directors and declared by us, out of assets legally available therefor. Payment and declaration of dividends on the common stock and purchases of shares thereof by us will be subject to certain restrictions if we fail to pay dividends on our preferred stock. Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of common stock will be entitled to share equally and ratably in any assets available for distribution to them, after payment or provision for payment of our debts and other liabilities and the preferential amounts owing with respect to any of our outstanding preferred stock. The common stock will possess ordinary voting rights in the election of directors and in respect of other corporate matters, with each share entitling the holder thereof to one vote. Holders of common stock will not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors, which means that holders of more than 50% of all of the shares of our common stock voting for the election of directors will be able to elect all of the directors if they choose to do so and, accordingly, the holders of the remaining shares will be unable to elect any directors. Holders of shares of common stock will not have preemptive rights, which means they have no right to acquire any additional shares of common stock that may be issued by us at a subsequent date. The common stock will, when issued, be fully paid and nonassessable and will not be subject to preemptive or similar rights.

 

Under Maryland law and our charter, a distribution (whether by dividend, redemption or other acquisition of shares) to holders of shares of common stock may be made only if, after giving effect to the distribution, we are able to pay our indebtedness as it becomes due in the usual course of business and our total assets are greater than our total liabilities plus the amount necessary to satisfy the preferential rights upon dissolution of stockholders whose preferential rights on dissolution are superior to the holders of common stock and we can pay our debts as they become due. We have complied with these requirements in all of our prior distributions to holders of common stock.

 

Restrictions on Ownership

 

For us to qualify as a REIT under the Code, not more than 50% in value of our outstanding stock may be owned, actually or constructively, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities) during the last half of a taxable year. Our stock also must be beneficially owned by 100 or more persons during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year. In addition, rent from related party tenants (generally, a tenant of a REIT owned, actually or constructively, 10% or more by the REIT, or a 10% owner of the REIT) is not qualifying income for purposes of the income tests under the Code.

 

Subject to the exceptions specified in our charter, no holder may beneficially own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the constructive ownership provisions of the Code, more than 9.8% in value of the outstanding shares of our common stock. The constructive ownership rules under the Code are complex and may cause common stock owned actually or constructively by a group of related individuals or entities or both to be deemed constructively owned by one individual or entity. As a result, the acquisition of less than 9.8% of our common stock (or the acquisition of an interest in an entity which owns, actually or constructively, our common stock) by an individual or entity could cause that individual or entity (or another individual or entity) to own constructively in excess of 9.8% of our common stock, and thus subject such common stock to the ownership limit.

In addition, because rent from related party tenants is not qualifying rent for purposes of the gross income tests under the Code, our charter provides that no individual or entity may own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Code (which differ from the attribution provisions applied to the ownership limit), in excess of 9.8% in value of our outstanding common stock. We refer to this ownership limitation as the related party limit. Our board of directors may waive the ownership limit and the related party limit with respect to a particular stockholder if evidence satisfactory to our board of directors and our tax counsel is presented that such ownership will not then or in the future jeopardize our status as a REIT. As a condition of that waiver, our board of directors may require opinions of counsel satisfactory to it or an undertaking or both from the applicant with respect to preserving our REIT status. The foregoing restrictions on transferability and ownership will not apply if our board of directors determines that it is no longer in our best interests to attempt to qualify, or to continue to qualify, as a REIT. If shares of common stock in excess of the ownership limit or the related party limit, or shares which would otherwise cause the REIT to be beneficially owned by less than 100 persons or which would otherwise cause us to be “closely held” within the meaning of the Code or would otherwise result in our failure to qualify as a REIT, are issued or transferred to any person, that issuance or transfer shall be null and void to the intended transferee, and the intended transferee would acquire no rights to the stock. Shares transferred in excess of the ownership limit or the related party limit, or shares which would otherwise cause us to be “closely held” within the meaning of the Code or would otherwise result in our failure to qualify as a REIT, will automatically be exchanged for shares of a separate class of stock, which we refer to as excess stock, that will be transferred by operation of law to us as trustee for the exclusive benefit of the person or persons to whom the shares are ultimately transferred, until that time as the intended transferee retransfers the shares. While these shares are held in trust, they will not be entitled to vote or to share in any dividends or other distributions (except upon liquidation). The shares may be retransferred by the intended transferee to any person who may hold those shares at a price not to exceed either:

 

(1) the price paid by the intended transferee, or

 

(2) if the intended transferee did not give value for such shares, a price per share equal to the market value of the shares on the date of the purported transfer to the intended transferee,

 

at which point the shares will automatically be exchanged for ordinary common stock. In addition, such shares of excess stock held in trust are purchasable by us for a 90-day period at a price equal to the lesser of the price paid for the stock by the intended transferee and the market price for the stock on the date we determine to purchase the stock. This period commences on the date of the violative transfer if the intended transferee gives us notice of the transfer, or the date our board of directors determines that a violative transfer has occurred if no notice is provided.

 

All certificates representing shares of common stock will bear a legend referring to the restrictions described above.

 

All persons who own, directly or by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Code, more than a specified percentage of the outstanding shares of common stock must file an affidavit with us containing the information specified in our charter within 30 days after January 1 of each year. In addition, each common stockholder shall upon demand be required to disclose to us in writing such information with respect to the actual and constructive ownership of shares as our board of directors deems necessary to comply with the provisions of the Code applicable to a REIT or to comply with the requirements of any taxing authority or governmental agency.

 

The registrar and transfer agent for our common stock is The Bank of New York.

 

We may issue common stock warrants for the purchase of our common stock. Common stock warrants may be issued independently or together with any of the other securities offered by this prospectus that are offered by any prospectus supplement and may be attached to or separate from the securities offered by this prospectus. Each series of common stock warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the common stock warrants of such series and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of common stock warrants.

 

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the common stock warrants in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered, including, where applicable, the following:

 

(1) the title of those common stock warrants;

 

(2) the aggregate number of those common stock warrants;

 

(3) the price or prices at which those common stock warrants will be issued;

 

(4) the designation, number and terms of the shares of common stock purchasable upon exercise of those common stock warrants;

 

(5) the designation and terms of the other securities offered by this prospectus with which the common stock warrants are issued and the number of those common stock warrants issued with each security offered by this prospectus;

 

(6) the date, if any, on and after which those common stock warrants and the related common stock will be separately transferable;

 

(7) the price at which each share of common stock purchasable upon exercise of those common stock warrants may be purchased;

 

(8) the date on which the right to exercise those common stock warrants shall commence and the date on which that right shall expire;

 

(9) the minimum or maximum amount of those common stock warrants which may be exercised at any one time;

 

(10) information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;

 

(11) a discussion of federal income tax considerations; and

 

(12) any other material terms of those common stock warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of those common stock warrants.

 

We are authorized to issue 3,600,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share, 345,000 shares of 73/4% Class A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value per share, 230,000 shares of 81/2% Class B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value per share, 460,000 shares of 83/8% Class C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value per share, 700,000 shares of 71/2% Class D Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value per share, 65,000 shares of Class E Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value per share, and 700,000 shares of 6.65% Class F Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value per share. We are also authorized to issue 345,000 shares of Class A Excess Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value per share, 230,000 shares of Class B Excess Preferred Stock, $1.00 par

value per share, 460,000 shares of Class C Excess Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value per share, 700,000 shares of Class D Excess Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value per share, 65,000 shares of Class E Excess Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value per share, and 700,000 shares of Class F Excess Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value per share, which are reserved for issuance upon conversion of certain outstanding Class A preferred stock, Class B preferred stock, Class C preferred stock, Class D preferred stock, Class E preferred stock or Class F preferred stock, as the case may be, as necessary to preserve our status as a REIT. At May 1, 2006, 700,000 shares of Class F preferred stock, represented by 7,000,000 depositary shares, were outstanding.

 

Under our charter, our board of directors may from time to time establish and issue one or more classes or series of preferred stock and fix the designations, powers, preferences and rights of the shares of such classes or series and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereon, including, but not limited to, the fixing of the dividend rights, dividend rate or rates, conversion rights, voting rights, rights and terms of redemption (including sinking fund provisions) and the liquidation preferences.

 

The following description of our preferred stock sets forth certain general terms and provisions of our preferred stock to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The statements below describing the preferred stock are in all respects subject to and qualified in their entirety by reference to the applicable provisions of our charter (including the applicable articles supplementary) and bylaws.

 

General

 

Subject to limitations prescribed by Maryland law and our charter, our board of directors is authorized to fix the number of shares constituting each class or series of preferred stock and the designations and powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including those provisions as may be desired concerning voting, redemption, dividends, dissolution or the distribution of assets, conversion or exchange, and those other subjects or matters as may be fixed by resolution of our board of directors or duly authorized committee thereof. The preferred stock will, when issued, be fully paid and nonassessable and, except as may be determined by our board of directors and set forth in the Articles Supplementary setting forth the terms of any class or series of preferred stock, will not have, or be subject to, any preemptive or similar rights.

 

You should refer to the prospectus supplement relating to the class or series of preferred stock offered thereby for specific terms, including:

 

(1) The class or series, title and stated value of that preferred stock;

 

(2) The number of shares of that preferred stock offered, the liquidation preference per share and the offering price of that preferred stock;

 

(3) The dividend rate(s), period(s) and/or payment date(s) or method(s) of calculation thereof applicable to that preferred stock;

 

(4) Whether dividends on that preferred stock shall be cumulative or not and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends on that preferred stock shall accumulate;

 

(5) The procedures for any auction and remarketing, if any, for that preferred stock;

 

(6) Provisions for a sinking fund, if any, for that preferred stock;

 

(7) Provisions for redemption, if applicable, of that preferred stock;

 

(8) Any listing of that preferred stock on any securities exchange;

 

(9) The terms and conditions, if applicable, upon which that preferred stock will be convertible into our common stock, including the conversion price (or manner of calculation thereof);

(10) Whether interests in that preferred stock will be represented by our depositary shares;

 

(11) The relative ranking and preference of the preferred stock as to distribution rights and rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up if other than as described in this prospectus;

 

(12) Any limitations on issuance of any other series of preferred stock ranking senior to or on a parity with the preferred stock as to distribution rights and rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up;

 

(13) A discussion of certain federal income tax considerations applicable to that preferred stock;

 

(14) Any limitations on actual, beneficial or constructive ownership and restrictions on transfer of that preferred stock and, if convertible, the related common stock, in each case as may be appropriate to preserve our status as a REIT; and

 

(15) Any other material terms, preferences, rights, limitations or restrictions of that preferred stock.

 

Rank

 

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement and the articles supplementary setting forth the terms of any class or series of preferred stock, the preferred stock will, with respect to rights to the payment of dividends and distribution of our assets and rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, rank:

 

(1) senior to all classes or series of our common stock and excess stock and to all of our equity securities the terms of which provide that those equity securities are junior to the preferred stock;

 

(2) on a parity with all of our equity securities other than those referred to in clauses (1) and (3); and

 

(3) junior to all of our equity securities the terms of which provide that those equity securities will rank senior to it.

 

For these purposes, the term “equity securities” does not include convertible debt securities.

 

Dividends

 

Holders of shares of our preferred stock of each class or series shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if authorized by our board of directors and declared by us, out of our assets legally available for payment, cash dividends at rates and on dates that will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement and the articles supplementary setting forth the terms of any class or series of preferred stock. Each dividend shall be payable to holders of record as they appear on our stock transfer books on the record dates as shall be fixed by our board of directors.

 

Dividends on any class or series of our preferred stock may be cumulative or non-cumulative, as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement and the articles supplementary setting forth the terms of any class or series of preferred stock. Dividends, if cumulative, will accumulate from and after the date set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement and the articles supplementary setting forth the terms of any class or series of preferred stock. If our board of directors fails to authorize a dividend payable on a dividend payment date on any class or series of our preferred stock for which dividends are noncumulative, then the holders of that class or series of our preferred stock will have no right to receive a dividend in respect of the dividend period ending on that dividend payment date, and we will have no obligation to pay the dividend accrued for that period, whether or not dividends on that class or series are declared payable on any future dividend payment date.

 

If any shares of our preferred stock of any class or series are outstanding, no full dividends shall be authorized or paid or set apart for payment on our preferred stock of any other class or series ranking, as to dividends, on a parity with or junior to the preferred stock of that class or series for any period unless:

(1) if that class or series of preferred stock has a cumulative dividend, full cumulative dividends have been or contemporaneously are authorized and paid or authorized and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set part for that payment on the preferred stock of that class or series for all past dividend periods and the then current dividend period, or

 

(2) if that class or series of preferred stock does not have a cumulative dividend, full dividends for the then current dividend period have been or contemporaneously are authorized and paid or authorized and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart for that payment on the preferred stock of that class or series.

 

When dividends are not paid in full (or a sum sufficient for their full payment is not so set apart) upon the shares of preferred stock of any class or series and the shares of any other class or series of preferred stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with the preferred stock of that class or series, all dividends declared upon shares of preferred stock of that class or series and any other class or series of preferred stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with that preferred stock shall be authorized pro rata so that the amount of dividends authorized per share on the preferred stock of that class or series and that other class or series of preferred stock shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accrued and unpaid dividends per share on the shares of preferred stock of that class or series (which shall not include any accumulation in respect of unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods if that preferred stock does not have a cumulative dividend) and that other class or series of preferred stock bear to each other. No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on preferred stock of that series that may be in arrears.

 

Except as provided in the immediately preceding paragraph, unless: (1) if that class or series of preferred stock has a cumulative dividend, full cumulative dividends on the preferred stock of that class or series have been or contemporaneously are authorized and paid or authorized and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart for payment for all past dividend periods and the then current dividend period; and (2) if that class or series of preferred stock does not have a cumulative dividend, full dividends on the preferred stock of that class or series have been or contemporaneously are authorized and paid or authorized and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside for payment for the then current dividend period, then no dividends (other than in our common stock or other stock ranking junior to the preferred stock of that class or series as to dividends and upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up) shall be authorized or paid or set aside for payment or other distribution shall be authorized or made upon our common stock, excess stock or any of our other stock ranking junior to or on a parity with the preferred stock of that class or series as to dividends or upon liquidation, nor shall any common stock, excess stock or any of our other stock ranking junior to or on a parity with the preferred stock of such class or series as to dividends or upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired for any consideration (or any moneys be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any shares of that stock) by us (except by conversion into or exchange for other of our stock ranking junior to the preferred stock of that class or series as to dividends and upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up).

 

Any dividend payment made on shares of a class or series of preferred stock shall first be credited against the earliest accrued but unpaid dividend due with respect to shares of that class or series which remains payable.

 

Redemption

 

If the applicable prospectus supplement and the articles supplementary setting forth the terms of any class or series of preferred stock so states, the shares of preferred stock will be subject to mandatory redemption or redemption at our option, in whole or in part, in each case on the terms, at the times and at the redemption prices set forth in that prospectus supplement and the articles supplementary setting forth the terms of any class or series of preferred stock.

 

The prospectus supplement relating to a class or series of preferred stock that is subject to mandatory redemption will specify the number of shares of that preferred stock that shall be redeemed by us in each year commencing after a date to be specified, at a redemption price per share to be specified, together with an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon (which shall not, if that preferred stock does not have a cumulative dividend, include any accumulation in respect of unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods) to the date of redemption. The redemption price may be payable in cash or other property, as specified in the applicable

prospectus supplement. If the redemption price for preferred stock of any series is payable only from the net proceeds of the issuance of our stock, the terms of that preferred stock may provide that, if no such stock shall have been issued or to the extent the net proceeds from any issuance are insufficient to pay in full the aggregate redemption price then due, that preferred stock shall automatically and mandatorily be converted into shares of our applicable stock pursuant to conversion provisions specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless:

 

(1) if that class or series of preferred stock has a cumulative dividend, full cumulative dividends on all shares of any class or series of preferred stock shall have been or contemporaneously are authorized and paid or authorized and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart for payment for all past dividend periods and the then current dividend period; and

 

(2) if that class or series of preferred stock does not have a cumulative dividend, full dividends on the preferred stock of any class or series have been or contemporaneously are authorized and paid or authorized and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart for payment for the then current dividend period.

 

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement and the articles supplementary setting forth the terms of any class or series of preferred stock , no shares of any class or series of preferred stock shall be redeemed unless all outstanding shares of preferred stock of that class or series are simultaneously redeemed; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prevent the purchase or acquisition of shares of preferred stock of that class or series pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to holders of all outstanding shares of preferred stock of that class or series.

 

In addition, unless:

 

(1) if that class or series of preferred stock has a cumulative dividend, full cumulative dividends on all outstanding shares of any class or series of preferred stock have been or contemporaneously are authorized and paid or authorized and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart for payment for all past dividend periods and the then current dividend period; and

 

(2) if that class or series of preferred stock does not have a cumulative dividend, full dividends on the preferred stock of any class or series have been or contemporaneously are authorized and paid or authorized and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart for payment for the then current dividend period;

 

(3) we shall not purchase or otherwise acquire directly or indirectly any shares of preferred stock of that class or series (except by conversion into or exchange for our stock ranking junior to the preferred stock of that class or series as to dividends and upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up).

 

If fewer than all of the outstanding shares of preferred stock of any class or series are to be redeemed, the number of shares to be redeemed will be determined by us and those shares may be redeemed pro rata from the holders of record of those shares in proportion to the number of those shares held by those holders (with adjustments to avoid redemption of fractional shares) or any other equitable method determined by us that will not result in the issuance of any excess preferred stock.

 

Notice of redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of record of a share of preferred stock of any class or series to be redeemed at the address shown on our stock transfer books. Each notice shall state:

 

(1) the redemption date;

 

(2) the number of shares and class or series of the preferred stock to be redeemed;

(3) the redemption price;

 

(4) the place or places where certificates for that preferred stock are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price;

 

(5) that dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on that redemption date; and

 

(6) the date upon which the holder’s conversion rights, if any, as to those shares shall terminate.

 

If fewer than all the shares of preferred stock of any class or series are to be redeemed, the notice mailed to each holder thereof shall also specify the number of shares of preferred stock to be redeemed from each holder. If notice of redemption of any shares of preferred stock has been given and if the funds necessary for that redemption have been set apart by us in trust for the benefit of the holders of any shares of preferred stock so called for redemption, then from and after the redemption date dividends will cease to accrue on those shares of preferred stock, those shares of preferred stock shall no longer be deemed outstanding and all rights of the holders of those shares will terminate, except the right to receive the redemption price.

 

Liquidation Preference

 

Upon our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, then, before any distribution or payment shall be made to the holders of any common stock, excess stock or any other class or series of our stock ranking junior to that class or series of preferred stock in the distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of each class or series of preferred stock shall be entitled to receive out of our assets legally available for distribution to stockholders liquidating distributions in the amount of the liquidation preference per share (set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement), plus an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon (which shall not include any accumulation in respect of unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods if that class or series of preferred stock does not have a cumulative dividend). After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distributions to which they are entitled, the holders of that class or series of preferred stock will have no right or claim to any of our remaining assets. If, upon our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, our legally available assets are insufficient to pay the amount of the liquidating distributions on all outstanding shares of that class or series of preferred stock and the corresponding amounts payable on all shares of other classes or series of our stock ranking on a parity with that class or series of preferred stock in the distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, then the holders of that class or series of preferred stock and all other classes or series of stock shall share ratably in that distribution of assets in proportion to the full liquidating distributions to which they would otherwise be respectively entitled.

 

If liquidating distributions shall have been made in full to all holders of shares of that class or series of preferred stock, our remaining assets shall be distributed among the holders of any other classes or series of stock ranking junior to that class or series of preferred stock upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, according to their respective rights and preferences and in each case according to their respective number of shares. For those purposes, neither our consolidation or merger with or into any other corporation, trust or other entity nor the sale, lease, transfer or conveyance of all or substantially all of our property or business shall be deemed to constitute our liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

 

Voting Rights

 

Except as set forth below or as otherwise from time to time required by law or as indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement and the articles supplementary setting forth the terms of any class or series of preferred stock, holders of preferred stock will not have any voting rights.

 

Whenever dividends on any shares of that class or series of preferred stock shall be in arrears for six or more quarterly periods, regardless of whether those quarterly periods are consecutive, the holders of those shares of that class or series of preferred stock (voting separately as a class with all other classes or series of preferred stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable) will be entitled to vote for the election of two additional directors to our board of directors (and our entire board of directors will be increased by two directors) at

a special meeting called by one of our officers at the request of a holder of that class or series of preferred stock or, if that special meeting is not called by that officer within 30 days, at a special meeting called by a holder of that class or series of preferred stock designated by the holders of record of at least 10% of the shares of any of those classes or series of preferred stock (unless that request is received less than 90 days before the date fixed for the next annual or special meeting of the stockholders), or at the next annual meeting of stockholders, and at each subsequent annual meeting until:

 

(1) if that class or series of preferred stock has a cumulative dividend, then all dividends accumulated on those shares of preferred stock for the past dividend periods and the then current dividend period shall have been fully paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart for payment, or

 

(2) if that class or series of preferred stock does not have a cumulative dividend, then four consecutive quarterly dividends shall have been fully paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart for payment.

 

Unless provided otherwise for any series of preferred stock, so long as any shares of preferred stock remain outstanding, we shall not, without the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of the shares of each class or series of preferred stock outstanding at the time, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or at a meeting (that class or series voting separately as a class),

 

(1) authorize or create, or increase the authorized or issued amount of, any class or series of stock ranking senior to that class or series of preferred stock with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up or reclassify any of our authorized stock into those shares, or create, authorize or issue any obligation or security convertible into or evidencing the right to purchase those shares; or

 

(2) amend, alter or repeal the provisions of the charter in respect of that class or series of preferred stock, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, so as to materially and adversely affect any right, preference, privilege or voting power of that class or series of preferred stock; provided, however, that any increase in the amount of the authorized preferred stock or the creation or issuance of any other class or series of preferred stock, or any increase in the number of authorized shares of that class or series, in each case ranking on a parity with or junior to the preferred stock of that class or series with respect to payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect those rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers.

 

The foregoing voting provisions will not apply if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which that vote would otherwise be required shall be effected, all outstanding shares of that class or series of preferred stock shall have been redeemed or called for redemption upon proper notice and sufficient funds shall have been irrevocably deposited in trust to effect that redemption.

 

Conversion Rights

 

The terms and conditions, if any, upon which shares of any class or series of preferred stock are convertible into common stock, debt securities or another series of preferred stock will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating thereto and the articles supplementary setting forth the terms of any class or series of preferred stock. Such terms will include the number of shares of common stock or those other series of preferred stock or the principal amount of debt securities into which the preferred stock is convertible, the conversion price (or manner of calculation thereof), the conversion period, provisions as to whether conversion will be at our option or at the option of the holders of that class or series of preferred stock, the events requiring an adjustment of the conversion price and provisions affecting conversion in the event of the redemption of that class or series of preferred stock.

Restrictions on Ownership

 

As discussed above under “Description of Common Stock — Restrictions on Ownership,” for us to qualify as a REIT under the Code, not more than 50% in value of our outstanding stock may be owned, actually or constructively, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities) during the last half of a taxable year. Our stock also must be beneficially owned by 100 or more persons during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months (or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year). In addition, rent from related party tenants (generally, a tenant of a REIT owned, actually or constructively 10% or more by the REIT, or a 10% owner of the REIT) is not qualifying income for purposes of the gross income tests under the Code. Therefore, the applicable articles supplementary for each class or series of preferred stock will contain certain provisions restricting the ownership and transfer of that class or series of preferred stock. Except as otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating thereto, the provisions of each applicable articles supplementary relating to the ownership limit for any class or series of preferred stock will provide as follows:

 

Our preferred stock ownership limit provision will provide that, subject to some exceptions, no holder of that class or series of preferred stock may own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the constructive ownership provisions of the Code, preferred stock in excess of the preferred stock ownership limit, which will be equal to 9.8% of the outstanding preferred stock of any class or series. The constructive ownership rules under the Code are complex and may cause preferred stock owned actually or constructively by a group of related individuals and/or entities to be deemed to be constructively owned by one individual or entity. As a result, the acquisition of less than 9.8% of any class or series of our preferred stock (or the acquisition of an interest in an entity which owns, actually or constructively, preferred stock) by an individual or entity could cause that individual or entity (or another individual or entity) to own constructively in excess of 9.8% of that class or series of preferred stock, and thus subject that preferred stock to the preferred stock ownership limit.

 

Our board of directors will be entitled to waive the preferred stock ownership limit with respect to a particular stockholder if evidence satisfactory to our board of directors, with advice of our tax counsel, is presented that the ownership will not then or in the future jeopardize our status as a REIT. As a condition of that waiver, our board of directors may require opinions of counsel satisfactory to it or an undertaking or both from the applicant with respect to preserving our REIT status.

DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

 

General

 

We may issue depositary shares, each of which will represent a fractional interest of a share of a particular class or series of our preferred stock, as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Shares of a class or series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares will be deposited under a separate deposit agreement among us, the depositary named therein and the holders from time to time of the depositary receipts issued by the preferred stock depositary which will evidence the depositary shares. Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, each owner of a depositary receipt will be entitled, in proportion to the fractional interest of a share of a particular class or series of preferred stock represented by the depositary shares evidenced by that depositary receipt, to all the rights and preferences of the class or series of preferred stock represented by those depositary shares (including dividend, voting, conversion, redemption and liquidation rights).

 

The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the applicable deposit agreement. Immediately following the issuance and delivery of a class or series of preferred stock by us to the preferred stock depositary, we will cause the preferred stock depositary to issue, on our behalf, the depositary receipts. Copies of the applicable form of deposit agreement and depositary receipt may be obtained from us upon request, and the statements made hereunder relating to the deposit agreement and the depositary receipts to be issued thereunder are summaries of certain provisions thereof and do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the applicable deposit agreement and related depositary receipts.

 

Dividends and Other Distributions

 

The preferred stock depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received in respect of a class or series of preferred stock to the record holders of depositary receipts evidencing the related depositary shares in proportion to the number of those depositary receipts owned by those holders, subject to certain obligations of holders to file proofs, certificates and other information and to pay certain charges and expenses to the preferred stock depositary.

 

In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the preferred stock depositary will distribute property received by it to the record holders of depositary receipts entitled thereto, subject to certain obligations of holders to file proofs, certificates and other information and to pay certain charges and expenses to the preferred stock depositary, unless the preferred stock depositary determines that it is not feasible to make that distribution, in which case the preferred stock depositary may, with our approval, sell that property and distribute the net proceeds from that sale to those holders.

 

No distribution will be made in respect of any depositary share to the extent that it represents any class or series of preferred stock converted into excess preferred stock or otherwise converted or exchanged.

 

Withdrawal of Preferred Stock

 

Upon surrender of the depositary receipts at the corporate trust office of the preferred stock depositary (unless the related depositary shares have previously been called for redemption or converted into excess preferred stock or otherwise), the holders thereof will be entitled to delivery at that office, to or upon that holder’s order, of the number of whole or fractional shares of the class or series of preferred stock and any money or other property represented by the depositary shares evidenced by those depositary receipts. Holders of depositary receipts will be entitled to receive whole or fractional shares of the related class or series of preferred stock on the basis of the proportion of preferred stock represented by each depositary share as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, but holders of those shares of preferred stock will not thereafter be entitled to receive depositary shares therefor. If the depositary receipts delivered by the holder evidence a number of depositary shares in excess of the number of depositary shares representing the number of shares of preferred stock to be withdrawn, the preferred stock depositary will deliver to that holder at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing the excess number of depositary shares.

Redemption

 

Whenever we redeem shares of a class or series of preferred stock held by the preferred stock depositary, the preferred stock depositary will redeem as of the same redemption date the number of depositary shares representing shares of the class or series of preferred stock so redeemed, provided we shall have paid in full to the preferred stock depositary the redemption price of the preferred stock to be redeemed plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the date fixed for redemption. The redemption price per depositary share will be equal to the corresponding proportion of the redemption price and any other amounts per share payable with respect to that class or series of preferred stock. If fewer than all the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected pro rata (as nearly as may be practicable without creating fractional depositary shares) or by any other equitable method determined by us that will not result in the issuance of any excess preferred stock.

 

From and after the date fixed for redemption, all dividends in respect of the shares of a class or series of preferred stock so called for redemption will cease to accrue, the depositary shares so called for redemption will no longer be deemed to be outstanding and all rights of the holders of the depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares so called for redemption will cease, except the right to receive any moneys payable upon their redemption and any money or other property to which the holders of those depositary receipts were entitled upon their redemption and surrender thereof to the preferred stock depositary.

 

Voting

 

Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of a class or series of preferred stock deposited with the preferred stock depositary are entitled to vote, the preferred stock depositary will mail the information contained in that notice of meeting to the record holders of the depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares which represent that class or series of preferred stock. Each record holder of depositary receipts evidencing depositary shares on the record date (which will be the same date as the record date for that class or series of preferred stock) will be entitled to instruct the preferred stock depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the amount of preferred stock represented by that holder’s depositary shares. The preferred stock depositary will vote the amount of that class or series of preferred stock represented by those depositary shares in accordance with those instructions, and we will agree to take all reasonable action which may be deemed necessary by the preferred stock depositary in order to enable the preferred stock depositary to do so. The preferred stock depositary will abstain from voting the amount of that class or series of preferred stock represented by those depositary shares to the extent it does not receive specific instructions from the holders of depositary receipts evidencing those depositary shares. The preferred stock depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to carry out any instruction to vote, or for the manner or effect of any vote made, as long as that action or non-action is in good faith and does not result from negligence or willful misconduct of the preferred stock depositary.

 

Liquidation Preference

 

In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of each depositary receipt will be entitled to the fraction of the liquidation preference accorded each share of preferred stock represented by the depositary shares evidenced by that depositary receipt, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Conversion

 

The depositary shares, as such, are not generally convertible into our common stock (except as set forth in the proviso below) or any of our other securities or property, except in connection with certain conversions in connection with the preservation of our status as a REIT; provided that the depositary shares representing our Class D preferred stock are convertible into our common stock. Nevertheless, if so specified in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to an offering of depositary shares, the depositary receipts may be surrendered by holders thereof to the preferred stock depositary with written instructions to the preferred stock depositary to instruct us to cause conversion of a class or series of preferred stock represented by the depositary shares evidenced by those depositary receipts into whole shares of our common stock, other shares of a class or series of preferred stock (including excess preferred stock) or other shares of stock, and we have agreed that upon receipt of those

instructions and any amounts payable in respect thereof, we will cause the conversion thereof utilizing the same procedures as those provided for delivery of preferred stock to effect that conversion. If the depositary shares evidenced by a depositary receipt are to be converted in part only, a new depositary receipt or receipts will be issued for any depositary shares not to be converted. No fractional shares of common stock will be issued upon conversion, and if that conversion would result in a fractional share being issued, an amount will be paid in cash by us equal to the value of the fractional interest based upon the closing price of the common stock on the last business day prior to the conversion.

 

Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement

 

The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares which represent the preferred stock and any provision of the deposit agreement may at any time be amended by agreement between us and the preferred stock depositary. However, any amendment that materially and adversely alters the rights of the holders of depositary receipts or that would be materially and adversely inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the related class or series of preferred stock will not be effective unless that amendment has been approved by the existing holders of at least two thirds of the depositary shares evidenced by the depositary receipts then outstanding. No amendment shall impair the right, subject to certain exceptions in the deposit agreement, of any holder of depositary receipts to surrender any depositary receipt with instructions to deliver to the holder the related class or series of preferred stock and all money and other property, if any, represented thereby, except in order to comply with law. Every holder of an outstanding depositary receipt at the time any of those types of amendments becomes effective shall be deemed, by continuing to hold that depositary receipt, to consent and agree to that amendment and to be bound by the deposit agreement as amended thereby.

 

We may terminate the deposit agreement upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice to the preferred stock depositary if:

 

(1) such termination is necessary to preserve our status as a REIT, or

 

(2) a majority of each class or series of preferred stock subject to that deposit agreement consents to that termination, whereupon the preferred stock depositary shall deliver or make available to each holder of depositary receipts, upon surrender of the depositary receipts held by that holder, that number of whole or fractional shares of each class or series of preferred stock as are represented by the depositary shares evidenced by those depositary receipts together with any other property held by the preferred stock depositary with respect to those depositary receipts.

 

We have agreed that if the deposit agreement is terminated to preserve our status as a REIT, then we will use our best efforts to list each class or series of preferred stock issued upon surrender of the related depositary shares on a national securities exchange. In addition, the deposit agreement will automatically terminate if:

 

(1) all outstanding depositary shares issued thereunder shall have been redeemed,

 

(2) there shall have been a final distribution in respect of each class or series of preferred stock subject to that deposit agreement in connection with our liquidation, dissolution or winding up and that distribution shall have been distributed to the holders of depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares representing that class or series of preferred stock , or

 

(3) each share of preferred stock subject to that deposit agreement shall have been converted into our stock not so represented by depositary shares.

 

Charges of Preferred Stock Depositary

 

We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the deposit agreement. In addition, we will pay the fees and expenses of the preferred stock depositary in connection with the performance of its duties under the deposit agreement. However, holders of depositary receipts will pay the

fees and expenses of the preferred stock depositary for any duties requested by those holders to be performed which are outside of those expressly provided for in the deposit agreement.

 

Resignation and Removal of Preferred Stock Depositary

 

The preferred stock depositary may resign at any time by delivering notice to us of its election to do so, and we may at any time remove the preferred stock depositary, that resignation or removal to take effect upon the appointment of a successor preferred stock depositary. A successor preferred stock depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000.

 

Miscellaneous

 

The preferred stock depositary will forward to holders of depositary receipts any reports and communications from us which are received by it with respect to the related preferred stock.

 

Neither we nor the preferred stock depositary will be liable if it is prevented from or delayed in, by law or any circumstances beyond its control, performing its obligations under the deposit agreement. Our obligations and those of the preferred stock depositary under the deposit agreement will be limited to performing our respective duties thereunder in good faith and without negligence (in the case of any action or inaction in the voting of a class or series of preferred stock represented by the depositary shares), gross negligence or willful misconduct, and neither we nor the preferred stock depositary will be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary receipts, depositary shares or shares of a class or series of preferred stock represented thereby unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. We and the preferred stock depositary may rely on written advice of counsel or accountants, or information provided by persons presenting shares of a class or series of preferred stock represented thereby for deposit, holders of depositary receipts or other persons believed in good faith to be competent to give that information, and on documents believed in good faith to be genuine and signed by a proper party.

 

In the event the preferred stock depositary shall receive conflicting claims, requests or instructions from any holders of depositary receipts, on the one hand, and us, on the other hand, the preferred stock depositary shall be entitled to act on those claims, requests or instructions received from us.

 

The following is a summary of the federal income tax considerations to us related to our REIT election which are anticipated to be material to purchasers of the securities offered by this prospectus. This summary is for general information only and is not tax advice. Your tax treatment will vary depending upon the terms of the specific securities that you acquire, as well as your particular situation. This discussion does not attempt to address any aspects of federal income taxation relevant to your ownership of the securities offered by this prospectus. Instead, the material United States federal income tax considerations relevant to your ownership of the securities offered by this prospectus may be provided in the applicable prospectus supplement relating thereto.

 

The information in this section is based on:

 

 

 

in each case, as of the date of this prospectus. In addition, the administrative interpretations and practices of the Internal Revenue Service include its practices and policies as expressed in private letter rulings which are not binding on the Internal Revenue Service, except with respect to the particular taxpayers who requested and received those rulings. Future legislation, Treasury Regulations, administrative interpretations and practices and/or court decisions may adversely affect the tax considerations contained in this discussion or the desirability of an investment in a REIT relative to other investments. Any change could apply retroactively to transactions preceding the date of the change. Except as described below, we have not requested and do not intend to request a ruling from the IRS that we qualify as a REIT, and the statements in this prospectus are not binding on the Internal Revenue Service or any court. Thus, we can provide no assurance that the tax considerations contained in this discussion will not be challenged by the Internal Revenue Service or if challenged, will be sustained by a court. This summary does not discuss any state, local or foreign tax consequences associated with our election to be taxed as a REIT.

 

You are advised to consult the applicable prospectus supplement, as well as your own tax advisor, regarding the tax consequences to you of the acquisition, ownership and sale of the securities offered by this prospectus, including the federal, state, local, foreign and other tax consequences, our election to be taxed as a REIT for federal income purposes, and potential changes in the tax laws.

 

General.  We elected to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code, commencing with our taxable year beginning January 1, 1992. We believe we have been organized and have operated in a manner which allows us to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code commencing with our taxable year beginning January 1, 1992. We intend to continue to be organized and operate in this manner. However, qualification and taxation as a REIT depend upon our ability to meet the various qualification tests imposed under the Internal Revenue Code, including through actual annual operating results, asset composition, distribution levels and diversity of stock ownership. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that we have been organized and have operated, or will continue to be organized and operate, in a manner so as to qualify or remain qualified as a REIT. See “— Failure to Qualify.”

 

The sections of the Internal Revenue Code and the corresponding Treasury Regulations that relate to the qualification and operation of a REIT are highly technical and complex. The following sets forth the material aspects of the sections of the Internal Revenue Code that govern the federal income tax treatment of a REIT. This summary is qualified in its entirety by the applicable Internal Revenue Code provisions, rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof.

As a condition to the closing of each offering of the securities offered by this prospectus, other than offerings of medium term notes and as otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, our tax counsel may render an opinion to the underwriters of that offering to the effect that, commencing with our taxable year which began January 1, 1992, we have been organized in conformity with the requirements for qualification as a REIT, and our proposed method of operation will enable us to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code. It must be emphasized that this opinion will be based on various assumptions and representations to be made by us as to factual matters, including representations to be made in a factual certificate to be provided by one of our officers. Our tax counsel will have no obligation to update its opinion subsequent to its date. In addition, this opinion will be based upon our factual representations set forth in this prospectus and set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Moreover, our qualification and taxation as a REIT depends upon our ability to meet the various qualification tests imposed under the Internal Revenue Code discussed below, including through actual annual operating results, asset composition, distribution levels and diversity of stock ownership, the results of which have not been and will not be reviewed by our tax counsel. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that our actual results of operation in any particular taxable year will satisfy those requirements. See “— Failure to Qualify.” Further, the anticipated income tax treatment described in this prospectus may be changed, perhaps retroactively, by legislative, administrative or judicial action at any time.

 

If we qualify for taxation as a REIT, we generally will not be required to pay federal corporate income taxes on our net income that is currently distributed to stockholders. We will be required to pay federal income tax, however, as follows:

 

 

Requirements for Qualification.  The Internal Revenue Code defines a REIT as a corporation, trust or association:

 

(1) that is managed by one or more trustees or directors,

 

(2) that issues transferable shares or transferable certificates to evidence beneficial ownership,

 

(3) that would be taxable as a domestic corporation, but for Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code,

 

(4) that is not a financial institution or an insurance company within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code,

 

(5) that is beneficially owned by 100 or more persons,

 

(6) not more than 50% in value of the outstanding stock of which is owned, directly or constructively, by five or fewer individuals, including specified entities, during the last half of each taxable year, and

 

(7) that meets other tests, described below, regarding the nature of its income and assets and the amount of its distributions.

 

The Internal Revenue Code provides that conditions (1) to (4) must be met during the entire taxable year and that condition (5) must be met during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months, or during a proportionate part of a taxable year of less than 12 months. Conditions (5) and (6) do not apply until after the first taxable year for which an election is made to be taxed as a REIT. For purposes of condition (6), pension funds and other specified tax-exempt entities generally are treated as individuals, except that a “look-through” exception applies to pension funds.

 

We believe that we have been organized and operated in a manner that has allowed us to satisfy conditions (1) through (7) inclusive, during the relevant time periods. In addition, our charter provides, and the articles

supplementary for any series of preferred stock will provide, for restrictions regarding ownership and transfer of our stock, which restrictions are intended to assist us in continuing to satisfy the share ownership requirements described in (5) and (6) above. The ownership and transfer restrictions pertaining generally to our common stock and preferred stock are described in “Description of Common Stock — Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer” and “Description of Preferred Stock — Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer” or, to the extent those restrictions differ from those described in this prospectus, those restrictions will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. These restrictions, however, may not ensure that we will, in all cases, be able to satisfy the share ownership requirements described in (5) and (6) above. If we fail to satisfy these share ownership requirements, except as provided in the next sentence, our status as a REIT will terminate. If, however, we comply with the rules contained in the applicable Treasury Regulations requiring us to attempt to ascertain the actual ownership of our shares, and we do not know, and would not have known through the exercise of reasonable diligence, that we failed to meet the requirement set forth in condition (6) above, we will be treated as having met this requirement. See the section below entitled “— Failure to Qualify.”

 

In addition, we may not maintain our status as a REIT unless our taxable year is the calendar year. We have and will continue to have a calendar taxable year.

 

Ownership of Qualified REIT Subsidiaries and Interests in Limited Liability Companies and Partnerships.  We own and operate a number of properties through subsidiaries. A corporation which is a “qualified REIT subsidiary” shall not be treated as a separate corporation, and all assets, liabilities, and items of income, deduction, and credit of a “qualified REIT subsidiary” shall be treated as assets, liabilities and items of the REIT. Thus, in applying the requirements described herein, our “qualified REIT subsidiaries” will be ignored, and all assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction, and credit of those subsidiaries will be treated as our assets, liabilities and items. A qualified REIT subsidiary is not required to pay federal income tax, and our ownership of the stock of a qualified REIT subsidiary does not violate the restrictions on ownership of securities as described below under “— Asset Tests.” We have received a ruling from the IRS to the effect that all of the subsidiaries that were held by us prior to January 1, 1992, the effective date of our election to be taxed as a REIT, will be “qualified REIT subsidiaries” upon the effective date of our REIT election. Moreover, with respect to each subsidiary of ours formed subsequent to January 1, 1992 and prior to January 1, 1998, we have owned 100% of the stock of that subsidiary at all times during the period that subsidiary has been in existence. For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 1998, any corporation, other than a taxable REIT subsidiary, wholly owned by a REIT is permitted to be treated as a “qualified REIT subsidiary” regardless of whether that subsidiary has always been owned by the REIT.

 

In the case of a REIT which is a partner in a partnership or a member in a limited liability company treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, the REIT will be deemed to own its proportionate share of the assets of the partnership or limited liability company, as the case may be, based on its interest in partnership capital, subject to special rules relating to the 10% REIT asset test described below. Also, the REIT will be deemed to be entitled to its proportionate share of the income of that entity. The character of the assets and gross income of the partnership or limited liability company will retain the same character in the hands of the REIT for purposes of Section 856 of the Internal Revenue Code, including satisfying the gross income tests and the asset tests described below. Thus, our proportionate share of the assets, liabilities and items of income of the partnerships and limited liability companies treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes in which we are a partner or member will be treated as our assets, liabilities and items of income for purposes of applying the requirements described in this prospectus.

 

Ownership of Interests in Taxable REIT Subsidiaries.  A taxable REIT subsidiary is a corporation other than a REIT in which a REIT directly or indirectly holds stock, and that has made a joint election with the REIT to be treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary. A taxable REIT subsidiary also includes any corporation other than a REIT with respect to which a taxable REIT subsidiary owns securities possessing more than 35% of the total voting power or value of the outstanding securities of such corporation. Other than some activities relating to lodging and health care facilities, a taxable REIT subsidiary may generally engage in any business, including the provision of customary or noncustomary services to tenants of its parent REIT.

 

A taxable REIT subsidiary is subject to federal income tax, and state and local income tax where applicable, as a regular C corporation. In addition, sections of the Internal Revenue Code which apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2000 generally intended to insure that transactions between a REIT and its taxable

REIT subsidiary occur at arm’s length and on commercially reasonable terms, include a provision that may prevent a taxable REIT subsidiary from deducting interest on debt funded directly or indirectly by its parent REIT if certain tests regarding the taxable REIT subsidiary’s debt to equity ratio and interest expense are not satisfied. See “— Asset Tests.” A REIT’s ownership of securities of taxable REIT subsidiaries will not be subject to the 10% or 5% asset test described below, and their operations will be subject to the provisions described above. See “— Asset Tests.”

 

As a result of the modifications to the sections of the Internal Revenue Code which are described above and which are effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2000, we modified our ownership of Kimco Realty Service, Inc. (the “Service Company”). Effective January 1, 2001, we made a joint election with the Service Company to treat the Service Company as a taxable REIT subsidiary. In addition, effective January 1, 2001, we contributed the note that was issued to us from the Service Company to the capital of the Service Company and acquired 100% of the voting stock of the Service Company. Thus, we currently own 100% of the stock of the Service Company and there is no debt outstanding between the Service Company and us. In addition, we currently hold an interest in other taxable REIT subsidiaries and may acquire securities in additional taxable REIT subsidiaries in the future.

 

Income Tests.  We must satisfy two gross income requirements annually to maintain our qualification as a REIT:

 

 

For these purposes, the term “interest” generally does not include any amount received or accrued, directly or indirectly, if the determination of that amount depends in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person. However, an amount received or accrued generally will not be excluded from the term “interest” solely by reason of being based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales.

 

Rents we receive from a tenant will qualify as “rents from real property” in satisfying the gross income requirements for a REIT described above only if the following conditions are met:

 

 

 

We have received a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service providing that the performance of the types of services provided by us will not cause the rents received with respect to those leases to fail to qualify as “rents from real property.” In addition, we generally do not intend to receive rent which fails to satisfy any of the above conditions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we may have taken and may continue to take some of the actions set forth above to the extent we believe those actions will not, based on the advice of our tax counsel, jeopardize our status as a REIT.

 

Income we receive that is attributable to the rental of parking spaces at the properties will constitute rents from real property for purposes of the REIT gross income tests if certain services provided with respect to the parking spaces are performed by independent contractors from whom we derive no revenue, either directly or indirectly, or by a taxable REIT subsidiary, and certain other conditions are met. We believe that the income we receive that is attributable to parking spaces meets these tests and, accordingly, will constitute rents from real property for purposes of the REIT gross income tests.

 

From time to time, we enter into hedging transactions with respect to one or more of our assets or liabilities. Our hedging activities may include entering into interest rate swaps, caps, and floors, options to purchase these items, and futures and forward contracts. Any income we derive from a hedging transaction will be nonqualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test. Except to the extent provided by Treasury Regulations, however, income from a hedging transaction, including gain from the sale or disposition of such a transaction, entered into prior to January 1, 2005 will be qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test, but only to the extent that the transaction hedges indebtedness incurred or to be incurred by us to acquire or carry real estate. Income from such a hedging transaction entered into on or after January 1, 2005 that is clearly identified as such as specified in the Internal Revenue Code will not constitute gross income for purposes of the 95% gross income test, and therefore will be exempt from this test. The term “hedging transaction,” as used above, generally means any transaction we enter into in the normal course of our business primarily to manage risk of interest rate changes or fluctuations with respect to borrowings made or to be made by us.

 

To the extent that we hedge with other types of financial instruments, the income from those transactions is not likely to be treated as qualifying income for purposes of the gross income tests. We intend to structure any hedging transactions in a manner that does not jeopardize our status as a REIT. To the extent our taxable REIT subsidiary pays dividends, such dividend income will qualify under the 95%, but not the 75%, REIT gross income test. We intend to monitor the amount of the dividend and other income from our taxable REIT subsidiaries and we intend to take actions to keep this income, and any other nonqualifying income, within the limitations of the REIT income tests. While we expect these actions will prevent a violation of the REIT income tests, we cannot guarantee that such actions will in all cases prevent such a violation.

 

If we fail to satisfy one or both of the 75% or 95% gross income tests for any taxable year, we may nevertheless qualify as a REIT if we are entitled to relief under the Internal Revenue Code. Commencing with our taxable year beginning January 1, 2005, we may avail ourselves of the relief provisions if:

 

 

It is not possible, however, to state whether in all circumstances we would be entitled to the benefit of these relief provisions. As discussed above under “— General,” even if these relief provisions apply, a tax would be imposed with respect to our nonqualifying income. We may not always be able to comply with the gross income tests for REIT qualification despite periodic monitoring of our income.

 

Prohibited Transaction Income. Any gain that we realize on the sale of any property held as inventory or otherwise held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business will be treated as income from a prohibited transaction that is subject to a 100% penalty tax. This prohibited transaction income may also have an adverse effect upon our ability to satisfy the income tests for qualification as a REIT. Under existing law, whether property is held as inventory or primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business is a question of fact that depends on all the facts and circumstances with respect to the particular transaction. We hold our properties for investment with a view to long-term appreciation, we are engaged in the business of acquiring, developing, owning and operating our properties and we make such occasional sales of the properties as are consistent with our investment objectives. There can be no assurance, however, that the Internal Revenue Service might not contend that one or more of those sales is subject to the 100% penalty tax.

 

Penalty Tax.  Any redetermined rents, redetermined deductions or excess interest we generate will be subject to a 100% penalty tax. In general, redetermined rents are rents from real property that are overstated as a result of services furnished by a taxable REIT subsidiary to any of our tenants, and redetermined deductions and excess interest represent amounts that are deducted by a taxable REIT subsidiary for amounts paid to us that are in excess of the amounts that would have been deducted based on arm’s length negotiations. Rents we receive will not constitute redetermined rents if they qualify for the safe harbor provisions contained in the Internal Revenue Code. Safe harbor provisions are provided where:

 

Asset Tests.  At the close of each quarter of our taxable year, we also must satisfy the following tests relating to the nature and composition of our assets.

 

 

We currently have numerous direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries. As set forth above, the ownership of more than 10% of the voting securities of any one issuer by a REIT is prohibited unless such subsidiary is a taxable REIT subsidiary. However, if our subsidiaries are “qualified REIT subsidiaries” as defined in the Internal Revenue Code, those subsidiaries will not be treated as separate corporations for federal income tax purposes. Thus, our ownership of stock of a “qualified REIT subsidiary” will not cause us to fail the asset tests.

 

Prior to January 1, 2001, we owned 100% of the nonvoting preferred stock of the Service Company and did not own any of the voting securities of the Service Company. Effective January 1, 2001, we made a joint election with the Service Company to treat the Service Company as a taxable REIT subsidiary. In addition, effective January 1, 2001, we acquired 100% of the voting stock of the Service Company and currently own 100% of the stock of the Service Company. We believe, and will represent to our counsel for purposes of its opinion, that (i) the value of the securities of the Service Company held by us did not exceed at the close of any quarter during a taxable year that ended on or prior to December 31, 2000 5% of the total value of our assets and (ii) the value of the securities of all our taxable REIT subsidiaries has not exceeded and will not exceed more than 20% of the value of our total assets at the close of each quarter during a taxable year that begins after December 31, 2000. Our tax counsel, in rendering its opinion as to our qualification as a REIT, will be relying on our representations to that effect with respect to the value of those securities and assets. No independent appraisals will be obtained to support this conclusion. There can be no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service will not contend that the value of the securities of the Service Company held by us exceeds the applicable value limitation.

 

After initially meeting the asset tests at the close of any quarter, we will not lose our status as a REIT for failure to satisfy the asset tests at the end of a later quarter solely by reason of changes in asset values. If the failure to satisfy the asset tests results from an acquisition of securities or other property during a quarter, the failure can be cured by the disposition of sufficient nonqualifying assets within 30 days after the close of the quarter. We intend to maintain adequate records of the value of our assets to ensure compliance with the asset tests and to take such other actions within 30 days after the close of any quarter as may be required to cure any noncompliance. If we fail to

cure any noncompliance with the asset tests within the 30 day cure period, we would cease to qualify as a REIT unless we are eligible for certain relief provisions discussed below.

 

Certain relief provisions may be available to us if we discover a failure to satisfy the asset tests described above after the 30 day cure period. Under these provisions, we will be deemed to have met the 5% and 10% REIT asset tests if the value of our nonqualifying assets (i) does not exceed the lesser of (a) 1% of the total value of our assets at the end of the applicable quarter or (b) $10,000,000 and (ii) we dispose of the nonqualifying assets or otherwise satisfy such tests within (a) six months after the last day of the quarter in which the failure to satisfy the asset tests is discovered or (b) the period of time prescribed by Treasury Regulations to be issued. For violations of any asset tests due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect and that are, in the case of the 5% and 10% asset tests, in excess of the de minimis exception described above, we may avoid disqualification as a REIT after the 30 day cure period, by taking steps including (i) the disposition of sufficient assets to meet the asset test within (a) six months after the last day of the quarter in which the failure to satisfy the asset tests is discovered or (b) the period of time prescribed by Treasury Regulations to be issued, (ii) paying a tax equal to the greater of (a) $50,000 or (b) the highest corporate tax rate multiplied by the net income generated by the nonqualifying assets, and (iii) disclosing certain information to the Internal Revenue Service. Although we believe we have satisfied the asset tests described above and plan to take steps to ensure that we satisfy such tests for any quarter with respect to which retesting is to occur, there can be no assurance that we will always be successful or will not require a reduction in our overall interest in an issuer (including a taxable REIT subsidiary). If we fail to cure any noncompliance with the asset tests in a timely manner and the relief provisions described above are not available, we would cease to qualify as a REIT. See “— Failure to Qualify” below.

 

Annual Distribution Requirements.  To maintain our qualification as a REIT, we are required to distribute dividends, other than capital gain dividends, to our stockholders in an amount at least equal to the sum of:

 

 

Our REIT taxable income is computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction and our net capital gain. In addition, for purposes of this test, non-cash income items includes income attributable to leveled stepped rents, original issue discount or purchase money discount debt, cancellation of indebtedness, and a like-kind exchange that is later determined to be taxable.

 

In addition, if we dispose of any asset we acquired from a corporation which is or has been a C corporation in a transaction in which our basis in the asset is determined by reference to the basis of the asset in the hands of that C corporation, within the ten-year period following our acquisition of such asset, we would be required to distribute at least 90% of the after-tax gain, if any, we recognized on the disposition of the asset, to the extent that gain does not exceed the excess of (a) the fair market value of the asset, over (b) our adjusted basis in the asset, in each case, on the date we acquired the asset.

 

We generally must pay, or be treated as paying, the distributions described above in the taxable year to which they relate. At our election, a distribution will be treated as paid in a taxable year if it is declared before we timely file our tax return for such year and paid on or before the first regular dividend payment after that declaration, provided such payment is made during the twelve-month period following the close of such year. These distributions generally are taxable to our stockholders, other than tax-exempt entities, in the year in which paid. This is so even though distributions relate to the prior years for purposes of our 90% distribution requirement. The amount distributed must not be preferential. To avoid being preferential, every stockholder of the class of stock to which a distributions is made must be treated the same as every other stockholder of that class, and no class of stock may be treated other than according to its dividend rights as a class. To the extent that we do not distribute all of our net capital gain or distribute at least 90%, but less than 100%, of our REIT taxable income, as adjusted, we will be subject to tax on the undistributed amount at regular corporate tax rates. We believe we have made, and intend to

continue to make, timely distributions sufficient to satisfy these annual distribution requirements and to minimize our corporate tax obligations.

 

We expect that our REIT taxable income will be less than our cash flow because of depreciation and other non-cash charges included in computing our REIT taxable income. Accordingly, we anticipate that we generally will have sufficient cash or liquid assets to enable us to satisfy our distribution requirement. However, it is possible that, from time to time, we may not have sufficient cash or other liquid assets to meet the distribution requirement due to timing differences between the actual receipt of income and actual payment of deductible expenses and the inclusion of that income and deduction of those expenses in arriving at our taxable income. In the event that those timing differences occur, in order to meet the distribution requirement, we may be required to borrow funds in order to pay dividends, or pay dividends in the form of taxable stock dividends.

 

Under some circumstances, we may be able to rectify an inadvertent failure to meet the 90% distribution requirement for a year by paying “deficiency dividends” to our stockholders in a later year, which may be included in our deduction for dividends paid for the earlier year. Thus, we may be able to avoid being taxed on amounts distributed as deficiency dividends. We will be required, however, to pay interest based upon the amount of any deduction claimed for deficiency dividends and would be subject to any applicable penalty provisions.

 

In addition, we will be required to pay a 4% excise tax to the extent we fail to distribute during each calendar year, or in the case of distributions with declaration and record dates falling in the last three months of the calendar year, by the end of January immediately following such year, at least the sum of 85% of our REIT ordinary income for such year and 95% of our REIT capital gain income for the year, plus, in each case, any undistributed taxable income from prior periods. Any REIT taxable income and net capital gain on which this excise tax is imposed for any year is treated as an amount distributed that year for purposes of calculating the tax.

 

For purposes of the 90% distribution requirement and excise tax described above, distributions declared during the last three months of the taxable year, payable to our stockholders of record on a specified date during such period and paid during January of the following year, will be treated as paid by us and received by our stockholders on December 31 of the year in which they are declared.

 

Failure to Qualify.  Commencing with our taxable year beginning January 1, 2005, specified cure provisions are available to us in the event that we violate a provision of the Internal Revenue Code that would otherwise result in our failure to qualify as a REIT. Except with respect to violations of the REIT income tests and assets tests (for which the cure provisions are described above), and provided the violation is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect, these cure provisions generally impose a $50,000 penalty for each violation in lieu of a loss of REIT status. If we fail to qualify for taxation as a REIT in any taxable year, and the relief provisions do not apply, we will be subject to tax, including any applicable alternative minimum tax, on our taxable income at regular corporate rates. That failure to qualify for taxation as a REIT could have an adverse effect on the market value and marketability of the securities offered by this prospectus. Distributions to stockholders in any year in which we fail to qualify as a REIT will not be deductible by us nor will they be required to be made. As a result, our failure to qualify as a REIT would substantially reduce the cash available for distribution by us to our stockholders. In that event, to the extent of current and accumulated earnings and profits, all distributions to stockholders will be taxable as ordinary income and, subject to specified limitations in the Internal Revenue Code, corporate distributees may be eligible for the dividends received deduction. Unless entitled to relief under specific statutory provisions, we will also be disqualified from taxation as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which qualification was lost. It is not possible to state whether in all circumstances we would be entitled to that statutory relief.

 

Other Tax Matters.  Some of our investments are through partnerships which may involve special tax risks. These risks include possible challenge by the IRS of (a) allocations of income and expense items, which could affect the computation of our income, and (b) the status of the partnerships as partnerships, as opposed to associations taxable as corporations, for income tax purposes. Treasury Regulations that are effective as of January 1, 1997 provide that a domestic partnership is generally taxed as a partnership unless it elects to be taxed as an association taxable as a corporation. None of the partnerships in which we are a partner has made or intends to make that election. These Treasury Regulations provide that a partnership’s claimed classification will be respected for periods prior to January 1, 1997 if the entity had a reasonable basis for its claimed classification, and that partnership

had not been notified in writing on or before May 8, 1996 that the classification of that entity was under examination. If any of the partnerships were treated as an association for a prior period, and (i) if our ownership in any of those partnerships exceeded 10% of the partnership’s voting interest or (ii) the value of that interest exceeded 5% of the value of our assets, we could cease to qualify as a REIT for that period and possibly future periods. Moreover, the deemed change in classification of that partnership from an association to a partnership effective as of January 1, 1997 would be a taxable event. We believe that each of the partnerships has been properly treated for tax purposes as a partnership, and not as an association taxable as a corporation. However, no assurance can be given that the Internal Revenue Service may not successfully challenge the status of any of the partnerships.

 

We may be subject to state or local taxation in various state or local jurisdictions, including those in which we transact business. Our state or local tax treatment may not conform to the federal income tax consequences described above. Consequently, prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors regarding the effect of state and local tax laws on an investment in us.

 

We may sell the securities offered by this prospectus to one or more underwriters for public offering and sale by them or may sell the securities offered by this prospectus to investors directly or through agents. Any underwriter or agent involved in the offer and sale of the securities offered by this prospectus will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. We have reserved the right to sell or exchange securities directly to investors on our or their own behalf in those jurisdictions where we are authorized to do so.

 

We may distribute the securities from time to time in one or more transactions:

 

 

Underwriters may offer and sell the securities offered by this prospectus at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, at prices related to the prevailing market prices at the time of sale or at negotiated prices. We also may, from time to time, authorize underwriters acting as our agents to offer and sell the securities offered by this prospectus upon the terms and conditions as are set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. In connection with the sale of securities offered by this prospectus, underwriters may be deemed to have received compensation from us in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and may also receive commissions from purchasers of securities offered by this prospectus for whom they may act as agent. Underwriters may sell the securities offered by this prospectus to or through dealers, and those dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agent.

 

Any underwriting compensation paid by us to underwriters or agents in connection with the offering of the securities offered by this prospectus, and any discounts, concessions or commissions allowed by underwriters to participating dealers, will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Underwriters, dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities offered by this prospectus may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts and commissions received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of the securities offered by this prospectus may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions, under the Securities Act. Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled, under agreements entered into with us, to indemnification against and contribution toward certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

If so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will authorize dealers acting as our agents to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase the securities offered by this prospectus from us at the public

offering price set forth in that prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on the date or dates stated in that prospectus supplement.

 

Each delayed delivery contract will be for an amount not less than, and the aggregate principal amount of the securities offered by this prospectus sold pursuant to delayed delivery contracts shall be not less nor more than, the respective amounts stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Institutions with whom delayed delivery contracts, when authorized, may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions, and other institutions but will in all cases be subject to our approval. Delayed delivery contracts will not be subject to any conditions except:

 

(1) the purchase by an institution of the securities offered by this prospectus covered by its delayed delivery contracts shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of any jurisdiction in the United States to which that institution is subject, and

 

(2) if the securities offered by this prospectus are being sold to underwriters, we shall have sold to those underwriters the total principal amount of the securities offered by this prospectus less the principal amount thereof covered by delayed delivery contracts.

 

To facilitate the offering of securities, certain persons participating in the offering may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain, or otherwise affect the price of the securities. This may include over-allotments or short sales of the securities, which involve the sale by persons participating in the offering of more securities than we sold to them. In these circumstances, these persons would cover such over-allotments or short positions by making purchases in the open market or by exercising their over-allotment option, if any. In addition, these persons may stabilize or maintain the price of the securities by bidding for or purchasing securities in the open market or by imposing penalty bids, whereby selling concessions allowed to dealers participating in the offering may be reclaimed if securities sold by them are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. These transactions may be discontinued at any time.

 

Certain of the underwriters and their affiliates may be customers of, engage in transactions with, and perform services for us and our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.

 

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) for Kimco Realty Corporation and the audited combined historical summary of revenues and certain expenses of the Puerto Rico Portfolio incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 and the Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 8, 2006 of Kimco Realty Corporation, respectively, have been so incorporated in reliance on the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

The validity of the securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Latham & Watkins LLP, New York, New York. Any underwriters, dealers or agents will be advised about the other issues relating to any offering by their own legal counsel. Latham & Watkins LLP and any counsel for any underwriters, dealers or agents will rely on Venable LLP, Baltimore, Maryland, as to certain matters of Maryland law. Certain members of Latham & Watkins LLP and their families own beneficial interests in less than 1% of our common stock.